Chapter Twelve: Who Can Lend Me the Winds and Clouds?

Only then did he remember that this must be Somi’s father, Matthew Duma, a Canadian of Dutch descent. Occasionally, he appeared on variety shows and even made a cameo in the iconic drama “Descendants of the Sun,” which starred the famed Song couple.

Seeing the man’s expression soften slightly, he realized it was best not to linger any longer. Why did he have to get tangled up like some reckless youth caught in mischief? That troublesome girl was truly a harbinger of bad luck.

“This woman is acting strangely! Is this how someone about to debut behaves? Something’s off, but whatever! The gorilla isn’t worried, so why should I be? Cheol-hou, you’d better focus on yourself!”

Although he sensed the girl was indeed acting out of the ordinary, it seemed none of his business. She appeared indifferent about her future anyway, and he was no father to her.

“Has JYP’s management really become this lax? Such a big company can’t be so careless. As expected, different people have different paths—there’s the clever Suzy, and then there’s this mischievous Somi.”

The kiss on his cheek startled him, yet he feigned nonchalance. With her Dutch bloodline, and growing up in such an open-minded place, it was no wonder she was so precocious. Still, he preferred to keep his distance from such a reckless troublemaker lest he get caught in the crossfire. Since leaving the military, women were hardly scarce. Even when a mature beauty like Sica came knocking, he had refused her multiple times—so why bother with a girl who wasn’t exactly innocent?

Parking his motorcycle by the riverside, Cheol-hou let out a bitter laugh. Here he was, worrying about a famous idol while surviving on a meager salary—he might as well have been making more money working nights at a bar.

The fiery incident still stirred his blood, wiping away the frustrations of his recent life. Honestly, he envied Somi’s reckless abandon—that was a life he had never known.

“A dragon swimming in shallow water! But who will lend me the stormy winds?”

Cheol-hou was no man willing to settle as an ordinary corporate drone. Among the top graduates of his class, many had made names for themselves in the military, and even one hideous bottom-ranked graduate had successfully started a business. How had this talented, elite graduate ended up here?

Now, his aimless existence stretched on, with no breakthrough in sight. Hoping for a miraculous benefactor was nothing more than wishful thinking.

He smoked half a pack of cigarettes, still no clearer on his path. Life had to go on, though, and little did he know that fate was about to steer him onto a path of profound change.

***

After that episode, Somi grew increasingly warm toward him, often inviting him out to eat. But her lack of boundaries frightened him, and several times she seemed on the verge of saying something but held back.

“Cheol-hou, why don’t you consider taking the civil service exam? You were always so sharp—maybe you should give it a shot! It feels like such a waste to have a talent like you working as my bodyguard.”

It wasn’t that his beautiful employer wanted to push him away—she genuinely cared. Yet, his record, though not tarnished, might still cause employers to hesitate. Besides, what practical use was a degree in military studies?

“With so much competition, some people take the civil service exam five or six times. If you fail, you’re nothing. I don’t have time or money to gamble like that.”

Cheol-hou’s excuses silenced Suzy, who understood people had their own aspirations. After all, she was just his employer. Despite the setbacks he’d endured, it was impressive how he’d managed to pull himself together. She felt a pang of guilt, like a fine steed dying unrecognized, but also selfishly hoped he might stay on as her bodyguard a while longer.

“Go pack your things. Next month we have some overseas trips starting in Hong Kong. If there’s anything at home or elsewhere that needs arranging, get it done quickly.”

The manager’s instructions earned a nod. Since he made his living this way, he had to cooperate with his employer’s schedule. He had nothing pressing—just a word to Seojung would suffice.

As for the texts from various older and younger women asking where he had gone, his standard reply was that he’d returned home and married a simple girl. This sparked regret and wistfulness among many, some even found it more thrilling. The decay of morals in this era was truly alarming.

“Overseas trips? I don’t think I’ve ever left South Korea in my life! How embarrassingly provincial.”

Born into hardship, he had rarely ventured beyond the capital region, and military school had left no chance at all. His grandfather was an immigrant from Yanbian, and he had even learned some Chinese growing up—perhaps it might come in handy abroad.

“Hahaha! You’ve never been abroad? This itinerary is packed; otherwise, I’d let you take a half-day off to have some fun. Tonight, my friends and I are meeting for drinks. You and the unnie can wait in the car. Thanks for working so hard these past days.”

Despite Suzy’s apologies, the turmoil only intensified, and JYP’s response was weak. The girl had her own views, and the situation became a tangled mess.

***

“An apology isn’t enough to pretend nothing happened! We will pursue Suzy civilly and criminally!”

Faced with relentless accusations, JYP cowered, first trying to get Suzy to apologize again. But the other party refused to budge, insisting on dealing directly with their lawyers and determined to escalate the matter.

Cheol-hou analyzed the situation and suspected the studio was trying to exploit the controversy. Suzy merely requested a thorough investigation rather than issuing a verdict on the studio, and quickly explained that ownership had changed hands. Observant fans noticed that the owner’s transfer occurred only after Suzy posted on Instagram—suggesting a calculated, sinister ploy.

“Compensating 100 million won is a small matter, but after this, artists will no longer be able to speak freely!”

Suzy was overwhelmed, which was why she invited a few close friends to drink and unwind. These days had been anything but peaceful—death threats kept coming, and even the company received packages containing dead rats. This wealthy young woman had to tread carefully.

The job was actually quite comfortable and leisurely, only cutting into his off-hours. Bodyguard work had flexible hours, so he didn’t complain, quietly playing on his phone in the car.

His beautiful employer seemed to hold her liquor well. By the time his phone was nearly dead, the manager helped a slightly unsteady Suzy out, struggling a bit. The sturdy woman quickly called Cheol-hou over to lend a hand.

Taking the bag from Suzy, he offered his arm for her to hold to avoid suspicion. Nearby came a delighted, drunken voice, charmingly innocent.

“So, Suzy, is this your bodyguard? He’s actually pretty handsome. You’re not just trying to hide something, are you? Hahaha!”

Turning toward the cheerful laughter, a petite yet well-proportioned girl emerged. Her smooth facial contours and defined jawline gave her a youthful softness that inspired warmth. Though her nose bridge was a bit low, her large, bright eyes compensated beautifully, making her look playfully adorable.

He knew at once this was the popular national female soloist. While he drank soju in the army, he had given out many of her posters—many soldiers stuck them up in their barracks. But he also knew, like his beautiful employer, she was no pushover. Indeed, stars tended to keep company with other stars.