Even If It’s Not Love - Chapter 51-1

“I roughly heard what kind of relationship you have with her. She’s the sister of the man who killed your sister, right? It’s complicated. But, to say you’re watching over her… How am I supposed to interpret that? I think this needs an explanation.”

“I’ll try not to bother you anymore.”

“You know that’s not what I want to hear, right?”

“…”

“Woo-hyun.”

The chairman’s voice lowered as if he had exhausted his patience. His tone was intimidating. Woo-hyun’s mouth, which was firmly closed, opened at his call.

“Executive Director Kim has met secretly with Chairman Lee Tae-won.”

But the answer that came back was completely different. The chairman, who was holding the cigarette, stiffened for a moment, then quickly relaxed.

“I see you still don’t have the knack for changing the subject. Executive Director Kim met with Chairman Lee? I’ve never heard of such news.”

He had eyes scattered everywhere, and countless people planted. If they had met, they would have reported it to him right away.

“To be more precise, someone from Executive Director Kim’s side met with someone from Chairman Lee Tae-won’s side. It must have been hard for you to know because you two are not close.”

However, at Woo-hyun’s ensuing comment, the chairman’s actions stopped again.

“Did you find out about something I didn’t know?”

“I’m sure the Chairman’s people have been weeded out in advance by Chairman Lee. I think that now that you’ve known each other for a long time, you know each other’s patterns well. But I guess you didn’t think he would dare.”

“…”

The chairman was speechless for a moment. He was surprised that he really dared to do that.

Did Woo-hyun dig behind Chairman Lee’s back?

If he was caught acting wrongly, he could not be free from ruthless revenge.

“I didn’t know you were such a good gambler, Woo-hyun.”

“I had an excuse to make in case I got caught. At least if I said I needed to find a place where I wouldn’t become dog food, that would be enough justification.”

Of course, even if he did say that, it would have been difficult. The chairman looked at Woo-hyun with squinting eyes. Although he was surprised at this kind of news, above all, it was surprising that he had not been caught until now.

“You’re more talented than I thought. Alright. Let’s hear it. What did Executive Director Kim talk about with him?”

“Executive Director Kim swore loyalty to Chairman Lee Tae-won.”

As Woo-hyun finished speaking, there was a breathtaking silence. Woo-hyun calmly overcame the pressure that was so great that, if the air had any weight, he would have been crushed.

The chairman’s eyebrows went up and down threateningly. The cigarette hanging from his fingers broke in half and fell to the floor. On the marble floor, the red flame extinguished.

“… Do you have evidence?”

There was no disturbance in his terribly calm voice.

“I have it ready for you to see.”

Woo-hyun pulled out a USB he had prepared. The chairman immediately called his secretary to bring him his laptop. After the secretary stepped away and he checked the contents of the USB, the chairman’s expression hardened visibly.

It was as Woo-hyun said. Someone met with someone from Chairman Lee’s side. He heard the conversation they had in its totality. Despite speaking while beating around the bush, the essence of what Executive Director Kim’s side conveyed to Chairman Lee’s side was as Woo-hyun said.

That he would move as he wanted if Chairman Lee guaranteed his position.

Although they didn’t mention any organizations or names, there was quite a lot of evidence in the conversation that pointed to Executive Director Kim. After the video, there were pictures showing the two people exiting the restaurant at different times, and a picture that confirmed Executive Director Kim’s close associate entering Chairman Lee’s mansion.

“Is there any chance of this evidence being tampered with?”

“The pictures were taken directly by someone from our side. I checked the video for manipulation but couldn’t see anything, and after checking the movements from Executive Director Kim’s side, it didn’t seem to be a lie.”

“Do you really think this is true?”

“Yes.”

“Tsk, that senile old man… He’s not even thinking about looking into a burial site.”

The chairman’s expression became menacing.

“But how did you get this video?”

Even if he planted someone to take the pictures, it was impossible to secure the video without knowing the meeting place in advance.

“Chairman Lee handed it to me yesterday.”

The chairman’s eyes turned sharp.

“So Chairman Lee gave you this data himself? Why?”

“He said it was to let me know that someone else was standing in line to take over the position of authority.”

“That crazy old man.”

The chairman spat out a curse.

“However.”

When Woo-hyun spoke, the chairman turned his head to look at him.

“I don’t think it’s me that Chairman Lee wanted.”

“Then?”

The chairman asked in a sharp voice, which was different than usual.

“It’s a disruption of the organization.”

“What?”

The chairman frowned.

“If he really needed me, there would be no reason to act like this. Moreover, he even mentioned Executive Director Kim.”

Chairman Lee acted as if he wanted Woo-hyun is such a blatant way. As if he wanted the rumors to spread everywhere. While to others, it seemed like Woo-hyun was uncomfortable with Chairman Lee, to Woo-hyun, he was always wary of him as he could see nothing but him spreading the seeds of confusion.