“You must be very busy these days? I hope you’re taking care of yourself while working. Please make sure to eat properly too.”
While Suhwan was eating heartily, Hwalyeon barely touched the course meal in front of her. Considering what Suhwan had mentioned earlier about Jin Suhwan’s past actions, he wondered if picking at food was characteristic of wealthy families, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
This was because Hwalyeon’s behavior was typical of someone with gastritis. She mainly ate soft foods and avoided meat. As an executive director with many responsibilities, she probably couldn’t maintain regular meals, and the stress likely made it difficult for her to swallow food properly.
And as if confirming his guess, Hwalyeon’s eyes widened.
“Yes, thank you for your concern.”
“It’s nothing.”
Suhwan smiled back at Hwalyeon’s pleasant smile. The atmosphere was becoming quite good.
“Suhwan, I…”
“Yes?”
As they were nearly finished with dessert, Hwalyeon spoke again. Suhwan looked at her with curious eyes.
“I thought we’d grown apart… since that day.”
“…?”
“After you sent me that letter, I thought you were very angry.”
“Letter?”
“You must have been very disappointed in me, but I’d like to apologize on this occasion. I was very sorry back then. For leaving you behind.”
“Ah…”
Judging from the circumstances, she seemed to be referring to when she went to study in the United States.
A letter? Had Jin Suhwan sent Hwalyeon a resentful letter when she went to America? Is that why their relationship had become so distant?
While it was understandable that he might have done something like that in a fit of childish anger, Suhwan couldn’t comprehend what kind of letter it must have been that prevented them from speaking even after Hwalyeon returned to Korea. Suhwan slightly frowned, but soon responded with a neutral expression.
“It’s okay, Sister. I was too immature back then… Actually, it’s been so long that I can’t even remember what letter I sent. I’m sorry.”
“Ah… I see.”
At Suhwan’s words, Hwalyeon finally showed a relieved expression. She looked as if a burden had been completely lifted from her.
“Right. I guess I was worrying about something unnecessary.”
“That happens. It was the same for me.”
The two sat facing each other, laughing pleasantly. It was a much better time than Suhwan had anticipated. It seemed that the past close relationship between Hwalyeon and Jin Suhwan had been a big help.
A glass of iced tea was placed in front of Suhwan after he finished his dessert. He moistened his throat while drinking it. It seemed like the time to discuss the main topic, but he wasn’t sure how to start the conversation. Although the atmosphere had improved, Hwalyeon was still a difficult person for Suhwan to approach.
Seeing Suhwan like this, Hwalyeon seemed to guess something and spoke first.
“Is there something bothering you? You don’t look well.”
“Ah.”
Fortunately, Hwalyeon had a very sensitive personality. Encouraged by her words, Suhwan responded.
“Actually, it’s about that.”
Suhwan briefly explained what had been happening. Since she would already know about his engagement to Seunghyun, he explained the subsequent events that Hwalyeon wasn’t aware of, especially Chairman Jin’s troublesome demand that he continue going on blind dates.
A troubled look crossed Hwalyeon’s face as she heard this. Soon, she spoke with a disapproving expression.
“Suhwan, the truth is… I didn’t take your engagement with that boy seriously either. Like grandfather, I thought it was just a momentary whim.”
“Ah…”
“But are you serious? Do you really want to… marry him?”
Hwalyeon asked in a solemn tone. It was immediately apparent that she wasn’t asking lightly.
Suhwan clenched his hands under the table. Although the answer was already decided, he suddenly felt nervous. But soon, with unwavering eyes, he looked at Hwalyeon and answered.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“…”
“I really don’t want to… break up with Seunghyun.”
Initially, he had wanted to escape from him. He wanted to break off the engagement with Seunghyun and live freely, to avoid dying as in the original story.
But now he had grown too fond of Seunghyun. After learning about Geonyul’s misdeeds, which weren’t shown in the original work, he wanted to protect Seunghyun from him. With a bit of exaggeration, Suhwan felt like he could even give his life for him.
Suhwan himself was surprised at how his feelings had grown so much. Looking at Suhwan, Hwalyeon sighed.
“Of all people, falling for an HS child… You’re trying to walk the same path as me.”
Hwalyeon’s spouse also came from a family that wasn’t particularly well-off. Seunghyun’s family had at least once been counted among the wealthy, but Hwalyeon’s spouse wasn’t even that. They came from a truly ordinary family.
That’s why Hwalyeon had pushed herself to pursue business ventures to gain acceptance for their marriage. She went ahead with a project that everyone had advised against, eventually succeeded, and even created another affiliate company. That was the Hwamyeong affiliate company where Hwalyeon now served as the executive director.
In other words, without achievements of that caliber, one couldn’t marry the person they wanted. Hwalyeon didn’t want Suhwan to walk such a thorny path. It was something that couldn’t be done with ordinary effort.
“Actually, HS will soon develop a drug.”
“What?”
“It’s a truly groundbreaking drug. Investing in it will generate enormous profits. I’m certain.”
Hwalyeon remained silent for a moment at Suhwan’s words. Then, still with a hardened expression, she asked again.
“Have you forgotten why HS was expelled?”
“That…”
“If there are side effects with this drug too, we will suffer great losses as well. We can’t afford such a risk.”
“But…”
“Suhwan.”
“Yes.”
“I understand your desire to trust that boy, but love and business are separate matters. We can’t recklessly invest in such uncertain ventures.”
“…”
At Hwalyeon’s cold words, Suhwan bit the soft flesh inside his mouth.
The fact that HS’s past side effect incident was fabricated was something only Suhwan knew, with the original story’s content in his mind. Without evidence, even if he spoke now, Hwalyeon wouldn’t believe him.
Moreover, that evidence was difficult for Suhwan to find on his own. It would require tracking down ghost companies that had existed and then disappeared at that time. That was simply beyond what Suhwan could do.
So he needed to persuade Hwalyeon somehow. Even if not now, he needed to guide her to take an interest in this matter someday. Having made up his mind, Suhwan spoke.
“Still, I… want to trust Seunghyun. You don’t have to decide right away, but could you just help us get approval for clinical trials when the drug is developed?”
“…”
“You could do that much, couldn’t you?”
Hwalyeon’s face remained rigid. Seeing her not responding, Suhwan spoke again.
“If such a thing happens again in this clinical trial… I’ll take full responsibility.”
“Take responsibility?”
“I’ll completely give up my succession rights and transfer all management rights. If you want, I can even dispose of my shares and give them to you.”
“…!”
“I have no interest in company management anyway… but still, the fact remains that I’m your only competitor.”
Hwalyeon’s father—that is, Suhwan’s uncle and Chairman Jin’s first son—wanted to live freely, away from Hwamyeong. He debuted in the entertainment industry right after graduating from university and lived his entire life as an actor. It was almost a miracle that a businesswoman like Hwalyeon was born to such a man.
And his younger brother, Chairman Jin’s second son and Suhwan’s father, had passed away in an accident. Now, only their children, Hwalyeon and Suhwan, could inherit the management rights from Chairman Jin.
Suhwan didn’t covet what he knew wasn’t rightfully his place. But even succession rights that were only nominal could be an attractive target for others. There was no telling when relatives without succession rights and shareholders might try to persuade and use Suhwan to pressure Hwalyeon.
For Hwalyeon, this could prevent such unfortunate situations, and Suhwan could help Seunghyun by staking succession rights he wasn’t interested in anyway. This was the best choice Suhwan could make at present.
“You really… are serious.”
“Yes.”
Hwalyeon’s eyes widened as if truly surprised. She hadn’t expected Suhwan to go this far.
But soon she returned to her expressionless face. She spoke to Suhwan in a stern tone.
“Don’t say such things carelessly. One never knows what might happen in life.”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
“Hah…”
Hwalyeon let out a small sigh and shook her head. While she hadn’t come here with a light heart, she never dreamed she would be discussing such a topic with Suhwan.
“Anyway, I understand how you feel. Let’s… think about this more later.”
“Yes, thank you for at least listening.”
Suhwan nodded and forced a smile.
This was just the beginning. From now on, he would have to convince Hwalyeon somehow.
Though no specific method came to mind yet, there was still time before the drug would be developed.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
