Red Mansion

Chungrim paused as he was about to press the elevator button. The 21st floor. He knew the number well, but his finger wouldn’t move easily. While Chungrim hesitated, the door closed, as if the elevator had no patience. It was late, and the elevator, with no one else using it, remained in the basement for a long time.“Ha.”Chungrim clenched and unclenched his hand, frowning. He remembered the thin arm he had gripped tightly. A few days should be enough. No, for Kim Sung-kyung, even half a day would suffice. Just a short confinement should be enough to fix his behavior.That’s how Chungrim had grown up, and everyone around him had lived the same way. He didn’t know if this was abnormal, or what might be wrong with it.So why did he feel so uncomfortable, like there was a foreign object lodged in his chest? He had lived without conscience or sympathy, so why was he feeling guilty now?“Phew.”Chungrim tilted his head back and let out a long breath.Kim Sung-kyung, sobbing silently. Kim Sung-kyung, limping with an injured leg, being dragged. Kim Sung-kyung, with ruined soles of his feet. Kim Sung-kyung, trapped in the middle of a shabby and dark room.“……”The curve of his eyes and the corners of his mouth twisted amidst his tousled hair came to mind. That small head was filled with so much information about Chungrim. Maybe Sung-kyung knew more about him than he did.He was a cunning brat who only called him brother when it was convenient. Sometimes it seemed like he preferred drugs and sex over Chungrim himself.Even if you’re crazy, why didn’t you remember me? Then I wouldn’t have done this to you. At the end of blaming Sung-kyung, a faint laugh escaped Chungrim. His throat bobbed slowly, and his tilted head returned to its normal position. With a pained expression, Chungrim murmured.“Ha… Damn it, I can’t do this.”He pressed the open button and stormed out of the elevator. After that, everything became urgent. As he started the car and drove, the black tires screeched against the gleaming floor. Less than 30 minutes had passed since he locked Sung-kyung in Room 422. It was far too short a time to correct his behavior.But still… But still, maybe this would be enough. Kim Sung-kyung, who had always been obedient and focused all his attention on Chungrim. By now, he would have cunningly assessed the situation. Now, there would be no chance he wouldn’t remember Chungrim. While heading back to the Red Mansion, Chungrim rationalized his actions and sped up.After almost slamming his car to a halt, he headed towards the mansion. He roughly pushed open the glass door, covered in dust and handprints, and crossed the hallway. The path he had dragged Kim Sung-kyung along earlier, he now ran alone.He passed by the store he thought of first when thinking of Kim Sung-kyung. A faint smell of mold seemed to linger, but it was quickly covered by the dry floor smell.Few lights were working properly, possibly broken. Following a quickly flickering bulb and a blue emergency exit light, he climbed the stairs. White powder scattered as he stepped on the cracked, crumbling steps.From the 2nd floor, he took out the key. A label was attached to the broad side of the key, but the words “422” written with a marker were too worn and old to be clearly visible.“There’s nothing but stuff like you around.”The surge of emotions was hard to describe. It was a mix of anxiety, relief, and unfamiliarity. He tightly gripped the key he would normally avoid touching. He didn’t care about the metallic smell that would cling to his palm.When he inserted and turned the key, there was a click. Was this the sound of unlocking or locking again? It had been less than 30 minutes; would Kim Sung-kyung still be there, or had he run off again? His heart pounded needlessly. When he turned the doorknob, it moved smoothly without resistance. Chungrim’s lips slowly curved into a smile.He gently pulled the door open. A familiar yet unfamiliar smell rushed out. It was different from the smell of mold or poverty.An instinctive unease washed over him.The pungent smell made his heart start to beat loudly. Thump, thump. He hadn’t heard his heartbeat this loudly since witnessing his father’s death.“…Hey.”Chungrim urgently threw the door open. Wind rustled his hair, but the thick, sticky, fishy smell grew stronger.His sharp eyes quickly scanned Room 422. The room was too dark to see well. Even the floor, which used to be painted with a square of moonlight, was entirely black. Narrowing his eyes, Chungrim searched for Kim Sung-kyung.“……”Finally, he found a figure slumped under the window. It was hard to recognize him because his shirt wasn’t white like before. Chungrim stepped into Room 422 with his shoes. The square of light on the linoleum floor was filled not with moonlight but with blood.“Kim Sung-kyung.”Blood covered the shirt, linoleum, and even the wallpaper. The smell of blood was so strong it gave him a headache. Sung-kyung lay face down, facing the entrance. He felt suffocated.“…Kim Sung-kyung.”Had he been watching the door until he closed his eyes? Chungrim collapsed and put a hand under Sung-kyung’s nose. There was a faint breath. He stripped a pillowcase to tightly wrap Sung-kyung’s blood-soaked arm. Blood continued to flow, covering Chungrim’s hand. His wet hands started to tremble.“Stay with me, hey!”No matter how loudly he yelled, there was no response. Even though summer was over, Chungrim’s forehead and back were drenched in sweat.“Damn it.”After securing the thin arm, he hoisted Sung-kyung up. He carried the limp body and ran across the blood-stained linoleum. The sticky sound of blood on his shoes followed him. Confirming Sung-kyung’s faint breath, he rushed down the emergency stairs. It was the most urgent stride he had ever taken in and out of this place.He couldn’t remember how he got to the emergency room. The whole time he gripped Sung-kyung’s wet wrist tightly. Blood dripped onto the seat even after soaking the pillowcase.Every glance at Sung-kyung in the passenger seat showed a face growing paler. His lips turned blue, drained of any color.Chungrim was overwhelmed by the sense of helplessness he had felt when his father died. His breathing became labored. Even after all this time, despite having grown up, he was still weak and powerless against death.Multiple doctors and nurses worked to save Sung-kyung, who was in critical condition due to severe hypothermia. He had to undergo immediate surgery and needed a blood transfusion. Since Sung-kyung had no identification or guardian, Chungrim had to consent to the emergency medical procedures.Chungrim hesitated as he was about to press the elevator button. The 21st floor. He was familiar with the number, but his finger wouldn’t move. While he hesitated, the door closed. The elevator, unused at this late hour, lingered in the basement.“Haah.”Frowning, Chungrim clenched and unclenched his fist. He recalled the skinny forearm he had gripped tightly. A few days would suffice. No, for Kim Sung-kyung, even half a day would be enough. A brief confinement should be enough to correct his behavior.Chungrim had grown up that way, and everyone around him lived similarly. He wasn’t sure if it was wrong or strange.But why did he feel this discomfort, like something was stuck in his chest? He had lived without conscience or sympathy, so why was he feeling guilty now?“Whew.”Chungrim leaned back and exhaled deeply.Kim Sung-kyung, sobbing silently. Kim Sung-kyung, limping with an injured leg, being dragged along. Kim Sung-kyung, with ruined soles. Kim Sung-kyung, trapped in the middle of a shabby, dark room.“……”The image of Sung-kyung’s bent eyes and mouth under his messy hair came to mind. That small head was full of information about Chungrim. Maybe Sung-kyung knew even more about him than he did himself.The cunning bastard only called him ‘hyung’ when it suited him. Sometimes it seemed like he preferred drugs and sex over him.Even if you were crazy, you should have remembered me. Then things wouldn’t have gone this far. A faint, hollow laugh escaped Chungrim after blaming Sung-kyung. His Adam’s apple bobbed slowly, and his tilted head straightened. With a painfully distorted face, Chungrim muttered.“Ha… damn it.”He pressed the open button and strode out of the elevator. Everything became urgent after that. Starting the engine and spinning the tires, the black wheels screeched against the slick floor. It had been less than thirty minutes since he had locked Sung-kyung in room 422. It was too short a time to teach him a lesson.But… maybe this was enough. Kim Sung-kyung always obeyed him, devoting all his attention to him. By now, he must have cunningly grasped the situation. He wouldn’t forget Chungrim anymore. On the way back to Red Mansion, Chungrim sped up, finding every plausible reason.After almost ramming the car into place, he headed to the mansion. He pushed through the dusty, fingerprint-covered glass door and crossed the hallway. This time, he ran alone along the path where he had earlier dragged Kim Sung-kyung.He passed the shop that first came to mind when thinking of Sung-kyung. It smelled faintly of mold, but the dry floor odor soon covered it.Few lights were working. He followed a flickering bulb and the bluish emergency light up the stairs. Stepping on the cracked and broken stairs, white dust flew up.From the second floor, he took out the key. The key had a worn-out label reading “422.” It was so old that the text was barely legible.“Only a bastard like you would be here.”His sudden surge of emotions was hard to describe. He felt anxious, relieved, and unfamiliar. He gripped the key, which he would normally avoid touching. Though it seemed like the metallic smell would seep into his palm, he didn’t care.The key clicked as he turned it. Was this the sound of the lock being released or re-locked? It had been less than thirty minutes; would Kim Sung-kyung still be there, or had he fled again? Chungrim’s heart raced unnecessarily. The doorknob turned smoothly. Chungrim’s lips curled slowly.He opened the door slightly. An unfamiliar yet familiar smell hit him. It wasn’t the smell of mold or poverty.An instinctive unease washed over him.The fishy smell stung his nose, causing his heart to pound heavily. Thump, thump. The last time his heartbeat was this loud was when he saw his father’s death.“…Hey.”Chungrim flung the door open. The wind blew his hair, but the thick, sticky fishy smell only intensified.His sharp eyes quickly scanned room 422. It was too dark to see clearly. The moonlight casting a dark blue square on the floor was now complete darkness. Squinting, Chungrim searched for Kim Sung-kyung.“……”Finally, he spotted a figure slumped under the window. The shirt he was wearing wasn’t white anymore, making it hard to recognize. Chungrim stepped into room 422 in his shoes. The square of moonlight on the floor wasn’t from moonlight but from blood soaking the floor.“Kim Sung-kyung.”Blood covered his shirt, the floor, the bedding, and even the wallpaper. The blood smell was so strong it hurt his head. Sung-kyung lay face down, head turned towards the door. He felt suffocated.“…Kim Sung-kyung.”Was he looking at the door until he closed his eyes? Chungrim collapsed to his knees and put his hand under Sung-kyung’s nose. Faint breaths were there. He tore a pillowcase and tightly wrapped the blood-soaked arm. Blood still oozed out, making Chungrim’s hands a mess. His wet hands began to tremble.“Stay with me, hey!”No matter how much he screamed, there was no response. Although summer was long over, sweat drenched Chungrim’s forehead and back.“Damn it.”He tightly bandaged the skinny arm and then lifted Sung-kyung. He carefully carried the limp body and ran over the blood-soaked floor. The squelching sound of blood stuck to his shoes followed. Checking Sung-kyung’s faint breathing, he dashed down the emergency stairs. It was the most urgent run he had ever made.He couldn’t remember how he got to the emergency room. Throughout the drive, he gripped Sung-kyung’s damp wrist tightly. Blood from the pillowcase dripped onto the seat.Every glance at Sung-kyung showed his face growing paler. His lips turned blue, with no sign of life.Chungrim was overwhelmed by the same helplessness he felt when his father died. He felt suffocated. Time had passed, and he thought he had grown, but he was still vulnerable to death and helpless.Several doctors and nurses worked together to save Sung-kyung, who was losing body heat rapidly. He needed immediate surgery and a blood transfusion. Since Sung-kyung had no guardian, Chungrim had to consent to emergency treatment.＊＊＊After that, he sat in front of the surgery room for a long time. During that time, anger and self-loathing surged countless times. He had no time to wipe the blood-stained shirt and hands. The oddly cool air in the hospital hallway at dawn made Chungrim even more anxious.Only after hearing that Sung-kyung needed to be monitored in the ICU did his surroundings come into focus. Covered in blood, he looked like a few years ago when he had struggled to survive.He looked at his trembling hands. His left wrist, usually adorned with a watch, was bare and swollen red. Was it anxiety? Unconsciously scratched marks were visible between the dried blood of Kim Sung-kyung.“Crazy. Crazy bastard.”Not content with forgetting me, you tried to die alone? You said you wouldn’t go anywhere, but you tried to leave forever? You said you had nowhere else to go. Were you trying to go to your parents after death? Crazy bastard.I should have known from the nonsense you babbled every night. Chungrim kept cursing Sung-kyung, who had slipped out of his control. His nervously brushed hair was a mess. Just like Sung-kyung, Chungrim’s time was wildly swinging.“Just try dying on your own.”Chungrim glared at the surgery room with bloodshot eyes. He would never accept Kim Sung-kyung’s death. After making him like this, was he trying to escape to an unreachable place? It was laughable.Chungrim stayed there until Kim Sung-kyung’s blood dried stiffly. His wrist inside was scratched and bleeding from all the scratching, but the anxiety that had started couldn’t be easily controlled.Morning came, and he couldn’t stand the night. He had to wander for a while, not remembering where he parked. His car, haphazardly parked, almost in the flower bed, was a sight. When he opened the driver’s door, the smell of blood hit him. Blood had soaked through to the floor.“……”With stiff, blood-caked hands, he picked up the phone lying on the floor. Despite the early hour, there were missed calls. Though the number wasn’t saved, he knew who it was. Calling back, he closed the driver’s door. He was anxious about leaving for this long and had to return to the hospital.The call connected with a loud noise and a rough voice. One of the few guys worth keeping around.― About the old man and his gang you mentioned. They’ve been found.“Where?”Chungrim’s voice was filled with fatigue. He pressed his eyebrow with stiff, bent fingers.― Jangwon-dong. They’ve been moving from inn to inn, but they packed up and left the day before yesterday. We’ll find them if we search the area.“Find him. Get the address and leave it.”― Yes, sir.Finally, the old quack’s trail had been found. Chungrim hoped to resolve the matter before Sung-kyung regained consciousness, though he wasn’t sure if it would be possible. The soles of Chungrim’s shoes were still caked with dark, dried blood as he made his way back to the hospital.＊＊＊It took quite a while to move Sung-kyung from the ICU to a private room. According to the nurse, Sung-kyung would occasionally open his eyes, only to fall back asleep shortly after. He never opened his eyes while Chungrim was present.Still, it was fine. As long as he didn’t stop breathing, it was fine. When the nurse mentioned that Sung-kyung had damaged ligaments and wouldn’t have proper strength in his left hand, Chungrim merely nodded. He was relieved it wasn’t his right hand since the only thing Sung-kyung seemed to enjoy was jotting down notes with a pen.“I’ll be back within three hours. Call me immediately if he wakes up.”“Yes, don’t worry and go.”After moving to the private room, Chungrim practically lived in the hospital room. He always stayed close, fearing Sung-kyung might wake up if he left, but today was an exception. He even hired a caregiver and left for a longer outing.He had received information about the whereabouts of the quack doctor. Normally, he could have had his useless henchmen handle it, but he decided to go personally. There was something he wanted to ask face-to-face.Chungrim drove to the address sent by text. Despite the car still being stained with dried blood, he didn’t mind. He left the hospital with the bloodstains marking his departure, almost like a brand.The car reached a rundown neighborhood not too far away. It was an area under redevelopment, and the place was in chaos. Chungrim parked in front of what could barely pass as a motel if one squinted hard enough.It was strange. The place wasn’t far from the Red Mansion, and it seemed well-hidden. But if they had escaped from the Red Mansion, why stay so close by?Chungrim entered a crumbling two-story building, carrying a heavy bag he had picked up from the hospital’s Room 109. He pushed open a frosted glass door with the bag slung over his shoulder. An old man sitting on a plastic chair turned his head. The TV was blaring loudly enough to hurt Chungrim’s ears.“Need a room? It’s 30,000 won a night.”Chungrim half-covered one ear and nodded roughly. The old man slowly got up and walked behind the counter, similar to a small store’s setup, and put on his glasses. He perched them on his nose and began checking the keys from a distance.Keys were placed in a small container in order. Only one key was missing. That was Chungrim’s destination. It seemed all the other rooms were vacant, so why was the old man taking his time? Chungrim felt his patience wearing thin.“Just give it to me already.”Chungrim tossed a wad of cash onto the counter and wiggled his fingers impatiently. The old man, eyeing the stack of bills, handed over a key. Chungrim snatched it and headed straight for the stairs. Renting a room wasn’t necessary, but it would cover any noise he might make.He unlocked Room 201 with the key. Inside were just a bed, a TV, and a small refrigerator. His first act was to check the window. Iron bars, pointed like teardrops, blocked the exit.Satisfied that there was no escape route, he headed for Room 206 at the end of the corridor. He leaned his ear against the door but heard nothing. Were they still asleep in the middle of the day? He pounded on the door with his fist. Bang, bang. The sound echoed through the dusty corridor. Bang, bang.“Who is it? What do you want?”The voice wasn’t that of the old doctor. It sounded like one of the thugs who hung around with him. Chungrim swung the bag off his shoulder and shouted loudly.“I’m the motel owner’s son. Are you going to pay up or what?”“What? Pay for what?”A startled voice came from the other side of the door, and footsteps approached. Chungrim grasped the handle of his bag, gently swaying it back and forth, continuing his act as the motel owner’s son.“If you don’t pay, you need to leave.”“Didn’t the doctor already pay?”The whispered conversation reached Chungrim’s ears, and he found it amusing that they still referred to the man as “doctor.” After a while, the doorknob turned with a click. Chungrim planted his foot to prevent the door from opening completely.The door opened a small crack, and a familiar face peeked out—a man who had beaten Sung-kyung and carried his parents to Room 109. When Chungrim slipped the bag into the door crack, he released the handle. The bag fell to the floor with a clatter.“What money… damn it.”The man tried to pull the door shut, but the bag wedged in the opening made it difficult. After a few more attempts to close it, he began pushing it open instead, but Chungrim’s foot and body blocked it from opening fully.“What are you doing? Help me out here!”As the man turned to shout inside, Chungrim removed his foot and pushed the door wide open. He then struck the man’s jaw with his elbow, sending him reeling. Without hesitation, Chungrim kicked the man’s stomach, causing him to collapse. He then kicked the bag inside and entered the room himself. Calmly, he locked the door, squatted, and sat on the bag.“What… what the hell?”“Look at you all, getting along so well.”Inside the room, the quack doctor, a burly man, and a middle-aged woman stared at Chungrim in shock. Four people in such a tiny room. Just the thought of sitting there for ten minutes was infuriating.The flustered woman hurriedly got up and tried to open the window, but it was securely barred.“Letting your patient die while you have a good time here?”“How did you… I mean, no, that’s not… I just left because living there was unbearable. What’s the problem? Why did you follow me?”“Sure, it’s unbearable there. So why didn’t you flee far away? Got someone backing you up?”The quack doctor nervously ran his hand through his sparse hair. Chungrim turned to him and asked, “Did the twins tell you to run?”“…”The man’s silence and downcast eyes showed his unease.“They told you they’d back you up if you ran? Promise you a place later? Gave you cash? Those guys solve things with money, not words.”Chungrim’s gaze swept the tiny room. He noticed a small bag and quickly realized it must be the money. One of the thugs subtly stood in front of it.“Did the twins order you to leave, or did they just let you go?”“They’re a bunch of jokers. Did the twins send you here? Is that it?”Though he dodged a direct answer, Chungrim understood. It seemed the twins knew about the quack’s escape plan. Instead of punishing them, they turned a blind eye. They knew full well that Sung-kyung’s father was lying in a hospital bed. Despite their high standing, the twins were still scumbags.“I’m not here to take your money.”Chungrim stood up and continued, “But I’m curious why you ran.”“You think we didn’t notice you cutting off our drug supply? Even that crippled junkie figured it out and got killed. Did you think we wouldn’t notice you trying to starve us all?”That limping junkie had been annoyingly perceptive when sober. He’d noticed the dwindling drug supply and started poking around, which was getting on Chungrim’s nerves. While attacking Sung-kyung was the main reason, getting rid of the junkie was a bonus. Maybe dealing with drugs made the quack suspect something was up too.“Ah, so you ran because you figured it out?”Chungrim laughed and unzipped his bag, revealing surgical tools from Room 109. He had taken everything he could, including antiseptics and bandages. The quack squinted at the bag, wondering why Chungrim had brought it.“I’m not here for money. I need the doctor.”Chungrim tilted his head and smiled. Despite his seemingly friendly demeanor, the doctor remained wary. Chungrim kicked the bag further into the room.“I need to use some needles. Because it’s for someone from the Red Mansion.”“Surgery?”The quack adjusted his glasses. That explained the surgical tools. But who from the Red Mansion? His suspicious gaze remained.Chungrim kicked the feet of the man sitting on the floor.“Need to stitch up a knife wound.”The expressions of the woman and the other thug grew peculiar. Chungrim really needed the doctor for surgery?Most people from the Red Mansion couldn’t use outside hospitals. They had no proper IDs or money and no insurance. That’s why they sought the quack, whose license had been revoked. Despite the poor hygiene and cleanliness, Room 109 was the mansion’s only hospital. Surgery was priced steeply, and the doctor, sensing money, stammered.“Surgery is expensive. Who’s it for…?”“Hmm.” Chungrim sighed deeply and withdrew his hand from his pocket. The doctor’s gaze followed his hand. Suddenly, he noticed something glinting in Chungrim’s hand.“Get down!”The doctor shouted, but Chungrim moved faster than the thug on the floor. Blood started spreading across the thug’s dirty undershirt as the knife twisted in his abdomen, dripping blood onto the floor.“Ack! Argh!”With a squelching sound, the knife was pulled out. Though the blade was only about the length of a finger, the wound wasn’t deep but still bled profusely from the twisted flesh.“How much is this worth in surgery fees?” Chungrim threw the knife toward the door and wiped his bloody hands on the thug’s undershirt.“Crazy bastard.”The pale doctor frantically opened his bag. When he couldn’t find what he was looking for, he dumped its contents onto the floor.“Why didn’t you show this much care for patients back then?”“Shit, hey, get a towel, quick!”At the urgent command, one of the thugs rushed into the bathroom. Chungrim watched briefly, then turned away. Behind him, he heard agonized screams and the frantic sounds of first aid. He kicked the bloody knife, sending it skidding into the door of room 203 across the hall.Leaving the chaotic scene of room 206, Chungrim headed downstairs to the reception area where the old man was watching a wrestling match. Loud thuds and crashes came from the TV as wrestlers threw each other around the ring.“It’s all staged, you know.”The old man glanced up at him. Chungrim shrugged and reached over the counter.“Grandpa, can I use the phone?”He shook the receiver to show his intent, and the old man nodded. Chungrim dialed three numbers with fingers still stained with blood.“Someone’s been stabbed. They’re bleeding a lot. The address is…”He scanned the area around the counter. He hadn’t bothered to remember the name of the rundown motel.“Grandpa, what’s the name of this place?”The old man quickly responded, proving once again that money can buy you cooperation.“Daebok Motel.”“Yeah, Jangwon-dong Daebok Motel. I’ll let the owner speak to you.”Chungrim placed the receiver on the counter, letting the frantic sounds of the wrestling match filter through. He could hear urgent voices from the receiver, but the old man remained engrossed in the TV. Everything was staged—the match and the situation.Chungrim parked his car a short distance from the motel and leaned against the steering wheel, watching as police cars and ambulances arrived. The unlicensed doctor was probably still trying to stitch up the wound. They wouldn’t just let him continue.He checked his wristwatch. He still had time before the three-hour window he promised the caregiver was up. No call meant Sung-kyung hadn’t woken up yet.After confirming the blood-soaked doctor being led into the police car, Chungrim started his engine. He’d deal with that bastard later. There was a lot to prepare to finish him off properly.His next target was the twin brother, who was likely licking his lips over his next scheme. Driving the bloodstained car, he headed for the tall building.“The boss isn’t in right now.”“I know.”Around this time, he was probably either swinging a golf club or relaxing in a sauna, as he spent most of his afternoons pretending to conduct business. Ignoring the assistant’s protests, Chungrim strode into the CEO’s office.The room was decked out in luxury, fitting for someone who imported high-end goods. But it was all for show. Gyurim and Surim were nothing but thugs using luxury imports to smuggle drugs.Chungrim swung the nameplate with Gyurim’s name on it into a glass cabinet, cracking but not shattering it. A few more strikes, and the contents, including expensive liquor and cigars, tumbled out. Chungrim continued smashing everything inside. The floor became soaked with orange liquid.“What are you doing?!”The assistant opened the door and gasped, covering his mouth at the chaos. His eyes darted around the room in fear.Ignoring him, Chungrim used the nameplate to swipe across the desk, sending vases, water, and flowers crashing to the floor. He ground the fallen flowers under his foot, pushed back his disheveled hair, and glared at the man.“How far away is my brother?”“…”“Call him. Tell him his brother is waiting anxiously.”Despite calling for security, it would take a while to clean up the mess. The assistant winced and glanced at Chungrim before pulling out a yellow envelope from a drawer. He didn’t even try to stop Chungrim as he walked to the table with the broken nameplate.Chungrim climbed onto the table and struck the chandelier, shattering it. Glass shards rained down, and the half-broken chandelier swung like a pendulum. He threw the nameplate onto the wrecked floor.Chungrim stepped down from the table, dusting off his hands. Picking up a sharp piece of a broken vase, he looked menacing.He casually exited the CEO’s office. As he passed the assistant, he tapped the man’s shoulder with the envelope.“Coffee, please.”Sitting on the sofa in the reception area, Chungrim fanned his shirt, still holding the broken glass. His threatening demeanor left the assistant no choice but to comply.“Oh.”Chungrim’s soft voice made the assistant stop and look back. Sitting on the sofa, Chungrim gestured arrogantly.“Make sure it’s full of ice.”“…Understood.”The assistant, having handed over the task to security, entered the break room to prepare the coffee.Chungrim sipped his coffee, his feet propped up on the low table. It was a lazy posture that would suit someone lounging in front of the Red Mansion store number 3. He tapped his foot while skimming the papers he had taken out of an envelope. Every time he shook his plastic cup, the ice clinked.Several other cups were scattered on the table, all unfinished coffees Chungrim had rejected. He would sniff them, take a sip, or even just look at the color before demanding they be remade. It was only after his secretary went to the café on the first floor and brought back another cup that Chungrim calmed down.“Ah, I’m running out of time.”Chungrim sucked on his straw and checked his wristwatch. The three hours they had agreed upon were almost up. He wondered where the person was, swinging their golf club, causing this delay. Shaking his head, he sipped the remaining coffee.Before long, the elevator opened. Two men, as burly as Gyurim, walked out. Chungrim snickered and waved.“The CEO sure leaves his post for a long time, huh? Think the company can run like this?”“You were quiet for a while, now you cause trouble all the way here?”Chungrim shrugged and opened the plastic lid to toss in the ice. It shattered noisily, like a predator gnawing on bones.“For now, everyone go downstairs.”Gyurim, assuming his role as the CEO, sent the staff away and sat on the sofa across from Chungrim. His brother’s face was glossy. The scar on his face seemed to be fading. Some people lose their parents and go crazy enough to slit their wrists. But then again, even when his brother threw fits, his face always stayed pristine.“Did you do something to your face? Looking at you like this, you could pass for a gangster.”“Just tell me why you pulled this stunt.”Gyurim nudged Chungrim’s shin, implying he should take his feet off the table, but Chungrim just wiggled his toes.“I did my part, trying to help my brothers. I couldn’t care less about some golf resort. I tried to do well with that too.”“……”After their father died, the ownership of the Red Mansion properties and land transferred from Gyurim to Chungrim as he reached adulthood. That was their father’s will, and by then, the twins had started getting involved in bigger ventures, losing interest in the Red Mansion.The rent from Red Mansion tenants brought in a decent income, but the property itself was a liability image-wise. So the twins decided it was better to sell the mansion at a high price and create a new, clean-looking space that could facilitate their illicit dealings.Chungrim, having no particular ambition or desire, agreed to their plan. Even if it isolated him, the twins were his only family.“But that should have been enough. Why the hell did you dig into your brother’s background like a rat, causing such a mess? What do you expect to get?”Chungrim did everything he was supposed to, but this was what he got in return. They claimed they wanted him to live a normal life, yet their actions said otherwise. Maybe they always saw him as just a drunk and drug addict, useful only for signing contracts.“Are we talking about that bastard again?”Chungrim laughed loudly at his brother’s sharp tone. Gyurim just stared at Chungrim’s shirt, which was stained and looked like it had bloodstains.“Why did you protect that quack? Did you reward him with money for a job well done? Thank him for killing that convenience store kid’s dad for you?”Gyurim glanced around Chungrim, spotting a familiar envelope. It was the Red Mansion property and land sale contract that Chungrim had left with him before. Now that the terms had been settled with Mr. Kim, all Chungrim had to do was sign it. Recognizing the contract, Gyurim clenched his teeth.“It’s punishment. For approaching us for money and not letting go. You changed after keeping that bastard around. You know that? We should have just killed him back then.”“Ha.”His brothers had schemed again to take what was his. They gave money to the doctor who abandoned Kim Sung-kyung’s father, telling him to hide deeper. They tried to break Kim Sung-kyung and drive him mad, ultimately aiming to separate him from Chungrim. They used different tactics this time but ended up being no help to Chungrim, as always.“Ah—.”Chungrim sighed, his laugh tinged with disappointment.“That’s your problem, bro. You’re making me worse.”Chungrim finally took his feet off the table, leaning forward with his elbows on his thighs to continue.“When we were kids. When I cried wanting to see a mother I didn’t even remember, you gave me money. I didn’t need money.”“When Dad died too. I was trembling like an idiot, and you gave me a chunk of the condolence money. A million won to a kid.”Thinking back to his childhood, it was always about money. Whether he did good deeds, acted out, or wandered around hating the Red Mansion. Money always followed as a reward. But what he needed was a place for his drifting heart to settle. No one provided that.“I needed someone to be by my side, not the type who thinks money solves everything.”That’s why he controlled those around him, keeping them within his sight. He needed someone who fit, even if he had to force it.“Someone who followed my words, did things I liked. Someone who didn’t weigh me against money. That’s what I needed.”“……”“And that’s why I chose him.”He never found anyone as satisfactory as Kim Sung-kyung. Until his father died, everything was perfect.Kim Sung-kyung staggered after his parents’ death, a huge shock. It was the fault of the doctor who fled, and his brothers who let him go. Again, his brothers.“But you used money to manipulate him? You’re consistently awful.”Chungrim checked his watch again. There were about 30 minutes left before the agreed three hours were up. He was getting anxious. He took off his watch and tossed it on the table.Around his wrist, previously hidden by the watch strap, were old scars and red marks. Unless one looked closely, they were hard to notice, but the raised scars stood out. There were more of these on his body. Some were from fights, but most were self-inflicted.Gyurim stared at his brother’s wrist. Chungrim, feeling his gaze, took out the single sheet of paper he had brought. The sale contract for the Red Mansion building and land to Mr. Kim. With Chungrim’s signature, the Red Mansion would have a new owner.