I Think I've Poked a Sleeping Bear
Chapter 27
A Win-Win, and a Convenient Excuse
“You have to give me an answer before you leave.”
Dan-a held onto her dongsaeng as she spoke.
“Just tell him the truth. You said you were going to break up anyway.”
“It’s because I don’t want to break up with him anymore.”
“Then just date him. What’s the problem?”
“What’s the problem? A corporate deal worth trillions of won is falling apart because of me….”
“Then shouldn’t you tell him even sooner? What if you get sued for fraud?”
“Th-the President? Sue me? No way. Wouldn’t the affection we’ve built up (from kissing) count for something?”
“Crazy. You’ve totally fallen for him. You hopeless, stubborn fool who already made up your mind.”
“Hey, did you just call your unnie a…?”
“Middle finger.”
Slam. Her dongsaeng left.
Left alone, Dan-a sank back down onto the floor.
“Swearing at her own unnie, the nerve. Right, the world is what’s wrong, not you. Turning my sweet, angelic little sister into such a monster. It’s the college entrance exams’ fault, truly.”
Ding. A text arrived from Lee Heon.
President Ra Iheon (Saja Group)
Are you eating well?
I just got home. Don’t kick off the covers just because the weather’s getting warmer, and sleep well.
Whimper. President, why are you being so sweet?
We can’t be together….
President Ra Iheon ♥ |
Even as she thought that, Dan-a quietly replaced “Saja Group” with a heart in Lee Heon’s contact name.
The door flew open.
Dan-a, who had been rubbing her cheek against her phone, froze.
“You….”
“Uh, Mom….”
“You’re fangirling again, aren’t you? Now you’re skipping meals to fangirl? You—go on a blind date or an arranged match right this second!”
“No, this is….”
“I’ll set the time myself, so not another word!”
Yeon-sook checked the email in utter disbelief.
The email contained photos of Yi-on carrying Seo-rin on his back into a hotel room, followed by photos of the two of them leaving the hotel together. The time gap between the photos was over five hours.
These are photos taken by our reporter. I thought it would be best to let you know in advance.
They’re clamoring to run it as an exclusive. ^^
Sincerely, Director Oh Chang-gi, Korea Report
What on earth was going on?
Why were the two of them coming out of a hotel room?
Why was Yi-on going to a hotel with Baek Seorin instead of Lee Heon?
“Manager Kim. Transfer some money to Director Oh at Korea Report.”
Holding the phone, Yeon-sook pressed a hand to her forehead as if nursing a headache. Soon, following a knock, Yi-on walked in.
“Ah, Mom. You told me not to get distracted and focus on work, so why call me during office hours? What’s so urgent?”
“Are you hiding something from Mom?”
“Me? Plenty. Probably almost everything. Isn’t that normal?”
“Baek Seorin.”
At that single name, Yi-on, who had been joking playfully, fell silent.
At his reaction, Yeon-sook furrowed her brows in disbelief.
“You, really….”
“What? I was just trying to remember who Baek Seorin is.”
He sat on the sofa, playing dumb.
Yeon-sook’s mouse clicked rapidly—click, click, click—and soon, a chime sounded from Yi-on’s phone.
The photos of Yi-on and Seo-rin came through in a message.
What the. How does this woman look pretty even in candid shots?
Examining the screen, Yi-on felt a sharp gaze and glanced nervously at Yeon-sook.
Ha. Busted. And here I thought I was being careful.
There really are no secrets in this world.
Yi-on clicked his tongue wryly.
“These photos are horribly taken. I was dressed so well that day, too.”
“Do you think that’s what matters right now? What on earth were you doing in a hotel with your brother’s fiancée?”
What do you think I did at the hotel? I waited for someone who collapsed to wake up and fed her.
…As if she’d actually believe that.
In a hotel room with my brother’s fiancée….
It really does look shady as hell. Anyone would be suspicious.
“Nothing happened.”
“You expect me to believe that? What did Mom tell you? I told you to behave yourself so you’d look good in front of your father! But you lay a hand on your brother’s fiancée?”
“Lay a hand on her? It’s not like that….”
“Lee Heon is the problem. Not even knowing what the woman who’s supposed to be his wife is up to—what on earth is that boy doing with himself?”
“Well, there’s another wo—…”
“It’s obvious. Buried in work again, not knowing how the world is turning. That damn work, work, work!”
She doesn’t even suspect for a second that he has another woman.
Well, even I wouldn’t have believed he had another woman if hyung hadn’t told me himself.
Yi-on pondered for a moment.
What would happen if I told her hyung had a girlfriend right now?
Mom wouldn’t stoop so low as to summon his sister-in-law-to-be and say, “Stay away from my son.”
In fact, she might even be happy to hear hyung had a girlfriend, thinking spring had finally come for him at last.
However, the marriage with Dongyeon Group wasn’t merely the culmination of a romance; it was strictly business.
If he were to cancel that to marry an ordinary woman, there was no telling how Mom would react.
“What on earth were you thinking, doing something like that with Baek Seorin?”
“No, Mom. I’m telling you, absolutely nothing happened!”
“Does that matter? If rumors start spreading and your father finds out….”
As Yeon-sook clutched her head, Yi-on said nonchalantly,
“Well, then I can just marry Baek Seorin.”
“What?”
“It’s an arranged marriage anyway, so what does it matter which member of Saja Group she marries? It’s not like they’re married yet.”
Having said it aloud, it actually sounded like a pretty plausible plan.
After all, wouldn’t it be enough as long as Saja and Dongyeon maintained their in-law alliance? It would protect hyung and Dan-a’s love too.
“Mom, this is actually a great pl—”
“Why would you marry her! What are you lacking to marry a flawed girl like Baek Seorin!”
“…What do you mean by that?”
Yi-on stared at Yeon-sook. Yeon-sook averted her eyes.
“A flawed girl like Baek Seorin… What does that mean?”
“…”
“Mother!”
“It’s nothing. The girl is a bit sick. That’s all.”
“She’s… sick? What’s wrong with her?”
“They just say she has some anemia. That’s all. It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with.”
Anemia? Is that why she collapsed? That’s definitely more than just ‘a bit.’
Wait.
What did she just say…
“You were trying to marry off to hyung someone you tell me not to see because she’s flawed?”
“…”
“Mom, don’t tell me… is it because he’s not your biological child…?”
“Th-that’s just the proper order! It’s not because he came from a different womb, it’s just that your brother is in line to marry first.”
Yi-on’s expression turned deeply disappointed. Seeing that, Yeon-sook spoke defensively, as if pricked by guilt.
“You are purely of Saja Group’s bloodline. Are you the same as your brother who was brought in from outside?”
“Even if he was brought in from outside, he’s still Father’s child! Strictly speaking, he’s the son of Father’s first wife! Father divorced, lived separately, and only brought him in later!”
Yeon-sook’s eyes shifted suspiciously.
“…What? That’s not true?”
“…”
“It wasn’t? If not that, then what, was he just brought in from outside?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“What do you mean I don’t need to know? I already figured it out!”
Yi-on struggled to process the flood of information, looking at Yeon-sook with cold eyes.
“…Does hyung know?”
“Why would anyone tell him something like that? All he needs to do is assume he’s of Saja Group’s bloodline and do his job.”
“What kind of… Don’t tell me, Mom. You didn’t think that since he isn’t even our family’s blood anyway, you could just marry hyung off to a sick woman and use him to expand Saja Group, did you?”
“Why do you have to put it like that? He’s simply repaying the grace of being raised all these years. The company gains power, you rise to the president’s seat, your brother gets some rest benefiting from his wife’s status, and Mom’s business expands. It’s the best direction for everyone.”
Crazy. What the hell did I just hear? What on earth did I just hear?!
“I stopped the article that was about to go out, but rumors will definitely spread. Keep a low profile for the time being.”
Yi-on gritted his teeth.
“What should we do, then? Baek Seorin and I are already involved like that.”
“What?”
“It’s true that I went after my brother’s woman. She was pretty, you see.”
“Are you… insane…?”
“The arranged marriage with Dongyeon Group—I’ll be the one doing it. I’m marrying Baek Seorin. Consider it settled.”
“What? Hey! Hey! What are you saying? What utter nonsense are you spouting! Hey!”
Leaving Yeon-sook behind, Yi-on strode out powerfully.
“Why my son with Baek Seorin? Why my son, with a girl like that… It makes no sense. It makes no sense. My son….”
Pacing frantically back and forth, Yeon-sook placed a call.
“Secretary Kang? Come see me.”