Six o’clock in the afternoon. The main building of Domyeongjae was, for once, bustling with guests. It was the start of the reunion hosted by Hyun-wook.
Hyun-wook, who had been out of contact for a few days to take photographs, had returned right on time. About ten middle school classmates were gathered in one place after a long separation.
The staff of the main building served dishes prepared with masterful skill. These were not the cheap bar snacks of local pubs, but traditional delicacies that had long graced the Nam family’s banquet tables, filling the wide table in abundance.
Manager Moon served Song-yeop-ju, one of the three signature liquors of Domyeongjae, aged for a long time with pine needles. Characterized by a uniquely fragrant and refreshing scent, Song-yeop-ju pairs well with meat and has long been a symbolic staple at the Nam family’s banquets.
“Hey, thanks to you, Hyun-wook, I’m getting to drink such precious liquor.”
“These snacks are insane. And what is this liquor? The aroma is incredible.”
The classmates were busy offering their own praises. Only Manager Moon and Eun-ja knew how to brew this traditional liquor, and because it was never sold on the market, it felt exceptionally rare.
Telling each other to eat as much as they could while they had the chance, the classmates devoured the food and drinks with aggressive enthusiasm. As one classmate watched Manager Moon refill the snacks before the plates were even empty, he looked up.
“Manager, are there any other guests coming besides us today?”
“Not a soul.”
“At this rate, it feels like there’s enough here to feed a whole nation. They just keep coming.”
As he joked about being overwhelmed, Manager Moon finally cracked a smile.
“Eat plenty and have a good time. You are guests at our Domyeongjae, and you are friends with our Young Master Hyun-wook, so I could hardly treat you poorly.”
*Oh… Young Master…*
Jeers erupted from all sides. Hyun-wook held his glass with a tight-lipped expression.
“If you’re going to tease me, vomit out everything you’ve shoved into your stomachs before you start.”
“Hey, typical golden spoon. I’m envious. If I’m born again, I’m definitely going to be born as you, so just know that.”
At the remark, Hyun-wook gulped down his drink.
“Well, try your best. Being born a golden spoon isn’t an easy thing. Anyone can be born, but not just anyone can be born *that* way. Just know that.”
“Oh, seriously. It’s so frustrating because it sounds like you’re right, so I have nothing to say.”
“Hyun-wook. I’m the only one who doesn’t envy you. I just want to stay close to you for a long time, so even if you cut ties with everyone else, keep hanging out with me forever. That’s all I need.”
“Me too.”
“Me too.”
The friends reacted differently to the rare liquor. Hyun-wook, who had rarely invited friends to Domyeongjae, finished the conversation with a short laugh.
These were not friends made by showing off or advertising his possessions. Within Domyeongjae, he was the heir to a conglomerate, but among his friends, he was just a regular member with a kind heart. Revealing his true life wouldn’t break their bond, but there was no need to brag.
Today, for the first time, Hyun-wook unveiled Domyeongjae to his friends—a secret kingdom in Moksan-gun, a historic mansion where no uninvited soul could ever enter.
As a deep thinker, it hadn’t been an easy decision for Hyun-wook to make.
“But why isn’t Yeonwoo coming?”
“That’s right. Didn’t you say Yeonwoo was here? Is he late?”
Hyun-wook sipped his drink again. He had decided to host the gathering at Domyeongjae precisely because Yeonwoo was here.
“I don’t think Yeonwoo can make it.”
“Huh? Why? You said he was here.”
“Can’t he even take a moment? Why? Hey, host, does Yeonwoo know we’re here? I came to see Yeonwoo.”
The host was secretly troubled. He had bragged to the whole neighborhood that Yeonwoo was here.
“Well, how should I put this? Yeonwoo works here.”
“And?”
“He said it’s really hard to take time off work. He said he was sorry.”
The classmates all wore bewildered expressions.
“Hey, what time is it now? Tell him to come after work; we’ll wait. Just how long does he work?”
Hyun-wook raised his eyebrows instead of answering.
Yeonwoo had a night shift today. It was an old tradition at Domyeongjae for the newcomer to take the night shift. Manager Moon, a stickler for principle, wouldn’t make exceptions, which was why Yeonwoo couldn’t attend.
Explaining the truth would have required saying too much. He didn’t know if his friends, accustomed to corporate life, would understand the inner workings of Domyeongjae, so Hyun-wook kept his lips sealed and filled his empty glass.
Asking Manager Moon to let Yeonwoo off the hook just because they were classmates was not an option. Having been born and raised here, Hyun-wook knew that much. It was a place where principles and rules were absolute; where tradition and stubbornness were everything.
It was a place where Manager Moon’s decisions in managing the staff were above the law.
“Um, excuse me.”
It was then. As someone peeked their head through the opening door of the main building, everyone turned.
Most of them jumped up from their chairs, faces shocked.
“No way, Yeonwoo!”
“Hey! Ji Yeonwoo!”
Yeonwoo looked at his classmates through the gap in the door, smiling faintly. Hyun-wook, equally surprised, stood up, his eyes wide as he set down his glass.
“Sorry I’m late. Can I come in?”
The classmates were in an uproar, scrambling to move.
“Of course! Come here! Hurry, Yeonwoo!”
“Hey! Yeonwoo’s here! How long has it been!”
Yeonwoo stepped inside, taking off his shoes. Hyun-wook, who turned to watch him enter, let out a hearty laugh after a moment.
“How did you come? You said earlier you couldn’t make it.”
“Well, Manager Moon told me to clock out. Where should I sit?”
“Ah, here. Sit here, Yeonwoo.”
It was an early departure for Yeonwoo that he hadn’t expected.
*
After finishing his shift, Seongheon passed the main building. He looked at the many shoes neatly arranged by someone, listened to the raucous laughter echoing outside, and headed toward Unseondang.
Manager Moon, waiting at Unseondang, welcomed Seongheon as he removed his shoes. He had just finished sweeping the yard and completing the ventilation.
“You’ve returned, Managing Director.”
“Yes. The main building sounded noisy.”
“Hyun-wook’s reunion is being held today.”
“Ah. So it’s today.”
It seemed Hyun-wook, who had been away for a few days saying he was going to take photos, had returned. As Seongheon walked into his bedroom, Manager Moon followed.
“Managing Director, you’ll have to have your meal here at Unseondang today.”
“I’m not hungry. Just make me some coffee.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Seongheon took off his jacket, washed his hands, and sat at the tea table in the parlor. Manager Moon stood in front of the electric coffee machine, preparing a small espresso cup with slow, deliberate movements.
Coffee dripped down along with hot steam. The rich aroma filled the room, and before long, Manager Moon brought it out on a tray.
“If you drink on an empty stomach, it will ache. Should I bring a little bread?”
Seongheon signaled that it was fine with a wave of his hand and grasped the small cup. As he sipped, a bitter flavor gathered in his mouth. Closing his lips as if savoring it, the rich acidity followed by a unique, nutty taste was quite decent.
Manager Moon, who had finished wiping the machine, looked at the pine pollen dusting the surface yellow before opening his lips.
“There isn’t much time left for the pollen to fly, either. By this time of year, it’s truly exhausting.”
It was something they experienced every year. Fearing that once the pollen stopped flying, Yeonwoo might not sweep the Unseondang yard anymore, Seongheon chuckled with a sense of lingering attachment.
Then, he asked, “Come to think of it, Manager Moon, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you at Unseondang.”
“Yes. Since I sent the newcomer to the reunion, there was no one else, so I came.”
“Ah. The reunion.”
He had attended.
“I told him to go, and he insisted he didn’t have to; he was so stubborn. He’s truly lacking in flexibility.”
“Are you talking about Ji Yeonwoo?”
“Yes. Even when I offered to take him off work, he was a pain. Oh my, I’m swearing in front of the Managing Director.”
Seongheon couldn’t help but chuckle.
“I kept telling him, ‘Please just go,’ and he said, ‘No, I can’t,’ and after bickering, I finally managed to send him. His friends are there eating—how could I let him work alone?”
“You did well.”
The sound of laughter echoing outside the main building suddenly came to mind. Since he had cried so much yesterday, he hoped that today, Yeonwoo would smile as much as possible and enjoy himself.
“Manager Moon, you can go back to your business. I’m fine.”
“Um, Managing Director.”
When Manager Moon called him, Seongheon looked up.
“Yes?”
“I have something I’d like to say.”
“Please, go ahead.”
Manager Moon rubbed his hands on his apron. It seemed like he was trying to bring up something difficult.
Seongheon, who had been sipping his coffee, set down the cup and straightened his posture. Showing through his actions that he was ready to listen, Manager Moon opened his mouth after a moment.
“How long will you be staying at Domyeongjae?”
“You mean me?”
“Yes.”
It was an unexpected question. Seongheon thought for a moment before answering.
“I initially expected about a month, but now I’m thinking about three.”
“As long as three months?”
“The situation at the site is messier than I thought, so it seems it will take some time to sort out.”
Seongheon himself realized just now that he was scheduled to stay that long.
“Does my being here make you uncomfortable?”
“Oh my, no. How could it? That’s not it. I was just wondering—don’t you have many lawyers at the headquarters?”
“…”
“I was hoping I might be able to meet them if I went to Seoul with you, Managing Director.”
Seongheon’s eyebrows twitched.
“Is there something going on with you, Manager?”
“No, it’s not my matter.”
Manager Moon waved his hands emphatically.
“I have a matter around me that needs a bit of consultation, so I was wondering if I could ask for some advice. It’s nothing too major, but I don’t know anyone, I have nowhere to ask, and I thought I just needed a few questions answered.”
“…”
“Even the employees of our Domyeongjae have deep ties to the Seoryang Group, strictly speaking, so it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they belong to Seoryang. So I was wondering if I could get some help…”
“Is it a problem regarding a Domyeongjae employee?”
“Oh well, that’s it, yes. It’s not a matter fit for the Managing Director’s ears, but I wanted to look into it discreetly.”
Manager Moon, who was not skilled at asking favors, wore a deeply troubled expression. Seongheon watched him quietly, then interlaced his fingers and tilted his head.
“Is this by any chance about Ji Yeonwoo? The Vice President of Namsong Industrial Development?”
“Oh my, how did you know that, Managing Director?”
When Seongheon hit the mark sharply, Manager Moon looked flustered. Seongheon, having taken another sip of coffee, continued.
“I found out by chance. It happened in my office.”
“Oh, my…”
Manager Moon let out a long sigh—a deep sigh mixed with many emotions.
“Goodness, to think how much they harassed that child. Look at him, he’s withered away and looks like he might shatter—what are we to do?”
Now that Seongheon knew, Manager Moon finally poured out his inner thoughts. Despite telling Yeonwoo strictly to keep his mouth shut, he had spent the night searching for news articles related to stalking. Having peered at his phone for so long while wearing his magnifying glasses, his eyes felt dim all day.
“I can’t tell him to stay at Domyeongjae for the rest of his life, and eventually, I have to let him go, but with those wicked men hunting for him, I’m worried sick.”
“Hunting for him? Who?”
“Yes. Just a while ago, I encountered this wicked man in front of the gate, carrying a picture of our newcomer, asking if he was here or not.”
Seongheon’s breath hitched. Trying not to let his clenched jaw be seen, he swallowed his coffee with as much effort as he could. It had tasted rich before, but now it felt as bitter as poison.
Manager Moon, having finally confessed, wore a heavy expression. After telling Yeonwoo so firmly to keep quiet, he was now snitching to Seongheon with his own mouth—it was a maddening situation.
“I tried to just sit and watch, but I worried that something might actually happen.”
“Manager Moon, I didn’t think it of you, but you’re quite the meddler. You know how to interfere, and you know how to tell tales.”
At Seongheon’s words, Manager Moon looked embarrassed.
“Maybe it’s because I’m getting old, or maybe I’m having a ‘spring fever’ at my age. I’m doing things I never used to. Or maybe I’ve been influenced by Eun-ja? You know how she is, always poking her nose into everything.”
“It’s good. If you don’t look after the employees of Domyeongjae, Manager, then who will?”
Seongheon stood up.
“I don’t think there’s a need for you to go all the way to the headquarters, Manager Moon. It’s far. It takes a long time by car.”
“Yes? Then how would I meet the lawyers?”
As he draped his jacket over his arm, Seongheon replied.
“As it happens, I met a lawyer today.”
“Yes? You did, Managing Director? Personally? Why?”
When the question of ‘why’ followed, Seongheon seemed to think for a moment before laughing shortly.
“Well, maybe I’m having a spring fever.”
“…”
“The coffee was good.”
As Seongheon walked away to wash up, Manager Moon could only twitch his lips.
He watched Seongheon’s retreating back for a long time. It was a sturdy set of shoulders and a dignified gait, no matter when he saw them.