28 THE 1% OF THE 1%
LEE SOOK-Ja, Seodam's mother, was a little bit nervous.
Two days ago, half of Seoul was covered in ice.
But now, everything was back to normal.
Fortunately, Madam Kim Changsuk didn't cancel their dinner appointment.
Hence, Sook-ja was currently enjoying a fancy dinner with some of the wealthy housewives of high society.
[My daughter's future mother-in-law is well-connected, huh?]
Madam Kim Changsuk was the mother of her daughter's fiancé, and the madam was also the CEO of Sowoon Group. The Sowoon Group owned chains of restaurants in Korea that served monster meat.
Monster meat was now considered a luxury in the world.
[Hence, their business is doing well.]
That was why Sook-ja was proud of Seorin, her daughter, for bagging Kim Minhyuk– a well-known chef and also Madam Kim Changsuk's oldest son.
And, yes, Kim Minhyuk was the heir to Sowoon Group.
[My children are doing well. My eldest son, Seodam, is an A-Class Hunter now. And my daughter Seorin is about to get married into a wealthy family.]
The only problem she had was Seojin– her youngest son.
[I wonder when that child will mature.]
But, to be honest, Sook-ja wasn't worried even though Seojin was in his rebellious phase.
[As long as Seojin gives me a grandchild later, I'll forgive him for his immaturity.]
It broke her heart that she had to give up her dream of having a grandchild from Seodam, her perfect son.
But Sook-ja would get over it once Seodam got married to Park Ruda.
[It's almost confirmed that Park Ruda came from a chaebol family. If my son marries Park Ruda, then our family will finally get to be a part of high society.]
Madam Kim Changsuk may be the CEO of a big company.
However…
[Madam Kim is what we call 'new money.' They became rich because they got lucky. However, a chaebol family is different because they're 'old money.']
There wasn't really a concept of 'old money' in Korea.
What Sook-ja was really trying to say was she wanted her family to be a part of the 1% of the 1%, aka the wealthiest of the wealthiest, and not just any rich family.
After all, during the Outbreak, only the 1% of the 1% survived unscathed.
[I don't want my family to go through hell again should another Outbreak come.]
Hence, Sook-ja was hell-bent on marrying off her children to wealthy families.
Seorin was going to marry a rich man so they wouldn't live in poverty again.
Seodam would just have to marry Park Ruda because aside from being a chaebol (allegedly), Park Ruda was also an important member of APA. And APA was above the law in today's society.
[Our family is now untouchable.]
"Sook-ja, your oldest son is Hunter Seodam, right?"
[Ah, it's my turn to brag.]
Sook-ja smiled proudly. "Yes, Madam Kim. My son is Hunter Seodam. He's an A-Class Hunter working for APA, and he'll soon become an S-Class Hunter with the help of Park Ruda-ssi."
She had to mention Park Ruda.
If it was true that Park Ruda came from a chaebol family, then it only meant the ladies here would know him.
But none of the other guests cared enough to ask about the Guide.
Instead…
"Then your son is dating Chu Wonhee, right?" Madam Kim Changsuk asked. "The actress who's on the news recently?"
Sook-ja frowned, clenching her hands tight.
She was embarrassed.
Chu Wonhee was on the news recently because that girl was involved in a drug scandal. Thank goodness Seodam was in the dungeon right now or else the reporters would have pestered her son!
[I have to clear up the misunderstanding before Chu Wonhee's scandal drags us down.]
"It's true that my son dated Chu Wonhee," Sook-ja said, faking a smile. "But they already broke up even before Chu Wonhee's drug scandal broke out."
"Oh."
Hmm?
Why did Madam Kim Changsuk look disappointed?
"Then are you saying your son has nothing to do with Chu Wonhee anymore?"
Sook-ja smiled and nodded eagerly to appease her future rich in-law. "That's right, Madam. That druggie has nothing to do with my son–"
"Be careful of your words, Sook-ja," Madam Kim Changsuk scolded her sternly. "Why are you calling Chu Wonhee a 'druggie' when the news has already confirmed that it was just a false accusation?"
"W-What?"
The other ladies spoke up this time.
"Haven't you seen the news yet, Sook-ja-ssi?"
"APA has already released a statement."
"Here, they even bowed in apology."
One of the ladies pulled out her phone and played a video for everyone to see.
Kwon Jiwoong, the APA President, bowed his head in apology along with the other executives of APA.
<"Miss Chu Wonhee is innocent. APA will take responsibility for this grave mistake.">
It was the message flashing below.
"Apparently, the one who gave the false report to APA was Choi Sumin. And everyone in the industry knows that Choi Sumin is jealous of Chu Wonhee."
"They're looking for Choi Sumin now, but she has already gone into hiding."
Sook-ja was confused.
Even though the accusation against Chu Wonhee turned out to be false, it was strange that APA apologized for it as if they were appeasing that girl.
[And this is the first time I saw President Kwon bow his head in apology…]
"Sook-ja, you don't know, do you?"
"What do you mean by that, Madam Kim?"
"Chu Wonhee is the younger sister of both Yeon Soobin and Jang Semi," Madam Kim Changsuk said. "Chu Wonhee is both a member of the Royal Family and the richest chaebol family in the country."
What…?
"It's a shame your son broke up with Chu Wonhee," Madam Kim Changsuk said, then she sipped her tea. "It would have been nice to be in-laws with two of the most powerful families in the country, right?"
Sook-ja suddenly felt like cold water was poured over her.
[Chu Wonhee… is a part of the 1% of the 1%?]
***
LEE SEORIN, Seodam's older sister, was in distress.
It was supposed to be the day of her final fitting for her wedding dress. But when she arrived at Hera Bridal…
"What do you mean you won't sell the dress to me anymore?!" Seorin yelled at the female staff that refused to bring out her wedding dress. "We already paid the deposit for the wedding gown!"
"Miss Chu paid for both the reservation and the deposit for the wedding gown, ma'am," the female staff corrected her. "Technically, Miss Chu owns the wedding dress. Unfortunately for you, ma'am, Miss Chu bought not just the dress that you chose but all the readymade gowns available at our store at the moment. We cannot release the wedding gowns without her consent."
Huh?
Seorin was shocked to hear that.
Even though the dresses there were all readymade, one piece would still cost a small apartment. And yet Chu Wonhee bought EVERYTHING?
"How can she afford it?"
Seorin realized that she asked the question out loud when the staff laughed at her.
"I knew it. This miss doesn't know who our Miss Chu really is."
"How dare a nobody like her act like she's on the same level as Miss Chu?"
"If Miss Chu didn't reserve the boutique for her, there's no way our store will accept someone on her level as a client."
Seorin's face turned red from embarrassment. This was the first time she was humiliated ever since Seodam became a famous Hunter. "What are you saying?! Who the hell is Chu Wonhee? Isn't she just an actress? Heck, she's even involved in a drug scandal recently!"
"Miss Chu is the younger sister of Yeon Soobin-nim and Jang Semi-nim," one of the staff informed her coldly. "Miss Chu is also the precious niece of Madam Heidi, the owner of this boutique, so please don't speak rudely of her."
To say that Seorin was shocked would be an understatement.
[Chu Wonhee is THAT rich?]
***
sola_cola's thoughts on this chapter: In case you forgot, Seodam is Wonhee's ex-boyfriend. Hehe. Sook-ja is his mother who thinks Wonhee is just an ordinary actress, and Seorin is his sister who uninvited Wonhee to her wedding after Wonhee organized everything for her ungrateful as*.
***
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