Chapter 23: FUTURE SON-IN-LAW
IT TOOK longer than expected.
Yun Dujun had to personally go to NSRC Busan Branch’s office to apply for both himself and Bae Wonyoung to be foster parents.
Of course, that meant revealing his marital status to the branch head.
Only to the chief, of course. The other workers there only thought I was there to observe and study their workplace for my next acting project.
It wasn’t that he was confident in the NDA 100%.
In case the branch head opened his mouth despite the NDA he had signed, his team had already prepared a cover-up story for why he had to be a foster parent.
That’s showbiz for you.
"Sir, are you done with your business here?"
That was Han Myung’s question for Yun Dujun as soon as he sat in the backseat of the car.
To be fair, he had already noticed that his driver-slash-bodyguard was antsy the moment he stepped out of the branch head’s office.
Obviously, Han Myung waited until they were alone in the car before opening his mouth.
"What happened?"
"According to the person we assigned to tail Bae Wonyoung-nim, Bae Wonyoung-nim has already found An Baekya, but he was attacked by the child’s uncle. Apparently, the kid’s guardian hit the back of Bae Wonyoung’s head with a brick."
"Then...?"
"Mr. Seo brought Bae Wonyoung-nim to the hospital."
Haaah.
I only took my eyes off you for a moment, and you got hurt again, Hoobae-nim.
"How’s Bae Wonyoung now?"
"Apparently, Bae Wonyoung-nim suffered a mild concussion. He fell asleep after the doctors treated the cut on the back of his head, sir," Han Myung answered politely. "Should we head to the hospital?"
It sounds like Bae Wonyoung is fine now, so...
"What happened to An Baekya?"
Han Myung looked confused by Yun Dujun’s question, but he still answered: "According to our staff member, the kid’s uncle grabbed An Baekya and fled the scene. He didn’t follow the child because he prioritized helping Mr. Seo bring Bae Wonyoung-nim to the hospital. The ambulance couldn’t possibly reach them because of the narrow alleys, so they had to carry Bae Wonyoung-nim by foot until they got out of the area."
"I see," Yun Dujun said, nodding approvingly. "Let’s head to An Baekya’s house, then."
***
YUN DUJUN and Han Myung had to climb a hill to reach An Baekya’s house.
The child lived in a poor neighborhood, as expected.
Fortunately, the streets were practically empty and the area was quiet.
To be safe, Yun Dujun still wore a hat and a face mask.
"No one is answering, sir," Han Myung said after he knocked on the gate and they were only met with silence. "Should we trespass?"
Yun Dujun just nodded.
"Then excuse me for a moment, sir."
After saying that, Han Myung climbed the wall effortlessly before disappearing from Yun Dujun’s view.
Then, a moment later...
CREAAAK.
That was the sound of the blue gate opening slowly.
Of course, it was Han Myung who opened it for him.
"The house seems empty, sir."
Yun Dujun set foot inside the property and looked at the shabby house indifferently.
Yeah, it really looks empty...
"W-Who’s there?"
Hmm?
Both Yun Dujun and Han Myung turned in the direction of where the child’s voice had come from at the same time.
And, much to their shock, the voice was coming from the dog house in the front yard.
What the...
Then, slowly, a little boy crawled out of the dirty, big dog house.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, both Yun Dujun and Han Myung immediately noticed the leash around the poor child’s neck.
Sadly, that wasn’t the worst part.
The child wore an oversized thin shirt— bruises were all over his exposed skin.
This is An Baekya?
Yun Dujun knew the child was abused, but he didn’t know it was to that extent.
He was already clenching his hands tight before he knew it.
Only animals could do this to a child.
"Han Myung, find the child’s uncle," Yun Dujun said quietly while walking towards An Baekya. "Bring that bastard to me as soon as possible."
***
WHEN Wonyoung opened his eyes, he groaned in complaint after realizing that he was in the hospital— in a private room, at that.
Again.
How unlucky.
Wonyoung was injured once more when his sprained wrist hadn’t fully healed yet.
Should I go to a shaman to get rid of my bad luck?
"Y-You’re awake, sir..."
Hmm?
When Wonyoung turned to his side, he found a little boy sitting on the chair next to the bed he occupied.
Ah, An Baekya?
Big doe eyes.
Small button nose.
Rosy cheeks.
Pinkish lips.
Beautiful features that were already prominent in the child.
No wonder he became a top child actor in the ’past.’
Wonyoung noticed that An Baekya was wearing the same hospital pajamas as he did, so that must mean the kid was treated there as well.
He wanted to ask if An Baekya was alright.
However, a different question came out of his mouth.
Only the two of us are here anyway, so might as well confront him.
"An Baekya, you called me ’Father-in-law’ earlier."
Wonyoung knew that he sounded crazy just now, but he heard what he heard.
"I-I don’t know what you’re talking about, sir," An Baekya said in a confused voice, his pupils shaking as if he were scared. "D-Did I misspeak earlier? I don’t remember..."
Hmm.
If Wonyoung weren’t an experienced actor who enjoyed watching his fellow actors’ facial expressions when acting for study, he would have been convinced that An Baekya was an innocent child.
That he had remembered their encounter earlier wrong.
But he wasn’t an amateur in the acting field.
"You’re An Baekya— a former child actor, and the main character of the novel Chained to You," Wonyoung said, clenching his hands tight while his heart thumped hard and fast against his chest. "My future son-in-law."
An Baekya still acted like he was shocked and confused.
But the child’s mask immediately slipped away when he realized that Wonyoung wasn’t buying his act.
"Ah, fucking hell."
Aigoo.
Wonyoung almost had a heart attack when An Baekya cursed again.
He has the face of an innocent child, but the dirty mouth of a delinquent!
"Father-in-law, please don’t jinx me," An Baekya said in a cold voice that didn’t suit his baby face. "I’d probably end up killing Yun Yuhyun, that son of a bitch, if history repeats itself."
Wonyoung almost had a hiccup after hearing a ’child’ curse that much.
Moreover...
Yun Yuhyun is my son, but I’m not a bitch?
***
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