Chapter 236
Chapter 236
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 236
Chapter Title: Persistent Shadow
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"No. A stranger."
I answered as I approached Baek Jae-ha's car. I had no idea what Hyun Tae-seong was thinking, showing up here like this. And honestly, I didn't care to know.
I just hoped he'd stop causing a scene in front of the company and leave quickly.
"Wait a minute, Woo-yeon!"
Hyun Tae-seong hurried out of his car. He glanced back and forth between me and Baek Jae-ha, then let out a smirk.
...?
Whatever he meant by it, it wasn't amusing.
Hyun Tae-seong leaned against the hood of Baek Jae-ha's car, resting his hand on it. Before I could even ask what the hell he was doing, he spoke first.
"Looks like you have an accessory tagging along."
"Pardon?"
"I get it. For people like us, it's nothing unusual, right? I actually like that you're open-minded enough to understand."
I couldn't fathom what misunderstanding he had. His words were so absurd that I wondered if I'd heard him right.
"What are you even talking about?"
"But an accessory should make its owner look good, don't you think? In that sense, maybe this one needs a car brand upgrade."
*Tap tap.* Hyun Tae-seong drummed his fingers on the logo of the domestic car brand.
*Creak.*
"Hey. What do you think you're doing, leaning on someone else's car like that?"
Baek Jae-ha stepped out, his face twisting in irritation. Hyun Tae-seong straightened up, but Baek Jae-ha was at least two hands taller.
Hyun Tae-seong had no choice but to look up at him. He hesitated for a moment, but quickly reverted to his brazen attitude.
"You'll need to teach him to know his place."
Hyun Tae-seong jabbed a finger into Baek Jae-ha's chest.
"Seeing him try to measure up to me."
...
"Sis."
Baek Jae-ha glanced at me, murmuring lowly. It was like he was asking for permission to step in.
His clenched fist sent a wave of alarm through me.
Worried Baek Jae-ha might get tangled up in this, I positioned myself between them.
"Mr. Hyun Tae-seong. I don't know what possessed you to show up out of nowhere like this, but it's incredibly rude."
*Step back.*
I gave Baek Jae-ha a slight push with my back to convey that. If things turned violent, it would be the end for him.
Hyun Jeong-hoo wouldn't just let his one and only heir get beaten up on the street without retaliation.
Baek Jae-ha would face not just assault charges but relentless harassment and payback.
And right now, I didn't have the power to shield him from Hyunmu.
"I have plans for dinner, so I can't join you today. And showing up unannounced at my company like this? It's uncomfortable and unpleasant. Don't let it happen again."
I'd made my refusal crystal clear, but Hyun Tae-seong acted like it went in one ear and out the other.
"Come on, Woo-yeon. You got the flowers, right? I told them to send the most expensive ones."
"Mr. Hyun Tae-seong."
"You must prefer jewels over flowers? That's fine too. I'll get you a beautiful necklace to adorn that bare neck of yours."
...
"Mr. Hyun Tae-seong."
I called his name once more. Finally, he pretended to listen.
Staring straight into his eyes, I spoke as slowly and clearly as possible.
"Please leave."
...
"Right now."
A crack appeared in Hyun Tae-seong's smiling facade. He finally seemed to realize I meant it.
What had he thought of all my previous rejections? Just politeness? Playing coy?
Whatever it was, I was tired and fed up now.
"...For real? Woo-yeon. Between a guy with nothing but a decent frame and the heir to Hyunmu, you're choosing him?"
Hyun Tae-seong scoffed in disbelief.
"It's simple math even a child could do. You're really making this foolish choice?"
"Yes. That's right."
"Ha!"
Hyun Tae-seong snorted loudly for us to hear, then blatantly sized Baek Jae-ha up and down.
"Now I get it. That's why you ignored all my advances. This kid must be skilled, huh?"
"What did you say?"
"What did you say?"
What filthy misunderstanding was he harboring this whole time? My stomach churned, and my fingers trembled.
"You've already sold your face on TV. What gives you the confidence to toy around with a brat like this?"
Now. He thought... I was toying with Baek Jae-ha like some kid?
In other words, that Baek Jae-ha was getting sponsored by me?
It was too vile to even repeat. His disgusting imagination made my blood boil.
"Does it bother you? You can be honest. Once you have some money, playing around with a young one isn't exactly a secret..."
Hyun Tae-seong blabbered on with his loose lips until our eyes met, and he clamped his mouth shut.
He must have sensed the shift in my demeanor.
"Mr. Hyun Tae-seong."
Rage cleared my mind, cooling it like a splash of ice water despite the fury boiling inside.
Hyun Tae-seong flinched and took a step back. My sharp gaze pierced him like it could tear him apart.
"Don't drag me down to your lowly level."
"...Even if you act all high and mighty,"
"At least he's not someone who deserves that kind of treatment. Our new menu development team leader."
"!"
Hyun Tae-seong's eyes widened.
He'd know. The rumors in the industry about The Song's new menu development team and their incredible potential.
Especially through Song Kitchen, Baek Jae-ha had already proven his skills.
"Th-that's nonsense. You just called him 'sis' a minute ago...!"
"Team Leader Baek."
"Yes."
"Around the company, you should address me as President."
"My apologies. I'll correct that, President."
Baek Jae-ha bowed slightly, playing along perfectly, and Hyun Tae-seong's jaw dropped.
"Team Leader Baek earned his heavy responsibility at a young age due to his exceptional talent, but it often leads to unwelcome misunderstandings."
*The filthy one's your twisted mind.*
"Even so, you know that last remark was extremely rude, right?"
...
"Please leave. If you ignore me again, I'll call the police. The reporters would love that. Tomorrow's front-page headline is set."
"Ugh."
Any incident involving me and Hyun Tae-seong would have reporters salivating and swarming.
He had as much to lose as I did if I reported it, since my face was well-known too.
He'd been banking on that to act so boldly. But when I stood firm, he had no choice but to back off.
"Eek!"
Then he glanced behind me and jolted in surprise, his body trembling.
What? I turned around to see only Baek Jae-ha standing quietly.
Did he see a ghost? Tilting my head, I looked back at Hyun Tae-seong, who muttered lowly with a pale face.
"Y-you seem a bit agitated right now, so I'll contact you next time."
His voice was meek.
Hyun Tae-seong kept up the bravado to the end as he got into his car. He fled like a dog with its tail between its legs, but his tongue had been awfully long.
*Vroom!*
His sports car vanished into the distance with a raucous exhaust roar.
"Whew."
Finally, that decade-old heartburn eased a bit.
Maybe from the sudden rush of heat to my head. It throbbed, and my face felt feverishly hot.
"Sorry, Jae-ha. Because of me, you had to hear all that nonsense."
If I could, I'd rinse my ears with water.
"I told you not to call me that because it invites weird misunderstandings."
"Sorry. That guy seemed like trouble, so I thought I'd play the boyfriend role to help."
"Boyfriend? You?"
I widened my eyes in surprise, but Baek Jae-ha narrowed his.
"Why? That guy earlier, and even you, President. You all treat me like a kid. I'm just one year younger than you."
...
Physically, sure.
But mentally... My wrist suddenly ached, so I decided not to dwell on it.
Probably because I give off a more mature vibe, Hyun Tae-seong got the wrong idea.
"Ahem. Anyway, you didn't need to go that far. Worst case, we call the cops."
"Better not to create a situation that needs reporting in the first place."
True, but.
This guy Baek Jae-ha, tall as a beanpole and skinny as a rail—who's protecting whom here?
"Oh. That look again."
"What look?"
"The one a grandma gives her scrawny grandson."
Who're you calling grandma? I shot him a glare, and he laughed, changing the subject.
"But who was that guy?"
"Oh... Someone from Hyunmu. I had dinner with him once, thinking it was just business. Ever since, he's been pestering me like he's obsessed."
Sigh. How am I supposed to know the mind of a madman?
Not something clichéd like 'You're the first woman to treat me this way,' right? Nah, no way. Even morning dramas don't use that outdated trope these days.
'...His gift sense did seem stuck at that level.'
Gasp. Really?
"He seems dangerous. You okay?"
"Hm."
I thought for a moment, then smiled brightly.
"No need for you to worry."
Because,
Today's incident solidified my resolve.
"I won't be seeing him anymore."
Better to eliminate Hyun Tae-seong for good. Ensure he never spews that nonsense at Baek Jae-ha again.
"Huh? What do you mean? He didn't seem like the type to back off easily."
"I've got this~."
Baek Jae-ha kept shooting suspicious glances, but I just grinned widely.