MFR 10

Chapter 10

“Of course.”

On one hand, it was an opportunity. An opportunity to find out about the changed Seol Ji-hyuk.

“I will do anything. I will do it wholeheartedly.”

As they say, if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles; for the sake of future matters, she must first understand Seol Ji-hyuk.

“So please teach me the method.” “I am a businessman.”

Ah. So right now, does that mean he will not accept this matter with personal feelings?

“If you want to move me, you should put forth something suitable for that.”

She had heard similar words in the lounge earlier today. Was it Van Daer? To receive Ji-hyuk’s investment, not only did they have to reconstruct the board as he desired, but they also had to increase the investment return rate. If so, what should I give? What kind of profit should I bring him?

After pondering, Hong-joo brought her handbag and took out a business card from inside. Then, pushing the tableware on the table aside, she modestly placed the business card down. One of Ji-hyuk’s eyebrows lifted aslant.

“What could possibly move you, as of now, I’m not entirely sure.”

She didn’t want to awkwardly pretend to know and add to the crime of being insolent. Didn’t he demand 2% more from that ‘Van Daer’ earlier because they were being insolent? So right now, she would have to prostrate herself flat and cater to Seol Ji-hyuk’s mood.

“But if you just go to Korea with me, I will do my absolute best to assist you.”

Politely gathering her two hands on her lap, she even bowed her head. Staring intently at that sight, Ji-hyuk picked up the business card on the table. His long fingers even turned Hong-joo’s business card this way and that.

“Business is a mutual transaction.”

Then, he casually tossed the business card onto the table, toss. Atop the luxurious mahogany table, Hong-joo’s business card landed solitarily like a fallen leaf with its string cut. She wondered if her own business card, with its gold letters flashing on a white background, was always that small and shabby. Perhaps it felt that way because of Ji-hyuk’s arrogant attitude, as if facing something trivial.

“A transaction is established when there is something to mutually buy and sell.”

Ji-hyuk gestured at the business card with cool eyes.

“To me, a lawyer of your level is a dime a dozen and then some.” “…” “It means you fall far short as an item of transaction.”

A lawyer of your level? Even if I look like this, I am a lawyer affiliated with a law firm that ranks in the TOP 3 of South Korea. I even receive former post privileges, having a background as a prosecutor. Look at the business card, too. How luxurious it is. Letters were engraved in metallic gold on the highest quality kraft paper. However, just as Ji-hyuk said, it was an item of transaction that fell far short of buying Seol Ji-hyuk’s time.

If so, what should I appeal to? There must be something Seol Ji-hyuk would covet… Ji-hyuk pressed Hong-joo, who was sitting still and racking her brain.

“If you want to make a transaction with me, shouldn’t you put forth what I need.”

Hong-joo furrowed her brow.

“I’m acting like this because I don’t know what you need. If it’s frustrating, you could just teach me.”

You always taught me. You taught me everything. Can’t you teach me a little this time, too? Just then, Ji-hyuk spat out words abruptly, as if bouncing them off.

“If you really don’t know, sell some information at least.”

…Information?

“What information?”

Having emptied a full glass of water, Ji-hyuk placed the water glass down on the table and said,

“Who is behind you?” “…?” “Sister-in-law? Or Brother-in-law?”

She wondered what kind of question this was.

“Of course it’s Chairman Seol Byeong-joo.”

Even at her suddenly enlarged voice, Seol Ji-hyuk’s face remained simply calm. He began his interrogation, sharply glinting the pitch-black pupils embedded in his mysterious grayish-brown eyes.

“Trainee, why did you quit.”

Trainee? Why is he curious about that at this point?

“Because it was hard?” “If you lie, I won’t go with you.”

At Ji-hyuk’s threat pouring out with venomous eyes, Hong-joo put tight strength into her lips, causing the area under her chin to wrinkle like a walnut. Ji-hyuk pressed such a Hong-joo once again.

“Answer.”

Reluctantly, Hong-joo opened her mouth.

“To catch you, Seol Ji-hyuk.” “…What?” “I did it to go find you. Happy?”

The rims of Hong-joo’s eyes dyed red.

Beep, beep, beep.

As she unlocked the front door and opened it, the sound of scurrying footsteps could be heard from inside. It was the sound of her housemate Mi-ji, who had noticed Hong-joo’s return, running over. Following that, the inner door burst open.

“Baek Hong-joo!”

Mi-ji, who had come running calling her name, was in her pajamas.

“I’m back.”

Taking off her shoes and smiling brightly, Hong-joo checked the time. The watch sitting obediently on her left wrist indicated 4:38 PM. Hong-joo wrinkled the bridge of her nose.

“Did you not go to work today?”

For Mi-ji, the deputy manager of a luxury brand flagship store in Cheongdam-dong, to be home at this time, she wondered what was going on.

“I took an annual leave. I thought if you didn’t return, I’d have to go to Macau to look for you.”

Towards Mi-ji, who delivered a lame joke with a serious face, Hong-joo smiled again.

“What’s with the fuss?” “Fuss?”

Following behind Hong-joo, Mi-ji chattered away.

“If Baek Hong-joo goes to meet her first love who smashed her head in and doesn’t come back, naturally I’d think something terrible happened.”

Hong-joo stopped in her tracks. Stopping along with her, Mi-ji finished her words.

“It’s not like you have parents or siblings. I’m your only friend. I’m your guardian, so of course I should make a fuss. If you had been just a little bit later, I was going to report it to the police, me.” “Mi-ji.”

Turning around, Hong-joo let out a deep sigh.

“I keep telling you it wasn’t him.” “Again, again.”

Raising her index finger towards such a Hong-joo, Mi-ji wagged it and gave her a sideways glance.

“Look at you defending him because he’s your first love.” “I’m not defending him…”

At that moment, Hong-joo’s gaze fell upon the living room television. Filling the screen, along with the red letters saying “Breaking News,” was the scene of Seol Ji-hyuk entering the country through Incheon Airport.

[Breaking News] [Director Seol Ji-hyuk, Second Son of the Late Chairman Seol Byeong-joo of Myeongmun Group, Enters the Country]

Amidst the thick, bold letters passing by quickly, camera flashes burst loudly. Mi-ji pointed at the screen with her chin.

“It’s been doing that since earlier, calling it breaking news.”

Receiving the barrage of flashes pouring out from the screen, Seol Ji-hyuk extended his long legs. His gorgeous features catching the light created alluring shadows, further highlighting his handsome face. His physique, which couldn’t be fully expressed with the word ‘tall and well-built,’ made even the black suit indicating mourning look like something out of a glamorous runway.

“Anyway, Senior Seol Ji-hyuk is still wonderful, huh?”

As if it weren’t just in Hong-joo’s eyes, Mi-ji added a word.

“Is he just wonderful? Everyone is making a huge fuss right now, asking where the late Chairman Seol Byeong-joo hid such a sexy guy all this time and is only putting him out now.”

Right. He should have brought him back much earlier. No, that shouldn’t have happened from the very beginning. Why should returning Seol Ji-hyuk to his rightful place be such a difficult task? Hong-joo let out a deep sigh.

“The ground’s going to cave in.”

At Hong-joo’s sigh, Mi-ji interfered.

“Why the sigh after coming back from meeting your first love oppa? You should be flying around, saying you’re dying of happiness.”

Hong-joo smiled weakly with a lackadaisical face and answered roughly.

“Yeah, I’m dying of happiness. Because I met my first love oppa.”

As she put down her handbag onto the sofa as if tossing it and unbuttoned her coat, Mi-ji tilted her head with a puzzled face.

“What is this reaction? Is it something like, you met Seol Ji-hyuk and he wasn’t the same as before?”

Hong-joo’s hands, which had been unbuttoning, stopped abruptly.