Munjeong - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“Hey, hey. Lift this girl up.”

“Yoon Chaeon. Did you faint? Huh?”

Cough. Chaeon let out a small cough and barely managed to prop up her heavy, waterlogged body with her elbows. As she stirred after lying motionless, someone grabbed her long hair and forcibly lifted her head.

“Tough bitch. Look at her, not even making a sound.”

“Of course, she’s tough. Her mom’s just as stubborn, lost all pride, and ended up cleaning up after other people’s messes for a living. Like mother, like daughter.”

“Wow… That’s harsh, you crazy bitch. Someone recite an exorcism prayer to check if she’s possessed.”

A burst of laughter, sharp and mocking, pierced her ringing ears. Whoosh. Smoke from a cigarette was blown directly into her face, making her cough again. The strong smell of perfume crept closer.

“Hey. Yoon Chaeon. Answer me, will you? Do you even have a conscience, messing with Kang Kyuhwan like that?”

“…….”

Her split lip stung. Without answering, Chaeon stared blankly at the girl in front of her, only to receive another slap across her cheek.

“What the hell are you glaring at? Hey. How did you seduce Kang Kyuhwan? Did you bat your eyes at him with that face of yours?”

“…….”

“You do know his family’s loaded, right? Does he know your mom scrubs toilets for rich people like his family?”

The insults blurred into background noise. Her entire body ached, and judging by the pain, it seemed the bruises from the last beating had barely begun to heal before this new round. Despite growing up getting hit, the pain never got easier to bear. When a faint laugh slipped out, the girl snapped and threw her cigarette aside, grabbing Chaeon’s collar and yanking her up.

The necktie hanging from her blouse tightened around her throat, causing her to cough again.

“You’re laughing? Do you still not get the situation you’re in?”

Right. It wasn’t a situation to laugh about, but she did anyway. Because it was funny—funny that a bunch of nineteen-year-old girls were pulling this kind of stunt over a guy they’d probably forget in a few years. It was funny that even her simple wish to stay out of trouble was now meaningless.

Chaeon knew if she stayed silent, they’d vent their anger and eventually leave her alone. But for some reason, frustration flared up that day.

“Then you should’ve been born with this face too.”

“…What?”

“It’s not my fault he likes my face. I was born this way, and you weren’t. So if it bothers you that much, why don’t you fix yours instead?”

“You crazy bitch.”

Smack. The slap stung so badly that even her temples throbbed. How long had it been since all of this started? Chaeon only later overheard that one of the girls in the group had been crushing on Kang Kyuhwan for a long time. That’s why this bullying had escalated to constant harassment.

Apparently, Kang Kyuhwan’s persistent confessions had seriously irritated them. It would’ve been easier to accept if there was some connection between them, but being the scapegoat for someone else’s anger over a one-sided crush felt ridiculous. Yet, they always outnumbered her, leaving her no way out.

Because of this, whenever visible bruises were left behind, Chaeon had to make excuses about studying late or staying at a friend’s house to avoid going home. She went to great lengths to avoid running into anyone in her family.

“Hey, hold up. My mom’s calling. I need to head home.”

“Ugh, Go Yura’s always ruining the mood.”

“Yeah, yeah. Sorry. My bad. I committed a terrible crime, okay?”

She vaguely heard more voices, but her focus was slipping. Watching the girls’ retreating figures through her dazed eyes, Chaeon staggered to her feet.

It’s fine. This too will pass. She repeated the words to herself over and over.

“Excuse me, Young Master.”

The voice was cautious.

Taeha was seated in the back seat, reviewing data related to Raon Hotel, a subsidiary of Junkwang Group, on his tablet PC. He glanced at the rearview mirror, meeting the driver’s eyes as if to ask what the matter was.

“It seems the rain is causing some traffic. It might take a while to reach Munjeong.”

Resting his chin on his hand, Taeha gazed out the window. Sure enough, the drizzle that started at the intersection had turned into a downpour. The rain was fierce, almost violent. He had felt a dull ache in his temple earlier, and now he knew why.

“It’s fine. Take your time.”

He replied in a composed tone and rubbed his tired eyes. The heavy rain blurred the scenery outside the window, and Taeha idly watched the raindrops trickle down the glass.

Three years. Within that time, he would have it all. He was born for this, trained for this, and endured everything for this.

For a brief moment, fragmented memories flashed through his mind. The muffled screams coming from the farthest room on the second floor of the mansion. The pale legs swinging from the ceiling one stormy night. The young boy who discovered the scene and collapsed in shock.

And the day someone brought that boy into the mansion.

“So, you’re Taeha. Nice to meet you. Yeonjun, say hello.”

Gritting his teeth, Taeha heard a sharp sound echoing in his head as he rubbed his eyes again. He had endured all of it for this moment. Everyone knew he was entitled to everything, including himself.

Jang Ikhyun. His father, whose dirty hands had touched everything. Taeha was more than willing to seize all of Junkwang, even for the sake of his grandfather.

“You take after me the most, Taeha. Looking at you reminds me of myself when I was younger. Since you’re like me, I’m sure you’ll do well.”

Jang Wontae, the family patriarch, cherished Taeha as his heir despite despising his own son. While Jang Ikhyun technically held authority, everyone knew that Wontae was still the real power behind the group. Soon enough, all of Junkwang would be Taeha’s.

Jang Ikhyun, struggling under his father’s watchful eye and Taeha’s rapid rise, couldn’t hide his growing anxiety. Most board members were already showing their preference for Taeha, further isolating his father.

Taeha’s sharp progress in business management didn’t help matters, earning constant praise from Wontae. Each compliment deepened the wrinkles on Ikhyun’s forehead.

“Father, don’t overpraise him. He’ll get arrogant. We need to keep watching him closely. Business isn’t easy.”

At that moment, Taeha almost laughed but held it back. His father, with his beast-like face that so closely resembled his own, was nothing more than a monster—a man who had defiled Taeha’s mother like an animal.

Balancing paranoia toward his son and fear of his father, Jang Ikhyun was crumbling. Taeha smirked inwardly, calmly moving his knife and fork as he silently mocked his father’s desperation.

“Oh? That girl…”

Recalling the evening hours with a trace of cynicism, Taeha glanced in the direction where Kim, the driver, had turned his gaze, prompted by a self-conscious mutter that broke the silence. When their eyes met in the rearview mirror, Kim, seemingly embarrassed by his unintended remark, began explaining without being asked.

“Ah, over there. At the bus stop, I saw a somewhat familiar face. No matter how I looked, she seemed to be the daughter of Mrs. Ahn, the new housekeeper…”

“Mrs. Ahn?”

“Yes. The one who came in recently through an introduction by Director Kim of Hoseong Construction. She brought her daughter along, and I’m fairly certain it was her.”

Since her appearance wasn’t exactly common, I recognized her right away. Taeha lightly brushed off Kim’s unnecessary elaboration and wiped the fogged-up window with his fingertips, leaving a clear trail in its wake.

Was she merely taking shelter from the rain, or was she simply waiting for the bus? Sitting on the bench at the bus stop, the girl in a school uniform, her long hair falling past her chest, had her head slightly bowed. Even at a quick glance, Taeha recognized her instantly.

Ah, that girl.

“Please take care of me while I’m here, young master.”

She had pretended to be calm, but her sharp eyes had been brimming with defiance. That gaze carried something very familiar—something he often encountered from those who admired and envied him at the same time.

Their first meeting had been at the funeral of the late Kim Sangbaek, the architect of the Raon Hotel, which Taeha attended due to his connection with Kim, Sangbaek’s grandson. The girl had stood off to the side, her uniform making her noticeable enough to draw his wandering gaze.

Her small, pale face bore a trace of sorrow, making Taeha wonder if she had cried earlier. Her eyes had a forlorn look, as though she might burst into tears if he so much as stood in front of her and stared.

Pretty. That was his first impression—dry and indifferent. She had a frail frame that suited the word “delicate.” Her calves and ankles, as pale as her face, looked so thin that they might snap if held too tightly.

Despite wearing socks so worn that her toes were visible, she had failed to hide her curiosity about him. Amused by her audacity, he had mockingly sneered at her shabby state. Yet, to his interest, she had quickly caught on and turned red at the ears, which he had found entertaining.

As the car inched forward, Taeha observed the girl quietly, like someone calculating her worth. Chaeon—was that her name?

“……”

At that moment, Taeha’s eyes narrowed slightly. She had been sitting with her head down for quite some time without moving, but as she finally looked up, he noticed something.

Her pale, clear face was visibly swollen on one side, even from a distance, and her lower lip was cracked and bleeding.

“Stop the car.”

It wasn’t out of impulse or any particular emotion. If he had to explain, it was no more than the feeling a homeowner might have upon discovering a scratch on their belongings—mild annoyance at the imperfection.

‘From now on, what’s mine is yours. Everything under the roof of Songbaekwon is yours. That will never change, no matter what happens.’

It was something his grandfather had drilled into him countless times since childhood. By that logic, the girl, having stepped into Songbaekwon, was also his responsibility—his possession. The belief ingrained in him naturally led him to such a conclusion. If there was a flaw, he had no choice but to inspect it.

The large sedan signaled and smoothly pulled over to the right, coming to a gentle stop in front of the bus stop. Kim, the driver, quickly stepped out and opened a large umbrella retrieved from the trunk before opening the rear door.

Taeha’s gaze remained fixed on her face, which had turned unnaturally pale.