Even though there might not be much to gain, he thought he could at least hear some memories about his father from his younger days. Jaeho recalled the words of Lee Heontae, who said that when you have children, you’ll understand your father. Those words had lingered in his mind for days.
As he continued to think about it, concrete scenes were vividly painted, as if there was substance to the words. A white, fluffy baby grinned happily, and the affectionate eyes watching the baby shone like stars.
His heart raced.
In a pastel-toned room that made the heart warm just by looking at it, beautiful dolls filled the space. And there was a baby even more beautiful than the dolls, sometimes crying, sleeping, falling over, and throwing tantrums.
Unbearably moved by all these situations, Jaeho couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotions, even though Dajeong’s eyes weren’t directed at him.
As the emotions beyond his control swelled, Jaeho quietly fiddled with his watch, taking a deep breath. With a brief imagination, the blood in his whole body boiled, becoming hot. It was a desire to hold Dajeong and another feeling of longing, different from the desire.
Due to the nature of the job, even though he was very accustomed to controlling emotions, he couldn’t easily calm down.
It was a perfect family.
A cozy fence he had never experienced in his life, not even once.
He didn’t know if he would understand his father when he had a child, but he suddenly realized that he had dreamed of such a family for a very long time. Jaeho closed his eyes.
The happiness was so perfect that even imagining it felt like a fearful joy.
**
“This incident was reckless, Chairman.”
Boldly, Jinhyuk came all the way to the chairman’s office, and it was the first words of confrontation between Lee Heontae and the defiant Lee Jinhyuk. Lee Heontae slightly furrowed his brow.
“To release such an article for Jaeho. It was not very fatherly.”
“Article? Me?”
Stubbornly feigning ignorance, Lee Heontae looked surprisingly shameless. Lee Jinhyuk burst into a bewildered laugh.
“I know everything about what you did, Father. Don’t make people look like fools.”
“How do you see me, exactly?”
Unexpectedly, I didn’t anticipate such a confrontation, but I didn’t expect it to escalate to this extent. It was stunning. Jaeho had gulped down a nickname with just that one article, but could it be that you won’t deny it until the end?
To anyone, it was clear that the biggest beneficiary of that article was Jaeho.
“As soon as I attempted to contact the shareholders, you caused such a commotion. I’ve always wanted to ask. Why, Father, don’t you find me worthy? I worked hard for my brother, sacrificed my body for a nickname. But am I not good enough to inherit the company, to pass it on to a young man who doesn’t even have management experience? Why? Am I not your son? Why me!”
The calm conversation that started gradually escalated, and it almost ended like a shouting match. The expression on Lee Heontae’s face, who had been looking at him impassively, was also frozen coldly.
“Seeing your fiery temperament, you are my son, right? Why wouldn’t you be?”
“Yes. You know it well. You know it well and still!”
“How many times do I have to tell you? I won’t hand over the company just because you’re my son. Do you really think you have enough qualifications to lead the company by yourself?”
“Then what about Jaeho! Does he have enough qualifications?”
Jinhyuk received it somewhat nervously.
The incident of losing the Jeju Golf Club to Samho was suddenly recalled, but he deliberately erased it. The construction of Taemyeong was becoming increasingly difficult, but that wasn’t just a problem with Taemyeong; it was a difficult time for most construction companies.
It was just a tough time for the industry as a whole. It was frustrating that his father, blaming himself for everything, was the one who bore the brunt of it.
“I’m sick of my father’s eldest son love. I understand that you want to do everything you couldn’t do for your brother for Jaeho, but what’s the difference with that guy! He’s just fooling around with his little acting career!”
“Eldest son love?”
Heontae’s eyebrows twisted.
“That’s your biggest problem. Did I want to pass it on to my eldest son just because he’s my eldest son? Never! Jinwoo had exceptional qualities in business from a young age. That kid never failed at anything he touched. Do you want me to point out each of your failures, not his? The expectations for Jaeho are not something I need to explain. But you also know. His occasional remarks cut through everyone’s defenses. Don’t turn away. Jaeho is different from you.”
In the face of Heontae’s systematic rebuttal, Jinhyuk’s face turned red. Even at this age, the stubbornness of the old man, who stubbornly clung to his opinions, was frustrating.
“…I won’t endure it any longer. You should know that it was you who raised the company.”
“Trying to pull me down, huh.”
“There’s nothing I can’t do. I have a lot on my side now.”
Heontae chuckled. It was infuriating to see such a dismissive attitude even towards this provocation.
“…I won’t take it any longer. You’ll regret it.”
“Let me ask you one thing, Jinhyuk.”
Heontae suddenly lowered his voice. Jinhyuk looked at Heontae, revealing his anger.
“Your brother died.”
“!”
“Were you very sad?”
Confusion must have been evident in Jinsun’s shaken eyes. When an unexpected question pierced through his thoughts, he momentarily forgot to manage his expression. Jinhyuk quickly regained control of his facial expression and responded with a distorted gaze.
“Are you saying that as if it’s something to talk about? My brother died, wouldn’t I be sad?”
Heontae, staring intently at Jinhyuk with narrowed eyes, had an unreadable expression. It seemed very angry and, at the same time, very sorrowful. Jinhyuk, feeling strangely uncomfortable, eventually stood up, pushing his chair back.
No one knows about it. Only a tiny fraction of people knew about that incident, and they were all elderly. Even those elderly individuals had all kept their mouths shut, so there was absolutely no chance of it getting out.
“I’ll be going now. I’ll do it my way from now on, so please understand that.”
Heontae didn’t stop him.
Jinhyuk returned to the car and, ordering the driver to depart, muttered curses under his breath. Why would that stubborn old man suddenly ask such a question? What does he know and why is he saying such things? Suddenly, Jinhyuk felt uneasy.
Moreover, there was the recent disappearance of Hajae-woo. He had personally visited the mental hospital to inquire, but the hospital director repeatedly apologized like a broken record. Damn it. Taking all that money and not being able to manage even one patient. What’s the point? How much have I done until now? It was exasperating.
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
