Park Shuhua was the first to perceive a change in Chanyeol.
The Chanyeol of the past was as close to her as a husband to a wife, but, right from the time she had known him, he had always been unspeakably wilful and possessed an air of desolation, something that she had both loved and hated. Recently, he had become more gentle and often took the initiative, kissing her more warmly than before, and the eyes which looked at her were full of love. His every movement oozed with the alluring sexuality of a mature man.
He was also increasingly adept at managing his work. Under his charge, the Park group underwent a period of rapid expansion. Everyone said that Chanyeol was leading the Park group into the second phase of high-speed growth... *(-handling a butcher's cleaver with ease)
He was like a precious gem which had been hidden in the dust for a long time. Now, after the dust had finally been washed off, he had begun to shine brilliantly.
"Why?" On one occasion, Park Shuhua had asked this as she gasped for breath, pressed beneath Chanyeol's body and his eager demands.
Chanyeol lowered his head to kiss her deeply. After a long time, he stared at her and said, "Because I love you. Actually, I've always known, and you've always known as well, right? In the past, I was unwilling to face up to my own heart."
These were the most moving lovers' words Park Shuhua had ever heard in her entire lifetime. Even though she was an intelligent, capable, hard-headed businesswoman, she could not help being intoxicated by his words.
After she was diagnosed with cancer, Park Shuhua made a will leaving all her assets to Chanyeol without the slightest hesitation. She had no husband and no children, and Chanyeol had been with her for so many years. If she didn't give it all to him, then who would she give it to?
Chanyeol did not have much of a reaction to this. He only smiled faintly as he told her. "Do what makes you happy."
Park Shuhua had some regrets, but also felt some gratification. She knew why Chanyeol was so indifferent - the person that he was now could easily conquer the entire business world by himself. He was the person she had personally groomed, but, now, the student had surpassed the master. If he continued to stay by her side, it was mostly out of affection.
Of late, the two of them had been less and less intimate. Park Shuhua was residing in a private nursing home far away from the urban area, and Chanyeol had put aside all his work, to be at her beck and call. There were doctors and nurses who were unable to pick up on the clues, and laughingly commented, "Mr. Chan treats President Park better than a biological son." Even Park Shuhua, when she was only semi-lucid, would sometimes caress his head, and sigh, "If my own son had survived, he would be twenty-two years old. If you were really my son, wouldn't that be great?"
Whenever he heard such shamless words, Chanyeol's expression could be considered the epitome of brilliance. He said, "The way we are now, there is no difference. It's wonderful if you see me as your lover, it's just as wonderful if you see me as your son. From beginning to end, you are the most important woman to me."
Even though most of his time was spent at the nursing home, Chanyeol still had to return to the company frequently in order to manage its affairs.
It was at this time that Baekhyun appeared.
Some people are naturally born to be outstanding. No matter what position they are in, they will attract everyone's attention.
Like Baekhyun.
He was their partner company's youngest project manager, brimming with talent that astonished everyone. In addition, he was of handsome appearance, and possessed a steady and humorous character. His background was clearly of little note, but he quickly made a name for himself in the business world. Chanyeol rapidly became firm friends with Baekhyun. Both were intelligent, experienced and worldly-wise, and both were determined and enterprising. In addition, both had similar tastes, and similar wild ambitions... Chanyeol liked to spend time in the company of this youngster, and even spared no effort to support him.
Baekhyun enabled Chanyeol to see the person he was that year.
If he had not slipped up later, he may not have risen so rapidly in the world. Instead, he would have lived like Baekhyun, so youthful and magnificent. That was the life he wanted, but life can never rewind. He was Chanyeol, not Baekhyun.
Even though he was on the verge of grasping the entire business empire, even though he had already killed five people, he could never really save himself.
Three months later, he discovered clearly the secret of Baekhyun's life. He remembered very distinctly that it was a gloomy, rainy day. He had driven away from the nursing home when he developed stomach pains mid-route. He stopped the car and rested for a while at a nearby cafe. It was at this time that he saw Park Shuhua's assistant driving through the rain towards the mountain top.
Time flies so quickly. The assistant of former days, as experienced as a fox, was now a middle-aged man with a touch of white at his temples. It was just that, from the time Chanyeol started managing the Park group, he had found excuses to send the assistant far, far away, enabling him to become a wealthy idler.
Today, Park Shuhua had called for him. Why?
Chanyeol immediately drove back to the villa at the Mid-Levels. Once in the study, he started up the equipment, and the clear sound of dialogue was heard.
Park Shuhua had placed everything in his hands. The people at the nursing home were his, and the room had naturally been bugged.
"We've already done the DNA test," the assistant said with some emotion. "President Park, Baekhyun is definitely your son."
Park Shuhua was silent for a long time. For the first time, Chanyeol heard her voice choked with sobs, as she said. "I understand. Let me think about it for a while, then bring him here to see me."
At this point, Chanyeol turned off the bug, and laughed as he looked out at the misty rain.
She wanted to think about it. What was there to consider?
The next day, Chanyeol went to visit Park Shuhua at the nursing home. She did not look at all as if anything was out of the ordinary, allowing him to help her walk around the courtyard with a slight smile. After the rain, the grass was vibrantly green, and her face seemed to be more lustrous than usual.
Was it because she had found her biological son?
She did not say a word about Baekhyun, and Chanyeol just watched her casually, with a smile.
After two more days, Chanyeol once again spied her assistant visiting her.
This time, her attitude was very straightforward, as if she had returned to her former persona as the cold-blooded and decisive yet graciously charming empress.
"This situation is a bit troublesome. Find an opportunity to bring a lawyer here so I can change the will. I want to leave all my assets to Baekhyun." She coolly continued, "What I have given Chanyeol is already enough for him. You don't have to tell him about this situation vet. You can announce the will after I'm dead."
Chanyeol listened in silence. When there was no longer any sound from the other side, he then discovered that his eyes were a little moist.
He was really, really envious of Baekhyun, that he would have such a good mother.
That night, he went to look for the assistant, and got straight to the point: "I will give you three percent."
The dedicated and loyal assistant immediately stared at him with wide-open eyes.
No doubt, the conditions that Park Shuhua had given him were also extremely generous. But three percent of the entire Park group shares? Only a madman would discard such a crazy offer.
Park Shuhua had taught him that people make mistakes and, whe it is possible, one should forgive them. Thus, before he embarked on his comprehensive plan, Chanyeol still gave her one final chance.
Or, it could be that he was giving himself a reason to betray her.
He had steadfastly rejected the advances of a young lady in the company who had been pursuing him for a long time, and who had been vexing him somewhat. The timing was right. He approached the girl with a ring, saying, "This request is rather offensive... President Park's illness has reached the final stage. She has said that, before she dies, she hopes to see me married. This is her final wish. Can you help me in this, to engage in a fake marriage? At this moment, I can't find anyone else willing to help me."
Of course the girl was willing. To live out a somewhat false contract marriage would be romantic and ambiguous. Moreover, Chanyeol had been single for so long, so everyone said he was a clean-living and honest man.
The winds of rumour very quickly did as Chanyeol willed, and brought the news to Park Shuhua.
When Chanyeol made his final visit to her, she was lying on her cold bed. Chemotherapy had aged and weakened her. Indeed, one look at her would cause nausea. However, he still kissed her.
She made no mention at all of his fiance and betrayal, and neither did he. The two of them behaved as an old couple would; he fed her and massaged her stiff limbs. At the end, he held her as they watched the sunset.
"Recently, I find that I want to be by myself. You're very busy dealing with company business, so there's no need for you to come by." She said softly, "When I'm dead, you can begin a new life. That's my wish as well."
Chanyeol looked at her hypocritical face, and almost laughed out loud.
Her wish? Was it his 'betrayal' that caused her to finally feel relieved? That enabled her to lay to rest the last, niggling bit of guilt that she felt towards him? And then, to make him a fool by keeping him in the dark, just waiting to give everything to her biological son?
He had accompanied her for ten years, but, once Baekhyun appeared, he had become inconsequential. In a flash, her true colours were shown.
Chanyeol did not leave immediately. Instead, he walked over to close the curtains, and shut the door. The room sank into shadow. Park Shuhua asked, uncertainly, "What are you doing?"
Chanyeol said gently, "I have something to tell you."
"..... What is it?"
"There is no fiance. I only have you in my heart, how could there be a fiance? That was jus to anger you."
Park Shuhua broke out in a cold sweat. She felt that Chanyeol had become a different person. "... Why did you want to anger me?"
However, Chanyeol appeared not to have heard her question. Inwardly focused, he continued speaking.
"How could I allow you to be sad? The fiance that made you so unhappy, I killed a long time ago."
"Look, this is the second will that you had your assistant and lawyer prepare. I am tearing it up now, and it will be as if it never existed."
"Oh, that's right, I've killed a lot of people."
"Do you know what I intend to do now? I'm going to drag in your outstanding son, so he can accompany us, ok?"
—
Park Shuhua, you've spoken some really true words.
Wouldn't it be great if I were your son? I really, really want to be your biological son, and you would be my kind and awesome mother, teaching me how to mature and how to conduct myself, protecting me, taking care of me, not letting anyone hurt me. My life would then not have any of this filth, and I would not need blood and to take life to struggle towards redemption in the face of death.
If I were not Chanyeol, but Baekhyun, that would be wonderful.
Yes, indeed, why can't I be Baekhyun? Of course I can.
From today onwards, I will be Baekhyun. I have inherited my mother's assets, I will live a carefree life. My life can finally start all over again.
—