Seated deeply in his study chair, Lee Heontae sighed as he set down a letter he had been reading.
“Chief Choi, can we trust the contents of this letter?”
The man across from him, appearing to be in his 50s, tucked the letter back into its envelope and responded.
“It’s uncertain. However, it would be prudent to verify its contents.”
The letter had been stealthily left at the door of the chairman’s office. Naturally, there was no sender’s name.
“Huh.”
Lee Heontae furrowed his brow and pressed a hand to his forehead, a deep worry marking his face.
“If this is true, it means our second son killed the first! It’s an absurd claim about an accident that concluded 30 years ago!”
The incident involving the untimely death of Taemyeong Group heir and Lee Heontae’s eldest son, Lee Jinwoo, was well-known at the time. Jinwoo died in a road accident on a rainy day while on a business trip for the heavy industries sector.
“It is preposterous. If the letter’s allegations are true, it would mean that the accident was deliberately orchestrated by President Lee Jinhyuk. But, being such an old case, it’s unlikely any evidence remains.”
Taemyeong Group.
One of the top five corporations responsible for a significant portion of our country’s economy, Taemyeong Group was a global conglomerate encompassing sectors like food, construction, finance and insurance, and distribution. Recently, it had even expanded into the entertainment and culture business.
Leading Taemyeong, Lee Heontae was a respected business magnate recognized not just in Korea but globally.
“Jinhyuk killed Jinwoo? If that’s true, we can’t just let it pass.”
“I’ll investigate this matter first.”
Chief Choi, Lee Heontae’s closest aide for over 20 years, tucked the letter away.
“And Jae-ho?”
Lee Heontae first inquired about Jae-ho. Heontae cherished Jae-ho, the precious lineage left by his deceased eldest son Jinwoo, as his own. Having been unaware of his grandson’s existence for 17 years only deepened his affection.
“He’s gone on a trip to rest after finishing a movie shoot.”
“That, that film! Movies! Tell him to drop all that nonsense immediately and take charge of one of the subsidiaries.”
“It seems he finds that work more interesting for now, Chairman.”
“It can’t go on like this. We can’t keep hiding the heir to the group forever, and if by any chance the contents of the letter are true…”
Lee Heontae sighed deeply and continued.
“If a man capable of killing his own brother could do something to his nephew… Before Jinhyuk makes a move, Jae-ho must solidify his position. He needs to build his power while I still have strength.”
Lee Heontae closed his eyes, thinking of his three sons.
Jinwoo. Jinhyuk. Jinmyeong.
Jinwoo, the eldest, had both leadership and empathy. Heontae had groomed him as the successor, pinning the future of Taemyeong on him. But Jinwoo died tragically in an accident before he even turned thirty. That was already 30 years ago, just a month before his arranged marriage.
After that, Jinhyuk coveted power. Always ambitious, he began to openly show his dark intentions after his brother’s death.
Although Heontae loved all his sons, handing over the company was a different matter. He never considered giving Taemyeong to the less capable Jinhyuk.
Jinmyeong, the youngest, was as intelligent as Jinwoo but lacked ambition, showing no interest in management.
That’s why Heontae lavished all support on Jae-ho, grooming him as the perfect successor. However, his elusive grandson refused to toe the line.
“Chief Choi, go find Jae-ho and convey my message. Also, check firsthand what this trip of his looks like. Make sure he isn’t doing something strange like sleeping in a car while camping under the stars or anything.”
Lee Heontae, deeply seated in his study chair, let out a sigh as he put down a letter he had been reading.
“Chief Choi, can we really believe the contents of this letter?”
The man opposite him, appearing to be in his 50s, carefully put the letter back into its envelope and replied.
“It’s uncertain. But it seems prudent to look into it.”
The letter had been surreptitiously left at the door of the chairman’s office. Naturally, there was no sender.
“Huh.”
Lee Heontae grimaced, pressing his hand to his forehead, a deep concern etched on his face.
“If this is true, it means our second son killed the eldest! It’s an absurd claim about an accident that happened 30 years ago!”
The death of Taemyeong Group’s heir apparent, Lee Heontae’s eldest son, Lee Jinwoo, in a young age was widely known. Jinwoo died in a road accident on a rainy day while on a business trip.
“It is preposterous. If the letter’s allegation is true, it implies that the accident was orchestrated by President Lee Jinhyuk. However, it’s been so long that it’s unlikely any evidence remains.”
Taemyeong Group.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
