Chapter 21
Jung Hana was a woman who excelled more than anyone at playing with people’s emotions.
Because Jang Jubin always took her side, and since Yoon Ji-hwan and Lee Soo-ha had gone childless for so long, Hana had naturally fallen out of favor in the household and been pushed aside.
If she hadn’t had a son late in life, divorce would not have been surprising.
One thing was clear: Yoon Ji-hwan didn’t particularly like Lee Soo-ha either.
“…Anyway, she’s really unbearable. That’s why, you know, when you gave me that gift last time, I can’t tell you how refreshing it felt.”
“Unni, you already told me that last time.”
“That’s how good it was.”
“But honestly, I don’t really like Ms. Lee Soo-ha either.”
Kang Da-som quietly murmured in support of Hana.
“Oh really? Why?”
“Because I did ballet, you know. She casually called me nothing more than a woman who uses her body.”
“She’s insane. Thinks she’s so great because she’s smart. Hmph.”
Now that she had an ally, Hana began to vent about all sorts of things. Da-som knew well that Hana was confiding in her only because she was Yoon Sung-hoon’s girlfriend.
Since family matters were involved, Hana assumed Da-som wouldn’t be able to break up with Sung-hoon easily, which meant Hana could always maintain her upper hand.
Although Hana claimed to treat Da-som like a close younger sister, in practice she unconsciously used her like a maid. But Da-som didn’t care at all—she skillfully played along with Hana’s moods.
Who’s really flattering whom here?
People often said Jang Jubin was picky, but Hana was no less difficult to please.
“So, actually, I have an idea, unni.”
“An idea?”
“You’re going to be married soon anyway, right? But if we keep showing this kind of attitude between us, well…”
Da-som purposely trailed off. She meant that even if she herself didn’t like Soo-ha, it was better to be mindful of how things looked on the outside.
“So I thought it would be nice if you used a bit of influence.”
“Influence? How?”
“The Aria Club. I heard members can recommend up to two people a year. If you recommend Soo-ha as well, wouldn’t that improve your image, and make things smoother between us?”
Hana, who had grown addicted to teasing Soo-ha, had already recommended Da-som as a regular member of the Aria Club.
Soo-ha, meanwhile, had been going around trying to find another member to sponsor her, but people knew Hana was deliberately blocking her. So they had quietly been rejecting Soo-ha’s requests.
No one wanted to get caught up in the daughter-in-law feud of the Cheonmyeong Group.
“Hm.”
Hana casually sipped her coffee. The idea wasn’t bad, but she didn’t seem too eager either.
“And you mentioned there’s a charity event in September, right?”
“The annual one? Oh.”
Hana immediately realized what Da-som was hinting at without needing her to explain.
Since the Aria Club was a membership-only club, there were many rules to observe. But even after becoming a member, those rules weren’t just handed out—you had to learn them through the person who recommended you.
If Soo-ha got in through someone else’s recommendation, she’d learn all the rules. But if Hana recommended her, Hana could simply keep quiet about them.
That was all it would take.
“I’m telling you this in confidence, but honestly, I don’t really have anything to show at the charity event.”
At the charity event, members often prepared short performances. Hana wasn’t talentless, but her skills weren’t the kind society wives enjoyed.
So every year she simply helped out as staff. At that, Da-som moved closer and held Hana’s hand.
“But you have me.”
“Hm?”
“You were a trainee once, so you must dance well. What about learning ballet? Believe it or not, I was once invited as a principal to a ballet company—I’m pretty good.”
Normally, men weren’t allowed in the Aria Club, but the charity event was an exception. Hana loved attention, so only doing staff work had always left her unsatisfied. That was why she accepted Da-som’s suggestion.
“Really? Now that I think about it, I did do some ballet before.”
“With your long body lines and elegance, you’ll definitely be amazing.”
“You really never run out of compliments, do you.”
Hana blushed, but she didn’t seem displeased.
“To be honest, when I first thought about marrying into the Cheonmyeong Group, I was really anxious. But with someone like you here, I feel relieved.”
“Same here.”
“Then from now on, let’s keep each other updated. I always dreamed of having an older sister. We’re on the same side, after all.”
“Shall we?”
Da-som and Hana made their own little pact.
“Oh, and there’s something I’d like to ask of you, unni.”
“What is it?”
“You know how Sung-hoon oppa… well, there are a lot of women around him. I’m not saying it’s bad, but… it worries me. If you happen to notice any woman showing interest in him, could you let me know?”
“Oh my, so you do get jealous?”
“It’s not jealousy. I just… get scared easily.”
Da-som’s eyes trembled slightly with unease. Hana soothed her calmly.
“Don’t worry. Sung-hoon oppa must have come to his senses by now. If he strayed while having a girl like you, he’d have to be crazy.”
“Yes. Then I’ll trust only you, unni.”
Using Soo-ha as a stepping stone, Da-som had succeeded in drawing closer to Hana.
A few days later.
Da-som met with Yoon Sung-hoon for a date. At a hotel, Sung-hoon went shopping, helped eagerly by Min Yu-rim.
As soon as they finished shopping, Sung-hoon turned to Da-som.
“Mom wants you to come over for dinner tonight.”
“Okay.”
“What on earth did you do to make her like you so much?”
He knew Da-som often went over for meals even when he wasn’t around. She wasn’t the first woman he had brought home, but she was the first to perfectly win over Jang Jubin’s notoriously difficult personality.
“I didn’t really do much.”
“Really?”
“Oh, right, oppa. Here.”
“What’s this?”
Da-som handed him some documents. As he quietly read through them, Sung-hoon’s eyes widened in shock.
“How did you…?”
Cheonmyeong Electronics was considered a deadweight company within the group. But if this information was true, this contract was something the group absolutely had to pursue.
The problem was that even within the company, no one yet knew about it.
“I wanted to be helpful too. Just casually bring it up at dinner tonight.”
“Thank you. You’re the only one who looks out for me.”
Sung-hoon pulled her by the waist into his arms. Then he leaned in naturally, his tongue meeting hers.
Face slightly flushed, Hana glanced at the driver.
“Not now. Save it for later.”
“Ah, sorry. You’re just too pretty.”
Sung-hoon finally let go, clearing his throat awkwardly. From the driver’s complete lack of reaction, it was obvious that Sung-hoon had done plenty of indecent things with other women in this very car before.
Sung-hoon and Da-som arrived at the Seonam-dong residence.
“Who’s here today?”
“Young Master Jin-woo is here.”
“Him? Out of the blue? I thought he was busy filming something.”
At the Seonam-dong main house, the family gathered every Friday for dinner. Yoon Jin-woo had practically lived away since becoming an adult, while Hana was the only one who came every week.
The only reason Jin-woo hadn’t been completely cut off was thanks to Hana. Sung-hoon, with Da-som holding his arm, entered the living room.
“Long time no see. What brings you here?”
“You’re the one who told me to come home once in a while, hyung.”
“Oh, Da-som, hello.”
From the sofa, where she had been chatting with Jin-woo, Hana waved cheerfully.
