Chapter 112
Woo Jung-ryeol’s video, male college student “It was unwanted sexual intercourse” shock spreads
[Exclusive] Sex entertainment at villa, did the party know about Woo Jung-ryeol’s video? Dream of floor leader goes down the drain
The person in the video is indeed Segwang Construction CEO Min Won-sik, suspicions of personnel solicitation
Who are the people appearing in Woo Jung-ryeol’s video ‘Drug-induced party at villa’
The media was busy churning out sensational headlines, and reporters had already swarmed like bees around the mansion. The news that his father had been hospitalized due to a traffic accident wasn’t even newsworthy because the incident was so big.
“That was you, right? The bastard who spread the video.”
Personally, she had tried to find the video uploader, but the registered owner of the burner phone was suspiciously untraceable. On the other hand, Woo Gi-bbeum couldn’t shake the thought that Woo Hyun-se was behind all this. There couldn’t be two people in the world capable of such a crazy act.
“Don’t accuse an innocent person.”
Woo Hyun-se shrugged it off. Even without physical evidence, Woo Gi-bbeum knew. The culprit was Woo Hyun-se.
Suppressing the urge to hit him by pulling her own hair, Woo Gi-bbeum let out an anguished scream. Even as she screamed “Aaargh!”, Woo Hyun-se only slightly furrowed his brow.
After venting her anger for a while, Woo Gi-bbeum exhaled heavily and slumped onto a nearby sofa. Her head was throbbing, wondering how to handle this situation from now on. Quite a few reporters had already turned their attention to the gallery.
“Let’s at least know the reason. What’s the cause? What on earth did father do wrong?”
The fact that her father was hospitalized due to injury wasn’t the reason for her anger. Rather, it was somewhat satisfying. If he were to quietly pass away like this, she felt she wouldn’t shed a single tear even at the funeral.
Familial affection, she had abandoned such things long ago. She had only been playing along to the tune of family while waiting for the crumbs to fall.
The cause of her anger was that reporters were sticking to her like flies. As soon as she heard from a journalist friend that the video had been leaked, Woo Gi-bbeum hurriedly sent her husband and children abroad. She was planning to follow them soon.
“I told you I didn’t do it.”
“Stop lying, you bastard. Who else would do this if not you?”
“Does the old man have only one enemy? That’s why people should live kindly. What is this, for a man aiming to be the next floor leader? Wow, the victim is a college student? What an ugly end.”
Woo Hyun-se casually talked while scrolling through an internet article, the mouse wheel making a drr-drr sound. Woo Gi-bbeum glared at him fiercely.
“You’re going to keep denying it till the end.”
“What answer do you want that you keep asking?”
“The truth.”
“What you see is the truth, sister.”
His nonchalant attitude made her headache worse, and she pressed her temples firmly. Perhaps due to the stimulation to her head, a memory suddenly flashed by.
Although she usually didn’t pay much attention to Woo Hyun-se’s private life, there were sometimes things she couldn’t help but hear. Recently, Woo Hyun-se had gotten a lover, but unlike before, it wasn’t a woman but a young, handsome man. After hearing this, she had clicked her tongue, thinking he had gone as far as to reach for a young boy. She hadn’t paid much attention, thinking he would just play around and quit.
“…Don’t tell me.”
It seemed to fit as a reason for breaking off the engagement, if nothing else. Could it be that their father had messed with that boy? It was entirely possible. Woo Gi-bbeum had experienced the same thing before. She had even lost her unborn child.
“Did you break off your engagement and go crazy on father because of the kid you’re seeing now?”
Woo Hyun-se glanced at her. He didn’t deny it. Woo Gi-bbeum rubbed her face vigorously with both hands, saying “Wow.” She couldn’t believe it. That Woo Hyun-se, who would never let go of anything beneficial to him, even if he died.
“Just because of that.”
It was a completely different choice from hers. Back then, she had ignored the humiliation her loved one suffered, and even when she saw her empty womb, she only swallowed her resentment and sorrow. She didn’t have the courage to go against her father. She had been living without deviation on the path her father had drawn for her, only waiting for the inheritance that would someday fall to her.
“What do you mean ‘just’?”
Woo Hyun-se, who had been ignoring everything else, reacted to the belittling modifier. Indeed, the culprit was Woo Hyun-se, and their father must have known it. It was the moment Woo Hyun-se’s name would be erased from the will.
Even though he could probably make a living without receiving the inheritance since he was self-made, to give up on the massive gold mine that would fall before him, allowing him to live as a wealthy person for generations if he just stayed quiet. It was beyond Woo Gi-bbeum’s comprehension.
Had he suddenly gone mad? Even hate is a form of affection, so as his older sister, she advised:
“Woo Hyun-se, is that really just temporary? I know right now you can’t hear anything anyone says. No, you’ve eaten your fair share of years, how could you cause this disaster because you can’t control one emotion?”
Woo Hyun-se remained silent. He just stared at Woo Gi-bbeum as if waiting to see how far she would go.
“And are you at an age to be singing about love? Grow up. What is love anyway? It doesn’t put food on the table.”
She spoke frankly based on her experience, but Woo Hyun-se remained indifferent throughout. Feeling it would be futile to keep talking, she dejectedly held her forehead. Only then did the corners of his mouth rise freely.
“Well, people.”
Woo Gi-bbeum looked at Woo Hyun-se as she lowered her hand from her forehead. He clicked his tongue somewhat exaggeratedly as he took off the glasses perched on his nose. He seemed to be imitating someone. He raised his index finger and pointed it at her.
“You have no romance.”
And what he said next was outrageous. It grated on Woo Gi-bbeum’s nerves. Her fist clenched tightly at his smooth retort. It wasn’t her fault that her voice rose sharply.
“Hey, you bastard. Don’t you understand the situation? Who do you think father will beat up first when he wakes up? You? No. Don’t you know that mistress you’re hanging around with will be buried alive in the mountains first!”
Whether Woo Gi-bbeum cursed or not, Woo Hyun-se listened quietly and then calmly called out, “Sister.” Woo Gi-bbeum rummaged through her pocket and pulled out a cigarette pack. Prepared to slap him with the banknote for the fine if he tried to stop her from smoking indoors.
“What, you ungrateful bastard.”
“Do you think you can get a badge just by selling a few paintings?”
Her hand stopped as she was turning the flint. She didn’t think Woo Hyun-se wouldn’t know about the slush fund she had siphoned off.
“Who are you trying to fool with that?”
“You……”
The heat that had risen to the top of her head gradually cooled. Woo Gi-bbeum observed Woo Hyun-se with the filter in her mouth. His smiling face looked like a devil about to make an offer she couldn’t refuse.
“I’ll back you.”
“……”
It would be a lie to say she wasn’t tempted. Woo Gi-bbeum made a cold judgment. Given how tough their father was, she had planned to run for office after his passing, but at this rate, even if she was lucky enough to get a badge, it would be when her hair had turned white like some island nation’s royalty. In the meantime, if Woo Hyun-se helped her in every way possible, there was definitely hope.
But.
“How are you going to do that when I’ll be labeled as the daughter of a pervert?”
“How long do you think that influence will last? The public forgets more easily than you think. By the time you run for office, they probably won’t even remember who Woo Jung-ryeol was.”
“……”
“If it bothers you that much, why don’t you take your stepmother’s surname this time? Changing your name would be good too. Gi-bbeum doesn’t really suit politics.”
It was a bait too tempting to kick away without regret. While it would be the biggest help for getting elected, if he said he would remove their father, who was also the biggest obstacle to running for office…
The answer was already decided, but Woo Gi-bbeum pretended to be contemplating. The fact that she didn’t seriously tell him to stop talking nonsense would have made Woo Hyun-se guess what decision she had made.
“What do you get out of this?”
There was no way Woo Hyun-se, a businessman to the bone, would give her anything without conditions. Sure enough, he grinned as if he had been waiting for just those words.
“Be a shield. Prevent that old man from touching Kwon Si-yul.”
It was a somewhat tricky request. But not impossible. Although her mind was clearly leaning one way, she didn’t immediately bite and say she understood. It was a matter of pride. Woo Gi-bbeum sneered.
“Why, can’t you protect him on your own?”
“No way. It’s just taking out an insurance policy.”
And, Woo Hyun-se added, in a slightly exasperated tone.
“He’s not a mistress. Not a kept man either.”
“You’re crazy……”
She looked him up and down in disgust. He put his glasses back on and turned away.
“Anything else you want to ask?”
His face and attitude clearly showed that if she was done, she should get out. As it wasn’t a bad deal, Woo Gi-bbeum shook her head.
“That’s good then. Get out. I won’t see you off.”
Woo Gi-bbeum gave him the middle finger as a farewell and left the office. The short and unpleasant meeting ended with her slamming the door shut with a bang.
