Chapter 297: A PAST MISTAKE
BAEK JEHO’S current dilemma happened just that morning.
He belonged to Ilsung Electronics’ Mobile Sales Marketing Department. To be precise, he was a part of the Marketing Team.
For some reason, even though the president of Ilsung Electronics should be busy, Kim Heedo kept bothering him. Sure, Kim Heedo should be interested in their department since the Ilsung phone series held the title for the highest volume of physical products sold globally.
But, sometimes, his boss would call him just to have coffee with him.
Like now.
Baek Jeho glared at Kim Heedo, who looked peaceful while sipping his coffee.
Thankfully, that place was far from their company.
And it was still working hours.
Hence, he wasn’t worried about getting caught by his fellow employees while he was having coffee with their boss.
And my superiors won’t look for me because, technically, I’m still working.
Baek Jeho had a meeting outside the company earlier, and then Kim Heedo summoned him as soon as it was over.
Here we are now.
"Don’t glare at me," Kim Heedo said casually. "Listen, Jeho-ya."
"It’s still working hours, President Kim," Baek Jeho reminded Kim Heedo politely. "Please address me properly."
"Sure, Manager Baek."
Yes, Baek Jeho was already a manager in one of the most important divisions of the company. He got hired in Ilsung Electronics as an entry-level employee, without using his connection to Kim Heedo.
I’m not a parachute hire.
He was proud to say that he had been consistently making his way up the corporate ladder. It had only been a few years since he had joined the workforce, and he had already reached this far.
I’ll be promoted to Team Leader soon.
"Woohee’s third birthday is coming up soon."
Ah.
Kim Woohee was Kim Heedo and Park Sohee’s youngest child— the only girl in the family.
"Of course, I’ve been preparing plenty of gifts for her since last year," Kim Heedo said proudly. "But I feel like they’re not enough. Thankfully, I received a revelation last night. So, I want to ask for your help. Is Cho Euntak busy these days?"
"Why are you suddenly bringing up my partner in this conversation, sir?"
"Because you’ll get upset if I directly contact Cho Euntak."
Damn right.
"That’s why I’m asking you if your lover is busy these days," Kim Heedo said. "I want to commission him."
"Euntak has just finished his new coloring book," Baek Jeho answered. "It’s only been a week since he started his vacation. I’m not sure if he’ll accept a commission when he’s supposed to be on a break. He needs to relax to refresh his creative juices, you know?"
"I know, but still, it would be nice if you ask him for me."
"Alright, sir. I can do that. But may I know what kind of commission do you have in mind?"
"I like how Cho Euntak paints landscapes."
Baek Jeho smiled proudly.
That my Euntak’s specialty— painting landscapes.
And that was also how Cho Euntak quickly gained fame in the art community.
The stationery products that his partner created— like the viral coloring book for adults, featuring the famous tourist spots in South Korea— were always sold-out.
Cho Euntak’s success contributed a lot to why GoldHee Publishing was thriving today.
"So, I want to commission Cho Euntak to paint the amusement park that I’m planning to build for Woohee as her birthday gift."
Baek Jeho almost choked on his coffee. "Amusement park... as a birthday gift? Woohee isn’t even old enough to ride most of the rides there."
"I told you— the revelation came to me last night when Sohee Hyung told me that Woohee enjoyed their carousel ride in the mall that day," Kim Heedo said, shrugging. "Plus, building an amusement park takes time. By the time it’s finished, I’m sure my princess is already old and big enough to ride attractions other than the carousel."
Aigoo.
Chaebols are really filthy rich.
"Did Sohee Hyung agree with that extravagant birthday gift for your daughter?"
Kim Heedo avoided his gaze guiltily. "That’s why I want to commission Cho Euntak to paint the amusement park I imagine for my princess. I’m sure my husband will be convinced once he sees how beautiful the amusement park that I envision for our Woohee."
Aigoo.
Oh, well.
It’s not up to me, anyway.
"Alright, sir. I’ll tell Cho Euntak," Baek Jeho said. "And, yes, I’ll also ask him to keep it a secret from Sohee Hyung in the meantime. You better tell Sohee Hyung about it, though. I don’t want Euntak to get caught in your fight."
"Why do you assume that my husband and I will fight over it?"
"Because we both know that Sohee Hyung doesn’t like it when you shower your children with extravagant gifts?"
"Tsk."
Baek Jeho sipped his coffee, satisfied that he managed to stress out Kim Heedo a bit.
"You’re such a smart-ass, even now," Kim Heedo complained after seeing the smug look on Baek Jeho’s face. "Should I promote you? I feel like the mobile division’s marketing team will prosper even more with a boss like you."
"I’ll report you if you do that, sir."
Kim Heedo laughed softly while shaking his head. "Just kidding. I won’t have the power to promote you next year, anyway."
"Are you quitting, sir?"
"I’ll be moving to Ilsung Financial Networks starting next year," Kim Heedo said. "The financial sector of the company has always been my goal since the flow of cash is there. I’ll continue my successor training there until I become the Vice Chairman of Ilsung Group. Then, eventually, the chairman. But that’s still a far future for now."
"Congratulations, Mr. Nepo Baby."
"Shut up. You’re also a nepo baby. You just refuse to take over your father’s company."
"I don’t have a father."
"Right."
Baek Jeho had cut ties with his father after his father’s mistress almost killed Cho Euntak.
Kim Minjae had been released from prison a long time ago, but I’m not sure if he and Abeoji have gotten back together after that.
"Anyways, Kim Hanhae will be in charge of Ilsung Electronics once I move to the financial sector," Kim Heedo said. "He’s the one who has always been interested in the mobile division, anyway. Right now, he’s working hard as an assistant manager in the new-gen product development team. I heard he even started an art club there. He said he wanted to inspire the design people to create more aesthetically pleasing phones..."
Yep, this was why chaebol families were called chaebols.
The conglomerate is run by one family.
While Kim Heedo was bragging about his younger brother’s achievements, Baek Jeho got a message from an unknown number.
He usually ignored texts and calls from unknown people.
However, for some reason, he felt the need to check it.
"Sir, may I look at my phone for a moment?"
"Go ahead," Kim Heedo said, looking at his watch. "We need to go back to the company soon anyway, so let’s finish our conversation here."
Baek Jeho just nodded politely before checking his phone.
And as soon as he read the message...
[Baek Jeho, I asked our old classmates for your number. This is Kwon Chaewon. You may not remember, but we went out for aln during our last year in high school.]
Ah, Baek Jeho remembered.
Not because Kwon Chaewon was special, but because it was the time Cho Euntak suddenly disappeared from his life (before they met again as college students).
At the time, Kwon Chaewon consoled him while he kept ranting about Cho Euntak.
[You must be wondering why I suddenly reached out to you after this long. I’ll get straight to the point— I’m contacting you because I can’t raise our child on my own anymore.]
Baek Jeho almost choked on his saliva.
"What’s wrong?" Kim Heedo asked worriedly, handing Baek Jeho a glass of water. "Did you get an emergency message from Cho Euntak?"
Baek Jeho didn’t know how to explain it, so he just handed his phone to Kim Heedo.
Kim Heedo looked confused at first, but then he accepted the phone and read the message that was still on the screen.
After that...
"Let’s head back to the office first," Kim Heedo said sternly. "This isn’t the right place to talk about this."
"Yes, sir."
And that was how Baek Jeho got scolded in Kim Heedo’s office all day.
***
"BAEK JEHO, you can’t keep this a secret forever," Kim Heedo said, leaning against his chair while sighing. "Tell Cho Euntak that a woman is claiming that she had your child years ago."
Yes, that was Baek Jeho’s current predicament.
How can I tell Cho Euntak that I may have fathered a child with one of my ex-girlfriends?
"Shouldn’t I meet her first, Hyung?" Baek Jeho asked awkwardly. "Kwon Chaewon said she’d bring the child if I agree to meet her."
"You want to meet that woman behind Cho Euntak’s back?"
"No, it’s not like that, Hyung. I want to ask for a paternity test first. Then, once the result is out, I’ll tell Cho Euntak."
"Do that if you want Cho Euntak to dump your stupid ass."
Aigoo.
Heedo Hyung developed a filthy mouth after hanging out with Sihyuk Hyung-nim a lot...
"Baek Jeho, go home," Kim Heedo said, sighing while shaking his head. "I’ll keep this a secret from Sohee Hyung in the meantime. So, go and confess to Cho Euntak first."
To be honest, Baek Jeho was scared.
But Kim Heedo was right.
No secret lasts forever.
***
"JEHO-YA, you’re home?"
Baek Jeho felt his heart break when Cho Euntak welcomed him home with a bright smile on his face.
His partner looked so cute in his apron.
He could smell the delicious aroma coming from the kitchen. So, obviously, he got home while Cho Euntak was still preparing dinner.
This sucks— I don’t want to hurt Euntak, but...
"I’m almost done cooking," Cho Euntak said cheerfully. "It’s been a while since we’ve had home-cooked meals, right? I was too busy with my last project to even cook a decent meal for you. I still feel sorry about that. So, let me make it up to you now that I’m on vacation..." He trailed off, and then he knitted his eyebrows worriedly. "Jeho-ya, what’s wrong? You look pale."
"Euntak-ah, I’m sorry."
"For what?"
Baek Jeho took a deep breath, and then he finally told Cho Euntak about everything.
***
THE DINNER that Cho Euntak had painstakingly prepared was left untouched.
How could he have the appetite to eat after hearing what Baek Jeho had confessed?
His long-time boyfriend might or might not have fathered a child with his high school ex-girlfriend.
That happened way before they got together, and yet...
It sucks. Jeho didn’t cheat on me. He also didn’t know that he had, allegedly, gotten his ex pregnant. And he came clean to me as soon as he found out.
Cho Euntak was grateful for that.
However...
Am I being too narrow-minded? Why do I feel betrayed, even though I know that Baek Jeho didn’t cheat on me? I hate this feeling.
"Kwon Chaewon said she wanted to introduce the child to me."
Cho Euntak clenched his hands tight, keeping his mouth shut because he could tell that Baek Jeho wasn’t done talking yet.
"I’m planning to meet her, Euntak-ah."
Ouch.
"I’ll ask Kwon Chaewon for a paternity test. Just because she said that the child was mine didn’t mean I should believe her right away. After all, I knew that I had never failed to use protection in the past. Of course, I’m aware that contraceptives don’t work 100%. Even so, I believe it won’t be rude to Kwon Chaewon if I ask for proof that the child is really mine."
Oh, god.
The more Cho Euntak listened, the more awful he felt.
I feel like I’m going to throw up...
At least, Baek Jeho was smart enough to ask for a paternity test first.
And it looked like his boyfriend wasn’t happy with the situation either.
If he acted like he was ready to embrace the child immediately, I would have felt hurt.
"But I can’t do this alone, Euntak-ah," Baek Jeho said, almost pleading. "Please come with me when I meet up with Kwon Chaewon and the child."
Oh.
Cho Euntak was relieved to hear that Baek Jeho needed him.
He would have been mad if his boyfriend told him that he would meet Kwon Chaewon alone.
However, that didn’t mean he was completely fine.
Am I a bad person for feeling like I won’t be able to accept Jeho’s child with another woman, in case the child turns out to be really his?
***
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