Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: A Diamond Needs No Owner
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“Appreciate the offer, but I’ll have to pass.”
Choi Yeo-hae’s eyebrow twitched at my response.
“I’m here to secure investment funding, not apply for a job.”
I replied with a faint smile, and she let out a hollow laugh as if I’d caught her off guard.
It was a cheeky answer, but one that could pass as youthful boldness.
And Choi Yeo-hae wasn’t the type to prefer someone bowing submissively—she liked those who stood tall and met her gaze head-on.
“Doesn’t seem like baseless pride. You do understand what I’m offering, right?”
“Of course. I know this is my one shot at joining a major company like Hando Construction.”
My credentials amounted to a high school diploma and nothing else. No certifications to speak of, so even special hires for high school grads would be a long shot at Hando.
“President. I’m a businessman. If I have options, I should chase the one that profits me most.”
“…You think choosing The Song over Hando Construction is more profitable?”
“Yes.”
I spoke with unwavering conviction.
“I’ll grow it that big. With these hands, personally.”
“…….”
“Crude metaphor, but if I really am the diamond you say got dropped on the street….”
I continued slowly.
“…why would it need to find an owner? A diamond is a diamond in itself.”
Sure, I’d lost everything and returned to being a broke twenty-year-old. But I’d already proven my abilities once before.
And this time, I’d use those memories to soar higher and farther than ever.
Why would a diamond that knows its own worth borrow someone else’s hands?
Choi Yeo-hae’s face darkened with fury at my bold declaration.
“A diamond is a diamond in itself? How dare you spout such arrogance before me?”
Anyone else would’ve trembled in fear. But I knew this face of hers well.
“In all my years in business, I’ve never let a punk who talked back like this walk away.”
Her icy glare pierced me like frost. Even knowing her intent, its sharpness made me flinch.
“How dare you. How dare you before me…. Pfft, ahahahaha!”
Knew it.
I suppressed a hollow feeling as she suddenly burst into laughter after pressing me so heavily.
“Oh my, look at that face. Even my company directors shake when I pull this on them.”
One of Choi Yeo-hae’s bad habits.
Crushing people with her charisma to gauge their reactions. I’d been on the receiving end the first time we met in my previous life, too.
‘Back then, Lee In-cheol and I had struggled for two, three years. We only had a few branches by then, so I was totally defenseless.’
Couldn’t even meet her eyes, head bowed low, until she barked, ‘Look people in the eye when you talk!’ and I jerked my head up, trembling.
She’d been a bit flustered by my teary eyes and even hugged me tight.
‘Ugh. Still mortifying just thinking about it.’
She’d milked that story for years afterward. Felt like a decade at least.
‘But not falling for it easily this time.’
She smirked at my composed expression, clearly amused. My reaction only piqued her interest more.
“Sorry. I can be a bit of a bully.”
“Ah, sure.”
My (future) moneybags gets a pass.
“I figured you weren’t ordinary when my husband mentioned you. But seeing you in person is even more impressive. How to put it…. Something tells me you’re going to do something huge.”
She set down her teacup with an elegant gesture and smiled at me.
“Alright.”
“Yes?”
“I want to invest.”
“……!”
My eyes widened, and she continued with a chuckle in her voice.
“If I can’t be the diamond’s owner, letting go completely wastes the merit of being the first to spot it. That’d make me a failure as a businesswoman.”
Exactly. Well said.
“Better to saddle it with debt before it shines bright enough for everyone else to notice.”
She extended her hand to me.
“Looking forward to it?”
“…Thank you. You won’t regret this.”
I gripped it firmly. We locked eyes from close range, exchanging unspoken understandings through our gazes.
Mark my words.
This moment was when Choi Yeo-hae made the best investment of her life.
Thud.
Choi Yeo-hae closed the limo door from the back seat and said,
“Let’s go.”
“How’d it go today?”
“……!”
She jolted at the familiar voice and looked forward. In the driver’s seat sat her husband, Lee In-cheol.
“How’d you get here?”
“Couldn’t help being curious! Wondering what kind of magic that guy Song Woo-yeon would work on my wife.”
“Heh. Magic, huh.”
Choi Yeo-hae rested her chin on her hand and gazed out the window.
The young face she’d just been facing floated vividly in her mind.
Cheeks still plump with baby fat, yet his eyes burned with fierce intensity.
In her business life, she’d seen countless types of people—good, evil, kind, rude, gentle, arrogant, humble, cowardly, petty. Innumerable.
No shortage of young talents with spirit.
But most didn’t even catch her eye. Today was different.
“Could be magic.”
“Hmm?”
“His eyes.”
She murmured languidly.
“…They were already perfectly those of a businessman.”
Incredible. How could someone so young have eyes that priced their own pride?
“Thought my husband didn’t have luck with people in his stars. Where’d he find this gem?”
Lee In-cheol’s face split into a goofy grin at her teasing praise.
“I, I’ve got an eye for people! Haha!”
“Yeah. Good job. Feels like we’ve found a solid investment for once.”
Lee In-cheol’s eyes widened in surprise at her mutter, then he nodded vigorously.
Both were no small fries, so he’d wondered how it’d go. Guess even Choi Yeo-hae saw Song Woo-yeon as extraordinary.
‘Nailed this one too, Song Woo-yeon.’
Lee In-cheol couldn’t help but admire. In his view, Song Woo-yeon lacked just one thing: massive capital.
Now even that was solved…. Like giving wings to a tiger.
Just one question left.
‘What’s he planning to do with the investment?’
“We talked it over with my husband, and the amount we can use right away for remodeling is….”
Han Mi-ae slid a bankbook toward me.
“This is all we’ve got.”
She wouldn’t meet my eyes, as if ashamed. I flipped it open to check the balance.
‘…Three million won.’
Pathetic for interior costs.
“Sorry. The shop’s been in bad shape…. Keeping it open is mostly my selfishness. With the kids’ college tuition coming up….”
Han Mi-ae mumbled excuses.
“This is my best.”
Her steady voice trembled faintly at the end. She knew it too. Not enough for interiors, let alone replacing worn-out kitchen gear.
Plus, I’d mentioned before that the kitchen layout was inefficient and needed a full overhaul during renovations.
“What now? I had such a great offer, but as you see, I’m strapped. Sorry for wasting your time.”
Han Mi-ae assumed our talk was dead in the water.
“President.”
I grabbed her hand tight. She finally met my eyes, head still bowed.
“Don’t worry. We’ll handle the interiors on our end.”
“Huh?”
“Not for free, of course. You can pay it back gradually from future profits.”
“……!”
Realizing what I meant, her eyes bulged.
“R-Really?!”
“It’s an investment. I believe Happiness Snacks is worth it.”
“Oh my god.”
She looked ready to collapse.
“Thank you, thank you. Oh, how to repay this grace…. Investing in a failing shop like mine. Oh my, oh dear.”
She kept gasping in awe, face blank with disbelief.
‘Good call going to President Choi Yeo-hae.’
Yesterday, I’d have had no way to help Han Mi-ae.
But today was different.
I’d been stunned by the amount wired under Choi Yeo-hae’s name. Even the bank called, worried it was voice phishing with such a sudden large deposit….
Panicked, I called Choi Yeo-hae, and she’d been nonchalant.
—Taxes are handled on my end, so our President Song, just focus on how to multiply that money several times over and return it to me.
So cool I nearly fainted. Almost shouted my loyalty.
‘Gotta follow our President Choi’s orders.’
I grinned at Han Mi-ae, still wide-eyed and dazed.
“We’ll have to close during the remodel. But there’s something you’ll need to do in the meantime.”
“Something to do? Anything, just say.”
She replied brimming with enthusiasm.
Heh.
I placed a hand on her shoulder and murmured low.
“It might be tough.”
“…Huh?”
Welcome to hell.
Exit door? None.