“Even if it’s a big hospital, if the problem can’t be solved at the Jeju University Hospital, eventually Mom will have to come to Seoul. So, considering the current situation, I made a judgment. It’s wise to close one store.”
And that standard had to be made objectively, unrelated to affection for the store.
In terms of affection, of course, it was the main branch in Jeju Island.
“If I have to choose between the two, I think it should be the Yeonnam branch. It’s not because I don’t have much affection for Jeju Island, but because the sales at the Yeonnam branch are about three times higher.”
“Right.”
“Besides, it might be more convenient for Mom to go to this hospital.”
“…Arin.”
Mrs. Seo’s voice trailed off at Arin’s words.
No one interfered with Arin’s decision.
Arin and Yoo-hyun came down to Jeju Island the next day.
Once the decision was made, things progressed quickly. The news of the Memorya main branch’s closure was announced through SNS. It was sudden, but the decision was to conclude business that week. Store rearrangement also began.
‘I thought my brother would oppose.’
Arin watched Yoo-hyun organizing the display shelves from across the room.
Arin thought Yoo-hyun would oppose going to Seoul.
‘Mother said Mr. Sangmu came.’
Ha-yeon came to Jeju Island, and Arin heard that Yoo-hyun and Na-ga didn’t return for a long time.
When Arin arrived in Jeju Island, it was after Ha-yeon had left for Seoul.
Arin didn’t ask Yoo-hyun about the conversation he had with Ha-yeon, and Yoo-hyun didn’t tell Arin about the events of that day.
‘Nothing unusual happened, so he probably won’t say anything, right?’
Arin shifted the gaze that had reached Yoo-hyun. And when Yoo-hyun’s gaze, which had met Arin’s, dropped as if he were lying, he looked at her strangely.
In Yoo-hyun’s trembling black pupils, a subtle emotion flickered.
A few days later.
A white-haired man abruptly barged into Jae-hyuk’s office.
“Director Kim, what’s the matter all of a sudden?”
The white-haired man gasped for breath, approaching him quickly.
At the sudden visit of the man who didn’t give a notice, Jae-hyuk’s expression froze coldly.
Jae-hyuk, who stood up abruptly, approached the man and asked.
Director Kim was the secretary director of Ban Ho-jun, Jae-hyuk’s father and the head of the VAN Group.
Chairman Ban withdrew from the front line of management due to worsening health caused by a chronic illness, and Director Kim naturally stepped back from the field following Chairman Ban.
However, Director Kim continued to assist Chairman Ban.
When Director Kim came without saying a word, Jae-hyuk was suddenly scared.
“Heuk, Vice Chairman. Even if you contacted me. Heuk. Why the contact.”
“I was in a meeting. If you had left a message, I would have contacted you immediately.”
“I contacted you. Didn’t you receive it?”
From early in the morning, external schedules and meetings continued without a break, and the only one who guarded Jae-hyuk’s office for the past month was his former secretary, who had been appointed to the vice chairman’s office.
‘I’m still not used to the work. Did I forget it now? It’s not important whether I forgot or not.’
Jae-hyuk asked, swallowing his dry spit.
“Did something happen to Father?”
Before Jae-hyuk’s question could finish, Director Kim grabbed his hand in a hurry.
“Ch-Chairman, Chairman woke up!”
“…”
“He woke up!”
Only now did the tears in Director Kim’s eyes register in Jae-hyuk’s eyes.
“Oh, Father woke up? Is, is that true?”
“Yes. That’s correct. Chairman regained consciousness. He recognized me right away and asked me to call Vice Chairman.”
“Haah.”
In disbelief, Jae-hyuk’s body twisted with uncontrollable joy.
Director Kim quickly supported Jae-hyuk.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you to see him.”
Director Kim’s voice trembled as if overflowing with emotion. Jae-hyuk’s heart swelled too.
No medical professional had given hopeful words about Chairman Ban.
He breathed but that was it.
They hoped for a miracle, but except for Jae-hyuk and Director Kim, no one genuinely hoped for a miracle.
There was no deep affection between Chairman Ban Ho-jun and Jae-hyuk.
However, Jae-hyuk’s feelings towards Chairman Ban changed as he witnessed the chairman overcoming the brink of death multiple times.
In the face of death, Jae-hyuk realized that Chairman Ban was his only father in the world. Therefore, Jae-hyuk’s feelings towards Chairman Ban were more tender than ever.
“I’ll go right away.”
Jae-hyuk couldn’t control the overwhelming emotions.
VVIP Sick Ward.
“Are you okay?”
Jae-hyuk rushed to the hospital after hearing that Chairman Ban Ho-jun had regained consciousness.
Before the touching meeting between the rich men took place, Jae-hyuk lost his words at Chairman Ban Ho-jun’s words.
“Bring Arin back.”
“What did you just say?”
It had been six years since Chairman Ban Ho-jun had spoken with his own voice.
Was it because of that? The voice that echoed through the air was like an echo, lacking strength.
However, to Jae-hyuk’s ears, it sounded more definite than any other sound.
“Father, Arin and I have separated.”
“So what?”
“So. We’ve already broken up. How can I bring Arin back?”
“…Bring her back.”
Chairman Ban Ho-jun held Jae-hyuk’s hand. There was strength in his bony, sharp hand.
“Father, please don’t force it.”
“Ban Jae-hyuk.”
“Do you know what you’re saying to me right now?”
“I know. I know very well.”
After Arin left home, Chairman Ban Ho-jun lost consciousness and collapsed not long after.
After emergency surgery, Chairman Ban, who stood at the crossroads of life and death, underwent several risky surgeries.
Was it due to the impact of repeated dangerous surgeries in his old age?
Chairman Ban’s body exhausted, and eventually, with the help of life-support devices, he continued his life.
Later, Chairman Ban called Director Kim, who was standing behind Jae-hyuk.
“Director Kim.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Bring Lawyer Choi. I’ll redo the will.”
“Father!”
The tender emotions towards Chairman Ban seemed to disappear in a moment.
Jae-hyuk felt as if Chairman Ban was begging for him to come. He couldn’t understand him at all.
“It’s my wish.”
“…”
“I have one regret in my life. That was letting your wife, Arin, go like that. At that time, I pushed away that child, pretending not to know her due to my greed. I shouldn’t have done that. I owed a repayment to the person who saved me, but I shouldn’t have repaid it like that.”
Chairman Ban Ho-jun shed tears.
Jae-hyuk found Chairman Ban Ho-jun’s actions extremely perplexing.
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
