Burning The House Of Cards: taking revenge on my billionaire family
Chapter 94 - 93. Above The Balcony

Chapter 94: Chapter 93. Above The Balcony

When Sarah looked at Kang Jun, she could only think that opposites do attract. Aside from how rich and powerful they were, Kang Jun and Song Yonghwa couldn’t be more different in appearance and personality.

People said men reached their peak when they reached their forties. Sarah had no idea if it was true, but Kang Jun did look like someone at the peak of life. He was the epitome of a perfect bachelor; tall, fit, handsome, and filthy rich. He looked like he could do a triathlon in a suit and go to a board meeting right after.

Too bad for those who still think they could become the madam of Mirae, because the man was already taken--even if not many people knew it. Sarah did hear that he was known to be a player and quite wild in the past, but it seemed like he straightened himself up after Yonghwa broke up with him all those years ago. The twins said he had to go through rehabilitation and literally grovel on Yonghwa’s feet to ask for forgiveness--but that was a story for another time.

The effect of his presence was direct; his gaze, while calm and casual, made Mason tense up like a schoolboy in front of a headmaster.

Well, it was natural. After all, if it was about influence, even Lee Hyuk had to bow and use honorifics when talking to Kang Jun.

"Cha--Mister Chairman?" Mason almost stuttered, unlike his usual composed self. "What brings you here?"

"I’m looking for Daniel’s friend," Kang Jun replied, shifting his gaze to Sarah. "Did he tell you I was looking for you?"

"Yes, he did," Sarah nodded while pressing her lips to quell laughter. No wonder Daniel made a point that he was delivering a message. She raised her head with a bright smile after controlling her expression. "I was just about to look for you, Chairman."

"Good! You don’t have to look for me anymore, now!" Kang Jun laughed while opening his arms wide; the mere gesture seemed to fill the large hall and sucked everyone’s attention.

An incredible feat born not only from his status, but a cultivated aura befitting of his name.

Hmm...her bodyguard also had that kind of effect--commanding presence and attention-sucking aura. But it was probably because of his dashing appearance.

"And what’s with that stiff way of talking? You make me feel old," Kang Jun spoke again, pulling Sarah’s focus back. The way this man spoke, though...with a bit of mischief in it, was very different from Yonghwa. "Call me the way you call him, understood?"

Huh? Sarah tilted her head slightly--what did she call Yonghwa, again? Uhh...oppa? But she only did that when she wanted to ask for something...

With a slight blush from embarrassment, Sarah replied awkwardly. "Umm...yes, Orabonim."

Wouldn’t it be weird to suddenly call the chairman of one of the biggest companies by oppa? No matter how much he wanted to feel younger.

"...good enough, I guess," Kang Jun shrugged, not too satisfied but generously let it slide. "Let’s talk somewhere else, I need to rest before the main event."

"Yes, umm..."

Sarah would have just walked away following this man, who seemed to be as tall as Hajin despite not having mixed blood. But her innate courtesy made her look back toward her previous ’conversation’ partner. That, however, gave her a chance to see Mason’s flabbergasted and slightly dread-filled expression--which was rather satisfying.

Kang Jun followed the girl’s gaze and acted as if he just realized someone else was there. "Oh, if it isn’t HS’s heir--you’re old man Hyuk’s firstborn, aren’t you?"

"Ah, yes..."

If it was anyone else, Mason would have been livid. To be treated like he was invisible? Over someone else he thought was beneath him? Unforgivable! But of course, he couldn’t say anything even if he was annoyed--just like how his assistants couldn’t say anything every time he mistreated them.

Kang Jun pointed at Sarah with his thumb. "You don’t mind if I take her away, right?"

"Well..." Mason muttered awkwardly. Of course he would mind, since it was against his interest to have Sarah close to anyone related to Daniel. But his lips stretched into a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Of course not, Sir."

"Good, good. Enjoy the party--oh, is the successorship already underway?"

"Father is still healthy, so..."

"Is that so? Well..." Kang Jun paused, recalling what his lover told him about what Sarah was meant to do. All of a sudden, he patted the younger man’s shoulder hard while having a sympathetic laugh. "Good luck!"

Mason blinked and bowed his head while gritting his teeth to hold back the sting in his shoulder. "Ah, yes. Thank you, Sir..."

Sarah pressed her lips--once again, trying her best to restrain herself from laughing. She followed Kang Jun while waving delightfully toward the first son. "Bye, Oppa~"

The gentleman that he was, Kang Jun let Sarah walk beside her instead of slightly behind. Although he walked around without any guards or assistants, no one dared to come closer. Unless the chairman himself called for you, never think you were good enough to approach him--that was the kind of aura Kang Jun had. With that, they could reach the stairs smoothly and climbed up the second-floor gallery.

Observing the older man, Sarah had an inkling that he wasn’t pretending earlier--he truly did not ’see’ Mason back then. The man had no eyes for things that did not interest him, after all. She had no idea which was worse: having someone pretending not to see you, or truly considered to be invisible.

Noticing the girl’s gaze, Kang Jun smiled and asked mischievously. "Did I disturb you?"

"No, Sir--I mean, Oraboeni—" Sarah shook her head. "It’s just..."

She looked around, searching for someone who shouldn’t be disappearing that long. But she hadn’t been able to spot him, even though her puppy was someone who was difficult to miss even in the middle of the crowd.

"I’ll have my people inform your mad dog about your whereabouts," Kang Jun, who was more perceptive than Sarah thought, said with an intriguing smile. "Quite a ferocious one if I recall correctly, even though he looks like he has a good pedigree."

Sarah looked at the older man with interest. "Have you met him?"

"Just briefly," Kang Jun nodded and casually leaned against the railing overlooking the hall, halting their steps. He looked at Sarah and smiled. "Hwa told me the gist of your situation."

"I see..."

Well, Yonghwa did tell her to see Kang Jun if she needed anything, so he would have at least told his lover why.

"And so--" the older man raised his index finger and pointed at Sarah’s face. "You have to tell me what you want for your very late birthday gift."

Sarah blinked before chuckling in amusement. "Is that your mission?"

"Yeah--can’t have him scolding me once he’s back because I failed, so you really have to make one," Kang Jun laughed, replying honestly.

Sarah quite liked it; it was better to know that the ’help’ was part of Yonghwa’s investment rather than an act of kindness. That way, she didn’t have to feel like she owed someone and had to repay it someday.

"Hmm...I don’t particularly have something in mine for now," Sarah muttered while tapping her fingers on the railing, looking at the crowd while wondering where her puppy disappeared to. "But...are you okay with him skipping this event?"

"I don’t care about him attending the event--it’s the group’s event, not mine," Kang Jun shrugged, a subtle smile playing on his lips. "But I do miss him terribly."

It had been a month since Yonghwa went away to shield himself from the summer heat--something he always did every year, according to the twin. Didn’t matter if there was an invitation or the president was calling; if those old geezers wanted his expertise, they better be the ones coming to him.

But in that case...couldn’t Kang Jun just do the same?

"Why don’t you just follow him?" Sarah asked curiously.

A laughter came before the reply. "The last time I came uninvited, he didn’t even let me pass the airport gate and immediately sent me home with his private jet."

"Huh..." Sarah widened her eyes. That was kind of extreme, she thought while asking cautiously. "And you’re...okay with it?"

Kang Jun smiled mysteriously; the kind of smile that looked resigned, but also peaceful. "That’s how he punishes me."

If it was punishment...then it must have been about the things that made Yonghwa break their relationship almost two decades ago. But they had been together again for more than a decade, so...

"After all this time?" Sarah asked in surprise.

Stroking the banister with his thumb, Kang Jun replied in a soft voice. "Forgiveness is not something that a perpetrator decides--it’s something that the victim gives. I can try to atone and be the best human, but he still has the right to decide if it’s enough," his eyes, looking at something that wasn’t there, glowed with steady affection. "He can love me while still not forgiving me--and I know I deserve that."

"Oh..."

"You too," the older man turned his gaze to Sarah.

The girl blinked. "Yes?"

"Don’t let others decide who or what you can forgive--or when," the man said. "Decide for yourself, without being clouded by your sentiment."

"That’s...impossible, isn’t it?" Sarah frowned a little bit. "People don’t usually stay on a good term with people they don’t forgive."

"Well, if that’s how you fare, then so be it. Hwa is just Hwa," Kang Jun laughed; the solemn tone had vanished from his voice. "What I mean is, don’t ask other people whether or not you should forgive someone for what they had done to you," he tapped the whip of nemesis with the back of his fingers. "After all, as long as they don’t experience it themselves, they won’t understand."

"I see..."

When she thought about it, Kang Jun probably knew Yonghwa’s revenge story--perhaps even there? She wasn’t sure about it, but she was sure about Kang Jun’s harsh journey to sit on the chairman seat. He had to quite literally fight his own father for the position by cooperating with his uncle.

"Ugh--I sound like an old man!" Kang Jun grumbled while shuddering, suddenly feeling cringy from his own words. "Enough of that; tell me what you want so I can make a decent report to your investor."

Sarah laughed. "Well, since I can’t think of one now..." she had been trying to think of one while stretching the conversation, but she didn’t find anything worth Kang Jun’s influence--not yet, anyway. In the end, she looked at the older man with her wide eyes and blinked innocently. "Can you give me a blank cheque instead?"

"Heh!" Kang Jun laughed amusedly, and a corner of his lips curled deeply. "Clever girl. Well, as long as it’s within a birthday budget."

Sarah narrowed her eyes. "That’s not very specific."

How much would a birthday gift budget prepared by one of the richest men in the country be?

"It depends on my mood of the day you make your request," the older man replied cheekily, prompting Sarah to chuckle. It seemed like she would have to use ’oppa’ when making a request next time.

"Fair enough."

She nodded, feeling satisfied by the night’s event. She got to spread advice and received one in return--plus a powerful blank cheque for her plan for the future. She’d like to tell his puppy about it, but...

Where is he?