LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 270
Chapter 270
Representative Ban Ga-eul continued to speak toward the silent Ban Yo-han.
“You know this too. Putting everything aside and looking at it objectively, for a group to run smoothly for a long time, the members need to get along. Or at least, they shouldn’t clash.”
Many groups had disbanded or failed to renew their contracts due to conflicts among members.
“It’s understandable not to get along. From what I see, there aren’t many people in the world who match with you.”
“Aunt, I’m also a person who gets hurt……”
Representative Ban Ga-eul brushed off his words without much sympathy.
“But you, instead of trying to adjust that gap, either ignore it and leave it as an empty space or sometimes forcefully break others to fit you.”
So far, there had been almost no problems related to the latter.
After a big failure due to such a problem, Ban Yo-han rarely bothered to clash if he didn’t get along with someone.
He’d rather adopt a laissez-faire and indifferent attitude, like ‘You do your thing, I’ll do mine.’
From Representative Ban Ga-eul’s perspective, neither approach was desirable.
“If you keep this up, whatever you want to become or achieve, it could all fall apart because of you before you get there.”
Of course, if there was any sign of such a thing happening, people around would step in to mediate somehow, but Representative Ban Ga-eul deliberately spoke strongly.
“I don’t know everything that happened between you guys, but I have a rough idea of how you’ve treated that kid until now.”
“……”
“It’s not just that one incident. Things must have been building up and up.”
Hearing this, Ban Yo-han fell into deep thought and emptied the glass of water in front of him as if he were about to get up.
“Got it. Thanks for the advice.”
“Is this enough for you?”
“Yeah.”
No way……
“And there’s one thing I’m curious about.”
Representative Ban Ga-eul, eyeing her nephew with suspicion, responded, “What is it?”
“You’re actually quite harsh and blunt with your words, especially to people you know personally, not at work.”
“Do you want to die, brat?”
Representative Ban Ga-eul, looking quite indignant at the description, watched as Ban Yo-han took out his phone.
He then opened a group chat titled ‘Better Not Known Connections,’ which he had recently joined as a promising arranger thanks to pestering Representative Ban Ga-eul. He showed her the latest chats.
Seeing the not-so-mature chats from the group members, Representative Ban Ga-eul regretted bringing Ban Yo-han into the chat room and asked, “What’s your point?”
“Then why do these people keep accepting you?”
Simply because she’s an authoritative figure in the industry?
But the other members he subtly got to know also had impressive careers.
“Well, I’m not as bad as you.”
“That’s not the issue.”
In Ban Yo-han’s view, the degree of being selfish didn’t matter much.
Once someone fell out of favor, even the smallest actions like taking a spoonful of food could become annoying.
Representative Ban Ga-eul, too, wasn’t particularly cautious or careful in personal relationships, and she must have surely done or said things that could hurt someone’s feelings a time or two.
Ban Yo-han guessed this, and it was correct.
“Why do they accept you?”
“Yeah.”
“It might be a concept too difficult for you, or conversely, too easy that it feels like a freebie……”
Representative Ban Ga-eul carefully chose her words, worried that her overly self-confident nephew might lose the rare chance for self-reflection and become arrogant again.
“What is it?”
After a moment, Representative Ban Ga-eul spoke.
“The biggest mistake Raon made that you mentioned earlier.”
“Yeah.”
“You said you can’t stand Raon now, but you’re putting up with it because you’re on the same team, right?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“It’s the same thing.”
This time, even Ban Yo-han’s brilliant mind took a moment to process the new information.
What could be the same?
“To put it in a way you can understand, you become tolerant towards people who are worth it.”
At this point, worth wasn’t determined by ranks set by others or society.
More than anything else, a strong emotional and subjective evaluation beyond logic played a significant role, Representative Ban Ga-eul kindly added.
“That’s why they put up with my stubbornness and temper. And the same goes for me.”
Her words sounded both understandable and confusing at the same time.
“It might sound contradictory to everything I said earlier. But the best way to live with the people you like is…”
“……”
“To understand and tolerate others’ shortcomings as much as you can handle.”
Representative Ban Ga-eul added that there’s rarely anyone in the world who matches you perfectly in every way.
“This is tough,” Ban Yo-han said skeptically, thinking it might be better to live alone than to deal with such troubles.
“If that’s the case, you’re already living a hard life.”
“Why?”
“Because despite thinking that what Raon did was unforgivable, you’ve already accepted it to some extent and decided to tolerate it.”
“……”
“So maybe you and that kid aren’t as incompatible as you think.”
“Really?”
“Well, I can’t say for sure since I’m not Raon. But here’s the conclusion.”
Representative Ban Ga-eul glanced at her phone, which had started ringing again, and spoke quickly.
“If you’re going to continue living the way you want, then you can only hope that the kid values you as much as you value them.”
She then harshly told her nephew to go and reflect on his actions.
Ban Yo-han, having been kicked out, continued to ponder the issue.
After a long deliberation, his conclusion was this:
‘Even the Supreme Court can’t rule on human relationships.’
Who’s more at fault and whether they should continue their relationship is a deeply personal issue that no amount of reasoning can resolve to everyone’s satisfaction. What’s endearing to one person can be utterly intolerable to another.
Ultimately, it was a matter where the will of the individuals involved was most important.
Among this seemingly unsolvable problem, there was at least one aspect that could be logically and reasonably considered: intent.
Did he know the impact his actions would have on the other person?
While lack of intent didn’t absolve one of wrongdoing, it could be a mitigating factor.
In Ban Yo-han’s case, he had fully calculated the repercussions of his actions at that time.
But what about On Raon back then?
“……”
Ban Yo-han finally felt he had pinpointed what he needed to clarify.
* * *
Meanwhile, having slept deeply for the first time in a while, On Raon woke up late and had a bowl of cereal with milk for a combined breakfast and lunch before catching a ride to the dormitory with Muk Hye-sung.
“Aren’t you not using the dorm right now?”
“Yes, but I forgot something. If you drop me off, I can go in alone.”
While he didn’t have a packed schedule, On Raon felt he couldn’t laze around any longer and decided to go back, feeling a strong urge to be productive for a change.
‘Since when did I become such a diligent person?’
As he pondered, they arrived near the dormitory.
Muk Hye-sung, persuaded by On Raon that it might take a while to gather his things, planned to leave for his own schedule.
“Thank you for the trouble and sorry for the inconvenience.”
“It’s no trouble. Come by anytime.”
“I’ll try not to.”
Muk Hye-sung gave a slight smile and gestured for him to go inside quickly.
As he pondered, they arrived near the dormitory.
Persuaded by On Raon’s explanation that it might take some time to gather his things, Muk Hye-sung planned to leave for his own schedule.
“Thank you so much for the trouble and I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
“It’s no trouble. Come by anytime.”
“I’ll try not to.”
Muk Hye-sung gave a slight smile and gestured for him to go inside quickly.
However, 40 minutes later…
“……”
On Raon’s expression as he emerged from the dorm building with his belongings was noticeably different from when he entered, looking almost angry.
It was due to a certain truth he discovered inside the building.
“……”
His slightly flushed cheeks slowly and gradually cooled down as he took a taxi to the company.
As soon as he entered the company building, he encountered Ban Yo-han, who was loitering in the lobby with his phone, seemingly waiting for him.
Coincidentally, Ban Yo-han was the very reason for On Raon’s current anger.
Seeing his face made On Raon’s barely controlled anger flare up again.
“……”
But, for the sake of the team’s atmosphere, On Raon didn’t want to clash with him anymore.
He decided to ignore his triggered emotions and walk past.
“Hey. Can we talk?”
If only Ban Yo-han hadn’t spoken to him.
“Yeah, hi. Sorry.”
Without having time to compose himself, the snide remark slipped out.
“About what?”
At Ban Yo-han’s suggestion to talk, the sudden apology that popped out made him widen his eyes in surprise, wondering what was going on with On Raon.
“This.”
On Raon raised his left hand.
A silver team ring glinted on his index finger without issue.
Seeing the same ring on his own finger, Ban Yo-han sensed that something had gone wrong.