Chapter 20 …
What on earth is going on? How do Bae Seong-hun and Hong Do-yoon know each other…?
Ah.
Graduation.
Only then did Ju-young recall a fact she had completely forgotten. Bae Seong-hun and Hong Do-yoon were both alumni of the same Ivy League university in the United States.
So they’d been classmates.
She’d learned something new about Bae Seong-hun, but right now that wasn’t what mattered.
She’d finished assessing the situation quickly—now it was time to act accordingly.
Ju-young smiled brightly, just like Seong-hun had.
“Yeah, honey.”
As if speaking to a lover.
Because it was obvious that what Hong Do-yoon wanted to ask her about was her relationship with Bae Seong-hun.
“Did you finish eating already?”
“I finished a while ago. I just stepped out on the way to see your face one more time.”
Then, as if he really were making a move on her, Seong-hun placed a hand around Ju-young’s waist and slowly lowered his head.
Seong-hun’s target was Ju-young’s lips.
Just like the last time photos had been taken, Bae Seong-hun had no hesitation whatsoever about pressing his lips against someone else’s.
Had he dated around a lot?
But it didn’t matter. No matter how many women he’d had, Ju-young’s real target lay beyond Bae Seong-hun—her memories of her mother.
Just as Ju-young closed her eyes to go along with it—
“Ahem.”
The person they’d been treating as if he didn’t exist made his presence known, as if to say, I’m still here.
Seong-hun’s gaze shifted to Do-yoon.
Do-yoon spoke.
“I wasn’t sure when I saw it on the news, but it’s real? Bae Seong-hun is actually passionately in love?”
“As you can see. Burning hot.”
Only then did Seong-hun straighten up, as if he’d just noticed Do-yoon. But his hand remained firmly at Ju-young’s waist.
“That’s great. You look good together.”
“Thanks.”
After their brief exchange ended, Do-yoon turned his attention to Ju-young.
“Would you be available this Saturday evening? Chairman Allendo is hosting a party himself.”
Allendo was the chairman of the ELDO Group, which owned various luxury brands including Verdun.
In other words, he was someone Ju-young absolutely had to get acquainted with.
“I’m available. Even if I weren’t, I’d make time to attend.”
“Then I’ll have my secretary send you the time and location by email.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, and if you’re free, you should come too.”
The “you” Do-yoon referred to here was Bae Seong-hun.
And Bae Seong-hun—
“Sure. Thanks for the invitation. See you Saturday.”
—readily accepted the offer.
After seeing Do-yoon off, Ju-young brought Seong-hun to her car. Dragged him might be a more accurate description.
Thud.
The rear door closed. The secretaries were waiting outside, so inside the car it was just Ju-young and Seong-hun.
Even so, Ju-young didn’t speak first for quite some time. Her thoughts were still being sorted out.
In the end, Seong-hun broke the silence.
“The bruise looks like it’s gone down?”
“…I covered it with makeup. I can’t show up to an important meeting with a bruise on my face.”
“Fair enough.”
“Are you close with Hong Do-yoon?”
“Not bad. We were roommates our freshman year in college.”
If he wasn’t saying they were close, that meant they were just casually acquainted.
Sigh… Ju-young let out a breath.
As small as the world might be, it made her uncomfortable that CS Department Store’s most important client at this point had a connection to Bae Seong-hun.
It wasn’t information she’d had in her data, and more than anything, she didn’t know how this variable would come into play—that was what bothered her most.
“What’s with the sigh?”
Seong-hun lifted one eyebrow, looking genuinely surprised.
“Didn’t you even learn the basic rule that connections should be used when you can?”
“I can finalize the contract just fine without Mr. Bae Seong-hun’s help.”
“Then that’s good.”
Seong-hun pulled out his phone and checked his schedule.
Secretary Yoon had last updated his calendar an hour ago. Saturday evening was already booked.
Seong-hun typed a message asking for his Saturday plans to be adjusted.
“Let me know once you decide what you’re wearing on Saturday. We’re a couple, after all—it’s only natural to match our dress code, right?”
“You’re really planning on going?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
After sending the message to Secretary Yoon, Seong-hun slipped his phone into the inside pocket of his jacket and opened the car door.
After stepping out, he bent down to meet Ju-young’s eyes. Secretary Yoon approached his side.
Seong-hun took something from Secretary Yoon and placed it on the seat beside Ju-young.
A paper bag with the restaurant’s name printed on it.
Inside was neatly packaged food.
“What’s this supposed to mean?”
“I’m feeding you. Just like you fed Hong Do-yoon.”
When did I ever feed anyone…?
“Then I’ll see you Saturday, honey.”
Thud!
Before she could say anything, Seong-hun shut the rear door.
Ju-young watched his retreating figure through the heavily tinted window until he disappeared from sight.
Before she knew it, Saturday evening had arrived.
After stepping out of the car, Ju-young followed the guidance of the security personnel stationed at the entrance and walked beneath a long, arched pergola.
Vines tangled over the metal framework, blocking contact with the outside world, and at the end lay a garden spacious enough to comfortably hold around forty people.
Ju-young took her phone out of her handbag.
Before she’d gotten out of the car, Bae Seong-hun had texted that he’d arrived first.
To match dress codes, he’d even received a photo of the dress Ju-young would be wearing today. Of course, Secretary Shin had been the one to take and send the photo.
“Where is he…”
She looked around but couldn’t find him. Just as she was about to call Seong-hun—
“Oh my, Ju-young?”
Seo Se-rin, the eldest daughter of Royal Group—a company always in competition with CS Group—suddenly appeared in front of her.
“It’s been a while. Have you been doing well?”
“…Ah, it’s been a while.”
“Did I ask a pointless question? Of course you’ve been doing well. You’ve been absolutely on fire lately. Even watching you was embarrassing.”
“Well, why would I be embarrassed? It’s not like I’ve done anything illegal.”
Recently, Seo Se-rin’s youngest brother had been involved in illegal gambling and drugs.
Royal Group had moved quickly to suppress widespread media coverage, but everyone in the industry who mattered knew about it.
Crunch.
She could hear teeth grinding. She didn’t need to check the source—Seo Se-rin’s expression told her everything.
“Hehehe… Right. It’s definitely not illegal.”
“Exactly. Not illegal at all. Oh, by the way—how’s Yoon-jae doing?”
Seo Yoon-jae—the name of Seo Se-rin’s youngest brother.
At that, another faint crunch sounded.
Then why did you scratch first?
“…He’s doing well. Thanks for asking.”
“Between us, of course. I should get going now—I’m meeting Mr. Seong-hun.”
With a victor’s smile on her lips, Ju-young turned away first. She was about to call Seong-hun when—
Bzzzt—
[Secretary Shin]
The name appeared on the screen along with the vibration.
Ju-young slid the green button and brought the phone to her ear.
“Yes, Secretary Shin.”
—Is now a good time to talk, ma’am?
“Go ahead. What is it?”
—About what you asked me to look into earlier. The relationship between CEO Bae Seong-hun and Executive Director Bae Seok-jae.
“Go on.”
Ju-young’s gaze sank low.
At that moment, she spotted Bae Seong-hun. He was looking around as if searching for her.
—To get straight to the point, CEO Bae Seong-hun and Executive Director Bae Seok-jae are not related by blood.
“What do you mean…?”
Just then, Bae Seong-hun spotted her.
Their eyes met, and as Seong-hun began walking toward her, it felt as though the world had stopped.
The voices coming from all directions, the violin music softly playing in the background—
Everything grew strangely quiet, and everything except Bae Seong-hun slipped into slow motion.
That was why—
—He’s adopted.
—Secretary Shin’s voice came through the receiver with uncanny clarity.
—CEO Bae Seong-hun is not the biological child of Chairman Bae Seong-won and Madam Min Yoo-young.
Found it.
Your weakness.
