#155. Up, up. 8
"help?"
The aunt asked again and the silence came.
That too, for a moment, as his aunt, Lee Jeong-mi, slapped her thigh and laughed until the living room shook.
“Hahahaha! You? Help? You’re offering help to someone like me? Hahahaha!”
Lee Jeong-mi wiped her eyes and looked up at the ceiling.
“Do you want to help me?”
Lee Hye-rim, who had been waiting calmly, nodded.
“Yes. I’m sorry for speaking so rudely in front of Grandpa.”
Lee Jeong-mi's eyebrows furrowed again.
The idea of receiving dividends came to mind again.
“I had no choice but to say that to win over my grandfather. You know that, too, my aunt.
“I like people who run without looking back or forward like a red-haired horse.”
Lee Jeong-mi crossed her arms as if to see where she was going.
“Try more.”
“SH Construction, even if I own shares, I know it will disappear like a mirage.
“Would my uncle, cousins, or older brothers just sit still? What power would I have?”
Lee Hye-rim turned her head to Lee Jeong-hoon and continued speaking with a smile.
“SH Construction is yours, oppa.”
Hye-rim Lee looked at her aunt again.
“My aunt will make it so for me. I will hold the shares for the time being.
I will hold on to it so that it can be of help to you, Jeonghoon oppa, later on.”
My uncle's laughter echoed through the living room.
“My nephew knows how to stand in line! He knows how to stand in line! Hahaha!”
Lee Jeong-mi glared at her husband.
“Didn't I tell you to be quiet?”
He rubbed his forehead and closed his mouth.
“You’re going to hold it?”
“Yes. All I want is a business card. The position of managing director at SH Construction.
I just want to keep the seat I'm sitting in now.
If you work that hard, I will give half of the shares to Jeonghoon oppa when the time comes.
Until then, I'll take the stinging glares and criticism. I'm used to that."
Lee Jeong-hoon, who had been quietly looking at Lee Hye-rim, smiled and said.
“Hye-rim, do you remember that time? When we went to a resort with our family.
“You fell into the water that time. I saved you.”
Lee Hye-rim nodded with a smile.
I guess he doesn't remember whether he pushed it or not.
Lee Jeong-hoon continued speaking with a big smile.
“Okay, I’ll take responsibility for the managing director position. I promise.
I'm glad you have this mindset.
“I didn’t want my youngest cousin to get hurt.”
Lee Jeong-mi, who had come closer, grabbed Lee Hye-rim's hand and stroked it.
And he looked at Hye-rim with pitiful eyes.
“You’re trying hard. You’re trying hard… I never knew that you were thinking such wonderful thoughts.
Have you had a hard time alone during that time?
“Your aunt was always thinking of you, you know, she was so busy taking care of your uncle.”
“Aunt, please promise me the position of managing director.”
My aunt nodded slowly and spoke forcefully.
“Yeah, the managing director position, that’s yours.
“Jeonghoon will lead you well.”
It didn't look good to hand over the shares directly to Hye-rim, who was now trusted by her father.
The same goes for other brothers.
It was certain that there would be checks and balances, knowingly or unknowingly.
It was right that Hye-rim, who was trusted by her father, had this.
Lee Jeong-mi's smile deepened as she touched Hye-rim's hand.
He only looked like a child.
That too, a little child shivering and curled up in the cold.
In her eyes, Lee Hye-rim appeared to be nothing more than desperately trying to survive.
Lee Hye-rim's position was exactly like that.
Because I grew up being looked down upon and ignored since I was little.
With enemies all around you, you're probably exhausted and want to rely on something.
Lee Jeong-mi gently hugged Lee Hye-rim.
“If you have any difficulties in the future, tell me everything. Okay?”
Lee Hye-rim also raised her hand and hugged her aunt's shoulder.
“Yes, aunt.”
But his eyes were extremely dry.
At that time, Lee Jeong-mi received a phone call.
He was my younger brother.
“Oh, Jeong-hye.”
– Sister, are you going to stay still? Shouldn't you go see Dad separately?
Hye-rim, that girl… …
“Hey! There’s nothing you can’t say to your nephew! When are you going to grow up, you?
How hard must it have been for Hye-rim? She deserves it.
It's Dad's decision. From now on, you should take care of me like an aunt would.
“Don’t act like you’re desperate because you can’t eat your nephew.”
– Sister… …
“Hang up.”
After finishing the call, Lee Jeong-mi lowered the corners of her eyes and smiled again.
“Hye-rim, your aunts are so ugly. So ugly.”
“No. There are differences in positions. I understand.”
“Our Hye-rim is all cut. Would you like a cup of tea? Sit down.”
“No. I have to go to work.”
“Really? Jeonghoon, you take Hye-rim for a ride. Even though we’re going by car, it’s night.”
"okay."
“It’s okay… … ”
My aunt shook her head.
“Let’s do that. When we have time like this, we can talk to each other.”
"all right."
Lee Hye-rim no longer refused and got into the car with Lee Jeong-hoon.
“Can I go to the company?”
"huh."
Lee Jeong-hoon drove the car right away, and Lee Hye-rim stared out the window.
“Hye-rim, work is good, but take it easy. If you do that, you’ll get sick.
Oh, and a boyfriend? I should try dating too.”
Lee Hye-rim could feel Lee Jeong-hoon’s gaze.
From the legs to the waist, chest and shoulders.
As his gaze moved, it felt as if bugs were crawling on my body.
But Lee Hye-rim's expression was calm.
“There’s still a lot to learn, ah. Go see your brother Yo-Hwan sometime to get some fresh air.
“Honey, do you like snorkeling and scuba diving?”
Lee Hye-rim, who had been speaking while staring straight ahead, turned her head and looked at Lee Jeong-hoon.
Then he smiled faintly.
“Ticket, should I reserve it for you?”
These were meaningful words to Lee Hye-rim.
“Well, I should go sometime when I have time. I’m kind of out of it these days.”
Lee Hye-rim nodded her head slowly.
“If you want to go, just tell me. I’ll prepare the tickets for you. First class.”
Of course, it's one way.
They wouldn't give me a return ticket.
Lee Hye-rim, who finally arrived at SH Construction, gave a brief greeting.
“Thank you for sending it to me.”
“Would you like me to have a cup of tea?”
Lee Hye-rim also responded to Lee Jeong-hoon's smiling words with a smile.
“I have a lot to do. Let’s drink later. I’ll drive. I’ll come and pick you up later.”
“Okay. Thanks for your hard work.”
After breaking up with Lee Jeong-hoon, Lee Hye-rim looked at the car moving away.
“There are so many bugs.”
Now I felt like the tension was finally letting up and the fatigue was slowly creeping in.
Lee Hye-rim swept her hair up as if to ventilate the air.
“Is it a pest?”
Lee Hye-rim was startled by the sudden voice and turned her body.
It was Woojin in red tracksuit.
“Woojin?”
“Pests must be exterminated.”
Her white teeth were revealed at Woojin's appearance.
It was a really cool smile.
The fatigue seemed to melt away like snow.
“How did you come? Didn’t you go home? Were you waiting for me?”
Woojin spoke up in response to her continued questions.
“You worked hard today.”
Bam.
Woojin's right hand was placed over her head.
In that moment, Lee Hye-rim's eyes grew wide and her pupils slowly dilated like a video.
"great job."
She had nowhere to find mental rest.
So I came here to make it for you.
Did he notice Woojin's thoughts?
Lee Hye-rim's lips were pulled.
When I felt my face getting hot, I felt moisture around my eyes.
“Why am I acting like this?”
Hye-rim Lee, who was wiping her eyes, couldn't help but be surprised once again.
Her thoughts stopped as if her brain had shut down, wondering what was happening.
It was because Woojin was holding her.
When Lee Hye-rim, who was in Woo-jin's arms, was blinking, Woo-jin's voice was heard again.
“Hye-rim is warm.”
Woojin slowly patted Hye-rim's shoulder.
“Woojin.”
"huh?"
"thank you."
The two of them stood there in silence for a moment.
After a while, Woojin gently grabbed her shoulder and asked.
“Crying?”
"no."
“I think you’re crying.”
Woojin lowered his waist, raised his head, and looked up at her.
“Huh?”
“Why is it like this?”
“Do you think she’s crying?”
Lee Hye-rim hit Woo-jin on the back.
match!
“Stop it. It’s not fun.”
Woojin changed the subject while rubbing her shoulder.
“Hye-rim, shall we hang out for the first time in a while?”
She chuckled.
No, he just smiled brightly.
“I wonder?”
Woojin and Hye-rim walked toward the downtown area without any exception.
The sight of the two of them playing around and looking at this and that seemed like they were being captured in a photograph.
The sight of Woojin throwing a punch, and Hye-rim catching a mole.
Also, Woojin's reaction, where his pupils are shaking while playing the claw machine.
“This won’t work?”
The two walked down the street, holding hotteok in their hands.
There were a lot of people and the two of them were among them.
I didn't have to think about anything, I didn't have to care about anything.
They also went to a karaoke room, and while watching Woojin sing, Lee Hye-rim blinked and played the tambourine.
Jangle, jangle.
“Comrade~ Can you see~ those tearful eyes~”
———————————————–
A few days later.
Lee Hye-rim ended up owning a total of 14% of SH Construction's shares, and although she was met with harsh stares from her cousins, she paid no attention to them.
And then, my aunt, Lee Jeong-mi, came forward and blew her breath to calm the mood.
'You're so upset because you couldn't catch your youngest nephew! Aren't you ashamed?'
He was putting up a shield as if he was trying to be Lee Hye-rim's shield.
Meanwhile, Woojin was flipping through case documents in Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Cheol-woong's office.
At that time, Prosecutor Kim Cheol-woong entered the office.
“I feel like a guest.”
“Can I have just one piece of candy?”
“Isn’t it time to stop asking questions and start eating?”
"thank you."
Woojin, who had put the candy in his mouth, opened his mouth and flipped through the documents as before.
“Hye-rim now owns 14% of SH Construction’s shares.”
“Hey… … I should at least call you to congratulate you. Could you tell me instead?”
“Yes, sir. This is it.”
Woojin handed the envelope he was holding to Kim Cheol-woong.
It wasn't a case file.
“What is this?”
Prosecutor Kim Cheol-woong's eyes grew wide as he flipped through the documents.
"this……"
The list of people and numbers were all jumbled up in a mess.
It was a compilation of documents Woojin had received from SH Strategy.
“Shinwha Jeonki, a list of accounts under other people’s names and circumstances surrounding fraudulent accounting.”
Kim Cheol-woong asked, adjusting his glasses.
“Is this true?”
"yes."
Kim Cheol-woong swept his hair.
The fact that Woojin brought this means only one thing.
“If this gets investigated, I won’t be able to get promoted, right?”
“You’re not interested in promotion.”
He is a prosecutor who is interested in politics.
And the one behind her would be Hye-rim.
For that to happen, Hye-rim had to do well.
“Oh my… … ”
Kim Cheol-woong, who had been furrowing his brow, smiled faintly.
“What should we do?”
Woojin nodded slowly.
This time it's shaking.
