The Heiress in Blue (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9
“Are you all right?”
Chief Secretary Ahn, sitting in the passenger seat, asked Yeoreum, who was in the back seat.
Her bangs were damp, and though her face was plump, it glowed with a pale radiance.
She must have washed her face to wipe away her tears.
“I’m fine.”
Yeoreum answered, gazing out the window as dusk began to settle outside.
“When Young Master Jeong Hyun arrives at the hospital, I’ll let you know. Please don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
“And, Miss—I know it’s presumptuous of me, but let me offer one piece of advice.”
At those words, Yeoreum turned to look at Chief Secretary Ahn.
“Please don’t provoke Chairwoman Kang any further. I say this out of concern for you. The Chairwoman never forgives anyone who defies her. She’s a frightening person. So, please stay quiet.”
“I’d like that too.”
At her indifferent reply, Chief Secretary Ahn said nothing more.
Meanwhile, the luxury sedan turned into a narrow alley.
At the entrance stood a guard booth-like building, with people standing watch.
The long, wide alley was completely empty—no one else was passing by.
The car sped through and entered a private estate.
Because the property was so vast, even after passing through the main gate, it took a considerable time to reach the house.
“Please get out.”
Chief Secretary Ahn, who had stepped out first, opened the rear door for her.
After giving him a brief word of thanks, Yeoreum looked up at the building before her.
The beautiful two-story structure, softly illuminated from within, resembled a palace more than a house.
“Please come in.”
Chief Secretary Ahn led the way, and Yeoreum followed closely behind.
An middle-aged woman waiting at the front entrance bowed deeply to Yeoreum.
“Welcome. I’m the head housekeeper. Please call me Butler Park.”
Though she appeared to be in her fifties, she had an elegant appearance and a calm voice.
Yeoreum returned her respectful bow.
Soon, she followed the housekeeper inside.
Everything was lavish yet refined.
Yeoreum walked down a long corridor and entered further in.
She arrived at a living room that resembled a palace hall.
Ju Hwa sat in the prime seat on the massive golden sofa, flanked by people Yeoreum had seen earlier at the hospital.
Behind them stood men and women dressed neatly in white shirts with black skirts or trousers, standing perfectly straight.
There were easily twenty of them—clearly household staff.
“Chairwoman, the young lady has arrived.”
At the housekeeper’s signal, Yeoreum stepped forward toward Ju Hwa.
She was sipping tea.
Those seated beside her looked surprised by Yeoreum’s sudden appearance.
Among them was Ha Eun.
“You…”
Ha Eun stared at Yeoreum in utter disbelief and started to rise from her seat.
Yeoreum herself was just as stunned.
She never expected to meet her relative here, of all places.
“Why?”
The woman in her fifties sitting beside her asked softly, and Ha Eun sat back down.
“Nothing.”
Ha Eun closed her mouth tightly.
Butler Park spoke to Yeoreum, who stood awkwardly still.
“Miss, please have a seat.”
As Yeoreum moved toward the sofa, Ju Hwa spoke up.
“Who told you to sit?”
Yeoreum froze mid-step.
“Who gave you permission to sit casually in my house?”
For a brief moment, tension filled the air—then Jeong Mi and Ha Eun snickered softly.
“You think you’re going to sit on my sofa looking like that?”
Compared to Yeoreum in her jeans and puffer jacket, everyone on the sofa was dressed elegantly.
Ju Hwa, especially, wore a flowing white lace dress that exuded an imperious aura, making her seem like the queen of white lilies.
To the flustered Butler Park, Yeoreum instead spoke calmly.
“It’s fine.”
She gave a small, wry smile.
Yet Yeoreum could see the staff around her shifting uneasily again.
Trying to defuse the awkwardness, Butler Park cleared her throat and resumed.
“Miss, allow me to briefly introduce the people gathered here. This is CEO Kang Gi Taek, the Chairwoman’s younger brother—and your great-great-uncle by blood.”
The slightly lean middle-aged man offered Yeoreum a gentle smile.
“Welcome. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Oh… okay.”
“This lady beside him is his wife, Madam Song Jeong Mi—your great-great-aunt by blood.”
The woman, with her ample figure, looked down at Yeoreum with arrogance.
Yeoreum had seen her clearly enough at the hospital—her expression was filled with disdain and open contempt.
“These are their son, daughter-in-law, and daughter—your great-great-uncle, great-great-aunt, and great-great-aunt by blood, respectively.”
Yeoreum spoke up.
“That’s… really confusing. So in short, they’re Chairman Kang Ju Hwa’s younger brother’s family, right?”
Though she feigned confusion, the woman quickly replied,
“Yes.”
“So I’m, what, fourth or fifth cousin to you?”
“Yes.”
“Got it. Now it finally makes sense.”
At that moment, Ju Hwa set her teacup down on the table and spoke.
“You start at your new school tomorrow, isn’t that right? Gam San High School, was it?”
“That’s correct.”
“You waited over a year after passing the teacher certification exam until your appointment came through, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I canceled it. To be precise, I called and submitted your resignation on your behalf. Consider it done.”
“…What did you say?”
Ju Hwa smiled faintly as she spoke.
“You’re going to live here for the next twenty years—how could you possibly carry on teaching in Busan? Isn’t that obvious?”
“But still—you should’ve explained the situation to the school and arranged my resignation properly! Do you have any idea how hard I worked to pass that exam?”
Ju Hwa replied coolly,
“Your efforts are none of my concern.”
Jeong Mi and Ha Eun snickered again.
Even the son and daughter-in-law seated across from them covered their refined faces with their hands,
clearly trying to suppress their laughter.
“What, are you angry?”
Ju Hwa stood from the sofa.
She walked straight up to Yeoreum.
“Of course I am! Wouldn’t you be angry if you were me?”
“But it can’t be helped. Those twenty years of yours belong to me now.”
While Yeoreum fumed, Ju Hwa gave her a light smile.
Yeoreum could again feel the staff around her shifting uneasily.
“Hand over your phone.”
Ju Hwa commanded.
Furious but helpless, Yeoreum dug into her pocket and pulled out her phone.
“Did you delete your mother’s number like you promised?”
“I keep my promises! I was just about to—!”
In that instant, Yeoreum’s phone flew through the air and plunged into a nearby ornate fountain.
Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.
Yeoreum stared straight at Ju Hwa standing before her.
“I prefer certainty. Remember that.”
With that mocking remark, Ju Hwa turned on her heel.
Everyone seated on the sofa immediately rose to their feet.
The row of staff members did the same.
All of them bowed respectfully as she strode quickly inside.
‘…A queen.’
Kang Ju Hwa ruled not only PR Group but also this house as its absolute sovereign.
That truth was crystal clear in Yeoreum’s eyes.
And it was equally clear that, as someone utterly dismissed by Ju Hwa, her life here would be difficult.
The so-called relatives on the sofa and the surrounding staff had instantly changed their expressions to ones of open disdain toward her.
Gi Taek gave Yeoreum an awkward smile before quickly following Ju Hwa inside.
The moment he left, Gi Taek’s family, no longer restrained by Ju Hwa’s presence, crossed their legs haughtily and scrutinized Yeoreum from head to toe as if she were a monkey in a zoo.
Ha Eun’s face was alight with amusement.
Though utterly infuriated, Yeoreum had no retort.
Ju Hwa had simply walked away without a word, and standing alone in the center of this unfamiliar living room made it even worse.
Then Jeong Mi—the woman introduced as her great-great-aunt—spoke to Yeoreum.
“You don’t need to fuss with formal titles like ‘grandmother.’ From now on, just call my husband ‘CEO,’ my son ‘Executive Vice President,’ and me ‘Senior Madam.’ That’s all.”
“What did you say?”
“Why the serious face? I’m doing you a favor by letting you use casual terms. My daughter-in-law Sofia is ‘Junior Madam,’ and my daughter Ha Eun is ‘Miss.’ Understood?”
She forced her plump legs into an unnatural cross as she spoke to Yeoreum.
“Oh, and remember—you’re nothing more and nothing less than the daughter of Kim Se Jin, the Chairwoman’s sworn enemy. So from now on, live like a mouse in silence. Got it?”
Though many people were present, not a single one dared object.
Having said her piece, she stood from the sofa.
“Oh, and Chief Secretary Pyo.”
At her call, a stern-looking woman in her late forties promptly replied,
“Yes, Senior Madam.”
“Give this girl the room at the far west end.”
“Understood.”
The woman’s cold eyes fixed on Yeoreum.
“And everyone listen carefully.”
Jeong Mi addressed the staff lining the room.
“Let me say this again—this girl is the daughter of Kim Se Jin, the Chairwoman’s enemy. She is simply ‘Jeong Yeoreum’ and nothing more. Furthermore, all matters concerning her are hereby delegated to Chief Secretary Pyo. Keep that in mind and behave accordingly—don’t risk the Chairwoman’s wrath and get yourselves thrown out.”
The staff replied in unison with a bow.
“Yes.”
Seemingly satisfied, Jeong Mi walked inside with her family.
*
“Here it is.”
Chief Secretary Pyo, who had shown Yeoreum to her room, spoke in a cold tone.
“They have rooms like this in such a grand house?”
The room felt like an old motel—just a wardrobe-closet combo, a low desk, and a coat hanger.
It was even worn out.
The only silver linings were the bathroom right next door and the large window.
“This used to be the maids’ quarters.”
“So you mean it’s currently unused?”
“Yes. Also, the boiler is broken—it’ll take a few days to repair.”
“A few days?”
“That’s correct.”
Her confident expression seemed to say, “What’s the problem?” as she faced Yeoreum.
Just then, Chief Secretary Pyo’s phone rang.
“Yes, Senior Madam.”
After taking Jeong Mi’s call, she left abruptly as if her duty was complete.
“What is this, Cinderella?”
Yeoreum muttered, scanning the frigid room once more.
Then came a knock at the door.
Chief Secretary Ahn entered, carrying large bags in both hands.
“What’s all that?”
“I gathered some clothes and essentials. You left in such a hurry.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. And this.”
He handed her a brand-new smartphone and a note with the household members’ contact numbers.
“Did you buy this yourself, Chief Secretary?”
“Yes.”
“Am I really allowed to accept this?”
“Don’t worry. I didn’t install anything suspicious.”
Yeoreum smiled and asked,
“What do you mean, ‘suspicious’?”
He gave an embarrassed chuckle.
“I’m truly sorry. You shouldn’t have to stay in a place like this…”
“It’s fine. And thank you—I’ll really put this to good use.”
“Then please rest.”
He bowed deeply with an apologetic expression and left.
With no chair in sight, Yeoreum sat directly on the bare floor.
‘My princess, you must never sit directly on the floor.’
A sudden wave of sorrow overwhelmed her.
She remembered her father’s face—always placing a handkerchief down for her to sit on.
Tears welled up again, but she clenched her fists and wiped them away firmly.
She tried to calm herself, but the heaviness wouldn’t lift.
She desperately wanted to talk to someone about this absurd situation.
But as she looked down at her phone, her face fell.
She had never bothered to memorize her friends’ numbers—just kept tapping the call button.
“You damn old hag.”
She held the phone but couldn’t call anyone.
With no other choice, she decided to take a shower first and unzipped the bag she’d brought.
“Huh?”
Inside a zippered pouch was a squashed cake.
Yeoreum immediately thought of Sanha.
And with that, his phone number came to mind too.
She quickly pulled out the new phone and typed a message:
「Are you doing well? You might not remember me—I’m Jeong Yeoreum. Hot Summer! I really enjoyed the cake you gave me. Next time we meet, I’ll treat you to a meal.」
She waited hopefully—but no reply came.
Her energy sank even lower.
As she sat dazed against the wall, a short notification sound suddenly chimed.
She grabbed the phone instantly.
「Didn’t I tell you not to call?」
The grumpy message was unmistakably from him.
Yeoreum suppressed an urge to cheer and typed back:
「Didn’t you say you’d change your number?」
This time, his reply came swiftly:
「Too lazy, so I’ll just keep using this one. But you, Kkachi—you changed yours, didn’t you?」
「It just sort of happened. Um… would it be okay if I texted you sometimes?」
「No. Don’t.」
「Just occasionally! Right now, you’re the only person I know in Seoul.」
「I don’t even live in Seoul.」
「Don’t lie. When I called the resort to report you as a violent offender, they refused to give me your contact, saying it was “confidential.” But they definitely called you a “Seoul guest.”」
After a brief silence, another short buzz sounded.
「Once a day. Not more than that.」
Though his reply was curt, Yeoreum was overjoyed.
「Yes! I promise!」
Feeling as if a weight had lifted, she lowered the phone—only for another short chime to sound.
A mobile gift card had arrived—enough for a burger, cola, and even expensive fruit.
「Congratulations on entering Seoul. Don’t reply—it’s annoying.」
Yeoreum couldn’t hold back a cheer this time.
She quickly saved his name in her contacts:
「Real Nice Tiger!」
Smiling fondly at the name, she walked over to the window.
So this was it—unexpectedly torn from her family.
And now, Cinderella.
But soon, she clenched both fists tightly.
“Fine. Let’s see who really wins in the end.”
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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