LNP 08

Chapter 8: Don’t Get Any Foolish Ideas

Do-hyeon, mindful that his mother and father were present, also smiled and accepted the hand In-uk had extended.

“Yeah. It’s been a while.”

As they released each other’s hands, In-uk added, “I heard you acquired a food company recently. Hyeonseong Corporation, right? They used to be one of our biggest clients in the food business, but now my own brother has become one of our clients.”

In-uk was the sort of person who never learned his lesson unless he got knocked down and crushed. He should have known his opponent before picking a fight, but apparently, he needed to get beaten first. And perhaps because he kept forgetting what happened the last time, he was always asking for trouble.

Despite In-uk’s casual provocation, Do-hyeon remained composed.

“Well, that’s just how things turned out.”

In-uk’s affected gaze, concealing his true intentions, met Do-hyeon’s calm, unruffled eyes. For a moment, their gazes clashed in a tense standoff.

Then Chairman Cha’s voice came from behind them.

“All right, now that everyone’s here, let’s have some tea. Come on, take your seats.”

At his words, Mrs. Lee, In-uk, and Do-hyeon sat down.

Since the two families had gathered together for the first time in a while, Chairman Cha and his wife, along with President Cha and his wife, were more talkative than usual.

During the conversation, Mrs. Song turned to Do-hyeon.

“Do-hyeon, you’re truly impressive. You’ve already become the head of a company at such a young age.”

Mrs. Song offered him a flattering compliment with a false smile.

Do-hyeon couldn’t help letting out a quiet chuckle at her words. After all, she was only eight years older than him. President Cha had remarried a woman twenty-five years younger than himself, making her Do-hyeon’s aunt despite being only eight years his senior.

“One can reach the top of any field by focusing on it wholeheartedly. I hope you continue to devote yourself to your chosen field.”

Mrs. Song’s eyes narrowed as she delivered what was supposed to be a word of encouragement but sounded more like a veiled warning.

Her message was clear enough: Don’t even think about setting your sights on the Hayeong Group. Just focus on your own business.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Although Do-hyeon understood the hidden meaning behind her words, he maintained his composure and responded with humility.

As time passed, it eventually became time for everyone to head home.

“Oh, honey. Didn’t you say you had something to discuss with Do-hyeon? It’s getting late, and your brother-in-law’s family needs to leave too, so why don’t you talk about it now?”

At Mrs. Lee’s reminder, Chairman Cha’s cheerful expression faded. He turned to Do-hyeon with a serious look.

“Go ahead, Father. What did you want to tell me?”

Do-hyeon also dropped his smile and looked at his father solemnly.

Whenever Chairman Cha became this serious, it could only mean one thing: business.

“Do-hyeon, your company has established itself to a certain extent now. How would you feel about taking charge of our department store business?”

At Chairman Cha’s words, the atmosphere in the living room turned cold, and the air suddenly grew heavy.

Subtle tension appeared on the faces of Do-hyeon’s uncle and his family.

When Do-hyeon did not respond immediately, President Cha forced an awkward smile and spoke up.

“Hyungnim, isn’t it a little too soon to say Do-hyeon’s company is firmly established? Wouldn’t it be better to give him more time before making such a decision? Do-hyeon, what do you think?”

President Cha directed the question at Do-hyeon, unable to conceal his anxiety.

Chairman Cha’s smile disappeared completely. With an even more serious expression, he spoke again.

“I’m not simply suggesting that you take over Hayeong’s department store business. I’m asking whether you want to join the Hayeong Group and work under the Hayeong name.”

At that moment, the room fell so silent that it seemed everyone had stopped breathing.

For the first time, with the entire family gathered together, Chairman Cha had indirectly offered Do-hyeon the position of his successor.

Do-hyeon was just as surprised as everyone else. Ever since he had founded DH Partners, Chairman Cha had never once discussed the possibility of him succeeding to the leadership of the Hayeong Group.

Do-hyeon lowered his gaze from his father to his teacup.

After thinking for a moment, he raised his head and answered with a composed smile.

“Would you give me some time to think about it, Father? There’s a lot I need to consider before I can give you an answer.”

At Do-hyeon’s polite response, Chairman Cha nodded.

“All right. I understand.”

Before getting into his car, Do-hyeon walked toward the backyard for a moment.

Breathing in the cool night air, he took out a cigarette and placed it between his lips. As the cigarette burned, his father’s proposal continued to churn through his mind.

It wasn’t that he had never considered the possibility, but he hadn’t expected it to happen so suddenly.

His father had probably planned to bring up the subject while his younger brother’s family was present, too.

The sound of dress shoes approaching came from behind him.

Do-hyeon slowly turned around and saw Mrs. Song standing there.

“You haven’t left yet?”

“My mind’s a mess, too.”

Mrs. Song took a gold cigarette case out of her handbag. As she removed a cigarette and placed it between her lips, Do-hyeon narrowed his eyes.

Now that the rest of the family was gone, she had finally dropped her mask.

Mrs. Song pulled the cigarette, stained with red lipstick, away from her lips and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

“Phew… You must have a lot on your mind.”

Her voice was low as she spoke.

Do-hyeon answered calmly.

“As you heard, I suppose.”

Mrs. Song looked at him with her eyes narrowed into an elegant smile. Do-hyeon, however, stared back with a cold, restrained expression.

“You and I really are lucky, aren’t we?”

She slowly closed her eyes, as though lost in thought, before continuing.

“My life changed completely when I entered the Hayeong Group at twenty-five. Yours changed when you entered at fifteen, didn’t it?”

Mrs. Song had married President Cha when he turned fifty.

President Cha’s first wife had passed away not long after giving birth to In-uk.

After her death, President Cha had never remarried. Instead, he spent his time meeting various women and indulging in a life of pleasure. To a man so devoted to drinking, women, and entertainment, marriage was nothing more than an unnecessary shackle.

He continued his debauched lifestyle until one day, he met Mrs. Song at an upscale entertainment establishment.

She had been one of the most sought-after hostesses at a famous establishment in Gangnam, and her target was President Cha, the second son of the Hayeong Group, who frequented such places as though they were his second home.

It had not taken long for President Cha to become wrapped around Mrs. Song’s little finger.

The following year, she managed to persuade a man who had never intended to marry into taking her as his wife, becoming the second daughter-in-law of the Hayeong Group.

From the moment they married, Mrs. Song had held President Cha firmly under her thumb. There were even rumors that she was the reason he had managed to maintain his position within the Hayeong Group all these years.

Mrs. Song took another drag from her cigarette and exhaled before speaking again.

“But whose luck do you think will last longer? Me, who sold my smiles to enter the Hayeong Group, or you, who sold people your pity?”

Mrs. Song’s smile always carried something unsettling about it.

Her provocation danced dangerously along the line between acceptable and insulting, but every word reached Do-hyeon’s ears loud and clear.

Do-hyeon gave a quiet chuckle and fired back.

“If we both had to trade something to enter the Hayeong Group, then I traded far less than you did, Aunt.”

At his response, Mrs. Song’s eyebrows rose above the cigarette held between her lips.

“You didn’t just sell your smiles, did you? You sold your dignity as a woman, your reputation, your youth, your soul, and every possibility your future might have held. That’s what you traded to get the seat you’re sitting in now, isn’t it?”

Do-hyeon crushed his cigarette beneath his foot and continued in an arrogant tone.

“You didn’t get where you are through luck. You fought hard to earn that position. So don’t get any foolish ideas. Just focus on protecting what you already have.”

With that, Do-hyeon walked past Mrs. Song and left the backyard.

Left alone, Mrs. Song brought her cigarette back to her lips, then pulled it away and exhaled another cloud of smoke.

Through the drifting haze, her eyes appeared dark and ominous.

“Phew. Where on earth did my dear brother-in-law find a sly little fox like him?”

The corners of Mrs. Song’s mouth twisted into a crooked smile.

She dropped the cigarette to the ground, crushed it beneath the tip of her shoe, and slowly left the backyard.

Long after the end of the workday, the lights in A-ryeon’s office were still on.

The clock showed nine o’clock. After sending Min-ji home, A-ryeon had stayed behind alone to finish her remaining work.

Despite shouldering all the burdens and responsibilities of her family, A-ryeon never neglected her job.

Her work did not bring in much money, as she primarily handled legal cases for people struggling financially.

She was engrossed in reading a witness statement when her phone rang, displaying an unfamiliar number.

She was about to ignore the call, but then wondered whether it might be a client. After a moment’s hesitation, she answered.

“Hello, this is Lee A-ryeon speaking. Who is this?”

There was no answer for several seconds.

Frowning, A-ryeon tried again.

“Hello?”

Only then did a familiar voice come through the phone.

“It seems you still haven’t saved my number. I specifically told the security guard to give it to you.”

His tone sounded almost reproachful.

The voice was familiar, yet irresistibly captivating.

A-ryeon furrowed her brows even more deeply.

“…Is that you, Cha Do-hyeon?”