SMW 78

Winter

“Welcome, Seol-ah.”

The place I arrived at after receiving a call from Baek Han was a room within a hotel belonging to an H.S. affiliate. Since it had originally been a hotel under the Yuseon Group, rooms owned by the Yuseon family remained even after its independence. Perhaps that was why Baek Han, elegantly cutting his food at a wide marble table, looked as comfortable as if he were in his own home.

“It would have been better if you had told me in advance that you were coming to the hotel.”

“Why bother worrying a busy person? It happened to be lunchtime, so I had a light meal prepared. You haven’t had lunch yet either, right?”

Why was he even asking? He was a man who likely received real-time reports on what time I woke up, what I ate, and whom I met. That was probably why he had conveniently arrived first at the H.S. affiliate hotel I was scheduled to visit today and set the stage for a conversation.

Looking at the seat he offered, a set steak and a moderately filled wine glass were already waiting. I looked down at my casted hand for a moment and sat down without a word. As if he had been waiting, Baek Han spoke nonchalantly from across the table.

“How is your body? I heard from Director Lee that you need to rest and stabilize for about a month.”

“I’ve rested well visit our sitefor two weeks, so I’m fine. I have to do the work I Read on Read BL Novelsmissed while I was away.”

“Our Seol is being far too diligent since ascending to the CEO position. That makes things difficult for me.”

It was early this year that Baek Seol-ha, the eldest son who had been at an overseas branch, unofficially took over the CEO position as the H.S. Chairman’s health suddenly deteriorated and he began recuperating.

“Of course, this is just my personal sentiment. From the perspective of someone managing subordinates, I’d have no further wishes if the CEOs of our affiliates could follow your lead by even a fraction. Those people are so useless that it wouldn’t even be noticeable if they were absent for a year. In fact, losing one or two lower-level employees would be a greater loss.”

“I am in a similar position. Looking around here and there yesterday and today, I see everyone is doing well. In fact, the company seems to run better when the higher-ups are out of sight.”

“That’s because it’s filled with competent employees. It’s just a pity that the bastards sitting at the top can’t utilize them one hundred percent.”

Baek Han picked up his wine glass.

“By the way, it seems our Seol’s way of speaking has become polite again.”

“…….”

Instead of answering, I silently gazed at Baek Han as he savored the wine. I spoke just as he set the glass down.

“The hit-and-run driver turned himself in.”

It wasn’t an answer to the previous remark. However, Baek Han accepted the topic indifferently, as if it didn’t matter.

“I received the report too. I heard he gave the cliché excuse that he was drunk at the time and couldn’t remember.”

Judging by the speed the car was traveling at the time, it was impossible to believe he was someone who had lost his mind to alcohol. Of course, that could have been a lie to get a reduced sentence—provided that the target he aimed for wasn’t me. In truth, such things were not unfamiliar to Baek Seol-ha.

“Was the mastermind behind this one from that side again?”

“Correct. The collateral branch caused trouble again. They crossed the line a bit this time. A car accident is something you can die from if you’re unlucky.”

“It didn’t seem like they intended to kill. The car’s speed decreased sharply as it approached me.”

“You saw even that in that situation?”

“Yes. More than anything, an ambulance arrived within a few minutes of the accident. In a rural area where it takes over twenty minutes even if you call a taxi.”

“That is certainly strange. If you want to end a life, the right way is to hit them properly and leave them, or confirm the kill several times.”

“It was probably just a simple threat, [unauthorized copy]like before. Or [stolen content]perhaps there [visit our site]was another purpose. Honestly, I was more curious about something else.”

I paused for a moment and looked at Baek Han.

“Exactly how they knew where I was.”

While I was Choi Seol, I had taken measures in the past to ensure that no one could track me. Among the Yuseon family, only Chairman Baek Han-pil and Vice Chairman Baek Han of the main house knew my old identity. Naturally, that meant the collateral branch didn’t even know who Choi Seol was. So how did they find out where ‘Choi Seol’ was and cause an accident?

As I fixed my gaze on Baek Han, intentionally emphasizing my final words, a strange smile deepened around his eyes. It was a gaze that showed no sign of agitation. The same went for the voice that followed.

“I wonder. Even I took time to find you, so how could they have found where you were? Did you plant a spy on my side?”

“Chief Yoon might have leaked the information.”

“Hmm, although he is a spy for my father, he isn’t a stupid fellow. Ah, it could be that guy. Your friend’s ex-lover. The one called Executive Director Nam; he was the one who told me where you were, Seol.”

“…….”

“Oh dear, did I make this sound too much like a melodrama?”

Regardless of my indifferent reaction, Baek Han [Read on Read BL Novels]chuckled as if amused [Read on Read BL Novels]and began cutting his steak again.

“I told that fellow to keep his mouth shut, but just in case, I’ll look into how your location leaked. And regardless of the purpose—whether it’s a threat or a declaration of war—it’s still about swallowing H.S. whole, isn’t it? They want a spot in the Yuseon Group, but since my father and I are holding out in the main house, they probably thought they could design a hopeful future by targeting the young kid at H.S. who seems relatively easy.”

It was known that H.S. Chairman Baek Han-gu was currently recuperating due to a chronic illness, and the eldest son, Baek Seol-ha, had been frail since childhood and had not shown his face at family gatherings or official events even now that he had narrowly survived. Since the only remaining blood relative, the youngest daughter Baek Seol-min, had gone abroad with her mother and not returned, this side did seem like an easy target.

“Even so, H.S. is already a company independent of the Yuseon Group. It seems their desire for a position has gone too far.”

“Well, even so, it’s only been separated for a while; the fact that it’s a component of the Yuseon Group remains unchanged. I think it’s understandable.”

The voice that had been acting like a sweet cousin until now turned caustic for the first time.

The first chairman of the Yuseon Group had been exceptionally fond of his third son, Baek Han-gu, born late in life. This was clearly demonstrated when he handed over the entire successful hotel and distribution businesses to let him go independent. Naturally, there was strong backlash from the brothers and the collateral branch. Since he had handed over a fully grown business, rather than something in the starting stages, to an unproven novice, the other bloodlines must have been beyond appalled—they must have felt utterly miserable.

It was said that because of the chairman’s peculiar love for his third son, while remaining cold to his other children, rumors circulated that the Yuseon blood flowing through Baek Han-gu’s body was only half-blooded.

For the record, there were two things Baek Han hated most. One of them was a half-blood who did not fit the dignity of his family.

“Well… anyway, it’s true they coveted someone else’s things without knowing their place, so how should I handle it? I can’t just let it slide after they dared to touch my precious person. You’ll be busy here and there, so just say the word and I’ll take care of it.”

I had known from the moment we first met that this noble man hated me. And I also knew [stolen content]that, rarely for a half-blood, [stolen content]he treated me with a certain level of favor. Therefore, this was a gesture of goodwill.

“For your information, I’ll reject any refusal in advance. If unlucky, a person could have died in that car accident. Until last time, I let it slide because of the blood tie, but this time, an unrelated civilian was caught up in it, so I don’t think I can just overlook it.”

At the same time, it was a threat.

“Have you contacted him?”

“No.”

The answer came out surprisingly calm. Baek Han spoke as if advising me, asking if that was alright.

“My, Mr. Yeo-reum must be very disappointed. He was hurt because of our family’s circumstances, so shouldn’t you contact him? He was worrying about you a lot, Seol. As soon as he woke up, his face turned pale and he looked for you first; it made me feel bad just watching.”

“He should be fine now. Vice Chairman, you took care of it in advance. Personally, no less.”

I knew well that the man had visited Han Yeo-reum. I had expected it. I even knew what purpose he had and what words he had poked into the man who had just opened his eyes and whose body was not yet whole.

“Still, why not just be friends?”

“There will be no more reason to contact him. And I believe the Vice Read on Read BL NovelsChairman [unauthorized copy]knows very well that we are not in a ‘friend’ relationship.”

“Was that the case? Well, it would be a waste to use someone you spent ten years cultivating as just a friend. Will you be okay? From what I see, it seems you haven’t enjoyed the fruits of your labor yet.”

Every word was filled with provocative terms. As he did so, Baek Han’s eyes narrowed as if trying to gauge me. Even so, he wouldn’t find anything. I was no longer a seventeen-year-old brat.

“I am fine. So please stop worrying about it and settle the agreement as you wish, Vice Chairman.”

The smile vanished from Baek Han’s lips. What emerged in its place was sharpness.

“I don’t know what intention you have in saying that, Seol. I believe I clearly said I would handle it as you wish.”

“Then let’s just say that is the way I wish it. In any case, if it’s exposed to the press, it only eats away at my own flesh, so there’s nothing good in it for you either, Vice Chairman. If that happens, attention will naturally gather on me, and if my position rises because of that, wouldn’t it interfere with the things we are planning?”

“As long as you are the H.S. successor, Baek Seol-ha, that is attention that will gather eventually.”

“That’s why we should hide it even more for now. In order to use this incident more usefully.”

I gripped the wine glass I hadn’t looked at until now and slowly swirled it. Baek Han’s reflection was mirrored on the shimmering red liquid.

“As the Vice Chairman said, if unlucky, a person could have died. It would have become a murder case of none other than the H.S. successor. They aren’t stupid Read on Read BL Novelsenough not to know that, and the fact that they are struggling to that extent means they feel [unauthorized copy]a sense of crisis regarding their own positions. Even if they’ve aligned themselves well, the current chairman of the Yuseon Group is ultimately a setting sun.”

It was a fact I realized after stepping into this world. Whether achieved by one’s own strength or by trampling and stealing from others, once one ascends to the throne, they must eventually descend. Because just as they did, someone else will naturally covet that position. And if you add karmic retribution to that, the fall will be complete.

“It’s not wrong, but isn’t it a bit too blatant to badmouth my father right in front of me?”

“If you are displeased, I will end this conversation here.”

I responded indifferently to Baek Han’s indifferent protest. If he had shown even a hint of genuine displeasure, I could have ended it with an apology without even needing to ask this question. But I was certain that this man would not cut me off.

“Continue. This is quite interesting for a change.”

Whether they had a story or not, it seemed that parents and children of chaebol families were the type most likely to become enemies.