134.
#Unexpected Public Opinion
“If you hadn’t given me a definitive answer, I was really planning to stick by your side. Losing you once was enough.”
Hayun said that if Dawoon had continued to push him away, he wouldn’t have needed the prepared video or proposal. He was planning to just let everything fall apart and use that as an excuse to leave the company. Dawoon was left speechless at these words. It was even more frightening because it didn’t sound like a lie.
“You have no moderation. What kind of person have you become?”
As Dawoon muttered to himself in shock, Hayun smiled faintly.
“When I compromised, someone ran away.”
Implying that it was Dawoon who had made him this way.
“I’m glad you answered sooner than I expected.”
At these words, Dawoon let out a long sigh and turned his head. If he had decided just one day later, how would today’s engagement ceremony have ended? The problem wasn’t the numerous rumors that would follow. The thought that it could have led to a drop in Haedo Group’s stock prices made him shudder.
At the same time, he realized painfully. While Jeong Hayun controlled Haedo Group, if he couldn’t properly control Jeong Hayun, how big of an impact it could have. When he learned that he didn’t share a single drop of blood with Hayun, he had vowed never to get involved in Haedo Group’s affairs again, but somehow, he felt like he had fallen into an even deeper, inescapable swamp.
***
As soon as Director Park stood before Chairman Jeong, a thunderous roar erupted.
“Where is Hayun and what is he doing!”
At the angry demand of why the person who should always be by Hayun’s side to assist him was wandering separately, Director Park simply bowed his head without a word.
“Hayun, that bastard, tell me where he is!”
“I’m sorry. I cannot tell you.”
At the unhesitating answer, Chairman Jeong slammed his hand on the table.
“Think of your brother and answer!”
Even under Chairman Jeong’s threat, Director Park’s expression remained unchanged. As he maintained his silence, Chairman Jeong’s anger reached its peak.
“Park Ju-jin! How dare you…!”
Just as Chairman Jeong was about to yell, there was a knock on the door, and it opened. Ms. Kim, who entered, bowed her head and approached Chairman Jeong. She leaned in and whispered something, causing Chairman Jeong’s face to harden.
“Ha, you moved the hospital?”
Chairman Jeong glared at Director Park as he spoke. Director Park gave no answer. Three years ago, when Hayun started to take control, he had asked Director Park to clearly choose his side. Hayun knew everything about the Chairman’s brother’s illness that the Chairman had been supporting, and said he could resolve it more definitively than the Chairman.
In fact, unlike Chairman Jeong who only maintained the current state to prevent further deterioration, Hayun helped arrange for overseas medical staff to perform surgery on his brother. Thanks to this, he had already gone to the United States last year for surgery and was now fully recovered, continuing to live there.
“All the hospital fees you’ve been supporting have been returned to your account, Chairman.”
At Director Park’s words, Chairman Jeong’s jaw clenched, his jawbone protruding.
“You dare…!”
Chairman Jeong’s hands trembled. His blood pressure rose at the fact that he had been deceived so perfectly all this time, but he had to admit that Director Park would no longer move according to his will.
“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll be leaving now.”
Director Park bowed and turned around.
“Do you think this is for Hayun’s benefit?”
The Chairman asked before he could take a step.
“In the end, Jeong Hayun has to survive for you not to become a kite with a broken string. But do you think he can endure if you pull stunts like this? Do you think Jeong Hayun can survive within Haedo Group without my help?”
At Chairman Jeong’s pressing, Director Park took a long breath and turned back to face him.
“He is the successor you chose, Chairman.”
At his answer, Chairman Jeong frowned.
“Your judgment was correct, Chairman. The Vice President will not fall because of this incident.”
“How can you guarantee that!”
Chairman Jeong widened his eyes, saying it was nonsense. He seemed to want to hold him responsible for poorly assisting Hayun somehow.
“If you check the news articles, you’ll know.”
At Director Park’s words, Ms. Kim, who was standing nearby, quickly picked up a tablet PC to check the articles. Without needing to search, as soon as she opened a portal site, provocative headlines like ‘Haedo Group Heir’s Broken Engagement’ were already visible at the top of the news section.
“Chairman, this…”
After quickly scanning the article, she showed the tablet PC to Chairman Jeong. Upon seeing the article, Chairman Jeong’s face twisted as if it were rotting. Director Park, who had been watching them, bowed deeply and turned to leave.
This battle was a perfect victory for Jeong Hayun.
***
“Ha, this is unbelievable.”
Dawoon, who had been browsing the internet on Hayun’s tablet PC, exhaled in disbelief.
The articles about Hayun’s broken engagement posted by several media outlets were closer to simply stating facts than expected. They transcribed exactly what Hayun had said to people in the video without missing a single word, and showed the guests’ reactions without exaggeration. Negative words like ‘irresponsible’ were nowhere to be found. It was to the point where one might wonder if Hayun had paid off the journalists.
Seeing that the video was uploaded in time for the engagement ceremony and a proposal to appease the guests was prepared even though Jeong Hayun was stuck in the countryside of Goseong, Gangwon-do, it was clear that Director Park was acting as his avatar in Seoul. Even so, it was impossible not to admire how far ahead he had planned and prepared.
“Did you bribe the journalists too?”
At Dawoon’s question, Hayun chuckled.
“There wasn’t time for that. I couldn’t know how you would react either.”
So it meant the articles were written as the journalists wanted.
“What if malicious articles had been published?”
“Nothing could be done about that.”
At the nonchalant answer, Dawoon shook his head and looked down again to check the comments below the articles.
– I like this person’s thinking. Isn’t it better than them doing everything among themselves?
– True. It’s ridiculous to have arranged marriages in this day and age. I’m more surprised that such things still existed.
– A proper businessman. It’s right to run the group with their own abilities. How long are they going to cling to political connections?
– Wow. I see him in a new light. I’m only going to use Haedo Group products from now on. Gotta support them with my wallet.
The comments were all favorable towards Hayun. Even people who didn’t know Hayun well appeared, praising how Haedo Group’s image had changed. Some criticized the wrong culture of succession in political and economic circles, saying it doesn’t make sense for people to marry among themselves even in the 21st century.
At this rate, contrary to worries, it seemed unlikely that Haedo Group’s stock price would fall. Moreover, subsequent interviews with political and business figures who had come as guests to the engagement ceremony also played a part. None of them spoke ill of Hayun. They unanimously praised him, saying that despite his young age, he had a broad view of business and made cool-headed judgments. It seemed that the compensation Hayun had proposed to them was quite to their liking.
It was unclear how far he had anticipated and planned, but in the current situation, there seemed to be nothing that could harm Hayun. It seemed that even Haedo Group’s shareholders couldn’t blame Hayun for this broken engagement.
– But who is this precious person? If the Haedo Group Vice President cherishes them, their life must be set.
– Seeing how they tried to force the engagement, it seems the family doesn’t approve. Is this the birth of a Cinderella of the century?
– So envious. I’d be grateful even if they asked me to live as their lover for life.
Among the comments, there were many about the precious person Hayun had mentioned. No one imagined that this person could be his ‘brother’. It was unreasonable to expect it to be a brother, let alone a man.
Dawoon swallowed a rising sigh. Perhaps if it were a Cinderella story where the marriage was opposed due to class differences, it might be less burdensome even with media attention. Now that it had been revealed like this, paparazzi would probably try to uncover Hayun’s lover for a while. It seemed they should leave for London quickly before giving these people any room for suspicion.
“I want to go to London first.”
Hayun turned to look at the sudden statement.
“Book me a flight ticket. I’ll leave tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“I think I need to leave Korea as soon as possible.”
When Dawoon answered sincerely, Hayun, who had been staring silently, burst into laughter.
“There’s no need to be so sensitive. Anyway, to others, you’re my ‘brother’, so even if you’re with me like this now, no one will suspect anything.”
Brother, sibling. He hadn’t known it would be used like this. In this situation, he could somewhat understand why Hayun insisted on never officially changing their family registry. Even if paparazzi followed them and took pictures of the two, there would be no problem as long as Dawoon lived as ‘Jeong Dawoon’.
“So, relax your face. You’ll get wrinkles on that pretty face.”
Hayun reached out and rubbed the wrinkles between Dawoon’s brows. Then he leaned down and lightly kissed his forehead.
If only they weren’t caught on camera like this.
Dawoon glanced at the living room’s front window. He was worried that some reporter might have followed them all the way here, but Hayun had already drawn the curtains to prevent anyone from seeing inside.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
