Although he didn’t want to admit it, Lee Seung Oh felt intimidated.
He had encountered Ryu Kyung Joon whenever he went up to the executive office, but he hadn’t thought much about him. All he knew about Kyung Joon was that he always had a blank expression and was polite to everyone.
“Why aren’t you answering? Aren’t you curious about how my phone ended up in her car and what kind of relationship I have with Yoon Seo Ha?”
“What, what’s with you? Why are you talking like that?”
“Put aside the way I’m talking.”
Kyung Joon grinned again, straightened his back, and put both his hands in his pockets.
“Instead, Mr. Lee Seung Oh. Let’s do business together.”
“Business…?”
“Yes. I am the son of the chairman of Taeyang Group.”
Seung Oh, who was staring blankly at Kyung Joon, burst into laughter soon after.
“Secretary Ryu, you’re more fun than I thought. Did you want to play a joke since there aren’t many days left to see each other?”
“My predecessor, Secretary Choi, didn’t come and go, did she?”
Kyung Joon asked, still smiling.
“She took a onetime payment of one billion won from my father on the condition that she would place me in this position and never approach again.”
Seung Oh’s expression hardened once more.
“Gang Daepyo here rejected the acquisition and merger proposed by my father without even properly listening to it. How angry do you think that prideful man was? So far, there hasn’t been a single company that Taeyang Group couldn’t acquire.”
“You’re writing a novel.”
“Yes. And now that novellike situation has come to you.”
Kyung Joon glanced at the curtain behind which Yoon Seo Ha was lying and continued his words.
“Let’s do it like this. You, as the acting CEO, will grow the company for now. Then, at an appropriate time, I’ll propose a merger and acquisition again through Taeyang Group. At that time, you’ll pretend to lose, stamp the approval, and then take the money or a highranking position in Taeyang Group. What do you think?”
“…”
Could his words be true?
Lee Seung Oh blinked, completely overwhelmed by Ryu Kyung Joon.
It was true that Taeyang Group had grown its business by absorbing smaller companies. It was also true that Kang Yoon Company was the only company that Taeyang Group couldn’t acquire, and that the chairman of Taeyang Group had the surname ‘Ryu’.
“What’s the basis for your claim?”
“Call Secretary Choi and ask her. If you still doubt me, call my father right now.”
Kyung Joon found the number labeled ‘Chairman Ryu’ on his phone and displayed it on the screen, as if ready to press the call button immediately. However, Seung Oh didn’t have the guts to speak directly with such a big shot.
“No, I got it!”
Seung Oh hastily waved his hand.
“Let’s say you’re right. But why do you want to do the merger and acquisition later, not now when the CEO has collapsed?”
“The CEO has collapsed. His only daughter is as good as dead. If the soninlaw sells the company in this situation, it’s fine for you, Seung Oh, to sell and run away, but who will take responsibility for the image of Taeyang Group that bought the company?”
Upon hearing it, the argument made perfect sense, and it was something that could be said from Taeyang Group’s perspective.
This was an opportunity.
An incredible fortune was right in front of him. Lee Seung Oh had to hold back his laughter, feeling his chest swell as if it were about to burst. Kyung Joon’s rudeness, which had initially been unpleasant, now felt like the composure and style of someone who had it all.
“Well, it doesn’t sound too bad after listening.”
He pretended to be nonchalant, but he didn’t realize that he was speaking politely again.
“What does Mr. Ryu Kyung Joon want while preparing for the merger and acquisition? You must have something you want too.”
“I don’t have much to ask for if the merger and acquisition can be successfully carried out at an appropriate time and under appropriate conditions.”
Kyung Joon smiled again.
“To ensure that the company continues to grow sincerely, I think it would be best for me to remain as the head of the secretariat, with a concurrent executive position.”
It was a simple condition that couldn’t even be considered a compromise. If Secretary Choi confirmed that his words were lies, there would be enough reason to dismiss him. But could there be a sweeter opportunity to exchange a headacheinducing company for cash and prestige?
“Ah, one more thing.”
Kyung Joon raised his index finger.
“Let’s keep this conversation between us. If it leaks, people might oppose the merger and acquisition and make things complicated.”
This, too, was an excellent condition.
“Agreed. I look forward to a successful merger and acquisition.”
“Same here.”
Lee Seung Oh reached out his hand, and Ryu Kyung Joon shook it once.
Three years had passed since Yoon Seo Ha’s tragic accident.
As planned, Seung Oh took on the title of acting CEO and managed the company. Lee Ji Soo became a team leader just three months after joining the company as a junior designer.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
