Come With Me

Now, I think I have a slight idea of how Beomwoo speaks.

Feeling like he understood him, Haejin showed a faint smile, but seeing the other look at him strangely as if wondering why he was smiling in this situation, he hurriedly fixed his expression.

“He came looking for me, right? Seeing that he came because of the cohabitation, I thought if you told him we were dating, he wouldn’t believe it, so I should say it myself. Well……, I didn’t expect him to just blurt out anything like that though…….”

As Haejin answered why he went out, he recalled Hyun-nam’s earlier appearance and let out a vague, incredulous laugh.

He was angry at Hyun-nam’s words asking if this issue seemed like a joke, but remembering how he had childishly thrown a tantrum, refusing to let him be with Beomwoo for any reason, was also absurd.

It was somewhat funny and childish that such a dignified person would act that way whenever it involved Beomwoo.

No matter how bad the relationship between Beomwoo and Hyun-nam was, family was family, and he knew speaking ill of a family member in front of him was impolite.

However, Haejin wasn’t calm enough to worry about how Beomwoo might perceive his actions.

Seeing Haejin unable to hide his disbelief, Beomwoo nodded in agreement as if it was understandable, then spoke courteously, as if asking when he had gotten angry.

“On behalf of my brother, I apologize.”

“Huh? No, it’s not like you did anything. You don’t need to apologize.”

“Whether I dislike him or not, he’s my brother, and this is a matter entangled with me. Ultimately, he came because he was uncomfortable with you living with me.”

As Beomwoo bowed his head and apologized, Haejin panicked and shook his head.

Why was an unrelated person apologizing?

Moreover, Haejin felt that instead of receiving an apology from Beomwoo, he should be the one thanking him.

Thus, Haejin insisted it wasn’t necessary, waving his hands dismissively, but Beomwoo was stubborn.

Whatever the reason, Hyun-nam came because they were living together, and since Beomwoo was the one who proposed cohabitation, he seemed to think it was a problem caused by him.

It wasn’t an incorrect statement, yet Haejin found Beomwoo’s attitude somewhat frustrating.

As he kept thinking, it wasn’t Beomwoo’s fault; anyone could see Hyun-nam came bearing a grudge.

Last time, when Jeong-yeon tried to drug him and do something strange, Beomwoo also blamed himself, saying it happened because he couldn’t protect him.

His demeanor then and now seemed similar.

Back then, and now too, it wasn’t his fault.

In fact, he was the one who helped……

Before the regression, he had never seen Beomwoo blame himself, only his mechanical-like demeanor, so his current behavior was much more human compared to then.

But no matter what, he hoped Beomwoo wouldn’t think these incidents occurred due to his own fault.

However, as before, it was clear he wouldn’t listen no matter what Haejin said.

Rather than repeating the same words, Haejin naturally shifted the topic.

“But…… I got too angry and came in, what should we do? Hyun-nam might tell my adoptive parents that I’m living here…….”

Part of it was deliberately bringing up another topic, but it was also something that had been on his mind after calming down a bit.

Earlier, he was too angry to think ahead and cut things off decisively, but upon reflection, Hyun-nam also had leverage, so that shouldn’t have happened.

And thinking about it, since Jeong-yeon also knows this fact, there’s a possibility he might retaliate in this way.

Haejin, who hadn’t considered that far in his excitement, belatedly started to worry, but Beomwoo answered calmly, saying there was no need.

“You don’t need to worry about your adoptive parents. They’ve already been charged, and a trial is scheduled to begin soon.”

“Huh? A t-trial? They’re going that far?”

“You might think it’s minor, but child abuse, embezzlement of inheritance, and even misappropriation of donations are not light charges.”

“That’s true, but…….”

“Anyway, so you don’t need to worry about them finding this place even if your whereabouts are revealed.”

Haejin was startled by the mention of a trial, but Beomwoo acted as if this was natural.

Haejin wanted them to pay for their crimes and knew the nature of their sins was vile.

That’s why he made a firm decision to sever ties completely.

But hearing the recent developments made his feelings complicated.

A trial……

Beomwoo said things were proceeding well, so he needn’t worry about Hyun-nam telling, but now his concern shifted more toward his aunt and uncle than that.

As Haejin’s expression hardened thinking of them, Beomwoo, who had been speaking calmly, gazed at him intently and then spoke.

“Again.”

“……Huh?”

“Worried face, again.”

Again?

As Haejin blinked, wondering what he meant, Beomwoo pointed at his face with a nod of his chin.

Only then did Haejin realize his expression had darkened.

Ah…… I told him not to worry about those people.

Beomwoo knew all about the treatment he received from them and what he endured.

Having lived through those hellish days and even filed a report, how frustrating must it seem to worry about them?

He himself found his own behavior frustrating……

But there seemed to be one misunderstanding, so Haejin forced his stiff facial muscles to relax and spoke seriously.

“I don’t…… regret it. Because I decided to do this.”

“…….”

“But it’s just, a bit……. Hearing ‘trial’ makes it seem like a bigger deal than I thought. So I was just a bit surprised.”

Haejin didn’t regret the choice to make them pay for their crimes.

But he hadn’t expected it to go as far as a trial, so he was just scared.

If that was the proper penalty, they deserved to receive it.

But just a little…… he was just concerned that Beomwoo might make them receive a punishment beyond their due.

As Haejin swallowed his following words and answered, Beomwoo nodded as if that was possible.

“Ordinary people rarely experience a trial in their lives, so it might seem grand. But even so, it’s far from repaying the days you suffered as a victim. I’ll make sure your grievances are somehow resolved.”

“…….”

Beomwoo spoke as if even this wouldn’t be enough to satisfy him.

Nevertheless, saying he would somehow resolve the grievances…… probably meant he intended to increase the severity of the punishment.

Haejin considered telling him not to over-punish them, but swallowed the words.

It might seem like he regretted it, and he knew that if he cut ties and they paid for their crimes, his own heart would find peace someday.

Even now, having left that house and not exchanged any contact, he felt this liberated.

Only then would he truly sever ties with them, so that was right.

Lost in thought for a moment, Haejin felt the atmosphere was becoming too serious and deliberately tried to shake it off, shrugging lightly.

“In that case, I guess I don’t need to worry. I was worried I might have to leave this house if it became known.”

“……Yes. And considering today’s incident, he’ll probably be wary of you for a while, so he won’t be able to come out unreasonably for some time. Also, since you mentioned being involved in something, he’ll likely find out about Jeong-yeon’s incident soon. Even if you hadn’t reported it, there were many witnesses that day.”

“That’s probably true…….”

Beomwoo seemed to notice Haejin abruptly changing the topic and looked at him for a moment, but likely judged there was no good in discussing that subject further and agreed with his words.

The fact that it would become known……

Thinking that what Jeong-yeon tried to do to him would be exposed to the world, Haejin felt a surge of fear.

But he hadn’t done anything wrong; he was the victim.

If Hyun-nam found out about this incident, he might also prevent Jeong-yeon from approaching him.

He might be even more wary of Beomwoo, who became his lover and even cohabits, but there was a high chance he would be wary of someone who might resort to abnormal methods like trying to get him pregnant.

Although Hyun-nam’s words made him feel bad, thinking about the result, it might have turned out for the better.

Finally calming his heightened emotions, Haejin sipped his tea.

Beomwoo observed his reaction for a moment, then cautiously opened his mouth.

“Actually, I had something to tell you today, Haejin. But with this situation, it’s become difficult to say.”

“Something to tell me?”

What is it all of a sudden?

The atmosphere was bad, but it wasn’t because of Beomwoo.

Also, since he was speaking while watching my reaction, he was curious.

Because of yesterday’s conversation, he felt tense, wondering, ‘Is it about another confession-related topic?’

But if it were such a topic, it seemed unlikely he would bring it up in this atmosphere.

So, when Haejin blinked and asked what it was, Beomwoo glanced at him and spoke, looking somewhat awkward.

“It’s sudden, but I have a schedule to go to Busan for three days and two nights. It’s work-related and unavoidable.”

“Ah…….”

A sudden business trip?

In his past life, after inheriting the company, Beomwoo occasionally had external schedules that required him to go out.

Although he wasn’t one to travel often, the reason Haejin could travel abroad frequently in his previous life was also thanks to his external schedules.

There’s no rule that only the CEO goes on business trips, and since he is the CEO’s direct family, it wasn’t that surprising an important trip was scheduled for him.

But the problem was the timing.

Currently, Beomwoo was cohabiting to keep Jeong-yeon in check, as he might approach Haejin again to harm him.

The thought of being left alone again was frightening.

But he wasn’t in a position to tell him not to go, so he was at a loss for words.

Beomwoo stealthily looked at him and then spoke in a heavy voice.

“That’s why I was thinking…… Would you like to come with me?”