Hye-suk answered hesitantly.
“Yes.”
“Do you receive a salary?”
“Yes, of course.”
“And the chef?”
“I also signed an employment contract and receive a salary.”
Yeoreum’s gaze turned to the butler.
“I, too, have a contract and receive a salary.”
Yeoreum asked the employees standing in the living room.
“Anyone here who doesn’t have an employment contract and doesn’t receive a salary, raise your hand?”
No employee raised their hand.
Yeoreum asked Ha-eun.
“But I don’t have such things. Why is that?”
“What?”
“The reason is simple. Because I am the granddaughter of Chairman Kang Ju-hwa.”
Ha-eun’s face contorted.
“Me being the granddaughter of Kang Ju-hwa and being called a maid or slave of this house doesn’t fit. I brought these shoes from Breueng to show goodwill to my great grand-aunt and great grand-uncle. This task isn’t a must-do for me. It’s a choice I have when I want, just a gesture of goodwill. Got it, Kang Ha-eun?”
Jeong-mi, flustered for a moment, quickly retorted.
“No matter how you twist your words, the fact that you’re a slave of this house doesn’t change! You are the daughter of Kim Se-jin, my brother’s enemy!”
“No. You are terribly mistaken. And covering up doesn’t turn truth into lies.”
“What?”
“I am indeed the daughter of Kim Se-jin, whom the chairman despises. But I’m also the daughter of Jung Jeong-hyeon, the only son of Chairman Kang Ju-hwa. I am Jung Jeong-hyeon’s only daughter.”
Jeong-mi and Ha-eun’s Adam’s apples bobbed.
No matter how much they denied it, that fact was undeniable.
“Quite a smooth talker.”
It was Sophia, who had been quiet.
She looked at Yeoreum and said.
“Jeong Yeoreum, legally you may be right, but the chairman doesn’t acknowledge you as his granddaughter. How indifferent must he be to not care if Jeong Yeoreum sleeps in the cold or to not let you sit at the family dining table.”
Jeong-mi and Ha-eun nodded vigorously as if to agree.
“Take down the video now. And apologize that it was all an edited video by Jeong Yeoreum, jealous of our young lady. If not, we won’t stay quiet.”
“What will you do if the aunt doesn’t stay quiet?”
Sophia immediately frowned.
She had a slender and beautiful figure that could pass as a maiden anywhere.
“You, really lacking in manners and vulgar? No matter how uneducated, how can someone be so vulgar?”
“My great grand-aunt says to call her ‘lady.’ Don’t misunderstand. It’s just how the family tree works, the family tree. And I have no desire to seek elegance in front of those who scorn me. If I’m nauseated, I’ll bite, tear, and swallow anyone, no matter who they are.”
“What did you say?”
“And why is the way you speak to the homeowner so senseless and vulgar?”
“What, homeowner?”
“Didn’t you know? This is my house, Bluehouse.”
“You really… are crazy? How is this your house?”
Finally, even the refined Sophia let out a curse.
Yeoreum spoke calmly.
“Shall I repeat the same repertoire? Kang Ju-hwa’s only son, Jung Jeong-hyeon; Jung Jeong-hyeon’s only daughter, Jeong Yeoreum. Isn’t it natural that I inherit Bluehouse?”
Everyone’s mouths dropped open.
Sophia, seemingly at a loss for words, finally gathered herself and spoke.
“You, are you waiting for the chairman to pass away? You’re really a terrifying girl.”
“Aunt, don’t overinterpret. It’s the law, the law. Even if I don’t like it, the law of South Korea calls me the heiress of PR.”
“You’re really materialistic, aren’t you?”
Yeoreum smirked.
“That’s you, aunt. How twisted must you feel to suddenly lose the wealth you thought you had to me, who appeared out of nowhere?”
“Who!”
“Really funny. Why are people who aren’t even family clinging to Chairman Kang Ju-hwa’s house?”
“Who said we’re not family! And our family has served the chairman for over 20 years!”
After a big laugh, Yeoreum said to the excited Sophia.
“Aunt, stop talking nonsense.”
“What, nonsense!”
“Mr. Butler.”
At Yeoreum’s call, Butler Park, who had been watching the situation, quickly stepped forward.
“Yes.”
“Has Song Jeong-mi’s family been paying living expenses while living in Bluehouse?”
Glancing at Jeong-mi and Sophia, the butler answered.
“No.”
“Then who pays for the living expenses of this large house?”
“It’s entirely paid by the chairman.”
“So, these house members haven’t paid a single penny for over twenty years, is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“Five mouths to feed, and they’ve been living off the chairman consistently for over 20 years?”
“Yes.”
Yeoreum looked at the three women and said.
“Did you hear that? You conscienceless people. You haven’t served Chairman Kang Ju-hwa. You just leached off his house like beggars.”
Sophia trembled with anger.
Just as she was about to argue again, Yeoreum caught the eye of Team Leader Yang.
“Team Leader Yang.”
“Ah, yes.”
Pushed by Yeoreum’s force, he answered.
“As a lawyer in the legal team, you know the contract between Chairman Kang Ju-hwa and me, right?”
“Yes.”
“Based on that contract, do Song Jeong-mi, Sophia, and Kang Ha-eun have the right to force me into slavery?”
Team Leader Yang, after a short breath, answered.
“There is no such clause in the contract. Especially, the three mentioned are not even parties to the contract. Also, according to Article 1, Clause 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, South Korea is a democratic republic. There is no slavery, and if someone practices it, they are the lawbreaker.”
The three women glared at Team Leader Yang.
“Since we’re on the subject, may I ask about the succession rights to Chairman Kang Ju-hwa’s estate? Could you tell me the order?”
After another short breath, he answered.
“The first is the son, Jung Jeong-hyeon, followed by Jung Jeong-hyeon’s legal spouse, Kim Se-jin, and granddaughter, Jeong Yeoreum.”
“What if Chairman Kang Ju-hwa decides to donate his entire estate to society because he dislikes seeing me and my daughter?”
“Even then, a claim for a reserved portion can be made.”
“Is there any chance for Chairman Kang Ju-hwa’s estate to fall into Song Jeong-mi’s family’s hands?”
“With a perfectly healthy mother-in-law and granddaughter as heirs, there’s no chance of that happening.”
At Team Leader Yang’s answer, spasms crossed the faces of the three women.
Yeoreum smiled smugly, satisfied.
“Mr. Butler.”
She called out more loudly.
“Yes!”
“I need to change my room.”
Everyone looked at Yeoreum, wondering what she meant.
“Empty Kang Ha-eun’s room of her belongings right away. I’ll be using it from now on.”
“You’re crazy? What are you removing now!”
Ha-eun shouted.
Ignoring her, Yeoreum continued with her next instruction.
“From now on, meals will be in the dining room. Please prepare it that way.”
“Understood.”
“…Mr. Butler! What are you saying right now!”
Jeong-mi, as if she had lost her mind for a moment, yelled out in horror.
Sophia also raised her voice.
“Jeong Yeoreum, don’t cross the line! You should know you’d be in trouble if the chairman finds out!”
Yeoreum took out shoes from the paper bag she had placed on the floor.
Seeing their own shoes ruined, the women were even more appalled.
But the shoes quickly flew towards the three women.
Surprised, they ducked down, screaming.
All the employees were shocked but watched the scene unfold.
Yeoreum, dusting off her palms, spoke to the three women, who had turned pale.
“Don’t mess around. And you especially, don’t cross the line. Got it?”
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
