Even a Lonely Squirrel Has Its Burrow - Chapter 92

Chapter 92

“Living long enough, I get to see everything. You, of all people?”

Sometimes, silence can be an answer in itself. This was one of those moments. Eun Suhyeok laughed with the most amused expression Sa Muheon had ever seen on him and began firing off questions.

“So, who is it? Are they younger? Just how young are they that you’re asking me about this?”

It didn’t seem to matter to him whether Sa Muheon kept his lips tightly shut or not. He looked genuinely delighted, as if he had finally gotten a chance to tease Sa Muheon for the first time.

Realizing that Eun Suhyeok wouldn’t back down without an answer, Sa Muheon let out a deep sigh and reluctantly responded to the questions in order.

“A squirrel Shifter, and they’re living in my house right now. Their age is…”

“Their age?”

“…Young.”

He tried to gloss over it, but Eun Suhyeok was relentless. Seeing Sa Muheon avoid the question, his eyes gleamed as if he had caught onto something big.

“What the hell? Just how young are they? You called me shameless before—don’t tell me they’re about as young as my mate?”

“…….”

But as Sa Muheon’s silence dragged on, Eun Suhyeok put down the glass he was holding. Then, as if trying to deny the thought forming in his mind, he asked in a meaningful tone.

“Don’t tell me… they’re even younger?”

“…….”

“Hey, you—!”

When Eun Suhyeok looked like he was about to shoot up from his seat, Sa Muheon finally let out a long sigh and spoke.

“Twenty-one.”

“What?”

As his friend reacted in shock, Sa Muheon, as if he had given up on everything, continued speaking.

“Yeah. I’m a shameless bastard. I never knew this would happen when I used to curse at guys who played around with younger people. I didn’t even realize when I was saying that to you. Who would have thought I’d fall so hard for someone this young, willing to give them everything—heart, soul, and all?”

“Ha…”

Eun Suhyeok gaped at him before hastily fumbling inside his jacket. He pulled out a cigarette, glanced at Sa Muheon, and then bit down on one. But instead of lighting it, he just chewed on the filter. Sa Muheon looked at him in curiosity.

“My fiancée hates cigarettes.”

“…I see.”

He thought it was ridiculous, but then again, from an outsider’s perspective, he wasn’t much different. That thought alone made him close his mouth. Sa Muheon let out a small laugh and leaned back against the sofa.

Eun Suhyeok silently watched him for a while before finally opening his mouth.

“So, what were you trying to say? Were you about to ask me for dating advice?”

“No. That just came up along the way.”

“Then?”

Eun Suhyeok asked, puzzled. Sa Muheon took a moment to look at his friend sitting across from him.

Right now, he might call him his only friend, but that didn’t mean Eun Suhyeok was the only friend Sa Muheon had in the more than thirty years he had lived. Many others had come and gone for various reasons, but Eun Suhyeok was simply the last one still around.

There were many reasons why, but all of them combined had allowed their friendship to last.

Eun Suhyeok understood Sa Muheon better than anyone else. He was born into a loving family where both parents were wolf shifters, and his household environment had always been good. His great-grandfather had started out in construction and eventually built a massive conglomerate with countless subsidiaries. The man had been a thug who used his fists in the beginning, but as time passed, no one dared to describe him that way anymore.

Perhaps because they had both grown up with nothing lacking, they never felt jealousy or resentment toward each other. Of course, there was a time when they were younger when they despised how similar they were. But as they matured, they realized that only they could truly understand each other, and their bond grew even stronger.

When Sa Muheon decided to go tiger hunting, the first person he thought of was Manager Han. Through him, he intended to dig up anything that could become Ryu Beomju’s weakness and cut off his limbs one by one. And the second person who came to mind was his old friend, Eun Suhyeok.

Ryu Beomju had been working under CEO Yoo of Mirae Construction for a very long time. Whatever his reason for acting like a toothless tiger under Yoo, it was clear that he had a motive compelling enough to endure all sorts of humiliation.

To win against an opponent, one must first understand them completely.

Sa Muheon knew little about the construction industry. But his friend, Eun Suhyeok, was different. While their company had expanded into numerous subsidiaries over time, their core business remained construction—the foundation that had built their empire.

That was why Sa Muheon had come to the one person who could provide him with the most accurate information.

“I was wondering if you’ve heard any recent rumors.”

“What kind of rumors?”

“About that damn cat.”

Eun Suhyeok raised an eyebrow as if asking what he was talking about. Then, after a moment, he let out an “Ah,” and spoke.

“You mean your guy, Manager Hong?”

“Yeah.”

At Sa Muheon’s confirmation, Eun Suhyeok let out a chuckle. He poured himself a bit more alcohol and drank it leisurely.

“There are always plenty of rumors about Manager Hong.”

“Anything new?”

“Anything new, huh? Not really. The same stuff, mostly. Everyone knows he’s acting like a groveling dog, practically licking CEO Yoo’s boots.”

Sa Muheon frowned at that. That particular rumor had followed Ryu Beomju since the day he had rebranded himself.

Even those who weren’t aware of his identity as a Shifter mocked him for his subservient attitude.

“Hmm… Aside from that, what else was there?”

Eun Suhyeok seemed to be contemplating something for a moment, but then lightly shook his head as if nothing came to mind.

“There doesn’t seem to be anything new.”

“Nothing at all?”

Sa Muheon asked again, as if refusing to believe it, but Eun Suhyeok only gave a silent nod. He took a sip of his drink while watching Sa Muheon’s furrowed expression.

“Yeah. Nothing new. Still cycling through women non-stop, still raking in an absurd amount of money on the side—same as always.”

“Money?”

It was a comment thrown out so casually that it seemed insignificant, but Sa Muheon didn’t miss it.

“Yeah. Don’t tell me you didn’t know he was siphoning off money like that?”

“It’s not that I didn’t know.”

“Judging by how you’re talking, you don’t know the details, do you?”

Eun Suhyeok let out a chuckle at that. Seeing Sa Muheon’s slight frown, he continued with an amused tone.

“He’s probably pocketing kickbacks while signing contracts with subcontractors. Usually, it’s around five percent, but if he pushes it, it could go up to ten.”

“…Hmm.”

“If Manager Hong were someone who knew moderation, he’d stop at that, but…”

“If that were the case, I wouldn’t have come all the way here.”

At Sa Muheon’s cold response, Eun Suhyeok burst into laughter. Nodding in agreement, he carried on.

“From what I know, CEO Yoo hardly gets involved in the actual operations. That right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then that means Manager Hong effectively has the most decision-making power. He won’t be able to siphon off all of the money, but he can probably embezzle a fair amount without CEO Yang noticing.”

After pausing to empty his glass, Eun Suhyeok casually added,

“He’s probably swapping out materials too. That’s the most common trick in the book.”

He spoke as if it were nothing, but the implications were anything but trivial. Sa Muheon quietly reflected on what he had just heard before finally opening his mouth.

“Then, in your opinion, how much do you think Manager Hong has siphoned off so far?”

“Hmm…”

Eun Suhyeok didn’t take long to think.

“It’s been quite a while since he climbed up to his current position, right? Living as CEO Yang’s lapdog.”

Instead of answering directly, he made a playful expression and mimicked a barking sound, “Woof, woof.” But when Sa Muheon didn’t even crack a smile, Eun Suhyeok seemed to lose interest, letting out a short sigh before continuing.

“I don’t know exactly how much he’s embezzled, but considering how long he’s been in that position, even on the low end, I’d say at least three billion won.”

“Three billion?”

Sa Muheon repeated the number in disbelief, a dry chuckle escaping his lips.

“At least three billion, huh…”

“Yeah. But come on, do you really think someone like Manager Hong would settle for just that?”

“So, it’s even more than that.”

“That’s my guess. You’re the one who asked for my opinion on how much it might be.”

As Sa Muheon gave a slight nod in response, the conversation between them came to a brief halt.

While Sa Muheon appeared to be organizing his thoughts, Eun Suhyeok leisurely savored his drink.