She even eloped for love against the opposition of family elders who wanted an heir, but they eventually had to separate. Lee Sujin left to study in England. Jeong Gyuwan didn’t marry and after making an heir, he finally received approval to marry Lee Sujin.
Unable to give birth to her husband’s child, the child born by another woman was raised by her mother-in-law. Nevertheless, the reason Lee Sujin’s position could remain unshakably solid was because of Jeong Gyuwan’s full support. Like alphas commonly do, he too devoted himself to his omega.
Although Lee Sujin had built an image of an elegant and flawless chaebol family lady externally, she was weak toward her grandchildren. Especially toward Seunggeon.
It was Lee Sujin who raised Seunggeon after he was left alone following his parents’ divorce. To Lee Sujin, who couldn’t bear her own child, Seunggeon was almost like a son. She felt sorry for Seunggeon who couldn’t rest properly even on weekends and had to be summoned by his grandfather.
“What on earth did he call you for today?”
“It’s nothing much.”
“As if it would be nothing much. If you look carefully, you have the exact same personality as your grandfather. Both of you are sparing with words. Fine. I’ll ask your grandfather.”
Seunggeon couldn’t add any explanation to Lee Sujin’s conclusion. It was quite a long story to explain with his own mouth.
Having arrived at the main house, Seunggeon couldn’t meet his maternal grandfather right away. It was because it coincided with his maternal grandfather Jeong Gyuwan’s rehabilitation treatment time. And since his maternal grandmother Lee Sujin was already out, Seunggeon spent time alone quietly.
Only after waiting for nearly an hour could he meet Jeong Gyuwan. As soon as he saw Seunggeon, he got straight to the point.
As Seunggeon expected, the third small-grandfather who had arranged the blind date had come directly to the main house and lamented about how this could happen. He complained about being thoroughly humiliated because of his young great-nephew. Jeong Gyuwan didn’t reprimand Seunggeon about that matter. He only asked what he was going to do.
Seunggeon’s maternal grandfather, Jeong Gyuwan, wasn’t appearing in public due to the left side of his face and left arm being paralyzed from the effects of a stroke. Instead, Seunggeon came to the forefront with the title of CEO.
Although he was being called the successor, in fact, Seunggeon thought he was a stepping stone.
Jeong Gyuwan had two children, one daughter and one son. He tried to make his second child and eldest son, Jeong Sehyeok, his successor and pass everything on to him. However, Jeong Sehyeok died from acute myocardial infarction 8 years ago. He had married but had no children.
Having lost his successor, Jeong Gyuwan turned his eyes to the grandson born by his daughter. His first child and eldest daughter, Jeong Seah, had given birth to two sons through two marriages and two divorces. Seunggeon, who had developed defects as aftereffects from the accident over 10 years ago, was out of the question from the start. The successor became Seunggeon’s half-brother, Yoo Chanhyeok.
However, Yoo Chanhyeok was only a first-year high school student now. When Jeong Gyuwan collapsed, he was only sixteen years old. So Seunggeon returned from America and filled that position.
Therefore, the relationship between Jeong Gyuwan and Seunggeon was closer to business partners than grandfather and grandson.
Seunggeon had no attachment whatsoever to Taehwa Group itself. The reason he took on the troublesome work was because Lee Sujin had earnestly pleaded. That’s why Seunggeon hoped Jeong Gyuwan would fully regain his health and return as chairman.
A strategic marriage that would obviously become a lifelong shackle was absurd. No, precisely, Seunggeon had no intention of marriage at all. The problem of feeling pheromones of manifestors as nauseating was one thing, but more than that, he was skeptical about the institution of marriage itself. The marriage relationships Seunggeon had seen so far were tiresome contracts where they either endlessly consumed each other’s emotions or lived like strangers.
Despite Seunggeon’s values, there were many people aiming for Taehwa Group through marriage with Seunggeon. Once he started giving them an opening, things would get complicated in an instant. Seunggeon declared he would respond firmly. Then Jeong Gyuwan told him to do as he wished. Instead, he informed him that he’d said the same thing to the third small-grandfather.
‘If you’re going to step on them instead of appeasing them, do it thoroughly. So they’ll never look down on you again.’
The advice to his business partner and young grandson was brutal. While he could tolerate relatives throwing nagging disguised as well-wishes, if they stepped up without knowing their place, there was no need to go easy on them. He had to be thorough so it could become an example to prevent the same thing from happening again. Even in the midst of this, Jeong Gyuwan telling both sides to do as they wished meant he was properly setting up a fight.
Seunggeon clicked his tongue at Jeong Gyuwan’s duplicity. If he wasn’t capable enough, he’d end up having to marry even though he hated it.
Explaining all of that to Lee Sujin was a complicated situation. In the first place, Seunggeon didn’t have such a warm personality.
“Come to think of it, what about dinner? Should I send you a simple lunchbox? What will you do?”
Only after crossing the garden and arriving at the parking lot did Lee Sujin ask as if just remembering. Among the family members, those who knew about Seunggeon’s aftereffects could be counted on one hand. Among them, the only person who worried about and took care of Seunggeon’s food, clothing, shelter, and health was Lee Sujin.
Unable to taste, Seunggeon would eat shakes or nutritional supplements as meal replacements when it was bothersome, and Lee Sujin hated that terribly. So she sent lunchboxes to Seunggeon, who lived independently, every morning.
If he had no schedule, he would have obediently asked for a lunchbox, but today was different. Tonight he’d promised to eat bulgogi with Chaehun.
Chaehun, who said he’d bought new workout clothes and shoes and was running hard, strongly insisted on Seoul-style bulgogi for the dinner menu. Then he posted links to three famous bulgogi restaurants in Seoul in the message window and gave Seunggeon the choice. Seunggeon picked the place that seemed to have the best side dishes. This time, Chaehun was full of spirit, saying he would treat.
When eating with Chaehun, who ate well without being picky, Seunggeon would inadvertently eat even one more bite. For Seunggeon, whose food intake was terrible, it was quite an encouraging thing.
Seunggeon answered while thinking of Chaehun.
“I have an appointment.”
“Really? Then tomorrow morning? Two servings like last week?”
“Yes. Please do that.”
Only after answering did Seunggeon realize his mistake. Last week he’d ordered two servings of lunchbox through Shim Jeongmin, so he wondered how Lee Sujin knew. Sure enough, Lee Sujin smiled very meaningfully.
“Seunggeon-ah.”
“Yes, Grandmother.”
“Be careful going home.”
Seunggeon smiled seeing Lee Sujin who only greeted without asking anything. At times like this, he felt like Son Goku playing in Buddha’s palm.
“You’re not asking anything else?”
“If I ask, will you answer?”
“He’s a man, a beta. A civilian. Someone unrelated to this side. For the rest, check with Director Shim.”
Along with Chaehun’s most basic information, Seunggeon stated the precautions. He didn’t think Lee Sujin would just confirm and end it there. Since she still thought of her thirty-year-old grandson as young, it was obvious she’d do what she could as a guardian.
He had no particular intention of hiding Chaehun’s existence. As long as he kept secret what his utility was, that was enough. Even Chaehun himself didn’t know that, but still, he had to be careful about what needed caution. Chaehun was a civilian unrelated to this world.
“Your explanation is so bleak. I understand. I’ll ask Director Shim.”
“I’ll be going now.”
“Be careful.”
After exchanging simple greetings, Seunggeon got in the car. And he said to Shim Jeongmin, who got in after him.
“If Grandmother asks, tell her as it is.”
“Will it be alright regarding the contract-related matters?”
“If she knows half-heartedly, that would be more problematic.”
“Understood.”
Seunggeon didn’t particularly think Lee Sujin would do anything to Chaehun.
Lee Sujin had felt sorry for Seunggeon all along since the incident over 10 years ago. She especially felt regretful about the fact that Seunggeon, who perceived pheromone scents as foul odors, couldn’t find his match. Whether Chaehun was a beta or not, if she knew he’d been meeting Seunggeon for several months, she might be pleased.
But in the end, it was a contract traded for money. Perhaps Lee Sujin might nag him saying he shouldn’t do that.
So far, the relationship with Chaehun had been quite satisfactory.
Chaehun’s character was decent. He didn’t show any particular reaction even to the name Taehwa Group. He just treated him as a nasty classmate he’d met after a long time. After learning that he’d lost his memories from high school, he actually treated him even more kindly.
It had already been 4 months since meeting Chaehun. He had no complaints about Chaehun, but the problem was that during that time, Seunggeon’s symptoms hadn’t improved at all. When he was with Chaehun, he could feel taste and scent, but it still lasted only 3 days at most. The attending physician said since imaginary imprinting was a variable, nothing could be certain.
Four months was a short period to expect dramatic effects. Still, Seunggeon thought about what came next. The irresponsible hypothesis’s conclusion was ultimately just sex.
If it remained the same even after a year passed, he had no choice but to contract with Chaehun again. That wasn’t very difficult. He could shake him using his greedy siblings as a weakness, or his ever-increasing debt. The soft-hearted guy wouldn’t be able to shake off his family even knowing they were a burden.
Having thought that far, Seunggeon inwardly clicked his tongue. Separate from trying to use Chaehun’s weakness, he really didn’t like seeing him being taken advantage of by his family like a pushover.
It was the same today. Chaehun couldn’t say much to his older brother who was unilaterally venting and made a gloomy face.
