"Pardon?"
"I only have suspicions so far."
His words sent a ripple through the chat.
― So that's why he donated 500K, he really was in a rush
― He really was urgent, wow
― Guess my problems are nothing in comparison?
"Just a moment."
I closed my eyes and a scene unfolded — a mansion straight out of a drama.
Past the entrance and into the living room, I saw a man sitting on the sofa. Sixties, maybe.
Paintings that belonged in a gallery hung on the walls.
A set of golf clubs stood in one corner, and when the man rose from the sofa and entered his study, stacks of documents covered the desk.
"Haah......"
His expression as he reviewed the papers wasn't good.
The documents were accounting records, with several entries circled in red pen.
"It can't be......"
Looking closer at the records, the flagged items weren't regular expenses — they were irregular entries.
Corporate card usage.
Office supply purchases.
Lease payments.
'There's an office lease in here too?'
It didn't seem to be a company-owned office — someone had rented a separate space.
"You work together with your son?"
"He's an executive at our company."
"The corporate card usage looks a bit odd, though."
"How did you... no, you really are the real deal."
"There's a lease payment going to a location that isn't a company office."
"That is suspicious, is it not? We have our own building — there's no reason to lease an external office."
True enough.
There shouldn't be any need to set up another office in the first place.
"How long has this been going on?"
"Three months."
"How much?"
"Three hundred million won per month."
......Three hundred million?
I was making 800,000 won a month at the convenience store.
― 300 million a month is pretty serious
― If the son's an executive he'd have access to the corporate card
― But secretly leasing an external office is the weird part
― Isn't this more like breach of trust than embezzlement?
― Look at the legal amateurs going at it lol
"What kind of person is your son?"
At my question, he fell silent for a moment.
"The quiet type. Has been since he was a boy."
"Do you two normally talk much?"
"I was always busy......"
He said it briefly, but there was something underneath.
Regret or remorse — I couldn't tell which.
"One moment."
I looked into the future and saw a man in his mid-to-late thirties.
He appeared to be the son, sitting alone in the external office, poring over something.
'Documents?'
I focused harder — it was a business contract.
The company name was...... Mingang?
"Do you know a company called Mingang?"
"That's the company we're currently preparing to land a contract with."
Preparing to land a contract meant they hadn't done so yet?
And the son was the one working on it?
Why?
There was no reason to keep it secret.
Just then, a bell rang inside the office.
Ring ring ring.
Ring ring ring.
Ring ring ring.
Click.
"Yes, this is Lee Ganghyeon. We'll proceed on the terms you mentioned."
After a brief call, the son smiled to himself, and on his desk I spotted a sticky note.
Birthday present for Father.
"Oh?"
"What is it?"
"One moment......"
I wasn't sure yet, so I needed to look a little further.
Checking a more distant future, I saw what appeared to be a conference room where Lee Ganghyeon was handing documents to his father.
"Father, this client was on the verge of signing an exclusive contract with our competitor, but I got to them first."
The father's expression froze as he received the documents, then slowly shifted.
"I'm sorry."
"What? What for?"
"I doubted you."
"......"
When the father confessed that he'd misunderstood something his son had secretly prepared for him, Ganghyeon stared at him with a look of shock.
"Have you ever believed in me? Even once?"
"That's......"
"I've always been the son who wasn't good enough for you."
When Ganghyeon picked the documents back up and turned to leave, the father reached out to stop him.
"Ganghyeon."
"It's fine. I'll handle things on my own from now on."
SLAM—!
The son kicked the conference room door open and stormed out, and the father couldn't hold him back.
After that incident, the two never shared an honest conversation again. Even lying on his sickbed, the father regretted that day.
A gift that never became a gift — instead carving an even deeper chasm between two people.
The trigger had been trivial. The outcome was anything but.
After that final scene, I opened my eyes and spoke.
"May I ask you one thing?"
"Go ahead."
"Your birthday is coming up soon, isn't it?"
"That's... well, yes, it is."
"If your son brought you a surprise gift, how would you react?"
He thought for a moment, then said:
"I'd say thank you, wouldn't I?"
"No. What you should do is apologize to your son."
"......I should apologize?"
"Tell him you're sorry for doubting him."
"......"
Saying this much, he'd understand what I was getting at.
And as I expected, his voice turned somber.
"I was mistaken, then."
"That's right. It's not embezzlement — he's been preparing a surprise gift for you."
"......Unlike his good-for-nothing father, he takes after his mother — sharp as a tack since he was a boy."
What? Why the sudden bragging about his son?
"From now on, do exactly as I tell you. Until you receive the gift, this stays between us."
"You want me to feign ignorance?"
"Yes."
― "Between us" (260 people)
― Hey, read the room
― Seriously, no sense of atmosphere
― Could everyone kindly shut up?
"When you receive the gift, you don't need to say much. Just tell him 'thank you' and 'my son is the best.' That's enough."
"......Do these MZ kids like hearing that sort of thing?"
"It's not an MZ thing. Every child in the world wants to hear that."
"And here I haven't said it to him once, all these years."
"It's not too late to start now."
Because it still wasn't too late.
"Would you be happy to hear such words from your own father?"
"I don't have a father, sir."
"......"
― Boo, trash — apologize to Jinwoo
― He treasures his own son but throws family insults at someone else's
― That's really awful
― Apologize to Jinwoo, sir!
"I apologize."
"It's fine."
"Still, you're very well-mannered — your mother must have raised you well."
"I don't have a mother either."
"......"
― Boo, trash — apologize to Jinwoo
― First dad, now mom — the man's confirming kills
― That's really REALLY awful
― Sincerely apologize to our Jinwoo!
― Anonymous donated 1,000 won! ―
[Our Jinwoo is self-taught in manners!]
"Isn't that an insult?!"
― Self-taught isn't a bad thing
― It's not exactly a good thing either lol
― Manager!!! Get rid of the troublemakers!!!!
― We don't have a manager though?
"I apologize. More importantly, let me ask one last thing."
"Go ahead."
"Was there something my son was hoping for in preparing this gift?"
"What Ganghyeon wants is......"
I recalled the image of his son sitting alone in that office — and beside the sticky note that read "Birthday present for Father," there was another note.
"I wonder if this time I'll hear him say I did well."
Remembering that scene, I spoke.
"Just one word. That he did well."
"......"
A contemplative silence followed.
"That boy......"
"You've got this."
"Heh heh."
For the first time during the call, I heard an easy, relaxed voice.
"Thank you."
Click.
He left the call room, and I invited the next viewer.
"MountainIsMountainWaterIsSelfServe, sorry for the wait. Password is 1004."
***
Lee Ganghyeon sat alone in his office.
He'd pulled all-nighters for three months, but today he'd finalized the contract, so maybe that was why.
Today, at least, his heart felt light.
The birthday gift for his father was complete. With this, he could finally receive the one thing he'd always longed for.
The one thing he'd wished for — just once — ever since he was a child.
That was......
"This time, I'll get to hear him say I did well."
He was smiling at the thought when his phone rang.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
He checked — it was his father. His father almost never called first.
'Did something happen?'
The instant he answered, his father's voice came through.
"Ganghyeon."
"Yes, Father."
"......"
A brief silence — he had no idea what could be so important that his father was taking this long.
"Is something wrong?"
"Ahem, well, you see......"
"Yes?"
"It's......"
Just as Ganghyeon was about to speak first, wondering what this was about —
"Ganghyeon."
"Yes."
"You're doing well."
"What?"
The instant he heard those words, Ganghyeon doubted his own ears.
'What was that? Am I hearing things?'
"Ahem."
The moment he realized his father's words were not a hallucination, he covered his face with his hand.
Because that one small phrase was what he'd wanted to hear his entire life.
And to hear it before he'd even given the gift — he'd never imagined that.
"Are you free tonight?"
"......No, I'm free."
"Let's have dinner together, for the first time in a while."
"Understood."
Click.
When the call ended, Ganghyeon set his phone down and stared at the ceiling.
"You're doing well."
That single sentence was still ringing in his ears.
Ganghyeon peeled the sticky note from his desk and drew a line through it with his pen.
SHRRK.
Anyone who saw his face right then would have called it at peace.
***
― MountainIsMountainWaterIsSelfServe donated 1,000 won! ―
[Finally, it's my turn]
The very instant that appeared —
― TodayIsNotFriday donated 500,000 won! ―
[Sorry, but could I go first? I'm also in a rush]
"SelfServe...... I'm sorry, but could you wait just one more round?"
― MountainIsMountainWaterIsSelfServe donated 1,000 won! ―
[Dammit, I'm going to earn money and come back with a real donation]
"Thank you for understanding. Alright, Friday! Come on in!"
How urgent must it be for her to donate 500,000 won?
Don't tell me it's something serious again?
Click.
Friday entered, and it was a younger woman's voice than expected.
"Hello."
"Friday, what's troubling you?"
"I'm a lawyer working at a law firm."
"I see."
― Whoa
― A lawyer?
― Guys, keep the chat classy
― Anonymous donated 1,000 won! ―
[Heh, if we obey the law, what can one measly lawyer do to us?]
'......Nothing, I suppose.'
"This is the first case I've been assigned since joining the firm — would it be possible to consult without going into too much detail?"
"Just give me the general outline."
She paused briefly, then, as if she'd made up her mind, spoke.
"I've taken on a case, and the evidence against my client is overwhelming — but I have to argue for acquittal."
An ethical dilemma?
This was, in truth, a lawyer's fate.
But there was something to remember.
A lawyer isn't someone who determines the truth — they're someone who protects their client's rights.
"What's the fundamental principle of criminal procedure?"
"Huh? Obviously the presumption of innocence and the principle of evidence-based adjudication, right?"
"Correct. And a lawyer has a duty to mount the best defense possible, even if their client is guilty."
"Yes, that's right."
― Jinwoo, how do you even know this stuff?
― Don't you dare underestimate our Jinwoo!
― Lawyers have it rough too
― But there's nothing she can do about it, is there?
― It's a job
She seemed to grasp the meaning behind my words, because for the first time she showed her honest feelings.
"I don't know if I should keep this case. If my client really did it, then my acquittal defense would set him free......"
I closed my eyes to look into her future.
What unfolded completely overturned my expectations.
"Friday, hold on."
"Yes? What do you see?"
"This is not a minor issue."