Chapter 249
Chapter 249
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 249
Chapter Title: Refusing Adoption
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"......Yes?"
Without realizing it, the words slipped out of my mouth. What had I just heard?
My guardian? Did she even realize what she was saying?
"I've already heard about it from Madam Choi, haven't I?"
"Well...... I thought you were joking about that. Because of taxes."
"What? Taxes were the joke. Who brings up adoption just because of taxes?"
True, but with Choi Yeo-hae, I wouldn't have put it past her.
As I blinked at him in surprise, Lee In-cheol hurriedly added,
"No, I mean. You're a full-grown adult. I know you don't really need anyone's protection. But it's just more convenient to have a legal representative in situations like this."
"......"
"It's not bad for either of us. Nothing changes much from now. Just think of it as a few more names on some paperwork. I have zero intention of playing parent and lecturing you."
"......"
"But if you don't want it, that's fine...... I'm just saying there's a way like that."
Pfft.
I couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
"Ahahaha!"
I laughed loudly, and I could feel Lee In-cheol staring at me with wide eyes.
"What's this? You're not usually so long-winded."
"No, what about me?"
"I know your intentions, so you don't need to explain at such length."
Seriously.
To make the great Lee In-cheol mind his words like this. I was struggling to hold back my laughter.
"Thanks for the offer, but I'll just take your kind intentions."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Still wearing a smile that hadn't faded, I said,
"I want to leave the parent spot empty for now."
I didn't want the departed two to feel neglected. I wasn't ready to fill that place so readily.
Of course, knowing them, they would've cheered me on to do whatever made me comfortable. ......But I didn't want to.
"If that's your wish."
Lee In-cheol accepted it cleanly. After this, he'd probably never mention it again.
"Still, it doesn't feel bad."
"Hm?"
"I imagined it for a moment. Growing up under the two of you. ......I think it would've been happy."
They had no children between them, but if they did, they would've been great parents. Lee In-cheol probably would've doted on a daughter to death.
"Thank you."
For letting me indulge in that sweet dream, even briefly.
"......Enough! Just focus on recovering."
Lee In-cheol cleared his throat awkwardly and snapped at me.
I let out a hearty chuckle and muttered,
"It would've been great if the two of you were my relatives."
Not as parents, maybe. But as my parents' siblings, stepping in as new family when I lost mine.
"......"
A futile what-if.
I leaned back in the moving car, mulling over the past.
"President!"
"Waaah! We were so worried!"
Seeing Park Sang-won and Yang Ji-ah bawling their eyes out, I gave an awkward smile. It wasn't something to worry about that much.
The two of them saw me show up on crutches and practically wailed in unison.
"Coming back alive so boldly from the brink of death......!"
"It wasn't that serious."
When Park Sang-won beat the drum,
"Can the leg recover with diligent rehab? Please say yes......!"
Yang Ji-ah clanged the cymbals.
"Our president, what do we do!"
"What do we doooo!"
"......"
My voice apparently wasn't reaching them. I shot them a cold look and shook my head.
"Please excuse them. They've been pulling all-nighters lately, so they're not in their right minds."
Noh Se-hee chuckled and added. I figured as much, seeing how ragged everyone looked.
"The franchise owners must be really anxious, right?"
"Yes. We've finished explaining the protocol and are reassuring them that you're safe."
"Thanks."
They were people who'd boldly chosen this path trusting in me alone. What if I got stabbed and collapsed?
"But......"
I pointed at something I hadn't noticed during my last visit.
"What are those potted plants?"
Were there always that many in our office? They looked new to me. As I tilted my head, Noh Se-hee explained.
"Those? Franchise owner reps sent them. Praying for your speedy recovery."
"Ah~."
Come to think of it, there were messages engraved on the pots.
'Wishing you a swift recovery. We'll walk together always, Noh Sung-min. You're our pride for overcoming hard times, Jeong Mi-hyeon......'
The names were familiar. People I'd met during the Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap 0212 price negotiations?
Besides those two, gifts from various others were neatly arranged in one spot.
"Everything imaginable came. Health supplements, drinks, flower baskets.... We couldn't handle it and even had to ask them to stop."
"I'm so grateful just for their thoughts."
"Right?"
Noh Se-hee murmured with a faint smile.
"I've never seen the franchise owners rally like this in support."
Usually, they're busy tearing into each other. Maybe because we recently negotiated prices to everyone's satisfaction.
The response had been quite positive.
"That's because you're doing so well by them, President. I think this is that virtue coming back around."
"Don't embarrass me. What have I even done? Communicating directly with the franchise owners is usually Team Leader Jo's job."
So Jo Yi-ruk deserved the credit, not me. Yet Noh Se-hee's gaze stayed fixed on me.
Crash!
Then came the sound of something tumbling down, and I turned. There was a mess of scattered documents and Hyun Ye-won sprawled on the floor.
"Ugh......"
She'd apparently bruised her knee in the fall, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Oh dear~. You've been spacing out all morning. What to do."
Another employee fussed beside her, but Hyun Ye-won frantically waved them off.
"I-I'll clean it up! Thank you."
Something's off.
Normally, she'd beam and thank them. Her face was oddly pale too. And above all......
"Ah, hello, President."
Even seeing me, she slyly avoided my eyes. That wasn't like her. Had something happened?
"You okay?"
"Y-Yes! Totally!"
"Your knee's bleeding."
"Gasp!"
Hyun Ye-won sucked in a breath and looked down at her knee. She was wearing a skirt, and blood was seeping through.
No helping it.
"Come with me. There's a first-aid kit in the president's office."
"Huh? Oh, no need for......"
"You need to disinfect it. What if it gets infected?"
At my firm tone, Hyun Ye-won hesitated before nodding. Something really was wrong. She hadn't met my eyes once since I arrived.
Click.
Once inside the president's office, I grabbed the first-aid kit and returned. Hyun Ye-won watched me, fidgeting anxiously.
The wound wasn't big, so disinfect, apply ointment, and a bandage would do.
As I pulled out the antiseptic, I casually asked,
"Something wrong?"
"Huh?"
"Just. You look pale."
She'd visited me daily until the doorstep wore thin, then suddenly stopped. I'd chalked it up to work, but now.
"......"
Hyun Ye-won looked nervous.
She wasn't hiding her inner turmoil at all. Her face screamed she was debating whether to say it.
I took the lead.
"You met Hyun Jeong-hu, right?"
"Gasp!"
Obvious.
Few could summon Hyun Ye-won like that. And she wasn't the type to go on her own.
She'd quietly attended family gatherings before, so it wasn't hard to guess.
And what came after.
"He grilled you about this incident, didn't he?"
"A-Are you a ghost?"
Predictable. With Hyun Tae-seong beyond saving.
"You plan to become Hyunmu's owner?"
"Cough!"
Hyun Ye-won coughed violently.
"N-No, no way?!"
"No?"
No need to be that shocked. Even if Hyunmu hired professional managers, they wouldn't hand over real ownership to just anyone.
So they'd pass succession to Hyun Ye-won.
Hyun Ye-won stared at me in confusion, then realized I wasn't joking and let out a low groan.
Then she blurted,
"...I don't know."
You don't know?
"I've never been interested in company management. I hated Hyunmu's way of thinking too. I finally escaped that......"
Hyun Ye-won's body trembled faintly.
"I'm scared that going back in would turn me into who I was before."
"Ye-won."
I gripped both her shoulders firmly. The shaking eased a bit.
Hyun Ye-won looked up at me.
"I told you. The fact you're worrying like this is proof you're different."
"......!"
"And you're not alone anymore. I've got you, Jae-ha does, Team Leader Jo does."
I smiled gently and said,
"We'll hold you steady from the side."
So, I wanted Hyun Ye-won to become Hyunmu's head.
"......Why?"
Hyun Ye-won clutched my clothes and asked.
"Why help me like this?"
It might seem strange to others. Pushing a near-stranger like Hyun Ye-won to give it a shot.
But I had a clear goal.
"I want to see it."
I could see my reflection in Hyun Ye-won's eyes, smirking. A chilling glee filled those pupils.
Just imagining it brought a smile to my face.
"Hyun Jeong-hu. That man."
The sight of him crumbling.
Just as you did to me in my past life,
This time, it's my turn to take everything from you.