Chapter 25. Black Water

“It’s similar.”

It was something Juhee had done.

Chairman Kang groaned, as if unwilling to admit it—even though the time, person, and place were all obvious. Deep wrinkles formed clearly on his furrowed brow.

“Explain it to me.”

He likely wanted an explanation that would disprove his own suspicions.

Yooa took a picture of the medication label with her phone. She zoomed in on a specific part and showed it to Chairman Kang.

“When taking immunosuppressants after a liver transplant, grapefruit must be avoided for life. The compounds in grapefruit interfere with the immunosuppressants and increase their concentration in the bloodstream.”

“So this medication has the same compound as grapefruit?”

“Yes.”

“The effects interfere with each other… She didn’t give him medicine—she gave him poison.”

Yooa felt a heavy burden on her shoulders, not knowing what to say.

“Juhee used black water*.”
(*Note: “하수” literally means “black water,” but figuratively refers to underhanded or dirty tricks.)

Once the words left his mouth, it seemed as though he had come closer to a truth that had been obscured until now. Chairman Kang whispered Juhee’s name under his breath.

His weary voice, filled with regret and remorse, struck a painful chord in Yooa’s chest.

“I’m sorry.”

Perhaps he hadn’t wanted to know. Maybe he knew, but didn’t want to believe it.

He had already lost his son, Lee Jun’s father. The only child he had left was his daughter.

“I regret it too.”

He felt like a failure—not as the chairman of Taekyum Group, but as a father.

Chairman Kang rubbed his freshly shaven chin, a habit that came out whenever he was deep in thought—something Lee Jun seemed to have inherited.

Neither Yooa nor the chairman broke the silence.

Who knew how much time had passed?

“Yooa.”

“Yes?”

“We’re going to be family now.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Until I’ve sorted through my thoughts, can we keep this matter buried?”

His tone was serious and heavy—asking her not to reveal it to anyone else.

Yooa reassured him with a simple “Of course.”

Even though continuing to take the medication would eventually cause him to collapse unconscious in a few months, Chairman Kang had been discharged safely.

Juhee had probably adjusted the dosage in the meantime.

That had been the day of Lee Jun’s new product launch for his camper van brand.

This time, she wanted to help make sure the presentation went smoothly.

“Still, we need to separate personal and business matters. You saved me, Yooa.”

Despite the turmoil in his mind, Chairman Kang looked after Yooa.

She recalled the media frenzy when Lee Jun’s product launch had fallen apart because of Juhee’s scheming—how he had left the event early, and how the press had attacked him for being irresponsible.

She also remembered clearly that the first article had come from Hanseo Daily.

“If there’s anything you want from me, just say it.”

Chairman Kang had switched back to his business persona, the chairman of Taekyum Group. Yooa felt a chill run down her spine.

“I don’t want anything.”

“Don’t be foolish.”

He shouted, almost scolding her, that people are inherently full of wants and desires for as long as they live. Big or small, it’s human nature.

Otherwise, how could a daughter be the one to harm her own father?

That final remark brought tears to Yooa’s eyes.

“Then…”

Yooa hesitated before speaking, her voice quiet but determined.

“Please get healthy. And attend Lee Jun’s new product launch in person.”

“The launch?”

“Your presence will be a huge support for him. Just by showing up, it will show everyone that you’re strong and well.”

Chairman Kang had essentially retired and rarely appeared publicly except at company New Year ceremonies. So unofficially, the position of heir to Taekyum Group was seen as vacant.

For Lee Jun, who managed the group’s outdoor subsidiary, to successfully launch his new product, he needed the chairman’s support.

No matter how good the product was, it was still a startup. But if Chairman Kang stepped up, the game would change.

The media coverage would shift in favor of Lee Jun, and even Hanseo Daily would have no choice but to write a positive article.

“That’s what you want?”

Chairman Kang looked at Yooa for a long moment, as if seeing her in a new light.

Having dealt with so many people, he trusted his ability to read them.

Most people who approached him either groveled or flattered him—but Yooa was different.

“I thought you’d ask for something material. I could have arranged for the secretary’s office to get you a personal shopper…”

He trailed off, implying she could’ve had someone help her pick clothes, bags, and shoes every day—but none of that moved Yooa.

Seeing how detached she was from material things, Chairman Kang murmured that she reminded him of Lee Jun—unreadable at times.

“You’re very different from Juhee. So just attending the launch—will that be enough for you?”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Giving Lee Jun strength.

She was certain that Chairman Kang’s appearance would mean everything—and change everything.

That was probably why Juhee had tried so hard to prevent him from attending.

“Alright, I’ll do it.”

Resolved, Chairman Kang rubbed his face with his wrinkled hands, and then smiled faintly as if he had seen a shadow moving through the cracks.

“Let’s go eat dinner. It must be cold by now.”

Imagining the housekeepers waiting outside, anxious to come in, he widened his stride.

✳✳✳

Chairman Kang took a bite of steaming soup and praised its refreshing taste. He then encouraged Yooa to eat and added:

“When are you going to stop calling me ‘Chairman’? We’re going to be family.”

In that moment, Yooa truly felt like part of the family. Her eyes reddened with emotion.

He kindly asked one of the ladies to give Yooa more soup and looked after her warmly. The staff’s attitude toward her changed instantly.

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Yooa gave a faint, bitter smile, knowing her name would now spread among the staff by tonight.

She also realized that being asked to call him “Grandfather” was an immense privilege.

“Yooa, what do you like to eat? Ms. Kim, next time make some side dishes she enjoys—something spicy and bold, like young people like these days. For now, let’s eat. The food might taste bland—it’s mostly vegetables suited to an old man’s taste.”

“The ladies’ cooking is wonderful, Grandfather. Everything is clean and delicious.”

She reached for a side dish that was out of reach and placed it in front of him. Chairman Kang silently picked it up and ate it.

“You could’ve waited for me, you know. I’m a little hurt.”

The scraping sound of a chair followed, and a familiar scent filled Yooa’s nose.

Lee Jun had just arrived, his tie loosened, and leaned back in his chair. Quickly and quietly, a set of utensils and bowls was placed in front of him.

“What’s the rush? Don’t you have work?”

“I heard Grandfather called for Yooa, so I rushed over. I was too curious to focus on work.”

“You still get your full salary despite working so half-heartedly?”

When the chairman scolded him for slacking off during busy times, Lee Jun fixed his gaze on Yooa and replied:

“I’ll go back to the office after dinner.”

Chairman Kang jokingly accused him of rushing over to protect Yooa from being eaten alive, but Lee Jun only smiled slightly and reached down to hold Yooa’s hand under the table.

Yooa tried to pull away, conscious of the chairman’s presence, but Lee Jun didn’t let go. Instead, he leaned in and teased:

“Your eyes are red. Did Grandfather make you cry?”