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Chapter 7
Yoon Sung-hoon was clinging desperately.
His womanizing was no secret—everyone in the Cheonmyeong family, and even most prominent families in society, knew it well.
“That’s surprising.”
What was surprising?
That his older brother really wanted to bring Kang Da-som to their father’s birthday party?
Or that Kang Da-som, the woman who had promised to come, was now refusing to show up—angry because Sung-hoon had cheated on her?
Did she really believe Yoon Sung-hoon wouldn’t sleep around?
Was Kang Da-som really that naïve, like the woman Jin-woo had seen that day?
“Dasom, I swear I won’t do it again, okay? Where are you? I’ll never contact Director Min again, I promise! Hey! I already told Mom and Dad I was bringing you—what happens to my pride now?”
Sung-hoon coaxed, pleaded, and then scolded her over the phone.
Jin-woo ignored him and slipped quietly into his room.
It had only been a verbal promise, and yet… here he was, dragged into this family gathering. He regretted it. He should have gone to the filming crew’s dinner instead.
He never liked company dinners, but they were better than this.
His room looked nothing like a place where someone actually lived. It was spotless, almost like a model home. The furniture and wallpaper had been replaced without him even noticing. His mother’s hobby was furniture shopping—every summer and winter she redecorated the entire house. Even his room, which he rarely visited, was never spared.
As he dozed in this unfamiliar space, a housemaid knocked on the door.
“Young master, madam asks you to come down.”
“Yes. I’ll go.”
Jin-woo, who had been lying like a stone, rose from the bed and headed out.
The dining room table was set in a U-shape, every seat prepared with an elaborate multi-course dinner.
At the head of the table sat Chairman Yoon. Beside him were Vice Chairman Yoon Jun-seok and his wife, Jang Joo-bin. On the right side sat the eldest son, Yoon Ji-hwan, with Lee Soo-ha—the second daughter of Seoyoung Bank’s chairman. Next to them was Sung-hoon.
The seat beside Sung-hoon was empty.
“Hey, move over.”
Sung-hoon gave him a sharp look. Jin-woo, unfazed, skipped a seat and sat down. To his left were the Cheonmyeong Group executives, gathered to celebrate the chairman’s birthday.
It was pathetic. A hall full of aging men, flattering a dying old man just to stay in his good graces.
Yet in the business world, being invited here was considered an honor.
“I hate this.”
That was why he hadn’t wanted to come. His three older brothers sat at the front, while relatives filled the rows behind them. The ones who had already been pushed out of the line of succession were desperate to stand out somehow.
What kind of ridiculous spectacle is this in the twenty-first century?
Perhaps that was why Jin-woo felt such suffocating disgust.
“Congratulations to Chairman Yoon on his birthday!”
“Haha, you all work so hard every year. I told you to keep it simple this time, but of course you didn’t listen.”
“Oh, come now, Chairman, this is nothing at all. Please, say a few words for Cheonmyeong’s future.”
Park Nam-gil, head of Cheonmyeong Trading and husband of Chairman Yoon’s younger sister, bowed and scraped.
The chairman took the microphone and gave his usual remarks. Then, naturally, it was passed to the grandchildren.
Ji-hwan, the eldest, gave a smooth but empty greeting.
“Just keep doing what you’re doing now. Everything will be fine. Don’t cause trouble, and I’ll let you live comfortably.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
Lee Soo-ha bowed her head politely.
The two of them should have been married last year. But political scandals in the previous administration had delayed the wedding. Leaked documents had revealed attempts to declare a state of emergency and suppress civilians—chaos had gripped the country for nearly two years.
Even Chairman Yoon, who always fancied himself a king, had been forced to restrain himself. The new government had warned business tycoons to avoid stirring public anger. The chairman’s dream of throwing a lavish wedding for his eldest son was crushed, and the marriage postponed.
The microphone moved on. Sung-hoon parroted his brother’s words mockingly.
“You should be thankful Ji-hwan isn’t married yet. Didn’t you hear the rumors? He brought home a woman, and now she’s cheating on him? Pathetic.”
“Grandfather, that’s not it… She said she was late because of traffic. She’ll be here soon.”
“What kind of fool keeps elders waiting? She should’ve come earlier.”
Jang Joo-bin, dressed to perfection, shook her head. Sung-hoon turned red and stayed quiet.
Park Nam-gil, sensing the tension, handed the microphone to Jin-woo.
“Happy birthday.”
“That’s all?”
“If you wanted more, you shouldn’t have interrupted my filming.”
“What do you lack, to be nothing more than a face model?”
Jin-woo kept his mouth shut. Saying anything would only start a fight—and raising his voice would solve nothing.
The microphone moved on to the cousins, the formalities dragging out. This birthday was exactly the same as when Jin-woo had been a child.
Finally, the endless rituals ended. Food was served, gifts piled up to please the chairman, and guests broke off into small groups.
“Fuck, I can’t take this anymore.”
Dasom still hadn’t shown up. Sung-hoon stepped onto the terrace with a cigarette, talking on his phone.
Bzzzt.
Another phone, left on the table, vibrated.
“Oh my, I think this belongs to the young master…”
A longtime housemaid picked it up. Jin-woo stepped in front of her.
“I’ll take it to him.”
“The young master?”
“Yes. He’s on his other phone—I’ll deliver it.”
She handed it over. As she walked away, Jin-woo glanced down.
[My Dasom]
His eyes lingered on the name, and the number beneath it. Holding the phone, he stepped to the terrace.
Creeeak.
Sung-hoon poked his head out, cigarette dangling from his lips.
“What the hell, why are you standing there like a dog about to take a dump? If you’re coming out, come out. Why?”
“You got a call.”
“Ah, shit. Again? Hey babe, sorry, I’ll call you later.”
A woman’s voice came faintly from the other line.
The same man who excused himself for “accidentally sleeping with another woman” was now on another phone with yet another woman. It was almost laughable.
Jin-woo had no interest in company management, but he understood one thing:
“The younger brother can never beat the older brother. And for the sake of hundreds of thousands of employees, this bastard must never run the company.”
He was his brother, yes. But sometimes Jin-woo felt sick that they shared the same blood.
Handing over the phone, Jin-woo turned for the stairs.
“Hey.”
“……”
“Do I look pathetic to you too?”
Halfway up the stairs, Jin-woo turned. He saw now that Sung-hoon was drunk.
“I never thought that.”
“Bullshit. It’s written all over your face.”
“Keep your paranoia in check.”
“Fuck, you’re never going to run the business? Just wait. Dasom—she’s the daughter of UL Wire’s owner. Once I secure her capital, it’s my world.”
“Mr. Park, my brother’s had too much to drink. Please take care of him.”
Jin-woo left Sung-hoon in Park Nam-gil’s care and went back to his room.
He sat on the bed, fiddling with his phone in silence.
