"Why'd you come here today? We could've just met at the Alice later."

Mun-jong Lee was asking why he'd come all the way to the office when they'd be meeting at the room salon anyway.

I came because of your driver.

Seong-ho Kim hadn't dragged himself over because he wanted to see Mun-jong Lee's face any sooner.

He'd come early because of Ju-cheol Seong.

But he couldn't say that, so he offered a different reason without missing a beat.

"I was wondering whether you'll be accepting the second brother's invitation."

Seong-ho Kim used Sang-jong Lee as his excuse and sat down on the sofa.

Mun-jong Lee gave a small nod and sat down across from him.

"When was it, again?"

"They said the group launch ceremony is on the fifth of next month."

"The fifth of next month… so about two weeks away?"

"Yes."

"Hmm… do I really have to go?"

"If it's awkward for you, I can go in your place."

"Really? Then that would be better."

Mun-jong Lee answered at once when Seong-ho Kim offered to go for him.

And with a look and a tone that said it needed no second thought, he went on,

"If I go it's awkward for everybody. Somebody who doesn't know would think I'd driven them out, wouldn't they? And I don't like being talked about… It's not as if I was ever that close with Sang-jong or Chang-jong… and you're closer to them than I am anyway."

Seong-ho Kim held back a laugh and nodded.

"Understood. Then I'll go in your place and congratulate them."

"Right, right. Father isn't going either, so it'd be strange for me to go. But listen."

Mun-jong Lee asked Seong-ho Kim about something that had just occurred to him.

"That thing… is it actually going to work?"

"I'm not sure what you mean…?"

"No. I mean. If they make the stuff, is there anywhere to sell it?"

Mun-jong Lee narrowed his eyes and said,

"If they make it and then come asking us because they have nowhere to sell it… that would be a problem."

Seong-ho…