“This is the person. I told you I saw her face once.”
My friend nodded vigorously the moment he saw the photo of Sia and me together.
“100% certain. Yoo Jin-gap Chairman’s only granddaughter.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“No, I’m serious. I saw her with my own eyes.”
He spoke with conviction.
“How many beauties like her could there be in Korea?”
“……”
Damn. Hearing that instantly convinced me.
“But are you really dating her?”
“Yeah.”
“Show me a photo at least.”
“……Do I have one?”
I showed him a picture taken not long ago when we walked along the Han River. He examined it carefully.
“It’s just the two of you, but it doesn’t look that lovey-dovey.”
“We haven’t been dating long.”
Although our relationship began that one night together, since then, the only public display of affection had been holding hands.
“……From the way you talk, you really are serious about this.”
“Do you think I’d date her as a joke?”
I’d never switched from one woman to another or dated on a whim.
“Hey, Jin-seong.”
He leaned over the table.
“Can I make this into an article?”
“Are you out of your mind?”
I glared at him.
“You’re a sports reporter, for God’s sake…”
“This is a blockbuster, any genre. A chaebol and a regular office worker dating—everyone would envy that. It’s something you only see in dramas.”
“Shut up. If this gets out, I’ll find your mother. And remember that gold bracelet you hid in the wardrobe when you were on leave in the army…”
“Okay, okay—I get it. I’m kidding.”
“Don’t you dare spread this.”
“I wouldn’t, man. Why would I? I’m a journalist, not an idiot.”
Baek Sang-hyun could be unreliable at times, but in matters like this, he was rock-solid. No matter how tempting the scoop, he knew where to draw the line.
“But honestly, I’m not 100% convinced.”
“That she’s a chaebol?”
“Yeah… I need to verify it myself.”
He grabbed my arm.
“What are you going to do?”
“What else? I’ll ask Sia.”
“……Seriously?”
“Sure. What could be more certain?”
“True.”
“All right, I’m off.”
I left my friend and got into a taxi.
“Driver, take me to Itaewon, please.”
I remembered she said she lived near her parents there.
“Sia, can we talk for a moment? I’d rather do it face to face.”
“I’ll come to you. You said Itaewon?”
“No, if you send the address, I’ll meet you near there. A café works.”
I entered the location she texted into the navigation and went.
My mind was spinning the whole way.
‘Could Sia really be Chairman Yoo’s granddaughter?’
If so, every mystery made sense: how she knew unreleased HR Group details, her stash of designer goods, how she’d honestly told me they were hers. Not lies, but the truth.
‘Damn.’
I blushed for no reason, as though someone were watching.
‘What was I saying to the granddaughter of a chaebol…?’
But something more serious haunted me: what Sang-hyun had said.
They were all true, which made it even more painful.
‘I wanted a future with her…’
Before deciding to date her, I’d agonized over our differing financial mindsets. Yet despite that, I chose to pursue her because I found her captivating. I’d even imagined building a home together.
‘But the granddaughter of a chaebol…’
That could never happen.
Some might say, “Just become a live-in son-in-law,” but:
‘Like that could actually work.’
If she were the daughter of a local tycoon or a mid-size business owner, I’d be thrilled. But not a chaebol.
HR Group was especially well connected: five sons, thirteen grandsons, all married by arrangement. That network catapulted them to second place in the corporate hierarchy. They’re considered the richest in ties to political and financial elites.
‘There’s no way they’d accept me.’
My own family background: my mother left when I was young and we never spoke again. My father worked in a factory until an injury forced him to quit. Now he runs a small chicken shop in the province, barely making ends meet.
Even if I worked at HR Group, I’d be nobody but a cog in the machine.
‘If Sia really is Chairman Yoo’s granddaughter…’
I had to break up with her. I loved her, and feelings had blossomed, but if it would never work, continuing would only waste time and emotion.
“Here we are.”
The taxi stopped well away from Itaewon. Around us, stately mansions lined a hillside, their high walls looming behind.
“This is the place?”
“Yes. I see the café you mentioned.”
I followed the driver’s gesture to see The Hill Café. This was the border between the country’s most prestigious enclave, Hannam The Hill, and the adjacent luxury homes.
‘Damn.’
It seemed Sang-hyun was right.
Not even five minutes after I entered the café:
“Assistant Manager!”
Sia waved as she hurried over. I’d rather she call me that than “oppa” right now.
Her face showed both relief and nervousness. It was good to see me again so soon, but I must have taken her by surprise.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
“I’ll get straight to it.”
There was no time for roundabout speech.
“Ms. Yoo, is your grandfather Yoo Jin-gap Chairman?”
“……!”
Her eyes widened, then trembled.
Biting her lip, she dropped her gaze.
“Asking like that means you already know, right?”
I answered honestly.
“My friend is a reporter.”
“Oh….”
“He showed me the photos of us together.”
Realizing she could no longer hide it, she nodded.
“……Yes. Yoo Jin-gap Chairman is my grandfather.”
Of course. My ominous premonition had been correct.
“I never meant to hide it.”
She began to explain.
“There was never a chance to tell you… and it seemed strange to blurt it out abruptly.”
“I understand.”
To be honest:
‘It doesn’t feel real.’
Just hours ago, I’d thought of her as an ordinary girlfriend.
‘A chaebol third-generation…’
I understood it intellectually, but my heart refused to accept it. I asked again, hoping for some mistake.
“Then what about Yoo Hyung-min Managing Director…?”
Chairman Yoo’s eldest grandson and next heir.
“Hyung-min oppa? He’s our oldest cousin.”
“And Yoo Jeong-min Executive Director?”
“He’s the second cousin.”
“And President Yoo Jong-geun?”
“He’s our eldest uncle.”
“And Division Head Yoo Jong-tae?”
“The second eldest uncle.”
“Department Chief Yoo Kang-min?”
“He’s the younger cousin.”
“And Director Yoo Jong-hwan?”
“He’s the youngest great-uncle, but we call him uncle because it feels more familiar.”
“What about our HR Media President Yoo Jong-hwan?”
“He’s my father.”
My head spun. I felt dizzy, as if the world tilted.
“……I should go.”
“Y-you’re leaving already? Now?”
“I’m sorry. I think I need to go home and rest.”
I stood and left her behind, but she called after me urgently.
“I—”
Sia’s eyes blazed.
“It doesn’t matter to me. No matter what your family is, or who you are….”
“It does matter to me.”
“……”
“I’ll go first. I’ll contact you later.”
The next day, 9:30 a.m.
Well past the start of work, Planning Team 2’s office still had an empty desk.
“Assistant Manager Song still isn’t here?”
“Huh, seems not. There’s no bag or coat.”
“Call him.”
“I did, but he didn’t pick up.”
“Try again.”
“All right.”
“He’s not answering again.”
“Damn, what’s happened? Why is he causing us worry?”
Manager Ma went to check. “Assistant Manager Song’s never done this before… disappearing without a word. Could he be in an accident?”
“If he doesn’t show up by lunch, should we go to his place?”
“Wait.”
Manager Ma’s eyes caught an envelope on the desk. He picked it up.
[Resignation Letter]
– For personal reasons, I can no longer perform my duties at HR Planning and hereby submit my resignation.
– Assistant Manager Song Jin-seong, Planning Team 2
“This… what is this?”
“What? What’s in it?”
“What happened?”
“Holy shit. Assistant Manager Song resigned?”
“Why would he do that without a word?”
“He seemed under pressure lately, but this is sudden.”
The unexpected news made Sia’s heart plummet.
‘He resigned?’
She was terrified. Panic gripped her. No, it couldn’t be. Not that ending. Before she could calm her rising anxiety:
Bzzz—!
A text arrived on her phone.
[From: Assistant Manager Song Jin-seong]
– I can’t see you anymore, Sia. Your uncles and cousins are terrifying and I can’t handle it.
– I’m too cowardly to say it face to face. Please forgive me for sending a message.
– I’m sorry. Let’s stop seeing each other.
Tap—.
A single tear slid down her phone’s screen.