It was when Young frowned at the feather-light attitude. Joo Won-ho took a step closer and stood slightly attached. Then, still with a face full of interest, he said.
“So, how long do you think it’ll take to resolve the Bio site?”
He couldn’t quite grasp what he wanted and what he was saying. Young deliberately showed an even more indifferent attitude.
“It depends on how great the people are and how deeply they’re entangled. You’re asking something obvious.”
“As you know, with our family’s level, there’s nothing we can’t do, but it’s fascinating that your side can do things we can’t. So I was curious what’s different and how.”
“……”
“Do you really solve things by smashing and beating people up like that?”
Joo Won-ho seemed quite interested. It was to the extent of creating the illusion that he was discussing gossip that popped up at a drinking table.
“Related people committing suicide, going missing—do articles come out and things wrap up like that?”
Young silently watched him add that, then slowly opened his mouth.
“If you don’t grasp the situation and mess around, that could happen. Either bury them so quietly that not even mice or birds know, or leave them just barely alive to lie down for life only rolling their eyeballs.”
It was a tone that would feel natural with “like you” attached at the beginning. Whether he had any sense, Joo Won-ho hesitated for a moment.
But that was only briefly. A relieved expression crossed Joo Won-ho’s face, which had been frightened.
“Ugh, how fierce. I can’t even talk to you.”
Young closely observed the other party acting awkwardly.
It was intuition. Coming out of nowhere, being rude as naturally as breathing, then immediately changing attitude just because he got scared a bit to match his level. Even if he dismissed it as an incompetent guy clumsily playing thug, something felt off.
“……”
Sure enough, caught. Shadows fell on the jacket pocket he’d been carefully wearing even inside the house. It was such a subtle bulge that it would have been difficult to discover if it weren’t for the hallway light falling from directly above.
Young extended his hand without warning. Immediately rummaging through the pocket, a very thin recorder came out.
“Ah, shit!”
“What. Going to spread rumors that I’m a person with ruined character?”
“Insurance, insurance!”
“What?”
“I don’t know what might happen, so I need to have something on hand…”
Even without knowing, he didn’t seem like a bright guy.
‘What would he do with a gangster speaking a bit harshly?’
Young scoffed inwardly. Then he indifferently gestured with his chin as if the other wasn’t even worth dealing with anymore. It meant he was done so go back to the living room first.
Joo Won-ho hesitated as if to make more excuses but eventually took the first step. Only after the footsteps completely faded did Young blow up his bangs with a huff.
The grandfather opposed, saying it couldn’t happen even if dirt entered his eyes, while the siblings were already scheming about how to use him well where needed and then dump him. It was absurd and ridiculous, but on the other hand, it made him more stubborn.
Minimum 3 years, maximum 5 years.
He had planned to complete exactly 3 years and fly overseas as a splendid single. But since everyone says no, no, he felt like stubbornly sticking around for the full 5 years. It felt like only tearing out every possible benefit by sticking right next to them would satisfy him.
Or, during the contract period, do his best to ransack all of Joomyeong.
The option of quitting the marriage at this point because it was dirty and petty didn’t exist anywhere.
***
As soon as Young returned from the bathroom, the meal began.
Chairman Joo, who had been determined to never face Young, was also there. Young equipped his outwardly gentle appearance and approached the meal.
It seemed they definitely hadn’t reached a mutually satisfactory agreement about the marriage. That’s what Chairman Joo’s extremely displeased complexion said, and judging by the behavior of the Joo family members who couldn’t even open their mouths while watching the absolute monarch’s mood, it was certain.
“……”
In the heavy silence, Young chewed his rice thoroughly. While doing so, he glanced at those gathered around the table.
President Joo. A person who took the drastic step of a political marriage with a giant of the underground economy to secure the next president position. Judging from the content of the argument with the chairman, he treated his children as assets for business.
Joo Seong-jin. Eldest son. The only one among the three brothers playing the alpha role, setting aside the beta Kyung-heon and the senseless Joo Won-ho. Probably seen as the material to succeed President Joo, with an upright and model image.
Joo Kyung-heon. Seems lacking somewhere but straightforward. Note: Outstanding in appearance. Resembles Chairman Joo.
Joo Won-ho. Not smart and quite thuggish, but the youngest who maintains the prestige of a chaebol family at least in front of adults, with strict discipline. A coward.
With this much, he’d grasped the atmosphere of this side’s household. Young swallowed the few remaining grains of rice in his mouth. Then, wearing a bright smile and in a gentle voice, he broke the silence.
“Grandfather, there are so many delicious side dishes, why are you only eating soup?”
It was the guest breaking the heavy air that no one could break. Not enough with just that—calling the Joomyeong Group president “Grandfather” on first meeting.
The sight of the Joo alphas all showing bewilderment at once was quite worth seeing. Especially the implicit successor Joo Seong-jin even moved his lips as if to stop him. But this side was faster.
“The bulgogi is tender and delicious. Please try it.”
Young smiled freshly while moving the plate containing bulgogi closer to Chairman Joo.
***
Now he’d become indifferent, fed up with the family members’ attention that crossed between restraint and affection, but in fact, Young had been the youngest who ruled the entire household with cuteness. It meant he could do affectionate things, pretty things as much as he wanted if he set his mind to it.
So did he do that to receive affection from someone who regarded him unfavorably? That wasn’t it.
He used a method that would work on the obstacle to his independence. Seeing as all the sons were stiff and rigid, he aimed for that gap.
Wasn’t that right? It would be useless to logically list the advantages of this marriage in front of these stone-like people. He would just look like a shrewd omega blinded by the opportunity for identity laundering.
They probably wouldn’t listen to a single word properly and would leave. So he acted extremely ingratiating, and the effect was good.
‘Are you uncomfortable because of me? Still, please don’t hate me too much.’
Up until then, it was about him at least looking this way, that level.
‘I know Kyung-heon ssi is precious. He looks exactly like you, Grandfather, so his appearance is good, and though I don’t know well yet, I can tell his depths are deep and his nature is excellent.’
Whether it was because of the resembling face or what, when he praised Kyung-heon, whom he cherished greatly, even the way he looked changed. He seemed pleased that someone recognized the inner self of his pitiful grandson who was subtly excluded for being a beta.
Young caught that sign immediately. And regardless of what reaction Kyung-heon showed next to him, he used him as a front to sing pleasant verses two and three times.
There was reward.
‘I’m confident I can support you whatever you do. If you need help, I’ll help as much as I can.’
By the time he made his final appeal saying “Please give me your grandson!”, Chairman Joo’s complexion had softened smoothly.
It wasn’t that there were encouraging responses like “Yes, help him a lot” or “I’m grateful even just for the words.” Still, he could clearly tell. The fact that Chairman Joo’s position, which had been absolute, absolute, absolute opposition, had weakened to just opposition.
It seemed the marriage would be established without difficulty at this level. Though he hadn’t completely won the grandfather’s heart, if he’d done this much, the rest of the persuasion would be resolved by President Joo, who was in urgent circumstances.
Young crossed the garden with light steps. While doing so, he glanced at the cell phone he took out from his pocket.
Noona
I’m on standby below. Contact me when you’re done and I’ll come up.
He’d said he’d go alone, but his noona, unable to wait even that long, was already on standby. Still, she seemed to have read Young’s mood somewhat. Seeing as she was at the bottom of the hill rather than in front of the house.
His younger hyung, who had volunteered as a driver for the first meeting with Kyung-heon, and his noona, who had come all the way here to pick him up—they were all the same. It wasn’t that they were supporting the precious youngest in case he got tired, but monitoring him in case he went off somewhere alone to meet some scoundrel.
At best, with friends. And even then, going out alone was only permitted when meeting Seong-jae, who was also a beta. Even that was a brief freedom obtained after years of struggle.
Young clicked his tongue quietly. It was around the time he walked a few more steps through the splendid garden.
