Chapter 09
“C–CEO…”
Overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness from Iwan, Chief Ahn choked up and couldn’t finish his sentence.
“How… did you know?”
“I may lack manners and decorum, but I’m quick to pick up on things. I noticed your complexion hasn’t been good lately, so I looked into it a bit. Just in case something happened to you, I wanted to be prepared.”
Iwan added with a faint smile, “If I acted without understanding the situation and you ended up quitting out of frustration, what would I do? Who else could handle my nasty temper but you?”
“Sir…”
Chief Ahn was moved to the verge of tears. Though it sounded like a joke, he could tell Iwan meant every word.
That’s how he was. Cold and indifferent on the outside, but surprisingly warm-hearted underneath. He fiercely protected his people and rewarded them well.
That’s why, despite the crushing workload and his near-obsessive perfectionism, those selected to be on Kang Iwan’s team worked their hardest and remained loyal to him.
“I’ve already contacted Dr. Hwang, so don’t worry too much. The surgery will go well.”
“Thank you, sir. Thank you so much!”
“Once your mother’s condition stabilizes, come back slowly. There’s nothing urgent for the time being.”
Patting Chief Ahn on the shoulder as he bowed deeply, Iwan even granted him a long leave.
“If something urgent comes up, I’ll call, so keep your phone close as usual.”
“Yes, of course, sir.”
“Go now. The sun’s going down.”
Only after Iwan urged him again did Chief Ahn, sniffling, finally get in his car.
“I’ll be off then, sir. Please contact me if anything happens.”
“I will.”
Even after saying goodbye, Chief Ahn didn’t immediately drive off. He looked at Iwan through the open window for a moment before slowly pulling away.
As the moving truck started up and left as well, a heavy silence settled over the area.
Iwan pulled a cigarette case from his pocket and flipped open his Dupont lighter. Ting! A sharp metallic click, and the flame flickered up.
Fwooo… Lighting his cigarette, Iwan inhaled deeply, his cheeks hollowing, then exhaled a long stream of smoke. His eyes lingered on the traditional house, now bathed in the orange glow of sunset.
Despite Chief Ahn’s concern, Iwan didn’t find the crumbling old house uncomfortable at all.
He had lived over two years in places worse than a pigsty, abandoned and abused.
Things like scouring the land for lost lottery tickets or negotiating land purchases with villagers—tedious and bothersome in their own way—weren’t the cause of the inexplicable unease he felt now.
But…
Iwan’s brows furrowed slightly as he bit down on his cigarette filter.
These tasks couldn’t explain the vague anxiety and discomfort gnawing at him.
Frowning, he crushed the burnt-out cigarette butt under his heel. Glancing once more at the dusk-filled sky and peaceful village, he moved toward the house.
“I should fix the gate first.”
He clicked his tongue as he approached.
One side of the gate had sagged badly, too decayed to function properly. It hung open, leaving the house vulnerable to anyone passing by.
Even in a remote countryside, basic security was necessary. Especially with a young woman and an elderly grandmother living there.
The wall was too low—anyone with intent could easily climb over. The house was unnecessarily large, with too many hiding spots.
“This house is the biggest danger.”
Iwan rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration.
Maybe it was because he planned to stay here for a while. Contrary to his earlier impression—that the place was so rundown it might help in negotiations—the house now seemed worryingly unfit.
Only after messaging Chief Ahn to send someone for repairs tomorrow did Iwan finally step over the threshold of the Na family’s gate.
As Iwan stepped into the courtyard, a door near the one he’d be using creaked open.
He turned his head instinctively and saw steam billowing out like smoke. A cheerful voice followed.
“Has Chief Ahn left?”
He watched On-yu walk toward him, lightly patting her wet hair with a towel. Fresh from the shower, her face was radiant, and her cheeks flushed pink.
As she came closer and stopped, a fragrant shampoo scent wafted up.
“That’s the bathroom. Grandma and I already showered, so feel free to use it.”
“Ah, okay.”
Iwan answered half-heartedly, his eyes unconsciously sweeping over her pale neck and the faint line of her cleavage visible under the V-neck shirt.
“There’s even a bathtub. We remodeled it last year—it’s quite clean.”
Smiling innocently, she added. Iwan quickly looked away.
Damn it. I’m not some perverted thug.
Annoyed and embarrassed, Iwan cursed internally. Peeking at a woman’s body was not something he did.
“After you shower, come to that room.”
She pointed to the annex where she’d earlier met with Madam Nam.
“We usually eat there, though sometimes we use the bench in the yard or the gazebo in the back.”
“Got it.”
Perhaps still flustered by his earlier behavior, Iwan kept his answers short and gruff.
“Well then.”
She turned to leave with a soft goodbye, when a deep voice gently called her back.
“Ms. Na On-yu.”
“Yes?”
She turned halfway to look at him.
“Can we talk after dinner? There’s something I need to discuss.”
“Sure, that’s fine.”
Agreeing readily, On-yu turned her back and stepped up to the wooden porch. She slid open the lattice door and went inside, presumably to her room on the left.
Iwan watched her door for a moment before turning away with a hollow chuckle. Grasping the rusted doorknob, he thought to himself:
Whatever this strange feeling was… it definitely wasn’t because of her.
Meanwhile, in Hannam-dong, Seoul.
“What? What do you mean?”
Han Woo-min quickly set down his spoon, looking across the marble table at his mother, Kang Ran-hee.
Kang Ran-hee was the only remaining child of Chairman Kang Dong-sik and Iwan’s aunt. She currently served as the director of the Sunin Cultural Foundation.
“What do you mean Iwan was demoted?”
“Exactly what I said. This morning, he packed some office and personal belongings and went down to the countryside.”
Lifting her water glass, Kang Ran-hee looked positively delighted.
Though she hadn’t been especially close to her late brother Kang Ho-seok, he was still blood.
But to shack up with some nobody woman and then die because of their son? Kang Ran-hee had disliked Iwan from the start.
He was a nobody who turned into a tiger cub, now threatening not just her status but her son Woo-min’s position too.
So whenever possible, she plotted to bring him down.
Times had changed—just being the legitimate grandson didn’t mean you’d inherit the company. If you had the skills, even a maternal grandson could take over.
“Where in the countryside?”
“Honey, where was it again?”
“Minju City.”
Her husband, Han Jae-seop, replied while sipping his soup.
“Minju City?”
Woo-min narrowed his eyes, repeating the unfamiliar name.
Sunin was a massive conglomerate involved in electronics, retail, heavy industry, and construction. It wouldn’t be odd to have a branch office in Minju City.
Still, something seemed off.
“Isn’t Minju really out in the sticks, honey?”
“Yeah. There’s not even a direct train—you have to transfer.”
“Oh my, my! Seriously? How did he end up banished to such a backwater? Good grief, haha!”
Ran-hee laughed loudly, unable to contain her glee.
“Serves him right for acting out of line. Looks like Father finally had enough.”
“And he got sent off real quick too—no hesitation.”
“Isn’t Minju City Grandpa’s hometown?”
Lost in thought, Woo-min suddenly asked, as if double-checking.
“Oh… was it?”
Ran-hee tilted her head, trying to recall.
“You don’t even know your father’s hometown?”
“Well, he never talked about it.”
She pouted under her husband’s scolding.
Their father, who had risen from nothing, carried a deep-rooted inferiority complex about his background.
He rarely spoke of his past. Even Ran-hee, his own daughter, knew little about his childhood—only that he had been a dirt-poor tenant farmer.
