I Became the Youngest Daughter of a Chaebol Family-Chapter 84: A Sad Life (2)

After the IMF regime, many conglomerates collapsed, but a few managed to weather the storm and maintain their standing.

Among them, some even used the crisis as a springboard to rise higher...

Daehwa Group and Mirae Group were prime examples of that.

‘Even if I don’t know about the others, Mirae Group is a bit dangerous.’

Unlike other conglomerates that can be crushed with sheer money, Mirae Group had one critical difference.

They had a president come out of the family. Cha Sang-hyun, the younger half-brother of current chairman Cha Sang-hee, would later rise to the peak of political power.

Cha Sang-hyun, the 16th President of South Korea.

After the foreign exchange crisis had somewhat settled, he took office—but in truth, he wasn’t much respected within the business world.

He was originally involved in the student movements back in the day.

His relationship with the Mirae Group chairman was distant due to both a significant age gap and several incidents between them.

...Honestly, that doesn’t matter much. For people at that level, blood ties like that are nothing more than a mild awkwardness easily overridden by synergy.

Right. We’re talking about the president.

In this country, with its political system often called an imperial presidency, that’s not something to take lightly. I’d heard even Daehwa Group suffered considerable losses at the time... and that would likely apply to me too.

What if, when I try to devour Mirae Group, the government openly takes their side? What if they mobilize the National Intelligence Service to dig into my suspicious foreign firms?

I wasn’t born in America. I was born and raised right here on Korean soil. I can’t win.

Well, it’s not that I couldn’t win if I really pushed it—but the unnecessary damage would be far too great.

Cha Sang-hyun’s term as the 16th president was supposed to start in 2003, but... who knows. It’s not like I’ve only once or twice thrown history into disarray. Who knows where and how the butterfly effect might strike?

That’s why I have to start laying groundwork in Mirae Group now.

That was the whole reason I carved time out of my schedule to attend the social gathering hosted by Mirae Group.

***

The Mirae Group family tree is relatively complicated.

The founding chairman, Cha Shin-young, had six children... The eldest was disowned, and the founder had multiple wives, which meant vicious in-law conflicts.

Even the children and grandchildren of the founding chairman’s siblings were members of prominent families and held important positions here and there.

Naturally, there was never a peaceful day, as they were constantly drawing lines and fighting.

That background probably explains why Cha Sang-hyun suddenly jumped into politics.

In any case... if a few of Mirae Group’s side branches end up in the judiciary and quietly hand down “fair rulings,” my plans could get derailed. Most prosecutors and judges can be bribed, but blood ties make that difficult.

“Um... but what if I say something wrong? Like accidentally leaking confidential information, or sounding uncultured and getting mocked...?”

Seo Ji-yeon seemed to be worrying about something a little odd.

You know that thing in dramas—where rich kids gather and throw subtle barbs at each other?

“It’s fine. They don’t really know much either.”

All those art events and charity balls... they’re just excuses. It’s basically a regular social gathering.

At first, I wondered why anyone would bother with these things—but there’s no better excuse to meet kids from other families. Not that I really need to build connections, but...

Still, today’s different. The target I’ve been aiming for just happened to show up.

Having finished a brief explanation, I lightly patted my subordinate’s shoulder.

“You get it, right, Ji-yeon? The most important person we’re meeting today is the granddaughter of the former chairman Cha Shin-young’s younger brother. She’s not a big deal, but still—be careful, okay?”

-Nod, nod.

Seo Ji-yeon, wearing the blue dress I’d bought her, nodded with a determined expression.

“Y-Yes! I definitely won’t come back defeated, Miss.”

Pfft.

I chuckled softly. It’s a big event for a kids’ fight, but compared to the real thing, it’s nothing but petty posturing.

They say they rented out an entire hotel in Seoul for this banquet, but to me, it was laughable.

The current Mirae Group chairman probably doesn’t even know that girl’s name. That’s why she’s a good target.

“I only brought you to get some experience, so don’t go overboard...”

-Creak.

I pushed open the ornately decorated door. I was the last to arrive, so there were already quite a few people inside.

How pathetic.

“Ahaha, hey! Long time no see!”

I smiled sweetly and looked around. The room... was filled with a mix of cold and burning gazes all aimed at me.

“Ah, Miss. Why’s the atmosphere so weird?” ƒгeewёbnovel.com

Seo Ji-yeon whispered anxiously beside me. I smiled lightly and murmured back.

“It’s nothing. They’re just jealous.”

When the heads of chaebol families meet, the conversations aren’t much different. They just boast about their kids or grandkids.

And my grandfather, who absolutely adores Yoo Ha-yeon—the greatest genius in history—tends to boast a lot.

To the point that kids my age practically twitch at the mention of my name.

Ah, this is exactly why I didn’t want to come.

‘Still, it’s not so bad this time.’

At least I know the host of the party.

But then...

“Ha! She actually showed up?”

A shrill, familiar voice rang out, and I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut.

Smack.

Water came flying at me.

“Ugh.”

The droplets ran down my face.

“Eek! M-Miss! Are you alright?”

The water, having soaked the front of my chest, pooled between my breasts and created quite the suggestive scene. I could hear soft chuckles around the banquet hall.

“Sigh... I even wore a dress for the first time in a while.”

Hmm.

How cold-hearted.

***

The person who splashed mineral water on me was an extra.

“Heard the rumors lately? Our little lady here’s really something.”

“A-Ah, Miss. Here’s a towel...”

Seo Ji-yeon’s hands were trembling as she wiped the water from my face. When I didn’t respond, the extra got anxious and flapped her mouth again.

“Ha, they say you dress like a whore—and wow, you really do. What, don’t need a towel? Just do what you usually do and throw yourself into some guy’s arms and ask him to suck your tits.”

Wow. Just listen to that. I would’ve been disappointed if water hadn’t pooled in my cleavage.

She’s saying all that, but I bet she’s trembling inside. The reason she used clean mineral water and not something sticky like soda is obvious—because she wouldn’t be able to handle the consequences.

That’s what it is.

“Sigh... Eun-ah, that was too much. Apologize. No matter how bitter you are, this isn’t the way.”

Only then did another character step forward to scold her. Others around us subtly showed agreement. Sure, it was funny that I got humiliated, but rudeness is still rudeness.

“What?”

“I said apologize. You deaf or something?”

What a brazen bitch. She’s the one who told her to do it, yet acts so self-righteous. Disgusting, really.

“...Fine.”

The extra, feigning regret, walked toward me in quick little steps.

“Well, I guess I went too far this time. Let’s call it even for what happened last time, okay, Yoo Ha-yeon?”

Pressing in close from an angle hidden from others’ view, she pretended to stroke my cheek and mouthed softly:

—‘I’m sorry. P-Please spare me.’

Amusing.

Sure.

“It’s fine. Go.”

Even as she backed away with a disgusted look, trying to appear naturally disdainful, I could tell she was anxious about what I might do.

Well... I didn’t really have a grudge against the extra.

Truth is, back in elementary school, I pulled a similar stunt on her. That time it was coffee. Honestly, she’s kind of pathetic for not even managing a proper revenge.

Why’d I do it back then? ...Well, because someone called me a parentless orphan bitch.

‘...Hmph.’

Now that I think about it again, I’m pissed. She’s my new emotional punching bag.

Still, today was not a day for anger, so I simply laughed it off like usual.

“Ahaha, what a warm welcome. Am I really that unwelcome?”

A man with a gentle expression stepped forward ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) and responded with a smile.

“Cut her some slack. You’re just too good, Ha-yeon. The girls are just being petty.”

He shook my hand while subtly ogling me—not exactly subtle, but...

It was fine. This kind of thing was expected. Honestly, if it were anyone else, they’d be thrilled to get this kind of attention.

After the brief commotion passed and I was exchanging greetings with the other kids nearby, a bit of noise erupted from the table beside us.

The star of the banquet—the one I came to meet—had arrived. If I had to be exact, I was more like an uninvited guest or a final boss, and the actual host of this gathering was her.

“Oh. Look who else showed up—Mirae Group’s very own Cha Ba-da. I thought you wouldn’t come out of jealousy.”

What kind of name is that—sounds like “Boston Harbor.”

“Hmph. Like I’d be jealous of someone who transferred schools to run away. I just came to see some other people.”

Even as she grumbled, Ba-da didn’t take her eyes off me as she casually walked closer.

“Still, I was being thoughtful, you know. If I’d stayed at the same school as you, you’d never have been first place in your life.”

The tsundere friend flinched and muttered.

“Thoughtful, my ass. You just wanted all the attention, so you went somewhere else.”

Ahaha. Nailed it.

***

Let me say this again: being born into a chaebol family doesn’t mean you’re something other than human. The real issue is that ordinary people are handed extraordinary power.

And giving that kind of power to unstable children is... well, it’s no wonder they turn out twisted.

“—So, yeah, I get it. They’re just dumb kids. It happens.”

Cha Ba-da, the same age as me, twirled a strand of her hair around her finger and let out a shallow sigh.

“I didn’t really want to hear that from you.”

“Even after seeing my brilliance, they still feel jealous? Honestly.”

Hmph.

I checked myself in the mirror, touching up my makeup while wearing a fresh white party dress. Since I’d changed without caring about who was watching, only three of us remained in the main hall. Ba-da had cleared the others out out of jealousy for my beauty.

“...Still as self-centered as ever.”

Seo Ji-yeon, who had been nervously hunched over, perked up her ears as Cha Ba-da chatted away.

“U-Um, Miss... have you two met before?”

Ba-da frowned slightly.

“Speak casually. We’re the same age.”

“I-I can’t...”

Flustered, Seo Ji-yeon glanced my way for help, and Ba-da gave a nod.

“Sigh, whatever. Yeah, we met. Briefly, before elementary school.”

“Oh, and for the record—I won.”

“Ha, won what?”

Ah, is she pretending not to know?

Or maybe she genuinely forgot because it was so long ago. I decided to kindly remind her.

“There was a time when our dear Cha Ba-da, drunk on her own brilliance, encountered a sky higher than the heavens. Tsk tsk, there’s always a sky above the sea, you know.”

“...You really are annoying. Dragging up stuff I don’t even remember.”

“What a shame. I actually like you.”

Wasn’t she a favorite niece of the future president?

A beautiful and well-mannered chaebol princess... of course she’d be popular.

She’s not quite as good as me, but she’s a near-perfect mirror of myself—enough to remind others of me.

“So, what are you doing here? The great genius lady of Daehwa Group?”

I could see the curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

Of course she’d wonder why the legendary genius of the Daehwa family showed up here, of all places.

But I’m not telling her.

I’m sulking.