abcnovels
Chapter 40 - This Noona Will Take Care of It
Chapter 40 - This Noona Will Take Care of It
Chapter 40: This Noona Will Take Care of It
TL: Aniea
“It’s been a while. Kang Woo-ju ssi.”
“I don’t think we’re close enough for friendly greetings. Director Baek.”
Smirk-
As I firmly drew the line, Director Baek Do-young pushed up his glasses. The smile underneath somehow bothered me.
Unlike before, he came alone this time, suggesting he had something important to discuss.
‘…He’s really a troublesome person after all.’
Today, Director Baek had also figured out not only my filming schedule but also my expected routes, waiting in the parking lot in advance.
It felt like an unspoken pressure that he could get rid of me at any moment once Kim Eun-ha’s protection was gone.
“Haha, no matter how many times I see it, Kang Woo-ju ssi’s acting skills are astonishing. They don’t match at all with the past videos or the stories from people around you, which is quite intriguing.”
“I have another schedule, so please get to the point.”
“If you insist. To get straight to the point, I received a call from Park Ji-hoon CEO of Daehan Group. He asked if I had any thoughts on ousting you together.”
“······.”
I swallowed my silence.
There were two reasons for that.
The first was that it was surprising that the prideful Park Ji-hoon would extend his hand first to one of his strongest competitors, Baek Do-young.
The second was that I still didn’t understand why Baek Do-young was straightforwardly telling me this.
“Aren’t you curious why I’m telling you this directly, Kang Woo-ju ssi?”
“Please continue.”
“I’m short on time as well, so I’ll be blunt. Stay away from Kim Eun-ha ssi as soon as possible.”
Director Baek Do-young pushed up his glasses once more. The glasses, reflecting the parking lot lights, gleamed sharply.
In response, I silently stared at Baek Do-young. Locking eyes with him through the glass, trying to figure out his true intentions.
“What if I refuse?”
“I’ll temporarily join hands with CEO Park Ji-hoon. I’ll hand over all the information I have about your past and contact the media.”
“······.”
“I wonder if title [Peaceful Chaebol Life] seems fitting, don’t you think? It’s quite amazing how you chose such a coincidental title.”
Although Baek Do-young didn’t give a detailed explanation, it was starting to become clear what actions he would take without needing to hear them.
He would maliciously edit my past records and spread them through the media and all SNS platforms, hiring people to stir up negative public opinion.
Among those would be many malicious nicknames that floated around during my university days.
‘It wouldn’t be that difficult.’
Just hiring a few juniors I don’t even know to say, “That sunbae did terrible things to me”, would be the endgame.
The media, backed by two large corporations, would scatter the prepared articles everywhere.
The witch-hunted me would be socially buried, struggling with everyday life, let alone acting.
‘…He’s playing quite a bold move.’
If this method were used, the one to suffer wouldn’t just be me.
Inevitably, talks about nepotism would come up, and Kim Eun-ha, who had already been seen on a few dates with me, would also get embroiled in the controversy.
That’s why this method was not one Baek Do-young and Park Ji-hoon, including other engagement candidates, would typically use. This was also the reason Director Baek had been controlling my information until now.
‘So that’s why you came to me first.’
If left as is, it would be disastrous, so he’s saying he wouldn’t care even if the trophy got some scratches.
Their extreme reactions implied that Kim Eun-ha and I posed a significant threat to them, yet it was still a rather bold decision.
“I don’t want to hurt Eun-ha ssi either. When there’s a way for everyone to be happy right before our eyes, why go the long way around?”
“Interesting. Does that ‘everyone’ include me and Eun-ha ssi properly?”
“Of course.”
Smirk-
As if he had been waiting for that question, Director Baek Do-young lifted the corners of his mouth. It seemed he had both the stick and the carrot prepared.
“Of course, I’m not telling you to break up empty-handed. I’ll guarantee the safety of your family, including yourself, and arrange for you to appear in dramas and commercials sponsored by Mirae Group.”
“······.”
“In addition, I’ll ensure you have a house and a car, as well as enough cash to use until you become self-sufficient.”
“How much will you give me?”
Perhaps thinking I was halfway convinced, Baek Do-young’s grin widened. He spread his hand wide before my eyes.
“500 million won. If you accept the offer, I will pay you 500 million won in cash, in addition to what I’ve already mentioned. This should be enough···.”
Tsk-
Seeing him confidently mention 500 million won made me involuntarily burst into laughter.
Though Baek Do-young’s eyes sharpened, it was hard to suppress the laughter once it started.
“Just that?”
“···Just that? It seems you’ve lived like a chaebol recently and started to think you’re actually something. Don’t misunderstand, Kang Woo-ju ssi.”
He’s right.
In fact, 500 million won is a massive amount of money.
Thinking back to before I met Kim Eun-ha, there were many times I only ate one meal a day because even food expenses were a burden. And that meal was often a triangle kimbap or ramen.
I didn’t have even a million won in my bank account, let alone 100 million won, and I worried every night about being kicked out of my home the next month or if I could pay for my father’s hospital bills.
‘Then why does it seem so laughable?’
They say the position shapes the person. Despite him offering everything I once desperately desired, it didn’t resonate with me at all.
‘How much did Eun-ha ssi say on the first day?’
was it 5 billion won?
She mentioned that amount after depositing 10 million won into my account immediately. Of course, she was referring to the total amount she donated to society in a year.
It was also an analogy that if I signed a contract with her, I could receive a corresponding value every year. I’m currently reaping those benefits in real-time.
“Oh, I’m sorry. 500 million won is indeed a large amount. However, it doesn’t feel like a particularly attractive offer. Maybe if it were ten times that amount.”
“···You’re quite greedy.”
“I mentioned the minimum amount I could consider, but it seems too much for Director Baek. I understand, of course. If you were ‘Kim Do-young’, it might have been a bit different.”
“You’re crossing the line.”
Shaa-
I slightly touched his complex, and Baek Do-young reacted more intensely than expected. He glared at me with eyes like a viper targeting its prey.
“···Do you really want to challenge me?”
“You should know who crossed the line first. I didn’t expect you’d come here to make such an unreasonable threat. What a waste of time.”
I openly checked my wristwatch. If I didn’t want to be late for filming, it was time to head in.
My attitude must have genuinely angered Baek Do-young, as his face flushed red.
However, proving he didn’t secure his director position through sheer luck, he showed remarkable patience.
“I’ll give you one last chance. Leave Kim Eun-ha. If not, you’ll lose everything you have, literally everything.”
“Is that all you have to say?”
“···What?”
“Then let me give you one final warning.”
Step-
I strode towards Baek Do-young. Looking him straight in the eyes, I fueled the emotions that had been boiling inside me.
“Baek Do-young.”
Kang Joo-heon.
No, an even colder voice emerged from my throat. A strange sensation enveloped me, making me feel unfamiliar with myself.
This wasn’t acting.
I was genuinely angry.
‘Why?’
For a moment, that question floated to the surface, but it soon evaporated in the boiling rage.
Thump, thump, thump, thump-!
My heart pounded like crazy, pumping adrenaline. I could feel the blood coursing through my veins, spreading throughout my body, expanding my senses.
However, the colder my head became, the more intense my gaze grew, like the winds of a winter storm, and my breath formed white steam.
Baek Do-young, facing me, did not retreat an inch, but conversely, that was all he could muster.
“Stop poking around clumsily. If you’re going to gamble with someone else’s life, you should be prepared to stake your own.”
“······.”
“If you plan to target my life, you better be fully prepared to go all in. Because···.”
Step-
Suppressing the anger that had risen to the top of my head, I took another step closer and whispered softly into Baek Do-young’s ear.
“I’ve already gone all in.”
Gulp-!
In my heightened senses, I heard the sound of a dry swallow. It must have been one of the two people here. But it wasn’t me.
“Oh my. Look at the time. I have to go to my filming now. Next time, please make an appointment in advance.”
“······.”
Swish-
I checked my watch and turned away without hesitation. Kang Joo-heon never misses an appointment, no matter what happens.
*
“···Woo-ju ssi, you sometimes do incredibly audacious things without batting an eye. There are few people who could speak to Director Baek like that to his face.”
Kim Eun-ha shook her head as she watched Kang Woo-ju casually sip his black tea across from her.
Who was Baek Do-young?
In just a few years since joining the company, he had gained the complete trust of Chairman Kim Seok-ho and swiftly ascended to the position of Executive Secretary.
Chairman Kim Seok-ho, who wouldn’t hesitate to marry off his daughters and mix blood to acquire talent.
In some ways, Baek Do-young was an even more dangerous candidate than Park Ji-hoon, who was entangled with Daehan Group.
‘In other ways, too.’
Though I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I had heard that he was the type who wouldn’t hesitate to dirty his hands to achieve his goals.
Moreover, as the person responsible for obtaining and controlling all kinds of information while working in the secretary’s office, even Kim Eun-ha’s high-nosed relatives were extremely cautious when dealing with Director Baek.
‘…Not bad.’
Kim Eun-ha picked up her teacup to hide the twitching corners of her mouth. As she enjoyed the subtle fragrance of the tea and took a sip, she noticed something.
She saw Kang Woo-ju’s teacup trembling slightly.
“Puhup-!”
“Are you alright!?”
“Co- cough! I’m, I’m fine.”
“Here, take this handkerchief!”
Kang Woo-ju jumped up with a worried expression. He quickly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.
In the process, Kim Eun-ha noticed once again that Kang Woo-ju’s hand was shaking.
She hadn’t heard of him having any tremors before, so it was likely because of Director Baek.
‘…This is serious.’
Even as she coughed and spluttered, Kim Eun-ha thought about it. Kang Woo-ju, looking at her, was fidgeting, not knowing what to do.
Despite being more scared than anyone inside, he was trying hard not to show it. The gap between his usual self and this vulnerable side was…
Adorably cute.
She wanted to pinch his cheeks right away.
‘…This isn’t right.’
Facing a major crisis, she was having such trivial thoughts.
Kim Eun-ha wanted to suppress this budding desire inside her.
“…Eun-ha ssi?”
Ah-
When she came to her senses, her hand was already pinching Kang Woo-ju’s cheek. The two of them exchanged awkward glances.
Kim Eun-ha wanted to turn back time, but there was no way to gather spilled water.
With things as they were, it was all or nothing. Making up her mind, Kim Eun-ha strengthened her grip on his cheek.
“Don’t worry. This Noona will take care of it.”
“…What?”
Seeing the bewildered Kang Woo-ju, Kim Eun-ha quietly lifted the corners of her mouth.