And to protect her, the first people he had to watch were Baek Sa-jang and Jo Min-hyeong. However, as long as Seorin secured her shares as a shareholder, there wasn’t much harm Baek Sa-jang could do.
The problem was Jo Min-hyeong.
“Through the last incident, he experienced firsthand how far Jo Min-hyeong could go as a person.
Less than human, akin to a beast. Therefore, he wanted to preemptively control Jo Min-hyeong’s actions, so he could never touch Seorin again.
To achieve that, identifying the weaknesses of Ocean Shipping was the best course of action.
Ocean Shipping was a financially robust company, more than one might think. However, that was from the company’s perspective, and the lives of its employees were different. There were considerable wage arrears, and friction with the labor union was frequent.
The employees led a difficult life, and the company was a typical corporate bully, exploiting its employees while expanding its business aggressively, even acquiring a construction company recently.
“A former gang member…”
A company composed of employees without loyalty. And because of that, the company, whose size had grown excessively, was off balance.
As a result, such companies crumbled easily with just a little interference. He only needed to wait for the right timing.
Having completed his thoughts up to this point, Taejoon turned his tired eyes to the window.
It was raining. The moist raindrops thoroughly soaked New York.
Watching the wet New York, he felt an intense longing to see Seorin today.
“What are you… doing?”
His yearning soaked his heart as well.
But Seorin should not be like that. She should forget and start anew.
Like she did eight years ago, boldly.
“Director Yoon, so, say something to the person in charge of the review, and pull the odds in our favor. Despite the support, didn’t Parao thoroughly prepare for this bid?”
Jo Min-hyeong poured out his grievances to Yoon Seok-jin, an executive at Parao, over a glass of alcohol.
He had to make this bid a success no matter what to gain Chairman Jo’s complete trust.
“Oh, I’ve certainly staked my life on this. And I’ve met the most influential person there. I’ve spoken well, so the result shouldn’t be bad.”
“Just one person can change the situation? Even if the opponent is Baek Seorin?”
“Isn’t Baek Seorin a person? And as you know, how much have we invested in this project? If we win the bid for the hotel site, it will be the most splendid hotel in South Korea. All local and international dignitaries will have to pass through our hotel.”
“Well, even I could see that it was dazzling.”
Min-hyeong nodded in agreement, feeling pleased. However, there was a complication. Just looking at Parao’s plan, they seemed to win this bid. A hotel as splendid as this one was unparalleled in South Korea.
But the opponent was Baek Seorin.
They still didn’t know the card Seowon held.
That uncertainty brought forth an inexplicable sense of unease.
“Ha, but even in my view, the proposal is perfect… I heard that Baek Executive Vice President will personally do the presentation. That bothers me a bit. You know. I’m not very articulate…”
Yoon Seok-jin seemed to be setting up an excuse in advance for his incompetence.
In response, Min-hyeong showed a sardonic smile.
“That’s right. Baek Seorin’s words can be a bit strong. She can say something that hits the heart with just a few words.”
“That’s true. How she persuades the judges with that eloquence.”
“That’s why I told you. It’s not enough to win with just one person.”
“Ha… but that one person is someone I could barely contact…”
The bid was two days away. Despite having a perfect plan, Yoon Seok-jin was hesitating solely because Baek Seorin would be the one presenting.
However, Min-hyeong wasn’t really worried about that part.
“Hey, Director Yoon. Then, if I shake up Baek Executive Vice President, can we definitely win the bid?”
“What are you talking about? Shaking up Baek Executive Vice President?”
“You said it yourself earlier. Baek Seorin is also a person.”
Right. Baek Seorin is also a person.
So, could you be fine even after seeing that photo?
Min-hyeong showed a smile of realization and muttered to himself as if talking to himself.
“Wait and see. I’ll shake up Baek Seorin properly.”
On the way back after meeting Sodam.
When the elevator door opened, Seorin, with tired steps, pressed the door lock. But when she opened the door, a yellow envelope slid out from below.
“What’s this?”
Considering that it was a secure apartment, ordinary people couldn’t enter. Moreover, the rule was to put parcels and mail either in the management office or in mailboxes with locks.
But this mail had breached that security and was in front of her door.
Just that was strange enough, but when Seorin looked closely, she found something even stranger.
There was no sender, nor, for that matter, a recipient.
Just this was enough to be suspicious, and Seorin brought the mail into her house, throwing it on the table. She took a sip of water. As the cold water passed through her esophagus, the stinging sensation subsided, and her sanity returned.
Her attention then focused on the mysterious mail on the table again.
Without hesitation, she approached and tore it open.
Upon doing so, several photos fell from it into her hands.
“What is this…”
Seorin turned the photos over.
Then, she froze instantly.
It was a photo of Taehoon, affectionately embracing a woman.
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.”
