Chapter 3

"Miss Giselle—daughter of your grandfather's dearest friend," Hee-Jun began, his voice taking on a slightly formal tone. "Her personality tends to be generally agreeable, though she can be quite sharp-tongued when the situation calls for it. One of her notable quirks is her appreciation for genuinely kind-hearted people. However, she strongly dislikes…" He continued, but his words faded into the background as Woo-San's mind drifted away, overwhelmed by his own thoughts.

The 10th of every month had become an interminable ordeal for Woo-San, a day steeped in dread regardless of whether it fell on a bustling Monday or a relaxing Sunday. This day demanded that he dress impeccably, adhering to the unyielding wish his father had imparted to him before his untimely passing. His grandfather, Yui-Hyuk, had taken it upon himself to frame this obligation as a final request, pushing the narrative that marriage was essential for Woo-San, so Yui-Hyuk could cradle his future grandchildren in his arms before his own time ran out.

Of course, the term "only grandchild" was somewhat misleading. Yui-Hyuk had his sights set on enticing Yixan to return to the family fold, as well as the child born to his son's wife from a previous union, who, like Yixan, refused to stay in contact with the Kim family. These children were not blood relatives, at least not in the legitimate sense. In public, Yui-Hyuk took great pride in recounting Woo-San's attributes, often overshadowing the achievements of other grandchildren, who had carved their successes independently—eerily free from the visible Kim family influence. What else could he have done when his grandchildren wanted nothing from him? Thus, he was forced to refer to Woo-San as his 'only grandchild' and have him fulfill all his duties as the single heir to his company.

"Do you always babble on like this?" Woo-San finally interjected, irked by Hee-Jun's chatter after being ensnared in traffic for thirty interminable minutes. It was a characteristically frustrating trait of Hee-Jun, who was essentially a messenger, engaged in this job due to the unresolved tensions that prevented Woo-San and Yui-Hyuk from holding a straightforward conversation. "I've had enough. Let me out of here," he declared, reaching for the door. In response, Hee-Jun swiftly instructed the driver to keep it locked, the echo of authority in his voice.

"Unlock the door," Woo-San commanded, his tone turning steely and authoritative. "If you don't, you'll find yourself without a job." The driver, familiar with this ultimatum, remained unmoved, his expression stone-cold in the face of Woo-San's mounting frustration.

Hee-Jun's voice dropped as he approached Woo-San, his arms creepily wrapping around Woo-San's arm. "Mr. Woo-San," Hee-Jun began, "I've been wanting to ask you something, but the opportunity never presented itself." He cleared his throat, his eyes widening in anticipation. Woo-San could feel annoyance written all over his face as he tried to create distance between himself and Hee-Jun, but it was too late. "Sir, are you gay?"

Frustrated and fed up, Woo-San forcefully pulled his arm away from Hee-Jun and pushed him away. "That's it," he declared, "I'm leaving. You can go on your date alone." With that, he opened the door and hopped out in the middle of the street. "Actually," he shouted back, "you should just tell her I'm gay!" Without waiting for a response, he sprinted off before Hee-Jun could even react or call out to him. He was already out of sight. Letting out a sigh, Woo-San dialed Yui-Hyuk's number on his phone.

"Did he really run away!?" Yui-Hyuk exclaimed, clutching his head in frustration. "What do you mean he ran away?" As much as Woo-San detested his duty of going on blind dates, he was even more troubled by the thought of breaking a promise. It was highly unusual for Woo-San to skip out on a meeting that he himself had arranged. Yui-Hyuk couldn't help but wonder if something that Hee-Jun had said had unsettled him.

In a fit of desperation, Yui-Hyuk slammed a massive pile of files and folders onto the table, each one carefully labeled with different moods and behaviors of Woo-San at various points in his life. Yui-Hyuk had meticulously documented every significant moment of Woo-San's life since his parents passed away, seeking any clues that could shed light on his mental state. It was a borderline obsession, fueled by Yui-Hyuk's fear of history repeating itself with his own grandson as it had for his daughter.

As he combed through the documents, Yui-Hyuk came across a similar situation that had occurred in the past. He strained to recall the details, trying to make sense of it all. "There was one incident in eleventh grade," he muttered to himself. "His teacher called to inform me that he had run away from class. It was during a sex education lesson, and the teacher mentioned that AIDS was prevalent among homosexuals..." Hee-Jun's words echoed in his mind, and suddenly everything clicked into place. "He's homophobic!" Yui-Hyuk exclaimed, connecting the dots. "My grandson is homophobic! This can't be true, can it?" He grasped onto Hee-Jun's hands, his own trembling with fear. "If this gets out...they will tear my grandson apart. I can't let that happen. No one can know about this."

Hee-Jun rolled his eyes in frustration as he firmly grasped Yui-Hyuk by the shoulders and gave him a slight jolt. "Let's go over this again," he urged, his tone impatient. After a moment of hesitation, Yui-Hyuk nodded, ready to absorb the weight of the conversation.

"Woo-San grew up in a household where he was instilled with the belief that perfection was not just an expectation but an unyielding requirement," Hee-Jun explained, each word laden with significance. Yui-Hyuk nodded in agreement, recalling the psychological grip the family had on Woo-San throughout his childhood. "His upbringing was dominated by the relentless standards set by his parents, who were themselves deeply affected by the perceived failures of their own lineage—his grandfather and father were unable to meet the lofty expectations placed upon them by the Kim family. The burden fell on Woo-San's shoulders to fulfill the family's legacy by merging the K&L Group with the Mirae Group, a monumental task given to him as a direct descendant of his 8th great-grandfather, who believed that a family should be able to get over their differences and prosper together."

Hee-Jun's voice took on a more somber tone as he continued. "When Woo-San's parents tragically passed away, his father's dying wish was for him to embrace life fully, to find grace in continuing the family's legacy, and to eventually have children of his own. However, what compounded Woo-San's struggle was that he had become acutely aware of his feelings towards his own sexuality during his teenage years, grappling with the sensitivity surrounding issues of homosexuality in a society steeped in traditional values."

He paused dramatically before posing a crucial question: "Now, tell me, what is the status afforded to a child who comes out as homosexual in the typical Korean household?"

Yui-Hyuk's reaction was immediate, the answer which was both blunt and devastating: "A failure..." The realization echoed in his mind as he pieced everything together. His eyes widened, filled with a painful clarity. "Yes, that's right, Chairman Yui-Hyuk. Your son is, in fact, gay."

Yui-Hyuk's expression fell, a mixture of shock and concern washing over his face. He settled heavily into a nearby chair, overwhelmed. His greatest disappointment wasn't solely that his grandson identified as gay, but rather that their relationship had become so fraught with unspoken tension and expectations that Woo-San felt unable to express his true identity. In essence, Yui-Hyuk had transformed into the very figure that he himself sought to escape—someone he felt he had to blindly conform to, simply because Yui-Hyuk was the only remaining family connection he had.

This revelation hit him harder than any business setback could. In the relentless pursuit to reintegrate himself and his company into the esteemed Mirae Group, Yui-Hyuk found himself increasingly estranged from the very family he sought to unite. Following the tumultuous incident that forced their families to operate as rival businesses, Yui-Hyuk's relationship with his elder brother grew strained. His brother had ascended to the position of chairman of Mirae Group after the founding of K&L Entertainment, a development that should have brought the brothers closer. However, things took a dark turn when both Mirae and K&L faced significant turmoil due to the scandal involving Zhiyu. Instead of supporting each other during this challenging time, Yui-Hyuk's elder brother made the heart-wrenching decision to cast him out, forcing him to leave his own home. This was reminiscent of how he had acted towards his own daughter, and it was a painful repetition of events now affecting Yui-Hyuk's grandson.

"What are you going to do now, Chairman?" Hee-Jun queried, his voice tinged with concern. "I highly doubt you can alter your grandson's nature, nor would it be respectful to coerce him into revealing his feelings. Besides, our assumptions about his sexuality remain unfounded; we lack concrete evidence to support our theories. The reasons behind his abrupt departure that day might simply stem from illness. Likewise, his flight today could be attributed to exhaustion or frustration, urging him to retreat from the pressure. We must refrain from making decisions clouded by our speculations, especially since it's unlikely that he will open up to us willingly. What course of action do you envision?"

Yui-Hyuk found himself grappling for a concrete response. The thought of his grandson living a facade was unbearable. "For the time being, there's only one path we can pursue: observation," he finally replied, resolve washing over him. However, he knew deep down that he also had to contemplate another avenue—releasing Woo-San from the burdensome expectations tied to their family legacy. Accepting that this issue could not simply be excised from Woo-San's life as he had dealt with previous challenges was a profound realization. The delicacy of the situation demanded a careful and considerate approach.

"There's one more action we'll need to undertake, and you will assist me in this," Yui-Hyuk added, his tone firm yet measured. Hee-Jun, recognizing the gravity of the task, acknowledged his role without hesitation, for confidentiality was integral to his position. "Gladly, sir," he responded, a sense of duty in his voice.

It was indeed a tragic irony that yet another generation within the family found themselves ensnared by isolation, echoing Yui-Hyuk's own experiences. Yet, they could not allow sentimentality to cloud their mission. Confronting this new reality was imperative, with hopes that the next generation would transcend the strife that had marred Yui-Hyuk's ambitions for his son and grandson. "The inheritance game begins now," he declared with a calculated determination. "And I will ensure that all of my grandchildren are active participants in it." This was not merely about wealth but about forging bonds and healing rifts that had long divided their family.