Marriage with the Beast Senior - Chapter 27

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 27

 

She expected some trivial conversation, but Yoomin’s heart sank at the unexpected remark.

 

Although Yoomin hadn’t gone to the music department by choice, she had felt tremendous happiness just being able to learn something and experience university life.

 

Since she always had to watch others’ moods at home, the time spent at university had been incredibly precious to her.

 

Whenever she tried to get close to her classmates, the jealous Hong Suji would sow discord and interfere.

 

Still, school was a place that gave her feelings like a wistful first love.

 

She had such affection for her university life, but was forced to drop out and worked as an employee at a publishing company run by Grandfather’s acquaintance to support Hong Suji.

 

So university was also a place that made her feel both wistful and heartbroken just hearing about it.

 

“But anyway.”

 

“Do you remember Professor Yang Kyungrok?”

 

Yoomin’s eyes wavered.

 

Yang Kyungrok.

 

How could she not remember?

 

He was famous as the youngest professor at the university at the time, and was very popular with students for his handsome appearance.

 

He wasn’t just good-looking, but also had a kind heart.

 

Knowing that she couldn’t get along well with her classmates, he would sometimes call Yoomin to his research office to tell her interesting stories about piano history and brew delicious tea for her.

 

Come to think of it, during her university days, it had been quite bearable thanks to Senior Jaejun and Professor Yang Kyungrok.

 

As good memories from the past came flooding back, she shook her head to dispel them.

 

Reminiscing about the past was nothing but a luxury for her.

 

“I asked if you remember Professor Yang Kyungrok.”

 

“Yeah. I remember him. Why?”

 

“The professor is coming too. Since I’m organizing the class reunion, I’ve been in contact with him.”

 

“…”

 

“He asked about you.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“He asked if you were doing well. He remembered my name as Hong Sumi, but asked how Hong Yoomin was doing. He said he wanted to see you after a long time. He said what’s the point of dropping out. He was curious and told me to bring you along.”

 

Perhaps because no one had wanted her since her university days.

 

Her heart began to race.

 

“So, I don’t really want to either, but do you want to go?”

 

“…”

 

“If you’re going, come to a place called Apgujeong Heaven by six o’clock later.”

 

“…”

 

“Anyway, I’ve told you.”

 

Suji closed the door and left.

 

Left alone, Yoomin pondered for over an hour.

 

Actually, more than her classmates, she wanted to see Professor Kyeongrok again.

 

When she returned to Korea after going to Germany, he was the only professor she had wanted to visit.

 

“Sigh.”

 

She rubbed her eyes with her palms like a tired person.

 

Her situation of not being able to freely go anywhere she wanted felt pitiful.

 

However, Kim Byeongtae didn’t seem to be causing much trouble these days.

 

She wasn’t going to a class reunion she wasn’t invited to, but Hong Suji had ‘directly’ told her to come, so it should be fine to go.

 

Should she go just to see the professor and express her gratitude for always treating her warmly during her university days?

 

Back then, she couldn’t even freely spend the few tens of thousands of won to buy a bouquet, but now it was different.

 

Since she received 1.5 million won monthly from the academy, she could at least afford to buy a bouquet.

 

She got up and headed to the bathroom.

 

* * *

 

After an early morning round of golf with Father, on the way back home, Yongil called.

 

“Yeah, what’s up.”

 

-Vice President. Didn’t you say we could better understand Hong Yoomin’s situation through Hong Suji?

 

Jaejun, who had been answering the phone indifferently, put more energy into his voice and became a bit more active.

 

“I did. Is there an opportunity to meet Hong Suji naturally?”

 

-This seems like the most natural way.

 

“So what is it?”

 

-Do you remember Seongjoo from our department?

 

“Yeah.”

 

-He’s a friend you didn’t show much interest in, but I’ve been quite close with him.

 

“Summarize it.”

 

-That friend just opened a bar called ‘Heaven’ in Apgujeong. I already said I’d go congratulate him on the opening soon, and Seongjoo told me something.

 

Jaejun waited for the information to follow without any particular response.

 

-He said it’s the first day of opening and it’s a huge hit. A Korea University Music Department class reunion reservation was booked.

 

Jaejun’s eyebrows twitched subtly.

 

-When I dug a bit deeper, it turns out Seongjoo has several acquaintances in the music department. So I asked if he knew Hong Suji.

 

“Does he?”

 

-Yes. Hong Suji is the organizer of the gathering. That means she’ll definitely attend today.

 

“What time?”

 

-They said six o’clock.

 

Jaejun said he understood for now and hung up.

 

Then he closed his eyes and leaned his head against the headrest.

 

The driver in front casually spoke up.

 

“Has the destination perhaps changed?”

 

Jaejun spoke after a beat.

 

“It might. For now, it’s not too far from home, so just keep going as we were.”

 

“Yes, Vice President.”

 

Jaejun closed his eyes again.

 

Going there wouldn’t be difficult, but he was troubled about how to ask Hong Suji about Hong Yoomin.

 

Come to think of it, when Hong Yoomin went to Germany with Hong Suji, Hong Suji had told Yongil.

 

That Yoomin had a man she was engaged to.

 

What if Hong Suji had brazenly lied back then?

 

Then would there be any gain from meeting Hong Suji today and having a conversation? He would likely hear stories that favored her rather than truthful information about Yoomin and her family.

 

His mind leaned toward not going, but soon tilted back toward going.

 

He would tell her about the bruises he had seen on Yoomin and her situation, and see how she reacted to get his answer.

 

Whether she was Hong Yoomin’s enemy or ally.

 

Exactly what kind of treatment Hong Yoomin received in Hong Suji’s family.

 

Whether she lived receiving only kindness as the investigation showed, or if there was something hidden.

 

* * *

 

Having finished preparing early before even 4 o’clock, Yoomin went to Suji’s room and knocked on the door.

 

Suji shouted for her to come in.

 

Yoomin slightly opened the door.

 

Suji quickly looked Yoomin up and down from head to toe, noting that she had put more effort into her appearance than when going to work at the piano academy.

 

Then she let out a mysterious, unreadable smile.

 

“What?”

 

Yoomin forgot her original purpose for entering Suji’s room and asked as if wondering why she was looking at her like that.

 

Suji forcibly pulled down her rising lip corners and shook her head.

 

“Nothing. It’s not like I’m particularly fond of you.”

 

“…”

 

“But still, seeing you all dressed up like drawing lines on a watermelon for the class reunion, it’s both pitiful and cute. What would have happened if I hadn’t told you.”

 

“…”

 

“Why don’t you take that Chanel bag I gave you?”

 

Was she talking about the bag she had told her to take when going on blind dates with Kim Byeongtae?

 

Suddenly, a good idea flashed through Yoomin’s mind.

 

What’s the resale value of that bag?

 

Should I stop by a consignment department store while I’m out?

 

“Hey. Hong Yoomin. What are you smiling about by yourself?”

 

Then I could probably make at least seven or eight million won, right?

 

It was a bag Grandfather bought for Hong Suji’s birthday three months ago, and as far as she knew, Suji treasured it so much she’d barely used it three or four times.

 

Maybe I could get over ten million won for it.

 

With that money plus what she had steadily saved from working at the Piano Academy, it would be around eighteen million won total.

 

Then instead of fifty million, if I just had twenty or thirty million won, that would be enough to escape with Dad, right?

 

With that much, even if not loan sharks, it might be possible with third-tier financial institutions.

 

I could ask the Principal to help me prepare the necessary documents…

 

“Hey! You!”

 

Just then, Hong Suji suddenly shouted angrily.

 

Yoomin, who had been momentarily drawing up an escape roadmap through the Cha*** bag, looked at Suji in surprise.

 

“This is exactly why I hate you. Why are you so sneaky? We’re family, but you don’t feel like family!”

 

Is this what gaslighting is?

 

When have they ever treated me like family?

 

And yet they blame me.

 

However, Yoomin didn’t show her displeasure and belatedly responded to Suji’s words.

 

“I threw it in the wardrobe when I was upset after fighting with you last time. I was just thinking about whether it’s okay. What if it got scratched on the corners?”

 

Suji glared at Yoomin as if she had nothing to say.

 

Then she let out a shallow sigh and spoke.

 

“Whether it’s scratched or not, what does it matter since I’m not going to sell it secondhand anyway. If I gave it to you with such generosity, you should at least take good care of it. Anyway, Hong Yoomin, you’re annoying.”

 

“Sorry.”

 

“Oh? What’s gotten into you to apologize first?”

 

“Just. I’m grateful that you told me first so I could see Professor Kyeongrok.”

 

And I’m also grateful that you’ve given me a way to secure funds to leave home.

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