Chapter 24.1
Translator's Note: I have been tired for the past few days now. Hope you're all doing fine though x
"Did you get your work done?"
"Yes."
Yoo Yeon Seo glanced back to find Lim Seung Hyun standing behind him. When he had threatened Oh Beom Soo, his gaze was sharp and quite intimidating, but now he appeared as a proper polite office worker.
Lim Seung Hyun is not someone to be taken lightly. It was quite reassuring to have someone like him under him.
"Do you plan on visiting the chairman's house today, young master? From what I know…"
"Tomorrow."
Yoo Yeon Seo chuckled. In fact, it was a message for Oh Beom Soo to hear. He had always felt it, but Jusung, especially Chairman Yoo Chang Ho, lived up to their reputation. Putting together the stories from various sources, they seemed to possess more power than the president, even if it was exaggerated.
"It's amusing."
Yoo Yeon Seo shrugged. At the end of that direction, Oh Beom Soo anxiously left a message for someone. He was probably freaking out because he knew that if he didn't hand over the money he had secretly taken before Yeon Seo visited his grandfather's house and reported everything, he would face the consequences like Entertainment Jump.
Lim Seung Hyun also chuckled at his pathetic sight.
"I shouldn't have bothered."
"It felt satisfying, so it's fine."
It felt satisfying… Did he keep it to himself? Lim Seung Hyun looked at Yeon Seo again.
Even if he was a chaebol, would he spend so much money on an idol group with no prospects? Just for a year and four months of connection? Contrary to the rumours, he seemed quite… loyal, wasn't he?
"May I ask why you did it?"
"Well… I don't remember."
"Ah."
Lim Seung Hyun acknowledged Yeon Seo's memory loss and fell silent.
"Still, I tried to take responsibility for the withdrawal…"
Why isn't the relationship with One Seven good? Why didn't he reveal it? If he was the original host he would, "Well, I have invested so much, might as well make good on it".
‘Because he was happy during his time with One Seven?'
Just because of that emotion? The more he synchronized the memories, the more doubts arose.
Yeon Seo sighed and glanced at his phone for no reason. He suddenly remembered a call he received from Yoo Eun Ho.
[Mother has returned. Make sure to come this time].
Seeing the phrase "this time" indicated that the original Yoo Yeon Seo hadn't properly participated in family gatherings before. Regardless, he should be as cooperative as possible in household matters so that his grandfather wouldn't tell him to quit the entertainment industry, so he would go… or at least that's what he intended to do.
"Mother…"
Mother was still an unknown figure. How should he respond?
Yeon Seo searched for his own name online. Every person registered under family relations appeared in blue letters. It meant that the person was registered under family relations.
Choi Yoo Jin, Vice Chairman of JSENM.
As the eldest daughter of Ahjin Ilbo, a newspaper and cable broadcasting company, who forcefully expanded their business and ended up struggling, she joined the Jusung family, seizing the opportunity for their declining business.
After the death of Lee Hee Seo, Yoo Gun Min lived alone without remarrying for several years. After a strategic marriage, Ahjin Ilbo and Jusung's media business merged to create JSENM.
JSENM showed frightening growth and emerged as a leading media group in South Korea.
She had enough influence to be featured in Time's magazine. She didn't miss the title of the top female entrepreneur in South Korea, and there was an evaluation that Choi Du Cheol, the chairman and Yoo Jin's father, was merely a figurehead while Yoo Jin was the real powerhouse.
"She's an impressive person…"
No matter how much Jusung helped, it was Yoo Jin's exceptional abilities that allowed the company to grow so rapidly.
Yoo Jin and Gun Min seemed to have a good relationship, as they appeared together at official events and actively participated in their respective family events.
"Lim Seung Hyun, do you know anything about my mother?"
"I think it would be faster to ask the Managing Director than myself."
"Instead of that… you know, rumours and such."
"Well… It's difficult for me to say, but…"
"It's okay to say whatever. I don't remember anything."
After hesitating, Lim Seung Hyun spoke up.
"I heard that Vice Chairman Choi refused marriage proposals from other companies even after reaching a marriageable age."
"Oh, really?"
"There were rumours that Vice Chairman Choi secretly liked Vice Chairman Yoo, and that's why…"
"Uh… You don't have to say anymore."
Yeon Seo felt a strange shiver for some reason. If he had to describe this feeling, it was like witnessing his parents' affectionate moments.
Lim Seung Hyun chuckled softly. In fact, he had come out strong from the beginning, afraid that more difficult questions might arise. Even if it was accurate information, as a lower-level employee, he couldn't casually spread rumours.
"And… I heard that you and the Managing Director are quite precious to Vice Chairman Choi."
"You mean me and Hyung?"
"Yes."
That's a bit unexpected… To value children who are not blood-related? Yeon Seo couldn't believe it.
If there had been a child between Yoo Gun Min and Choi Yoo Jin, it would have unfolded into an even more dramatic situation.
[Do you really think Mom committed suicide?]
"Stop."
Yoo Yeon Seo forcefully shook his head to dispel the rising suspicions. It wasn't too late to think about it after the memory synchronization had progressed to some extent.
"…You're really good."
He focused on Park Min Woo's acting, trying to push away his wandering thoughts. It was the awakening scene of Park Ji Won, a vulnerable naval recruit.
Yeon Seo had managed to create impressive scenes to some extent, but it relied more on memory synchronization than acting itself. He couldn't expect such miracles next time.
‘Should I look for another acting teacher?'
Park Hyun Jeong was good at teaching, but she was so popular that there wasn't much time to receive lessons. Yeon Seo focused on Park Min Woo's acting as if he was saving it for his own performance.
"…But who are those people?"
"They don't seem to be staff members."
One Seven was a relatively unknown group until they had a sudden surge in popularity with a reverse trend. The handful of existing die-hard fans and the influx of new fans from the reverse trend were not naturally harmonizing but rather engaging in fierce competition.
In the midst of this chaotic fandom atmosphere, Lee Han Gyeol had gained positive responses from a web drama and even attracted drama fans, adding to the turmoil.
"Can we enter like this? I was curious about the filming…"
"Is there anything wrong with that? We should take commemorative photos, leave reviews, and all that. When I used to be a fan, I didn't say anything when I entered like this."
"These days, the agencies take care of everything, right?"