God-Given Business Genius - Chapter 149

It felt like wandering in darkness, relying on a single candle.

From a very young age.

My first memory begins with my mother's tearful face. As I gently opened my eyes to the wetness patting my cheeks, I immediately saw my mother's face, her eyes brimming with tears as she cried silently.

Even at that young age, I could immediately tell that my mother was sad.

"Mom... are you crying?"

"No. I'm not crying."

A lie.

But I instinctively knew not to say that to my mother, who was barely holding back her tears while sniffling.

All I could do was reach out my hand and pat her cheek to comfort her.

"Did Dad come?"

"Hm? Why do you think that?"

"You always cry after Dad visits. You do it every time, Mom."

"......"

I couldn't fathom what about those words silenced my mother back then, but now I think I understand a little.

My mother gently stroked my hair and said:

"Dad is just a bit busy, so he can't come often. But he really loves you very much. That's all you need to know, okay?"

"Okay."

"Don't worry. Mom will take care of everything. You don't have to worry about anything... Dad is... busy with work. That's why. Making money isn't easy..."

With these words that seemed directed at no one in particular, she drifted off to sleep.

My childhood days were filled with this slightly chilly and somewhat uncomfortable atmosphere.

After I grew a bit older, I could roughly understand how things worked in our household.

"It's the child's birthday today!"

I held my breath as I watched my mother's back as she shouted into her phone.

"How could you do this?! Have I ever said anything to you on other days? But you should be here on the child's birthday at least! You're Ye-won's father!"

"......"

"Who doesn't know you're busy? What am I supposed to do? I already told the child you'd be coming! ...Ha! So this is how it is. Fine. Go live well with that woman!"

Bang!

I heard my mother kick the door, unable to contain her anger.

"Oh my, Madam!"

The housekeeper, who had been anxiously waiting in the kitchen, rushed to support my mother.

The whole process seemed just like a scene from a TV drama.

'It seems Father finds his anniversary with that woman more important than my birthday.'

That's how I gradually realized the priorities. Am I not sad, you ask? Well, not really.

Perhaps because I didn't have much expectation from the existence called 'father'. Father did sometimes join on my birthdays and brought gifts whenever he came.

But that was all.

'He'll send a gift even if he doesn't come anyway.'

My eyes were drawn to the large wrapped present placed next to the cake.

'Maybe it's a toy related to the currently popular children's animation.'

How should I put it? Gifts that seemed to have been chosen without any consideration for the recipient's feelings or preferences. The kind of gifts that someone would buy if ordered to 'pick something a child of this age would like'.

That affection was as shallow as a stream, with its bottom clearly visible.

So I didn't feel particularly desperate for it. What's the use of throwing a tantrum, wanting to splash around in water that would barely wet your ankles?

Impossible things are impossible from the start.

'I wish Mom would accept that fact quickly.'

I picked up the strawberry placed in the center of the cake and popped it into my mouth.

'How foolish.'

The large painting of Hyeonmu hanging in the middle of the living room seemed to be mocking me. Feeling annoyed for no reason, I threw the cake at that painting.

Splat!

Only then did I feel a bit better.

The situation deteriorated smoothly.

Because 'that woman's' son invaded even our house's main bedroom.

"Are you crazy?!"

Mother collapsed, grabbing the back of her neck, but Father was extremely adamant.

"What else can I do? The child's mother has died. Should I abandon this young child to live alone? Are you telling me to sever blood ties?"

"Whatever the reason, I can't do it! I can't raise that child as my own even if I die! I can't!"

"Don't worry, I'm not asking you to raise him. I'll hire a separate sitter to look after the child, just pretend you don't know."

While their argument continued, I quietly met eyes with that boy.

"......"

"......"

He had eyes full of fear. From what I heard, that child was in a pitiful situation too.

Though not as much as Mother, who was currently raging.

"Ye-won."

"Yes."

I used formal speech with Father. Our relationship was far from being that of an affectionate father and daughter.

"This child will be your older brother from now on."

He's older than me too.

I think I thought something like that inwardly. Did he meet that woman first and then marry Mother? Or was it because Mother couldn't have children?

Either way, it wasn't particularly pleasant to feel like a protagonist in a third-rate morning drama.

"Our Ye-won. Why do you look so glum?"

"Because I don't feel good."

"Why don't you feel good?"

The reason was obviously that Mother would throw tantrums and the household atmosphere would be ruined... but I couldn't say that so honestly.

"......"

"Ye-won. The reason you feel bad is because there's something you're losing out on."

"Is that so?"

"So answer me well when I ask. If you stay quiet when you're at a disadvantage, you'll be the only fool."

"......"

Hearing that, it seemed to make sense.

"Now. Let me ask again. Why do you feel bad?"

"...I think I don't like that I'll have to share what I have from now on."

It felt like my space was being invaded. Hearing my words, Father nodded as if he understood.

"Then let's do this. I'll increase your allowance by as much as you're losing out. Then you'll be happy because your allowance increases, and your brother will be happy because he gets to live here. Isn't that a win-win?"

"......"

Is that so? I tilted my head. But before I could express my doubts, Father continued.

"But remember this. Usually, there are no such cases. This time, I'm making up for your loss, but when someone gains, someone else usually loses."

I see. I took those words to heart.

"If you don't want to lose out, you always need to keep your eyes wide open."

"Yes. I will."

As I nodded, Father instantly withdrew his benevolent smile and spoke to Mother in an authoritative tone.

"Ye-won said she's okay with it, so you shouldn't say anything more either."

"......"

Feeling like a criminal for no reason, I just looked down at my wiggling toes.

Something seemed wrong.

But I couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.

The household atmosphere seemed to have already decided to accept that 'older brother's' existence, just as Father said.

It felt gritty like chewing sand and left a bitter taste in my mouth. But everyone else seemed to act as if nothing was wrong.

Even Mother wore a resigned expression along with a sigh. She could have made a fuss about divorce, but Mother never did that even once.

Come to think of it, it had always been like this.

Even though this was clearly Father's fault, was it not yet at the stage to mention divorce? To me, it seemed very wrong.

'...Am I the strange one?'

Such frustration began to sprout in my heart.

Gain and loss.

I believed the world was entirely made up of these two. Hyeonmu's teachings made me that way.

That's when I first saw her.

-Hello. I'm Song Woo-yeon.

A common merchant. When she introduced herself as someone running several franchise brands, I overlapped her with my father. Just as I was about to change the TV channel in disgust.

-How is it? Delicious, right?

Her face, beaming as she presented a new recipe, was so bright and pure.

The warmth in her eyes as she watched the guests enjoying the food. I couldn't help but admire her inwardly.

'Ah. So there are people with faces like that even among merchants.'

That face that seemed genuinely, purely excited about food.

I think I was unknowingly drawn in.

'I'm curious. About this person.'

It didn't take long to watch all the TV programs featuring Song Woo-yeon.

'She's a person with amazing passion. She has no hesitation in sharing recipes. Aren't those the results of her research? Isn't she worried about giving them away?'

Even as I thought this, a smile had spread across my face without my realizing it.

Lying on my bed, I thought with a faint smile.

'I want to be like this person.'

It felt like encountering a bright sun after wandering in darkness, relying on a dim candle.

'I want to be like this person, not like Father. Even if they're both in the food business, it's possible to do it this way. Without hurting others, without trampling on and putting down others.'

For the first time,

I found the path I should move forward on.

And when that person told me once again, as I was holding onto my despairing self:

"I'll make it possible for you."

With that confident tone, I wanted to rely on those words.

"I'll help you."

If it was you saying it, I felt I could be reassured too.

"Huuuuuung!"

Tears poured out uncontrollably, and I ended up burying my face in her shoulder and sobbing loudly.

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Sniff, sniff.

Seeing her wiping her nose, I pulled out some tissues and handed them to her. Hyun Ye-won opened her puffy eyes slightly and then quietly took them.

"Have you calmed down a bit now?"

"Yes."

That's a relief.

My shoulder was getting damp; if she had cried any more, I might have had to change clothes.

"Now, come on. Stop crying. You have to go to work tomorrow. Your eyes will be all swollen."

Though it might be too late for that.

"CEO... I'll follow you for life..."

"Haha."

Even so, that's a bit much. If I were to take Hyeonmu's granddaughter away, Chairman Hyun Jung-hu probably wouldn't let it slide.

Well. Since she didn't reveal it herself, I just patted her shoulder to comfort her for now.

Just as I was wondering if I should offer my shoulder to Hyun Ye-won once more,

"...Hmph."

Huh?

Wasn't that Baek Jae-ha subtly tugging at the hem of my clothes? I thought it might be my imagination, but when I turned my head, he was still holding onto my clothes without letting go.

Because of this, I couldn't lean forward and ended up in an awkward half-standing position, and Hyun Ye-won, who was about to lean on me again, opened her eyes in confusion when the warm embrace disappeared.

"Jae-ha?"

When I called his name in puzzlement, Baek Jae-ha flinched and then glared fiercely at Hyun Ye-won.

What's wrong with you?

"...No. I thought it might be hard for nuna. It's heavy, you know."

Huh?

At those words, Hyun Ye-won also raised her eyebrows. The innocent, soft eyes from just a moment ago were gone. A sharp, cat-like appearance emerged.

Crackle!

As their gazes met, I seemed to hear this imaginary sound.