Chapter 27 – His Name Was Never Hidden
"Behind the Gold: AUREUS Unfiltered" – Episode 2 (Ongoing)
Dare 6 aftermath
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[STUDIO – 11 MINUTES INTO THE DARE]
Jaeheon's phone remains in the host's hands.
The air is still thick from what they just saw.
The woman with the blade.
The blood.
Jaeheon's smile.
His silence.
His truth.
Jeon Mira (whispering to herself):
"I need to breathe or I'm going to faint."
The audience isn't screaming anymore. The silence isn't awkward—it's reverent. As if everyone understands they're watching something unrepeatable. Something real.
And Jaeheon?
He sits there like he always does.
Unmoving. Unblinking.
Not hiding.
Just waiting.
Jeon Mira (exhales):
"I'm… okay. I'm okay. We're okay. Let's just… check your gallery or something. Lighten the mood, right?"
The members don't respond.
She scrolls cautiously through the phone. First the notes. Then the photo album.
The audience watches.
Then she freezes.
[SCREEN – THE GALLERY IS MIRRORED]
One photo folder is tagged with a private cloud icon.
It's titled: Hyunwoo Appa with a heart emoji.
Another: Halabeoji – 2018
One more: Jihoon Hyung
And another: Suhwa Halmeoni – Awards Ceremony
Jeon Mira (confused):
"…These names…"
She clicks on one. A photo opens.
An older man standing beside a black Rolls-Royce, shaking hands with the President of Korea.
The caption underneath reads:
"Halabeoji – 2022 World Economic Summit – Geneva."
Another click.
A news clipping saved to camera roll.
"Kang Dojun, 4th Richest Man in the World, Expands into AI Defense Technologies"
Silence.
The studio screen is frozen on the face of the man.
Chairman Kang Dojun.
Jeon Mira (barely audible):
"Wait…"
She scrolls faster now. Panic and realization flashing in her movements.
Next image:
Choi Suhwa, Korea's Queen of Business: The Woman Who Outran Men and Markets
Another:
Kang Hyunwoo speaks at Global Finance Forum – 2nd Richest Man in Korea
And then—
Kang Jihoon Crowned "Heir of the Century"
Rin (quietly):
"Kang Jihoon? The prodigy investor?"
Yeonwoo (blinking):
"Kang Hyunwoo. Like—the Hyunwoo?"
Minjae (horrified):
"Bro."
Then Jeon Mira whispers it.
"Your last name is Kang."
Jaeheon says nothing.
He doesn't look surprised.
He doesn't look guilty.
He just... waits.
Like someone who's waited years for the world to finally put the pieces together.
Jeon Mira (shaking):
"You're—Kang Jaeheon?"
Pause.
Rin:
"Your grandfather is Kang Dojun."
Hyunjae:
"The Kang Dojun. The world's fourth richest man."
Eunjae (quietly):
"And you never told us."
Jaeheon (simply):
"No one asked."
[STUDIO – EXPLOSION]
The chat explodes again. Louder than before.
@jaeheonkang: HIS LAST NAME IS KANG?????
@fourthrichestgrandson: KANG. DOJUN. IS. HIS. GRANDFATHER. I'M GOING TO VOMIT.
@jaeheonheirconfirmed: The photos. The videos. THE ROYAL BLOODLINE.
Jeon Mira (overwhelmed):
"You're the grandson of Chairman Kang Dojun. Your dad's the vice chairman. Your grandmother is the Choi Suhwa. And your brother is the Kang Jihoon?"
Jaeheon just nods once.
Jeon Mira (in disbelief):
"Why are you even here?! You could be running a busieness "
Jaeheon:
"I never said I wanted to."
The members stare. Speechless.
The image of the bleeding boy beside the image of a trillion-dollar empire is too much.
Jeon Mira (softly):
"You were never hiding it."
Jaeheon (calm):
"No. But no one ever looked close enough."
@silentroyalty: he was never hiding. we just never saw him.
@justaboyataball: this chapter reads like poetry. like fate.
@therichestidolever: this isn't a twist. this is a revelation.
Jeon Mira (gently):
"And she… the woman in that video… she knew who you were?"
Jaeheon (quietly):
"She didn't care."
Pause.
"She met me at a ball. I saw her from afar. And I fell in love."
Jeon Mira:
"And the second time you met?"
Jaeheon:
"She put a blade to my neck."
He looks down for the first time.