Sure enough, the hyenas with greasy faces approached.
“Hehe, so this is the grandson of the late Chairman Seong’s household that we’ve only heard rumors about.”
“Indeed, what a handsome young man. The late Chairman Seong was truly a remarkable person as well.”
“That’s right. He donated to many good causes while he was alive. Everyone is very interested in how you plan to manage his estate. What would be Director Do’s esteemed opinion on this…?”
Dowon wrapped his arm more tightly around Yeohwi’s waist and greeted the attendees with a perfect, cold smile.
“My husband is still young, so business education comes first. He needs to graduate first.”
“So he’s still in school. Then, which university…?”
“He’s on leave from where he was attending. We’re looking into Manhattan.”
“Ah! New York University. Soon he’ll be an alumnus of President Choi over there.”
Manhattan?
New York University?
It was completely the first time he was hearing this, but Yeohwi didn’t fumble and smiled like a pure and beautiful trophy as he had learned from him. His pink lips parted slightly, revealing his white teeth beautifully.
At that moment, whispering sounds stuck cloyingly to Yeohwi’s ears.
While there were those who approached wearing masks of pretended politeness, it seemed there were also those who showed blatant evaluation and contempt from behind.
“That kid? The only bloodline Chairman Seong left behind?”
People holding champagne glasses murmured with their backs turned.
“Lost his parents at a young age and lived taking care of his grandfather with dementia, right? Tsk tsk, his background was the only good thing, what a rough life.”
“By the way, even Director Dowon, who was on a roll, is finished now. Looking at how he was matched up with such a young kid, it means Chairman Do has a different successor in mind.”
“President Do Jingyu was always the frontrunner anyway. After all, on Korean soil, the picture of the eldest son inheriting the family looks better, obviously.”
“Oh my, it’s pitiful too. How desperate must he have been to secretly marry without even having a wedding ceremony, fleeing like that…?”
Unpleasant gazes swept over Yeohwi’s body. They weren’t looking at a person, but rather eyes appraising damaged goods that had lost value. Normally, one would feel humiliated and want to run away, but Yeohwi instead pressed his lips to Dowon’s ear and whispered.
“Honey, people keep staring.”
“……”
“They must be jealous because we look so good together. Right?”
Dowon tightened his grip on the hand wrapped around Yeohwi’s waist and replied in a low voice.
“Right. Don’t mind them.”
That’s how the party ripened, and it was around the time champagne had made a few rounds.
The heavy doors of Dynasty Hall, which had been closed, opened.
The atmosphere in the venue instantly became heavy.
“President Do Jingyu has arrived.”
The group that arrived late stepped in confidently as if walking on a red carpet. It was Do Jingyu and his family, who were considered the real power behind KD Group recently.
They walked arrogantly with their chins raised as if they were the hosts of this party.
The crowd parted like the Red Sea.
Do Jingyu, who led the way, scanned the interior while receiving greetings from the people swarming toward him. After a moment, he spotted Yeohwi standing with Dowon and sent a contemptuous gaze while curling up the corners of his mouth.
And the next moment, Do Jingyu whispered something to his son Do Jinsang who was following behind. Do Jinsang also looked this way and smirked.
“…That’s Do Jinsang.”
Yeohwi whispered quietly.
Dowon didn’t reply. He didn’t even give him a glance.
There was no need. Because Do Jingyu was approaching them. Behind him followed his son Do Jinsang with a cocky attitude, wearing a sneer at the corners of his mouth.
“Well, well, who do we have here. If it isn’t our busy nephew.”
Do Jingyu blocked Dowon’s way. It was an attitude of putting on airs and trying to press down on Dowon with authority.
Dowon gently pushed Yeohwi behind his back and bowed his head.
“You’ve arrived, Uncle.”
“Congratulations on your marriage. You ran off to have a secret marriage without even holding a ceremony, sesame seeds must be pouring out of you.”
Do Jingyu’s gaze swept over Yeohwi hiding behind Dowon.
“Bringing a young husband into your home must have changed your thinking a bit. That’s right, Wonah. It’s time to put company work aside. You need to look after your home first. Relax and leave KD to me. Jinsang will fill your empty seat well.”
It was a clear provocation. Ears around them perked up.
But Dowon smiled leisurely without batting an eye and countered.
“There’s no need for your consideration. Thanks to my spouse’s support, those troublesome overseas subsidiary issues are actually being resolved very well.”
“…What?”
Do Jingyu’s eyebrows twitched. Dowon smiled broadly and drove the wedge in.
“So Uncle, you should take care of your health instead. The prosecutor’s investigation has been troublesome lately, if you overdo it, you’ll have problems.”
“You, impertinent… No, well. You’re still as recklessly bold as ever. You must want to protect your last bit of pride that way. This uncle understands everything.”
Do Jingyu stepped back while acting like a kind and generous family elder. But veins bulged in his neck.
Do Jingyu, suppressing his surging anger, signaled with his eyes to his son Do Jinsang who was standing behind him.
“I’ll be going now. Adults shouldn’t interfere with the kids having fun. You two haven’t seen each other in a while, so say hello.”
As Do Jingyu left, Do Jinsang approached as if he had been waiting.
He was wearing a flashy golden vest that was expensive but looked vulgar no matter how you looked at it, with a red tie, and had several thick gold rings on his fingers. He held a drink in those hands and spun it around.
“Father, really. What’s the point of greeting when we already know each other’s faces.”
Do Jinsang spoke as if friendly, but if you listened carefully, in a mocking tone.
It was exactly as predicted—100 percent picking a fight.
“If you’re going to do it, do it with someone you’re meeting for the first time. Oh, is this the famous last heir of the Seong family?”
He didn’t even glance at Dowon and immediately focused on Yeohwi. He seemed eager to quickly pick a fight with Dowon’s young husband.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Do Jinsang. I’m Dowon’s closest cousin hyung.”
He extended his hand ostentatiously, but instead of taking that hand, Yeohwi smiled brightly and just bowed his head lightly. The other side didn’t really intend to shake hands anyway.
“Wow, I heard the rumors but the real thing is much more… how should I put it, young.”
He blatantly looked Yeohwi up and down as if appraising him.
“I didn’t know our Won had this kind of taste. He always acted so high and mighty, I thought he was keeping his chastity because there was no one up to his standards… Isn’t this just disgusting pedophilia?”
Due to his rather loud voice, attention immediately focused on them. As if the music had stopped, all eyes turned to them.
Yeohwi felt strength enter Dowon’s arm that was wrapped around him.
He pulled Yeohwi even closer to himself as if protecting him and took a step forward. A low, chilling voice directed toward Do Jinsang.
“Hyung-nim.”
Surprisingly, Dowon was smiling.
Even if his pitch-black eyes weren’t, at least the corners of his mouth bore a perfect social smile.
“This is the 75th anniversary founding party. I can’t let the vulgar slip of the tongue carelessly uttered by hyung-nim, a member of the KD Group owner family, decorate the gossip columns.”
“What?”
Do Jinsang was momentarily speechless, then soon wrinkled his face in displeasure.
“Ha! I didn’t ask you.”
Ignoring Dowon, he turned his gaze back to Yeohwi. Then he looked disgustingly over Yeohwi, who was held in Dowon’s arms, with contempt.
“I’m asking our family’s new member here, so why are you butting in? Come on, answer me.”
Do Jinsang flicked Yeohwi’s chin with his finger.
“Don’t tell me you’re such a stupid kid that you can’t even answer a word? Did Dowon teach you to just whimper in bed?”
It was a provocation that crossed the line.
Just as Dowon was about to cut him off coldly, Yeohwi spoke first.
“Um, I’m not sure what you mean. I just married Dowon-ssi because I like him.”
“Seong Yeohwi.”
Dowon tried to stop him, but Yeohwi didn’t back down. He even blushed as if shy and smiled. And he looked at Do Jinsang with innocent eyes.
“Dowon-ssi really has ability. Not ability that relies on parents and acts out, but ability he achieved on his own from a young age. People like that are rare.”
“…What, this little bastard?”
Do Jinsang’s face crumpled instantly.
Wonah (원아) – Male (nickname for Dowon)
