I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 335
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 335
Ten minutes after Lee Sun-hwa left, Jeon Tae-guk and I entered the office.
We opened Adam’s office door.
Everything remained exactly as it was—not a single sign of intrusion.
The figurines lined up on Adam’s desk were untouched.
The photographs of Misseight remained in place.
Jeon Tae-guk paced back and forth through the office, fuming.
“Sung-guk, should we call Lee Sun-hwa right now and ask her about this? Or better yet, should we demand she come to the company immediately?”
“Hyung, what’s Lee Sun-hwa going to say? She’ll just claim she left something in the office and happened to stop by. We don’t even have CCTV in the office.”
Lee Sun-hwa had likely already considered every possible angle.
“She’ll say the security program was installed on Adam’s computer, that’s why she was contacted! That’s what she’ll claim.”
Jeon Tae-guk grew increasingly agitated.
“Hyung, calm down. We’ve just discovered that we have two spies in our company. The real priority is identifying the mastermind. If we reveal that the security program was installed now, we’ll lose any chance of finding who’s pulling the strings.”
“This is so difficult. So frustrating. Then… are Han Myung-seok and Lee Sun-hwa working as a team?”
“We’ll have to investigate that from here on.”
I immediately called Secretary Park Sung-hee.
Thanks to the Misseight concert, Secretary Park Sung-hee had been enjoying a rare, peaceful weekend.
– Sung-guk, what’s the matter?
“Secretary Park, starting tomorrow, we need to put another person under surveillance.”
– Another person? Is there another spy besides Han Myung-seok?
“There’s definitely someone worth suspecting.”
– Who is it?
“Lee Sun-hwa from the Marketing Team.”
* * *
The door clicked open.
Adam entered with an flushed, excited expression.
“Sung-guk… what happened? Did Han Myung-seok go through my computer?”
Adam had rushed straight home after the concert and knew nothing of what had transpired.
“It was Lee Sun-hwa.”
I answered calmly.
“L-Lee Sun-hwa?”
But strangely, Adam’s eyes widened and his hands began trembling.
“Sung-guk, are you absolutely certain it was Lee Sun-hwa? The person who entered my office and accessed my computer?”
Adam pressed the question again.
Why was he reacting like this?
“Yes… we confirmed through CCTV that Lee Sun-hwa was the one who came to the company at the exact time you said someone accessed your computer.”
“Adam, I was there too.”
Jeon Tae-guk chimed in.
Yet Adam grew increasingly restless and agitated.
“Adam, is something wrong?”
“That’s… I’m not sure how to describe what Lee Sun-hwa has been doing to me recently. Anyway… she started approaching me at the company.”
So Lee Sun-hwa had made a move on Adam.
“Hmm, I have a sad premonition that this story cannot be heard without alcohol.”
Jeon Tae-guk retrieved a bottle of wine from the wine cellar he’d purchased with his own money.
Then he handed the wine to Adam.
“Adam, let’s talk over a drink.”
“Yes…”
Adam sat at the table with a completely deflated expression.
Seeing Adam’s face, I couldn’t help but pour myself a glass of wine as well.
“Adam, tell us when you’re ready.”
“Sung-guk…”
Adam drained his wine in one gulp.
Watching Adam, who couldn’t even handle alcohol well, down the wine like that, Jeon Tae-guk’s sad premonition seemed increasingly accurate.
“Actually, Lee Sun-hwa started approaching me quite a while ago…”
Adam recited the words as if confessing something he’d been holding back for a long time.
[Hmm… Did Lee Sun-hwa use seduction tactics on Adam?]
Jeon Tae-guk refilled Adam’s empty glass and patted his shoulder.
“Adam, take your time and tell us.”
“I should tell you. It’s a company matter. Actually, Lee Sun-hwa first approached me while Sung-guk was at the Military Training Center. She definitely said she had a boyfriend…”
“Right, I heard about that too.”
Jeon Tae-guk nodded in agreement.
“But… that day was just like any other day. I was preparing to leave after the new employee training ended. I was packing my bag when Lee Sun-hwa came over and asked if I wanted to grab dinner together.”
“Just the two of you?”
Adam nodded instead of answering.
Jeon Tae-guk leaned forward.
“Hmm… this story is getting more interesting.”
“Brother, Adam is being serious right now.”
“Oh, sorry…”
“It’s fine, William. Just pour me another drink.”
Adam had already emptied his glass again.
As Jeon Tae-guk poured the wine, Adam gazed at his glass with sad eyes before speaking again.
“We had dinner together, and I just asked her the usual things—whether work was difficult, things like that. We had a beer too. After that one beer, Lee Sun-hwa suddenly said she’d broken up with her boyfriend and found it hard to eat alone, so she was grateful I joined her. Then she asked if we could have dinner together whenever she felt lonely.”
[A classic setup…]
I took another sip of wine.
“She said she lives alone near the office and hates eating by herself. Since you were at the Military Training Center and William was always on dates with Jin-seo, I was eating alone too, so I agreed.”
“Adam, for something you called ‘recent,’ it’s been quite a while… and it wasn’t just talking.”
I reminded Adam of what he’d said at first.
It seemed like instinctively, he’d wanted to downplay the situation.
Adam nodded very emphatically at my words.
“Yes… you’re right, Sung-guk. It’s not recent. And it wasn’t just talking. After that, we naturally had dinner together several times.”
Adam finished his wine in one gulp.
“But honestly, we didn’t really talk about anything special. I talked a lot about Misseight. But… now that I think about it, Lee Sun-hwa seemed to ask quite a few things.”
“What kind of things did she ask?”
“Well, she said she wanted to work on the same projects I’m handling… and asked what they were. She also asked if I was the main person on the project. So I just told her nothing’s been decided yet. Since Sung-guk’s work style is pretty unilateral anyway. I just said the employees don’t really know how things will proceed until the project starts. And that’s the truth.”
Adam spoke with emphasis.
By nature, Adam wasn’t the type to lie.
Besides, since we already knew Han Myung-seok was a spy, we were all being cautious and hadn’t mentioned a word about the TikTok project I was about to launch.
Jeon Tae-guk scratched his head.
“Adam, is there something going on between you and Lee Sun-hwa? Like… romantic interest? Or… since you’re both adults… something more?”
“William, it’s not like that. Really.”
Adam denied it strongly.
“Of course, Lee Sun-hwa has been taking really good care of me for a while now. She messages me often through the company messenger, and today she even complimented my shirt, saying it looked great.”
[Lee Sun-hwa, you cunning thing!]
She complimented a fashion disaster like Adam on his shirt?
“Lee Sun-hwa’s made up her mind. She’s trying to seduce Adam.”
Jeon Tae-guk saw through it immediately.
“Was that it? I really… thought it was just a compliment.”
“Adam, let me piece this situation together. If I’m right, nod. If not, shake your head.”
“Yes, Sung-guk…”
Adam’s voice grew quieter.
“Adam, you became close with Lee Sun-hwa while having meals together, right?”
He nodded.
“And after that, Lee Sun-hwa approached you kindly?”
He nodded.
“She subtly asked about company projects, but you didn’t leak our current secrets, right?”
He nodded firmly.
“Recently, did Lee Sun-hwa ask you to date her?”
Adam’s eyes wavered, then he nodded.
Jeon Tae-guk drank wine on Adam’s behalf.
“Lee Sun-hwa, I thought she was just smart, but she’s completely cunning. A real fox.”
“Adam, did you give her an answer?”
Adam shook his head. Then he drank his wine.
“I was busy with work, and I got caught up in the Misseight concert, so I told her I’d give her an answer next week.”
“Adam, if you hadn’t had work today, were you planning to date Lee Sun-hwa?”
“That’s…”
Adam hesitated, then nodded deeply.
I emptied my wine glass with a bitter expression and stood up. Then I patted Adam’s broad back.
“Adam, there’s nothing on your computer that could really be called a secret anyway. Lee Sun-hwa didn’t get anything significant. For today, just drink wine and get some rest. We’ll talk about what to do next tomorrow.”
“Yes… Sung-guk…”
Adam answered listlessly, and Jeon Tae-guk brought another bottle of wine.
“Adam, I have some experience with heartbreak, you know. On days like this, you just drink yourself silly.”
I left the two of them behind and retreated to my room.
Late into the night, I could hear the sound of the two of them clinking glasses.
Sometimes I heard Adam’s sobs, and other times I heard Jeon Tae-guk’s.
How could he toy with Adam’s heart like that, when all he cares about is work and his interests!
[Lee Sun-hwa, I won’t let this slide!]
* * *
Sunday morning, Secretary Park Sung-hee arrived at the front door with hangover soup.
I was just brewing coffee.
“Young master Sung-guk seems fine. The young master was making a fuss, saying he needed to recover from the hangover, so I brought some soup.”
“I didn’t drink much yesterday. Adam and Tae-guk drank a lot. Secretary Park, would you like a cup of coffee?”
“Thank you. But looking at the young master’s condition, did you break up with Lim Jin-seo? You two went to the concert together yesterday and seemed happy.”
“Fortunately, Tae-guk is fine, but Adam had some issues.”
Secretary Park Sung-hee set down the hangover soup and looked at me.
“Is this related to Lee Sun-hwa?”
“Secretary Park Sung-hee, you’re really too talented to be working only as Tae-guk’s secretary. You know that, right?”
“Of course I do. But it was you who pushed me into this position.”
“That’s true. As the closest aide to the real power of Samjeon Group, once Tae-guk inherits the company, you’ll become the closest aide to the most powerful figure in the country anyway.”
“So that’s why I’m running errands like this for hangover soup.”
Secretary Park Sung-hee took a sip of the coffee I offered and slowly opened her mouth.
“And the moment you contacted me yesterday, I had someone tail Lee Sun-hwa.”
“That was fast. Has she done anything unusual?”
“I put the tail on her at 11 PM. Lee Sun-hwa entered her home at 11:10 PM. Since then, there’s been no movement at all. But is Lee Sun-hwa also in cahoots with Han Myung-seok?”
“We’ll have to find that out starting now.”
Click. Click.
The doors to Adam’s and William’s rooms opened simultaneously, and the two of them stumbled out like zombies.
“Young master, how much did you drink?”
“The wine cellar is empty. I need to go back to my place and grab some wine. Secretary Park, where’s my hangover soup?”
“It’s on the table.”
“You know I don’t eat unless someone serves it to me, don’t you, Secretary Park?”
“The young master’s voice on the phone sounded like someone who’d been dumped, so out of sympathy I brought hangover soup even on the weekend. Just eat it yourself. And since you prepare your own drinks, why can’t you do the same for meals?”
“Sigh… I shouldn’t say anything. I really shouldn’t.”
Jeon Tae-guk was already tearing open the hangover soup packaging.
I looked at Adam.
From crying all night, Adam’s eyes were swollen and puffy.
“Adam, would you like some coffee?”
“Yes, just one cup, please.”
I quickly brewed coffee and handed it to Adam.
“Adam, I know your body isn’t doing well, but how’s your heart?”
“It’s a relationship that never really started properly, you know.”
“Still, I wanted to try starting things the right way, you know?”
Adam drained his coffee in one gulp, then stared at me with puffy eyes.
“That’s why I’m telling you this, Sung-guk… I want to date Lee Sun-hwa.”
Why is this conversation taking such a bizarre turn?
“Adam, we’re not filming some spy thriller like 【A Spy in Love】 here.”
“Sung-guk, let me approach Lee Sun-hwa and figure out what she’s after. She’ll think I’ve fallen for her… but now I know the real Lee Sun-hwa. Since she doesn’t know anything, I’ll get close to her while pretending to leak information.”
“So you’re saying you’ll leak company secrets to Lee Sun-hwa while hinting that you want to become an industrial spy yourself?”
“Our company work is brutal, and you’re a workaholic with a god complex who thinks you’re the center of the universe—working under you is exhausting. I want to make real money and go to the Maldives to sip cocktails and live! If I whine like that, I think Lee Sun-hwa will make a counter-offer.”
“Hmm… it’s not a bad plan….”
[But why do I feel oddly irritated about this?]
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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