Da Jung smiled as she observed the conversation.

The fans were already treating that speculation as almost certain. They noisily discussed when he would inherit the group, what kind of woman he would marry, and so on.

A chaebol heir.

Although Lee Jae Ho rarely talked about himself, from what she had observed, he seemed far from being a chaebol heir.

It didn’t seem like a chaebol heir would haggle over a few thousand won worth of fern bracken at the market. If he were really a chaebol heir, it would be impossible to go on a month-long trip.

Besides, a chaebol heir wouldn’t date someone like her.

Da Jung smiled a bit bitterly.

[Our Jae Ho probably wouldn’t even look at women below model level.] [Of course. That’s natural. He’s a chaebol heir.] [Hahaha chaebol heir haha already confirmed] [I wonder about someone like Oh Chae Won? She’s also an heiress of Samsung] [Haha but I don’t really like Oh Chae Won, she seems too cheap. Yoon Soo Ji would be better]

Suddenly the fans who had become outright mothers-in-law unanimously chattered about who was okay and who wasn’t. They knew it was a meaningless conversation. Just for fun.

But Da Jung, who was neither a model, nor Oh Chae Won, nor Yoon Soo Ji, was needlessly hurt. Even without being told directly, she knew she was at the bottom in every aspect.

[I don’t think he’s a chaebol heir.]

Da Jung suddenly interjected into the conversation.

[Ah! It’s Da Jae! It’s been a while, Da Jae!] [Have you been well???] [Yes yes] [He is a chaebol heir hahaha] [No way. He’s not.]

Da Jung sent a chat without even an emoticon, feeling unnecessarily agitated.

[Honestly, if he were a chaebol heir, he wouldn’t be a celebrity. Don’t you think?]

They were silent for a moment.

[You have a point.] [Now that I hear it, that could be true] [What are you all having for lunch?] [I’m having rice noodles!]

The conversation quickly flowed in a different direction. Da Jung sighed and put down her phone.

**

The home of Lee Jin Hyuk, president of Tae Myung Construction, was in Seongbuk-dong.

The housekeeper from Cheongju, who had been working in this kitchen for over 10 years, skillfully prepared breakfast. Bean sprout soup with squid, grilled rockfish, fresh kimchi, and a few side dishes.

Though it was a modest spread, they were all menu items Lee Jin Hyuk liked.

Lee Jin Hyuk’s eldest daughter, Lee Se Ah, came down yawning widely.

“Yawn. I’m tired. Ahjumma. I’ll have a salad.”

“Ah, young lady Se Ah.”

The Cheongju housekeeper looked at the already set table and sighed discreetly. She had repeatedly asked to be notified in advance if menu changes were needed, but the two daughters of this house never complied.

“Yes. Please wait a moment.”

Just then, Lee Jin Hyuk and his wife Jung Hye Soo entered the dining room. As Lee Jin Hyuk took the head seat, Jung Hye Soo held a glass of water and looked at Se Ah.

“Just eat it. Lee Se Ah.”

“What? Mom. I need to watch my figure.”

“Don’t you see it’s already prepared? From next time, tell us in advance. Cheongju, Se Ah will just eat this, so don’t prepare anything else.”

“Mom!”

“Your father said he has something to say today. Sit down quickly.”

The second daughter, Lee Se Hee, who came down late, quickly sat down after reading the chilly atmosphere. As the Cheongju housekeeper finished setting the table and left, Lee Jin Hyuk put down his spoon and looked at his two daughters in turn.

My children are so pretty, why does he only favor Jae Ho…

He sighed.

He knew. That his father had loved his elder brother very much. Jae Ho resembled his brother too much, so he wanted to do everything for him that he couldn’t do for his brother.

Se Ah was a year older than Jae Ho, and Se Hee was the same age as Jae Ho. If only Se Ah were much older, he could have used the age difference as an excuse to push things, but that was difficult too.

The variable named Lee Jae Ho had made the situation quite awkward.

If it weren’t for that kid, he could have patiently waited and comforted Se Ah even if she was a bit less capable than he thought, and Se Hee even if she had little interest in management.

“Dad?”

Se Ah called out to Lee Jin Hyuk who was lost in thought. Lee Jin Hyuk finished his thoughts.

“You all know it’s grandfather’s birthday next week, right? The whole family will gather after a long time.”

“Is Lee Jae Ho coming too? He doesn’t even come for holidays.”

Se Ah quickly said. Jung Hye Soo answered instead.

“He’ll come. Grandfather told him not to miss it.”

“What?”

“He’s going to finalize the succession plan.”

Lee Jin Hyuk said.

“About Jae Ho. Although he hasn’t taken the lead in overall management, he’s studied following the best course for a successor, so he’s actually qualified enough. He’s smart too, so once he finds his place, he’ll quickly show his abilities. It’s unfair, but that’s our reality.”

“Since when was he our family’s grandson! That position should be dad’s! I can’t accept this.”

Se Ah fumed.

“Grandfather is really too much! After uncle died, dad worked so hard to build up the company… How can he say he’ll give everything to some kid whose background we don’t even know.”

Lee Jin Hyuk’s memory flew back to that day 13 years ago.

Kim Mi Jung, the poor tailor’s daughter who had been Lee Jin Woo’s secretary, knocked on the door of the Pyeongchang-dong house. His mouth tasted bitter with a terrible sense of defeat. Lee Jin Hyuk could only watch, clenching his fists tightly.

Kim Mi Jung looked the same as before, just a bit older. She was a small woman with doe-like eyes. Seeing those eyes reminded him of the rumors that used to circulate abundantly in the past.

Stories like Lee Jin Woo and Kim Mi Jung going in and out of hotels together, setting up house together, wearing matching rings, used to circulate steadily among the secretarial team.

Kim Mi Jung, who had somehow found the courage to enter the house saying she had been raising his brother’s son, boldly requested that they take care of Jae Ho. Jae Ho, who was a high school student at the time, had the same eyes as the late Lee Jin Woo.

‘Chairman. This child is indeed Jin Woo’s son. If you want, we can do a test. You may still not welcome me, but please become this child’s shelter, for Jin Woo’s sake. I beg you.’

Lee Hun Tae couldn’t take his eyes off Jae Ho. He must have seen the same thing. The bright future and dreams of the intelligent Lee Jin Woo.

Lee Hun Tae asked the boy in a slightly trembling voice.

‘What’s your name?’

The boy hesitated a bit before answering.

‘It’s Kim Sung Hyun.’

Even his voice was exactly like Lee Jin Woo’s teenage years. Looking at him in person, it seemed that things like paternity tests weren’t really necessary. It made him even angrier. Lee Jin Hyuk gritted his teeth inwardly. Lee Hun Tae said.

‘If you’re Jin Woo’s son, you shouldn’t be a Kim anymore. Write down your birthday. Let’s find a good name.’

Jae Ho’s existence, which was like a disaster to Lee Jin Hyuk, became a miracle for Lee Hun Tae, as if his dead son had come back to life. Lee Jin Hyuk was furious.

After that, when Jae Ho returned from studying abroad and immediately chose the path of an actor, he was secretly relieved, but Lee Hun Tae seemed determined to make Jae Ho the successor. Lee Jin Hyuk couldn’t wait any longer.

“This time I’m going to tell the chairman clearly. I can’t give up the succession to Jae Ho.”

“Wow. You should have done that earlier!”

Se Hee chimed in.

“For that, I need your help. Lee Se Ah. Since you work in the Strategic Planning Office, you need to produce some results within this year. So that it’s reported directly to grandfather. You need to be able to show off your abilities as much as possible.”

“Dad. There’s not much time left this year? We’re still in the planning stage…”

Jung Hye Soo cut off those words sharply.

“No. Do it. Lee Se Ah. I saw your new business plan last time, there were a lot of fashion ideas, but put those on hold for now and plan a food franchise for Tae Myung Foods. Grandfather has his eye on the K-food market.”

“But…”

“You have to do it. Your abilities need to be outstanding for dad to save face. And Lee Se Hee. You’ll start working in dad’s secretarial office from next week. We can’t wait any longer. Learn the work quickly and prepare to go under your sister.”

“…Yes.”

The two daughters finally answered glumly.

“And don’t unnecessarily show hostility towards Jae Ho. There’s nothing to gain from that attitude. You just need to be good granddaughters who diligently help with company work.”

It meant don’t become objects of suspicion. Se Ah laughed.

“Still, I’m going to try monitoring Lee Jae Ho once.”

“What?”

“The more cards you have, the better, right? It would be good to have one of Lee Jae Ho’s weaknesses.”

“But if you get caught…”

“I’ll be careful. Mom. Trust me.”

In the end, Lee Jin Hyuk and Jung Hye Soo expressed their agreement with silence. Breakfast came to an end.

**

Several peaceful days followed.

After a shower passed, the seaside met the sea fog creating watery shadows. Although it was called fog, if you actually went outside and came back, your clothes would get wet from the quite severe humidity. The humidity at the seaside had very extreme variations.

Da Jung named the cat that visited in front of her house every morning ‘Pinky’, and she even exchanged names with manager Byung Hoon who finally visited the pension.

“I guess Pinky isn’t coming today.”

“It seemed quite popular.”

“Pinky?”

“Yeah. Look at its belly. It must be getting food from more than just one or two houses.”

“I wonder what they call it at other houses? I’m curious.”

After that day, as he had warned in advance, Jae Ho embraced Da Jung greedily. This place was truly perfect for enjoying a secret affair. Jae Ho pounced without regard for time or place, like a primordial human who knew no shame.

Jae Ho’s lodging. Da Jung’s lodging. The window at sunset. The dining room.

Da Jung was gradually being dyed by him. The pain she felt at first was already a thing of the past. There were times when she responded hotly to the primal pleasure he gave, to the point of being quite active.

“I’ll go to Seoul for a bit.”

“I know. You’ve been saying it all along. The interview and grandfather’s birthday.”

“Don’t cheat on me while I’m gone.”

“Why do you have to put it like that…”

“Don’t even catch a cold.”

Jae Ho said, fiddling with Da Jung’s earlobe.

“If possible, I’ll come back right away without sleeping. I can get it all done in a day.”

“Don’t overdo it.”

“Why don’t you come with me? I want to show you my house too. I live alone.”

“I know. Hannam-dong.”

Da Jung said without thinking and closed her mouth, realizing her mistake. She had answered as if knowing his house was natural.

“What?”

Jae Ho narrowed his eyes.

“I looked it up! Searched! If you search, a lot of things come up. So I found out everything. Just recently. I mean, yesterday. Yesterday.”

“I see.”

Jae Ho quietly got up and peeled an apple. There was a smile on his lips. Even though he didn’t say anything special, Da Jung felt uneasy as if she had been caught doing something wrong.

“I was curious. Well, searching is my freedom.”

“This is driving me crazy…”

“What?”

“Ah. Nothing. You did well. Keep searching about me from now on.”

“Ah. Okay.”

“And let me know if you find out anything new.”

“Ah. Yes.”