Chapter 27
Chapter 27
The Engagement Party
Attending the Engagement Party
“Wake up.”
“Ugh!”
The shock to his calf startled Yu Yeon-seo awake.
“My brother… why are you here?”
“You weren’t answering your phone, so I came to get you.”
Yu Eun-ho, dressed impeccably in a suit, was perched on the edge of the bed. Yu Yeon-seo rubbed his eyes roughly. He had slept soundly for the first time in a while, without even syncing his memories last night.
“You’re a managing director, thirty years old, and you’re here taking care of your grown-up little brother. Is that really okay?”
“What’s wrong with it? We’re family.”
Oh, so he can say cheesy things like that. Yu Yeon-seo scratched his head for no reason. Yu Eun-ho picked up a piece of paper lying scattered near the bed and examined its contents. It was a list of basic information on the people attending today’s engagement party.
“…Did you oversleep because you were looking at this?”
“I can’t afford to make any mistakes.”
Yu Yeon-seo lied without batting an eye. He had looked at it, but he hadn’t memorized it all. He figured it would be fine since he had the auto-action mode if things went south.
“Yeon-seo.”
“Yeah?”
With a toothbrush in his mouth, Yu Yeon-seo looked up at Yu Eun-ho through the mirror.
“Do you really not remember anything?”
“No, bits and pieces are coming back.”
“Like what?”
Yu Yeon-seo lowered his head again and spit out what was in his mouth.
“Did we ever go to the sea when we were really little? Around… kindergarten age. I don’t think it was in this country.”
“If it was then… it was probably when we went to the island.”
“Really? I saw Mom there.”
He didn’t mention a specific place, just ‘the island’… Did the family own an island? Yu Yeon-seo was inwardly surprised but spoke nonchalantly.
At the single word ‘Mom,’ Yu Eun-ho’s shoulders flinched, but Yu Yeon-seo didn’t see it.
“But I can’t remember Mom’s face. I think she was smiling, though…”
Lee Hui-seo was known as the ‘Ice Beauty’ during her time as a celebrity.
It was a nickname given to her because she rarely smiled. She didn’t smile when she danced and sang on stage, and when she acted, she only chose taciturn and prim roles that suited her cool appearance.
‘It’s a bit of a shame.’
He had wanted to see Lee Hui-seo’s bright smile, something that couldn’t be found in any records.
“…I see. That’s a relief.”
He says he can’t remember his mother’s face, so what’s so relieving about that… Is it a relief that he hasn’t lost all his memories?
Seeing the relieved expression on his brother’s face, Yu Yeon-seo didn’t say anything more.
“Who’s that?”
“It’s the president of Pilju Construction. From the Heongang side.”
“Ah.”
The reporters, who had been camped out a short distance from the hotel, briefly lowered their cameras since it wasn’t who they were waiting for.
“When is Juseong arriving?”
“Huh? There, that car!”
Someone holding binoculars shouted urgently. The reporters raised their cameras again.
“What? Yu Yeon-seo is there?”
Doesn’t he usually skip events like this?
“What are you doing? Stop talking and start shooting!”
The Juseong Family Arrives for the Engagement Party
Brothers Yu Eun-ho and Yu Yeon-seo Appear at an Official Juseong Family Event
Juseong Nephew and Heongang Group’s Second Daughter’s Engagement of the Century… The Entire Juseong Family in Attendance
“Um… Yeon-seo.”
“Yes?”
“Can I link arms with you?”
What’s so hard about that? When Yu Yeon-seo nodded, Choi Yu-jin’s face brightened. She quickly linked her arm with Yu Yeon-seo’s and entered the hotel with a bright smile.
I think the reporters are taking pictures over there… Is it okay not to maintain a poker face? Following behind, Yu Eun-ho was also smiling, looking pleased about something.
Wow, I really can’t get used to this. Even so, seeing his family happy didn’t feel bad.
[Seoul=Photo News] JSENM Vice Chairman Choi Yu-jin and Actor Yu Yeon-seo Entering the Hotel Arm in Arm
JSENM Vice Chairman Choi Yu-jin, Juseong Electronics Managing Director Yu Eun-ho, and actor Yu Yeon-seo attend the engagement ceremony of Choi Ji-hun, the eldest son of Ajin Ilbo President Choi Sang-jin, and Park Se-hwa, the second daughter of Heongang Group Chairman Park Cheol-jung, at the JS Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
└The suit T_T T_T The suit!!
└OMG an unexpected crumb from my actor
└Wow, they live in a different world
└I’m gonna snatch Yu Yeon-seo and run
└└Go f*** yourself
└└└Then I’ll take his brother
└└└└Bullshit
└Oh right, I forgot Yu Yeon-seo was a conglomerate heir
As they entered the engagement hall, all eyes turned to them. Juseong was a leading conglomerate in South Korea, so even people they’d never met were watching for a chance to make an impression.
“Yujin.”
The voice belonged to an older man. Choi Yu-jin stopped, and Yu Eun-ho and Yu Yeon-seo also stopped and looked back.
“Father.”
It was Choi Hyeong-su, the chairman of JSENM and Yu Yeon-seo’s maternal grandfather.
“You’re here. Eun-ho, good to see you too.”
“Father, can’t you see Yeon-seo?”
“Ahem…”
Choi Hyeong-su cleared his throat. He didn’t seem to disapprove of Yu Yeon-seo, but rather to find him difficult. Yu Yeon-seo bowed his head deeply in greeting.
“Hello.”
“Yes, it’s been a while. Are you feeling alright?”
“I’m perfectly fine now. Grandfather.”
Choi Hyeong-su’s eyes widened.
“I never thought the day would come when you’d call me… Grandfather.”
His voice was filled with overwhelming emotion. He was so happy with just this basic courtesy; I didn’t know how to react.
When Yeon-seo gently placated him by promising to call him that more often, he even forgot his decorum and beamed. It went without saying that Choi Yu-jin’s shoulders squared with pride.
“But did your in-laws not come? Your son-in-law?”
“Something came up suddenly, so they couldn’t make it. But their grandsons are here instead.”
Choi Yu-jin said it proudly, with a bright smile.
Huh, did Grandfather and Father have something that urgent? Yu Yeon-seo glanced at Yu Eun-ho. Yu Eun-ho maintained his usual expression, but something about him felt different. Did they stay away on purpose?
After the brief greeting with Choi Hyeong-su, people who had been waiting nearby began to approach them one by one.
“Vice Chairman, it’s been a long time.”
“Oh, hello.”
“Your sons are so handsome!”
Somehow, everyone who approached seemed more interested in Choi Yu-jin and Yu Eun-ho. What’s a mere actor to do? How pathetic. A bored expression naturally formed on Yu Yeon-seo’s face.
Choi Yu-jin, as if sensing this, gently squeezed Yu Yeon-seo’s hand. It seemed like everyone in this family was eager to treat Yu Yeon-seo like a child.
‘I’m fine.’
When Yu Yeon-seo mouthed the words, Choi Yu-jin smiled. Only then did the other person speak to Yu Yeon-seo.
“Um… Mr. Yu Yeon-seo, I believe this is the first time we’ve seen you at an event like this…”
“Yes, I plan to attend more often. Please feel free to speak comfortably, CEO.”
The other person’s expression brightened. Contrary to the rumors, his attitude was very polite and respectful. Yu Yeon-seo tried his best to ignore the stares directed at him.
“The rumors weren’t very good, were they? But… you seem quite different.”
“I suppose you can’t believe everything you hear unless you see it for yourself.”
“This is the first time I’m seeing you in person. You’re tall, and…”
Seeing that the relationship between Choi Yu-jin and Yu Yeon-seo was harmonious, contrary to the rumors, a stir went through the crowd.
It was, of course, the seasoned society wives who first noticed the change in Yu Yeon-seo’s demeanor. As soon as the business-like greetings were over, they approached Choi Yu-jin with their daughters in tow.
“Hello.”
“Oh, hello.”
Uh… wasn’t this woman the wife of the SY Group chairman? The one next to her is from RJ Venture Capital, and that one is a bank president. They were all mothers with daughters.
‘Oh, wait. This is making me nervous…’
Yu Yeon-seo tried to back away, but Yu Eun-ho’s hand blocked his back. The rare look of trouble on Yu Eun-ho’s face and the unusual atmosphere suggested…
This is… ‘I can’t go down alone.’ It feels like that, doesn’t it? Yu Yeon-seo hurriedly looked at Choi Yu-jin. Choi Yu-jin’s smiling face seemed sinister. Oh, no.
“Vice Chairman, your sons are wonderful.”
“I heard he just became a managing director? How impressive… I wish my son were half as capable.”
Their attention was focused on Yu Eun-ho, the most eligible bachelor of the chaebol world. However, the interest shown in Yu Yeon-seo was not insignificant either. No matter how much of a rogue he was, Yu Yeon-seo’s background was enough to make anyone’s mouth water. Besides, if the rumors weren’t true, there was even more reason to approach him.
“This is the first time we’re seeing your second son at an event like this, isn’t it?”
“Hello. I’m Yu Yeon-seo.”
“The camera really doesn’t do you justice. Excuse me for asking, but how old are you?”
“I’m twenty-six.”
“Oh, that’s perfect. My daughter will be twenty soon…”
If she’ll be twenty soon, that means she isn’t yet…? Yu Yeon-seo felt goosebumps rise on his arms.
‘I… I have to get out of here.’
Yu Yeon-seo took advantage of Choi Yu-jin’s unguarded moment to stealthily back away. He could feel Yu Eun-ho’s desperate gaze from behind, pleading not to be left alone, but he forced himself to ignore it.
He quickened his pace to get as far away from them as possible, but someone called out to him.
“Looks like you’re having a grand old time, huh?”
Who starts a conversation without even a greeting? Judging by the flower in his breast pocket, it was Choi Ji-hun, the man of the hour at this engagement party. In other words, his cousin.
“What are you doing here? Weren’t you on bad terms with my aunt?”
“Not anymore.”
“What’s this? Dropping the formalities with your older cousin?”
The arrogant Choi Ji-hun suddenly threw an arm around Yu Yeon-seo’s shoulders and brought his face close. He was even uglier up close. Getting this close would only make him look worse, so why bother with such a pointless action?
“Hey, Yeon-seo. That Jo Su-bin girl is pretty cute. You got her number?”
Jo Su-bin was the lead actress who had worked with Yu Yeon-seo on ‘Our Moment’.
I heard she’s been doing well in the advertising industry since ‘Our Moment’… Why is this guy bringing her up?
“Why do you ask?”
“Give me her number. I may not be on your level, but I’m no slouch either. And well, I’m about to land a big position myself…”
Wow, this is insane. He’s thinking about hooking up with a celebrity at his own engagement party? Yu Yeon-seo let out a scoff of disbelief.
Times like these call for summoning the original hellfire mouth.
‘Beta, auto-action mode.’
<Yes, understood. Initiating auto-action mode.>
Yu Yeon-seo removed the heavy hand resting on his shoulder. Then, he brushed off his shoulder as if something dirty had touched it.
“Still as vulgar as ever, chasing after women like a dog in heat.”
“What?”
“You don’t have the money to be a sponsor, but you still want to meet pretty women, so you’re trying to suck up to your younger cousin… Have you no shame?”
Whoa… that’s harsh. Is this really okay? But Yu Yeon-seo didn’t turn off the auto-action mode. He didn’t like Choi Ji-hun’s attitude.
“You, you son of a…”
“It looks like President Choi Sang-jin of ‘Ajin Ilbo’ is using you to shore up his own position, which is losing ground to my mother…”
He didn’t even call him ‘uncle’. When he brought up the hollow shell of Ajin Ilbo instead of JSENM, Choi Ji-hun clamped his mouth shut. He couldn’t refute it because it was true.
“How about you just quietly treat the Heongang Group’s daughter well? Wouldn’t that be the greatest filial duty you, born so uselessly ugly, could perform?”
“You bastard…”
“Oh, are you going to throw a punch? Hitting your own cousin at your own engagement party… The reporters outside will get a great scoop for a change. Right?”
Yu Yeon-seo mocked Choi Ji-hun to the fullest, looking at his trembling fist. He spotted a woman in a dress over Choi Ji-hun’s shoulder.
“Look, your fiancée is looking for you. Take my advice to heart, cousin. Take good care of that ugly face of yours.”
“…Your arrogance ends today. How long do you think JSENM will stay in my aunt’s hands?”
Anyone would think JSENM belongs to you. Why would it be yours? It’s my mother’s. Yu Yeon-seo snorted and deactivated the auto-action mode.
“Ah…”
As expected, there are some aftereffects. Stumbling, Yu Yeon-seo covered his nose and quickly left the engagement hall.
‘Where’s the restroom?’
After looking around for a while, Yu Yeon-seo spotted Choi Yu-jin through an open door at the end of the hallway.
Does that mean Yu Eun-ho is all alone, surrounded by those women? My condolences to my brother…
But Choi Yu-jin wasn’t alone. She was with her older brother, Choi Sang-jin, whose face was red with anger.
‘…What was that?’
Wondering what they were talking about, Yu Yeon-seo stealthily approached to listen in, only to have his eyes widen at an unexpected revelation.