episode_0022

Saturday night. Seolhee’s birthday.

Hyeyoon and I got into the limousine.

Hye-yoon wore a bright red dress. It was a sexy dress that an actress would wear at a famous film festival.

“I’ve never been to a party like this.”

As I opened my mouth, feeling very nervous, Hye-yoon checked her makeup with a hand mirror and answered.

“It’s okay. It’s nothing. Just…… hang out and chat. The invitation says it’s a standing party, right?”

I glanced at Hye-yoon’s chest.

My eyes keep going in that direction. It’s a dress that seems to show off a large mid-size…

My face turned bright red for some reason, so I coughed and opened my mouth again.

“I don’t think you were this big when you were young. Did you have surgery?”

“That’s an insulting question.”

Hyeyoon answered, slamming the lid of the hand mirror shut.

“I’m surprisingly timid. I’ve never cut myself. I’ve never touched my double eyelids. What.”

“That, right? Ha- No. That’s what it is……. When we left the Saehui Hope Orphanage, he was just like a skinny kid, but when I saw him after a long time, he had changed a lot…….”

“I grew taller and my chest grew slower. I think it’s because I didn’t eat well during my orphanage days.”

While they were talking like that, the limousine arrived at the building where the party was being held.

“The youngest daughter of the chairman of Hwarang Group’s birthday party……. I’m looking forward to that too.”

Hyeyoon whispered as she sprayed perfume on her body for the last time.

“Will I meet the chairman of the Hwarang Group when I go?”

Hyeyoon answered my question by spraying perfume on my shoulder.

“Of course. I think this is my first time meeting that guy……. Don’t worry about that. Roasting old farts is my specialty.”

***

The party was held in a small building.

From the entrance of the building, security guards guarding the perimeter carefully inspected the invitations.

When Hye-yoon got out of the limousine, everyone’s attention was focused on her.

Black Emily’s boss had a very definite presence right from the start.

It feels like a deep flower that emits a clear magical power to the surroundings.

A captivating appearance, an overwhelming and powerful aura, and a presence that draws the attention of those around them would be similar to an actor on a stage.

As Hye-yoon and I got out of the car, we saw the bodyguards talking urgently on the walkie-talkie.

Ah… So an important and dangerous guest has arrived, so be on guard.

Hyeyoon, who was looking straight ahead with intense eyes, held my arm tightly and whispered.

“Okay. Go.”

“Isn’t it dangerous? What if Red Cross tries to assassinate me……”

“You can be safe here. Hwarang Group is a conglomerate that spends a lot of money on security and protection. Look at the bodyguards around you. They all look capable, right?”

Well… if there is an assassination attempt on Hye-yoon, this is not the right place.

By the way, Seolhee said it was a small party… This is not a small party.

Maybe it’s because I don’t have any experience in this area. There are a lot of people.

This is a small and simple party? By the standards of a conglomerate, I guess.

It’s really shocking. From the perspective of a job seeker who doesn’t even have a proper job, everything looks incredibly plentiful.

As we entered the building, the people who had gathered there quickly avoided us like the Red Sea parting.

To be exact, it wasn’t that he was avoiding us, it was that he was avoiding Hye-yoon.

“Oh my. Hye-yoon!”

Seol-hee, wearing a white dress, called Hye-yoon from over there.

Seol-hee, wearing a spotless white dress, came towards us with a steady step.

It’s a dress that clearly reveals the shoulders and collarbone.

Seolhee has really nice skin.

“Thank you for coming to my birthday party to celebrate the food. Would you like a drink?”

When Seol-hee held out a glass of cocktail, Hye-yoon took it and smiled as she answered.

“Happy birthday, Miss. My birthday is at the end of the year…. Does that mean I’m your little sister?”

“Well… If you really want to go into detail about my age, then that’s what it would be like. But it’s not like you’re going to call me unnie, right?”

“Of course. ”

Hyeyoon answered like that and took a sip of her cocktail.

At this party, Hye-yoon and Seol-hee’s presence was very distinct.

It wasn’t necessarily because they were beautiful or pretty. It was more like an ambitious energy that seemed to be strongly radiating only from the two women.

These two women seem to have everyone’s attention.

Seol-hee, who offered me a glass, smiled pleasantly, frowning.

“Anyway, you came. I didn’t prepare anything, but please eat a lot. Did you bring a present?”

gift?

You didn’t think about that?

I was like, oh no.

I never even thought about giving a gift to a rich girl.

Fuck… Isn’t it a gift just for this body to come to the party?

I cleared my throat and tried to open my mouth leisurely.

“Heh. The real gift is that I came to this party-”

Then Hye-yoon intervened.

“I brought you a sapphire necklace as a gift. My men will bring it to you soon. What do you think?”

There was a subtle and awkward silence.

Seol-hee answered with an awkward smile, as if she had just had a drink.

“Oh, thank you. I never thought I would receive a birthday present from Hye-yoon…….”

“Then. It’s the birthday party of the youngest daughter that Chairman Yoo of Hwarang Group cherishes……. Of course, I have to give her a gift. A birthday gift from a man would be enough if it was given by a boyfriend or fiancé, right?”

Hyeyoon and Seolhee had a brief stare contest, hiding their emotions behind smiles.

Do I really have to come all the way here and create such an awkward atmosphere? I’m having a birthday party?

When I thought it wouldn’t work out, I intervened and made a comment to change the mood.

“You said it was a small and simple party… But there are a lot of people? Are all chaebol parties like this?”

“Oh my. It’s a really small party. It’s just a standing party using only one large hall. My brother rents out the whole building when he throws a birthday party. ”

Oh, is that so?

When I made a dumbfounded expression, Seol-hee covered her mouth and chuckled.

Only when Seol-hee smiled sincerely did the mood seem to lighten up a bit.

Hyeyoon looked Seolhee up and down and asked.

“Miss. Where did you get your dress? You’re wearing a pretty dress.”

“Oh? This? We have a dedicated designer working in our group. Shall I tell you who it is?”

“At least leave your business card. I have a lot of parties to go to.”

That’s how Hye-yoon and Seol-hee talked.

The eyes of the surrounding people were focused on us. I felt it for sure.

Especially young men in black tuxedos sipped cocktails or wine and glanced at us.

To be exact, it’s not us, but Hyeyoon and Seolhee…

Just then an old man dressed in a neat suit approached us from over there.

I was so surprised that I stood at attention without realizing it.

I’ve seen it a lot on the news. It’s Hwarang Group Chairman Yoo Seon-ho.

“Chairman Bin. Thank you for coming to my daughter’s birthday party. I hope this girl is a bit of a tomboy, so she won’t cause trouble for Chairman Bin…….”

Chairman Yoo approached us with a polite, business-like smile.

He always spoke politely to Hye-yoon, who was the same age as his youngest daughter, and even called her “Chairwoman.”

Hyeyoon also smiled a businesslike smile and shook hands with Chairman Yoo.

“Oh my. Chairman. Nice to meet you. I wanted to meet you once……. I’m glad we met like this. You raised your daughter very well.”

“Oh my. That’s too much praise. Can I talk to you for a moment? I’d like to talk business with Chairman Bin.”

Hyeyoon smiled brightly and nodded slightly. Then she whispered softly in my ear.

“I’ll go talk to you for a minute. Wait.”

“Yeah.”

Hye-yoon let go of my arm and walked towards Chairman Yoo.

“What did you bring Hye-yoon here to talk about?”

When I asked while looking at her back, Seol-hee quickly came next to me and answered.

“My dad originally wanted to meet Bin Hye-yoon. No matter what, Bin Hye-yoon is the most successful mafia right now. But my dad would have been surprised too. It was the first time Bin Hye-yoon came to a conglomerate’s birthday party.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Think about it. Bin Hye-yoon hasn’t been in the boss position for long. And she’s picky about parties. Did Bin Hye-yoon come here today because of some calculation?”

Yes. Maybe Hye-yoon also wanted to meet Chairman Yoo Seon-ho.

So that’s why you came to the party… Of course there are other reasons too…

While I was thinking like that, Seol-hee grabbed my left arm and asked with a smile.

“Are you still living there?”

“Where? Hyeyoon’s house?”

“Yeah.”

……Oops. Seol-hee grabs my arm and holds me close, so I can briefly look down at her chest.

It’s smaller than Hye-yoon, but it’s still pretty…….

Oh my. I can’t believe I’m thinking this at this very moment.

I cleared my throat and answered.

“I still owe Hye-yoon a favor, but I don’t plan on staying there forever. I’ll get a job, save up money, and then I’ll move out and live there.”

“Yeah. You need to be independent. You’re still relying too much on Bin Hye-yoon, right? ”

Ugh… that’s a bit of a pride-scratcher.

I am a person who started from scratch with no money right after I left the orphanage and came this far.

When it comes to vitality and willpower, no one can keep up with me… How did it end up like this?

Seol-hee poked my back with her finger and whispered softly in my ear.

“The offer I made last time still stands. If you want, I can introduce you to a job… and I can help you find a house. Think about it carefully, because I can help you avoid getting caught by Bin Hye-yoon.”

What?

Seol-hee is helping me like this?

When I looked at Seol-hee with a suspicious look, Seol-hee smiled brightly.

***

That moment.

A small guest room off the hall where the party is taking place.

There, Hye-yoon and Chairman Yoo sat facing each other.

As soon as she sat down on the sofa, Moon Hye-yoon took out a cigarette and got to the main point.

“What were you thinking when you told me that information?”

Then, Chairman Yoo, sitting with a cane, smiled slyly and answered.

“What information? Information that the Red Cross is targeting you?”

Hyeyoon nodded, lighting a cigarette.

“Even if he’s a mafia kid who used to roll around on the streets, if he’s the top in that industry, you have to be careful with him. At least with someone like that, you can give and take. Didn’t my daughter say that?”

Instead of answering, Hye-yoon smiled leisurely and lightly scratched her ear with the hand holding the cigarette.

Then Chairman Yoo smiled and continued speaking.

“Honestly, I hate mafia kids. I wish you would disappear from the world.”

“But?”

“You’re a special mafia. You’ve already given a lot of cash to the high-ranking officials, right?”

“Then. If a person hates money, that’s a pervert.”

Chairman Yoo let out a deep sigh and glared at Hye-yoon fiercely.

“We are completely self-interested. We gave you the information because your death would not benefit us at this point. You are not some back-alley thug who can’t communicate.”

“Oh my. So you’re saying that the world is a better place because I’m here?”

“No. Not yet. I’m not sure about that.”

Chairman Yoo thrust his head forward and added with a look of contempt.

“Maybe you are a much more dangerous person than the mafia that has appeared so far. We are just constantly weighing the scales to suit our interests. That’s all.”

“What a spicy old man. I thought he had such a great favor for me.”

“Anyway, you better admit that I helped you.”

Hye-yoon laughed out loud as she shook the ash from her cigarette into the ashtray.

Chairman Yoo continued speaking while looking at Hye-yoon without moving.

“The next two years.”

“This year?”

“If you can survive the next two years and expand your power like you are doing now, I’ll bet money on you.”

“If not that?”

“If not, then you are just that kind of human. In that case, I should go to the people who want to get rid of you.”

Hyeyoon laughed as if she was amazed and crossed her legs to the other side and asked.

“We also have a lot of money. I don’t think we need the investment of a conglomerate chairman?”

Then Chairman Yoo answered without taking his eyes off Hye-yoon.

“The money that Hwarang Group has is on a different level from Black Emily. I can help you get rid of the mafia title. If we spend a huge amount of money, we can bring all of Black Emily’s businesses to the light. Then, we will become a new concern that can control this country. By putting up suitable puppet politicians.”

“Oh my. This guy is so ambitious. Are you thinking that?”

“Aren’t you an ambitious woman too? I think you were thinking similar thoughts?”

Hyeyoon took a deep drag on her cigarette, stubbed out the butt in the ashtray, and answered.

“Okay. I’ll think about what you said. But… is that why you attached your daughter to me?”

“That kid doesn’t know anything.”

“Really?”

Chairman Yoo smiled and nodded.

“Seol-hee is like a link between you and our group. Even though she’s smart… I don’t think you can handle her.”

“Your daughter is good at understanding the topic.”

Hye-yoon stood up from her seat, looked down at Chairman Yoo, and opened her mouth.

“That kid seems to be more hostile toward me than you are. I can clearly see him trying to fool me right now.”

“Even you think Seol-hee is too good to inherit our group, right?”

“No. Maybe if I had ten more years to build up my skills, I wouldn’t know.”

Hyeyoon turned around and grabbed the doorknob. Then she looked back and asked.

“Can I keep playing with your daughter?”

“As long as you don’t hurt or kill anyone.”

“That’s about it……”

Just as Hye-yoon was about to open the door and go out, this time Chairman Yoo asked.

“Are you going to marry that guy?”

Hye-yoon, who had been standing there holding the door for a moment, answered with a gloomy smile.

“I might fuck your daughter someday, right? Well, I don’t plan on getting married yet.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think your daughter might have some strange feelings for my man.”

“What is the basis?”

“It’s a woman’s feeling.”

Hye-yoon showed a charming smile and left the guest room.

It was a pretty honest meeting for a first meeting.

So Chairman Yoo smiled a little in vain.

***

When Seol-hee was holding me and talking about this and that.

Someone who appeared to be a security guard approached us from over there and bowed politely.

“Miss. Other friends are looking for you over there.”

Sure enough, on the other side, he could see women of similar age standing there, holding cocktail glasses and beckoning to Seol-hee.

Who is it?

When I made a puzzled expression, Seol-hee wiped her mouth with a tissue and whispered to me in a very small voice.

“They’re like parasites. Those shallow people who want to pretend to be close to me. I’ll be back in a bit. You wait here. Okay?”

That’s a really honest introduction of a friend. My friends would be so touched if they heard it.

As I was thinking that, eating a cheese pie placed on one table.

Someone came up to me and spoke to me.

“Mr. Woo Sung-won?”

Huh? Who is it?

A young man who looked like a parasite approached me and spoke to me. It was the first time I saw his face.

“Who are you?”

When I asked, munching on a pie, the man answered confidently, running his hand through his hair.

“I’m disappointed that you don’t know the nephew of the chairman of the Laance Group, Han Hyun-ho. Are you dating Bin Hye-yoon?”

What is it? Are you a chaebol?

I wiped my mouth with a tissue and answered.

“That’s not it.”

“Okay. Then……”

He confidently brushed his hair back, flashed his sparkling white teeth, and continued speaking.

“Can you connect Bin Hye-yoon and me?”