Chapter 103: The Chairman’s Summons, Yoo Young-eun’s Sincerity
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 103: The Chairman’s Summons, Yoo Young-eun’s Sincerity
An awkward atmosphere settled over the Chairman’s office.
Chairman Yoo Taek-soo sat there, sipping his tea with an air of solemn dignity.
Beside him was Yoo Young-eun. She kept her head turned, still pretending to be angry and intentionally avoiding my gaze, yet she couldn't help but steal glances at me with eyes red from crying.
And then there was me, caught between them, unable to utter a single word.
What on earth was I supposed to say?
Better yet, why had he called for me?
Was it because of the fight I had with Young-eun?
Or was it because of Secretary Choi’s visit earlier?
Since I didn't know the reason for the summons, I couldn't bring myself to speak first. Naturally, I kept my mouth shut, and neither of them seemed in any hurry to break the silence either.
The pressure exerted by the space itself was immense.
The Chairman’s office was far larger than my entire house, filled with all sorts of intimidating decorations. To have a man who held the strings of the South Korean economy sitting there in silence... even just sitting still made my heart pound.
A somewhat lengthy silence hung in the air.
Clink.
“The weather is quite nice, isn't it?”
It was a mundane question anyone could ask.
Nevertheless, Chairman Yoo’s steady voice felt like a weight pressing down on my chest. I felt my jaw tighten. The gaze he leveled at me possessed a fierce power that seemed impossible for an old man.
He was like a beast.
An alpha lion ruling over his pride.
That was the kind of aura the Chairman exuded.
“On a day like this, it’s good to take a light stroll. If I didn't have a schedule today, I probably would have gone to the park out front with my granddaughter.”
As he spoke, the Chairman’s gaze drifted slowly between Young-eun and me. Those sharp, predatory eyes glared at me—a look that seemed capable of piercing through a person’s deepest inner thoughts.
He was pointedly emphasizing his closeness with his granddaughter.
While his words might have sounded peaceful at a glance, the hidden meaning was simple: he wouldn't stand idly by if I made Young-eun cry.
Sir, I have my own grievances too.
However, I didn't have the guts to raise my voice in front of the Chairman of Jeil Group.
“Over the past few days, I had Secretary Choi look into you and the gym you run. Your family as well… It’s a respectable family. It seems they run a fairly solid mid-sized enterprise…”
“That has nothing to do with me. My younger sibling will inherit the family business. I am forging my own path, seeking my own personal work.”
The family business was not my concern. My brother would likely take over. He would do well on his own; unlike me, he was the type to diligently and silently carry out his duties.
“I’ve heard. That you left home after renouncing all inheritance rights. And that my granddaughter was the one who recognized your talent and approached you first.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I’m just asking out of curiosity. As I get older, I find my meddling nature only grows,” Chairman Yoo chuckled lowly. “I hear you’re quite good at massages?”
“…That is correct. I offer massages as part of the services at my gym.”
“Hmm, then could you give me one as well?”
“You mean right now, sir?”
“I’ll visit your gym sometime soon.”
A visit from the Chairman of Jeil Group? That would be great for me, but…
“But Chairman.”
“Hmm?”
“My gym only accepts female members.”
“…”
The Chairman blinked, then suddenly burst into a loud laugh.
“Hahahaha! Well, I’ll be! I almost committed a grave discourtesy. It would certainly be troublesome for an old man like me to show up at a place like that. Hmm…”
“I have to stick to the principles I established for the gym from the start.”
“Ho ho, how interesting. Interesting indeed. Does that mean I won't be able to receive a massage from you?”
“If it’s just a quick shoulder rub here, I can do that.”
“Oh? Is that so? My shoulders have been feeling quite stiff lately.”
Chairman Yoo tapped his own shoulders.
“May I ask you for a favor, then?”
“Of course.”
I began to lightly knead Chairman Yoo’s shoulders. Since he was an elderly man, I worried that I should be gentle, but…
Wow.
The old man’s body was more overflowing with vitality than most young people. It felt as though he possessed a natural, innate strength. Every time I massaged his shoulders, I could feel the vitality gathered in his firm muscles dispersing in all directions.
I could just feel it.
“Ooh~.”
Chairman Yoo let out an exclamation of admiration with his eyes closed. If anything, I was the one who wanted to exclaim.
“It seems you’ve been exercising for a long time.”
“If you get old, you rust quickly. Exercising without rest is my hobby. But, can you feel that?”
“Yes, I felt it immediately.”
“Hmm, it seems you’re no quack.”
As the massage continued, the Chairman’s voice grew increasingly relaxed.
“You must have had a lot on your mind lately. The muscles on your right side are particularly knotted. You’ve probably been having frequent headaches recently, haven't you?”
“Ho ho, you’re like a shaman. My headaches do get severe when I work too much. You can see that as well?”
“Yes.”
The right side of the Chairman’s shoulder was indeed slightly misaligned. His muscles had knotted from long-standing habits, causing the shoulder to twist slightly. That misalignment hindered blood flow, and working for long periods in that state would lead to blockages and severe headaches.
“It will feel much better once I loosen this part up.”
Finally, I applied pressure to the twisted shoulder.
Crack!
“Ooooh.”
Along with the sound of shifting bone, the joint returned to its proper place.
“…That’s refreshing.”
“You’ll feel the effects even more in a few days.”
I finished the ten-minute massage. Just that short session had me dripping with sweat. I had been uncharacteristically tense. It seemed the pressure of dealing with a conglomerate tycoon was more intense than I thought.
Wiping away the sweat, I looked up and locked eyes with Young-eun, who had been staring at me blankly. She hurriedly averted her gaze.
“My, you’re a much more talented fellow than I thought.”
A strange light flickered in Chairman Yoo’s eyes as he rotated his shoulders.
“Ho ho, if my precious granddaughter ever brings you to me as her prospective husband, I must make sure never to receive a massage from you. Anyone who receives this would give their absolute approval.”
“Chairman, please stop,” Yoo Young-eun said, cutting him off.
“Why? Are you embarrassed?”
“It’s not like that.”
“To think Young-eun would be so cold. Her grandfather is so hurt he’s about to cry.”
Chairman Yoo raised a hand as if to wipe his eyes. It was hard to believe this was the same man whose eyes had been glowing like a beast’s just moments ago.
After smiling at Young-eun, Chairman Yoo’s expression settled once more.
“I am grateful to you. I can't remember the last time my granddaughter asked me for a favor first. This child, who always insists she’s doing fine and doesn't need my help… she even shed tears asking me to arrange a meeting with you…”
“G-Grandfather!”
“So, you’re calling me Grandfather now?”
“This is a private setting, after all.”
A flustered Young-eun cleared her throat and changed the subject.
“Well, jokes aside. I won't ask what happened between the two of you.”
The Chairman’s eyes sharpened again as he looked at me. His shimmering gaze held the overwhelming aura of a monarch.
“There’s no good in an old man getting involved in the squabbles of the youth. However…”
The Chairman took a sip of his cooled tea.
“Something like this must never happen again.”
He put weight behind every single word he spoke. Just hearing his voice sent a chill down my spine. If looks could tear someone to shreds, this would be the moment.
“Since I don't know the details, I’ll step out now. I have a pre-arranged meeting to attend.”
Chairman Yoo stood up from his seat.
“Young-eun.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“It’s best to resolve lingering resentment through conversation. Sometimes, a direct approach is necessary. Understood?”
After giving his advice to Young-eun, he laughed heartily.
“Ah, youth. You two finish your talk before you go. I’ll let Secretary Choi know, so speak freely.”
Chairman Yoo walked out, swinging his loosened shoulders.
Thud.
The door closed.
And after the Chairman left, between the two of us remaining…
Clink.
Only the hollow sound of a teacup remained.
“You came wearing the clothes I bought you.”
“Yes, they’re very nice. Ha… haha.”
Awkward silence returned.
After staring at my clothes for a moment, Young-eun finally spoke.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
My voice came out colder than intended. Was it because I was thinking about how she had hurt Hyun-kyung?
“For what I did yesterday. Seeing you so friendly with that woman, Hyun-kyung… I acted without thinking.”
“Friendly?”
“…Yes.”
Friendly, huh?
Wasn't I like that with Young-eun too?
Contacting her every day, asking where she was, saying I’d come see her…
Ah.
Most of the calls I had with her were strictly about business.
“Seeing you two so close that you’d even do a warm video call as soon as you woke up in the morning… I was a little jealous.”
“Jealous?”
“Yes.”
“Why would you be jealous of that? It was just a casual video call between friends.”
“Are you really asking me why?”
Young-eun bit her lip and swallowed hard. Tears were welling up in her eyes.
Ah, did I mess up?
“Do you have any idea how many times I practice just to make one phone call? How many times I pick up my phone and put it back down…?”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
Her eyes were brimming with tears. The apology left my mouth before I could even think. I didn't know exactly why, but it felt like it was my fault.
“Do you think I bought those expensive clothes for no reason?”
“Uh… probably not?”
She wouldn't have bought them for no reason. At first, I thought it was a gift to thank me for the PT. But they were far too expensive for just that.
The extra rewards I had received due to her high Affection Level flashed through my mind.
High affection, her unusually wary gaze toward other women, and those expensive gifts.
“Do you know how much effort it took for me to ask you to go shopping with me? Do you know how many times I failed to say it properly and just let it slide…?”
Ah.
No matter how dense I was, I’d have to be an idiot not to realize it when she put it like that.
“Do you still not get it?”
“Uh… I think I might, but I’m not sure if what I’m thinking is right.”
“Sigh.”
Young-eun let out a heavy sigh.
“You hear that you’re dense a lot, don't you?”
“I’ve heard it a few times.”
Sitting across from me, Young-eun leaned toward me. Then, she reached out and took my hand, which was resting on the table.
“I want to be in touch with you too, Jae-ho. Personally.”
Young-eun’s eyes, fixed on me, sparkled like stars.