29. Do Yeonsoo's Overreach
At the age of nineteen, when Junhyuk was intensely preparing for his college entrance exams, his father, Chairman Do—renowned for his exceptional sense of business—acquired a timber production site in Chile.
The company was on the verge of bankruptcy due to reckless logging and investments, which allowed him to purchase it at a bargain price.
'Lumber isn’t a short-term investment,' Chairman Do claimed. This is a vision for ten years into the future. He predicted the trees in the temperate rainforest would regrow by then. He was confident that selling the timber at high prices during an upcoming construction boom would yield returns several times the initial investment.
Half a year later, after completing the purchase through an agent, Chairman Do prepared for a journey through South America, combined with a business trip to the United States.
Junhyuk, visiting his parents’ home to boast about his college acceptance, decided to accompany his father on the trip.
After over 25 hours of travel, including three layovers, the group finally arrived at Valdivia Airport in southern Chile. Despite flying in business and first class, everyone looked utterly worn out.
“This might be the last trip of its kind for ten years,”
Chairman Do muttered, shaking his head. Even he, a seasoned traveler, appeared drained.
“We will make sure to come alone next time.”
“With video footage and satellite images being well-prepared, please leave it to us.”
“Yes, Dad. I can come on behalf of everyone, so you don’t have to deal with anything difficult.”
Despite their reassurances, Junhyuk quietly packed his belongings without a word.
As they stepped out of the airport, warm tropical air greeted their skin. Fortunately, the low humidity made the atmosphere pleasant.
A guide explained that they had arrived during optimal weather conditions. After a day of resting at the hotel to recover, the group planned to explore the logging site by boat the following day.
The route involved traveling up a river connected to the sea, necessitating the use of small boats to reach the inner areas.
“With the six-passenger boats, we’ll split into three groups,”
Since they had to accommodate both the captain steering the boat and the guide, the boat carrying the chairman Do was also boarded by two executives who had come along on the business trip and the local factory manager.
The remaining executives and secretaries took the second boat.
Junhyuk naturally ended up on the third boat with his sister, Yeonsoo, her subordinate, and a local guide.
As they ventured into the dense jungle, Yeonsoo's subordinate, Assistant Manager Park, complained of severe stomach pain and requested a stop on land.
Unable to endure further, he clutched his abdomen and writhed in pain.
The small boat lacked restroom facilities, and with at least an hour left to their destination, they docked briefly at a shabby pier.
Junhyuk, adhering to the principle of staying close in unfamiliar places for safety, remained near the boat.
Yeonsoo, however, stood lazily against the pier, glaring at him.
“Why are you even here? Do you think this is some kind of playground?”
“I’ve never considered it a playground, nor do I intend to be a burden,”
“Yet you seem so desperate to gain Father’s approval,”
“I didn’t feel the need before, but if that’s how it appeared, perhaps I should consider it.”
Ignoring her mocking tone, Junhyuk adjusted his backpack and walked away.
“What an insufferable brat,”
Yeonsoo muttered, grinding her teeth as she watched him leave.
Unlike Yeonsoo, who inherited her mother’s petite frame, Junhyuk had their father’s large build and stood a head taller than most.
Taking after his mother, a former actress, Junhyuk was also strikingly handsome, making him a noticeable presence anywhere.
If only he were someone who relied solely on his looks, things would have been simpler. But Junhyuk, having gone through elite courses at international schools and prestigious high schools, also excelled academically, consistently standing out.
How could such a monstrous talent be born?
Even recalling his mother, Min Jihee, who always smiled innocently, didn’t make it any easier to understand.
After all, Junhyuk had even been admitted as the top student in the Business Administration program at Korea University. Chairman Do subtly bragged about this achievement, while to Yeonsoo, Junhyuk was nothing more than a competitor—a threat to her position.
If someone like him graduated from college, her standing would surely become more precarious.
Thus, from the moment Junhyuk’s trip to South America was decided, Yeonsoo started scheming.
It turned out that getting in touch with a local guide and certain groups there could be achieved for just a few hundred dollars.
Yeonsoo saw this as an opportunity to deal with Junhyuk without spending much money and took great care to leave no evidence behind.
Pretending to handle an urgent matter, Assistant Manager Park left the scene, and the guide suggested Junhyuk also step away, saying it might be better to take care of things now rather than later.
While Junhyuk deliberated and eventually left his spot, individuals approached to kidnap him. Meanwhile, Yeonsoo left the area by boat.
She even shed tears in front of Chairman Do, pretending to worry about Junhyuk, claiming he was missing.
Despite filing a missing person’s report and searching for over a month, they couldn’t find any trace of Junhyuk in the vast jungle.
If it hadn’t been for Min Jihee causing a commotion, they would have quickly declared him deceased. She even brought a shaman who insisted Junhyuk wasn’t dead, which indefinitely delayed the declaration of his death.
Three months after his disappearance, when everyone except Min Jihee had come to terms with his presumed death, Junhyuk called internationally.
He explained that he had been hiding in the jungle to escape those who tried to harm him and managed to get out with the help of locals.
Requesting a plane ticket to return to Korea, Min Jihee convinced Chairman Do to send bodyguards to escort Junhyuk safely back home.
Apart from slightly tanned skin, Junhyuk appeared completely unscathed.
Yeonsoo made no effort to hide her frustration in front of him.
In just a short time, Junhyuk’s demeanor had transformed. His gaze, calm and piercing, seemed far too mature for someone only twenty years old.
Junhyuk simply dismissed his experiences with a brief 'I’ve been fine,' possibly to spare his mother any worry. However, his gaze was colder than ever before.
Perhaps she had gone too far with her reckless gamble. Yeonsoo started to regret not being more cautious.
Junhyuk, who had always aspired to live independently rather than relying on his father’s company, had a complete change of mindset following the incident—just as Yeonsoo had feared.
At barely twenty years old, he realized that the jungle was a brutal place where survival was a constant battle.
The survival kit he brought along proved invaluable. Without matches or a lighter, he wouldn’t have been able to make a fire in the dense forest.
He reduced his sleep to just three hours due to the constant struggle against insects. Even then, nights were too dangerous, so he napped briefly during the day.
Fortunately, in Valdivia, South America, the only predator larger than himself was the puma, which he could avoid if he stayed away from water.
The most dangerous threat was the group pursuing him, so Junhyuk eliminated any traces of his presence as he ventured deeper into the jungle.
Without the help of the indigenous people, it might have taken him months—or even years—to return.
Having barely survived, Junhyuk resolved to remove Yeonsoo entirely, knowing she wouldn’t leave him alone if he stayed passive.
Thus, when his mother asked him to study abroad, he readily agreed. He planned to graduate early, earn his master’s and doctorate degrees swiftly, and return to the company as soon as possible.
After finishing preparations for his studies, he boarded a flight to the U.S. for the September semester. It was during the flight, shaking from turbulence, that he briefly fell asleep—only to wake up in his current situation.
And now, 13 years had supposedly passed since that day?
Although Junhyuk didn’t trust people easily after the incident, the woman’s words didn’t seem like the ramblings of someone deranged enough to invent such a story.
Her demeanor didn’t feel hostile or guarded, which made him doubt her alleged closeness to him.
Even now, she occasionally checked his position to ensure he didn’t stray far. If their relationship had been bad, she wouldn’t have behaved this way.
Still, Junhyuk remained vigilant, determined to search for evidence of the truth while keeping a wary eye on her.
For now, though, he decided to address the immediate problem—filling the grumbling stomach of the 'recruit.'
Junhyuk skillfully prepared the dried fish, finding that the tools fit perfectly in his hands. Meanwhile, the woman boiled drinking water and fetched the salt she had previously made, taking the initiative without needing instruction.
When he had been isolated in the jungle, he had felt overwhelming despair and fear. Yet now, strangely, those emotions were absent.
Perhaps it was because there was another person with him, or perhaps it was because of her.
Junhyuk found himself watching the short-haired woman darting around with surprising energy, holding the sight in his mind longer than he intended.
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