Affectionate Obsession - Chapter 41

“Cut the nonsense and just do as you’ve been doing.”

“As I’ve been doing?”

“I mean, keep making Lee Jin shop.”

At Sookhee’s words, Taekwang’s face immediately turned pale. He seemed to ponder for a moment if there was a special meaning behind her words, but Taekwang soon got up from his seat, agitated.

“Ha, did this old woman eat something wrong? Am I crazy? To let that guy prosper after what I’ve been through?”

Sookhee’s brow furrowed. But she didn’t frown.

Although his vulgar language irked her, she was in a position where she needed Taekwang’s help.

“Of course, we can’t let him prosper.”

“What are you even talking about? Speak so I can understand!”

“Give Lee Jin a card. But not for HN Department Store. It should be a competitor that HN watches most closely.”

Sookhee feigned contemplation, uncharacteristically. If she had said this much, it was up to Taekwang to act on his own.

Still, perhaps he hadn’t learned nothing under her, Taekwang, who had been wearing a thoughtful expression, quickly found his answer.

That was enough. He must have grasped her intentions intuitively.

Sookhee didn’t bother to add the unspoken words.

Instead, she emphasized what Taekwang needed to keep in mind.

“I’ll say it again, just apply moderate pressure. Don’t stir up any more trouble than that. Understand?”

“Honestly, what can I even do in this situation? Do you think I’m going to go find and harm Jeong Junhyeok?”

Taekwang felt hurt by Sookhee’s attitude, defending Junhyeok even in this situation.

But there was nothing he could do.

He didn’t want to give up his position as CEO of RM Food like this.

“Even though he betrayed me, Jeong Junhyeok is still my grandson-in-law. He’s the one who will be a strong support for our Sera.”

Sookhee looked directly into Taekwang’s eyes. It was important to clearly instill Junhyeok’s value in Taekwang.

If an alternative to Junhyeok had appeared immediately, she wouldn’t have had to put in so much effort. But unfortunately, at the moment, no one valuable enough to replace Junhyeok came to mind.

So, even if Jeong Junhyeok was the one who caused this situation, she had to hold onto him and keep him by Sera’s side.

“Remember this. Only if our Sera successfully inherits the chairman position can you continue to hold your position as Food CEO. Understand?”

For the grand plan she had for Sera, a little lie like this was not difficult at all.

As expected, at the mention of the CEO position, Taekwang, without hesitation, knelt down.

He nodded, his face brightening.

Sookhee got up from her seat. Only when she stood up would Taekwang stand, and only then could she clear this tiresome scene from her sight.

The elderly woman, over eighty, walked towards the study door with a graceful gait that belied her age.

And just as she was about to open the door.

“Ah, and one more thing.”

Remembering something she had forgotten, she moved her lips softly.

“There’s one child you need to take care of.”

It was a matter more important than anything else.

Sookhee looked at Taekwang with eyes that had become quite serious.

“CEO, this is the list of attendees for next week’s charity auction event.”

Junhyeok put down his work and took the paper from Secretary Kim.

The charity auction event next week was an important annual schedule hosted by HN, an event with the meaningful purpose of donating all proceeds from the auction to society.

Of course, while the entire proceeds were used as donations as intended, it also served as a social gathering, with many influential figures from the business world attending.

Junhyeok quickly scanned the names on the paper.

There was only one thing he wanted to confirm.

“Chairman Choi Sookhee is also attending this year?”

“Yes. She will be attending with Chairman Yoon Myungho and his wife.”

At Secretary Kim’s added explanation, Junhyeok’s lips curled into a sly smile.

He had requested Chairman Choi to attend a couple of times during the previous season’s events. But each time, she had declined, citing health reasons.

Such events might be tiring for Chairman Choi. From a small restaurant in a market to building the current RM, her life story was legendary in the business world.

Because of that, people eager to see Chairman Choi lined up.

For her, an event like this, where many business figures gathered, might be the most undesirable place.

“But she’s decided to come this time, is that it?”

Junhyeok muttered meaningfully.

Her intentions were too obvious.

The chairman, who had refused even direct requests, had decided to attend this year’s event, her intention pointing to a very clear meaning.

It was likely to see Yeonhee.

According to further reports from Secretary Kim, Yoon Sera had entered the RM family mansion.

If so, she must have learned the full story of the fake bride incident. How could Chairman Choi not be curious?

Yeonhee, who looked exactly like Yoon Sera, would be her first curiosity, and second, how Jeong Junhyeok knew Shin Yeonhee was fake and still exposed RM Food’s corruption.

“She must be too curious to just sit at her desk and use her head. It seems she’s decided to see and confirm it herself.”

Chairman Choi’s intentions were perfectly understood, but what came next was the problem.

“Understood. I will call you if there are any further instructions. You may leave now.”

“Yes, CEO.”

After confirming Secretary Kim had left the CEO’s office, Junhyeok held his phone.

He dialed a familiar number. The ringing didn’t last long.

As the other person’s voice came through, Junhyeok’s lips curved gently as he spoke.

“It’s me, Yeonhee.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

Lee Jin grabbed Taekwang’s arm as he was loosening his tie and asked in an agitated voice.

At the rather sharp sound, Taekwang’s brow furrowed instantly.

Taekwang pushed Lee Jin away with a slightly rough hand and returned his attention to the half-loosened tie.

“Are you deaf? How many times have I told you to lower your voice! My ears are going to fall off!”

At Taekwang’s harsh words, Lee Jin frowned. But soon, she relaxed her expression and took the tie from Taekwang’s hand.

“Did my brother’s ears hurt? Sorry, sorry. I was just surprised because I didn’t understand what you just said, that’s all.”

Lee Jin tried every way to appease Taekwang.

She knew that Taekwang’s attitude towards her was fundamentally dismissive.

While it hurt her pride, it was better for her mental health to simply give up her pride to protect the card in Taekwang’s name.

Lee Jin asked again in a soft voice, as if she hadn’t been upset at all.

“Brother, say it one more time. What did Chairman Choi do?”

“She gave the order! Chairman Choi gave the order.”

At the mention of Chairman Choi, Lee Jin’s brow furrowed almost automatically.

Taekwang had called Chairman Choi a golden rope that would change his life, but Lee Jin thought a little differently.

Every time Taekwang met Chairman Choi, he returned having committed dangerous acts, and for a while, he would be on edge and take his frustrations out on Lee Jin.

She could tolerate his outbursts, but Lee Jin hated it when Taekwang committed dangerous acts under Chairman Choi’s orders.

It wasn’t an absurd reason like loving Taekwang.

Just as Chairman Choi was a golden rope for Taekwang, so was Taekwang for Lee Jin.

It was Taekwang who helped her quit her tiresome hostess job, and by legally marrying him, she had continued to live a luxurious life she never dreamed of.

This meant that if Taekwang were to get into trouble, her luxurious life would also end.

Lee Jin looked at Taekwang with a slightly anxious expression.

“For now, to protect your CEO position, it seems right to do as Chairman Choi says, but something feels off.”

At Taekwang’s words, Lee Jin’s face immediately darkened. She was already displeased that Taekwang was taking on Chairman Choi’s tasks, and now that Taekwang himself felt uneasy, Lee Jin felt anxious as well.

“You feel off? Why do you feel off? Is there some strange nuance?”

“Is Chairman Choi the type to reveal her true feelings?”

“Right? She’s not like that, so why do you suddenly feel uneasy?”

“I don’t know. It just… it just feels unsettling.”

Taekwang answered after a long pause, his brow furrowed. Then, as if a thought struck him, he looked at Lee Jin.

“First, you still have the materials I gave you, right?”

“Of course! You warned me so earnestly to keep them safe, do you think I would lose them?”

Lee Jin smiled brightly, like a child waiting for praise.

Taekwang’s lips also curved upwards, seemingly pleased with her answer.

“Good. Keep them organized, you never know when or how they might be used. Understand?”

“I understand. I’ll keep them safe.”

Taekwang nodded instead of answering and took off his shirt.

Just as he was changing into his pajama top, Taekwang remembered Chairman Choi’s instructions and said to Lee Jin.

“Oh right, you need to do some shopping.”

“Huh? Shopping? Really? Is it true, brother?”

Lee Jin’s eyes widened with excitement. Taekwang clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Sigh, you’re such a child. Even in this situation, you get excited at the mention of shopping?”

“No, it’s not just that…”

“Don’t make that expression that doesn’t suit you. Go shopping tomorrow with this.”

Lee Jin accepted the card Taekwang offered without a moment’s hesitation.

She had been living in seclusion, trying not to attract attention from others, especially since the corruption scandal broke out.

She had been restless anyway.

Lee Jin couldn’t hide her surging excitement and cheered inwardly.

Then Taekwang looked at Lee Jin again.

“Ah, you can’t go to HN Department Store tomorrow.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“If I say you can’t, just know that you can’t. And make sure to bring the friends you usually shop with. Understand?”

Although the commanding tone was stark, Lee Jin didn’t care.

“Don’t worry about that. Ah, then I should contact everyone to see what they’re doing tomorrow!”

The thought of relieving all her accumulated stress made her tingle with anticipation.

Lee Jin picked up her phone with busy fingers.

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