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Chapter 4
What kind of company was Cheongyeong Group?
It was the most powerful chaebol corporation in the world of The Chaebol’s Way of Love.
The undisputed number one company in South Korea.
For reference, Hongil Corporation, Haena’s family company, ranked fourth.
Fourth place is still incredible, but standing next to Cheongyeong somehow makes it feel a lot less impressive….
Like any proper romance novel male lead’s family, Cheongyeong Group dominated the business world.
The family had two sons.
The male lead was the younger of the two, yet he had already been chosen as the successor to the company.
How was that possible in a society that valued the eldest son so heavily?
“Well, Hong Haena? Are you ignoring me now?”
Hmm.
Maybe now wasn’t the time to be lost in thought.
Haena returned to reality and looked at the two young masters sitting across from her.
Plump cheeks that showed they had been raised on the finest food.
Neatly pressed shirts.
Cute bow ties.
Comfortable shorts.
They practically screamed, I’m a rich young master!
The smaller one was—
“Sorry. I was thinking about something else.”
The male lead of this novel.
Baek Doyoon.
On the novel cover, he appeared in his late twenties and was ridiculously handsome.
As a child, though, he just looked like a cute little kid.
Well, a cute little kid whose face practically said, I’m trouble.
This kid grows up to become that obsessive male lead who loses his mind over love?
She couldn’t imagine it at all.
Still, the fact that he immediately started throwing insults the moment the nannies left to get drinks…
What a two-faced child.
Acting all sweet and innocent in front of adults.
“…? Did you just apologize to me?”
Apparently rich kids still spoke like elementary school students.
Haena paused.
The only children she had ever really interacted with were customers’ sons and daughters.
She had absolutely no data on how kids actually talked.
“You got a problem with that?”
Ah.
Maybe that wasn’t right.
Judging by the way Doyoon’s face turned red and blue, it seemed she’d chosen the wrong answer.
“Y-You little…!”
“We haven’t seen each other in a while. Let’s not fight, okay?”
Someone stepped between them.
Baek Jaehyun.
The eldest grandson of Cheongyeong Group’s chairman.
And the second male lead.
He looked about three years older than Haena.
Unlike Doyoon, he had a calm and mature atmosphere.
Still just a kid.
Haena wasn’t interested in either of them.
Both of them would eventually lose their minds over the heroine anyway.
That alone made them top-tier people to avoid.
Though Baek Jaehyun doesn’t throw away money for love.
The reason Jaehyun had stood out as a memorable second male lead was because he wasn’t the typical one.
The future Baek Jaehyun loved the heroine deeply.
But when forced to choose, he picked the company instead.
In other words, he inherited the position that Baek Doyoon abandoned.
See? At least you’re realistic.
Even so, Jaehyun was still someone she wanted to avoid.
Right now he looked gentle and kind.
But that wasn’t his true nature.
Baek Jaehyun was the scheming mastermind type.
He was charming in a novel.
In reality?
Just a sociopath.
And Kim Haena, whose lifelong dream had been to quietly collect her paycheck and avoid getting fired, was completely incompatible with someone like that.
“Brother’s too nice. Hong Haena’s seriously crazy.”
Doyoon pouted.
Crazy?
That was a little harsh.
Truthfully, Haena didn’t like him much either.
After all, this kid was supposed to become her future political marriage partner.
She hated that idea.
Sure, collecting a massive divorce settlement later wouldn’t be terrible.
But the best outcome was simply never marrying him at all.
In the original story, Hong Haena gave up her place as heir to Hongil Corporation because she married him.
It was the single greatest mistake of her life.
For someone who normally knew exactly how to spend money wisely, it was astonishing that she could make such a foolish decision because of love.
But I’m different.
I’m going to inherit Hongil Corporation and live as a chaebol forever.
I’m not settling for a divorce settlement.
So let’s destroy any chance of friendship right here.
“Didn’t they teach you at kindergarten that you’re not supposed to use bad words?”
“…?”
“?”
“I learned that. Maybe you should go back to kindergarten.”
“W-What?!”
Doyoon immediately jumped to his feet.
Cute.
His little legs weren’t intimidating at all.
At the moment, Haena was actually taller.
“I only use nice words now because my teacher taught me. Maybe you didn’t learn properly? You should go back and start over. Maybe join the baby class.”
“Y-You…! Youuu!”
Since they were the same age, attacking his pride was the most effective strategy.
Apparently no one had ever hit him this hard before.
His eyes immediately started watering.
“I’m going to elementary school next year, too!”
“Nope. I’m becoming a big elementary school girl next year. You’re going back to kindergarten and becoming a baby again. Then you’ll have to call me big sister.”
“That’s not true! I’m not your little brother! I’m going to elementary school too!”
“Nope. Bad children don’t become elementary students. They stay kindergarten babies forever.”
“Who said that?!”
“My teacher.”
“!”
Doyoon froze in shock.
Right.
At that age, a teacher’s words were absolute law.
Teacher, whose name I don’t even know…
I’m really using your authority a lot today. Sorry.
“No way! M-My teacher said I’d become a brave big brother! She said I’m all grown up now!”
“Then does your teacher know you use bad words? Probably not. I should tell her on Monday. Then she’ll know you can’t go to elementary school.”
Apparently the threat of being reported to his teacher was terrifying.
Exactly three seconds later—
“WAAAAAAAHHHHH!”
He burst into tears.
Excellent.
Time for the finishing blow.
“Oh? Since you’re crying, I guess Santa won’t bring you any presents.”
“NOOOOOOO!”
“Miss Haaenaaa….”
Her nanny held her hand with a miserable expression.
Well.
She did feel a little guilty.
The moment Doyoon started crying loud enough to shake the house, both nannies came running.
Doyoon’s nanny carried him away while desperately trying to comfort him.
Now only Haena, Jaehyun, and her nanny remained.
“What should we do? If Young Master Doyoon remains upset, the chairman will be angry too….”
Ah.
Getting scolded by a chairman sounded unpleasant.
Just as Haena was about to say something—
“It’s not Haena’s fault that Doyoon cried.”
Jaehyun suddenly interrupted.
“!”
“Oh my, really?”
Even the nanny looked surprised.
“Yes. Haena didn’t really do anything. Doyoon cried because he’s soft-hearted. Please don’t worry. I’ll explain everything to my grandfather.”
“Thank you very much, Young Master.”
What?
Why was he taking her side?
Anyone could see she was the one who made Doyoon cry.
Haena narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Then again, this was the same boy who hadn’t even blinked while watching his younger brother cry.
He definitely had some hidden motive.
“Doyoon suddenly started crying, so Haena must have been startled too. As his older brother, I should have handled it better.”
“Oh no, Young Master. Children fight and cry sometimes. It’s not your fault at all.”
The nanny smiled warmly.
“President Baek must feel very reassured having such a reliable and mature son.”
“It’s nothing. I’m only doing what I should.”
Jaehyun gave a smile so perfect it looked straight out of a children’s textbook.
Then he turned toward Haena.
“Haena, do you want to eat the remaining cake with me? You like cake, don’t you?”
“…!”
“Oh, that’s a wonderful idea. Miss Haena, you two can enjoy the rest of the desserts together. I’ll stay with—”
“No.”
At that moment, Baek Jaehyun smiled.
The kind of smile that could melt anyone’s heart.
“I’ll take care of Haena. Please go check on Doyoon instead.”
“Huh? But—”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“!”
Wow.
This really felt like watching a morning drama.
