-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Fallout
-----------------------------------------------------------------
013

Madam Na Hwajin thought seriously. The light in the photo had washed out his features, failing to capture even a quarter of his devilish cuteness.

“It doesn’t even capture 10%.”

The photographer has no skill.

The baby was cute even in a two-dimensional image. But having seen him in person, Madam Na Hwajin knew his true value.

“That little one needs to be seen in motion.”

Madam Na Hwajin recalled his adorable little fists. For such a tiny thing, he fidgeted so well.

‘It was to the point I wanted to pop one in my mouth.’

Just as a strange twitch pulled at her cheek, a sharp voice cut through the air.

“Mother, things like this are all fabricated.”

The twitch in her cheek subsided. Na Hwajin turned only her eyes to look at her second daughter-in-law.

“Isn’t it just too much? Calling my sister-in-law a goddess. They must all be blind.”

The madam took another sip of her black tea.

“It’s a fact that Sujeong is beautiful.”

“Mother! Photos like that are all touched up with Photoshop.”

“Is that so? And you’re unhappy that Sujeong is being called a goddess?”

Lee Yugyeong was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Why would that make you unhappy?”

“M-Mother!”

“She may be the child Sujeong brought into this world, but do not forget that she is my daughter. Now, are you finished with what you came for?”

Lee Yugyeong bit her lip slightly. In truth, this photo posted in the online community was the only reason she had come.

“For a photo taken with a mutt to be circulating like this… it’s a disgrace to our Seongjin Group.”

“Promotional photos are, by their nature, taken for promotion. I didn’t realize I’d have to explain something so basic.”

Madam Na Hwajin waved her hand as if shooing a fly.

“You’re being noisy. You may leave.”

“Mother! It’s because you’re too lenient with her that my sister-in-law acts so willfully. What if she gives that mutt some of her shares!”

Na Hwajin turned her gaze back to the English-language newspaper.

“I told you to leave.”

“Mother!”

“You’re noisy. I’m well aware you’re jealous of Sujeong, but try not to show it.”

Madam Na Hwajin spoke clearly as she sipped her tea.

“It’s pathetic.”

Lee Yugyeong bit her lip.

“Besides, is there any reason you must display it in front of me?”

“Mother!”

“Child. Did I not just say you were being noisy?”

It was a clear dismissal. But Lee Yugyeong did not leave.

“What do I have to be envious of your sister-in-law for? Does anyone envy a mother who killed her own child?”

Na Hwajin’s brow furrowed.

‘I’ve won!’

Lee Yugyeong said with a sneer.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way, Mother.”

The second daughter-in-law of Seongjin Group spun around and walked away. Watching her go, Na Hwajin shook her head and muttered.

“And yet you are envious, aren’t you.”

As soon as the door closed, Lee Yugyeong muttered under her breath.

“Senile old hag.”

She had come to fan the flames and get the mutt thrown out, but all she got was a bunch of strange nonsense.

‘What? The photo didn’t come out well?’

Lee Yugyeong looked at her smartphone screen again.

The photo was the same.

Ma Sujeong was shedding tears. It was just that one scene, but perhaps because of her glamorous features, it did have a slightly sacred aura.

Lee Yugyeong sneered and scrolled down.

‘Her face is decent enough, I’ll give her that.’

It was the only decent thing about her.

‘At best, she’s just a mediocre celebrity.’

Utterly incomparable to her own position as the second daughter-in-law of Seongjin Group.

The number of comments had already multiplied. Lee Yugyeong scrolled through them.

└ I knew Ma Sujeong was pretty, but this is insane.

└ But who’s the baby?

└ OMG, thought it was an angel.

└ It’s probably just photoshopped.

└ Saw other pics, it’s not.

└ Seriously, this is unreal. Looks like Mary and baby Jesus.

└ Maybe because you can see the nun’s habit next to them.

Lee Yugyeong clenched her teeth. And before she knew it, she had left a comment.

└ I heard Ma Sujeong adopted this child?

Exactly three seconds after she posted the comment, replies started pouring in.

└ Ma Sujeong got a divorce, and now an adoption?

└ Didn’t her own kid go to the husband?

└ The article is still up. Here’s the link.

└ Whoa, for real?

└ She adopted that baby?

She was thrilled by the fervent response. Lee Yugyeong immediately wrote another comment.

└ It’s true. Don’t you think she adopted him because of his face?

The comments exploded again. Lee Yugyeong smiled as she checked them.

└ No way.

└ Is the adoption for real?

└ Yeah, but if she adopted a kid just because he’s cute, that’s a bit messed up.

└ It’s not a dog.

└ It’s not a cat.

└ Excuse me. Don’t talk about dogs and cats like that. Pets are family too.

└ But Ma Sujeong is rich, so it’s fine.

└ Oh right, she was the third daughter of Seongjin Group.

└ So what if she has money. Is there anything money can’t solve?

└ I’m so jealous. I should’ve been adopted into a family like that…

“No, no! It can’t go this way!”

Lee Yugyeong left another comment.

└ Is she even qualified to raise a child? Her own daughter went to the father. What did she do to lose custody? Her own daughter probably didn’t want her, right?

└ Oh, that’s a good point.

└ Yeah, you’re right.

└ But did the daughter go to the dad because Ma Sujeong had issues?

└ I wonder?

└ Wasn’t it an amicable divorce?

This time, the commotion was all about Ma Sujeong’s divorce. Satisfied, Lee Yugyeong closed the window.

“Sacred, my ass.”

Relying on nothing but a pretty face, living off her own looks.

Lee Yugyeong hummed as she walked away. Unlike Ma Sujeong, she was on a different level in every way and had other business to attend to.

* * *

“You, is this for real?”

Ma Sujeong was on the sofa, chugging sparkling water. Perhaps because the role she was playing these days required tight-fitting clothes, she had to count every single calorie.

“What is? The part about me being saintly?”

Ma Sujeong swept her hair back. The agency president frowned, but Actress Ma couldn’t care less.

“No, the photo was definitely good.”

“I know, right? It’s great, even for a promo shot. The photographer said it was the picture of a lifetime.”

“Yeah, it was really sacred—that’s not the point! Is it true?!”

The president sputtered. He’d almost fallen for her deflection again.

Ma Sujeong beamed.

‘He didn’t fall for it.’

Why on earth was that rumor spreading?

Ma Sujeong said sweetly.

“President Seo.”

“Yeah?”

“You trust me, right?”

The president nodded.

“I do.”

“Do you believe those internet posts, or do you believe me?”

“You.”

Ma Sujeong let out a sigh.

“I see. If you’d said you believed the posts, I was planning to lie…”

“Huh?”

“Don’t worry.”

Ma Sujeong smiled like an angel.

“It’s true.”

For a moment, the president was dumbstruck.

“Wh-What?!!!”

“Gongja and I were destined to be. It was love at first sight. An angel smiled at me.”

“Hey! Ma Sujeong!”

“I couldn’t resist. With his angelic smile, Gongja captivated me like a devil.”

“Hey, still, adoption! Did you really do it?”

“Yes. I really did.”

The president clutched the back of his neck and collapsed onto the sofa. Having known Ma Sujeong for a long time, she knew.

“President, didn’t you have low blood pressure? Why are you grabbing your neck?”

“Hey! Ma Sujeong! You could have at least discussed it with me!”

“You would’ve tried to stop me if I did.”

“Of course I would’ve!”

Ma Sujeong sat comfortably on the sofa and smiled sweetly.

“That’s why I didn’t.”

“Hey, but still, adoption!”

“It’s better than marriage—no, better than remarrying, isn’t it?”

“Well, yes, but…”

The actress was the picture of composure.

“But, Sujeong. You’re divorced.”

“So I am. I got divorced two years ago.”

Ma Sujeong smiled brightly.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Hey, not everyone in the world thinks like you.”

“That’s true. I’m sorry.”

“Why adoption? What are you lacking?”

Actress Ma shook her head.

“Do people usually adopt because they’re lacking something? Isn’t it people who are more virtuous, more stable, and more generous than others who adopt?”

The president immediately shut his mouth.

“You’ve just taken a shot at every adoptive family in Korea, no, in the entire world.”

“Hey, it’s just a figure of speech, that’s not the issue right now…”

“I can raise a child well. Because I’m exactly that kind of person. Virtuous, stable, and generous.”

Ma Sujeong crossed her legs and continued.

“I earn good money, you know. I’m not picky about work either. If it’s a good script, I’ll take it. I’m emotionally stable, and I make regular donations. And you know how much the investors adore me, right?”

The president nodded.

“Among the people who make you money, I’m in the top three, aren’t I?”

“W-Well, yes, you are.”

“Then just smooth things over for me. I’m the one raising him, so why is everyone making such a fuss?”

Ma Sujeong stood up from her seat.

“S-Sujeong, where are you going!”

“I’m going to contact my lawyer.”

“Huh? What are you planning now!”

“It’s just a bit strange. The adoption was supposed to be top secret. No one besides those close to me should have known.”

Ma Sujeong smiled like a villain in a movie.

“I wonder who could have left a comment like that.”

“You’re going to catch the malicious commenter?”

“I’m going to catch the little rat and make them pay a fine, at least.”

“You know prosecutors don’t really go after those cases.”

“The legal world is like that, isn’t it? Unless someone commits suicide, they just process things half-heartedly.”

If a malicious commenter commits suicide, people clamor not to punish them.

If a celebrity commits suicide, people clamor for punishment.

Unfortunately, it was currently a time for the former.

“It would be better if they just tallied the death rates and made a clear policy.”

“Hey, Sujeong. Don’t say things like that so carelessly.”

“Why? Do I not seem human? My family is a bit like that. I guess it rubbed off on me. Well, that’s why I hire lawyers. What’s the point of having a representative? They raise hell on my behalf.”

Ma Sujeong scrolled through her smartphone and muttered.

“My Gongja better not take after this side of me.”

Ma Sujeong muttered to herself.

‘I hope my baby can live in a bright world, as soft as cotton fluff.’

Mommy will protect you. I’ll make sure you can live like that.

She turned back to the president and smiled brightly.

“So, I’m counting on you, President.”

“Aish. Why did I ever scout someone like this.”

“You love having me around. Stop being so dramatic.”

She made a cool exit from the president’s office. Only after Actress Ma had left did the president realize.

“I got played again!”

He hadn’t been able to say a single word against her.

President Seo hung his head and sighed. Honestly, it wasn’t an affair, and it wasn’t tax evasion.

‘Well, adoption isn’t a crime.’

Though it might cause problems when landing roles in the future.

President Seo slumped onto the sofa, drained. Thanks to her, the work he had to do felt like a nightmare.

‘Do you think quieting down the media is easy, you brat!’

If she weren’t such a cash cow, he would have… at least tried to scold her!

The president wept internally as he made a phone call.