Chapter 155
Chapter 155
Is This Not Enough?
Yu Yeon-seo Participates in Volunteer Work for Juseong Group’s 80th Anniversary
‘Here to Volunteer~’ Yu Yeon-seo Takes Part in Electronics Donation Event for Underprivileged Students
...JSENM Director and Actor Yu Yeon-seo Participated in Juseong Group’s Anniversary Event.
Pictured from left: Yu Eun-ho, Senior Managing Director of Juseong Electronics; Yu Yeon-seo; and Park Seon-woo, son of the president of Juseong C&T’s fashion division and a MyTuber with 3 million subscribers.
└A two-shot of the brothers after so long ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
└So damn handsome, crazy
└Events like this are nice, but I wish he’d do more projects ㅠ
└Anyone watch Seon-woo’s stream? The brothers treating a 3-million-subscriber MyTuber like he’s nothing lol
For two days, Yu Yeon-seo traveled around the countryside with Yu Eun-ho and Park Seon-woo, participating in home appliance donation events.
(Maybe because my brothers are here, the live stream viewership is hitting an all-time high.)
“Is that so?”
Thanks to them, Park Seon-woo was the one who hit the jackpot.
That was how much interest the public had in Juseong. The focus was particularly on Yu Eun-ho and Yu Yeon-seo, and through Park Seon-woo’s live stream, they showed themselves taking pictures with everyone who asked and providing fan service, proving it wasn’t just a publicity stunt. Judging by the reactions to the articles and online communities, public opinion was favorable.
‘Two days of this should be enough.’
Chairman Yu was probably in his study at the mansion, receiving reports on what his children and grandchildren were up to. Holding his fortune over their heads, testing to see who performs best... what a nasty old man...
“I’m heading to the hotel today.”
(You’re going to see your aunt? Why?)
“Just because. I wanted to see Seo-yun and Se-ah?”
His cousins were, of course, just an excuse.
But Park Seon-woo didn’t take his words at face value. Yu Yeon-seo, who had been distant even with his cousins, had changed a lot since the car accident. He initiated contact and even gave them gifts. So, he guessed there must be another reason for Yu Yeon-seo’s sudden departure.
‘Right, Seo-yun mentioned she fought with her dad...’
Park Seon-woo was the one who usually kept in close contact with their cousins. Could it be? Was he going out of his way to comfort Seo-yun?
(...Were you always this considerate?)
“It’s not like that.”
(Wow... I’m seeing you in a new light.)
I said it’s not like that. Yu Yeon-seo was about to say it again but stopped. He probably thought Yeon-seo had taken to heart what Lee Seo-yoon and Lee Se-ahh had said during the holidays...
(So, are you coming to see me tomorrow?)
“I’m going to see Yu-jeong, not you.”
(Same difference. Then I should go see my mom too.)
“What about Eun-ho?”
(Eun-ho said he’s going to see his dad.)
“Oh, dear.”
He had heard that the Juseong Electronics executives and employees were gathering for a kimchi-making event today... He had used his younger siblings as an excuse to get out of it, but that trick had failed in the end.
Of course, since his father and older brother would be there, Yu Yeon-seo would participate too. He just planned to visit as it was ending to take a few pictures with the employees.
‘Well, I’m still participating, aren’t I?’
After ending the call with Park Seon-woo, he ignored his brother’s message asking where he was and got into the car.
The employees of Juseong Group’s department store and hotel, managed by Yu Min-jeong, were gathered at the 80th-anniversary event venue, sharing a meal and gifts as part of an employee welfare event.
“What? Another royal is coming? Who?”
“Well...”
Could it be the Chairman? Or Director Park? Whoever it was, this was an emergency. The attendants’ faces stiffened.
Just then, a commotion erupted in the lobby. Someone screamed, and others raised their phones, eagerly taking pictures.
“It’s Yu Yeon-seo.”
“Gasp...!”
The employees who turned their heads at the noise began to whisper. The attendants, startled by the sudden visit from the royal family, hurried toward the entrance.
“Hello.”
“Young Master, what brings you here...?”
It wasn’t Chairman Yu or Director Park, but he was still someone to be nervous around. As the attendant who spoke swallowed hard, Yu Yeon-seo gave an unexpected answer.
“I was bored.”
“Pardon?”
He walked past the bewildered attendants and approached his aunt, who was talking with the employees.
“Auntie.”
“Oh, Yeon-seo!”
His eldest aunt, Yu Min-jeong, smiled brightly and opened her arms. After a light hug, Yu Yeon-seo bowed his head to his uncle, who was staring at him with a sour expression.
“Hello, Uncle.”
“Yes, what brings you here? Weren’t you with Eun-ho?”
“I didn’t want to make kimchi. I plan on going near the end of the event.”
Yu Min-jeong burst out laughing, and her husband, Lee Yeong-taek, chuckled as if he understood. There was no telling where Chairman Yu’s eyes and ears might be during the anniversary events. What better excuse could there be?
“Seo-yun and Se-ah aren’t here?”
“Why do you ask about my girls?”
“I haven’t seen them since the holidays.”
Yu Min-jeong let out a deep sigh. She had told everyone to attend this event if possible, but her younger daughter was so used to being abroad that she wasn’t cooperative with family events, and her elder daughter, who usually participated, suddenly refused to come, as if in a belated rebellious phase.
“Don’t even ask. She’s so stubborn about not coming. What can I do to persuade her?”
“Is that so?”
“Sigh... Wouldn’t it be nice if my kids participated as well as you do?”
Because he was a celebrity, the articles about him were on a different level. It created publicity on its own without Juseong’s PR team, making it seem as though he was diligently participating in family events.
Shaking her head, Yu Min-jeong moved to another table. Seizing the opportunity, Yu Yeon-seo observed Lee Yeong-taek closely. What should he bring up first?
“You fought with Seo-yun, didn’t you?”
“...She told you that?”
“These days, you can do anything with one of these.”
Yu Yeon-seo tapped his phone. His aunt’s eldest daughter, Lee Seo-yoon, seemed to have gained courage from his words and had recently started studying composition, which had apparently caused a clash with her father.
“You should have just let her do what she wants. It’s not like she’s slacking off at work.”
“...So she confides in you. That’s a relief.”
Huh? Yu Yeon-seo tilted his head. Lee Yeong-taek was letting out a breath as if in relief.
“This is all your fault for influencing her.”
“Come on, it’s because you’re too restrictive, Uncle. How old is she? She can take care of herself. She’s not a kid like Se-ah...”
“You never back down, do you? Since you’re here, take some pictures with the employees before you go. Your presence will generate a lot of articles.”
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go... His original plan was to talk about Lee Seo-yoon’s passion and then subtly probe him about his connection to himself and Lee Hui-seo. But he couldn’t see an opening to bring it up.
“I-I’m a fan!”
“Could you please take a picture with us?”
He smiled and leaned in for the employees who were cautiously approaching him. With her daughters absent, his aunt kept Yu Yeon-seo by her side like he was her own son. With no progress made, he was thinking of leaving when he overheard someone whispering.
“Oh my, the resemblance is uncanny.”
“Goodness...”
Yu Yeon-seo’s head snapped around, his expression hardening instantly. His uncle, who was nearby, must have heard it too, as he approached him with a serious look.
‘Should I act like I used to? Or show them something different?’
His relatives didn’t know he had regained his memories. Should he throw a fit at the mere mention of his biological mother, like in the old days, or should he show them a different side of himself?
“Really? Do we look that much alike?”
After a moment of deliberation, he chose the latter. Acting the same way as before would get him nowhere. The employee, noticing the grim expressions on the president and his wife, belatedly realized her mistake and covered her mouth with her hand. Yu Yeon-seo smiled leisurely and gave her an autograph and a photo.
“Are you all right?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? It’s been a long time.”
“Right, that’s a relief.”
In the past, he would have yelled, asking why they would say such a thing, and ruined the atmosphere of the event. To think that losing his memory in the accident would be this helpful... Yu Min-jeong let out a long breath.
“I should get going now.”
“Alright... Honey, why don’t you walk him to the front.”
“Let’s go.”
Without needing to be told, he was left alone with his uncle. Yu Yeon-seo met the eyes of his uncle, who was studying his complexion from the side.
“You don’t have to walk me out.”
“You look pale.”
“I do?”
Yu Yeon-seo glanced at a nearby wall where his reflection was visible. His face had indeed turned pale. He let out a small cough. The reflection of his uncle’s face showed a look of concern. Was that a look of concern for him? Or for something else?
“I’m fine. I don’t remember anything anyway.”
“Then that’s good.”
Yu Yeon-seo suddenly stopped walking and looked at Lee Yeong-taek.
“But I am a little curious.”
“About what?”
“My mother. Why did she do it?”
When you can’t figure it out, a direct confrontation is the only way.
“Do you happen to know, Uncle? Why she did it.”
Yu Yeon-seo’s eyes scrutinized Lee Yeong-taek’s face. With the soul of a soldier, he had no talent for such psychological games. Still, he could keenly observe subtle changes in expression, like the minute twitch of a muscle. If worst came to worst, he could just replay the memory...
‘This isn’t easy.’
Perhaps it was because he was a stoic and authoritative former prosecutor... His expression barely changed. That must be why Lee Seo-yoon and Lee Se-ahh found him so difficult.
“...How would I know everything?”
“Right, I suppose so. I’ll be going.”
Lee Yeong-taek watched Yu Yeon-seo’s back until he was out of sight. Yu Yeon-seo could feel his gaze.
‘I guess this isn’t enough, huh?’
Or maybe his uncle wasn’t the one... In any case, he had only come to probe lightly, not with high expectations. Tomorrow, he would go see his other aunt.
“So, are the kids doing well?”
“Yes, the public response has been very positive lately.”
“It must be because of Yeon-seo, that boy.”
As a celebrity, he drew a unique level of public interest. Of course, Park Seon-woo also played a big role in creating a sense of familiarity. Who else would broadcast an event like this live? It had reached a point where a Juseong event had become an event for Park Seon-woo’s channel subscribers.
“Speaking of the Young Master...”
“Go on.”
“Young Master Yeon-seo has been particularly active in his participation.”
“He has?”
The secretary presented a file he had prepared. It was a list of events he had attended during the anniversary activities. Yu Yeon-seo had been present at almost all of them.
“Why did he go see his aunts?”
“He said it was to arrive late for the Juseong Electronics kimchi-making event. And the charity fashion show, well... he said he went because the Vice Chairman was being too clingy and annoying.”
“Tsk... He’s bringing shame to the family.”
In any case, it was an unexpected gain. Chairman Yu smoothed down the corners of his lips, which were threatening to curl up. After the secretary left, he looked over the file again and suddenly frowned.
‘Why is he suddenly acting like this?’
Yu Yeon-seo had his excuses, but he couldn’t escape Chairman Yu’s sharp intuition. He knew the boy had matured after the car accident. But doing things he had never done before was more than could be explained by simply maturing.
‘It feels like there’s a reason...’
I know he’s greedy for money, but he doesn’t seem interested in my fortune... What could it be? As he pondered, he was jolted from his thoughts by the sound of a teacup being set down.
“Won’t you stop instigating competition now?”
It was Park Sang-hyeong, the Head of the Strategic Planning Office. Chairman Yu chuckled.
“It’s an old man’s pleasure. How could I stop?”
“At this rate, the children are really going to fight.”
“Hmm... Since it’s you saying it, I’ll think about it.”
He said it, but he didn’t seem to have any intention of doing so. Park Sang-hyeong smiled as if to say he couldn’t be helped.
“It’s about time you got going.”
“Right, you know you have to purchase a few pieces today, don’t you?”
“Where would I get the money for that?”
Chairman Yu rose from his seat. Today was the charity art auction hosted by Park Geum-ju.