“…The investigation shows that the events of that month were managed separately.”
“Hmm.”
“From what we’ve observed so far, it seems to be an internal matter rather than external. If we tamper with that part carelessly, we risk exposing ourselves too easily, so we haven’t approached it yet.”
Yoonho, with his chin propped on his hand, gazed with a cold look. His meticulous nature disliked such incomplete reports, but his frown deepened at the continuation of the secretary’s explanation.
“Most notably, except for one person, all the individuals involved have become untraceable.”
“All of them?”
Yoonho inquired, carefully revisiting the secretary’s words. Chairman Yoon Myeong-gil had fortified his Daechi-dong mansion as an impregnable fortress, keeping it strictly closed to outsiders. Hence, the servants employed there were all meticulously selected. Given such careful hiring, it was common for them to work there for a long time.
“Yes. All the staff at the Daechi-dong mansion were replaced around November last year, but we’ve been unable to trace their whereabouts since then.”
“Can’t find them,” he mused, a situation not aligning with Chairman Yoon’s usual modus operandi. Yoonho’s voice stretched out in the silence.
“Then who is that one person?”
At Yoonho’s query, the secretary looked uneasy before answering.
“Dr. Moon Hanseok.”
“Ah, that person.”
At the secretary’s response, Yoonho furrowed his brow before speaking again.
“Leave that person be for now, and just organize what you’ve found. Continue searching for the rest.”
“Understood.”
The secretary, bowing respectfully, placed the documents he had brought into the office onto Yoonho’s desk.
“I’ve compiled the other matter you mentioned here.”
“Now, you may leave.”
With a clear dismissal, Yoonho, left alone, examined the papers the secretary had just brought and the ones he had been looking at earlier. The rustling of papers filled the office.
“…”
The first document was about Haeyeon’s activities. It was the result of the instruction he had given to his secretary the day Haeyeon first asked him for help.
In contrast, the document just given by the secretary was about the order he had placed after dining with Haeyeon last weekend. It was about Lee Sulin’s activities, which Yoonho scrutinized closely.
“Ah…”
Deep lines formed on Yoonho’s forehead as he reviewed the second document. The content was enough to clearly understand Sulin’s intentions, leading him to sigh deeply.
“Still not giving up…”
Yoonho knew about his sister Sulin’s feelings for his friend Do Ha, probably the only person unaware of it being Do Ha himself.
‘Or did he know and acted that way?’
It was a meaningless thought. Regardless, Sulin’s unrequited love, or rather, her obsession with Do Ha, seemed not to be a major issue. She was too busy competing with him to have the leisure to harm Do Ha.
Yoonho surmised that if Lee Sulin confessed her feelings to Do Ha, she would undoubtedly be rejected, and thus the matter would resolve itself. Given Sulin’s immense pride, it seemed unlikely she would cling to Do Ha.
Years ago, when Do Ha suddenly announced his marriage, Sulin had gone to study in the UK, seemingly giving up on Do Ha. Or so it had appeared.
“Whether she came back to Korea because of Do Ha or because her suppressed feelings exploded, I wonder.”
Yoonho spoke with a harshness unusual for family talk. To him, Sulin was no longer family, and the sentiment was probably mutual.
They had always been in conflict, so Yoonho was confident he understood Sulin best. But this development was unexpected.
“Whatever the case, debts must be repaid.”
Yoonho muttered, preparing himself to get back to work.
[Star icons]“Executive Director Seol Ju-A, can we talk?”
Haeyeon approached Ju-A after lunch in the company cafeteria. Her mouth was still fresh from the bibimbap she had for lunch, following the taste test that left her palate dry.
Seeing Ju-A for the first time since joining the company, Haeyeon quickly approached her, avoiding the gaze of others.
“Hey, hey.”
Ju-A, sensing Haeyeon’s strange authority, nodded slightly in response.
Haeyeon, just a new employee, and Ju-A, an executive director and the chairman’s child, had to be mindful of other employees’ eyes even while moving.
“Ju-A, why didn’t you tell me your brother is the head of my department? I mean, I’m okay, but the team leader was just as surprised.”
“Uh, surprise?”
Ju-A’s nonchalant and immature response left Haeyeon speechless. She was about to say more but lost her will to argue, seeing Ju-A’s smiling face.
Still, Haeyeon didn’t forget to caution her for the future.
“You need to tell me these things in advance.”
“Okay, Haeyeon.”
Ju-A agreed, eyeing Haeyeon carefully as she appeased her. Haeyeon eventually smiled, dissolving the last bit of her irritation.
“How’s the job? Is it manageable?”
Typical small talk. Haeyeon answered Ju-A’s query.
“Yeah, it’s manageable.”
“And Seol Yujun? Is he not bothering you?”
Ju-A’s question revealed a lack of trust in her brother, making Haeyeon chuckle at the memory of Ju-A calling him the ‘Grim Reaper’. How had she never let on about her disliking her brother?
“He treats me well, like a regular newbie.”
Ju-A frowned quickly at the response, but knowing it was the best possible outcome, she didn’t press further.
Haeyeon and Ju-A enjoyed a rare, heartwarming conversation. As lunchtime ended, they wrapped up their chat.
“Just a moment. Haeyeon, are you free tomorrow evening?”
Haeyeon sighed.
“I’m not sure, I have plans.”
“Really?”
Surprised by Haeyeon, who typically didn’t go out much, Ju-A sighed. Haeyeon felt the same regret.
“I’ll treat you to dinner another time.”
“Don’t forget.”
Ju-A pouted. Haeyeon felt sorry but couldn’t help it. Tomorrow was the day she had been eagerly awaiting.
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.”
