Chapter 4: Behind the Courteous Smile

Joyoon’s lips twitched.

It felt like his stomach would turn if he spoke the words the old man wanted to hear.

“Because you are the Chairman.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?”

“What else could it mean? You must remain healthy as the sturdy pillar of Seojeon.”

‘At the very least, you must stay alive to see me take your seat and tear Seojeon into pieces. Only then would it be fair.’

“You insolent boy. Your lies are only growing.”

“How could I possibly lie? Especially in your presence.”

A hint of a smile crept into Joyoon’s voice.

“Weren’t you the one wishing for my life to end any moment now?”

It was almost pitiful to see Chairman Ki searching for the truth.

Joyoon was not a simple opponent who would reveal his heart so easily, yet the Chairman constantly tested him.

“Think whatever you like, Chairman. You wouldn’t believe me no matter what I said.”

Chairman Ki curled his fingertips over the armrest of his chair.

Even at an age where he had fewer days left than those he had lived, his first grandson, Joyoon, still refused to bend to his will. That was a constant source of regret.

“Fine. Let’s leave that aside. Why were you so rude at the blind date yesterday?”

Rude? Joyoon’s lips twitched again before he regained control.

He didn’t want to show even a flicker of emotion in front of the Chairman.

“Why did you send me out without telling me it was a blind date, Chairman?”

Chairman Ki had sent Joyoon to the hotel under the guise of meeting an important guest.

Upon realizing the ‘guest’ was a potential marriage partner, Joyoon had been furious with himself for being fooled.

He had simply chosen to leave rather than waste more of the woman’s time.

Of course, he had done so politely, kindly explaining to her that an urgent matter had arisen and he had to go.

“Would you have gone if I told you it was a blind date?”

“I might have.”

“Hah! You?”

The Chairman directed a sharp, mocking laugh at Joyoon.

“Why must you be so obvious about your lack of trust? It hurts your grandson’s feelings.”

Contrary to his words, Joyoon’s expression was utterly indifferent.

He looked as peaceful as if he were wondering why they were wasting their breath arguing over right and wrong.

“Is that so?”

Chairman Ki clenched his fist as if seizing an opportunity.

“From now on, make sure to go on a blind date once every week.”

“Are there really that many candidates who meet your standards? That’s quite surprising.”

Joyoon’s languid monologue pricked the Chairman’s heart.

Joyoon always managed to drag up the guilt the Chairman had kept hidden deep inside all his life.

“Why, you…!”

The Chairman tried to act unbothered, but his trembling inner thoughts weren’t as hidden as he hoped.

“Or perhaps, Chairman, your heart has grown much more generous after stepping foot onto death’s doorstep?”

For a fleeting second, Joyoon’s eyes flashed fiercely at the Chairman before subsiding.

Since collapsing from a brain hemorrhage three years ago, the Chairman had become blindly obsessed with youth and health.

Even at nearly eighty, he insisted on keeping his hair jet black, wanting to flaunt that he was still in his prime.

“You certainly have a way with words.”

“You flatter me. I still can’t even follow in your footsteps.”

Joyoon smiled brightly.

Unlike his thorned words, his wide smile looked almost gentle. It was enough to leave the Chairman speechless.

He looked so much like the grandson who used to play in his arms as a child that the Chairman felt a pang of nostalgia.

A child in one’s arms… perhaps a grandson in one’s arms.

Watching the grandson who did nothing but rebel as he grew older left a bitter taste in his mouth.

The Chairman wanted to snap back, but he forced his bitter mouth shut.

He knew well enough that he couldn’t win a verbal battle against his grandson. He didn’t want to drain his energy with an argument so early in the morning.

“You may go.”

Joyoon stood up the moment the words left the Chairman’s mouth.

“Do you still hate me that much?”

The Chairman’s words flew at the back of Joyoon’s head as he headed for the door.

Perhaps unable to ask face-to-face, the Chairman remained seated, staring only at the dining table.

“Even if you hate me, you were the one who came to see me at the crack of dawn.”

“……”

“In the end, it means you still need me.”

At those undeniable words, Joyoon simply curled his hands into fists.

There were still many steps to climb to reach the summit of Seojeon, and to stand at that peak, he certainly needed the Chairman’s solid support.

“You’ve likely already heard, but I’ve set up a dedicated team for you.”

The Chairman shifted slightly in his chair and muttered toward Joyoon.

“Do you really think I’ll start showing up at the office because of that?”

It was Chairman Ki who had moved Joyoon from his stable position as Executive Vice President of Seojeon Trading to the CEO of Seojeon Department Store.

It was unwelcome news for Joyoon, who had expected to head Seojeon Electronics, the heart of the group.

The fact that he had to take a detour to reach Seojeon Electronics irritated him.

In protest, he made a point of not showing up for work.

He only went to the office when there were mandatory meetings or important guests; otherwise, he handled his business from his private residence.

“The office? Hah, am I not also in a position where I receive reports here?”

After recovering his health, the Chairman handled all business at his home, Seoanjae.

Fearing another collapse, he had moved his entire office to the estate.

“I am trying to give you wings.”

The Strategic Planning Team was a small, elite group—the only department in the group that moved solely for Chairman Ki.

Giving Joyoon his own version of such a team was indeed giving him wings.

“Do as you wish. The dedicated team will back you up.”

“And why should I do that?”

“Am I not setting the stage for you? Show me exactly how far your abilities go.”

You’ll regret it. Because you’ll be the first to watch yourself fall.

“In that case, thank you.”

Hiding his true thoughts, the corners of Joyoon’s lips curved up smoothly.

****

Saturday morning, shortly before 6 AM.

Euman-daek, who was preparing breakfast, spoke warmly as she saw Jiheum enter the kitchen.

“You’re down early.”

“I just… woke up early.”

Jiheum gave a small smile and headed for the refrigerator.

In truth, she hadn’t slept a wink. After washing up, the memories of the night before kept clouding her mind.

“You came home at dawn, didn’t you?”

Euman-daek smiled slyly at Jiheum, who was drinking bottled water, as if she had caught her in something.

Jiheum nearly choked on her water.

It felt as though everyone in the house knew about her rebellion. It was humiliating.

“Ah, that…”

Having a roommate in the room next door isn’t great at times like this.

Jiheum and Euman-daek, the live-in helper, stayed on the second floor, which was divided into zones.

The spacious area of the second floor belonged to Jiyoon, while Jiheum and Euman-daek each had a room and bathroom in a secluded corner down a hallway.

“I had a lot of work.”

“Really? You didn’t look like you were dressed for work…”

Euman-daek turned away, her head tilted in doubt.

As Jiheum put her glass in the sink and turned to leave, Euman-daek called out to her.

“Since you’re down here, help me clean these bean sprouts. There’s so much to prepare for breakfast, and I’m getting anxious trying to do it all alone.”

Euman-daek handed her a tray with a basket of bean sprouts and an empty bowl.

When Jiheum just stood there blankly, Euman-daek placed it on the kitchen island and gestured with her eyes, as if asking why she was still standing there instead of helping.

Jiheum had no choice but to wash her hands and sit down to snap the heads off the bean sprouts.

It was better to just do it than to argue about why she had to and end up in a confrontation.

Everyone in this house knew she was essentially a transparent human being. Euman-daek was simply using that fact to her advantage.

The cleaned sprouts were slowly piling up in the bowl.

“Ma’am. I need some ice water.”

Jiyoon’s voice arrived before she did.

Euman-daek, who had been slicing green onions, hurried to wipe her hands on her apron. She tapped Jiheum on the shoulder before rushing to the refrigerator.

Euman-daek was flustered by Jiyoon’s early appearance, as she usually wouldn’t be down yet.

Jiheum also stopped what she was doing and stood up quickly.

“Miss, you’re up early,” Euman-daek greeted her as she poured the water.

But Jiyoon ignored her and stared sharply at Jiheum instead.

“Hey. Why are you getting up from there?”

Jiyoon’s gaze darted between the bean sprouts and Jiheum before moving to Euman-daek, who was putting ice in a cup.

“Ma’am. Did you hire her? Why is she the one snapping the heads off bean sprouts?”

“Miss, it’s not like that…”

Euman-daek stammered and glanced at Jiheum. Her eyes were pleading with her to make an excuse.

“I offered to help.”

“It’s true, Miss. Miss Jiheum said she was bored and offered to help. I told her not to, but she insisted.”

Euman-daek bowed slightly as she handed over the glass of ice water.

Jiyoon took the glass, smirked, and poured the water directly onto Euman-daek’s hand.