Beast, Blue Blood - Chapter 102

Chapter 102

At that moment, Jerome came in from behind and asked.

“Has the CEO arrived?”

The secretaries couldn’t say anything and just looked at Si-woo. Jerome looked at him as well, let out a small ‘Ah,’ and then spoke nonchalantly.

“Today’s schedule is…”

Si-woo gestured to Jerome.

“Let’s discuss this inside.”

Si-woo then naturally walked into the office, and Jerome followed. The secretaries turned their heads as if their necks were on swivels, watching them. Inside the office, Si-woo and Jerome continued their conversation with a businesslike demeanor as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

A little later, when Jerome came out again, the secretaries rushed to him with questions.

“Is he really the CEO?”

Jerome looked at them with a puzzled expression.

“Yes. Didn’t you know he was originally a man?”

“Well, we knew, but…”

The secretaries glanced back at the office.

“He’s just a completely different person.”

Although it was the same face, the impression was entirely different. When in female form, the strong makeup and animal-patterned attire often gave off a fierce, big-cat vibe, while as a man, dressed in a suit, he had more of a scholarly look with a jade-green robe.

The rumors spread quickly. As Si-woo finished the executive meeting and left the conference room, people hurriedly disappeared from the end of the hallway. CFO Peter, who was coming out with him, commented on the scene.

“It seems everyone was as shocked as I was.”

Si-woo gave an embarrassed smile as he looked at Peter.

“I wonder if this is what animals in a zoo feel like.”

As they walked together, Peter asked.

“Is there a particular reason for suddenly stopping the cross-dressing? Are you sure you’re not a lady?”

“Has the rumor already reached that far?”

Peter nodded.

“I also heard that the CEO nearly died twice in the past two days. One of those times was life-threatening.”

The explosion at the club wasn’t that severe, but it seems the rumor exaggerated it. So, Si-woo was about to say it wasn’t a big deal.

“No, at the club…”

“You’ve endured a lot, haven’t you?”

They spoke simultaneously. It seemed the near-death experiences referred to were not the explosions but the times when he was stabbed by Alex.

By the way, Peter had two daughters. Perhaps understanding the feelings of a father with daughters, Si-woo gave an awkward smile.

“Does having a daughter always lead to this?”

“Imagine if the CEO had a daughter, especially one who looked just like the woman he loves.”

If he had a daughter who resembled Ha-yeon, and a dog bone suddenly appeared and took her away…

Si-woo immediately understood. After parting with Peter, Si-woo returned to his office to work, and a secretary came in and asked.

“CEO, would you like some tea?”

The tone was subtly different from yesterday. While it had been polite before, it felt more like dealing with a colleague. Today, it was polite and respectful, but with a hint of nasal sound in the voice. Si-woo chuckled slightly.

“No, it’s okay.”

The secretary nodded slightly and left.

“If you need anything, please let me know at any time.”

For the past few years he had worked here, if he needed anything, he had always asked freely, so this was quite a new thing.

At that moment, a phone call came in.

[Ma’am Kang Kyu-hwa is calling. Would you like to take the call?]

Si-woo let out a small groan. This was unavoidable.

“Put her through.”

As soon as Kyu-hwa appeared on the screen, she cut to the chase.

[Do you know how I’m feeling right now? It’s like my friend came to me one day after a sex change surgery and said he wanted to date my daughter. In short, I feel like grabbing my neck and falling over.]

Si-woo couldn’t respond easily.

It wasn’t untrue; from the very beginning, Si-woo had felt that something about Alex and Kyu-hwa. But thinking that he would be the one who would father her children made it understandable. Still, could Kyu-hwa have ever imagined this day?

No one could say he hadn’t tried to resist to prevent this day from coming. But in the face of fate’s power, individuals are often so powerless.

“I’m sorry.”

Ultimately, the only thing Si-woo could say was an apology.

[Isn’t your motto to avoid doing things that warrant an apology, Mr. Chu?]

Though the alias was about to be dropped, hearing Kyu-hwa call him by his real name felt like a huge emotional gap before he had even expressed his intention to stop using the alias.

Si-woo sighed slightly.

“I want to emphasize that it was never intentional.”

[But how could a person like you, Mr. Chu, see that baby as a woman?]

It was quite a blunt comment for a discussion about her daughter.

“…That’s surprising to me as well.”

If he were speaking to someone else, he might have given a long speech about how wonderful and sexy Ha-yeon was, but it felt inappropriate to say such things to Kyu-hwa.

[It’s obvious how much she must have nagged.]

Kyu-hwa said this with a tone like she was saying, ‘It’s obvious how much she must have begged for candy.’ Then she looked at Si-woo intently.

[Seeing you now, I can’t even imagine Selena.]

“I was planning to contact you about increasing the funding for the school you operate.”

ISLE is known for its charitable work, but there is often opposition from the board, and sometimes it conflicts with the company’s interests. It often clashes with Kyu-hwa’s focus solely on schools and children.

Kyu-hwa gave a hollow laugh.

[Are you trying to buy my favor with money? Are you trying to have me sell my daughter for three hundred bags of rice?]

“That’s not it. I’ve always felt regret for not being able to help more.”

Though it was sincere, it was honest to say that there might be some calculation involved in trying to win Kyu-hwa over.

Kyu-hwa seemed to think for a moment before speaking.

[I’ve always been disappointed that ISLE doesn’t invest more in social welfare. I hope you will invest more in that field in the future.]

Si-woo looked at her intently.

“It seems like you’re trying to make a deal with me as well, Mrs. Kang?”

Kyu-hwa shrugged her shoulders.

[Looks like I’m going to benefit from my daughter’s choice. She brought a man who would help with her mom’s business.]

Si-woo felt a mix of relief and a sense of the need to run around persuading the board of directors. He couldn’t help but smile awkwardly.

“I appreciate it.”

[For some reason, you’ve been clinging to me since you were young. I guess you thought you belonged to me.]

“You don’t seem to be opposing this as much as I expected.”

[Since Ha-yeon was born, she’s been so strong-willed.]

Kyu-hwa continued.

[And that child was born with values that I can’t fully comprehend. The world I was born into was a place where humans lived huddled together, a world developed to the extent that science made life convenient. But Ha-yeon was born into a world where everything is different.]

She then looked off to some distant place.

[With my limited understanding, I couldn’t even imagine the life she would lead, so I vowed not to judge hastily what she might desire.]

Kyu-hwa shrugged her shoulders.

[Anyway, Alex adores Ha-yeon so much that just dealing with him would be tough enough. You nearly died, didn’t you?]

Si-woo couldn’t help but sigh.

“It was quite sincere when he stabbed me.”

[It must have been.]

Kyu-hwa said this and looked at Si-woo with serious eyes.

[But one thing: don’t put my daughter in danger. That means you need to deal with that horrible guy somehow.]

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

[For your sake too, Si-woo.]

Then the screen went dark.

* * *

Ha-yeon was sitting on the sofa in the hotel lobby where they had agreed to meet. She spotted Si-woo entering and waved.

However, two plainclothes bodyguards were standing behind her, not even trying to hide their presence. It was clear without needing to see that they were there to protect her from someone.

As Si-woo approached, Ha-yeon said irritably.

“I’m so annoyed.”

Si-woo smiled.

“Is it out of the question to go upstairs?”

“If you did, my father would come right away.”

Si-woo looked at the bodyguards and asked.

“Is the restaurant okay?”

The bodyguard nodded, and Ha-yeon’s face looked like she was about to swear.

“How old am I, that I need to ask for permission for everything?”

Si-woo spoke soothingly to her.

“Let’s go.”

The two went upstairs to the restaurant and took their seats. As soon as they did, Ha-yeon looked Si-woo up and down and asked bluntly.

“So?”

“So?”

Si-woo looked puzzled.

“How did it go?”

In response to the question, Si-woo just gave an awkward smile. Ha-yeon then seemed to understand what had happened.

“Seems like it’s no use. You should just stay home and manage the household. I’ll earn the money.”

“That’s the best thing a man can hear.”

As Si-woo said this and held Ha-yeon’s hand, one of the bodyguards, standing a few steps away, cleared his throat. Ha-yeon then touched her temple and murmured.

“I think I’m going to be sick.”

Even during the meal, the bodyguards kept watching, making it impossible to tell whether the food was going in through her mouth or her ears.

After the meal, when they went down to the lobby, the bodyguards were waiting by the car. In front of them, Si-woo spoke.

“Be careful going in.”

“It’s harder for something to happen now. I mean, what father sends ex-special forces bodyguards with his daughter when she goes out to meet her boyfriend? This is excessive even for a warning.”

Ha-yeon complained. However, the reason she was tolerating the bodyguards was likely to appease Alex’s feelings.

“Go on inside.”

Si-woo just smiled and gently pushed Ha-yeon’s back.

“Si-woo.”

Ha-yeon’s gaze became intense. Si-woo’s gaze deepened as well. If there were just one thing he wanted right now…

At that moment, one of the bodyguards inserted his arm between them. While Si-woo looked at him in astonishment, Ha-yeon, standing behind him, asked with a tone of disbelief.

“Is kissing not allowed either?”

“Any physical contact is not permitted.”

The bodyguard returned his arm to its original position but answered curtly. Ha-yeon gave a hollow laugh.

“It’s already far too late for that…”

Suddenly, Si-woo covered Ha-yeon’s mouth.

“I think it’s best not to say such things.”

Ha-yeon lowered Si-woo’s hand and spoke with a dissatisfied tone.

“Then just make me a nun.”

“They wouldn’t enjoy this either.”

At those words, even the usually stoic bodyguards couldn’t hide their gratitude. Ha-yeon sighed and said no more.

“Good night.”

Then Ha-yeon got into the car. The scene was captured by a camera.

It showed Si-woo and Ha-yeon standing in front of the waiting car, talking, almost kissing, the bodyguard clearing his throat, Ha-yeon looking astonished and turning away, and finally, Ha-yeon leaving in the car.

“It seems my patron has finally overcome the wounds of love.”

A smile appeared on the lips of the person watching the video.

“I should congratulate him as a client.”