Chapter 29
The Birthday Celebration
It was a clear day with not a single cloud in the sky—perfect for starting her revenge.
Hye-won pulled back the curtains and woke Jio. If they wanted to attend the birthday celebration, they had to get moving right away.
“Stick close to Secretary Im. I don’t know when he’ll call.”
Recalling what Shin-woo had said the night before, Hye-won got into a taxi with Jio.
The roads were quiet. As the taxi moved, Jio began to doze off, and Hye-won gently pulled him onto her lap. She couldn’t help but notice his pure, innocent face.
Seeing him asleep without a care in the world, Hye-won felt an overwhelming sense of affection. Memories of the past swept across her mind: the day she returned from death to meet Jio again, the day she knelt before Shin-woo to propose the contract marriage, the day they signed the marriage contract, and today.
Not a single day had been easy.
“What if I still can’t protect Jio?”
Perhaps because only about a week remained until the day he had died, a creeping anxiety settled in. Would all the efforts to protect him be meaningless? The longer she thought, the deeper her negative feelings grew.
Hye-won consciously shifted her thoughts, letting them drift toward the birthday celebration.
Once Jio’s identity was revealed, he would inevitably be exposed to countless media outlets. Could such a young child handle all that attention?
Though worried about the gazes and attention Jio would face, she also felt a sense of relief knowing that Chaeryeon would be a shield no one could easily penetrate.
“We’ve arrived.”
Before she knew it, Secretary Im announced that they had reached the shop. It was a high-end makeup studio often visited by celebrities and the wives of wealthy families.
Hye-won followed an attendant waiting at the door into the studio.
“Hye-won, you’re here?”
Inside, a familiar face greeted them.
“Oh? It’s Aunt Chaeryeon!”
“Chaeryeon? What are you doing here…?”
“Shin-woo asked me to take care of Jio. He said I shouldn’t be next to you until the marriage announcement.”
Hye-won had already been worried about leaving Jio alone during the celebration, so she felt relieved that Chaeryeon would be with him.
“Thank you, Chaeryeon.”
“No need to thank me. But we don’t have much time, so come sit over here.”
Following Chaeryeon’s instructions, Hye-won sat down, and the staff quickly completed the basic setup for her.
“Hye-won, today is a very important day. We need to make you look beautiful. Got it, team?”
“Of course. Just leave it to me.”
With Chaeryeon’s instructions, Hye-won’s makeup began in earnest. As the staff worked, her appearance gradually transformed.
A pale, flawless complexion was enhanced with soft eyeshadow, and her lips glowed with red lipstick.
After finishing her makeup and changing into the outfit she had prepared, she no longer looked plain or simple—she looked like a completely different person in the mirror.
Jio, also freshly groomed, kept glancing at his reflection, seeming unfamiliar with his own appearance. Hye-won quietly studied herself in the mirror as well.
“Stay sharp. This is really just the beginning!”
From now on, it would be like entering a battlefield. Once people discovered Jio’s existence, they would not stay silent. Hye-won looked at Jio’s bright, happy smile and steeled herself once again.
Satisfied with Hye-won’s transformation, Chaeryeon glanced at her watch and urged them to leave quickly. The decisive moment was approaching.
Chairman Kwak Geun-hyeong’s birthday celebration was held at the Jae-rim Hotel.
The hotel had recently undergone a complete interior renovation, and this was the first event since its reopening.
Along with the chairman’s celebration, media coverage was allowed to promote the hotel, so the lobby in front of the banquet hall was packed with people.
Excitement was high among those eager for this rare opportunity.
“Where is Shin-woo…?”
Giseok spotted Shin-woo walking in the distance and gestured for him to come quickly.
Despite the signal, Shin-woo’s pace was leisurely. Giseok grumbled silently, irritated by his nephew’s casual demeanor.
“So arrogant…”
Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, Shin-woo looked refined and athletic—enough to catch anyone’s eye. His neatly styled hair appeared particularly handsome today.
Giseok scrutinized him from head to toe, annoyed at how much he resembled his father in mannerisms and attitude. Still, for now, he had to play the part of the good-natured uncle to achieve his goals.
Suppressing his frustration, Giseok eventually smiled heartily.
“He looks really good all dressed up.”
“Uncle too.”
“Even if it’s just flattery, thanks. But what about Yena? Isn’t she coming with you?”
“She’s not here yet, but she’ll come soon.”
Shin-woo’s nonchalant answer made Giseok anxious. Taking the time to greet her shouldn’t have been this hard. He imagined how disappointed she must be.
Suppressing his irritation, Giseok said firmly:
“Still, she’s your fiancée. You should take care of her! Whether you like it or not, she’ll soon be part of our family. Even if there are things you don’t like, you should treat her well.”
“Yeah, can’t exactly replace her, can we.”
“Shin-woo!”
“Don’t be surprised. I’m just saying. Now, let’s go see Grandpa.”
Watching Shin-woo barely navigate his displeasure, Giseok clenched his fists to control his anger. No matter what, this young man would always be under his influence.
“Alright, go on. The chairman is waiting. I’ll follow soon.”
Giseok let Shin-woo leave the waiting room, hiding his contempt behind a faint smile.
At exactly 1:00 p.m., the birthday celebration began.
Shin-woo buttoned his jacket and bowed slightly toward Chairman Kwak before sitting in the family seats below the stage.
Yena approached as if on cue and sat beside him.
“Oppa, how do I look today?”
“…”
Yena looked at Shin-woo expectantly, but he gave no answer, simply staring at her face.
“Why? Too pretty for words?”
Only then did Shin-woo slowly speak:
“Does my opinion matter? As long as you like it, that’s enough.”
“Hmph! Even if it’s just flattery, say I look nice! This is the chairman’s birthday, I tried to be careful!”
“If you want to hear that, go ask your uncle.”
Shocked by Shin-woo’s cold response, Yena’s bright expression instantly crumpled.
Before she could say anything more, the announcer’s voice signaled the start of the celebration.
“We will now begin Chairman Kwak Geun-hyeong’s birthday celebration! Please give the chairman a big round of applause!”
A massive banner unfurled on the stage: “Happy Birthday to Chairman Kwak Geun-hyeong.”
The chairman stood, greeting the guests, prompting a thunderous applause.
A meticulously crafted three-tier cake was placed at the center of the stage. Guests murmured their admiration.
The “80” candle was lit, and everyone sang the birthday song in unison.
Chairman Kwak slowly surveyed the audience, clearly moved, and said:
“Thank you all for celebrating this old man’s birthday despite your busy schedules.”
The celebration continued with a performance by a trot singer the chairman liked, gradually lifting the banquet hall’s atmosphere.
Amid the lively music, the microphone feedback suddenly echoed through the hall.
“Please focus your attention. Next is the gift presentation. Guests who prepared gifts, please come forward.”
Many guests stepped forward with gifts, starting with corporate heads with connections to Chairman Kwak, followed by subsidiary company chairmen, and lower-ranked relatives trying to curry favor.
“Haha, everyone could have come empty-handed, yet you brought all this. I can’t even carry it, yet you want to give it to me—old man’s life made difficult.”
The chairman’s humorous thanks made everyone laugh.
Giseok, enjoying the cheerful mood, chimed in with Yena at his side:
“Chairman, you must live a long, long life. Hearing you say that makes me upset!”
“Yena’s right, Father. Don’t say such things on your birthday. It hurts your children’s hearts.”
Giseok held an orchid worth over 100 million won in his hand.
Chairman Kwak took the orchid from him:
“Bring a few more like this. No matter what, I’ll live a long, long life.”
“As long as you live long, we’ll do anything for you. Right, Shin-woo?”
The turn naturally passed to Shin-woo. He looked to Secretary Im, who gave a nod, signaling readiness.
Taking the microphone, Shin-woo spoke slowly:
“My uncle is correct. That’s why I’ve prepared the gift Grandpa wanted most.”
“Huh? The gift I want most? How would you even know?”
“You’ve said it until our ears are worn out. That’s why I’m going to give it to you.”
Shin-woo smiled mischievously and glanced toward the door.
“The great-grandchild Grandpa has longed for.”
