II - 58

On Friday evening, the alumni gathering of Korea University’s Graduate School of Business was held at a lounge bar in a Gangnam hotel.

This quarterly event attracted a diverse group of alumni, many of whom were heirs to some of South Korea’s most prominent conglomerates. As such, the gathering often resembled a business consortium rather than a casual reunion.

Given the elite nature of the attendees, no one missed these gatherings when invited.

“Congratulations on your marriage, Senior.”

“Senior Seo I-jun, I sincerely congratulate you on your wedding.”

As soon as I-jun entered the bar, junior alumni approached him to offer their respectful greetings.

“Thank you.”

In the past, he would have simply nodded briefly and moved on. But today, his face remained lit with a warm smile.

“Stay away from Kang Suk-tae. You only know his face, right? I don’t even want you talking to him.”

He remembered I-ryeong’s plea.

If he were alone, he might have pursued the unresolved lawsuit. But she had asked him to bury the past and move on quietly, especially since they were newlyweds and she didn’t want any disruptions.

“Here’s my business card.”

“Oh, here’s mine too.”

The juniors eagerly handed over their cards to the smiling I-jun.

It was impossible for others not to notice how different he seemed. Clearly, he appeared happier and more approachable now that he was enjoying married life.

“Hankuk Glass and First Pulp, huh?”

“Yes, Senior.”

“Should I give you my card too?”

I-jun glanced between the juniors and their business cards.

“It’d be great if you did.”

Their eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“Really?”

Though he initially intended to brush it off as a joke, he ended up handing out his cards. The juniors received them as though they were precious treasures, cradling them carefully with both hands.

Last year, AE Cosmetics achieved record-breaking sales, earning headlines in major economic journals. News of surpassing last year’s revenue in this year’s second quarter also made waves.

Furthermore, AE’s strong foothold in overseas markets made everyone eager to collaborate. Most attendees at today’s gathering were there precisely for that reason.

Moreover, since I-jun was hosting this event, attendance was higher than usual, and most participants were waiting for their chance to speak with him.

“Hankuk Glass—aren’t you the company that recently patented eco-friendly containers? We’ve been watching you closely. Nice to meet you.”

“Thank you, Senior!”

With growing public interest in environmental issues, the trend toward eco-friendly cosmetic packaging had taken off. This was an area I-jun paid particular attention to.

“I’ll call you to visit the company sometime.”

“Thank you so much.”

Encouraged by I-jun’s positive response, the junior bowed deeply and extended his hand. I-jun shook it warmly and patted his back, signaling for him to rise.

The scene caught the attention of other attendees, whose eyes widened in disbelief.

I-jun was typically known for his cold, calculated demeanor and rarely gave anyone an opening for collaboration. His transformation before and after marriage intrigued everyone.

“First Pulp, right? I believe you supply labels and shopping bags to Hermès Beauty.”

“The contract expires this year.”

This junior’s eyes gleamed with hope.

“I recently read an article about First Pulp receiving FDA approval in the U.S.”

“That’s correct, Senior. We’ve patented biodegradable materials, which will greatly benefit AE.”

“If Hankuk Glass and First Pulp collaborate, the synergy could be significant. Let’s go around together and have dinner.”

I-jun responded positively. While his company was already developing similar technologies, he was simultaneously scouting potential partners.

Given the advantages of strategic partnerships in terms of cost and time efficiency, there was no need for further deliberation. Still, since nothing was finalized yet, he kept his emotions in check and focused on tending to the juniors.

“Thank you for taking the time to see me today. Shall we head inside?”

I-jun remained courteous to the end, deliberately ensuring his actions were noticed. His changed demeanor drew even more attention.

People whispered among themselves, wondering how marriage could transform someone so drastically. Naturally, curiosity about I-ryeong, the woman behind this change, grew.

“Wait, are you really here alone?”

His friend, Hyuk-joon, rushed over and glanced around.

“Yeah.”

I-jun responded nonchalantly to his friend’s question.

Even though it was a couples’ event, he hadn’t brought his wife.

“You’re unbelievable. Why keep hiding her? Is she refusing to come? Even so, shouldn’t you have brought her?”

Disappointment settled on Hyuk-joon’s face.

“I didn’t want to bring her. I don’t feel like showing her off to just anyone.”

“What? Are you really Seo I-jun? My friend Seo I-jun?”

Hyuk-joon snorted in disbelief.

“If I’m not Seo I-jun, then who do you think I am?”

“You’re acting crazy. Marriage has turned you into a lovesick fool.”

Shaking his head, Hyuk-joon clicked his tongue as if witnessing something absurd. Chuckling, I-jun slung an arm around his shoulder and suggested they head inside.

The two men, often described as the most handsome figures in Korea University’s business school, commanded attention as they strolled through the venue.

Both towering close to 190 centimeters, with overwhelming physiques and chiseled faces, they were frequently labeled as a “match made in heaven” for their striking appearances.

As they exchanged greetings with seniors and juniors alike, preparing to take their seats—

“Hey, Seo I-jun.”

A slurred voice stopped I-jun mid-step. He turned his head to see—

“You spent quite a bit this time, huh? Heard you rented this place? Guess the dividends are treating you well?”

Kang Suk-tae, clearly tipsy, held a glass of whiskey in his hand.

I-jun stared at him silently. They hadn’t interacted during university but had become familiar faces at these gatherings.

“Hey, why don’t you go change? Why show up in a stiff suit? Park Hyuk-joon, you too—showing off your executive status?”

Suk-tae smirked, lightly tapping I-jun and Hyuk-joon’s chests.

“You look great, Senior.”

“Ah, Hyuk-joon, you’ve got an eye for these things? Impressive.”

“We have much to learn from Senior’s fashion sense and more.”

Suk-tae wore a flashy shirt covered in conspicuous luxury brand logos.

He was handsome too, tall enough to rival the two men, drawing attention wherever he went.

“Where’d you buy that? At an outlet? We should get one too, right, Seo I-jun?”

“Hey, are you mocking me?”

“Me? Why would I mock you, Senior?”

Hyuk-joon shook his head, his eyes crinkling into crescents.

“But seriously, why do you keep calling him ‘Senior’? Want to get your contract cut? Call him ‘Director,’ you idiot.”

“This isn’t the office. Besides, this is a private gathering combined with an alumni event, right? Isn’t that correct, Senior?”

Only then did Suk-tae realize Hyuk-joon was teasing him. The flashy luxury shirt he had proudly worn was now being mocked.

“Didn’t bring your wife? I thought today’s gathering was my promotion celebration party. I heard you covered the costs? Doesn’t that make this your celebration too?”

Suk-tae redirected his frustration toward I-jun.

“Are you really not bringing her? You didn’t hide her nearby or something?”

“No.”

I-jun answered plainly, without any excuses. His expression hardened, starkly contrasting with how warmly he had treated the juniors earlier.

“Call her now. If she couldn’t come to the wedding, at least let us meet her. Do I have to explain everything to you? Are you an executive without a brain?”

As Suk-tae raised his voice and sneered, his laughter dripped with mockery. Anyone could see it wasn’t genuine.

Still, I-jun stood silently, unmoving. This only fueled Suk-tae’s irritation.

“You know what? There’s something I’m curious about.”

Leaning forward, Suk-tae exhaled the strong scent of whiskey directly toward I-jun.

“It’s killing me to hold back, but saying it feels awkward. What should I do?”

The snickering taunt hit I-jun’s ears clearly—and Hyuk-joon’s as well.

“Oh dear, our senior here is very drunk. Shall I book a room upstairs for you?”

“You stay out of this, brat.”

“I’m the one closest to Senior here. How can I step back?”

Hyuk-joon tried to defuse the escalating tension, but—

“Ask away. What do you want to know?”

I-jun spoke, rendering Hyuk-joon’s efforts futile.

“The name of your wife—it’s the same as someone I know. Didn’t I mention it before? That there was some dumb girl who was easy to play around with? And guess what? Her name matches your wife’s. Wouldn’t you be curious?”

Suk-tae took another swig straight from the whiskey bottle, subtly needling I-jun. He grinned ear to ear as if this were the most amusing thing in the world.

“I wonder if they look alike too. The girl I know has a killer figure. Hey, it hasn’t been long—why don’t you call her over?”

I-jun knew full well that Suk-tae was deliberately provoking him. Remembering I-ryeong’s plea, he tried his best to endure.

“That girl practically got me promoted to director. Who knows what kind of person she is?”

But when Suk-tae mentioned I-ryeong’s name, I-jun’s expression grew increasingly fierce.

“After she left the company on her own and cleaned up the rumors herself, they even gave her a special promotion.”

“….”

I-jun gritted his teeth but continued to restrain himself. However, memories of I-ryeong’s winter outings resurfaced.

She had been recognized for her abilities at First Apparel and promoted to assistant manager, only to walk away from everything.

If it weren’t for Kang Suk-tae, she could have lived comfortably. The thought of her suffering made I-jun feel like he was losing his mind.

“What’s this, Seo I-jun? Are you angry? Why so fierce?”

At that moment, Suk-tae poked I-jun’s shoulder lightly, mocking him further.

“…Senior.”

I-jun called out softly, drawing Suk-tae’s attention.

It seemed tonight might end with an incident—but he felt it would be worth it to avoid regret later.