A Family Without Choices, Part 2
“Clear your schedule for tomorrow.”
“What? But I’m supposed to finalize the bid documents for Hando Steel tomorrow. You know that, Dad.”
“There might be something bigger and more important than Hando Steel. While Hando Steel will become part of the Sunyang Group, this could be entirely yours.”
Jin Young-jun understood the implication when his father distinguished between Sunyang and himself.
“Is this about a marriage meeting?”
“Yes. Lunch, dinner, and a coffee in between.”
“Three in one day? Seriously?”
“You should at least see their faces before you get married. Whoever you choose will be beneficial.”
“Is this Grandpa’s idea?”
“Your grandfather picked the three candidates. Personally, I like the daughter of the Da-il Bank president. I think you’ll like her too.”
“This is too much. It’s like picking a mate for a pet, not deciding on a lifelong partner in a day.”
“Stop with the nonsense. I told you, it’s just to see their faces. Affection grows when you live together.”
Jin Young-jun felt bitter but knew he had to accept it. This marriage wasn’t about love; it was about finding someone who could help him control the Sunyang Group.
“Why do you favor Da-il Bank, Dad?”
“Da-il Bank is useful right now. How long do you think your grandfather will live? Once he’s gone, your uncles will fight for their share. We need to secure more shares now, and that requires money.”
“So, you’re not looking for a daughter-in-law but collateral for a big loan.”
“Marriage is about making the most advantageous choice. Do you know who the best bride is for ordinary people? A teacher.”
Jin Young-gi didn’t shout or force his opinion. With three candidates, he had to be persuasive in case his son didn’t choose the bank president’s daughter.
“Teachers have stable salaries, pensions after retirement, and vacations. Men prefer them for an easy life. It’s all about calculation.”
“But isn’t the bank president’s daughter your preference?”
“If I take over Sunyang, it all goes to you.”
“Like you, I have siblings too.”
His father’s determination not to lose anything to his siblings mirrored what Jin Young-jun would face in the future.
“Then you can marry your son to a bank president’s daughter. Ha ha.”
His father laughed heartily, but to Jin Young-jun, it wasn’t a joke.
He knew the time would come when he’d have to guard against his siblings. Fortunately, he only had a younger sister and brother, making it seem like an easy battle.
“You work in Hong Kong?”
“Yes.”
Jin Young-jun’s eyebrow twitched.
A woman whose only claim to fame was being the bank president’s daughter.
She was draped in luxury brands, adorned with jewelry worth millions, and had a hairstyle that screamed Cheongdam-dong, but that was it.
In a sea of female employees at the group headquarters, she would blend in with her average looks.
Yet, she looked at him, the heir to the Sunyang Group, with indifference, as if this meeting was a bother.
In the past, he might have slapped her and walked out, but he wasn’t that immature anymore.
“Shall we choose something from the menu? It’s lunch, so maybe something light? The paninis here are excellent.”
He handed her the menu with as much patience as he could muster, but she ignored it and spoke to the floor manager standing by the table.
“Just a coffee, please.”
Jin Young-jun barely resisted the urge to smack her with the menu.
When the floor manager looked at him, he handed over the menu.
“I’m fine.”
She watched his face harden and finally spoke.
“I live with my boyfriend in Hong Kong.”
“Living together?”
“Yes, so….”
“Let’s say I was the one who got rejected. Is that okay?”
Jin Young-jun stood up abruptly.
“The coffee here isn’t great. Just leave. Oh, and tell your father that the meeting went well. Don’t forget to mention that.”
He left the Sunyang Hotel restaurant, watching her bite her lip.
With two and a half hours until his next meeting at three, he pondered how to kill time and pulled out his phone.
“Hey, it’s me. Get a taxi and come to the Sunyang Hotel. I have some time to spare.”
He headed up to the suite he used year-round like a second home, grateful to the bank president’s daughter for giving him a chance to unwind.
After an intense session that left him spent, the appearance of the woman he met in the afternoon seemed less important.
The niece of a conglomerate chairman barely hanging on to the top 40 in the business rankings acted as if she was ready to marry him tomorrow.
After playing along and sending her off, he waited for the final candidate.
“I’m Hong So-young.”
When he met the eldest granddaughter of the Hansung Daily chairman, he quickly ordered dinner. His hunger was intense, having skipped a proper lunch.
Hansung Daily was the largest newspaper in the country, leading the way with early internet services.
In a way, the man she was meeting was the biggest advertiser. Yet, Hong So-young showed no sign of intimidation or nervousness in front of Jin Young-jun, the heir to the Sunyang Group.
As he waited for the food, he studied her.
Her body was meticulously maintained, her appearance enhanced by wealth. Her slightly fierce look was a flaw, but she was above average.
Despite his best efforts to engage her in conversation, she seemed uninterested. Seeing her dragged into this meeting against her will oddly lifted his spirits.
If he reported that the woman his father wanted was a no-go and the others rejected him, the marriage talk might be postponed for a while.
After the meal, Hong So-young sipped her coffee and bluntly stated her terms.
“Since we won’t have time to really get to know each other, can I just tell you my conditions for marriage?”
“Go ahead. What are your thoughts?”
He suspected she was setting outrageous terms to sabotage the meeting.
“I won’t interfere with your personal life. I’ve heard all about your reputation… Habits formed at three last until eighty, so you won’t stop seeing other women, right?”
“What?”
He nearly spilled his coffee.
He hadn’t expected to hear something so outrageous.
“I don’t care if you play around with celebrities or set up a second home with a model. Just keep it discreet, and I’ll pretend I don’t see or hear anything. But…!”
Her eyes narrowed, making her look even fiercer.
“If you have a child with another woman, I’ll divorce you that day. And I’ll demand a hefty settlement. Got it?”
“No kids?”
“Only a child between you and me will be your heir. Surely you don’t plan to break even this basic rule?”
She wasn’t wrong, but her approach was certainly unconventional. Jin Young-jun found himself intrigued, wanting to see where this conversation would lead.
“And what about you? Are you saying you’ll just play the perfect wife while I fool around?”
She relaxed her expression and smiled slightly.
“Fortunately or unfortunately, I have a low sex drive. Maybe three or four times a year? I’ll handle it myself then.”
“Are you saying you’ll enjoy yourself with other men?”
“Is that not allowed?”
“This is… surprising. I can’t tell if you’re being honest or bold. But why do you want to marry me, Hong So-young?”
Her smile vanished.
“You’re mistaken. It doesn’t have to be you. Of course, being the top conglomerate, Sunyang Group is appealing, but….”
“Any family will do as long as it’s not beneath yours?”
“As long as it’s not below ours.”
She sighed briefly before continuing.
“It’s a strategic marriage, right? A political maneuver, a contract to achieve goals and benefits. We should just take what we need from each other. There’s no reason to struggle to create a normal family.”
“Then what’s your goal?”
“I don’t want to bow my head to anyone. To do that, I need to make my husband a chairman and my child a chairman too.”
Jin Young-jun found her calculated approach appealing. Her willingness to let him enjoy other women without batting an eye was an unexpected advantage.
“What? Living together?”
“I’m not lying because I dislike her. You can verify it. A day of investigation at the Hong Kong branch will confirm it.”
Vice Chairman Jin Young-gi picked up the phone immediately.
“President, it seems my son made your daughter uncomfortable. I apologize.”
His expression was fiery, but his tone remained soft.
“Well, he mentioned an unbelievable reason. She claimed to have someone she loves and is already living with them, which is an impossible lie. I hope this doesn’t cause any discomfort between us.”
After hanging up, he glared at Jin Young-jun.
“The bank president will handle the cohabitation issue. You just prepare for the wedding. Surely you won’t hold her past against her? Compared to your past, her living situation is nothing.”
“Dad, I’m not saying I won’t marry. I like the Hansung Daily granddaughter.”
“What? Hansung Daily?”
“Yes. Think about it. A bank president is a temporary position that can change with the government. But Hansung Daily has the power to change governments. It might not be a bad choice. You could use Kyung-jun if necessary.”
“Hmm…”
Jin Young-gi thought about the age of his second son. Twenty-six. Not exactly young.
“This year is going to be busy. We need to get Hye-kyung married off before we can even think about Kyung-joon’s wedding.”
Three weddings in one year. Truly hectic.
“Mr. Kim, could you look into these two people for me?”
Kim Yoon-seok, the assistant manager, didn’t even glance at the note I handed him.
“Should I ask the group information team to handle it? Or…?”
“Can you manage it on your own?”
“If it’s just the basics, I can handle it myself.”
“Then please do.”
As Kim was about to leave, he hesitated and spoke cautiously.
“Should I leave this out of Director Lee Hak-jae’s report?”
I couldn’t tell if he was testing me or trying to show his loyalty.
“That’s for you to decide, Mr. Kim. You don’t need to check with me on everything.”
Loyalty can’t be forced or requested; it has to come from genuine sincerity. Kim Yoon-seok hasn’t been with me long.
It’s something to keep an eye on.
I hurried to school for a class I couldn’t afford to miss.
“I’m considering a new approach for this semester’s assignment…”
The professor handed out printed materials.
“These are cases that have sparked social debate, particularly those that many argue conflict with constitutional values. Delve into these cases and present a new perspective. The deadline is the end of the semester.”
It’s just an introductory constitutional law class. This kind of assignment is more suited for upperclassmen, not freshmen.
“As first-year students, working alone might be tough, so you’ll be in groups of five. The last page has the group lists. Work well with your teammates. Let’s begin the class.”
Like the other students, I quickly flipped through the handout.
When I found my name, I also saw a familiar one.
Seo Min-young.
Startled, I looked up and scanned the lecture hall.
And then I met Seo Min-young’s gaze.