Chapter 9.1

Splaash—.

As the dizzying scent of wine struck her face, Su-eon closed her eyes and thought. She had somewhat expected the day to end like this. There were signals for such days, almost like Murphy’s Law.

The morning alarm didn’t go off, so she barely avoided being late. While hurrying back with coffee, she bumped into a corner and burned her hand. The blister on her finger kept bothering her all day, lowering her work efficiency. Today had been exactly that kind of day for Su-eon.

Jung Cho-ah, upon discovering Su-eon’s handover documents, had been irritable all morning, questioning why she was preparing such things. Then, the GRO (Guest Relations Officer) team, responsible for VIP services, failed to meet an important client at the airport.

Even if there were mistakes in work, there could be no mistakes in protocol. It would tarnish the hotel’s reputation. After handling complaints and blocking articles all afternoon, she was already exhausted.

In that state, she accompanied Chief Jung Cho-ah to an evening meeting and unexpectedly encountered someone she hadn’t anticipated. Ki Seon-young, a director of the K.U. Foundation and the cousin—and legally recognized sibling—of Executive Director Ki Seung-jo.

Su-eon realized that Ki Seon-young had intentionally attended this meeting. The social gathering, centered around third-generation business leaders managing their networks, was something Jung Cho-ah disliked and rarely attended, often treating it as a once-a-year obligation. Moreover, the K.U. Foundation’s owner family rarely frequented such gatherings, as the level of the meeting was beneath them.

In other words, this was the first time the two had ever crossed paths at such an event. It was clear that Ki Seon-young had come specifically to meet Jung Cho-ah. Proving this, Ki Seon-young immediately took a seat at Jung Cho-ah’s table upon arrival and began picking a fight.

“Be honest. You’re not really dating Seung-jo, are you? There’s no way Ki Seung-jo would date someone like you unless he’s gone mad.”

Though her words were directed at Jung Cho-ah, the sting of her remarks pierced Su-eon instead.

“Don’t tell me you actually think you can enter our family? Just because Assemblywoman Yeo acts like a doormat, people are already asking if we’re in-laws, and it’s infuriating. Tell your mom to stop acting like that.”

From start to finish, Ki Seon-young’s attacks were aimed at Assemblywoman Yeo, as if it was Jung Cho-ah’s only weak point.

Naturally, Jung Cho-ah didn’t hold back. Ignoring Ki Seon-young, she addressed Su-eon, speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear.

“K.U. isn’t all that impressive. They go on about social responsibility and act so high and mighty, but they’re just dumb chaebols. Every time they open their mouths, you can tell their brains are empty. Don’t you think?”

That should have been the end of it. Since they had exchanged blows once, separating the two would have been the right move. Su-eon tried to intervene, but she froze when she saw the person standing behind Ki Seon-young. The other person also hesitated upon seeing Su-eon. That moment of hesitation caused her to miss her chance. She couldn’t stop Ki Seon-young’s sudden outburst.

“Jung Cho-ah, about your younger brother. People are saying he’s a child Assemblywoman Yeo had out of wedlock. Is that rumor true? Since we’re here, can you confirm it in front of everyone?”

“……”

Everyone present froze. Not only Jung Cho-ah but even Su-eon, who was usually rational in any situation, was momentarily at a loss for words.

“What’s so surprising? As if you’re hearing this for the first time. Isn’t he a posthumous child, born prematurely? Everyone who knows anything already knows.”

Ki Seon-young’s voice, dripping with malice, clearly carried the intent to insult and mock Jung Cho-ah.

“So, is the hotel going to be inherited by someone else’s child? Oh, wait, is it just an inn?”

Jung Cho-ah’s eyes flared with rage.

“…You crazy b*tch, what did you just say?!”

It was at that moment that Su-eon snapped back to her senses and grabbed Jung Cho-ah from behind. Even as she swore, Ki Seon-young smiled gleefully, saying, 

“Oh my, so it’s true, isn’t it? What a shame.”

“You’re the one who got the K.U. Group stolen from you right under your nose! You handed it over to someone else’s child like an idiot, and now you’re giving advice? If it were me, I’d be too ashamed to show up at places like this!”

Jung Cho-ah’s voice rang out sharply, echoing through every corner of the banquet hall. Ki Seon-young’s face twisted in fury. She abruptly stood and grabbed the wine glass in front of her, throwing its contents at Jung Cho-ah. Su-eon quickly turned her body, taking the hit instead.

Splaash. The red wine poured down, soaking Su-eon’s face and her white shirt in crimson.

“You… you…!”

“Please stop, Chief.”

As Jung Cho-ah prepared to charge forward, Su-eon firmly grabbed her wrist. Though Su-eon was taken aback herself, she calmly addressed Ki Seon-young, who could barely hide her satisfaction.

“Director, I think that’s enough.”

At Su-eon’s low, steady voice, Ki Seon-young flinched. She glared at Su-eon with a disdainful look, annoyed by her interference. But aware of the murmuring crowd, she seemed to decide to end things there.

“What I’m saying is, don’t even think about climbing trees you can’t reach. It’s beneath you. Hye-jin, let’s go.”

The woman standing stiffly behind Ki Seon-young finally looked up in surprise.

“Oh, I forgot to introduce her. This is the woman who’s going to marry Seung-jo. Her name is Park Hye-jin, and she comes from a family of bankers—her grandfather and father were all bank presidents.”

Ki Seon-young proudly pushed the woman forward as she spoke.

“The families are currently discussing the marriage proposal. I personally recommended her as Seung-jo’s match. She’s like a younger sister to me, and also his junior.”

From beside Su-eon, who was silently staring at the woman, came the sound of Jung Cho-ah scoffing in disbelief.

“Hye-jin, didn’t Seung-jo say he’d come pick you up here?”

“Yes, Unnie.”

“Wow, a three-way confrontation would be entertaining, don’t you think?”

Ki Seon-young smirked at Jung Cho-ah, mocking her. Meanwhile, the woman—Park Hye-jin, or rather J—lifted her head and looked directly at Su-eon.

“It’s been a while, Ji Su-eon.”

At Park Hye-jin’s words, Ki Seon-young turned to her in surprise.

“You two know each other?”

“We went to the same middle and high school.”

Park Hye-jin replied with a smile.

“Oh my, what a coincidence!”

“Su-eon attended school with Assemblywoman Yeo’s sponsorship.”

“…Really?”

In that brief pause and the way Ki Seon-young’s gaze swept over her, everything was contained. Su-eon’s past, and even the future that lay ahead for her.

“What are these two empty-headed fools babbling about? Executive Director Ki Seung-jo is—!”

Before Jung Cho-ah could lose control and explode, Su-eon quietly held her back.

“Chief.”

“…”

“My eyes sting.”

“What? Are you okay?”

Jung Cho-ah looked at Su-eon with a worried expression while glaring at Ki Seon-young.

“Hey, you. Pouring alcohol on someone’s face while babbling about K.U. or whatever, and not even apologizing? I’ll make sure you regret this for the rest of your life.”

“Oh my, running away because Seung-jo is coming? That’s so lame, seriously.”

Leaving the giggling Ki Seon-young behind, Su-eon grabbed Jung Cho-ah’s arm and led her out of the room.

Her words about stinging eyes were true. Her entire face burned. Whether it was because of the alcohol or something else, she couldn’t tell. Although Ki Seon-young’s target had been Jung Cho-ah, it was Su-eon who felt the humiliation.

“I won’t let this slide. I’m going to kill them all.”

While Su-eon washed her face in the restroom, Jung Cho-ah fumed, unable to sit still from indignation.

“Let’s just leave, Chief.”

Su-eon hurriedly wiped her face and left the restroom, fearing that if they stayed any longer, Jung Cho-ah might cause an incident. Jung Cho-ah followed her, still venting her anger.

“Instead of this, contact Executive Director Ki.”

“And say what? That my boss and his sister got into a hair-pulling fight and I’m here to tattle?”

“She poured alcohol on you!”

“She poured it on you. I just happened to take the hit.”

“Are you playing word games now? It’s the same thing!”

Trailing after her and arguing, Jung Cho-ah suddenly shouted.

“It’s not the same. You don’t understand the difference at all, Chief. So let’s just drop this and go ho—”

Su-eon abruptly stopped mid-sentence.

Ki Seon-young and Park Hye-jin were still in the lobby, not having left yet. And standing in front of them was Seung-jo. He stood there, smiling at Park Hye-jin, just as he had looked that morning.

It wasn’t anything extraordinary. He was a polite man, and that kind of smile was something he could easily show to anyone. Whether Ki Seon-young’s words were true or not, it was natural for K.U. to hurry along the marriage talks. Even Jung Cho-ah, the eternal rebel, couldn’t escape such matchmaking obligations.

So, really, it wasn’t a big deal.

A drop of wine, soaked into her undergarments, fell to the floor. Su-eon’s gaze also sank. Like petals of a withered flower falling one by one, the emotions she had briefly held onto lost their color and dropped away.

“What the hell… I thought Ki Seon-young was bluffing, but he’s really here?”