Marriage with the Beast Senior - Chapter 15

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 15

Jaejun’s gaze turned coldly distant.

What did I just hear?

The reason for using moneylenders is for wedding funds?

It was so absurd that he let out a hollow laugh.

-At first they said it was for hospital bills, but it looked like bullshit so I said I couldn’t lend for hospital bills. Said it was unrecoverable. Then right away, they confessed it was for wedding funds? Something about… marrying the CEO of Woomuhn Partners?

This is ridiculous, really.

-What should I do? They said they’d let me know by tomorrow whether to give the money or not, so I sent them away for now.

“Don’t lend it to them. The service fee will be deposited right away.”

Jaejun hung up the phone.

Good thing I called the company yesterday to get ahead of this.

I almost sent the kid to his doom.

He felt his blood run cold as he checked the rearview mirror to see if Haneul was riding well.

Haneul couldn’t take his eyes off the window, seemingly fascinated by Korea’s scenery.

When Jaejun looked forward again, his expression had turned unmistakably cold.

Using moneylenders to get wedding funds?

Is this really the Hong Yoomin I know?

Why do I feel so disgusted?

No matter how he tried to piece together what he witnessed yesterday and what he heard from the moneylender, it didn’t make sense.

How did the woman I once loved to death end up like this?

Just as he was wondering about that, Yongil happened to call.

“Oh, Secretary Kwon.”

-Vice President? I found out more about Hong Yoomin. Should I tell you now?

Jaejun checked the rearview mirror again.

With a child in the car, he didn’t want to have a long phone conversation.

“No. I’m driving. I’ll call you later.”

-Yes, understood.

“And deposit money to that lending company I told you about this morning.”

-Yes.

Jaejun ended the call immediately.

At the same time, the navigation announced they had arrived at their destination.

Jaejun carefully examined the commercial building visible through the window.

It was a commercial building in front of an old apartment complex entrance, with peeling paint and cracks here and there.

Even though this wasn’t a particularly cheap neighborhood, it hadn’t been developed yet.

Grandmother might have a fit seeing her precious grandson being sent to such a place.

But that was only if she found out.

The Seol Jaejun that Lee Wangrae adored so much was graciously helping his cousin get some fresh air.

Would she really investigate that thoroughly?

He put aside his unnecessary worries and went to the back door to open it.

As if he had been waiting to be told to get out, Haneul got out with an excited face.

“Kid. The academy facilities might not be very clean.”

“It’s okay. I actually like it because it feels cozy. It reminds me of the abandoned buildings I used to explore with dad when I was little.”

Haneul excitedly walked into the building first.

Jaejun followed Haneul while thinking.

Abandoned buildings… isn’t that a huge insult?

With that thought, he became even more curious about why Hong Yoomin, who had majored in piano at Korea University but dropped out, was working at such a small local piano academy.

The piano academy was on the second floor of the building, and as they passed the hair salon next to it.

The women inside, who had been chatting with samurai helmet-like contraptions on their heads, fell quiet when Jaejun passed by.

Then they started whispering openly.

“Did you see that young man who just passed?”

“Isn’t he a celebrity? Are they filming here?”

“No. Since he’s with a kid, isn’t he the kid’s father? Did he move here recently?”

“Oh my, no way! There’s a pretty young lady among the academy teachers next door. Is he that lady’s husband?”

Are they talking about Hong Yoomin?

Since these were people making arbitrary judgments about strangers, he tried to pass by quickly, but when they started talking about someone he suspected was Yoomin, his steps naturally slowed.

He perked up his ears, trying not to miss any of the ladies’ conversation.

“Noooooo?! That can’t… be right? I hope it’s not?”

What kind of reaction is that?

Haneul had already reached the piano academy entrance and was about to open the door.

He looked puzzled seeing Jaejun had stopped.

“Hyung-“

“Shh.”

Jaejun put his index finger to his lips and told him to go in first.

Haneul nodded and entered the academy first.

Jaejun stepped back slightly to listen more to the ladies’ conversation.

“What do you mean by that? Owner Kim. You hope it’s not?”

Owner Kim, who appeared to be the hair salon owner, suddenly lowered her voice.

“I’m pretty close with the academy principal next door. We share food when we have some, you know. When I see her then, that woman has bruises.”

“Oh my!”

“Oh no!”

“She’s being beaten?!”

“I think so. When she came to get rice cakes from me, her sleeve slipped down and I saw her hand. Her wrist was so bruised. Imagine how the rest of her body must be.”

“Maybe it was just once? An accident? She could have been injured?”

“The shadows.”

“What?”

“Looking at her face full of shadows, you can tell. How many people have I seen working in beauty? Whether there’s trouble at home or she’s being beaten, it’s definitely not good.”

A moment of silence passed.

“That’s why I hope it’s not that actor-like person.”

“Right, right.”

“Someone who looks so refined wouldn’t do such a thing-“

“No. I mean, did you see that man’s height? If a man that tall and well-built laid hands on her. Oh my, that woman might die. I’d rather she met a man my size!”

Even though he was clearly eavesdropping, hearing such disgusting talk made his stomach churn.

How is it that every time I see or hear about Hong Yoomin after 5 years, it’s something new?

What kind of onion-like girl is this?

She said she’d do my assignments if I lent her money, then ran off and made me get an F.

After 5 years, she’s on a blind date with some old man.

She’s using moneylenders to raise wedding funds.

And now she’s being beaten? By whom?

Wasn’t she living at her paternal grandparents’ house?

As soon as he registered Haneul for the academy, he needed to call Yongil right away to properly understand Yoomin’s situation.

He forced strength into his legs, which had become as heavy as his heart, and moved.

Just as he was about to open the academy door, someone opened it from inside.

His eyes met directly with a middle-aged woman with black bobbed hair wearing a scarf.

“Oh…? Haneul’s… guardian?”

“Ah, yes that’s right. Are you the principal I spoke with on the phone?”

“…Yes, yes. That’s me. Please come in.”

The principal seemed surprised by Jaejun’s tall height and appearance, acting awkwardly.

But her surprise seemed to fade quickly as she guided him inside the academy and opened the consultation room door.

Haneul was already sitting in the consultation room.

“What would you like to drink?”

“It’s fine.”

The principal, who was about to leave, smiled and came back in to sit at the principal’s desk.

She seemed to have forgotten her duties as she kept looking at Haneul and Haneul’s older brother.

“There’s quite an age gap between you two, isn’t there?”

“Yes. Almost over twenty years.”

“Wow. He’s quite the late baby, huh? Haneul, have you ever played piano before?”

Haneul shook his head back and forth.

Jaejun explained on behalf of Haneul.

“He lived abroad and just came back recently. Since his parents are Korean, he speaks Korean well, but he’s still unfamiliar with Korean culture.”

“Ah…?”

“He’s my cousin.”

“Aha!”

Finally understanding, the principal looked at Haneul with a more comfortable smile.

“He’s scheduled to start school next year. Until then, I was looking into academies so he could meet friends his age and have a change of pace.”

“My goodness. Your thoughtfulness toward your cousin is so admirable. That’s right. These days, even if children don’t have talent for piano, many learn it as a basic skill. While learning piano, they naturally learn to read sheet music and pick up rhythm and pitch.”

“I see.”

“Yes~! Once you show interest in it, there’s no hobby more refined than this. You can also have healing time to organize your thoughts.”

Whatever eloquent speech the principal was giving.

Jaejun’s only reason was wanting to meet Hong Yoomin, who was avoiding him.

Of course, it might be using his nephew, but since it seemed obvious that staying home with just Grandmother would be stuffy, he had also helped as a cousin to let him get some fresh air.

“In Haneul’s case, I, as the principal, could personally—”

“No, Principal. I came here on a recommendation. I heard Teacher Hong Yoomin here is good.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————