One day earlier.
On the way home after hearing from Sia herself that she was Chairman Yoo Jin-gap’s youngest granddaughter.
“Sigh…”
A deep sigh escaped me again and again.
My head was so full of thoughts that I almost hailed a taxi home.
‘No, hold on,’ I told myself. Considering how much I’d spent on our dates lately, my credit card bill this month was already teetering on the edge.
[Beep–]
[Adult fare applied.]
I boarded my usual bus, the 241. The rattling and creaking of the suspension grated on my nerves, but I had no energy to care.
‘What should I do?’
Thinking about what was to come left me feeling completely helpless.
‘Obviously we can’t get married,’ I reminded myself. A chaebol family—foolish fantasy. And Sia must not have been dating me with marriage in mind, either.
‘Fine, let’s say dating is all there’ll ever be.’
Even if I broke up with an ordinary person, emotional pain is part of the package. I could handle that.
‘But work?’
Whether we broke up or not, staying at the company would become impossible. Let’s say we dated a year or two and then parted ways. Of course she wouldn’t want to see her ex in the office. And she’s the group owner’s only granddaughter.
‘Then I’d have to leave…’
Even if I tried to stay, it would be a disaster. They’d surely punish me with a demotion—maybe as “head of Middle East operations,” drafting propaganda ads in a war zone, or “water shortage relief manager” at their African branch.
Damn it. No solution.
‘Maybe I should change jobs…?’
It was a shame to quit HR Group when we’re industry number one. But I had experience—other large companies could hire me easily.
‘Better to resign than be fired.’
At least that’d keep me afloat.
‘Search: Saramin,’ I muttered, then scoured every job site—JobKorea, Wanted, JobPlanet.
‘Damn…!’
But the results were discouraging. Although I’d worked six years, my level was awkwardly between junior and mid-level. In another year or two, I might have become Manager.
If I left now, I’d have to drop back down in pay and benefits. To get a better offer, I’d need more years as Assistant Manager—delaying my promotion even further and making a long career at a big company harder.
“Ha…”
No clear answer appeared.
“I’m screwed…”
I got off the bus, no closer to a solution.
‘What do I do…?’
Dragging my feet toward home, I reached the stop near my apartment.
Vroooom—
A luxury sedan slid up beside me.
‘…A Genesis G90?’
A rare sight in my neighborhood of small studios. In low-income areas you see far more BMWs and C-class Benzes—plenty of “car-poor” guys who purchase luxury on credit. But a home-bought Korean luxury sedan is almost never seen. No car-poor pretender would choose such a ride. Only someone who actually had money—someone who didn’t live around here.
Sure enough, the G90 slowed, then screeched to a halt right next to me.
Bzzzz—
The rear passenger window rolled down, revealing a man staring at me.
“Assistant Manager Son Jin-seong?”
“…?”
Startled that he knew my name, I managed to ask,
“…Who are you?”
“I’m Director Yoo Ho-min.”
Yoo Ho-min? I wracked my brain. If I remember correctly…
“Director Yoo Ho-min of the Planning Coordination Office?”
“That’s right.”
“…!”
“Do you have time to talk?”
Director Yoo Ho-min: the man who controlled HR Media’s Planning Coordination Office. He’s the son of Chairman Yoo’s second son, and thus Sia’s sixth cousin.
Even though I’d verified his identity, there was no way I could invite a chaebol into my cramped studio. I suggested a nearby café instead.
“Sorry for dropping by so late.”
“Ah… yes.”
He at least knew it was rude.
“Let’s not drag this out. I’ll be direct.”
Apparently subtlety isn’t the family’s style.
“You’re dating our Sia, right?”
“…Gulp!”
I nearly spat out my coffee.
This was insane. ‘He already knows?!’ My head spun.
But Director Yoo remained composed.
“I think you should break up with her—before you hurt her.”
“….”
It felt like a scene from a trashy drama. I never thought it’d happen in real life. And certainly not this fast.
“You know Sambyeol Motors, right?”
“Yes….”
Who in Korea doesn’t know Sambyeol Group? They’re number one in the country, overtaking even HR Group.
“I can get you a job there.”
“…!”
“Guaranteed at least an executive-level promotion, and lifetime employment.”
“….”
When I looked at him in shock, he smiled.
“How is it possible? Because all the conglomerates are interconnected. My brother-in-law is the vice chairman of Sambyeol Motors.”
“Oh….”
“It’s natural to be nervous. If you want proof, I can draft a notarized guarantee. I can make it rock-solid.”
It was an incredible offer. I’d literally been browsing job sites minutes before.
‘Hell yes…?’
It was too good to refuse—salary, position, stability all far beyond anything at HR Media. But I still had pride.
“I’m not dating Sia for money.”
“Really?”
“…?”
He placed a key fob on the table. Emblazoned on it was a prancing horse—the Ferrari logo. With a grin, he pressed a button.
Beep—!
Outside, the bright red Ferrari’s headlights flashed. It even had a temporary white license plate—brand new.
“You can drive it off right now.”
“…Even so, a car alone…”
“See the other key on the ring?”
“…?”
“That isn’t a car key.”
He added, voice brimming with confidence:
“You know the Eonma Apartments in Daechi-dong? They’ve just been slated for redevelopment. This key’s for the largest unit there.”
An apartment valued at nearly three billion KRW.
“I think that should be enough. What do you think?”
A lifetime-guaranteed job at Sambyeol Motors, an executive post assured, plus a Ferrari and a Gangnam apartment. Any man’s resolve would wobble.
A few days later.
A luxury home in Hannam-dong.
“Where’s Sia?”
“She’s still in her room.”
Her father, President Yoo Jong-hwan, confirmed with the housekeeper, then quietly approached Sia’s door.
Knock, knock.
“Sia?”
“….”
No answer.
It had been three days. She’d quit her job, barricaded herself in her room without even drinking water.
“What do we do…?”
I heard worried voices behind me. It wasn’t just her father present—eight cousin-brothers and three uncles, eleven men in total, had gathered after hearing of her condition.
“Has anyone tried entering her room?”
“The door’s locked. No response even when I knock.”
“What about food?”
“Left it outside, but she hasn’t touched it.”
“Has she used the bathroom?”
“She’s in the room.”
“I see…”
No one had set eyes on Sia for three days. She’d refused food and sequestered herself in her room. No matter how they called her name or pressed their ears to the door, nothing stirred.
All eyes turned to Director Yoo Ho-min.
“Ho-min, did you make a mistake?”
“Anyway, you met with that guy. What happened?”
“I talked to him. But it didn’t work.”
“…It didn’t work?”
“Yes. He refused every offer I made.”
Even a Gangnam apartment and supercar, plus a lifetime executive post, were all refused by that Song Jin-seong.
“What on earth is his game?”
“I don’t know.”
“Does he want something bigger?”
“I don’t think so. Judging by Sia’s state…”
“You think they broke up.”
“That’s right. But if he didn’t take the money, why’d he break up?”
He hadn’t taken the money.
“Is he playing some grand scheme we don’t know about?”
“He said he was too scared to accept. He told me he just wants to live a simple, ordinary life.”
“What does that even mean?”
Suddenly, the door swung open without warning.
“Sia?”
“Yoo Sia!”
Her cousins and uncles surged forward. Their faces turned fierce.
Sia’s eyes were bloodshot from all her crying. She looked wretched from three days of fasting.
“Sia, you’ve been crying!”
“Which bastard did this!?”
“Was it that so-called boyfriend? Bring him here right now!”
“If he made our Sia cry, I’ll make him bleed!”
“I’m going to find him and break every bone in his arms and legs—!”
They roared in rage.
“Quiet, all of you.”
Her voice, cold as ice, cut through them. Silence fell instantly.
“This is because of you uncles and cousins.”
A deadly aura radiated from her.
“I told you not to touch him.”
Her words dripped with frost.
“If you don’t want to see me lose my mind, stay out of this.”
The men averted their eyes so fast their gazes nearly fell to the floor. They all knew who the scariest person in this family was—not Chairman Yoo, not Vice Chairman Yoo, not Executive Director Yoo…
It was Yoo Sia.
“I’ll say it again.”
She glared at her uncles and cousins.
“If any one of you lays a finger on him from now on, I swear….”
She left the rest unsaid, a threat too awful to voice. Their faces drained of color.
Pulling her hat low, Sia walked out of the house. Twelve men stood stunned, unable to speak, as they watched her disappearing back.