“Councilman Kwak is mentioned as a presidential candidate. If we’re connected to that family, it will be much easier to run Jiseok Group later.”

Of course, Mrs. Yun also knew well that being close to Councilman Kwak could be helpful.

However, she didn’t want to force her son to live rubbing shoulders with a woman he didn’t like.

“Darling, did you really intend to proceed with marriage talks with that family?”

“I thought I Hyun wouldn’t be a bad match.”

“I Hyun doesn’t want it. Let’s let our son do what he wants.”

Chairman Cha had a thoughtful look on his face.

Seeing that expression, Mrs. Yun opened her mouth.

“Seung Hyun seemed to show some interest though…”

Though he wasn’t the child she had given birth to, she still felt uneasy about pairing Seung Hyun with Seo Yun.

“That girl, the aura she gives off is quite unpleasant.”

“Why are you saying such things? I thought her bright smile was cute.”

Mrs. Yun shook her head.

Others might not have seen it, but Mrs. Yun quietly observed Seo Yun’s behavior from behind.

As Chairman Cha said, she kept a smiling face, but Mrs. Yun didn’t miss the moment her face crumpled briefly upon hearing I Hyun’s sharp words.

Wasn’t that her true face?

Thinking that, she didn’t like her as a match for Seung Hyun either, even though he wasn’t her biological son.

“For now, Seung Hyun seemed to want to go to the arranged meeting. I’ll talk to Councilman Kwak again.”

“Alright. It’s unlikely to work out anyway since that child seems to want I Hyun.”

“It’s gotten quite late, Mrs. Yun. Let’s go to bed.”

Seeing Mrs. Yun go up to the second floor, Chairman Cha made his way to the study.

While he respected Mrs. Yun’s opinion, the other party was Councilman Kwak, and he didn’t want to miss this good opportunity.

“That I Hyun, really.”

He could have met a few more times before deciding, but he felt guilty for flatly refusing like that.

Despite the late hour, Chairman Cha called Councilman Kwak.

Fortunately, after just a few rings, Councilman Kwak answered the phone heartily.

-Chairman Cha, did you arrive home safely?

“Yes, of course. Councilman Kwak, you had many guests today. I feel like we took up too much of your time.”

-Ho ho ho. You and Director Cha I Hyun were my most important guests.

Known as a daughter-doting father, Councilman Kwak was looking after Seo Yun even at this moment.

-By the way, it seems my daughter was quite lacking in Director Cha I Hyun’s eyes.

“Oh no, not at all. He’s just very rebellious against arranged marriages…”

-That can happen. Even we, if we think about it, didn’t we feel averse to the marriages our parents forcefully arranged back then?

Chairman Cha laughed along at the shared topic.

“If my son made any mistakes today, I apologize on his behalf.”

-Not at all. Such things can happen when men and women meet. However, it seems my daughter was quite disappointed.

Hearing those words, Chairman Cha hesitated for a moment.

He quickly judged that ending the connection with Councilman Kwak like this would result in losing more.

“I’ll try to persuade I Hyun well soon and arrange another meeting.”

-Really?

“Yes. If they meet and talk a few more times, perhaps our I Hyun will find Seo Yun’s charms.”

-Ho ho ho. Then I’ll be waiting for your call, Chairman Cha.

Fortunately, the call ended on a pleasant note.

I Hyun had been a good son who listened to his parents’ words without much refusal until now, so it was a promise he could make.

If he refused to go out, they could disguise it as another appointment and send him out like today.

“Later, I Hyun will be grateful to me too.”

Nothing helps business more than gaining a strong in-law family.

Chairman Cha’s second marriage was to a woman he liked, but that was only possible because his first marriage had elevated Jiseok Group to a high position.

If he hadn’t established the Jiseok kingdom that no one could challenge, even the second marriage would have had to be a strategic one, weighing the gains.

“This is all for I Hyun’s sake.”

Thus, Chairman Cha sank deep into his worries alone as the night grew late.

After ending the call with Chairman Cha, Councilman Kwak took out cold water from the refrigerator and gulped it down.

“If only Cha I Hyun didn’t have Jiseok Group behind him.”

He was a man he never wanted to look back on again.

How could someone speak so coldly and bluntly to someone’s face?

He knew well that I Hyun wasn’t interested in Seo Yun, but there was no need to speak so excessively.

His arrogance was quite displeasing.

As Councilman Kwak was recalling what happened in the waiting room today.

The sound of the door lock being released was heard.

When he went out to the living room, he saw Seo Yun entering the house in a disheveled state, perhaps from drinking.

“I thought I told you to come home early.”

Councilman Kwak stared at Seo Yun with disapproval.

Seo Yun pouted her lips and looked up at Councilman Kwak with her eyes wide open.

“I haven’t been able to drink properly because I’ve been preparing for the concert. It’s not even late today.”

The clock hands had already passed 2 AM, but it didn’t seem late to Seo Yun.

Councilman Kwak clicked his tongue.

“Seo Yun, you should be especially mindful of your conduct.”

“Ha. Dad, don’t make me feel so stifled.”

Seo Yun let out a deep sigh and plopped down on the sofa.

In public, Councilman Kwak was known as a daughter-doting father, but it was all for the sake of a friendly political image.

To Councilman Kwak, even family was a very good means to be used politically.

He was able to gain public sentiment by utilizing the image of a kind father who cherishes his only daughter.

In reality, he was just managing his daughter like this, afraid of damage to his political image.

Especially if Seo Yun did anything to tarnish Councilman Kwak’s reputation, he would probably abandon his daughter without hesitation.

“If you had practiced the gayageum a little more. You wouldn’t have heard such words from Director Cha I Hyun today.”

Even to Councilman Kwak’s ears, Seo Yun’s performance was terrible.

Although the concert was held to raise political funds, it needed to be of a certain level, but it wasn’t, making him frown involuntarily.

“You know better than anyone that I don’t have that talent, Dad.”

“If you practice more diligently, you can do it!”

“I’ve done enough. How can a person just eat and play the gayageum!”

Seo Yun shouted loudly as she stood up.

She was already in a bad mood from being properly rejected by I Hyun today, and now even her father was being so harsh, bringing her to the verge of tears.

Seeing Seo Yun like this, Councilman Kwak didn’t even blink.

“Don’t act weak. You could become the mistress of Jiseok Group, how can you be so quick to tears?”

“… What did you say, Dad?”

Seo Yun widened her teary eyes and showed interest.

“What did you just say?”

Councilman Kwak cleared his throat once.

“I received a call from Chairman Cha. He said he’ll arrange another meeting with Director Cha I Hyun.”

“Wow, really?”

Seo Yun smiled brightly, pulling up the corners of her mouth as if she had never been in tears.

“Yes. So please don’t waste this opportunity.”

“Of course.”

Seo Yun clenched her fists, strengthening her resolve.

This time, she intended to show all her charms to I Hyun.

“There’s no better match than Jiseok Group. I hope you don’t disappoint me anymore.”

“Just trust me, Dad.”

Councilman Kwak needed Jiseok Group’s enormous capital power, and Seo Yun wanted I Hyun, who was backed by such a Jiseok Group.

It was a rare moment when the father and daughter had the same goal.

“Good morning.”

I Hyun greeted this morning as well.

And with quite a warm tone at that.

Secretary Shin Hye Jin and Secretary Kim Seul Gi, who had arrived early and were sitting at their desks, exchanged glances.

“Secretary Han, please come in and brief me after you finish organizing the schedule.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I Hyun smiled gently at Ye Rin before heading straight into the director’s office.

As soon as the door closed with a thud, Hye Jin spoke first.

“Doesn’t the director seem to be in an extremely good mood these days?”

“I know. Come to think of it, he hasn’t been saying much about finding that missing woman either?”

Then Hye Jin and Seul Gi looked at Ye Rin simultaneously.

“Secretary Han, how’s the search for that woman going?”

“Ah, well…”

Ye Rin bit her lip slightly.

Hye Jin and Seul Gi were waiting for the next words with their eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“I haven’t found her yet.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Disappointment spread across the faces of the two women who had been expecting an interesting story.

“But does it take this long to find one person?”

Hye Jin tilted her head.

“Especially that day, you needed an invitation to enter the Chetto party.”

“That’s right. Didn’t you say you got the list, Secretary Han?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Can I take a look at that list too?”

Just as Hye Jin was getting up from her seat and approaching Ye Rin.

Belatedly, the door to the secretarial office opened and Secretary Choi appeared.

“The traffic was quite heavy, so I’m a bit late. Sorry.”

Then Secretary Choi noticed Hye Jin heading towards Ye Rin’s desk and asked curiously.

“What are you doing there, Secretary Shin?”

“I was going to help find the director’s missing woman.”

“Why would Secretary Shin do that?”

“Secretary Han said she still hasn’t found her…”

Secretary Choi put on a very stern face and pointed at Hye Jin’s seat with his finger.

“Secretary Shin, I suppose you’ve finished summarizing last quarter’s report that the director requested yesterday?”

“No, not yet…”

“Shouldn’t you do that first?”

Because he only spoke the truth, Hye Jin could only bow her head.

“I’d be very grateful if everyone just diligently does what they’re assigned to do.”

“Yes, I understand.”

After confirming that Hye Jin had no choice but to return to her seat, Ye Rin inwardly felt relieved.

Secretary Choi glanced at Ye Rin and added one more thing.

“Secretary Han wouldn’t deliberately not search for that woman, would she?”

At those words, Ye Rin’s face stiffened slightly.

It felt like a thief condemning theft.