PSS - 20

Chapter 20: The Persistent You Who Keeps Bothering Me

6 a.m.

Soo-hyun arrived at the main house of Taesung Group. Every Wednesday, whether he liked it or not, he had to visit Pyeongchang-dong to see Chairman Park.

Before stepping out of the car, Soo-hyun leaned back into the rear seat, listening intently as Choi Seung-joon delivered his report.

“…So, what exactly are you trying to say? That Chairman Park has completely cut off our funding?”

Interrupting Choi mid-sentence, Soo-hyun asked sharply.

“Yes. It sounds absurd, but based on confidential information I’ve gathered, that’s the situation.”

“She’s insane.”

The moment Choi finished speaking, Soo-hyun’s face twisted in frustration.

He had successfully acquired some key companies by pretending to be either incompetent or overly capable, subtly provoking Chairman Park. However, those assets were still vulnerable—they could be taken away at any moment if her mood shifted.

Soo-hyun had established multiple overseas investment firms to quietly purchase shares of Taesung Group, carefully avoiding suspicion by accumulating them gradually and within safe limits.

But recently, Chairman Park’s movements had become suspicious.

Rumors circulated that she was covertly exerting pressure on the companies handed over to Soo-hyun. Perhaps she had caught wind of his efforts to restructure the shareholding system.

‘Or maybe this is her way of starting to rein me in.’

Lost in thought, Choi cautiously offered advice.

“…President, honestly, maintaining this facade has its limits. If you don’t plan to explain the situation to Chairman Park, we’ll have no choice but to bring in funds from the overseas entities.”

“No. Doing so would immediately expose everything. All our hard work up until now would be wasted.”

Soo-hyun cut Choi off decisively before sinking back into contemplation.

His father, Jung Tae-hoon, had prepared something for his son long ago—multiple offshore investment firms designed to acquire stakes in Taesung Group. It was part of his determination to ensure his son wouldn’t live the same constrained life he did.

As vice chairman of Taesung, Tae-hoon held significant authority but lacked true power. His current position reflected this delicate balance.

Within Taesung, Chairman Park presided over a web of intrigue involving her three children and their five cousins, all vying for control. They were trapped in a labyrinth of schemes orchestrated by Chairman Park herself, each wielding knives against one another.

To survive in such an environment, one couldn’t appear too competent or too inept. Hyenas like his cousins constantly eyed the reins of management, while his frail father could collapse at any moment.

If Tae-hoon fell, Soo-hyun would face a critical decision: confront his grandmother or submit to her will.

Before that day came, Tae-hoon’s goal was to restructure Taesung’s shareholding system and give his son wings to fly independently.

But Park Yoon-hwa wasn’t someone easily outmaneuvered. Her instincts remained sharp even past eighty. She had somehow gone undetected for years, but her recent actions hinted at growing suspicion.

If the offshore entities they’d created with Tae-hoon were forced to step forward to save the companies whose lifelines were severed, the trail of secretly transferred shares would immediately come to light.

‘…Which is why we must stay still for now. Absolutely still.’

In times like these, revealing even the slightest weakness was fatal. Chairman Park would pounce like a jackal, using it to tether him tightly.

‘Please, can you just treat me a little warmly?’

Hah.

Thinking of Hae-in made him sigh involuntarily. Why hadn’t he simply ignored her?

He had already shown concern for Hae-in in front of Chairman Park multiple times. He was usually adept at acting, capable of pulling off anything—but when it came to Yoon Hae-in, his body acted on its own accord.

At the formal meeting, Chairman Park must have sensed it.

That Yoon Hae-in could become Soo-hyun’s weakness.

‘…You’re utterly useless. Not helpful at all.’

Clenching his fists tightly, Soo-hyun stepped out of the car and entered the main house.

The corridor leading to the inner quarters was as silent as ever.

Passing through the central courtyard, Soo-hyun paused momentarily. This was where Hae-in had been dragged out countless times after being summoned to Taesung.

‘Did you like me?’

Her clear gaze flashed in his mind. Since that day, her image kept resurfacing unbidden, causing him to stop mid-step without realizing it.

The more he tried to shake her off, the more persistently she haunted him. Those pure eyes of hers.

‘Just don’t do anything. Don’t speak, just breathe. That’s your job.’

He remembered the cruel words he’d thrown at her. Standing there, staring at the courtyard, he could almost picture her watching his retreating figure from the center of it.

‘…This is maddening.’

Turning his gaze toward Chairman Park’s room, Soo-hyun steadied himself.

If Hae-in represented his past, then whatever it was, he needed to crush it underfoot and move forward.

His present and future lay within that room ahead and the person seated inside.

---

“Soo-hyun-ah, if you need my help, just say the word. A single phone call is all it takes.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Choi Seung-joon seems to be struggling with his antics.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

As usual, Soo-hyun sat before Chairman Park, feigning indifference.

Chairman Park spoke as though tenderly caring for her grandson, but her disappointment was palpable. She clearly expected him to bow and beg.

“I prefer you when you act like your usual self rather than pretending to be so docile. It suits you better.”

“There isn’t a grandmother in the world who enjoys seeing her grandson behave rudely.”

“I find it endearing, like throwing tantrums. Or perhaps not? You never know—I might give you something unexpected.”

She thrived on stirring people up, tearing apart their insides to reveal their deepest vulnerabilities.

Every time Chairman Park spoke this way, Soo-hyun felt chills run down his spine. Yet, he maintained his composure, responding boldly.

“Then why don’t you transfer more shares instead of making me work? I’d love to spend my days collecting dividends.”

“Ha. Soo-hyun-ah.”

Chairman Park exhaled deeply, muttering as though lecturing him.

“You’re always trying to escape the name Taesung. But think about it—do you really understand how far you’ll fall once you leave?”

“We’ll see when it happens.”

“You don’t realize how extraordinary the things you were born with truly are.”

No, I do. Those extraordinary things devoured my mother, my brother, and even my father.

If they were weak and succumbed because of it, I swore I never would.

Gritting his teeth, Soo-hyun recalled the vow he’d made to himself as a child.

“Please, don’t forget my goodwill. When will you finally come to your senses?”

Calling manipulation “goodwill” was Chairman Park’s specialty.

She had forced all her children into strategic marriages, divorced them, and remarried them. While ruining their lives, she viewed her eldest son—who had married for love and lived happily—as a thorn in her side.

Soo-hyun remembered how she openly criticized his mother, calling her an incompetent daughter-in-law who brought no benefit to Taesung.

Considering how quickly she pushed Tae-hoon into another strategic marriage after his mother’s death, Soo-hyun sometimes wondered if his grandmother hadn’t orchestrated her demise as well.

Suppressing the nausea rising in his throat, he decided to wrap up the conversation.

“…Stop summoning your pitiful grandson to drain my energy first thing in the morning.”

As he rose to leave, Chairman Park called out behind him.

“You’re just like your father—hopelessly drawn to inferior genes.”

Soo-hyun paused, his hand on the door, and glanced back at her.

“That’s not true. Besides, you chose my spouse, didn’t you?”

“You’re pretending otherwise.”

“Believe whatever makes you happy.”

Click.

Closing the door behind him, Soo-hyun felt a slight release, as though he could finally breathe again. Judging by Chairman Park’s reaction, the formal meeting had merely been a taste of what was to come.

Walking toward the car where Choi waited, Soo-hyun sank into thought.

On the wedding day, Chairman Park would undoubtedly scheme to turn the event into chaos for everyone involved.

As soon as he settled into the car, Soo-hyun instructed Choi.

“We need to invite some reporters to the wedding.”

“Reporters?”

“Yes. Look into freelance journalists.”

“But getting reporters inside won’t be easy, especially with the senior chairman…”

“I’ll handle it.”

“Are you sure about this?”

Choi asked cautiously, but Soo-hyun responded firmly.

“If we want to maintain appearances, we need to put her in front of the cameras. At least then, the wedding might pass without raising too many eyebrows. After all, it’s supposed to be a celebration.”

Knowing both Chairman Park’s temperament and Soo-hyun’s reasons for setting up offshore entities, Choi refrained from asking further questions.

“I’ll find a way.”

“And we should invite a few influential figures from politics and business.”

The decision to hold the ceremony at a villa reflected Tae-hoon’s belief that this marriage wouldn’t last long.

But it also aligned with Chairman Park’s intentions. By keeping the guest list small, she could wreak havoc without worrying about public scrutiny.

For Soo-hyun, none of Chairman Park’s actions mattered anymore.

Whatever she said or did held no sway over him. Long ago, he had erased the notion that she was his grandmother, his blood relative, or someone deserving affection.

‘…Hah. Must it come to this?’

He thought he heard Hae-in’s voice pleading with him again.

‘Please, can you just treat me a little warmly?’

Soo-hyun closed his eyes.

‘With this, at least you won’t suffer humiliation at the wedding because of Chairman Park.’

When he opened his eyes, the car had already left the estate and entered Seoul’s bustling streets. Familiar scenery greeted him, yet nothing stood out in his memory.

Blurred, indistinct images passed by, barely registering as familiar.

Why, among all these forgettable sights, did Hae-in’s gaze remain so vivid in his mind?

‘You’re nothing but trouble.’

Shaking his head, Soo-hyun picked up his work tablet.