Chapter 8. What The Hell Is She Thinking? (2)

Translator: Lili

‘What the hell is she thinking?’

Turning his back on Shin Sera, Lee Rowoon furrowed his brows. He couldn’t make sense of her recent behavior. Over the past few weeks, she had become completely unrecognizable.

One moment, she had shut herself away like a ghost; the next, she was on a hunger strike. She had even attempted to jump from her room, only to be restrained. Memory loss didn’t cause mental illness, yet she was extraordinary in all the worst ways.

Even while acting as if she were possessed, she kept stealing glances at him. It was unsettling. He had been on guard, wondering what ridiculous scheme she was plotting now—only for her to come out with that.

— I was too immature before, wasn’t I? I just wanted to say thank you… and that I’m sorry. That’s all.

Even if her memories were muddled, did she really think it was acceptable to suddenly apologize and express gratitude now? If Shin Sera believed that a few words could repair their relationship, then she was as selfish and shameless as ever.

At first, Lee Rowoon didn’t dislike her. More precisely, he hadn’t been in a position to care—so he ignored her.

When his mother, a struggling, unknown actress, had taken her own life due to financial hardships, he had been only eighteen. She had spent years oscillating between blaming him, resenting him, and desperately clinging to him when drunk.

— I gave up everything to raise you. If it weren’t for you, I might have become a famous actress by now. So, Rowoon, you have to take care of the mother who sacrificed her life for you. Understand?

Every time she repeated that exhausting script, he wanted to shout that he had never asked for this life either. But he held back, knowing she was too fragile to handle such words.

No matter how unfit she was as a mother, he had wanted her to stay by his side.

— Your father is Chairman Jung Iltae of Sungwon Group. I was too afraid of losing you, so I kept your existence a secret. But now, you should reclaim what’s rightfully yours. I love you, Rowoon.

She had been a burden his whole life. But even so, having her around had given him something to hold on to. When she was gone, his world became empty.

After her funeral, he went to Sungwon Group, unable to endure the overwhelming sense of loss. He had laughed bitterly at his own foolishness. His biological father was already dead—there was no inheritance waiting for him. He had been an idiot to think otherwise.

— So you’re Jung Iltae’s son? You really do look just like him.

But Chairman Shin’s reaction was completely unexpected. Seeing the boy who resembled a young Jung Iltae had stirred something deep within him.

— Jung Iltae and I agreed that only ability would determine my successor. I’d like to say I’m free from nepotism, but the future of Sungwon is what matters most to me.

— …

— If you take after your father, you must have potential. I’ll be watching.

To Lee Rowoon’s surprise, Chairman Shin gave him an opportunity. And just like that, his once-insignificant life turned upside down. The change was so dramatic, it was almost shocking.

A world that had always been beyond his reach was suddenly at his feet. A life he had resigned himself to being meaningless finally had clarity. For the first time, an insatiable hunger awakened inside him.

If he could, he wanted to climb to the very top.

Up there, maybe he wouldn’t feel so empty.

— I’ve been accepted into Sungwon Construction’s internship program. I didn’t inform you earlier because I didn’t want any unnecessary variables to interfere. I apologize.

— Hah! I wouldn’t mind getting stabbed in the back like this a few more times. Do well.

His relationship with Shin Sera truly began to deteriorate when he joined Sungwon Construction. Before that, they had merely been distant acquaintances. But as Chairman Shin’s trust in him deepened, their dynamic shifted into open hostility.

Or rather, Shin Sera began openly antagonizing and oppressing him.

— Hey, bastard. Get lost, you’re ruining my appetite.

— Just because my father takes care of you, do you think you’re actually someone important?

— You’re like stale dog food. The moment I inherit Sungwon, you’re going straight to the trash. Got it?

At first, he had ignored her completely. But over time, he began to despise her just as much. Once the battle for succession started in earnest, he came to hate her—the talentless brat who constantly obstructed his path.

— What are you staring at? You were abandoned by your parents and crawled around like a beggar, you filthy bastard.

The sheer loathing he felt toward Shin Sera was unusual for someone as emotionally controlled as he was.

And now, that Shin Sera was talking about apologies?

A sneer twisted Lee Rowoon’s lips. She was as infuriating as ever. No matter what happened, he would never, ever like her.

“Vice President.”

“Vice President.”

The greetings of the Strategy Office employees snapped him out of his thoughts. Composing his expression, he gave a brief nod and headed toward his office.

He had no time to waste on meaningless distractions.

Before long, the memory of his encounter with Shin Sera vanished from his mind—erased completely, as if it had never happened.