Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Hong Ki-jun (2)
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"You'll be thirty-nine next year."
"Then I'll be thirty-four."
Yeah, time flies, and we've gotten older.
It was a conversation between a couple exchanging heated glances in broad daylight after laying their napping daughter a safe distance away.
"Oh my, look at this. The peppers are so big and firm—they're really spicy-looking. Nice and ripe, with that dark sheen—"
At his wife's suggestive words, the refined Seoul man blushed faintly.
But his hands didn't stop. The couple was washing and prepping peppers they'd picked from the field. They were making stuffed pepper fritters and fried peppers, Jin-hyuk's favorites. The recipe involved filling them with ground meat and seasonings before frying—right up there with perilla leaf fritters as his go-to snacks.
"Peppers are more than twice as expensive as last year."
"Is that why you planted so many?"
"Hoping for it would be more accurate. Predictions don't always pan out."
Either way, they were set to make a fortune again.
Last year's rainy season had been a downpour. The winter brought heavy snow, enough for Jin-hyuk and Su-jeong to lay down fertilizer bags and sled all day. So he'd figured this year's low rainfall might make for a bumper pepper crop.
"Sesame and perilla seeds are supposed to skyrocket in price this year too. No one planted them after last year's flop."
Everything they touched turned to gold.
It felt like the whole universe was conspiring to help Son Gwang-yeon build his wealth.
"Gonna buy more land again?"
"Land's just whatever's left after. Let's take a plane trip for Chuseok. You can buy some clothes and makeup, check out the department stores in Seoul."
"A plane? Department stores?"
Han Yu-young's eyes shook wildly.
When Jin-hyuk was little, they were too poor to travel, and she hesitated to even hit the town market for fear of running into her hated stepsister. Now living in a grand house with killer views, no hard labor—what more could happiness be? But the word "trip" made her heart pound.
"Wh-where to? Are we really flying?"
"Hahaha!"
Gwang-yeon clutched his belly laughing at his stammering wife. How could she still seem like a country girl after two kids? The old courtship struggles felt worth it now.
"How about Hawaii?"
Her eyes went saucer-wide.
"Ha-Hawa—"
"Hahahahaha!"
Hawaii. Han Yu-young pictured the TV images: jewel-blue seas, blazing sun, crashing waves. Sticky, sultry music drifting from somewhere.
She didn't know what it was famous for, but the food had to be good. If not, who cared? The fun was in dressing up. She imagined herself in a wide-brimmed hat, fluttering sundress. Saliva pooled in her gaping mouth.
Then her eyes snapped to her husband, glaring.
'All the women there walk around half-naked!'
Bikini-clad women had popped into her fantasy last.
Gwang-yeon, unaccustomed to his wife's sharp glare, shrank back cluelessly and focused on the peppers.
They were indeed big, firm, and perfectly ripe, just as she'd said.
These'll be spicy.
Ki-jun's plan, repackaged as Gwang-yeon's, had earned him only a scorching glare from his wife.
That year's Chuseok fell in September.
Over a month earlier than usual.
"Well played. September's perfect for Hawaii."
"How does Jin-hyuk know that?"
Oh boy.
Couldn't exactly say he'd been three times in his previous life. What now?
That's when a student's ultimate weapon came in handy.
"It's in a book."
Sein Group Outstanding Employee Overseas Training.
Package tours dressed up as training. Top performers got them as perks, and Jin-hyuk never missed out. Southeast Asia—Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines—Sydney, Hawaii, Czech Republic, Paris, Spain. He'd seen it all.
'Come to think of it, the Great Magician led every one.'
Executive chaperone. His division's excellence meant Hong Su-jeong always took charge. Same flights, same hotels.
— "Team Leader, cocktail at the hotel bar?"
— "Gotta look after the others."
— "Oh... okay."
Idiot! Jin-hyuk mentally smacked himself. Back then, he'd shut out the world, focused on himself. Now, he regretted ignoring her feelings.
Chairman's daughter. Untouchable, and she couldn't easily reach out either. Probably felt lonely in crowds, spoke less. The "Great Magician" nickname likely stuck from that. And her one confidant was Son Jin-hyuk.
'Sorry, Su-jeong.'
This life, he'd do better. He already was, but he'd never turn away.
First, homework. Tomorrow's Chinese characters quiz. Easy ones he knew, but reviewing never hurt.
"Mom, all done with the milk."
"Huh? Where you going? We were talking Hawaii."
He'd zoned out too long, lost in thought, parents watching.
"Can I come too?"
Wouldn't it be nicer just the two of them?
Didn't want to intrude. Watching the lovey-dovey couple would make his eyes itch anyway.
'Should be fine.'
Planes were statistically safest, per Clark Kent. No major Hawaii disasters or crashes in his past memories.
Yu-jin too. She'd need watching, better here than dragging her along.
"You two go. Newspaper says even Mom needs a break. I'll watch Yu-jin. She's got school anyway—"
"B-but wouldn't it be ni-nice if we all went?"
Mom, who'd suggested going together, was stammering now.
Dad cleared his throat awkwardly, flipping blankly through his notebook. Empty pages.
"You got tickets?"
"Yeah, with the Su-jeong family."
Ah, business class it was.
"What about Su-jeong?"
"Playing with her grandpa."
These two had plotted a couples' trip already!
No faith in parents. Fine by Jin-hyuk; he wasn't going anyway.
'Perfect time to investigate the shady ones.'
Long holiday. Yu-jin covered by Choi Mi-kyeong's mom on school days. Or he'd skip a day or two. Missing perfect attendance stung, but oh well.
Grabbing his bag for upstairs, he glanced back.
"Hee-hee."
Young Dad's grin reached his ears.
How happy could they be?
'Feels like betrayal for some reason.'
Rain and ruin it.
Seoul, Sein Group Chairman Yu Myeong-seon's residence.
Each pass of the soft cloth gleamed the deep green leaves. His delicate touch and careful breaths revealed how the elderly chairman doted on his orchids.
"Father."
Eldest son Yu Mun-sik called, but Yu Myeong-seon didn't look up. If anything, his affectionate gaze intensified. Mun-sik confirmed his place was beneath even the orchids.
'Worthless fool.'
Studied abroad, trained in management, yet cheated and got caught, fell for investment scams, lost core chemical tech to thieves. That was Yu Myeong-seon's eldest, Yu Mun-sik.
Second son Yu Jun-sik swallowed dryly amid the tense air between father and brother, staying silent. Best tactic: do nothing.
Knock-knock.
Precise rhythm at the study door.
"Sir, the young lady's here."
Kwon Je-hak, head butler for the estate staff.
"Su-jeong?"
Yu Myeong-seon asked while polishing, breath held to avoid disturbing.
"All three arrived."
The old man's face lit up. Second son Yu Jun-sik sighed faintly after watching closely. Father had many grandsons but favored only his granddaughter.
"To the drawing room."
Hong Su-jeong ran to her grandfather Yu Myeong-seon.
"Grandpa—!"
"Aigoo—oh my. Puppy's gotten so heavy. Has our Su-jeong been good? How's school?"
"Ugh, so tiring. School, academies, hairless boys—I'm worn out!"
"Hohohoho!"
Yu Myeong-seon ho-ho-ho'd like Santa, granddaughter in arms.
"Little thing talks big. Use respect with Grandpa!"
Yu Se-ra narrowed her eyes, scolding Su-jeong.
Mun-sik seized the chance to snipe.
"Takes after her mom, no manners."
"Gonna show your twisted heart in front of your child?"
Yu Myeong-seon glared fiercely, granddaughter still held. In the chill air, breaths held. He sighed, pointing to the door.
Universal language: get out.
"Father."
"You've done irreparable harm to the company, now infesting my home like vermin. Don't need scum like you. Out."
Voice laced with rage, but low.
The soft growl was scarier.
"Father—! After all I've—"
Unpleasant mood lingering, Yu Myeong-seon gently set Su-jeong down.
"Puppy, go play in Grandpa's study."
"Okay, Grandpa."
Hong Ki-jun's eyes gleamed watching her head to the study.
Mun-sik looked tense.
Ki-jun gripped then released his brother-in-law's arm firmly.
The maid brought refreshments, but only Yu Se-ra touched them.
Mun-sik's face twisted angrily; Jun-sik stared down inscrutably.
Hong Ki-jun had come pre-Chuseok greetings but landed in this mess. Seemed that way on surface. Brothers-in-law sans wives or kids suggested the father-in-law had words.
'Expected something like this.'
Didn't know specifics. Watched Se-ra cautiously, but she crammed cookies like possessed.
Chairman Yu Myeong-seon spoke.
"Mun-sik."
"Yes, Father."
"How've you been acting all this time?"
"Pardon?"
"How've you been acting that you're whining about getting kicked out?"
"That's..."
"Tell your father."
Mun-sik hemmed and hawed; Yu Myeong-seon smirked bitterly, one corner up.
"N-no, it's nothing."
"What you've done! Embezzling company funds! Whoring with actresses on company dime! Harassing female staff! Losing core chemical tech to the Japs!"
"I'm sorry!"
Mun-sik dropped to his knees from the sofa. Quick move.
But Yu Myeong-seon wasn't done.
"I warned you, begged you—and you lobbied politicians too! Did everything forbidden, just eyeing when I'd die! That's your record!"
"O-one chance—"
"Mercy? Out! No company starting tomorrow!"
Brawny secretaries and guards dragged eldest son Yu Mun-sik out.
His cries for Father muffled by soundproof doors, unheard in the drawing room.
"Jun-sik, Se-ra."
"Yes, Father."
"Yes, Dad."
Yu Myeong-seon turned to his daughter, beaming happily. Daughters were best. Married with kids, still called him Dad like a child. Funny how she demanded respect from her own daughter.
"One chance. Maintaining status quo makes a fine executive. Explosive growth? Even better. But don't think owner's kid gets automatic respect. Mun-sik's off the desk."
Who else could axe the eldest like that? Nation favored firstborns, flaws or not.
Yu Myeong-seon's boldness didn't stop.
"Hong, take chemicals starting tomorrow."
Pffft—!
Second son Yu Jun-sik snorted twinflower tea from his nose.