“It’s past breakfast time. You didn't eat breakfast and slept, did you?"
He stared at me blankly for a moment, making my playful joke fall flat. Han Jinheon turned off all the fairy tree lights as he asked.
“I woke up for a bit in the morning, had some cereal and fruit, digested for a bit, and then took my medicine. I did good, right?”
I might look like I just woke up, but I had, in fact, taken care of all my meals and was resting. As I proudly puffed out my chest and smiled with my eyes, Han Jinheon said, “Good job,” and roughly ruffled my hair.
“You probably didn’t want to eat alone, you should have woken me up.”
“I thought about it… but I figured you’d want to sleep in more on a day like this, so I didn’t want to bother you. I’m okay with eating alone now.”
Han Jinheon moved the hand that was stroking my head and began to fiddle with my ear. He’s touching me a lot this morning. My cheek, my hair, and now he’s even touching my ear.
If it were anyone else, I might have wondered why they were being so rough, but because it’s Han Jinheon, it feels good. Even though I just woke up, I’m feeling drowsy all over again, my eyes are even closing.
“You’ll have to eat lunch alone, too.”
“Lunch too? Ah, you said you had work this morning! I stupidly forgot! I should have woken you up!”
“It’s fine.”
“I’m sorry, hyung! I was just so caught up in Christmas….”
“I said it’s fine.”
But I’m not fine at all.
Thinking back, yesterday when we were talking about places we wanted to go for Christmas, I had forgotten this fact and was going on about wanting to go here and there from the morning. And he didn’t even stop me. He listened to everything but didn’t remind me that he had a schedule today.
Honestly, he should have just told me this during a meal. If we talk about it in bed, I'll forget!
“But what kind of work was it? I don’t think you told me.”
“I didn’t.”
“Can I ask what it is…? Is it company work?”
“Something similar. A Christmas charity event.”
He said there was an event for children at the hospital, and he had decided to participate this time. Seeing him click his tongue as he mentioned something about Kim Yujin, it seemed she was the one who had asked.
“You’re not even a hospital employee, but you’re attending? Is that okay?”
“I may not be a hospital employee, but I am part of HANQ Group. We’ve also already donated a considerable amount.”
“A donation? How much?”
I asked with wide eyes at the unheard-of news. Aren’t donations supposed to be made public? To do it so quietly.
“About five billion won from HANQ Construction itself.”
“What?! Five billion?!”
The sound of “billion” made me gasp.
Around the end of the year, you hear news of donations from here and there, and there are individuals and companies that gladly contribute large sums, but I never imagined the person in front of me would be one of them. I never thought my family would be like that. It hits me anew that I'm the only one without money, that this man is a chaebol.
Han Jinheon, who was about to turn away, raised his index finger as if he’d forgotten something.
“And.”
He began.
“About one billion in your name, Han Sol.”
“My, my name…? Me…?”
“Yes, the one in your name wasn’t to the hospital, but to another organization in need.”
“……”
“Your jaw is going to drop this early in the morning.”
You’re the one who said something that would make my jaw drop.
With a calm face as if it were no big deal, Han Jinheon held my chin and gently closed my mouth, then walked away towards the kitchen. I watched him with a dazed expression, then covered my mouth with both hands and collapsed sideways onto the floor.
My heart trembled as if I had just experienced something scary and terrifying. Even my hands trembled too.
How much did he donate in my name?
***
Han Jinheon, who arrived alone at HANQ Seoul Hospital without Song Hyeon-oh, didn’t have much to do at the charity event. For the sake of his public image, he took a few necessary photos and did his best to smile kindly for the child patients filling the seats. That was all.
The photos were related to the billions donated independently by HANQ Construction, not the HANQ Group.
The donated funds were used to hold the event and buy presents for the children. In the future, the hospital would use it to purchase necessary medical equipment or to take appropriate measures for children who had to postpone surgery or treatment due to financial problems. Photos that could imply all of this were sufficient.
While donating to this place, Han Jinheon also donated in Han Sol’s name. He considered donating to HANQ Hospital, but he felt Lee Geumyeong would snatch it up midway, claiming it was for her son. So, he made an appropriate donation to an organization for children who were the sole breadwinners. This was scheduled to be released as a news article, even without photos. He had already finished coordinating with the media team within the PR department.
His reason for donating separately under Han Sol’s name was simple. Just because.
If he had to elaborate, he wanted to let people know that his pitiful younger brother was living quietly, and he also wanted to soften the image of his now-only-cute brother, a far cry from his previously vicious image. If Han Sol's image improved, the caliber of pests buzzing around him might improve as well.
It was as he was stepping down from the small stage after taking photos with the hospital officials. Right below, he met someone unexpected. It was Lee Geumyeong.
Dressed for Christmas in a black dress with a red scarf, she drew immediate attention upon her arrival at the charity event. Her beautiful face, elegant gait, and gentle speech were enough to overwhelm everyone.
With watchful eyes on him, Han Jinheon maintained a poker face while sneering inwardly. Lee Geumyeong’s graceful behavior seemed more awkward than natural. It wasn’t like her.
Lee Geumyeong stood next to Han Jinheon with a gentle smile, as if for everyone to see. Those in the know were aware this mother and son were not biologically related, but since most people didn’t know, they had to act quite affectionately to avoid unnecessary rumors.
While pretending to welcome Han Jinheon, she quickly revealed her hostility.
“You look like you never expected to see me here on such a fine day. The feeling is mutual, so why don’t you fix that expression?”
“You’re the only one who needs to fix your expression, Stepmother. As for me, people have no expectations since this is my usual expression, but you are different, are you not?”
“I’ll return your words right back to you. I’m a regular attendee, so I know where the line is, but you’re not, are you? This is my territory, so you’d better play along.”
“Your territory… Come to think of it, you were particularly keen on owning the hospital. You even had your eyes on the foundation’s shares. But Aunt always managed to stop you each time.”
“It’s upsetting when you put it that way. Isn’t it just me taking care of the parts the Chairman and you neglect because you’re busy with work? And stopping me? Why don’t you ask Aunt again?”
His aunt’s name was Han Dongmi, Han Dongsik’s older sister and the chairwoman of the HANQ Medical Foundation. Lee Geumyeong believed she was closer to her than her nephew, Han Jinheon, and was quite confident. After all, she had consistently worked hard to gain recognition, even after transitioning from mistress to wife.
“The donation amount increased a bit this time, so you were the culprit. The Chairman was very surprised too. Donating five billion without a word to him.”
“It’s because I care for this hospital quite a bit. Though there was some irrefutable pressure as well.”
Han Jinheon trailed off, looking at Kim Yujin with an indifferent gaze. She was performing a remarkable trick. Busy as she was, she must have learned sometime, as she was engrossed in making balloon animals for the children. She was practically trapped by the kids, just working.
Kim Yujin had asked him to attend this event for her own sake, and Han Jinheon, feeling like he was saving a person’s life, had agreed despite the annoyance. While donating the five billion, he had made it clear to the hospital. That he was giving it based on his trust in the reputation and skills of Dr. Kim Yujin, a doctor at this hospital.
And he had set a condition. He would verify how the donation was being used through Dr. Kim Yujin, so they were to report the details of its use to her transparently. Simply put, it meant: don’t touch her. If Lee Geumyeong had dug into it, she would have known.
“Yes, hello. Merry Christmas.”
Lee Geumyeong smiled brightly and waved at the children whose eyes she met. The children were pure and honest. They liked the pretty woman, but they would get teary-eyed whenever they made eye contact with Han Jinheon, saying he was scary.
She sneered at that fact with a bright smile before speaking.
“I heard my son has been getting injections at this hospital lately. What in the world are you plotting? Didn’t I tell you not to pull any dirty tricks?”
“I don’t recall ever agreeing to listen to that. Furthermore, even if I were pulling tricks, Sol is accepting of them, so I don’t quite understand why you are being so prickly.”
“Are you kidding me? It’s all fine as long as Sol accepts it? And do you think the Chairman doesn’t know what you’re plotting with my son? He was the one who asked me about the hospital matter first.”
“I don’t think he’s unaware. That's why you're asking about Hansol's well-being with insincere concern, isn't it? Even though you haven't contacted Hansol once."
“……”
“Still, it seems you haven’t told him that your son is an unmanifested. If he knew that, he wouldn’t be asking about his well-being; he would have sent a dozen people to take Han Sol away.”
Han Jinheon prodded Lee Geumyeong with a blunt expression.
Han Jinheon knew Lee Geumyeong well. And Lee Geumyeong knew that Han Jinheon understood her well. She hated this aspect of him immensely as an Alpha, but she didn't want to back down due to her pride. If her inner thoughts were exposed, she wanted to confront him even more.
Han Dongsik did not know that Han Sol was unmanifested. Lee Geumyeong hadn’t told him, and she was anxiously hiding it, afraid that he might find out. It wasn’t the right time yet. It really wasn’t.
He couldn’t find out while Han Sol was with Han Jinheon. At least, he had to find out when Han Sol was by her side, where she could do something. At the very least, he had to find out when he manifested as an Omega. Then, setting everything else aside, the chairman might take Han Sol back into his fold based on his trait alone. It didn’t matter if it was a futile hope.
As long as her son was unmanifested, anything was worth a try. She could re-establish her prestige and bring about practical benefits as a result. It would be enough if the nuisance finally became a gem.
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