Chapter Text
Wonho knew there was something out of place as soon as he stopped in front of the apartment door with Hyungwon behind him. He sighed when he thought of the reason so he didn’t get surprised when the door was opened without using his key, it wasn’t locked. Inside, the lights were on and one man with dark grey hair was waiting for him on the couch. Wonho felt his cold stare on him and his eyes moved then to Hyungwon, before turning back to Wonho. It had been a long time since they met but Wonho was kind of waiting for him to appear, the news were spreading fast and he heard them from Minhyuk weeks ago. If Minhyuk knew, it meant that the desition was made. Sooner than later this meeting would happen.
Wonho just wished it could have been later.
-”Hyungwon, could you please wait for me in my bedroom?” -Wonho asked, still with his eyes on the older man.- “Just walk through the hallway, it’s the door at the left.”
Hyungwon frowned his eyebrows, feeling the tension in the air. He bowed slightly to the old man and then walked to the hallway, following Wonho’s words.
It was the first time Wonho saw Hyungwon showing respect to someone older than him, it looked out of place; but who usually didn't get intimidated by the old man on the couch? Maybe Minhyuk.
-”Hoseok…” -The older man spoke with his low-husky voice, Wonho made a bow and didn’t straight up until the man spoke again- “When I thought you couldn’t get worse you’re here bringing a man to your bedroom.”
-”Did you come here just to say such words?” -Wonho asked- “That’s not your style, grandfather.”
The elder man smiled a little and then got up from the couch, he was as tall and wide as Wonho; he had musculature not so many men his age would have and that together with the cold stare in his eyes would intimidate most people. Wonho didn’t looked away, he tried his best to keep his eyes on the elders, he was amost used to it after years and years of practice but even know it could get uncomfortable after awhile. No one dared to look directly to the elders eyes, Wonho would do it just because he knew how much his grandfather hated it.
-”Who is the man waiting for you in your bedroom?” -The old man asked and Wonho made a face because of the way he made it sound.
-”It’s a friend. What are you doing here?” -Wonho asked back. He already knew, he just wanted this to finish quickly.
The man looked around and then his eyes were again on Wonho’s.-”I see you’re still not doing anything with your life, you’re just as useless as always.”
-”I’m not useless.” -Wonho replied- “You’re here because you need something from me, either way you wouldn’t show up. You’re just too arrogant to admit it.”
The old man cynically smiled. -”It’s more than obvious your father wasn’t around to discipline you when you were a kid… Now you think you have the right to speak to me the way you want. I can destroy your world, Hoseok, remember that. The only reason you’re still here is because I’ve been merciful.” -The man said and Wonho relaxed a bit when his eyes didn’t meet anymore. The grey haired man went back to the couch, sitting with his legs crossed one over the other.- “Will you return your hair to a normal color or are you still trying to look like a jerk? Speaking of which, how is Minhyuk doing?”
Wonho narrowed his eyes and looked directly to the man. He hated to hear Minhyuk's name coming out from his lips, he didn't deserve to pronounce the name of such pure being. “-You like to ask for respect but what about gaining it?”
-”You have everything you have because of me I don’t need to gain anything from you, you ungrateful shit. I asked a question, Hoseok.”
Wonho tensed his jaw. -”He’s fine.”
-”Good.” -The man said- “Keep it like that.”
-”I will, I always do.” -Wonho replied- “But it has never been because of you.”
-”I know, but since that’s the only thing you’re good for I have to at least make sure you do it right.”
-”Yeah.” -Wonho held his breath, he wanted him to leave. Wonho thought for a few seconds and then spoke with sarcasm.- “I heard you found someone else to hereditate the family’s company. Congratulations.”
-”Did you expect me to choose you?” -The cynical smile was back on the man's face.- “I would understand it if at least you were trying to continue with the family tradition, I know Minhyuk is doing that.”
Again Minhyuk's name on his lips. He hated it.-”Minhyuk doesn’t have to deal with somebody like you.”
-”Oh, he has but he knows he’s the successor of one of the biggest medical companies of the country, he knows his responsibilities and he works hard for it. Obviously, it would have been better for him to do some medical career instead of psychology but he’s still doing better than you, no one is going to take over his place unless they find someone more capable of doing the work. The least you can do is maintain a good relationship with our partner’s son, it’s good for the business, I’m pretty sure he would still take the family’s company into account in the future.”
Wonho frowned and looked away, he would never get used to the way his grandfather would talk about the relationship he maintained with Minhyuk, as if he was doing him a favor. Minhyuk was his best friend, that was it. Even if he wasn't the child on of one of the most important families of Korea’s medical business he would still be his friend.
-”Next week I will announce the successor of the company. I’m here because I thought I could be as merciful as I always am towards my ungrateful grandson and let him know he still has the chance to fight for his place. Of course, it means you’ve got to work hard and find a partner.”
-”What?”
-”I’m tired of you not doing anything, Hoseok. The least you can do is settle down to gain your place, you have one week. It's your decision to keep this life you have or having me to crash your world down.” -Wonho tensed his jaw and the old man got up, walking to the door of the apartment. Wonho didn’t turn back to see him, but he heard his last words.- “Oh, tell Minhyuk he is invited to next week event, whether is you or someone else who gets elected.” -And then he was all by himself in the livingroom.
Wonho sighed and closed his eyes, meeting his grandfather was always a burden. Hyungwon appeared again in the livingroom and Wonho opened his eyes as soon as he felt his presence there.
-”So your family is owner of the Shin Group. Good.” -Hyungwon was serious and Wonho made a face.- “Why didn’t anyone tell me that? Why didn’t I know you’re from the Shin family?”
-”Well, I’m not sure that’s what you say when you meet someone, Hyungwon.”
-”That’s not what you say…? You don’t say what? Your name?”
-”Hyungwon… I’m not in the mood, ok?” -Wonho said, sighing and letting himself fall on the couch.
-”I know Minhyuk is from the Lee family but I didn’t know you…” -Hyungwon didn’t finish, and Wonho tried hard to just ignore him- “I feel like I’m between nobles, I’m a plebeian.” -Hyungwon looked at Wonho.- “Ok, wait, I have some questions.”
Wonho rolled his eyes but looked back at Hyungwon, waiting for him to speak.
-”Why isn’t your father the successor?”
Wonho sighed and then spoke. -”He’s dead.”
-”Oh… Wow, sorry.”
-”It’s been years already.”
-”Uhm… Ok." -Hyungwon shrugged his shoulders and then continued speaking.- "Next question is… Why is your grandfather looking for someone else instead of just choosing you?”
-”He doesn’t like me.” -Wonho said, not wanting to explain the rest but Hyungwon just kept looking at him. He sighed, getting close to lose his patience- “You’re a plebeian, right? My mother was. My father fell in love with her and they escaped together, I was born, he died years later and my grandfather decided to recognize me as his grandson so he would have his successor. He took me away from my mother's side, because I 'needed' to be raised as a Shin. I didn’t want to continue with the family business, so I started to do what I wanted and my gradfather started to look for a new person. That’s it.”
Hyungwon thought for a few second and then spoke with a soft voice. -”Does Minhyuk know about this?”
-”About what?”
-”Does he know you’re his friend because your family told you to?”
-”You clearly didn’t listen the part where I said I don’t care about any of this. Yes, I met Minhyuk because he’s the son of an important family but no, that’s not the reason he’s my best friend.” -Wonho looked to some other place- “I'm like my father... I don’t care about all this family thing nor about the relationships we should or shouldn't have, I find it kind of stupid.”
-”But still, you live of it.”-Hyungwon said and he took a seat close to Wonho-”It’s attractive… The idea of being with someone so powerful.” -Wonho looked at him with one of his eyebrows raised.- “I mean, maybe not for you but for people like me… It’s like dating a prince.”
-”Hyungwon, if you’re going to start with all those adjectives I…”
-”No, listen.” -Hyungwon explained.- “What if that’s exactly the reason Shownu is with Minhyuk?”
-”What?”
-”I mean… Think of it.” -Hyungwon said.- “As long as I know, you've been knowing Shownu for years and Minhyuk has liked Shownu since the very begining. Minhyuk was announced as the successor of the Lee Group not so long ago, just before Shownu confessed he liked him. Shownu is a doctor. Wonho, I mean…You’re already part of the royal family but still it is better to keep a good relationship with other royal families, if it is important to you when you’re already part of it, just imagine how important it could be for Shownu when he’s a plebe.” -Wonho bit his lower lip.- “He’s literally like… dating the prince.”
Wonho got up.
-”It can’t be truth…”
-”We can figure it out” -Hyungwon said with a smile and Wonho shot him a glare- “Remember I told you I have information?”
Wonho looked at him.
-”What is it?”
-”Jooheon is Shownu's best friend and I’m pretty sure he knows something.” -Hyungwon started to talk and Wonho started to feel anxious.- “Obviously, you can’t directly ask him anything… But you know someone who’s close enough to get the information.”
-”Who?”
-”Jooheon’s little sister.”
-”Who?” -Wonho frowned confused and Hyungwon smiled with malice.
-”Lee Jeung.”