#32

“How could there not be a problem when you already know how unfair this is, Hosu-ssi? Human patience has its limits. If you were completely unaware, it would be a different story, but since you already recognize it, it’s only a matter of time before your emotions explode.”

Twitch. Jung Hosu’s body trembled. As if struck in a vital spot, he fidgeted anxiously before clasping his hands tightly on his lap.

I blinked slowly as I watched his interlocked hands. This was the extent of the advice I could give for now. Whether he accepted it or not was entirely his decision.

I looked at Jung Hosu’s deeply contemplative face. Making a choice wouldn’t be easy for him. The relationship between parents and children is often difficult to explain with logic and reason alone. Even though I couldn’t empathize with his actions, I could understand his hesitation.

“If you really don’t know what to do, why don’t you go with my suggestion for now and give yourself more time to think? We still have some time before the settlement date, so you can take your time deliberating until then.”

And if he ended up just going along with it, that wouldn’t be a bad outcome, either. With that thought, I checked my wristwatch. It was already past noon. Lunchtime was approaching, so I needed an answer soon.

As if he had been waiting for the right moment, Jung Hosu, who had been sitting quietly, finally spoke.

“……I’ll do it. I’ll follow your suggestion. The…… embezzlement thing.”

“Are you sure?”

His acceptance came much faster than I had anticipated. I asked excitedly, and he responded with a faint, weary smile.

“Yes. Though, I’m not sure if taking 95% of my own earnings could really be called embezzlement.”

“Since the money was originally yours, the term doesn’t quite fit, does it?”

I replied playfully and quickly sent a message to Team Leader Seohee from the Management Support Team. It didn’t take long for her to respond with an acknowledgment.

“Team Leader Seohee will take care of the rest now. You don’t have to worry about a thing. Of course, I’m sure you already know this, but don’t discuss your income details with your parents.”

“……Yes.”

Jung Hosu’s voice lacked energy. He still looked uneasy, as though questioning whether this was really the right choice. I patted his tightly clenched hands in encouragement before adding playfully,

“Also, just in case, let me give you some advice: If anyone asks to borrow money, don’t lend it. If someone suggests a ‘great investment opportunity’, just walk away. And don’t suddenly develop reckless spending habits just because you have more money now.”

Like an older brother giving friendly warnings to his younger sibling, my words were gentle and teasing. Jung Hosu’s expression turned oddly conflicted. He hesitated for a long moment, opening and closing his mouth as if debating whether to speak, before finally mumbling,

“I’m twenty-four, you know…… President.”

“Yes, a twenty-four-year-old adult who’s handling his finances for the first time.”

Faced with an undeniable fact, Jung Hosu’s lips twitched. He was clearly sulking but trying to hide it.

It was cute. But if I let my amusement show, he’d probably get more upset. I held back my laughter with a quiet cough and changed the subject.

“Ah, come to think of it—why did you come here today?”

I had been mulling over the question for a while and finally voiced it. As far as I knew, there were no scheduled visits for any Tartarus members today. I had explicitly ordered them to rest until their health was fully recovered.

“Bada contacted me. He told me that today, my parents were planning to visit my company’s president…… So I rushed over to stop them before they met you, but I was too late.”

Jung Hosu chuckled bitterly. I gently patted his shoulder.

“I’m sorry my parents are causing trouble. I should have noticed and blocked them sooner.”

“Why are you apologizing? It wasn’t that much of a hassle, and as a company president, this is something I should be dealing with anyway. You don’t have to worry about it too much.”

“But you’re really busy, sir.”

His cautious voice trailed off as his gaze flickered toward the stack of documents on my desk. I suppose seeing that pile would naturally give the impression that I was drowning in work. I scrunched my nose in mild exasperation.

“It just looks that way—I’m really not that busy.”

It was true. Most of the work related to the Haje Group was handled by professional executives. My role was mostly to oversee and ensure that things were running smoothly.

In the past, it took me longer because I didn’t understand all the business terminology, but with Secretary Sung Yoojun’s help, things were progressing much more efficiently now.

“Besides, I’m the president of the agency that manages you, Hosu-ssi. It only makes sense that your concerns take priority over everything else.”

That was also true. Regardless of the circumstances, I was now the president of Goo Won Entertainment, and prioritizing Jung Hosu, the only idol under my company and a top-tier superstar, was only natural.

Well, beyond everything else, it would be ridiculous to neglect Tartarus when I had entered a game where they were the protagonists. In any case, what I meant was that Jung Hosu didn’t need to feel so apologetic toward me. I was simply doing what I was supposed to do.

“You’re saying it’s right to prioritize my matters……?”

I had spoken with that intention, yet Jung Hosu’s reaction seemed odd. He stared at me with eyes filled with an inexplicable glimmer. Just as I was about to examine his gaze more closely to identify that flickering light, he quickly blinked, concealing whatever had surfaced in his eyes. It was such a swift movement that I couldn’t react in time.

“……Then instead of apologizing, I suppose I should be thanking you. Thank you very much for your help, sir.”

With those words, Jung Hosu bowed deeply toward me. His greeting was formal, but I simply waved my hand a couple of times in an offhand manner, signaling that he shouldn’t worry about it.

“I only did what was natural. So there’s really no need for such formal gratitude.”

I hadn’t done anything particularly significant, yet receiving such a well-mannered thank-you made me feel a bit burdened. Hastily, I reached out and placed my hands on Jung Hosu’s shoulders, pulling him upright from his bowing position. Then, to dispel this slightly heavy atmosphere, I quickly changed the subject.

“It’s already 12:30. Why don’t we stop talking about this and go get something to eat? Or would you prefer to head home and have your meal there? Do whatever makes you comfortable, Hosu-ssi.”

At my question, Jung Hosu seemed to contemplate for a moment before slowly nodding, indicating that he would join me for lunch. Seeing his agreement, I sent a message to Secretary Sung Yoojun to let him know that there would be an additional person for lunch, then asked.

“Do you have any preferred dishes?”

“I’m fine with anything.”

Anything. The easiest yet simultaneously the hardest request in the world. I started thinking seriously. What would be good to eat? Something nutritious and delicious would be ideal. I opened a portal site on my smartphone and began searching for healthy and nourishing meals.

As I scanned through the flood of information with intense focus, Jung Hosu, who had been quietly watching me, hesitated before speaking.

“Sir.”

“Yes?”

“Um…… Do you remember?”

Remember what? I looked up from my phone in confusion and met Jung Hosu’s gaze. For some reason, he seemed extremely nervous. What on earth was he about to ask that made him look like this?

“What are you referring to?”

“The time you ran into Yisol at a party a few months ago. Do you remember?”

At the words ‘a few months ago’ coming from Jung Hosu’s lips, I blinked in confusion. I had only been in this body for less than ten days—there was no way I could remember something from months prior.

“Well…… I don’t recall that, but did Yisol-ssi and I run into each other?”

After some thought, I decided that rather than awkwardly pretending to know, it would be much better to feign ignorance. As soon as I firmly denied any memory of the event, relief washed over Jung Hosu’s face.

“No, never mind. I guess Yisol must have been mistaken.”

“A mistake?”

“He said he made eye contact with you at a party a few months ago. But since you don’t remember, I guess he was just mistaken.”

The way he looked so relieved while saying it had been a mistake…… I swallowed dryly as an uneasy feeling crept up inside me. Something must have happened between Goo Won and Nam Yisol at that party in the game. Otherwise, there would be no reason for Jung Hosu to be so nervous while asking about it, nor to seem so relieved when I claimed not to remember.

“Did something happen there?”

“Huh? Oh, no, nothing much. Nothing really happened. That guy must’ve just misunderstood something. Yisol is a good guy, but he tends to overthink things and jump to conclusions on his own. So I don’t think it’s anything you need to concern yourself with, sir.”