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Chapter: 12
Family Meeting (Formal Introduction)
Since the cherry blossom festival, Kang Mun and Kang Yun had completely stopped acknowledging each other even when they ran into each other at home.
In the meantime, Kang Mun attended a company interns’ dinner gathering, got drunk, and ended up sexually harassing several female interns. The victims threatened to go to the press, and he had to scramble desperately to reach a settlement.
On the other hand, Kang Yun successfully secured a major construction contract in the Middle East that he had staked everything on. Han Tae-su took Kang Yun around everywhere, proudly boasting about him.
Watching the two of them, Jin Hyeon-suk felt like she was going crazy with frustration.
“Just what were you thinking?”
When there was no special event, Jin Hyeon-suk usually stayed home, but after a long time, she visited the family grave.
She stared for a long while at the grave of her husband, Han Woo-jin, who had shattered her newlywed dreams without mercy, and sighs kept escaping her lips.
“Kang Mun just won’t come to his senses. I wonder who he takes after… His face is exactly like yours, but his business sense is just… sigh. Actually, there is something he takes after you. He likes women.”
Her voice sharpened on the last sentence.
Jin Hyeon-suk was constantly frustrated by Kang Mun, who only caused trouble and never showed any real ability.
Even though he was her own son, it was humiliating that he had nothing better going for him than the illegitimate son brought in from outside.
Moreover, her father-in-law Han Tae-su had recently been very pleased with Kang Yun’s achievements.
“Father-in-law too. No matter how capable Kang Yun is… he’s not the legitimate son. But ever since he was young, you always kept him so close… Honestly, I feel wronged. Wronged by you, wronged by Father-in-law, and wronged by Kang Mun.”
Her joy at becoming the daughter-in-law of one of the country’s top conglomerates and at giving birth to a son had not even lasted two years.
Suddenly losing her husband and having to raise the son of his mistress, Jin Hyeon-suk had been only twenty-six years old.
After Han Woo-jin died, she had lived as if she were a chaste widow.
She abandoned her own life and lived only for the perfect succession of Kang Mun to the group.
But somehow, Kang Mun only continued to disappoint her more and more.
In contrast, Kang Yun excelled in every way, and as he grew up, he never once disappointed the adults or gave them reason to scold him.
Perhaps that was why Han Tae-su also cherished Kang Yun so much.
She understood that people naturally favored those who were outstanding, but she could not hide her hurt feelings.
“Anyway, please take care of our Kang Mun up there. I stayed in this family all this time because of him… If it weren’t for Kang Mun, I would’ve left long ago.”
Still, Han Woo-jin had once been someone she loved, and the father of her son. Jin Hyeon-suk lingered for a long time, touching the gravestone, before finally standing up.
“Tomorrow is Kang Yun’s family meeting. Please stop Kang Mun from doing anything foolish again. And please find a good match for our Kang Mun too.”
She did not really expect her late husband to hear her, but after voicing complaints she could never tell anyone else, she felt slightly lighter.
As Jin Hyeon-suk walked away from a distance, the driver who had been smoking quickly put out his cigarette and opened the back door.
The faint smell of smoke was unpleasant, but she said nothing and simply rolled down the window, pretending to look outside.
Her habit of never speaking harshly to anyone was proof of the life she had lived—trying not to leave any weakness as a woman who lost her husband and raised an illegitimate child.
Tired from the rare outing, Jin Hyeon-suk soon leaned back in her seat and fell asleep.
In her dream, she held a newborn baby who was crying loudly.
She soothed the child, who looked exactly like her husband and herself, and smiled happily.
It was the happiest moment she remembered in her life.
The next day, at a famous high-end Korean fine dining restaurant, Bora straightened her clothes and whispered to her mother.
“Mom, please. Don’t act exaggerated, and don’t say anything weird, okay?”
“Hey. Do I look like someone who would say strange things at a family meeting? Don’t worry.”
“I am worried. Don’t talk too much. And Dad, absolutely no business talk, okay?”
“Haha. Alright, alright. Let’s go in.”
At the end of a polished wooden hallway that stretched endlessly, they entered a room where Kang Yun’s family was already waiting.
“Hello. I am Han Kang Yun’s grandfather, Han Tae-su.”
“Hello. I’m Yoon Seo-woong, Bora’s father. This is Bora’s mother.”
“Hello. I’m Bora’s mother, Lee Se-hwa. It’s an honor to meet you, Chairman.”
“Haha. What honor is there between future in-laws? Please sit, sit and let’s talk.”
Bora quietly smiled as she looked at Kang Yun, who was dressed more formally than usual in a sharp three-piece suit that day.
Kang Yun also looked at Bora with satisfaction—she wore a neat two-piece outfit and a pearl headband over her long straight hair, looking pure and elegant.
“This is my daughter-in-law, and this is our eldest son. Please greet each other.”
“Hello. I’m Jin Hyeon-suk.”
“…I’m Han Kang Mun.”
Kang Mun spoke his name with obvious displeasure, his gaze landing on Bora’s slightly flushed cheeks.
“As you probably know, our Kang Yun is the CEO of Kangsan Construction and has been doing extremely well lately. Haha.”
“Oh yes, I know. I saw on the news that he signed a Middle East construction contract just the other day. I was so happy for him.”
At Bora’s mother’s words, Han Tae-su nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Ever since he was young, Kang Yun has been incredibly smart. He studied well, was good at sports, and never once caused trouble.”
“So Han Chairman must take after his grandfather—very handsome. Bora has also been told since she was young that she should enter Miss Korea, but she just didn’t grow tall enough… hoho.”
“Mom, please…”
Bora gently poked her mother’s side, but her mother continued without care.
“To be honest, our Bora is also not lacking anywhere. Pretty, kind, successful in business. But somehow, she only gets matched with men who are missing something. As parents, we’d naturally want her to marry someone with better conditions, right?”
“Haha. That’s right, that’s right.”
“But Chairman Han here doesn’t lack anything. Honestly, just visually they match so well. Right?”
“…What do you mean he doesn’t lack anything? His background isn’t great.”
Kang Mun suddenly poured cold water over the warm atmosphere.
“You brat, what are you saying on a good day like this!”
“To be honest, I oppose this marriage. I want to ask why Bora’s arranged match ended up with Kang Yun instead of me.”
“Kang Mun, please.”
Jin Hyeon-suk whispered through clenched teeth.
But Kang Mun, as if seizing the moment, turned to Bora’s startled parents.
“Mr. and Mrs. Bora. I am also interested in Bora.”
“What? What did you say?”
“What… is this…?”
Bora’s parents looked at each other in shock, unable to hide their confusion at his sudden statement.
“Mr. and Mrs. Bora. Choose. Between me and Kang Yun, who do you think is more suitable as Bora’s husband?”
“Hey, Han Kang Mun! What are you—!”
“Didn’t you just say you’d prefer your daughter to marry a man with better conditions? Someone who lacks nothing. But unfortunately, I am the eldest son of the Kangsan Group and the legitimate heir, while Kang Yun is the second son and illegitimate. Is there even a choice to debate here?”
Bora let out a sigh at Kang Mun’s sharply pointed words.
“That pathetic man is really going to ruin my life…”
Bora’s mother, flustered, opened her mouth.
“Well, that’s obviously the legi—”
“Mom.”
Bora cut her off.
She already knew exactly what her kind but overly honest mother would say.
As her mother fell silent due to Bora’s intervention, Kang Yun—who had been quietly watching the situation—finally spoke.
“I also have something to say to Bora’s parents.”
Han Tae-su, his face already tense, waved his hand as if to tell him to continue.
“My older brother says he likes Bora, but that is only his own feelings. Bora and I developed feelings from the day of the arranged meeting, and we have confirmed each other’s hearts. Regardless of legitimacy or anything like that, shouldn’t you allow your daughter to marry someone who will only look at her, without any messy scandals?”
“Hey, are you trying to screw me over? Are you insane?”
“Han Kang Mun. Stop it. I don’t know what you’re trying to do on a good day like this, but if you continue, I won’t stay silent either.”
At Han Tae-su’s warning, Kang Mun frowned deeply and clenched his lips shut.
“Bora, tell them how you feel.”
Kang Yun said, looking into Bora’s eyes.
Bora, who had been momentarily stunned by Kang Mun’s ridiculous outburst, came back to her senses at Kang Yun’s gentle voice.
“Ah, I… I want to marry CEO Han Kang Yun. That was the purpose of today’s meeting from the beginning… And I really like him. Grandfather, I will truly support him well so he can focus on his business.”
At her words, Han Tae-su’s deeply furrowed face relaxed completely.
“Haha. I like that very much. Our future daughter-in-law is not only beautiful but also kind-hearted.”
“So… can I marry him? Can I live with the CEO?”
At Bora’s cute, slightly playful question, Kang Mun shut his eyes tightly, while a smile spread across Kang Yun’s face.
Bora looked at Kang Yun and winked, closing one eye.
Watching the two of them dripping with affection, Kang Mun gritted his teeth in frustration.
