-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: My Woman
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Let’s exclude Seongmyeong.”
Chairman Cha immediately understood what Seonghyeok meant.
“It seems someone from Seongmyeong Construction has gotten on your nerves.”
“I know Chairman Oh’s youngest son, Oh Changgeun.”
“The youngest son, the one born out of wedlock and brought into the family?”
“Yes.”
Chairman Cha silently observed his son’s impassive face, then nodded.
“Since this is the first time you’ve asked for something, I can’t refuse.”
The reason he didn’t ask for the full story was that he knew if his son had wanted to explain, he would have done so from the beginning.
He trusted that there must be a good reason for his son, who had never disappointed him, to utter the word ‘favor.’
As long as it wasn’t illegal, he would have gladly granted an even bigger request; this one was so trivial it was almost anticlimactic. Of course, from Seongmyeong Construction’s perspective, it would be a devastating blow.
“Is there anything else you need besides removing Seongmyeong from the consortium?”
“No.”
“I’ll tell President Song that your instructions are the same as mine, so give him a call.”
“Thank you.”
“If you’ve decided to crush them, show no mercy. If you can’t crush them properly, it’s better not to start.”
The inability to separate personal and public matters was a trait passed down from father to son. Chairman Cha was strict with his family, but even stricter with those who dared to defy or challenge them.
“I understand.”
Seonghyeok’s thoughts aligned with his father’s. That was precisely what he intended to do.
***
After work, Haeyun took Yeongin to a pork belly restaurant. After downing a glass of pungent soju and a piece of perfectly grilled pork belly, she started talking.
“Teamjang-nim, eat a lot. You treated me to beef last time, but my credit card situation is a mess this month, so pork belly will have to do.”
“You’re treating today, Haeyun?”
Yeongin, who had no idea Haeyun was paying, widened her eyes in surprise.
“Last time, I bought you beef to keep your mouth shut, didn’t I?”
“I got a free meal to keep my mouth shut, but I couldn’t keep it shut, so I have to pay it back.”
“Did you spread rumors about Daepyo-nim and me?”
“Not exactly…”
Haeyun confessed what she had said after being called into the Daepyo-nim’s office a few hours earlier.
When Haeyun finished her story, a sigh escaped Yeongin’s lips.
“Why did you say that?”
“Because I thought Teamjang-nim would never do it yourself. There’s no law saying Baek Huiran won’t go even further than she already has. So I thought it would be good for Daepyo-nim to know.”
Haeyun, who had been arguing confidently, suddenly rounded her shoulders and hung her head low.
“I’m sorry for overstepping.”
“I know you said it because you were worried about me. I’ll let it slide this one time, but don’t do it again.”
“Okay…”
Even after hearing her answer, Yeongin wasn’t entirely at ease, so she added,
“You know, Haeyun, that if Daepyo-nim gets involved, things will only get bigger.”
“It’s just my feeling, but I don’t think Daepyo-nim will step up directly. When I said you wouldn’t want him to, he seemed to agree.”
“I hope your feeling is right, Haeyun.”
Haeyun, who had been watching Yeongin’s expression, subtly changed the subject.
“There’s something I wanted to ask Teamjang-nim.”
“What is it?”
“Do you like Daepyo-nim?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Yeongin paused for a moment.
“…Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”
“Because Daepyo-nim told me to ask you directly.”
“…Huh?”
Haeyun belatedly revealed what she hadn’t finished saying, including that Seonghyeok had said, ‘I like Yeongin very much.’
“From what I see, I think Teamjang-nim likes Daepyo-nim too, don’t you? Am I right?”
“Yes, I do.”
Yeongin admitted it readily because she didn’t want to deny her feelings with a lie. Knowing that Haeyun had already figured it out, she didn’t want to play dumb.
“Then why aren’t you dating? You two look really good together.”
“No. We really don’t suit each other.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“It’s true.”
Could two people be more mismatched than us?
Wiping the bitter smile from her face, Yeongin raised her voice to a passing staff member.
“Another bottle of soju, please!”
***
Yeongin dropped off Haeyun, who had gotten completely drunk, claiming the alcohol was hitting her particularly hard today, at her studio apartment. She then considered hailing a taxi but decided against it.
She decided to walk a bit, enjoying the night breeze. It was only a little past 9 PM, and there were only a few people passing by, so it wasn’t too scary.
As Yeongin walked through the dark residential alleyways, she replayed the words Haeyun had told her today. The more she replayed it, the more her anxiety grew.
Determined to get a clear answer and shake off her anxiety, Yeongin called Seonghyeok.
“Oh, Yeongin.”
She was unexpectedly grateful that he answered so naturally, making her moment of hesitation feel pointless.
If he had reacted with something like, ‘What brings you to call?’ or ‘What’s up?’, she would have had to agonize even longer the next time she needed to call him.
“I heard from Haeyun.”
“I figured that’s why you called.”
“I hope Seonbae doesn’t get involved. I’ll handle my own affairs.”
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of getting involved in your business with Baek Huiran.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
“Then that’s enough.”
“I decided not to get involved because I agreed with An Haeyun that you wouldn’t just sit back and take it. Remember that.”
“Should I grab Baek Huiran’s hair?”
“I recommend doing it in a crowded place.”
Yeongin let out a chuckle.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
His low laugh tickled her ears.
“Where are you?”
“I just parted ways with Haeyun and am on my way home.”
“Be careful on your way in.”
Yeongin bit back the words, ‘Where are you right now, Seonbae?’
“Okay.”
A faint smile played on her face after she hung up the phone.
Today felt a little less difficult than the first time, and she had a feeling the next time would be even easier than today.
***
The next day, at noon.
Seonghyeok arrived at the SL Hotel’s Japanese restaurant.
It was the venue for the luncheon meeting between SL Construction and Seongmyeong Construction for the final adjustments regarding the consortium.
Upon being guided into the room, he found three men already waiting. One of them was Oh Changgeun.
The moment Changgeun saw Seonghyeok, his eyes went wide.
“Cha Seonghyeok? Why are you here…?”
“I’m here as the CEO of SL Construction.”
“…Huh?”
With a composed expression, Seonghyeok excused himself to the other two men.
“Would you mind giving us a moment?”
As the two Seongmyeong Construction executives, sensing the unusual atmosphere, quickly left the room, Seonghyeok finally went and sat in the chair opposite Changgeun.
Seonghyeok leaned back in his chair, elegantly crossing his legs, a relaxed smile playing on his face. In contrast, anxiety was clearly etched on Changgeun’s face.
“I heard you went to SL Entertainment, but have you already moved to SL Construction?”
He desperately hoped it wasn’t true, but the thought that there would be no other reason for Seonghyeok to be here made his mouth go dry.
“No, you can rest assured, I won’t be moving to Construction for the time being.”
“It would be good for me if you came to Construction, though.”
He blustered, unaware that the relief was clearly visible on his face.
“Why would that be good for you?”
“Because if a friend like you was…”
“Who’s your friend?”
“…”
When Seonghyeok’s expression turned serious, Changgeun awkwardly closed his mouth.
“I’ve never thought of you as my friend. If you go around spouting such nonsense, I won’t let it slide. Be careful.”
Changgeun nodded and subtly changed the subject.
“Then… what brings you here…?”
“To tell you that Seongmyeong won’t be able to join the consortium.”
Changgeun had to doubt his own ears.
“…What?”
Seongmyeong Construction was currently facing its biggest crisis since its founding. Participating in the consortium was the solution chosen to overcome poor performance, and for him, who had put his heart and soul into this consortium to gain his father’s recognition, this news was like a bolt from the blue.
“Are your ears clogged?”
Seonghyeok narrowed his brows in annoyance.
“Seongmyeong can’t join the consortium.”
Changgeun’s eyes snapped open wide as he finally grasped the reality.
“What’s the reason?”
He didn’t realize that Baek Huiran had said the exact same words to him when he informed her of the non-renewal of her contract.
“To make things difficult for you.”
“What do you mean…”
“You told Baek Huiran that her ad contract wouldn’t be renewed, using Yeongin as an excuse, didn’t you?”
Only then did Changgeun understand the situation.
“It wasn’t an excuse, it was the truth…”
“Why were you angry at Yeongin? Because she wouldn’t meet you and played hard to get?”
“…”
“Aren’t you angry at me? You’re pissed because I stole your blind date, aren’t you? But why aren’t you taking it out on me? Is it selective anger? Because Yeongin is an easy target, but I’m not?”
Seonghyeok pressed Changgeun quietly, his voice devoid of emotion.
“Baek Huiran is tormenting Yeongin just as you planned. Are you satisfied now?”
A sudden surge of anger made Changgeun retort sharply.
“You’re telling me you blocked Seongmyeong from joining the consortium for something so trivial?”
“Trivial? That’s not something for the likes of you to judge. I’m the one who judges.”
“…”
His mind snapped awake as if he’d been doused with cold water. He wondered what outrageous thing he had just said, when he should have been groveling.
“I’m not so generous as to leave alone someone who holds a grudge against my woman.”
“Are you and Yeongin…?”
“What ‘are you’? Why can’t you get it through your head right away?”
Changgeun, growing desperate, licked his dry lips and fidgeted in his seat.
“I didn’t know, I swear I didn’t know. If I had known, I wouldn’t have done it.”
“How can you be so clueless? Did you really think I snatched your blind date simply because I disliked you? Did you actually believe it when I said that?”
“No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t believe you’d like someone like Chae Yeongin…”
Changgeun realized his mistake and swallowed the rest of his words as Seonghyeok’s expression turned chilling.
“Seonghyeok, I’ll meet Huiran and talk to her again. I’ll re-sign the ad contract too. So please reconsider the consortium participation.”
“If there was any room for reconsideration, I wouldn’t have started.”
“…”
A shadow of despair flickered across Changgeun’s face.
“The food here is delicious, so eat a lot before you go.”
Because you won’t be able to eat for a while.
Seonghyeok smiled faintly as he stood up and calmly exited the room.
