Chapter 64

"Who are you?"

I casually asked the old man, who I assumed was the chairman of something.

Uncle Hong Jin-Hoo responded on his behalf.

"He’s the younger brother of the S Group chairman. Currently, he serves as the director of a private arts high school."

"I figured, but it still feels a bit unreal."

An unknown figure to the public eye, this old man standing before me was the school’s director.

"Haha, thank you for introducing me, Teacher Jin-Hoo."

"It’s nothing, sir."

The director approached Uncle Hong with a warm smile and gave him a pat on the shoulder.

"I’ve already greeted you earlier, so I suppose there’s no need to repeat myself."

Excuse me, sir, but you didn’t greet me earlier.

"However, since it’s my first time meeting this young man… Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Ji-Cheol, though the title of director of the private arts high school may be too much for me."

"Oh, yes. I’m Lee Ha-Eun."

His wrinkled hand extended first, and I reluctantly took it with a neutral expression.

‘What’s with this guy? He’s so hard to read.’

As we shook hands, his previously kind eyes shifted. The warmth drained from them, replaced by a neutral, almost cold gaze.

"Ah, so you’re the owner of Hollow Snow," he said.

That tone was different—guarded, almost probing. Honestly, I preferred this version. His guarded demeanor allowed me to suppress my own unease.

"It’s not every day you meet someone famous here," Lee Ji-Cheol said, chuckling as he twirled his perfectly groomed mustache.

He let go of my hand and clasped his cane, the smile returning to his face.

"You asked why Siren is here, correct?"

The question hung in the air, and I hesitated to answer. It was always best to stay cautious with unsettling people.

"Haha, no need to be so tense. Someone might think I’m going to eat you alive."

Despite his reassurances, I chose silence.

"Sharp instincts. A good trait," he remarked, slowly tracing the transparent case encasing Siren. His gaze softened, carrying a faint sense of nostalgia.

"Today is my granddaughter’s birthday."

Wait, seriously? It’s really her birthday? Damn it, I didn’t bring a gift.

‘Should I just give her money?’

Then again, someone in his family hardly needed money. What a dilemma.

While I was entertaining these trivial thoughts, the director continued speaking.

"It’s also the anniversary of my daughter-in-law’s death."

Oh. Uh… okay.

‘Why are we talking about this now?’

This was turning awkward. I only wanted to know why the masterpiece was here.

"Haha, don’t worry too much about it. It’s been so long that I feel nothing now."

"I doubt that. Losing family doesn’t stop hurting, no matter how much time passes. It’s not that you feel nothing—it’s just that the pain has dulled over time."

"...You’re right. I wasn’t thinking clearly."

I felt the need to say something, and it seemed I had hit the mark.

Still, could he finally get to the point?

But instead, he shifted gears again.

"Isn’t it cruel? For someone’s birthday to also be the day of their mother’s passing?"

"Well… that is unfortunate."

How long would this pointless conversation continue? I really wanted to know.

"So, I wanted to at least celebrate her birthday in some small way."

‘Your idea of "small" is completely off the mark.’

I looked at him with disbelief, but Lee Ji-Cheol kept talking.

‘This isn’t what I imagined a director to be like.’

Since I stopped engaging with him, his attention turned back to Uncle Hong. Watching the man struggle to deal with the now teary-eyed director wasn’t exactly fun either.

Why did all the eccentric people seem to gather around me?

Ignoring them, I focused on observing Siren.

The depiction of the siren singing was breathtakingly beautiful.

She sat atop a lone rock jutting out of the ocean. Her lower half shimmered in iridescent hues, resembling a mermaid’s tail—clearly non-human.

Yet there was nothing grotesque or unsettling about her. She exuded beauty and brilliance.

Her uplifted face bore a radiant smile, her sapphire-like eyes forming crescent moons.

She looked happy, carefree.

But the backdrop starkly contrasted her serenity.

The ocean beneath her was a dark, ominous indigo. Thunder and lightning loomed overhead, the storm clouds pouring a heavy, unrelenting rain.

It seemed as though nature itself existed solely to destroy her.

And yet, the siren continued to sing, smiling through it all.

Perhaps nature was jealous of her—the light it could not possess, the smile it could not replicate, the song it could not sing.

Nature, like my past self, envied others.

I had envied the happiness others had so effortlessly.

They laughed endlessly, lived lives filled with daily joy.

I had envied them… or so I thought.

‘Not anymore.’

Lost in nostalgic reflections, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"I bought Siren," said the director.

"...You forced them to sell it?"

"Haha, of course not. They probably didn’t know what to do with it and were glad to part with it."

The director chuckled as he looked at Siren, a smile playing on his lips.

"Our country is sick. There’s nothing left we can trust it with. That’s why I took it."

So it could be sold to another country later, he added, his gaze hardening.

"So you did force them to sell it," I said flatly.

"Haha, young people don’t understand these things yet."

He chuckled again and patted my shoulder.

I sighed internally. It seemed I wouldn’t be getting a straight answer from him anytime soon.

‘Tsk. At least this wasn’t a wasted trip.’

Seeing this relic of my past again left my emotions in flux. But I wasn’t upset—if anything, I felt a surprising warmth.

I silently said my farewells to Siren, promising to return another day, and turned to leave with a deep breath.

There was no reason to stay here any longer.

‘Mom, Dad, and Yoon-ah will probably stay the night here. I’ll just find Hong Ye-Hwa and head home.’

As I considered this, the director spoke again.

"Lee Ha-Eun. Didn’t you receive a certain text recently?"

"I thought it was spam, so I deleted it."

"Haha, I don’t like liars."

Tch. What a sly old man.

"The message was clear. Once school starts, meet me separately. I’ll tell you most of what you want to know."

"...Alright. I’ll see you then."

‘Am I on this guy’s radar now?’

Lee Ji-Cheol's earlier sharp demeanor disappeared as he returned to his warm, placid expression.

"Then, let’s head back together. After all, you’ll be returning to the banquet hall, won’t you?"

Uncle Hong Jin-Hoo and I exchanged glances. A small smirk tugged at my lips, and Uncle Hong chuckled quietly.

"Ah, I didn’t bring a gift, though."

"No need. There are already too many gifts," said Lee Ji-Cheol, laughing lightly as if to brush it off.

Following behind him, we returned to the banquet hall.

Despite the late hour, the hall was still bustling with activity.

‘All these people must be the crème de la crème of society.’

Among them, I even recognized a few faces from the media.

‘...Should I throw a party like this for Yoon-ah’s birthday sometime?’

The reactions would be entertaining, to say the least.

"Since you’re here, feel free to enjoy yourself. Or, like your family, you can stay the night here if you wish."

"No, thank you. I’m already grateful enough that you let me in without an invitation."

"Well, technically, I let you in," Uncle Hong interjected.

Seriously, Uncle, read the room.

Lee Ji-Cheol, having listened to our exchange with amusement, slowly drifted away, likely resuming his role as an unassuming old man in the crowd.

Now, what should I do?

I’d already accomplished my goal for coming here.

‘Should I just say hi and leave?’

I scanned the room, my gaze landing on the group of young people I’d noticed earlier.

There were about twenty of them, gathered around a circular table. At the center of it all were Yoon-ah and Hong Ye-Hwa.

Around the table, three others were seated alongside them.

‘That guy again.’

The one who had been flirting with Yoon-ah earlier was now targeting both her and Hong Ye-Hwa.

Seriously?

Judging by his appearance, he looked older than the other kids around him.

‘Hah... I was planning to just say hi and leave.’

Shoving my hands into my pockets, I assumed a casual stance and began walking toward the group.

‘Tsk. Should’ve dressed better.’

I stood out in my simple outfit—a white shirt and black pants—against the formally dressed crowd.

Yet no one paid me any mind. Either they thought I was beneath their notice, or they assumed I didn’t belong.

"Excuse me. Sorry, just passing through."

I maneuvered through the crowd, feeling the faint fatigue of squeezing past people.

"Ha-Eun! You’re here," said Hong Ye-Hwa with a welcoming smile.

"Huh? Oppa?!"

Somehow, I managed to reach the inside of the table’s circle. There were plenty of empty seats, but it seemed you needed more than an invitation to actually sit here.

Only five people, including Yoon-ah and Hong Ye-Hwa, were seated, while the rest stood around. With my arrival, the number of seated individuals grew to six.

I, the mysterious newcomer, had just intruded unannounced.

"Who the hell are you? How’d you even—"

"He’s my friend. Also, he’s Yoon-ah’s older brother," Hong Ye-Hwa cut him off sharply.

The guy who had been glaring at me backed off at her words.

Yoon-ah shifted to sit on my left, putting me between her and Hong Ye-Hwa.

"Oppa, why are you here?"

The atmosphere was buzzing with my sudden arrival, but my sister seemed oblivious, her gaze focused on me.

"I had some business to take care of. And I wanted to see you too."

Her hair, slightly disheveled from all the fun she’d been having, caught my attention. I reached out and smoothed it down. She giggled happily at my gesture.

"He’s such a softie," someone muttered.

"Of course! Oppa came all this way just to see me!"

Chuckling, I patted her head affectionately.

Then, from the corner of my eye, I caught a flash of red hair.

"What’s up with you?"

"...Does my hair look weird too?"

"Your hairpin’s cute."

Feigning ignorance, I deflected. Fixing her hair here would only draw more attention.

The stares from some of the others were sharp enough to kill.

Ignoring the now sulking Hong Ye-Hwa, I glanced around again.

‘So, that’s Lee Ji-Cheol’s granddaughter?’@@novelbin@@

Seated at one side of the table was a girl who I assumed to be the chairman’s granddaughter. She was staring at me, her wide eyes unblinking.

Meeting her gaze, I blurted out, "What are you looking at?"

And thus, the rude arrival of Lee Ha-Eun was complete.