025 Bathing

The Seoul Club sits atop a gentle slope, positioned just above the local public facilities and the central office of the waterworks company. The club’s swimming pool is perfectly level with the rooftop of the building below.

Tall trees provide a screen between the two structures. Standing on the club’s sun deck, one can look to the left and see Namsan Tower within arm's reach, with the grounds of Namsan Park just five hundred meters away.

Yoon Yun-hui glanced across the street at the Songdo Memorial Foundation. There were still people inside the memorial hall, the chapel next door was illuminated with ambient lighting, and the Western-style mansion in the back remained silent.

He wrote a note and handed it to his assistant, Ms. Kim, who was visiting for the first time.

"Could you do me a favor? See that exhibition hall across the way? The side door is unlocked. Just go right in, hand this note to the person in the office, and then help me bring my clothes over."

"Oh, certainly."

He could have made a phone call, but Yoon Yun-hui simply wanted Ms. Kim to get familiar with the location and know which properties were under his care.

"Yun-hui, I’ve been thinking—something feels off."

Lee Jun-ho hadn’t been here to hang out for a while. Ever since he finished his undergraduate studies and returned home to work, he had moved out of the old family estate at lightning speed to live alone in the Gangnam District—a life he quite enjoyed.

"What’s wrong?"

Yoon Yun-hui didn't see anything unusual; it wasn't as if they hadn't held parties here before.

"Don't you feel like you've forgotten something, man?"

"Have I?"

Yoon Yun-hui quickly searched his memory. He felt his role as student body president was going quite well.

"BTS. I'm talking about BTS."

Lee Jun-ho reminded him, but Yoon Yun-hui was even more confused.

"Yeah, and? What does that have to do with me?"

"Seriously? Based on all the novels I’ve read, didn’t you miss a classic 'slap-in-the-face' plotline?" Lee Jun-ho said, gesturing animatedly. "Some member of BTS acts arrogant, looks down on you, and causes trouble at the open-air theater. Then you, with a dominant aura, throw your cup to the ground as a signal, and three hundred swordsmen from the student council rush out. The other side is so terrified they kowtow and beg for mercy."

"Hmm..."

Yoon Yun-hui felt a sudden tightness in his chest; he couldn't breathe. He knew Lee Jun-ho wasn't serious about his studies and had only gone abroad to pad his resume, but what on earth did he actually learn? Had he spent all four years of university reading web novels? What parallel universe was he living in?

"Honestly, Jun-ho, take my advice: go to my family’s hospital tomorrow and get your head checked. The psychiatry department at Songdo Hospital is quite good, especially the Children’s Future Center, which has done in-depth research on adolescent mental health."

Yoon Yun-hui looked at him with genuine pity, as if to say, "My friend, you are beyond saving."

Please, this was the real world. For BTS to reach their current status, even if they relied heavily on luck, they couldn't possibly be that stupid.

Backstage at the open-air theater, several people had come up to greet him, offering all sorts of pleasantries. One person even asked him how to make a donation to the Memorial Foundation. *Oh, not bad,* he thought, *the lad has some awareness.* Yoon Yun-hui had given him a business card. If the guy actually donated, Yoon Yun-hui would be happy to invite him to the Songdo Memorial Foundation’s charity gala.

The charity gala had been held for many years. Even in its worst year, it was attended by several cabinet ministers and influential lawmakers, with the five major chaebols taking turns sending CEOs or family members. For top-tier artists like BTS, there might be opportunities to see the President or even foreign heads of state at major events, but that was just a fleeting glance—they were merely symbolic tools for cultural promotion. The Songdo Memorial Foundation’s gala, however, offered a high-level, private social opportunity within the peninsula.

Come to think of it, this year’s event would be the first since his grandfather passed away; they hadn't held it last year out of mourning. Yoon Yun-hui respected the elders' opinions; once he became the chairman himself, he would decide how to run things, but for now, he left it to them.

"Alright, stop pacing in front of me with this nonsense. If you want to go home, just go."

Yoon Yun-hui had noticed Lee Jun-ho’s hesitation. The kid had been glancing toward his family’s direction—Jangchung-dong 1-ga—the whole time. Lee Jun-ho had a terrible relationship with his father. His exaggerated performance earlier was likely a plea for Yoon Yun-hui to give him a push.

"Has your sister been home in the last two years?"

"She came to Seoul for a business trip at the beginning of the year, but she didn't go home. She went back to the States as soon as she finished her work."

Lee Jun-ho had an older sister, born in '94, who studied in the U.S. and stayed in Phoenix, Arizona.

"Then why don't you hurry home and visit? At least your mother is waiting for you, right? And there's no one left in my house."

Yoon Yun-hui pointed to the dark Western-style mansion across the street. He had used himself as an example; if Lee Jun-ho still didn't get the hint, he really would have to summon those three hundred swordsmen.

"I’m going home right now!"

Lee Jun-ho left at top speed. His relationship with his father was beyond repair. Although his mother had been strict and often disciplined him when he was younger, it was merely the toughness of a mother hoping her son would succeed; she never lacked affection for him. Mrs. Min was the daughter of the 16th Chief of Staff of the Army and worked in auditing—a fierce woman from a military family, for whom corporal punishment seemed like a normal way to raise a child.

*Sigh.* The little guy had finally grown up.

As Yoon Yun-hui watched Lee Jun-ho drive away, he suddenly realized—wait, what car did he just take?

Kwon Eun-bi, draped in a bath towel, finally found an opportunity to approach Yoon Yun-hui. The children were having so much fun that she had almost forgotten what she was supposed to do.

"Has Manager Lee left?"

"He went home. It’s not far from here; I couldn't stop him from fulfilling his filial duty. Your Manager Lee is really a decent guy."

Yoon Yun-hui gestured for Kwon Eun-bi to sit down; the sun lounger next to him was reserved for her. Although, at this hour, the moonlight was bright.

May nights still carried a hint of chill. After playing in the large outdoor pool for a while, Kwon Eun-bi had urged the children to go inside, suggesting they use the indoor heated pool if they wanted to keep playing. The club featured squash courts, indoor golf, a spa, and a gym. Naturally, there were computers, game consoles, and an indoor playground... and if they got hungry, there was a buffet at the restaurant on the second floor.

Kwon Eun-bi had come to find Yoon Yun-hui wrapped tightly in her bath towel.

"Manager Lee... he is quite a decent person..."

Kwon Eun-bi felt that the "decent" he was referring to wasn't the same as her own understanding; they were looking at the situation from different angles.

"Will he be coming back?"

"I doubt it. Why wouldn't he sleep in his own home?"

Yoon Yun-hui asked about their transportation. "How did you get here?"

"I drove my own car, and Manager Lee drove the other company van. It was just enough if we squeezed in."

Lee Jun-ho had just driven off in that seven-seater van. Kwon Eun-bi was suddenly at a loss; this was slightly beyond her capabilities.

"Ha."

Yoon Yun-hui let out a dry laugh. He took back what he said about Lee Jun-ho being reliable.

Just then, his assistant, Ms. Kim, returned. She was visibly stunned; while waiting, she had been allowed to tour the memorial hall's exhibition. She now had a much clearer understanding of Yoon Yun-hui’s background.

"It’s been a long day, and I haven't even showered yet."

Seeing her chance to be useful, Kwon Eun-bi quickly said, "I’ll help you."