Good Night

In-ho was Il-nam’s son. He only grew close to his older father, but overall they were quite distant—so much so that In-ho is more of a father figure to Jun-ho than Il-nam is. But Il-nam thought In-ho would be an ideal partner for a new investment in the entertainment industry, and a good heir. They’d grown closer over the past 15 years together, to the point where In-ho became his right-hand man and was by his father’s side on his deathbed

On the day of the funeral, however, there was an unfamiliar man. Of course, he could have been one of Il-nam’s many acquaintances in the industry, but he seemed out of place and uncomfortable, accompanied by a security guard, too quiet, wearing a suit he didn’t know how to wear. A handsome man, around his age, with wavy hair, big eyes, pink lips, a slim waist, and a big butt. It wasn’t the best moment, but In-ho went over to greet him like a good host, and received the stranger’s condolences and his name: Seong Gi-hun.

I imagine In-ho caught between his father’s betrayal, his attraction to Gi-hun, and the moral dilemma that he shouldn’t be with Gi-hun. He’s a public figure in an extremely moralistic environment, and Gi-hun is technically his brother.

Ilnam saying that Gihun has to live with his brothers for at least two years to fully get all of his inheritance!

In-ho was Il-nam’s son. He only grew close to his older father, but overall they were quite distant—so much so that In-ho is more of a father figure to Jun-ho than Il-nam is. But Il-nam thought In-ho would be an ideal partner for a new investment in the entertainment industry, and a good heir. They’d grown closer over the past 15 years together, to the point where In-ho became his right-hand man and was by his father’s side on his deathbed

On the day of the funeral, however, there was an unfamiliar man. Of course, he could have been one of Il-nam’s many acquaintances in the industry, but he seemed out of place and uncomfortable, accompanied by a security guard, too quiet, wearing a suit he didn’t know how to wear. A handsome man, around his age, with wavy hair, big eyes, pink lips, a slim waist, and a big butt. It wasn’t the best moment, but In-ho went over to greet him like a good host, and received the stranger’s condolences and his name: Seong Gi-hun.

I imagine In-ho caught between his father’s betrayal, his attraction to Gi-hun, and the moral dilemma that he shouldn’t be with Gi-hun. He’s a public figure in an extremely moralistic environment, and Gi-hun is technically his brother.

Ilnam saying that Gihun has to live with his brothers for at least two years to fully get all of his inheritance!

In-ho was Il-nam’s son. He only grew close to his older father, but overall they were quite distant—so much so that In-ho is more of a father figure to Jun-ho than Il-nam is. But Il-nam thought In-ho would be an ideal partner for a new investment in the entertainment industry, and a good heir. They’d grown closer over the past 15 years together, to the point where In-ho became his right-hand man and was by his father’s side on his deathbed

On the day of the funeral, however, there was an unfamiliar man. Of course, he could have been one of Il-nam’s many acquaintances in the industry, but he seemed out of place and uncomfortable, accompanied by a security guard, too quiet, wearing a suit he didn’t know how to wear. A handsome man, around his age, with wavy hair, big eyes, pink lips, a slim waist, and a big butt. It wasn’t the best moment, but In-ho went over to greet him like a good host, and received the stranger’s condolences and his name: Seong Gi-hun.

Got this so far...

*

The frost clings to Gi-hun's hair like tiny diamonds. In-ho had forgotten just how thin Gi-hun had become by the end, but here, with the lines of exhaustion carved deeply into his face, the memories return with the force of a sledgehammer. Gi-hun's eyes remain fixed upon the frozen abyss beneath them, as though somewhere within its impossible depths he is still searching for those he had failed.

"Gi-hun."

His eyes move slowly. Tears appear in the corners and immediately freeze over, tiny chips of ice falling to his knees when he blinks.

And when his eyes finally land on In-ho, there is no curiosity, no recognition, nothing to suggest the fire and hope that once lived inside him.

"You shouldn't stay here," Gi-hun says quietly. "It's cold."

The words strike In-ho with greater force than any accusation could have done, and he desperately searches Gi-hun’s face for even a flicker of familiarity, his heart breaking when he finds none.

"Gi-hun-ah," he says gently. "It's me."

Gi-hun frowns faintly, not in confusion but in gentle apology. "I'm sorry," he says, his voice unbearably soft. "Have we met?"

For one impossible moment In-ho can not breathe. He had prepared himself for hatred, for rage, for violence. He had imagined Gi-hun throwing every lie back into his face, demanding explanations that could never satisfy either of them.

He had never imagined this, this absence of recognition.

But as he kneels on the shelf of ice, the cold already seeping into his own bones, and takes Gi-hun's hands in his own he realises this is the final consequence of every deception he had ever chosen.

Oh Young-il had died long before Gi-hun reached Hell. The Front Man had never been anything but a mask. And Hwang In-ho...

Hwang In-ho had never been introduced.

At a bar, In-ho buys him a couple of rounds, coaxes him into opening up about his debts (as if he doesn't already know every single detail about them), and he's speaking before he can even think it through. He offers to pay them off. In exchange, all he asks for is Gi-hun's company. And if he accepts, In-ho is at liberty to adjust the terms of their arrangement at his discretion. Gi-hun is stunned, doesn't understand why this gorgeous man is even wasting his time on someone like him, and jokes about how the offer isn't some weird sex thing, right? In-ho repeats that he's only seeking his company, and he actually keeps to that for a while, much to Gi-hun's frustration!

Of course, Gi-hun, oh Gi-hun... He follows the terms of their agreement without question. If In-ho calls, he comes. If In-ho wants him to stay at the fancy new apartment he found for them, then sure! Why not? Jung-bae, Eun-ji, even his mom all being voices of reason because, seriously? How much does Gi-hun actually know about this guy? He can't even tell them what In-ho does for a living outside of assuming he's some sort of business man, but Gi-hun is on cloud nine, being wined and dined and treated like someone special.