Chapter 19: Chapter 19

"I'll find him.

I’ll find him and crush him into pieces."

"No, Executive Director Seo."

Kim Seoncheol, the Vice Chairman, was startled to see Jaehee savagely tearing his steak apart, as if it were Suin’s secret lover.

"Executive Director Seo, why are you shredding your steak like that? You’re going to pulverize the meat."

Woo Ilhwa, who was dining gracefully, cast him a subtle glance.

Momentarily forgetting the significance of the meal, Jaehee straightened his posture and responded in a joking tone.

"It’s a New York style. Recently, finely cutting meat has become trendy."

"What a peculiar trend. Is it to make digestion easier? Well, their staple is meat, after all."

"Yes, I suppose so."

"If digestion’s that much of an issue, they should eat porridge instead."

Kim Seoncheol chuckled lightly, brushing it off, but Chairwoman Woo Ilhwa gave Jaehee a pointed look, as if to scold him for spouting nonsense.

"Focus."

"I am focusing."

Jaehee responded with a deliberately cheeky gaze.

It was better for Woo Ilhwa to distrust him and keep Suin at a distance. That suited him perfectly.

"Tsk."

As expected, she clicked her tongue briefly and resumed her meal.

Jaehee lowered his gaze.

The truth was, he wasn’t focused at all. Just being present at this table felt like a test of his patience.

"Who could that aloof Lee Suin be seeing?"

The words from the female employees coiled around his ears like a snake.

It was impossible.

Lee Suin, rumored to be involved with another man…?

She used to scoff at men, reducing them to nothing more than base creatures. Could she have changed?

"Executive Director Seo."

Well, she was in her thirties now. Perhaps it wasn’t unreasonable for her to finally open her heart to someone.

"Has it really been ten years since we last sat face-to-face like this? The last time must’ve been at the Chairwoman’s inauguration."

"…"

"Ten years? No, it’s been over twenty years. How long has it been since I took over?"

When Jaehee didn’t respond, distracted by his thoughts, Woo Ilhwa intervened.

"It’s been that long since you stepped into the management frontlines, Chairwoman?"

"Time flies, doesn’t it?"

"It really does. It feels like just yesterday when people whispered that Woo Ilhwa didn’t know the first thing about management and predicted Hyesung Group’s future was bleak."

"Did they really?"

"It was merely their concern. They didn’t know how brilliantly you’d lead Hyesung Group."

"That’s thanks to your support, Vice Chairman."

"I hardly did anything to deserve that credit."

There was a sharp undertone in their exchange, and the air turned noticeably colder.

Jaehee straightened in his seat, now fully alert.

Kim Seoncheol was not just the Vice Chairman of Hyesung Group; he was also an old college friend of Woo Ilhwa’s late father, Chairman Woo Minseong. He was instrumental in Hyesung Group’s growth, but his outward warmth masked his ambitions.

When Chairman Woo Minseong died suddenly, Kim Seoncheol strongly opposed Woo Ilhwa’s appointment as Chairwoman, secretly coveting the leadership himself.

To Woo Ilhwa, he was the most formidable adversary within the company. And for Jaehee, the heir apparent, he posed a similar challenge.

"I hope you’ll support me as well," Jaehee interjected, breaking the tension between the two.

"What could I do to support you?"

"I’d like you to teach me. There’s no one I trust more than you, Uncle."

"Uncle?"

Kim Seoncheol looked surprised by Jaehee’s choice of address, while Woo Ilhwa shot him a sharp glance.

But then—

"Ah, that’s right! I am your uncle!" Kim Seoncheol clapped his knee, bursting into laughter.

"You used to follow me around, calling me Uncle nonstop when you were just a little brat. Look at you now, all grown up into a fine young man. Guess that means I’ve gotten old."

"You’re a dashing middle-aged man."

"Dashing? Middle-aged? I’m an old man!"

Kim Seoncheol, known for his cantankerous nature and estranged relationships with his family, softened under Jaehee’s charm.

"You’ve grown audacious as you’ve matured."

"Audacity is all I’ve gained."

"Well, audacity is essential in management."

Just as Jaehee had intended, Kim Seoncheol took the bait.

Even Woo Ilhwa seemed to relax, relieved by the shift in atmosphere. The conversation turned to a redevelopment project spearheaded by the government.

As the dinner regained its tranquil flow, Jaehee’s mind wandered once again.

"Was that the reason Suin built a wall between us? Because of him?"

If that were true, he wouldn’t let it slide.

He would comb through every corner of Hyesung Group to hunt the bastard down.

And then…

"I’ll make sure his legs tremble for the rest of his life."

With a sharp clink, Jaehee’s fork punctured the meat again.

Already shredded into tiny pieces, the steak was soon reduced to nothing but pulp.

***

In truth, six hours earlier...

While Jaehee was attending a department meeting, Suin and Hyun Jiye were having lunch together in the company cafeteria. Jiye enthusiastically relayed the latest office scandal.

"There were subtle signals, but no one expected it. And then, bam, they got caught red-handed at the team dinner last night. Isn’t it crazy? An office affair, of all things!"

"You say they were caught last night. How do you already know about it?"

"Scandals spread like wildfire, especially with Section Chief So Munjung from Sales and Service around."

"Oh, Section Chief So Munjung? You can’t give her material to work with. She has a knack for carrying rumors around, just like her name suggests."

"Exactly! She’s so notorious they call her ‘the legendary mouth.’"

Even after finishing their meal, the conversation about the scandal continued. Listening to Jiye’s endless chatter, Suin made her way to the second-floor cafeteria.

"Chief! Jiye!"

A group of secretaries, already done with their meals, waved at them. Suin paid for their coffee and left them to chat comfortably.

As she headed toward the elevator, she caught sight of Section Chief So Munjung entering the women’s restroom.

Suddenly, a thought struck her.

‘Ah! That’s it!’

With a plan forming in her mind, Suin followed her into the restroom. Hearing the door shut behind her, she took a quick look around. Luckily, it was just the two of them inside.

‘Perfect. Luck’s on my side.’

Moving to the last stall, Suin closed the lid of the toilet and sat down. She adjusted her voice to a nasal tone and began pretending to talk on the phone.

"…Yes, that Chief Secretary, Lee Suin."

The rustling sounds from the adjacent stall came to an abrupt halt.

"I saw her while working late. She was on a secret date with a male employee in the relaxation garden."

"……"

"It didn’t look like they were officially dating yet—more like flirting."

"……"

"It was too dark to see the guy’s face, but I’m certain it was Lee Suin. She was the cover model for this month’s company magazine. Her face was unmistakable."

At that moment, a group of female employees entered the restroom.

Suin fell silent, and only then did she hear the sound of a flush from the adjacent stall.

The click of the stall door opening was followed by the voices of the new arrivals greeting the section chief.

"Hello, Section Chief."

"Hi. Did you all have lunch?"

"Yes, how about you?"

"I ate, too. Keep up the good work."

After finishing her small talk, So Munjung left the restroom.

‘Got her.’

Suin silently cheered. Now that the legendary mouth had overheard it, it was only a matter of time before the rumor reached Seo Jaehee.

"This will only prove that you’re the one being shaken by me."

‘Arrogant.’

Recalling Jaehee’s words, Suin let out a soft laugh.

‘I’ll make him realize how wrong he is.’

She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pride in her clever maneuver, completely unaware that her actions would serve as the trigger for Jaehee’s spiraling obsession.

***

After finishing dinner, Jaehee returned not to the Hyesung family residence but to the Hyesung Group headquarters.

He was too late. Suin had already left for the day.

‘I’ll confirm it tomorrow, then.’

He reached for his phone but stopped, realizing she would likely lash out and accuse him of being ridiculous. For now, he held back.

Frustrated, he made his way to the relaxation garden.

At this hour, most employees had already left, leaving the garden eerily quiet.

‘So this is where the secret date happened.’

He sat down on a nearby bench, staring at the shadowy corners of the dimly lit garden.

Wherever he looked, it was secluded and dark.

‘I haven’t even done this myself…’@@novelbin@@

His gaze, filled with simmering fury moments ago, now dropped dejectedly.

He felt upset. Deeply so.