Covetous Sponsorship (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 7
“Wake up, Yoon Ga Eul.”
At Gi Tae’s words, receiving no response from her, he called out to her once again.
Yet, she showed no sign of lifting her head.
Wondering if he was just bothering someone too busy crying, Gi Tae turned away.
“Haa….”
But soon, he turned back again.
What’s she doing, sitting in the flowerbed? It’s annoying.
With a sigh, Gi Tae reluctantly grabbed Ga Eul’s arm and pulled her upright with his own strength. Her limp, unresisting posture naturally made him frown.
As expected, she didn’t belong with his family.
The bleak Taesan Group. The silent mansion.
Just like that vague memory from their first meeting—that she’d never easily fit in here.
She’d seemed endlessly small and fragile then, too busy watching others’ moods, those tear-filled eyes still vivid in his mind.
Today, he couldn’t just walk past her—not after learning the full story.
He was lifting her up just to ease his own conscience.
He’d leave right after setting her on her feet.
Gi Tae spoke to Ga Eul, making up an excuse that wasn’t there.
“Lift your head a bit.”
“…Hic.”
After a moment, as if finally calmed, she raised her head—her face, as expected, soaked with tears.
But…
“…Why?”
Gi Tae narrowed his eyes as he looked at Ga Eul’s expression.
He’d assumed she’d just cry weakly, yet here she was, glaring at him with tears still clinging to her lashes.
Thinking he must have misread her, Gi Tae scanned her face again—only for her to answer him while still glaring straight at him.
“You could’ve at least looked at my painting once before rejecting it.”
What’s that supposed to… Ah, she meant the graduation exhibition.
Taken aback by her abrupt bluntness and clipped phrasing—something entirely new—he nodded slightly, signaling her to go on.
As if that nod had lit a fire, Ga Eul began confronting him point by point, as if she’d never feared him at all.
“It’s not like I wanted to enter that gallery myself—it was the Chairman who instructed it. Because you, Han Gi Tae, kept opposing without even looking, the Chairman gets even more displeased. All I can do is repay his kindness by drawing diligently. If you’d rejected me based on skill, I would’ve tried again through whatever other way the Chairman wanted. But since both of you refuse to budge and just fight over me… it’s exhausting being torn apart in the middle.”
“So.”
“…Yes?”
“I’m asking if you have anything else to say.”
“Oh, um… that is…”
He shouldn’t laugh—but unexpectedly, Gi Tae felt a laugh trying to escape.
Her eyes, flushed like petals, glared at him—but the look wasn’t threatening at all.
Perhaps she’d been hiding her claws all this time, bending to please adults; she seemed bolder than he’d realized.
At least this version was more pleasant to look at than the dull, silent doll who only did as told.
Maybe that’s why, against his usual habit, he found himself listening to her trivial complaints.
After stammering for a moment in confusion, she wiped away her tears and spoke again. Seeing him actually pay attention seemed to soothe her wounded feelings, and she returned to her usual self.
“Of course, whether or not you accept me is entirely your choice. I know very well the Chairman isn’t forcing you…”
“…”
“Anyway… I don’t take it for granted.”
“I see.”
Gi Tae nodded briefly, as if acknowledging that point, then placed something into Ga Eul’s hand and turned away.
If he was just going to leave like this after hearing all that… why even ask in the first place…?
Ga Eul stood dumbfounded, not even noticing she’d been handed something.
Not a word of apology, not even a sharp remark like, “What do you expect from me?”—nothing came back.
Right.
All he gave her was a simple “I see.”
Ga Eul stared blankly at his retreating back.
Just as she expected him to leave the mansion immediately, he spoke up belatedly with something odd.
“Come to my office tomorrow.”
With only those words, he walked away.
He reached his sedan in just a few steps and got into the driver’s seat.
Wondering if she’d just imagined it all, Ga Eul stood bewildered as the black sedan slid smoothly away from the main building. She began to think she must’ve seen things.
Left alone, Ga Eul suddenly snapped back to herself and looked down at what she’d been given.
A handkerchief…?
Even in the dimness, the red mark was clear.
Clutched in her hand was a handkerchief stained with a red blotch.
* * *
“I directly asked Ms. Yoon Ga Eul’s mother and was told she incurred debts amounting to roughly 400 million won.”
“What on earth did they do to rack up that kind of debt in an ordinary household?”
Gi Tae, incredulous, pressed the point, prompting his secretary—who’d been standing before him delivering the report—to answer awkwardly.
“She seemed sensitive about that part… Whenever I asked, she just kept crying, so… I couldn’t find out. I’m sorry.”
“Never mind. Go on.”
“Yes. Ms. Yoon Ga Eul’s mother apparently tried repaying what she could, but as you can imagine, that sum was far beyond what the two of them could manage. In any case, the Chairman covered most of the debt himself—and reportedly never insisted she repay it. She said she thought maybe she didn’t have to, but still felt it was only right to repay him somehow, even if gradually.”
“How much has been sponsored so far?”
“From when Ms. Yoon Ga Eul was 14 until now, at her university graduation, she’s reportedly received about 200 million won in support.”
So that’s how it was.
Now the pieces finally fit together.
Gi Tae waved his hand dismissively, sending the secretary away.
“…I understand. You may go.”
“Yes, President.”
Right after arriving at the department store, he’d instructed his personal secretary to investigate her financial situation. Hearing the report now made him feel genuinely sorry for her.
Gi Tae twirled his fountain pen, recalling the report just delivered.
His grandfather, though… he really was something.
Under the guise of sponsorship, he’d quietly piled another debt onto a 14-year-old girl, year after year.
He surely had legal documents prepared as well.
Altogether, 600 million won.
It wasn’t a small sum—but Gi Tae doubted his grandfather’s anger stemmed merely from money.
He wasn’t the type to help someone selflessly; he must have seen some usefulness in her.
What exactly did he expect to gain from that kid?
…And he definitely wasn’t the type to explain kindly if asked. What was his real motive?
Money wasn’t an issue for him—he already had more than enough. He cared more about honor and appearances.
Gi Tae grew curious: what had Yoon Ga Eul shown his grandfather that allowed her to stay in their home for nine whole years?
Did she even realize she’d made a mistake?
He’d never once been curious about her before, yet lately it seemed they kept getting tangled up in each other’s lives—like she was deliberately getting on his nerves, always hovering nearby.
Gi Tae glanced toward the clock.
Soon, it would be time for Yoon Ga Eul to arrive.
Well, he’d just ask her directly.
He turned his attention back to the documents, gripping his fountain pen and pressing its nib to the paper.
* * *
At that moment, Ga Eul stood gazing at Taesan Department Store.
The golden department store, spanning from basement level 7 to the 14th floor above ground, gleamed magnificently. After surveying it briefly, Ga Eul walked toward the headquarters building right beside it. The main office—used for administrative work—stood conveniently next to the department store, making it easy to find even on her first visit.
With help from the reception desk staff, Ga Eul stepped into the executive elevator.
His office was located on the upper floors of the headquarters building, and even after exiting the elevator, another opaque glass door blocked her path—security seemed quite strict.
The helpful employee who’d accompanied her from the desk hadn’t entered yet. Seeing Ga Eul hesitate awkwardly in place, they kindly said,
“Go ahead inside—Secretary will guide you further.”
“Oh, yes. Thank you.”
Actually, it wasn’t that—she was just nervous about entering…
Ga Eul bowed gratefully to the employee, then tightly gripped the strap of her crossbody bag—as if it were a safety harness—and stepped inside.
True to the staff’s word, a woman immediately stood up to greet her.
“What brings you here?”
“I… I’m here to see Department Head Han Gi Tae.”
“Ah, yes. Are you Ms. Yoon Ga Eul, who registered your visit at the first-floor lobby?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“This way, please?”
“Yes.”
Mentioning Han Gi Tae’s name made everything proceed smoothly. Tap tap—Ga Eul stood behind the employee as they knocked, waiting for his reply.
“Come in.”
“You may go right in.”
From inside came his voice—just as she’d heard yesterday. After bowing once to the secretary who’d guided her, Ga Eul took a slight deep breath and pushed the door open.
As she entered the unfamiliar office hesitantly, a classic interior filled her view.
Unlike the Chairman’s study—richly opulent—this office featured modern black-and-white furniture: stylish yet simple. The spacious, tidy room held only what was necessary, clearly reflecting his dislike of clutter.
Still, even within this neat space, a few paintings hung here and there.
A small glass art piece, the only item on the black desk, caught her eye. Sunlight filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows cast delicate glimmers across the desk—beautiful.
Beside it firmly stood a black nameplate reading, “Head of Planning & Strategy, Han Gi Tae.”
Since she’d entered, he’d been focused solely on his documents.
Even after Ga Eul finished scanning the entire office and still stood dazed, he spoke without lifting his head.
“Sit there for a moment.”
“Oh, okay.”
Avoiding the place of honor, Ga Eul quickly sat on the long sofa beside it.
Only after a while did he finally look up—and instead of taking the guest seat, he sat directly across from her on the sofa. Seeing him sit, Ga Eul straightened her back.
Unlike herself—a fresh newcomer—he carried himself like a formidable CEO, radiating an intimidating presence.
Also…
She felt embarrassed about having acted petulant with him yesterday…
Why on earth had she done that—something she’d never done before? She should’ve held back just a little longer…
Once the tears started, they’d been impossible to stop. In the end, she’d behaved far too emotionally.
To Ga Eul, still bowing her head in shame over yesterday’s incident, he casually handed her a sheet of paper he’d been holding.
“What’s… this?”
“The exhibition schedule.”
The exhibition schedule…?
When he fluttered the paper slightly as if urging her to take it, Ga Eul unconsciously accepted it.
To her puzzled gaze, he simply pointed with his finger to one section of the paper.
Ga Eul read what was written beneath his finger.
It stated the exhibition would take place roughly in spring.
“The Seoul Arts Foundation plans to host an exhibition. They approached us first, so we’ll collaborate with our gallery. Even though the Foundation is involved, the exhibition will effectively be run by our gallery—it’ll look just like a TS Gallery exhibition.”
“…Ah, I see.”
But why tell me this…?
Confused by his sudden explanation of TS Gallery’s future exhibition schedule, Ga Eul fiddled with the edge of the paper.
Why on earth was he telling her all this?
This time, Ga Eul asked first.
“So… will only your gallery’s artists be participating…?”
“Mostly. But not exclusively.”
“Oh…?”
“The Foundation holds exhibitions around that time specifically to discover and support emerging artists.”
“…”
“While our signed artists will participate en masse, we’ll also dedicate one section to works by artists selected through an open competition—promoting and selling their pieces.”
“Ah, I see… Um, so the competition there must be pretty fierce…?”
He nodded.
Just as Ga Eul opened her mouth to ask another question, he spoke first.
“Participate in it. Prove your ability there.”
My Arch-enemy Sealed My Memory and Said That He is My Husband
This is an incredibly captivating story that you absolutely shouldn’t miss! I’ll give a brief introduction here, and below you’ll find a detailed synopsis of the plot.
The female lead is a fierce and powerful demon king. The male lead is a once-in-a-millennium celestial lord, admired by the entire cultivation world.
They are equally matched, legendary rivals who have battled for centuries.
In the final duel, the female lead is gravely injured. The male lead saves her, seals her memories, and hides her true identity. He tells her that he is her fiancé. His entire life has been flawless—except for the one thing he never expected, never controlled, and never wanted to control: falling for his greatest enemy. She is his inner demon, his obsession.
When the female lead regains her memories, she is furious at his deception.
She makes his life a living hell.
And somehow, the male lead—possibly a total masochist—doesn’t mind at all. In fact, he’s happy she’s paying attention to him.
Yep, we’re back to my favorite trope: male lead suffering. If you love this kind of story, jump into the pit with me now!!!
Intro
Dong Xia lost her memory.
Her handsome and extremely powerful fiancé Li Qing comforted her: “It’s okay if you can’t remember. I’ll always be with you.”
Everyone thought Dong Xia’s ancestors must have burned incense to get such a perfect fiancé. He was the number one person in the immortal realm, yet he remained chaste and only loved her.
…
The day before marrying her fiancé, Dong Xia finally remembered everything.
She wasn’t suffering from memory loss at all.
Her arch-enemy had made her fake her death, destroyed her cultivation, replaced her memories, and pretended to be her deeply in love fiancé.
No wonder he said, “It’s okay if you can’t remember”!
Dong Xia laughed coldly as she pulled out her long knife: Li Qing, prepare to die 🙂
*
Li Qing, as the supreme being of the immortal realm, was the people’s shining beacon.
The only unknown stain in his life was his affection for Dong Xia, the ruler of the demon realm.
In the final battle of the war between immortals and demons, the sky collapsed and the earth shattered. The ruler of the demon realm was finally slain under the sword of the supreme being of the immortal realm, and everyone in the immortal realm applauded.
The cultivation world lost a ruler of the demon realm.
And in the back mountain of Li Qing’s cave dwelling, he secretly hid away a fiancée.
Notes:
1. The female lead is white on the outside, black on the inside, and the queen of flattery; the male lead repeatedly tests the edge of darkness, a VIP guest at the crematorium.
2. Fantasy cultivation world setting.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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