"You didn't say anything to Father, did you?"

Having put the question, Sang-jong Lee undid the cloth around the lunch box Min-yeong Oh had brought and picked at the side dishes inside it with his fingers.

Min-yeong Oh, watching him with an expressionless face, answered in a dry voice.

"Chief Hwang asked several times, and each time I said I couldn't reach you."

"Well done. Bring some yeolmu next time you come. Strangely enough I've a craving for yeolmu."

Having licked the seasoning off his fingers, Sang-jong Lee spoke as though sorry to be without it.

Min-yeong Oh, who had been watching with her brows drawn together, spoke in a voice edged with irritation.

"How long do you mean to hide here?"

"A month will be enough."

Sang-jong Lee waved a hand and picked up the remote lying on the table.

"Why do you—"

"Be quiet."

Sang-jong Lee put a finger to his lips, telling Min-yeong Oh to be quiet.

And he listened closely to what was coming from the television.

—Ilhyeon Windows, which rose by a large margin the previous day, continued its rise today as well. Closing up ten per cent at 42,100 won, Ilhyeon Windows finished with a trading volume of more than 100 million shares, following on from yesterday.

"It took, right enough."

Letting out a laugh as though pleased, Sang-jong Lee turned his head toward Min-yeong Oh with the remote still in his hand.

"Finish what you were saying just now. Why do I what?"

"Have you… lost your mind?"

"What was that?"

"Are you doing all this… because of that?"

Min-yeong Oh pointed a finger at the screen where Ilhyeon Windows' price had shown.

"What is that thing, that you go this far?"

"Mind your tongue. I'm in a good humour today so I'll let it pass, but say anything to me again about having lost my mind and you'll find I don't leave you alone."

Sang-jong Lee raised his arm and threatened Min-yeong Oh.

Having swung the arm a few times, Sang-jong Lee lowered it again and said,

"And what is that thing,…