Chapter Text
Shen & Co.
Today at 4:42 pm
ZHANG FUCKING HAO
Open your fucking phone. I swear to God if I don't fucking get a fucking reply within the next 10 fucking minutes, I'll make your company go fucking under.
Shen Ricky
CEO | Shen & Co.
Gyuvin blinks once, twice, then thrice. He reads the content of the email he just received again. He thought he consumed too much caffeine today and is feeling delirious. But after blinking many times, the words in the email did not change one bit.
His initial thought is, ‘How many ‘fucking’ does this email contain?’
He didn’t get to count that, fortunately, because his professional instinct finally kicked in and he thought, ‘Is Shen & Co. under a cyber attack?’
Gyuvin immediately reaches his phone across the table and types a message to Park Gunwook, a fellow secretary working in Shen & Co.
Park Gunwook, Shen & Co.
Message
Today 4:43 pm
hey gunz
is Shen & Co. okay?
Gyuvin anxiously taps on the table while waiting for Gunwook’s reply. He also opened the browser on his computer to search for any recent news about Shen & Co. If they were truly under attack, it wouldn’t take long before the news gets into the headlines.
However, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. All the most recent articles just talked about their upcoming collection, which will be released next month. He decided to close the browser and then display the email back on his screen.
Now that he has the time to count how many ‘fucking’ in the email, he counted that there are five or six, if we also count the one in the subject title.
“The hacker seems so upset,” he spoke out loud, then checked his phone, only to see that Gunwook still hadn't replied.
His attention shifted when a small face peered behind his computer screen.
“Who’s upset?”
It was Han Yujin, an intern he had been babysitting mentoring since last month. And apparently, he is also Zhang Hao’s half-brother, an information shared with Gyuvin only. It is awkward to even call him an intern because he’s practically also an heir of this company. But his boss specifically insisted that he should be treated as an intern and nothing more.
Yujin is chill with that as well. He shared before that he never truly feels like he is one of Zhang’s anyway, as he is a child born out of wedlock. But despite all that, it is clear as day that Zhang Hao genuinely cares for Yujin and only wants him to be protected from the unpleasant eyes in this industry.
“Oh, nothing. Shen & Co. seems to be under hacking attack,” Gyuvin simply shared.
“Hacking?” Yujin asked while scratching the top of his head. “I was just in a call with Ricky hyung just a while ago, though. He didn’t say anything about being hacked or something.”
Right, Shen Ricky, the CEO of Shen & Co. and the sender of the email he just received, is their cousin. They are literally a family of wealthy individuals owning numerous successful businesses, like massive malls and luxurious hotels, and the biggest hospital in the country, which their grandmother owns. Basically, they’re a family of golden spoons, money beds, and mansions, and Gyuvin always feels flustered whenever he remembers how rich these people are.
“Oh, really?” Gyuvin said, now he is the one scratching his head. “I just got a horrendous email from them, though.”
Gyuvin clicks a few times on his computer to bring the email back to his screen and show it to the younger. It is too late before he realizes there are too many curse words in that email, and it may not be suitable for Yujin to read.
Yujin doesn’t seem to mind those countless f-words because he just laughed and said, “They weren’t hacked, that’s probably just Ricky hyung.”
Gyuvin is confused. Why would such a composed and highly respected person like Shen Ricky lose their mind and write too many ‘fucking’ in their email?
“He told me the same thing in the call earlier, except the curses, of course. He ordered me to tell Hao hyung to check his phone, but I told him he is busy and I don't want to interrupt,” Yujin said, flopping back on the sofa in Gyuvin’s office. “Apparently, it was about the preparation for his wedding next month. That’s probably why he got impatient and wrote an email to our company.”
Everything made more sense than the initial suspicion that they were under cyber attack. Shen & Co. is a large company, after all, their security wouldn’t be just a piece of cake.
But something else caught Gyuvin’s interest, “Wait, wedding? Of whom?”
Yujin slapped his hands on his mouth in surprise and said, “Right, it hasn't been released to the press yet.”
For some reason, Gyuvin felt his heart fall to the bottom of his guts. Yujin’s silence feels so long that it gives time for Gyuvin to overthink so many scenarios in his head.
‘Is Zhang Hao getting married?’
‘He didn’t tell me to clean his schedule next month, though.’
‘Most importantly, who is the fiancé?!’
Yujin gestures a ‘shh’ on his mouth before he speaks, “Don’t tell it to anyone, please. It looks like they haven’t finalized anything yet because Hao hyung is too busy and reluctant to cooperate.”
Gyuvin felt his heart become heavier as Yujin kept him on the edge of a cliff by not telling him for whom the wedding is.
Yujin was about to speak again, but a notification on his computer caught both of their attention.
A new email came with a subject, Re: ZHANG FUCKING HAO
Gyuvin has other things he is curious about more than the content of that newly arrived email. He has to know if the wedding next month will be for Zhang Hao or for God knows who.
But Yujin has opposite plans from him. “Oh look, Ricky hyung replied,” he said, then reached for Gyuvin’s mouse, then clicked the email open.
Shen & Co.
Today at 4:50 pm
Re: ZHANG FUCKING HAO
Hello.
My apologies for my earlier behavior.
This is Shen Ricky, Shen & Co. CEO, and Zhang Hao’s cousin.
The first message is intended for him. I did not realize that I sent the message to his assistant’s email instead.
Is it all right for you to forward my intent to Zhang Hao? Please inform him that it is an urgent matter concerning my upcoming wedding. If that is not feasible, I would appreciate it if you could provide me with alternative contact lines that would enable me to reach him directly.
Also, please keep this information from anyone for now.
Thank you for your assistance.
Shen Ricky
Chief Executive Officer | Shen & Co.
Just like earlier, Gyuvin blinks at it once, twice, and then thrice. He keeps on reading bold letters like he was suddenly a three year old kid who can’t even read simple phrases.
“Wow, I thought it was supposed to be a secret even to their closest acquaintances,” Yujin said while having a pout on his face. “I can’t believe he let you know about his wedding.”
“So.. It was Mr. Shen’s wedding?” Gyuvin asks carefully after the content of the email finally registers to him.
Yujin looks at him like he is a stupid human asking the most obvious question. “Yes, who else would it be?”
Gyuvin felt his heart go back to where it belongs, at the center of his chest, right below where his left hand had been dramatically clenching since earlier. Thankfully, Yujin is too innocent to notice it.
“Nothing,” Gyuvin answered with a small grin, then clicked the ‘reply’ button on the email.
ZB Corp. Secretary | Kim Gyuvin
Today at 4:52 pm
Re: ZHANG FUCKING HAO
Greetings, Mr. Shen.
This is Mr. Zhang Hao’s assistant, Kim Gyuvin.
Mr. Zhang is currently occupied, but your message will be forwarded. Rest assured that this information will be handled with utmost confidentiality.
Thank you and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.
ZB Corp. Secretary | Kim Gyuvin
Executive Secretary
After sending the email, Gyuvin reached for the documents on his table, those papers didn't need an immediate sign but he figured he should have something to use as an excuse that would not get an instant glare from his stressed boss.
“Are you going to Hao hyung?” Yujin asked with a lollipop in his mouth. Where did he even get that?
“Yep, wanna come?”
Yujin typed something on his phone before he stood from his seat, then nodded, “Yeah, I have some business to propose with him.”
Gyuvin stands in confusion as Yujin puts his unfinished lollipop back into its plastic packet and squares up his shoulder and walks like human-form Johnny Bravo out of their shared office.
He was about to follow behind him, but his phone vibrated a few times in his pocket. He reached for it only to see Gunwook had finally granted him his attention.
Park Gunwook, Shen & Co.
Message
Today 4:53 pm
Can you be a good friend and ask me if I’M okay first?
Do you have any idea what happened today?
Mr. Shen just asked me to clean his schedule for 2 weeks
Nothing is wrong with that, maybe he suddenly just wanna have fun or something
except IT IS THE 2 WEEKS RIGHT BEFORE THE RELEASE OF OUR NEW COLLS
How the fuck can I even pack all those already packed schedule in two weeks MAX???!!?!?
All depts will fucking kill ME
Gyuvin was about to write a lengthy message to comfort his friend, careful not to reveal that he was already aware of the reason behind his suffering, but then Yujin came back and peek from the doorframe.
“I hate you,” he declares with a glare and a pout. “I was talking nonstop on the way, I thought you were just behind me. The employees I passed by look at me with utter disgust for talking with the air.”
Gyuvin stopped himself from smiling at how cute Yujin is, instead he coos at him and pat his back, “Oh, I’m sorry, Yuyu. Let’s go, I’ll be right behind you this time.”
Yujin cutely glared at him for a moment before he squares up his shoulder again and transforms back to his Johnny Bravo cosplay.
Gyuvin lets out a little chuckle before he quickly types a three-word reply which he hopes will calm his pitiful friend’s sorrow, then follows behind Yujin.
Park Gunwook, Shen & Co.
Message
Today 4:58 pm
bro calm down
Yujin remains talking while they’re on their way to Zhang Hao’s office at the end of the hallway. It is probably the same talks he was spouting alone earlier. He said he has a great plan to propose to Hao, that it will surely bring immense success to ZB Corp., and that Gyuvin should back him up later.
He tries to ask what it is about but Yujin simply replied, “You’ll see later.”
Gyuvin just shrugged it off and didn’t pry any further, he thinks it’s just something silly. What he didn’t realize sooner is that the younger looks seriously determined despite his goofy Johnny Bravo form.
When they arrived in front of Zhang Hao’s office, Yujin didn’t even bother to knock and burst straight inside the office. Gyuvin closed his eyes as the stress suddenly kicked at the top of his head. He mentally takes notes that Yujin’s next lesson will be about office etiquettes.
Instead of following straight behind Yujin, Gyuvin chose to knock at the already open wooden door of the office before walking in.
It was the knock on the door that cues Zhang Hao to raise his head. He looked first at Gyuvin, still by the door, waiting for Hao’s approval that it is okay to interrupt. Hao simply nodded, signalling his secretary to walk in.
Hao belatedly noticed the presence of Yujin busy rummaging through the snacks at the corner of the room. His palm immediately flies to his throbbing forehead.
“How long have you been here?” Hao asked while looking at Yujin pocketing a few chocopies in his slacks.
“Just a little while. He’s with me, Sir.” Gyuvin answered on behalf of the younger.
Zhang Hao sighs, “He didn’t knock, didn't he?”
Gyuvin bows his head in an apology, “I’ll teach him better, Sir.”
After Yujin is done with his daylight robbery, he goes next to the sofa at the center of the office and plops down himself.
“It’s my fwirst time seeing you in two weeks awnd you’re awweady bwullying me,” Yujin said with a mouthful of chocopie on his mouth.
“Yeah and you look more interested in those chocopies more than me anyways.” Hao bickers back while massaging his temple. He then looks at Gyuvin, then to the documents on his hand. “What are those?”
Gyuvin strides closer to Hao’s table to give him the documents. Only then that he notices the state his boss is in.
A pair of clear glasses covering his slightly reddish eyes, a sign that he’s been in front of his computer all day. Hair messy probably from running his fingers through it many times, a habit that shows only when he’s super stressed.
And the thing that immediately drew Gyuvin’s attention is his undone tie peacefully sitting on both sides of his chest, and the two unbuttoned top buttons of his black button-down shirt. Gyuvin silently gulps at the sight of Hao’s collarbone peeking through the exposed opening.
When he noticed that Hao is looking at him, slightly confused, Gyuvin immediately gathers himself all together and flicks on his professional self. No time for fantasizing about your boss today, Kim Gyuvin.
“Right, here are the documents needed for your sign,” Gyuvin said, then handed over three or four folders to Hao. He scans the documents one by one as Gyuvin remains standing by the side of his table, stealing a few glances on his boss’ exposed collarbone.
“But hyung,” Yujin suddenly interrupts. Gyuvin looks at him and he’s still on the couch, but now even more relaxed with his limbs above the leather and both of his arms plastered on the backrest. He then continued, “I have an impressive proposal for you. I’m sure it’ll bring 100% success to ZB Corp.”
If Gyuvin thinks it is just some silly idea earlier, it sounds even more silly now, especially now that he’s munching on his second pack of the chocopies he robbed from Hao’s snack corner earlier.
That’s also probably why Hao did not bother to entertain any of his brother’s nonsense and just continued to scan the documents Gyuvin handed over before signing it.
Yujin being Yujin, of course he will complain and pout. “Are you not going to listen to me?”
Hao continues to ignore him despite the cute plea, while Gyuvin chooses to stay away from the family drama, afraid that it might escalate.
There was silence for a while, Gyuvin thought Yujin finally gave up his ‘impressive proposal’ as he calls it.
But then, “ZHANG FUCKING HAO”
Both Gyuvin and Hao flinched in their place at the sudden roar and looked at Yujin from across the room, holding his phone up on his face as if he’a reading something on it.
“Open your FUCKING phone. I swear to God if I don't FUCKING get a FUCKING reply within the next 10 FUCKING minutes, I'll make your company go FUCKING under.”
Gyuvin feels like he’s about to pass out as Yujin recites the contents of the email from Mr. Shen earlier. Not only because it contains so much cuss word that he did not bother censoring but instead he emphasizes it even more.
Hao looks at his brother in disbelief as Yujin bites once more on the snack on his hand.
“That’s from Ricky hyung, by the way.” he casually said and showed the picture of the email from his phone. When the heck did he even take a pic of that?!
Hao’s hand flies back to his forehead for the fifth time for the past 10 minutes they enter his office.
“He was that desperate to reach you that he even send an awful email to Mr. Gyuvin,” Yujin said, then dramatically looked at his phone again. “Look at how many ‘FUCKING’ words this has.”
Gyuvin closes his eyes and prays to all gods he can name, begging them to make Yujin stop emphasizing the f-word, or even better shut Yujin’s mouth all together to not make the matter worse.
“Han Yujin,” Hao starts, voice shaking with all the pent up stress while his hand is still on his throbbing forehead. Gyuvin can tell hell is about to burst and he does not want to be part of any of it.
Unfortunately for him, he is in between the two and he can’t just run away from this volcanic situation. There are two possible scenarios he can do. One is to snatch Yujin’s chocopie on his hand so he’ll get distracted and finally shut up about their family drama — but then he has a few more packs in his pocket so it’ll probably not work. Or second, physically stop Hao from rushing to beat Yujin’s ass to de-escalate the situation — might as well sneak some hug while at it maybe.
But before the situation goes even worse in Gyuvin’s head, a ring from Yujin’s phone cuts the tension.
“Speaking of the devil,” Yujin said and showed his screen with ‘Ricky hyung’ as the caller.
“Don’t you dare answer that inside my office,” Hao threatens.
Yujin grins before his fingers hovers to the green button on his screen then says, “Oops” as it clicks.
“Who’s brother are you?! You’re supposed to be on my side!,” Hao finally burst as the call connects to the other line.
“Me? Everyone’s,” Yujin gleefully exclaimed with a wide innocent smile. “I’m everyone’s favorite brother!”
In between all that, Gyuvin stands frozen in place, looking at Yujin with horror at how quickly he switched up from evil to innocent looking puppy again. For a moment, Gyuvin thinks he raised a monster.
On the other line, there’s another volcano waiting to explode.
“Is that fucking Zhang Hao?” the voice of Mr. Shen is different, it is full of rage unlike the modest tone Gyuvin is familiar with when he saw him before.
Gyuvin can’t help but to feel awkward in between. It feels like he’s watching a soap opera but live. He still doesn't understand why everyone is angry with Hao not cooperating. He knows they’re family but isn’t it normal if one is busy and can’t attend the wedding? It sucks, yes but Gyuvin thought Mr. Shen would be the first to understand if Hao is packed and can’t attend because they are from the same industry.
But then it is their family matter and Gyuvin can’t really talk about them with his own beliefs.
“If only I am not abroad right now, I can burn your building just to talk to you,” Mr. Shen from the other line said.
“You don’t have to burn my company for that,” Hao sarcastically answered.
There was a long deep sigh at the other end, “Then why are you fucking screening my calls and messages, Zhang Hao?”
Before Hao could reply, Yujin butts in again, “Wait hyung, Hao hyung’s secretary is here with us so no more cuss words, take pity on him please.”
Gyuvin points at himself then waves his hands no, indirectly telling him not to drag him onto their soap opera.
There was a silence for a few minutes before Ricky is heard clearing his throat at the other end and with his usual modest voice he said, “My apology, Mr. Secretary.”
Gyuvin bows his head in understanding as if Ricky is just in front of him.
“Stop terrorizing my secretary and just enjoy your pre-wedding vacation there,” Hao said.
“I will not terrorize your secretary if only you actually use your phone and accept my call just once,” Ricky roars once again at the other line but this time with the absence of the curse words. “And please, me and Jiwoong can’t even enjoy this pre-wedding honeymoon because of your stubborness.”
“Why do you even insist on involving me in your wedding? If this is about those best man bullshit, just go with Yujin!”
“Why me?” Yujin interrupts once again while still holding his phone in the air.
There was a long sigh before Ricky continued, “Are you hearing yourself? Yujin is already the ring bearer, he can’t be my best man as well!”
“Ring bearer? What do you think my age is, ten years old?!” Yujin complains once again.
“Aren’t you like twelve or fourteen? That’s somewhat close, that will do,”
“Hyung, I’m already twenty!,” Yujin cries out.
“Yeah whatever, you’re still gonna be our ring bearer,” Ricky firmly said as Yujin put his phone down the couch then stood up and sulked at the corner, near Hao’s snack zone.
The abandoned phone on the couch continues to talk.
“Zhang Hao, you know why I’m doing this,” all of the sudden the talk turns serious. But even then, Hao remains on his seat with his face planted on his palm. “I can understand if you’re busy and can’t find time to attend the most important day of my life. I can let that go but you know yourself, Grandma wouldn’t.”
Hao took his time to reply, “I thought you always hated the ideologies of Zhang’s that’s why you went into rebellion, building Shen & Co on your own and refusing any of Zhang's to take credit for your own work. Why do you sound like you’re becoming one of them now?”
Gyuvin knows a little about this story. Shen Ricky, though he is carrying Shen as his last name right now, is legally a Zhang, with his father and Hao’s father being siblings. When his father died after a sudden heart attack, a year later it was revealed that he would not inherit the hotel his father left for him and would rather venture in a new business completely different from the businesses their family established. It was a big uproar a few years back, Ricky suddenly announced the creation of Shen & Co.
With its name, it is a giveaway that Ricky doesn’t want it to be associated with any of the Zhang companies. Everyone in the industry expected him to be blacklisted for rebellioning from his family, for his company to fail, and he will have no other choice but to crawl back to the family he tried so hard to escape from. But it goes the opposite, it thrives to the point that no one talks about him being legally Zhang Ricky now, but fully acknowledging him as Shen Ricky.
The media did not go into details with what happened internally. Gyuvin remembers being curious about it too, after all it’s a talk of the town, but it died down with nothing getting revealed why. The Zhang’s or probably Ricky himself paid tons to keep everyone quiet.
Gyuvin doesn’t know anything before but this time he’s getting a little bit of an idea.
“Do you know when was the last time I’ve seen a genuine smile on your face?” Ricky asked but then answered it himself. “Seven years ago.”
All of the sudden, Gyuvin felt like a cold water was dumped on his head as it dawned on him that this conversation is a personal matter and that no matter what his position is in the company, it is not something he should be hearing. He has the full will to walk right off the office and give them their personal space, but he chose to just stand there frozen in place like he’s watching a soap opera.
Hao still has his face buried on his palm so he probably didn’t know that Gyuvin is still standing beside his table.
Gyuvin took that as the chance to quietly walk to where Yujin is sulking and grab his arm lightly, “Let’s go. Let’s give them some space.”
Yujin looks at him with a still sulky face and pout, “But I haven’t told him my proposal yet,”
“You can tell him tomorrow,”
“But my phone?”
“We’ll get it once they’re done talking. Let’s give them a personal time for their personal matters first,” Gyuvin said.
It was a silly suggestion because Yujin is literally their family and probably knows all of those matters. If there is someone who needs not to hear this, it is Gyuvin only.
But despite that, Yujin complies, standing up from his sulking position and stealing some more snacks before following behind.
Ricky is still talking on Yujin’s phone as they both walk to the door. Gyuvin tries not to listen as much as possible but he can’t block it completely, all he manages to understand is that Ricky telling Hao he only want to see him happy again.
Before they could exit the office, Gyuvin tapped twice on the wooden door. It is only then that Hao finally frees his face in his palm and looks at Gyuvin by the door.
“We’ll give you some space for your conversation, Sir.” Gyuvin politely said.
Hao smiles a little before replying with a simple, whispery “Thanks.”
With that, Gyuvin carefully closes the door but before he could even close it fully, he heard Ricky talk again, “You know, I can’t let you mourn for Bin—“
Then the lock clicks, and Gyuvin did not get to hear the rest.
As he walks beside Yujin, he thinks about the conversation he overheard before the door closes. I can’t let you mourn for Vin? Or was it Bin? It oddly sounds like his name that even though he knows that he has no right to be curious, he can’t help but to.
“Do you think I can persuade them to make me the ring bearer?” Yujin suddenly asked beside him.
Gyuvin pretended to think for a moment before saying, “I don’t think so.”
Yujin’s face sours a little more at his response, he looks like he’s about to cry at any moment.
“Why don’t you like it? Being a ring bearer is cute,” Gyuvin tries to comfort him.
“That’s the problem, I don’t want to be cute. I’m already twenty but they still think of me as a kid.”
“They simply adore you. Since they only had each other while growing up, suddenly having you must feel special for them. It’s probably like constantly babying a cute dog.”
Yujin suddenly stops on his track and glares at Gyuvin, “Are you saying I look like a dog?”
Gyuvin immediately waves his hand, “Of course not, I just think you’re so cute just like my dog.”
“But your dog is ugly,”
It was Gyuvin who glared this time, “My dog is what?! What do you even know about my Eumppappa?”
“He’s your phone’s wallpaper right?”
“Yes but she’s a ‘she’ not ‘he’!”
Yujin rolled his eyes, then continued walking. “Whatever.”
Gyuvin exhaled through his nose while trying to calm his nerves. Yujin just disrespected his dog by calling her ugly and a ‘he’. He continuously chants in his head that he needs to be the bigger person because Yujin is a Zhang and he’s probably just cranky because of the ring bearer matter.
After inhaling and exhaling in the hallway for a few minutes, he finally had the courage to walk to his office where he saw Yujin lying on the couch, face down.
He looks at him carefully to see if he’s sobbing but fortunately, he is not. Gyuvin goes straight to his computer without saying anything to give Yujin some time to think and calm his cranky side as well.
After a few minutes of silence, Yujin suddenly speak. “I’m sorry,” Gyuvin looks at him and he’s still face down on the couch, “For saying your dog is ugly.”
Gyuvin hides his grin away when Yujin suddenly shifts his position and is now looking at him with puppy eyes and a pout. With an adorable face like that, Gyuvin can’t blame Hao and Ricky for adoring Yujin all the time. He naturally has the perfect face and aura of an ideal youngest brother.
“It’s just that I hate being seen as cute all the time. They wouldn’t even hear me out because they think all I think about are immature stuff. See how Hao hyung ignored me earlier.”
Gyuvin stays silent for a moment while trying to gather his thoughts to not make the swirl in Yujin’s head grow stronger.
“They probably don't want you to stress over those things for now. This industry is so much more stressful than what you can see right now,” Gyuvin starts carefully. “You still have many years ahead of you. I’m sure Hao wants you to enjoy your youth as long as possible until you’re fully ready to carry the weight of being an adult in this industry.”
Yujin’s sentiment, whether it sounds a little bit shallow, is valid nonetheless. It is probably paired with the thought that he is not full-blooded Zhang that he wants to carry his own weight and be useful to the company. But that’s probably the opposite of what Hao wanted for Yujin when he decided to put him on training a month ago.
Yujin remains with a sad face despite Gyuvin’s comfort. “Both of them started getting into business at a young age, even younger than me right now. They didn’t have that comfortable, carefree youth so why would they want it for me?”
“Because they experienced it themselves. Getting robbed of the youth they should’ve had but they were forced to grow up quickly instead,” Gyuvin said. “That’s why they want you to live with it because they didn’t get to with theirs.”
Yujin remained silent but Gyuvin can tell he understands what he meant and isn’t as whiny anymore. He couldn’t help the silent chuckle that came out of his mouth and continued to coos on him as a comfort.
At the same time, there was a knock on his door. Gyuvin’s monitor blocks most of his view of the entrance, so he shifts and peeked through it to see who his guest is
It is Zhang Hao looking straight at Gyuvin with an unreadable face, the same look he always has every time Gyuvin messes up.
There is only one thing he can think of that probably messes up. Did he overhear our conversation? Gyuvin panics inside his head.
But then Hao waves his hand with Yujin’s phone.
“You’re not answering your phone so I just came myself,” Hao said.
Gyuvin immediately scrambles to find his phone. He is aware that it’s been vibrating like crazy since they arrived at his office. The last time he checked, Gunwook was still rambling at how pitiful his worklife is and that Gyuvin should be a proper friend and properly comfort him beyond three words. Gyuvin, being the most amazing friend in the whole-wide world, silences his phone in response.
It totally slipped out of his mind that they left Yujin’s phone at Hao's office and there’s a high possibility that Hao would contact him to bring it back.
Well that definitely goes the wrong way because Hao is standing at his doorway in his own flesh and probably mad as fuck because he has to waste his precious seconds to walk out of his office just to give back a phone.
Gyuvin can’t look him straight in the eye so he just bows his head, “I’m sorry. I accidentally put my phone in silent mode.”
Hao only nods a little before shifting his gaze to Yujin, “Hey, your phone. Don’t you want it back?”
Yujin didn’t answer, instead he extended his arm while still lying face down and opened his palm for Hao to put his phone in.
But Hao didn’t comply, instead he walked over and settled on the single sofa at the foot of the couch Yujin is on.
“Aren’t you gonna talk to me? I thought you had this impressive proposal for me,” Hao softly said.
Yujin grumbles on the pillow, “You didn’t even want to hear it.”
“I was busy earlier. I’m sorry.” Hao calmly apologized as he settled more comfortably in his seat.
Gyuvin watches the two with soft eyes. It’s obvious that Hao is trying to comfort Yujin, although it feels a little awkward for now. The revelation of Yujin’s existence probably gave him a shock when he first heard it. It is easy to tell that Hao is still trying to figure out how to be a brother to Yujin. But it is also easy to see that he is genuinely trying.
“I’m all ears now,” Hao added.
But Yujin doesn’t back down, “Forget about it. I lost my mood.”
Hao sighs, “If this is about the ring bearer matter, you know I have no control over that. If you wanna sulk, do that to Ricky.”
Gyuvin looks at Hao at the sudden change of his tone. Lo and behold, there is a slight crease on his brow which shows discontent. They were having a soft encounter just now but Hao had to ruin it with his impatience.
Gyuvin intentionally coughs loudly. Hao immediately caught the nuance and looked at his secretary with a defensive face. Gyuvin silently signals to him to be calm and extend his patience. Hao rolled his eyes and sighs once again.
He seems to get what Gyuvin is telling him because the next thing he said, “But I can try to talk him out of it.”
Yujin visibly flinched at that, like his ears peeked up at the sound of treats.
Hao probably noticed that as well because he continues his sentence. “You know after thinking about it, it seems like a not-so-great idea right, Gyuvin?”
“Right, right. Yujin is undeniably cute but there’s probably a cuter kid they can get out there,” Gyuvin goes along and even paired it with a painfully awkward laugh. He only hoped Yujin would buy it.
“Right, if I’m not mistaken, Jiwoong has a very cute cousin named Matthew. They could probably get him instead,” Hao continues.
With that Yujin slowly springs up from his sulking coffin and looks at his brother with doubtful eyes. “Really?”
“Yes,” Hao nods. “I’ll call him tomorrow to tell him that.”
“You promise?”
Hao nods once again, “Yes. I can call him right now but I want them to enjoy their day first.”
“That. But also that you will seriously think about what I’m about to say and not get angry with me?”
“I have to hear it first.”
Yujin shakes his head firmly, “Promise me first.”
Hao sighs once again and looks at his secretary, as if asking if it’s a good idea to be angry now before he even hears Yujin’s proposal. Gyuvin, even though it is not his business if the two brothers fight in front of him, feels the need to intervene. Once again, Gyuvin silently signals him to calm down and hear his brother out first.
Hao flew his hand on his head just like earlier. He’s probably overstimulated today with all the papers in his desk, the call with Ricky, and Yujin’s sulking. He’s probably experiencing a head-cracking migraine right now and as much as Gyuvin wants to stop this conversation for his boss’ sake, he is aware that Yujin is as stubborn as Hao and wouldn’t easily back down unless Hao collapsed on the floor in front of him.
This conversation is basically just a battle of who is the most stubborn between the two. It probably runs in their blood.
“Fine. I’ll seriously think about it,” Hao gives in with his hand still massaging his head. “But I can’t promise that I won’t be angry, especially if it’s a stupid idea. So try your shot, Han Yujin.”
There is a sharpness in his voice but Yujin surprisingly didn’t seem to mind. Instead, he shifted in his seat and fixed his posture, as if he’s an actual investor sharing his proposal to ZB Corp.
“You know, Ricky hyung’s wedding will be a huge talk of the town once it is revealed to the press,” Yujin finally starts. “The same press that has been bugging you about your own relationship for years.”
“Why is it suddenly about me?” Hao looks confused to say the least. He probably did not expect it to be about him instead of Yujin’s impending fate of being a ring bearer to Ricky’s wedding.
“Because you know who else is bugging you for the same issue? Grandma.”
Hao stays silent as if he’s calculating inside his head where the conversation is heading.
“I mean you have two choices. Attend alone or not attend at all,” Yujin continues. “But both will have the same consequences.”
“If you choose to miss the wedding, the press will take it as a rift between you and Ricky hyung. They will probably fabricate things to make it align with the narratives they want to put to the public.”
Hao thinks for a second before relaxing himself more to the couch, as if he saw a flawed opening to Yujin’s statement.
“I can just sue them,” Hao confidently said.
But Yujin shakes his head, “But the damage will still be there. The general public will probably ride the issue. It has been long known that you and Ricky have been inseparable since birth so for them it would make more sense that there is an internal conflict between the two of you than not.”
Gyuvin unconsciously nods at Yujin’s argument. ZB Corp had its fair share of issues in the past. With the press always pitting Hao and Ricky whenever they see a chance and the public enjoying the gossip without batting an eye whether it is true or not.
But those gossips can be treated as mere gossip, except when it crosses its bounds. Hao and Ricky are both attractive young and rich individuals under their 30s. It is beyond their control that people will like them just because of those qualities. Some even go to the point that they feel like they are in a parasocial relationship with either of them, feeling the need to defend them. Those usually lead to even bigger issues, snowballing into something big like boycotting one’s business.
Boycott leads to negative sales. Negative sales leads to loss of trust of the investor. Losing an investor leads to a bad company’s reputation. And so on.
Anyone in this industry knows how powerful one news article is. It can either create or ruin a business.
“Who says I’m not gonna attend?” Hao argues back to Yujin.
“You can attend, of course.” Yujin nods slowly as if he already knows Hao will use it as his refute. “But alone? The press can write something out of it too but probably not as bad as the first scenario.”
Hao was about to say something but Yujin cut him off.
“But you know who else can say something about that?” It is a familiar question because it has the same answer as earlier. “Grandma’s evil gossip-y friends.”
For the second time, Hao kept his silence.
“You know those old ladies Grandma puts up with whenever they’re in front of her but would talk shit once they’re on their back? The ones you suspect have been feeding some information to the shady press about the internal conflicts happening to the Zhang’s. I don’t even understand why Grandma is still putting up with them.”
“Because they’re as powerful as us, maybe even powerful in some aspects. Grandma keeps them because their family are big investors of Zhang’s chain of businesses, not having them on our side is more of a loss than a gain. We can’t just cut them off carelessly.” Hao finally speaks.
“Exactly,” Yujin replies. “Instead of getting rid of them, which is impossible, we can just fool them, right?”
This time, Hao is not the only one confused. Gyuvin also found himself having a confused crease on his forehead.
What on earth is Yujin thinking?
“Just get straight to the point, Han Yujin,” Cranky Hao is back in his voice and once again Yujin doesn’t seem to mind the indifferent tone. “What are you trying to tell me?”
Yujin once again shifts in his seat, crossing his legs and neatly placing his entangled hand above his lap like he is a grown up professional all of a sudden. He looks confident, like he seriously knows what he is saying, as if he is not the twenty-year-old sulky and stubborn Han Yujin mercilessly chomping on chocopies earlier.
Gyuvin has a high expectation of what his actual plan is. After listening for almost half an hour, he can’t help but think it is an incredible idea, even without actually hearing it. Somehow, Gyuvin feels proud, as if he raised Yujin himself.
But then he heard the crumble of his expectation fall to the ground following the next seven words he said.
“Have you considered getting a fake boyfriend?”