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Chapter 20
What’s going on? How could Bae Seong-hoon and Hong Do-yoon know each other…?
Ah.
Graduation.
Only then did Jooyoung remember a fact she had completely forgotten: Bae Seong-hoon and Hong Do-yoon had both graduated from the same Ivy League school in the U.S.
They were classmates.
Learning something new about Seong-hoon was interesting, but it wasn’t important right now.
Having quickly assessed the situation, it was now time to act accordingly.
Jooyoung smiled brightly, just like Seong-hoon had.
“Yeah, honey.”
As if she were speaking to a lover.
It was clear that what Do-yoon wanted to ask her had to do with Seong-hoon.
“Have you finished eating?”
“I finished a while ago. What’s left is just an excuse to see your face once more on the way out.”
Then, as if making a move, Seong-hoon placed his hand on Jooyoung’s waist and slowly leaned down.
His target was her lips.
Just as when they had been photographed before, Bae Seong-hoon had no hesitation about touching lips with others.
He must have been very experienced.
But it didn’t matter. No matter how many women he had been with, Jooyoung’s focus was on the memories she shared with her mother beyond Seong-hoon.
As Jooyoung closed her eyes in rhythm…
“Ah-hem.”
The person she had tried to ignore suddenly asserted their presence: I’m still here.
Seong-hoon’s gaze shifted toward Do-yoon.
Do-yoon spoke.
“I wasn’t sure when I saw it on the news, but it’s real? Bae Seong-hoon is really… passionately in love?”
“As you can see, it’s intense.”
Seong-hoon finally seemed to notice Do-yoon, sitting up straight, though his hand remained on Jooyoung’s waist.
“That’s good. Looks great.”
“Thanks.”
Their brief conversation over, Do-yoon turned his gaze to Jooyoung.
“Are you free this Saturday evening? Allen will be hosting a party himself.”
Allen is the chairman of ELDO Group, which owns various luxury brands, including “Verdun.”
In other words, someone Jooyoung absolutely had to meet.
“I’m free. If I’m not, I’ll make the time to attend.”
“I’ll send the details via your secretary by email.”
“Okay.”
“Oh, and if you’re free, you should come too.”
Here, the “you” Do-yoon mentioned was Bae Seong-hoon.
And Seong-hoon…
“Thanks for the invitation. See you Saturday.”
He readily accepted Do-yoon’s suggestion.
After seeing Do-yoon off, Jooyoung brought Seong-hoon back in her car—or perhaps “dragged” would be more accurate.
Bang!
The rear door closed. The secretaries waited outside, so it was just Jooyoung and Seong-hoon in the car.
Yet Jooyoung didn’t speak for quite a while, her thoughts still organizing themselves.
Finally, Seong-hoon spoke first.
“Has the bruise gone down?”
“…I covered it with makeup. I can’t show up at an important meeting with a bruise.”
“True.”
“Are you close with Hong Do-yoon?”
“Not bad. We were roommates in our first year of college.”
So they weren’t exactly close—just acquaintances.
Sigh… Jooyoung exhaled.
No matter how small the world was, it was uncomfortable that Bae Seong-hoon had connections with CS Department Store’s most important client.
It was information missing from the data, and she hated the uncertainty of how this variable might affect things.
“Why the sigh?”
Seong-hoon raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Didn’t you learn the basic rule of using connections when you can?”
“I can finalize the contract without Bae Seong-hoon’s help.”
“That’s a relief.”
Seong-hoon checked his phone for his schedule.
Secretary Yoon had last updated the calendar an hour ago. Saturday evening was already booked.
He drafted a message to adjust his Saturday schedule.
“Let me know what you plan to wear Saturday. We’re a couple, after all—it’s natural to coordinate our dress code.”
“Are you really going?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
After texting Secretary Yoon, Seong-hoon put the phone in his jacket pocket and opened the car door.
He got out, bowing slightly to meet Jooyoung’s eyes. Secretary Yoon approached, handing him something, which he placed next to Jooyoung.
A paper bag with the restaurant’s name on it.
Inside was neatly packaged food.
“What does this mean?”
“It’s feeding you, just like you did for Hong Do-yoon.”
Who even gives food to…?
“See you Saturday, honey.”
Bang!
Before Jooyoung could respond, Seong-hoon closed the rear door.
She watched his figure fade through the heavily tinted window.
Saturday evening arrived.
Jooyoung, stepping out of the car, followed the security guards along a long arched pergola.
Vines had grown over the metal structure, blocking contact with the outside, ending in a garden that could easily hold forty people.
She pulled her phone from her handbag.
Before she arrived, Bae Seong-hoon had sent a text saying he was already there.
To match dress codes, he had seen the dress photo she planned to wear. Of course, Secretary Shin had handled all the photos.
“Where is he?”
Looking around in vain, she was about to call Seong-hoon when…
“Oh my, Jooyoung?”
Se Se-rin, eldest daughter of the Royal Group—always a competitor of CS Group—appeared out of nowhere.
“Long time no see. How have you been?”
“…Ah, long time.”
“Did I ask something silly? You must have been doing well. Lately, you’ve been on fire—felt awkward just watching.”
“Well, why would I feel embarrassed? I haven’t done anything illegal.”
Recently, Se Se-rin’s youngest sibling had been involved in illegal gambling and drugs.
The Royal Group had managed to suppress media coverage, but insiders knew.
Gritting her teeth—Jooyoung didn’t even need to see it; Se Se-rin’s expression said it all.
“Hahaha… right, it’s not illegal.”
“Right. It’s not illegal. By the way, how’s Yoon-jae?”
Hearing her youngest sibling’s name again, Se Se-rin’s slight grinding was audible.
Why stir trouble first, Jooyoung thought.
“…He’s fine. Thanks for asking.”
“No big deal. I should go; I’m meeting Seong-hoon.”
Jooyoung smiled like a winner and turned away. She was about to call Seong-hoon when…
Beeeeep—
[Secretary Shin]
The screen vibrated and lit up. She slid the green button and answered.
“Yes, Secretary Shin.”
—Is this a good time to talk, CEO?
“Go ahead. What is it?”
—About the thing you asked me to investigate earlier: the relationship between Bae Seong-hoon and Bae Seok-jae.
“Go on.”
Jooyoung’s eyes darkened.
At that moment, she saw Bae Seong-hoon, looking around as if searching for her.
—To be clear, Bae Seong-hoon and Bae Seok-jae are not related by blood.
“What…?”
At that moment, Seong-hoon spotted her.
Their eyes met. As he walked toward her, it felt as if the world stopped.
The chatter around them, the soft violin music in the background—all slowed to a surreal quiet, as if in slow motion.
Because…
—He is adopted.
Secretary Shin’s voice over the phone pierced clearly:
—Bae Seong-hoon is not the biological child of Chairman Bae Seong-won and Madam Min Yoo-young.
Got it.
Your weakness.
