Chapter 66: Interference (2)

[I actually found it fun” Jeong Tae-woo clarifies GameSt video controversy]

[Jeong Tae-woo, the ‘angel’ who donates 1 million won during streams… “Thanks to GameSt’s video, I’m grateful to communicate with Korean fans”]

[Cursing controversy? “I found it fun” Premier League’s Jeong Tae-woo makes a surprise appearance on GameSt’s broadcast]

[Manchester City’s genius goalkeeper Jeong Tae-woo (18) has become a hot topic after making a surprise appearance on the controversial broadcast of BJ GameSt.

Jeong Tae-woo personally called into GameSt’s live broadcast and defended him, saying, “I’m actually grateful that you watch my games with such passion.”

During the broadcast, Jeong Tae-woo showed the class of a Premier League star by donating 1 million won for every comment he made.

The number of viewers instantly surpassed 50,000, and it dominated not only Twitch’s real-time trending list but also Naver’s real-time search rankings.

In particular, Jeong Tae-woo said, “Living in Europe, I didn’t have many opportunities to communicate with Korean fans, so I’m grateful for this special opportunity,” and had a meaningful time communicating with fans through GameSt’s broadcast.]

“Fortunately, the reaction is good, but next time, you have to tell me about things like this, Tae-woo.
And Chan-gyu.”

-S… Sorry.

-Nuna, Chan-gyu hyung didn’t do anything wrong.
I suggested we do it first.

She chuckled at the sound of Tae-woo defending Chan-gyu over the phone.

‘They must have gotten close…’

“Whew… I understand.
Tae-woo, please take good care of him.
And Tae-woo, do well in your next game too.”

-Okay, Gayoung-nuna.
Come see the game next time!

Tae-woo’s bright voice brought an unconscious smile to my lips.

‘Ah, this isn’t the time for this.’

“Continue with your report.”

Four men and women stood before her, reporting.

They all stood with nervous expressions, holding documents.

“Yes, after our investigation, we confirmed that the source of the rumors is SC Electronics.

We’ve found evidence that the secretary’s office contacted the parents of the players we offered contracts to.”

“Hah… so it was them after all.”

She looked at the pile of documents on her desk with a lonely expression.

A file labeled ‘Suspicion of SC Electronics executives’ slush fund creation and rebates from subcontractors’ caught her eye.

“Please continue the investigation.

Focus on Vice President Park Sung-jin’s line in particular.

And keep these documents on hold for now.

It’s not… time to use them yet.”

The reporting employees nodded and left the conference room.

‘Oppa… you know you really crossed the line this time, right?’

Tarnishing our reputation in the youth soccer world, leaking ridiculous stories to reporters…

“I’m not letting it slide this time.”

It was then.

My phone rang.

‘Is it Tae-woo?’

But the phone screen read ‘Father.’

Her eyes grew cold.

A call from my father at this timing…

“You called…”

“Let’s have dinner together tonight.
Be home by 6 PM.”

Click-

“Hah…”

Her father’s attitude, not even waiting for a reply from his daughter who he hadn’t spoken to in ages, and just hanging up after saying his piece, hadn’t changed at all.

Eun Gayoung looked at the clock on her desk.

4:30 PM.

“I’ll have to leave right away…”

It was a dinner with her father that she would have avoided at all costs normally.

But this time was different.

I knew the meaning of this sudden invitation all too well.

‘It must be because of oppa…’

There was no way her father, the chairman of SC Group, didn’t know what was happening in the company.

The fact that her father, who had remained silent despite knowing about his son’s childish actions, suddenly suggested dinner must be because he knew I had contacted the ‘ajusshi’.

The ‘ajusshi’ was retired now, but he was once her father’s chief of staff who had spent his entire life by his side.

In my childhood, the ‘ajusshi’, who had made me feel what affection was like Mrs. Kim, had once promised to help me when I really needed it.

And today,

that childish promise had become a reality, returning to me as data on SC Electronics’ corruption.

“Please prepare the car.”

Today, this gathering would not be a simple family dinner.

It was likely her father’s move to handle the situation in advance, having noticed the ‘ajusshi’s’ movements.

‘I’m sorry, Father.
But this time…’

Packing my bag, I checked my phone one more time.

The data the ‘ajusshi’ had sent me was already stored in a safe place.

And this data was enough to shake SC Electronics.

I stood in front of the mirror one last time and straightened my clothes.

‘I’m not backing down anymore.’

When I arrived at the parking lot, a black Genesis was waiting.

The driver politely opened the door for me.

“To the main house, please.”

“Understood.”

Getting into the car, I checked the time.

5:15 PM.

As always, my father would have arrived on time.

It had been a really long time since our last family meal.

But the table we would be facing would not be a space for warm conversation, but a cold negotiation table.

When was the last family dinner…

Even when I went to the main house a while ago, the only one who greeted me was Mrs.
Kim, not my family.

The luxurious residential area of Seongbuk-dong passed by outside the car window.

Luxury houses peeked through the dense trees.

And at the end of it was our home.

‘Will Mrs.
Kim be waiting at the entrance again today…’

Lost in thought, the car came to a stop.

The black gate opened, and the car drove in.

As expected, Mrs.

Kim was standing in front of the entrance.

When she saw me, a look of concern flashed across her face.

She knew better than anyone what kind of environment I grew up in, so she must be worried about the family dinner.

“Young lady.”

“Yes, Mrs.
Kim.”

“The chairman hasn’t arrived yet.
Instead, the…”

“Oppa is here.”

“Yes, both of them are here.”

Following Mrs. Kim’s guidance, I headed to the dining room.

My second and first older brothers were sitting quietly at their seats.

“What, you’re here too?”

Sung-joon oppa, who had been sitting quietly, said to me in a dumbfounded tone.

“Am I somewhere I shouldn’t be?
I’m family here too.”

“Hah, that’s ridiculous.
Since when did you come when Father called?”

“Thanks to someone, I had no choice but to come.”

“What?
Are you saying that to me!”

Feeling guilty, Sung-joon oppa shot up from his seat.

“Quiet.”

It was just one word.

But the calm voice of Ki-joon oppa, the successor of SC Group and my eldest brother, carried weight.

At that one word, Sung-joon oppa’s shoulders flinched and stiffened.

“If you’re going to bark like a dog, go bark outside.
Don’t be so uncultured in the dining room.”

“Hyung, but…”

I stared blankly at Ki-joon oppa.

He was always like that.

He pretended not to notice when Sung-joon oppa bullied me,

and it would be the same now.

He didn’t open his mouth to take my side, but simply because the noise that bothered him was annoying.

He was always that kind of person.

“You’re here too, so sit down and wait.
Don’t be noisy.”

Pfft-

‘As expected.’

It was the reaction I expected from Ki-joon oppa.

Cold, indifferent, and just wanting me to follow his words.

Just like he always had.

The silence continued like that.

Sung-joon oppa’s lips twitched as if he wanted to say something to me,

but he held it back, glancing at Ki-joon oppa.

I also ignored him and just stared out the window.

Then,

I heard the sound of the front door opening.

And immediately following, Mrs. Kim’s voice.

“The chairman is arriving.”

The three of us siblings quietly rose from our seats upon hearing those words.

As if it were an old habit, naturally.

Click-

The door opened, and my father, dressed in a perfectly ironed charcoal gray suit with a burgundy tie, entered.

As always, he was flawless.

The dignity of the head of SC Group made the air heavy.

“Sit.”

As soon as my father’s words fell, the course meal was served, one by one, on the table.

It was French cuisine.

As formal and cold as our family.

The food, perfectly plated on white dishes, sat elegantly,

but in my eyes, they looked like nothing more than cold negotiation tools.

It was a choice befitting the chairman of SC Group.

Because you have to eat French food without even making the sound of a knife.

After 5 minutes of starting the meal in silence, my father spoke first.

“Sung-joon, I’m sure I told you not to touch Gayoung’s company?”

“I’m sorry.”

“There won’t be a next time.”

“Yes.”

After finishing his words, my father now looked at me and said,

“Gayoung, you called Chief Kim.”

“What?
Don’t tell me you…”

My second brother’s surprised voice echoed in the dining room.

Even my eldest brother’s usual indifferent expression wavered, looking slightly surprised.

It was a natural reaction.

The ‘ajusshi’ was that influential of a person.

“I don’t know what you’re preparing,”

My father’s voice carried weight.

“But you’d better stop.
If SC Electronics falters, our entire group will be shaken.
Don’t forget that you are also a member of the SC Group.”

“A member?”

A sneer escaped my lips without me realizing.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on me at once.

“Have you ever considered me a member of the SC Group until now?

The words you said when I offered to help with the company’s work still ring in my ears, so for you to suddenly call me a member now…”

As I spoke, the sorrow I had endured all this time burst out at once.

“It’s a bit funny.”

The air in the dining room froze in an instant.

Sung-joon oppa seemed unable to even breathe properly, and Ki-joon oppa’s fingers twitched as if in a slight spasm.

“Gayoung.”

The warning in my father’s voice was as cold and sharp as ever.

“You don’t seem to understand what I’m saying.”

“No, I understand what you’re saying very well, Father.

You’re telling me not to do anything that would harm the SC Group.

But is what I’m doing really harming the group?

Or…”

I paused for a moment and turned my gaze towards Sung-joon oppa.

“Is it harming someone?”