The Chaebol Family’s Youngest Daughter Doesn’t Hide Her Acting Skills - Chapter 39

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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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Episode 39

 

Joo Jeong-hui ran breathlessly across the parking lot.

 

Fortunately, news about her father, Chairman Ju Taeback, hadn’t spread anywhere, so there was no need to deal with reporters.

 

The place she headed to wasn’t the hospital room where her father was, but the hospital cafe inside.

 

[I’m at the cafe with Sae-i.]

 

She had received a text from Dokyung saying that Sae-i was still at the cafe, unable to even meet her grandfather.

 

Chairman Joo’s health was an issue that could shake not just stock prices but the entire Korean economy. So when such situations arose, only family members registered on the list could enter and exit the hospital room.

 

‘Father will be furious when he wakes up…’

 

Joo Jeong-hui, Chairman Ju Taeback’s youngest daughter, was skilled at reading her father’s affections.

 

Unlike Seohe Group, Dongwoo Group’s principle was to cherish family greatly, and among them, Ju Taeback’s most precious was undoubtedly Joo Jeongwol.

 

More precisely, the child left behind by his short-lived daughter—Ju Sae-i.

 

After that child returned to Jaedamjae, her father’s complexion had noticeably brightened.

 

He even once asked Joo Jeong-hui to go to Sae-i’s filming site to watch her acting in his place, showing how much Ju Taeback cherished Ju Sae-i.

 

But if he heard that just because of a list, due to the process he himself had set up, his granddaughter couldn’t cross the threshold of the hospital room despite being right there…

 

‘Oh no…’

 

She couldn’t even imagine how much Chairman Joo would blame himself.

 

So Joo Jeong-hui headed to her niece first. Well, she was also concerned that her niece had been crying.

 

Upon entering the cafe, she saw Ryu Dokyung, Seohe’s heir, sitting next to Sae-i.

 

“…Hey, Sae-i.”

 

When Joo Jeong-hui approached, Sae-i looked up. Having cried for a while, Sae-i’s eyes were red and swollen.

 

Joo Jeong-hui caught her breath while looking back and forth between her niece and Ryu Dokyung. Then she asked in a low voice.

 

“Did they push you around, those bastards?”

 

“…I was being stubborn about wanting to go in.”

 

Her niece defended the security guards who had pushed her.

 

Such a gentle thing… This behavior seemed to resemble not her sister but her herbivore-like uncle. Joo Jeong-hui bit her lip.

 

After questioning her several more times, Sae-i finally explained the situation. She had been sitting there helplessly, unable to enter, when Ju Suduk and Ju Suyeon passed by her.

 

Joo Jeong-hui, who had been listening quietly, cut her off at that point. She looked puzzled and asked.

 

“…Your uncle saw you and just passed by?”

 

Instead of answering, Sae-i nodded. Joo Jeong-hui gritted her teeth.

 

‘How could he do that.’

 

Passing by her niece who couldn’t enter due to an absurd structural problem was already incomprehensible to Jeong-hui.

 

Moreover, who was Ju Sae-i? Wasn’t she Joo Jeongwol’s only blood relative?

 

Joo Jeongwol, the eldest daughter, had been the protector of Ju Suduk and Joo Jeong-hui. She taught them manners and how to live as second-generation chaebol without being criticized—she was their life mentor.

 

How could he ignore seeing the daughter of their protective older sister in distress…

 

Without Chairman Ju Taeback’s permission, no name could be added to the list. Not just her brother, but Joo Jeong-hui also had no immediate way to get Ju Sae-i access.

 

Still, if a child was crying like that, he should have at least comforted her. At the very least, he should have told her about Chairman Joo’s condition. That was family duty.

 

“…Has he completely lost his mind.”

 

Angry, harsh words spilled consecutively from Joo Jeong-hui’s mouth.

 

She was well aware that Ju Suduk, her brother, had various minor issues.

 

Until now, she had just attributed her brother’s rough words and actions to his temperament.

 

He too must be under considerable stress, having suddenly become the first heir after their sister’s death. So she tried to understand.

 

But not now.

 

This was clear malice.

 

Malice to exclude Ju Sae-i, her sister’s only daughter, from the Ju family.

 

‘Honestly, I expected this would happen…’

 

Her brother was greedy. Just looking at how he subtly coveted Joo Jeong-hui’s department stores, Atrium, and other subsidiary shares showed that.

 

She had thought he might someday be wary of Sae-i, who held their sister’s shares, but to openly check her like this when the child was still a student.

 

Moreover, when she was the same age as his own daughter.

 

‘I can’t just stand by and watch.’

 

Maintaining neutrality in the relationship between her brother and niece could also be harmful to Sae-i.

 

The only people who could protect her niece were Chairman Joo and her uncle.

 

However, in situations like now when Chairman Joo was unconscious, there was no adult to protect Sae-i. Her uncle was still an outsider in the Ju family.

 

After much contemplation, Joo Jeong-hui steeled her resolve.

 

‘I should protect her, since she’s my sister’s daughter.’

 

She would become another protector for her niece. She would protect this child who was looking at her with such kind eyes… from her brother.

 

Having finished her thoughts, Joo Jeong-hui looked at Ryu Dokyung.

 

‘As soon as I mentioned Sae-i, Ryu Dokyung said he’d go to the hospital.’

 

The situation where Seohe Group’s one and only heir was concerned about her niece. If utilized well, she could get Seohe Group on Ju Sae-i’s side.

 

Joo Jeong-hui slowly moved her lips.

 

“There are many spare rooms at Jukseonjae, aren’t there, Dokyung?”

 

Jukseonjae. The mansion of Seohe Group’s owner family.

 

“Take her and let her stay for just one night. I need to have a conversation with my brother first.”

 

As soon as she spoke, Ju Sae-i’s eyes shook greatly.

 

“What?”

 

It was Ju Sae-i, not Ryu Dokyung, who asked back.

 

“I can’t get you into the hospital room right away either. That can only be resolved when the Chairman wakes up.”

 

“Then…”

 

“I’m worried my brother might do something to you before the Chairman regains consciousness.”

 

Ju Sae-i shook her head and stammered.

 

“I could just go stay at my old house for a while…”

 

Before she could finish speaking, Ryu Dokyung, who was beside her, firmly took over.

 

“I’ll take her.”

 

Joo Jeong-hui nodded. Jukseonjae had security as thorough as Jaedamjae, so it would be more than enough to protect her niece.

 

“…What about Father?”

 

Sae-i asked weakly. Joo Jeong-hui answered immediately.

 

“Your uncle just needs to be given some accommodation. My brother is concerned about you anyway, but he has no interest in your uncle.”

 

Her niece flinched at the firm tone, but it couldn’t be helped. For now, protecting her until Chairman Joo woke up was the priority.

 

“Go pack your things. Skip school tomorrow.”

 

Joo Jeong-hui spoke in as steady a voice as possible.

 

Watching Sae-i nod, Joo Jeong-hui felt briefly relieved.

 

***

 

Jukseonjae .

 

As soon as I got out of Ryu Dokyung’s car and arrived, a scenery that made the name naturally resonate unfolded.

 

The pond installed in the garden rippled gently, and carp swam leisurely within it. Bamboo swayed in the cool breeze, making pleasant sounds.

 

A chaebol family mansion built with a classical exterior and modern interior. I unconsciously breathed shallowly at the different sense of intimidation from Jaedamjae.

 

Following Ryu Dokyung into the main building, what awaited us was Chairman Ryu. Chairman Ryu observed me with profound eyes as I greeted him.

 

“Yes, Sae-i.”

 

Chairman Ryu looked at me for a long time before slowly speaking.

 

“…That man won’t go so easily.”

 

His voice carried heavy determination.

 

“Saying he needs to see his grandchild succeed… he’ll come back alive to the end.”

 

That man seemed to refer to my grandfather.

 

‘Is he trying to reassure me?’

 

As I rolled my eyes trying to understand the meaning of those words, Chairman Ryu smiled lightly. Making a hmm sound, Chairman Ryu continued.

 

“Sae-i, you.”

 

“…”

 

“You’re the shackle that holds onto that man’s lifeline.”

 

My heart sank with a thud.

 

Not knowing what to say, I lowered my head.

 

“Ju Taeback will be fine until you’re sufficiently established.”

 

“….”

 

“So don’t worry too much and rest comfortably while you’re here, alright.”

 

Grandfather’s lifeline. I was the shackle that kept Grandfather tethered.

 

Unlike my previous life, the fact that Grandfather had such high expectations for me hit me hard.

 

If Chairman Ryu, who was both a rival and longtime friend, was saying this much, could I really wait with peace of mind? Could I truly believe that Grandfather would recover quickly…?

 

“Snap out of it and follow me.”

 

It was Ryu Dokyung who pulled me out of my thoughts with a flick to my forehead.

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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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