Chapter 227
Chapter 227
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 227
Chapter Title: Hyun Tae-seong's Miscalculation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Ah, sorry. It was just so funny because you were moving exactly as expected."
Je Yun-jae said it with an exceedingly refined expression that didn't match the words. Due to the cognitive dissonance, Hyun Tae-seong blurted out a beat late, "What?"
But Je Yun-jae was already on to a different topic.
"Well, I've heard rumors like that are circulating... As you know, the baseless gossip floating around places like this isn't worth believing, right? I thought you'd realize that too, Hyun Tae-seong. What a shame."
Not a single curse word, yet it felt this humiliating.
How was this any different from saying, "After all your time in the business world, you don't even grasp this simple truth? You're a hopeless idiot not even worth recycling."
"Thanks for the concern, but isn't now the time to worry about others? I hear you don't even have a proper title at your company yet. When I was your age, I think I was diligently learning the ropes at an overseas branch..."
"Ugh."
Stabbed right in his sore spot, Hyun Tae-seong's face flushed red and then pale.
"You must have some spare time to look elsewhere."
The words came with a gentle smile, but they pierced like an awl. Hyun Tae-seong shot back in a surge of anger.
"I'm telling you, it's not true! Then what about The Song? I heard the president there is close to JC!"
According to what Director Hwang Tae-in had told him, The Song's president was receiving special favors from JC. He even seemed perfectly at ease using an upscale private club.
Unless he was JC's illegitimate son, how else could that be possible?
"Ah... The Song, you say."
Je Yun-jae responded as if he had some inkling.
'See? He's just denying it, but they know each other!'
He might act all high and mighty, but he had to be burning up inside. This was a major shake-up in JC's succession lineup.
For some reason, just thinking that way made Hyun Tae-seong feel a bit better. Reminding himself that even this seemingly perfect man had a weakness boosted his confidence.
So he boldly added one more line.
"Yeah! I heard the president there is a much younger woman. How's it feel to suddenly have a little sister? As someone who's been through it, I can tell you—it's not a pleasant feeling, right?"
Je Yun-jae looked at Hyun Tae-seong with an impassive expression. It was such low-level provocation that even responding felt like a waste of time.
He even wondered if he should humor such an obvious ploy.
Rather than rising to the bait, Je Yun-jae chose to point out the error in his words.
"That's strange. From what I know, the situation at Hyunmu is the opposite."
"What?"
"It's not that she gained a little sister out of nowhere—it's that she gained a big brother, isn't it?"
"......!"
Je Yun-jae tilted his head with an utterly unflappable face.
"I wonder how Ye-won is doing."
Ye-won.
He called Hyun Tae-seong "Mr. Hyun," but Hyun Ye-won got the familiar name without reservation.
This wasn't out of respect for Hyun Tae-seong. On the contrary, it was clearly drawing a line.
You're not part of Hyunmu's inner circle.
Grit.
Hyun Tae-seong ground his teeth. A thick wave of inferiority and alienation surged from his toes, making his head heat up in an instant.
"Hey. You really...!"
"Hey?"
Je Yun-jae raised an eyebrow as he looked at Hyun Tae-seong.
"'Hey' is informal."
You're using informal speech too. Instead of saying it, Hyun Tae-seong clamped his mouth shut.
He was cowed by Je Yun-jae's presence. He took a hesitant step back.
"Mr. Hyun, I get that you're very interested in JC matters, but please restrain yourself in front of others. As the host of this party, I can't have unnecessary rumors starting here."
Je Yun-jae said it with a smile as perfect as if it were drawn on.
"And abusing your power over employees... isn't that a bit outdated?"
His face seemed to suppress a sneer trying to break through as he kept stabbing at Hyun Tae-seong's sore spots.
I get that you want to constantly reaffirm your position by bullying others, but tone it down.
That's how it sounded to Hyun Tae-seong.
'The nerve. The nerve of him...! He hasn't even earned proper recognition domestically because he's been spinning his wheels at overseas branches.'
Sparks flew from Hyun Tae-seong's eyes.
'And me? I'm already half-openly treated like the successor by the domestic directors!'
So if one of them reached that lofty position first, Hyun Tae-seong was certain it would be him ahead of Je Yun-jae.
Bloodlines, whatever. No matter how much he strutted, the one who sat in the chairman's seat would be the winner.
Je Yun-jae or Hyun Ye-won. By then, they wouldn't be able to treat him like this.
'Just watch. In this closed, single-ethnic society, how much of an obstacle those blue eyes of yours will be.'
His long bangs seemed to stab at Je Yun-jae's eyes.
For someone as young as Je Yun-jae, that hairstyle with bangs only emphasized his immaturity, so it wasn't a good choice.
Yet Je Yun-jae always stuck to that hair, like someone who didn't want to show his eyes properly.
'And then a Korean illegitimate son shows up? It's like divine mischief.'
That existence had to feel like a thorn under his nail.
'Yeah. We're not that different, you and I. Both threatened for the successor spot because of a little sister. We're in the same boat.'
With that thought, Hyun Tae-seong figured it might be good to build a connection with Je Yun-jae using this situation.
What harm was there in putting one over on JC's haughty prince?
"I hope we don't have to get on each other's bad sides. Well then, enjoy the party."
As Je Yun-jae turned to leave, Hyun Tae-seong couldn't hold back and tossed out a line at his back.
"Shall I take care of The Song for you?"
"......"
"It must bother you. Officially, it's got no ties to you anyway, right? I have some personal business to settle with The Song too. If Hyunmu gets involved, a little mid-sized company like that would crumble in no time."
How about that?
When the response was slower than expected, Hyun Tae-seong went even further.
"How about crushing it so it can't climb up? Cut off their distribution channels to sever their limbs, then squeeze them step by step—they'd surrender quick from cash flow issues..."
"Hah."
He thought he was whispering sweet futures, but Je Yun-jae let out an incredulous scoff.
'What?'
Caught off guard by the unexpected reaction, Hyun Tae-seong froze stiff.
'He should be welcoming it with open arms. What's he doing?'
Je Yun-jae ran a hand through his hair with a deep sigh, then shot Hyun Tae-seong a glare.
"Don't do anything stupid."
Informal speech again.
Hyun Tae-seong only noted it inwardly, not daring to voice it.
"Hyung, come on. Don't scare me like that."
Hyun Tae-seong tried to lighten the mood.
"Got it. I won't touch them. I was just trying to help you out..."
"I hate it when people touch my toys."
Toys?
Not a rival, but a toy? As Hyun Tae-seong mulled over the word, Je Yun-jae checked his watch and turned back around.
"Enjoy the party. And don't even think about doing anything stupid."
His smiling face felt chilling somehow. As Hyun Tae-seong nodded, Je Yun-jae strode out.
Click.
The door shut, leaving him alone, and the tension drained away.
"Whew."
Hyun Tae-seong wiped the cold sweat from the back of his neck with his palm and sank back into thought.
'A toy?'
JC's backing, his unnatural familiarity with the private club, Je Yun-jae's reaction...
"Wait a minute."
Why hadn't he thought of this?
Yeah. Illegitimate son? He was way off base.
"...His lover? Je Yun-jae's?"
That clicked all the puzzle pieces into place. The closeness with JC, the private club, even Je Yun-jae's reaction.
"Haha. Well, look at that?"
They say even a gentle cat climbs the stove first. He'd thought Je Yun-jae was the model student steadily going through successor training. Turns out he was stealing family heirlooms to lavish on his lover.
Even the great Je Yun-jae turns into a fool for love, huh?
"Pfft."
Just imagining it was hilarious.
"Yeah. There are plenty of beauties to get tired of. Sometimes you crave a different type."
Why, they say Cleopatra wasn't some stunning beauty but more of a shrewd woman.
It wasn't incomprehensible to be drawn more to someone you could discuss business with than just a pretty face. Not Hyun Tae-seong's taste, but still.
"No. Wait. ...What if I stole her?"
If he snatched away the lover Je Yun-jae cherished so dearly, what could be more entertaining?
'Yeah. Why didn't I think of that? Seducing The Song's president would make absorbing The Song into Hyunmu a breeze. That'd be a solid hit on Hyun Ye-won too.'
Eureka!
Hyun Tae-seong felt like dancing in place.
"Heh heh. Heh heh heh..."
Hyun Tae-seong chuckled lowly and straightened his clothes in front of the wall mirror.
He didn't know The Song president's type, but he'd never failed to seduce someone he set his sights on.
Confidence filled his lungs, and his shoulders squared naturally.
"See you soon."
Hyun Tae-seong whispered to his reflection.
"Babe."
Shiver!
'Weird. Why the sudden chills...?'
I rubbed my arms and tilted my head. The spring sun was warming things up nicely—it wasn't cold weather.
"Are you cold? Shall I get you a coat?"
Hyun Ye-won asked with sparkling eyes from beside me. I shook my head.
"I'm fine. Just a momentary thing."
"Yep!"
"Well then, shall we head in?"
I checked the time and stood up.
"It's time to discuss Hapjae Gukbap's first price increase."