PSS - 5

Chapter 5: Those Who Want Marriage, Those Who Want to Stop It

“This girl… is quite unusual.”

Chairman Park smiled in satisfaction after receiving the report and turned to look at the man seated beside him.

The man’s gaze was as dark and sharp as his appearance, exuding an aura that could intimidate anyone who dared meet his eyes. Yet, Chairman Park’s expression toward him was filled with trust.

Seeking agreement, Park glanced at the man, prompting him to lean forward and speak.

“However, as I mentioned earlier…”

“I know.”

But before he could fully voice his objection, Chairman Park cut him off. She then instructed Seok Ji-hyung.

“Chief Seok, keep an eye on this girl for a while. Keep her in line without letting her stray. Pay attention to where her younger sibling is staying too. Who knows? This time might be successful.”

At Chairman Park’s words, the man seated beside her—Im Woo-sik—let his eyes flash momentarily. But he bit back the words he had been about to say.

Woo-sik had stood by Park Yoon-hwa’s side for nearly 40 years, surviving solely through tact and keen observation. Knowing when to step back had allowed him to secure his position as one of Yoon-hwa’s most trusted confidants.

Silently raising his head, Woo-sik locked eyes with Ji-hyung, who was giving him an equally disapproving look.

Ironically, Seok Ji-hyung and Im Woo-sik—often referred to as Park Yoon-hwa’s right and left hands—were bitter rivals. However, they never let their animosity show in front of Yoon-hwa.

Woo-sik stared brazenly at Ji-hyung, seemingly amused by his discomfort. In response, Ji-hyung deliberately turned to Yoon-hwa and spoke.

“She has a special recommendation letter from her professor. Her father also worked diligently at his company, and there’s not a single flaw to be found.”

“…Everything seems fine, but there’s one thing that bothers me.”

“What concerns you?”

“The stubbornness in her eyes… It feels like she’s hiding something. She doesn’t strike me as an ordinary person.”

At Yoon-hwa’s comment, Woo-sik quickly interjected.

“Chairman, if you’re unsatisfied with these candidates, what about Se-young? There’s no need to push so hard…”

“That’s your greed talking. How could I ever allow my precious granddaughter-in-law… Besides, Soo-hyun may be talented, but he’s nothing more than a reckless heir.”

Jung Soo-hyun was unmatched in terms of appearance and qualifications, but the rumors surrounding his family history and wild reputation deterred families from actively offering their daughters to him.

Those who did approach often sought to exploit his weaknesses to manipulate the Taesung Group—and Park Yoon-hwa would never tolerate such schemes.

“Mr. Im, enough about Se-young. They grew up like siblings. What kind of marriage would that be? Unless they’re madly in love, which they aren’t.”

“Chairman.”

Before Woo-sik could continue, Yoon-hwa raised a hand to silence him.

“That’s enough for today. Both of you may leave.”

At Yoon-hwa’s dismissal, both Ji-hyung and Woo-sik quietly rose and exited the room.

Once outside in the courtyard overlooking the garden, Ji-hyung was the first to speak.

“Stop pushing Se-young. It’s not going to happen.”

“Hmph!”

Woo-sik glared fiercely at Ji-hyung, but the latter remained unfazed.

“You think I don’t see through your intentions?”

Ji-hyung’s words twisted Woo-sik’s face into a scowl.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Struggling to mask his displeasure, Woo-sik responded calmly, but a bitter smile tugged at Ji-hyung’s lips.

“Let me make this clear: Lim Se-young will never become the daughter-in-law of the Taesung Group.”

The venomous glare directed at Woo-sik didn’t faze Ji-hyung in the slightest.

“This time, I’ll ensure there’s no interference. Don’t waste your efforts.”

“When have I ever interfered…?”

“I’m betting everything on this match. Mark my words—it will succeed.”

With a curt nod, Ji-hyung turned on his heel and strode toward the main gate.

“…”

Woo-sik’s gaze burned with hostility as he watched Ji-hyung walk away. If looks could kill, Ji-hyung’s back would have been riddled with daggers.

Seok Ji-hyung, Park Yoon-hwa’s closest advisor, had never sided with Woo-sik in the nearly 30 years they’d known each other. Rising swiftly through Taesung’s elite ranks to become the chairman’s right-hand man, Ji-hyung had no reason to acknowledge someone like Woo-sik, whose origins were shrouded in mystery.

But beyond their constant bickering, Woo-sik now saw Ji-hyung’s blatant attempts to sabotage his plans, grinding his teeth in frustration.

‘Patience… I’ve waited decades for this. I can’t afford to ruin it carelessly.’

After glaring at the spot where Ji-hyung had disappeared, Woo-sik finally averted his gaze.

On that fateful night decades ago, a widowed Park Yoon-hwa, barely forty years old with three young children, had sought him out in desperation. Woo-sik immediately recognized it as the opportunity of a lifetime.

For the next 40 years, he solidified his position as Yoon-hwa’s most trusted advisor, embedding himself deeply within the Taesung Group—a conglomerate wielding unparalleled power and wealth in Korea.

And now, it was time to strengthen those roots even further.

‘If only I could somehow rein in that brat Soo-hyun…’

Woo-sik viewed Soo-hyun as a reckless third-generation chaebol heir who spent his nights carousing through entertainment districts since reaching adulthood.

Having known him since childhood, Woo-sik had assumed he could easily manipulate him—but Soo-hyun turned out to be far more unpredictable than expected, making communication nearly impossible.

He had hoped Soo-hyun harbored affection for his granddaughter, Se-young, whom he had raised almost like a sister—but alas, it wasn’t romantic love.

The Taesung family had a history of medical issues. Yoon-hwa’s late husband, Jeong Ji-cheol, had died of heart disease in his early forties, and Soo-hyun’s father, Jeong Tae-hoon, had lived a frail life dependent on medication.

In contrast, Jung Soo-hyun had been born robust and healthy, free of illness throughout his life.

Yet, ironically, this only fueled Yoon-hwa’s anxiety. Familiar with the untimely deaths of her immediate family members, she constantly feared her grandson might meet a similar fate.

Woo-sik exploited this fear.

If a potential daughter-in-law came from a powerful background, Woo-sik’s own position within Taesung would become precarious. Thus, he persistently urged Yoon-hwa to choose a docile bride who could bear heirs, subtly convincing her over several years under the guise of discussing Soo-hyun’s horoscopes and physiognomy.

Fortunately, Soo-hyun’s reputation as a marriage candidate was abysmal.

As expected, he rejected every woman his grandmother pushed onto him—not just rejecting them but ensuring their names were never mentioned again. At least, that had been true until today.

‘Did they know each other?’

Woo-sik recalled how Soo-hyun had stormed out of the room and called out the name of the woman introduced during the matchmaking session.

‘I need to investigate further.’

Perhaps it was time to stop underestimating the situation. As Woo-sik thought of Hae-in’s face, his eyes gleamed with malice.

---

Several days had passed since Hae-in visited the Taesung estate.

She sat silently by her brother’s hospital bed, staring blankly out the window. Just like the day she visited Taesung, raindrops pelted the glass.

The distinct smell of rain seeped through the cracks, filling the air.

Though only a few days had passed, much had changed since meeting Park Yoon-hwa.

A portion of the overdue hospital bills had been forgiven, and her brother had been moved from a shared ward to a private room. Even the doctors’ attitudes seemed different. Perhaps Yoon-hwa approved of her.

Could she dare to hope?

‘…I thought you’d be different.’

Soo-hyun’s parting words kept replaying in her mind, each recollection piercing her chest like needles. His cold gaze held no trace of kindness.

Did she not need Soo-hyun’s approval?

She could already imagine the treatment she’d receive living under the same roof as him. Forget pregnancy—even holding his hand once seemed unlikely.

“Jeong-in, honestly… I’m scared. I want to run away.”

Hae-in murmured to her unconscious brother, gazing at him. He lay deep in sleep, as always.

When she returned home from Taesung, she lied to her worried parents.

“He liked me, so he lent me some clothes,” she said, brushing off questions about why he’d given her clothes by claiming it had started raining suddenly. She reassured them everything would work out.

Her parents’ expressions were complicated.

Saying things were going well felt like selling their daughter, but saying otherwise meant continuing their current hellish existence.

Hae-in forced a bright smile.

“Mom, Dad, don’t worry. They seem like good people. I think I got lucky.”

After calming her parents, she retreated to her room and finally broke down in tears. The path she chose was a lonely one.

Even if things went well, any grievances or injustices she faced would have to be endured alone.

She didn’t want to burden her already guilt-ridden parents, who suffered endlessly blaming themselves.

“Still, I’ll try. Thinking of it as saving you makes it easier.”

She placed her hand over her frail brother’s and then stood up. After exhaling softly, she stepped out into the hallway.

‘Should I reach out?’

The past few days of waiting had been agonizing. What if Soo-hyun outright rejected her?

Hae-in pulled out her phone, hesitating before finding Secretary Seok Ji-hyung’s number.

[Whatever it takes, I’m ready. Please let me know how things are progressing.]

She sent the message and waited nervously. Almost immediately, Ji-hyung’s number appeared on her screen. As she reached a trembling finger toward the call button, a large hand snatched the phone from her grasp.

“Secretary Seok, it’s me, Soo-hyun. Let’s talk later.”

Looking up from her stolen phone, Hae-in saw Soo-hyun standing right in front of her, finishing the call. He handed the phone back without delay.

“What are you doing here…?”

Startled, Hae-in asked, but Soo-hyun responded with an indifferent expression.

“Can we talk for a moment?”