The Daughter of a Conglomerate Family Has Debuted - Chapter 37

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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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The Chaebol’s Daughter Debuted

Episode 37

‘Of course she wouldn’t gossip about others…’

No, even if she had gossiped, surely she wouldn’t have said something like that with the cameras clearly rolling.

I know how desperately Min Ha-young wants to debut.

Min Ha-young started appearing in earnest on Love Me Idol around the latter half of episode 3, and from episode 3 until episode 6 where I stopped watching, she consistently appeared like that.

On Love Me Idol, Min Ha-young was thoroughly portrayed as a villain.

‘The YouTube clips came out the same way too.’

[“That friend was good because she was a trainee.” The confidence of a genius dancer trainee | Love Me Idol Episode 6]

That was the title of Min Ha-young’s clip released by none other than the official channel.

The thumbnail featured Min Ha-young’s sneering expression blown up to billboard size as a bonus.

That video had over five thousand comments attached to it.

Most were curses and mockery.

There were cases telling people to stop or defending Min Ha-young, but such comments invariably attracted mocking crowds who would start fights.

Not just the official channel, but countless similar videos were mass-produced and uploaded, so I could imagine Min Ha-young’s fear during the broadcast without even seeing it.

‘Seo Ra-eun had the opposite problem – no presence at all.’

Her case was having her screen time completely disappear starting from episode 3.

The problem was that UNET was pushing a different trainee as their visual.

She was so thoroughly ignored that it was fortunate if she appeared even in group shots.

If it weren’t for the individual PR videos uploaded separately as short clips, you wouldn’t have known there was a contestant named Seo Ra-eun.

In the end, Seo Ra-eun was eliminated as soon as public voting began.

Besides that, UNET’s misdeeds were varied.

Around when the debut members seemed certain, despite being an audition show, they got caught using backing tracks for performances that were close to lip-syncing.

Also, some trainees made it to the debut group based on judges’ high evaluations, unrelated to voting.

The entertainment industry is like that originally, but I thought they ran the broadcast pretty dirty using kids who hadn’t even debuted yet.

“Sigh…”

After thinking for a moment, I resumed the paused broadcast.

-I think you showed too much greed compared to your skills. Teams exist so each member can showcase what they do well and cover for shortcomings to create a better stage, not to find the one person who stands out most.

-I’m… sorry…

“What are they saying, really. You put them together to compete!”

I immediately paused the screen again.

Seeing Min Ha-young, who had that booming voice, completely deflated and crying while bowing her head made me inexplicably furious.

I felt sick and couldn’t watch anymore. Let me just do what I need to do.

I eventually turned off the TV and got up from bed. Then I checked my phone.

Since the Start Plan article came out, should I handle this side first?

***

An upscale Korean restaurant located near Hongjin Electronics headquarters.

Ryu Jae-geum and I were sitting side by side in this place with tight security that you’d only visit for important occasions, waiting for someone.

“Crazy bastard.”

Ryu Jae-geum spat out irritably.

I nodded in complete agreement with his words.

We’re the ultimate VIPs, super VIPs, third-generation chaebols of Hongjin who receive respectful treatment wherever we go. In South Korea, aside from the president, there’s no reason for us to sit quietly waiting for someone.

Yet here we were, staring at the set dishes for nearly 15 minutes waiting for someone.

Not an important business partner, not the president or a congressman, but none other than Reporter Choi Gyo-young.

‘Just because he caught one weakness that’s barely even a weakness, he thinks he’s the one in charge.’

Anyway, whether entertainment or politics reporters, this is their problem. Just because they hold some public opinion, they act like they’re something special.

I was letting out a hollow laugh and moving my chopsticks to the salad that came out as an appetizer, forgetting about manners and everything, when it happened.

“Ah, sorry about that. Traffic was a bit heavy. You understand, right?”

“…”

Reporter Choi Gyo-young entered the room with a sly smile.

“Oh my, to actually meet someone I’ve only seen on the news! I heard you’re a team leader, but you’re young and quite handsome in person.”

“…”

Reporter Choi Gyo-young spoke cheekily to Ryu Jae-geum, then looked at me with a brightened expression.

“As expected, Ms. Ryu Ji-ye is indeed from Hongjin Group. Right?”

“Let’s eat first, shall we?”

Ryu Jae-geum didn’t hide his displeasure as he gestured toward the menu with his eyes.

“Everyone was waiting only for you, reporter. You called busy people and then showed up so boldly late?”

Even at the heavily sarcastic tone, Choi Gyo-young smiled nonchalantly.

“What does the menu matter? Just order whatever the team leader usually eats. Let me try what chaebols eat too.”

Ryu Jae-geum frowned deeply and pressed the staff call bell.

“The lunch special, please.”

“…”

Choi Gyo-young’s expression hardened. For reference, the lunch special was the cheapest single-dish menu.

“You shouldn’t treat me so coldly.”

Choi Gyo-young muttered loud enough for us to hear, then chuckled and looked at me.

“Ji-ye, I watched your performance well. Wow, you were so good? You were surprisingly the most eye-catching there-“

At that moment, a large hand suddenly appeared in front of my eyes, blocking my view.

It was Ryu Jae-geum’s hand. He was covering my face from Choi Gyo-young while looking extremely displeased.

“Ah, don’t make eye contact with the kid. Reporter, your manner of speaking is quite rude for a first meeting.”

“Oh, you felt it was rude? I meant it as a sign of friendliness. Ji-ye, were you offended? Sorry, sorry.”

“…”

Ah, this person. He’s much more annoying and stupid than I thought.

Does he properly recognize who’s sitting in front of him right now?

“Wow, but Ji-ye hasn’t said a word since earlier? Did you decide not to speak before coming? This is Ji-ye’s matter though~”

“…”

“Or did your brother tell you not to speak?”

I stared at him silently, then looked away as if uninterested. Then I leaned back completely against the backrest.

Choi Gyo-young’s lips twisted at my incredibly arrogant posture.

Whatever, so what. I have no intention of opening my mouth right now.

Ah, being a chaebol is nice. Having something to rely on makes it possible to act arrogantly even in front of reporters.

Before, I was too scared of retaliation to do anything but watch their reactions even when they poured out mocking articles.

Finally, Ryu Jae-geum spoke irritably.

“Reporter, I won’t say this twice. Turn your gaze away from my sister and talk to me. What’s the point of dragging this conversation out?”

“Well, that’s right.”

Choi Gyo-young glared at me and answered curtly.

“I asked to meet for confirmation. Whether Miss Ryu Ji-ye is really from Hongjin.”

Ryu Jae-geum shrugged crookedly.

“Now you’ve confirmed it. Yes, that’s right. Ji-ye is from Hongjin. So what. Are you going to write an article?”

Choi Gyo-young pretended not to hear Ryu Jae-geum’s words and pulled the salad in front of him to his plate. Then he spoke casually.

“PD Do Myeong-gyun is quite lenient about such things, isn’t he?”

“Such things?”

At Ryu Jae-geum’s question, Choi Gyo-young silently raised the corners of his mouth. During the brief silence that followed, the food we ordered arrived and he began eating without another word.

He seemed to be deliberately taking his time under the pretense of eating.

As if to say, you should know without me having to answer.

In fact, Ryu Jae-geum and I immediately understood what he meant.

“You seem to jump to strange conclusions, reporter. As if we bribed them to get Ji-ye on the show.”

“I never said bribe. Did you give one?”

“Would we have?”

“Even if not a bribe, Start Plan is receiving PPL and investment from you, right?”

Ah, exactly!

This was actually what had been bothering me too.

Because PPL and investment are involved, whatever we say will be misunderstood and we’ll be forced to make excuses.

“That has nothing to do with Ji-ye appearing on Start Plan. Ji-ye auditioned and passed to get on the show. You probably won’t believe us, reporter. If you’re so suspicious, why don’t you ask that PD Do or whoever directly? That person probably doesn’t even know Ji-ye is from Hong Jin.”

This is bad. Ryu Jae-geum is completely losing his temper.

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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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