- Episode 5
In the past, Seorin might have believed Youngsook’s words and actions. But not anymore. Now Seorin knew—Youngsook was hiding a large snake in her belly.
She also understood now that when Youngsook said, “Don’t say much,” it meant she expected full obedience.
“Yes, I will,” Seorin responded, lowering her eyes, signaling that she understood.
In truth, she had no other choice.
Youngsook held the leash tightly—not only on Seorin, but on Dongyoung Foods as well.
“I’m going to the department store this morning. Just for a bit, then in the afternoon…”
While Myungsook was talking about the day’s schedule, someone was coming down the stairs. It was Taeyoon.
He walked over slowly and slouched onto the couch near Youngsook, fixing his eyes on Seorin.
His improper posture and piercing gaze at Seorin made Youngsook frown in disapproval, but she couldn’t say anything.
The tension in the room was suffocating—until Taeyoon broke it.
“I’ve thought about what you said before,” he said.
Youngsook’s face lit up immediately.
“You mean… the executive director position I offered from the head office?”
Taeyoon had led a successful project in the U.S., and thanks to that, his name was well known both domestically and abroad.
If he could now stabilize TK Energy Solutions, recently shaken by mergers, his path would be wide open.
As Youngsook eagerly waited for his answer, leaning forward, Taeyoon finally said:
“I’ll do it. Seems like a good opportunity.”
“Really?” Myungsook clapped her hands in excitement.
“That’s great! Your father will be so relieved. He’s on a business trip right now, but I’ll still let him know.”
Youngsook was thrilled by her son’s unexpected cooperation. But Taeyoon continued, his tone serious:
“But… I have one condition.”
“A condition? What kind of condition?” Youngsook paused mid-reach for her phone.
“I want you to assign someone to assist me.”
Youngsook burst into laughter.
“Of course! Do you think I’d send you without a proper assistant? Should I send Secretary Jung? Or maybe Song? You liked him when you were little.”
She listed several people, but Taeyoon shook his head.
“They’re all father’s people. I want someone of my own.”
Then he raised his hand and pointed at someone.
Youngsook followed his finger—and her eyes widened.
“I want Seorin.”
“Seorin…?”
“Give her to me, mother.”
Seorin, who had kept her head down the whole time, looked up in shock.
She was stunned to see Taeyoon pointing at her.
Myungsook, too, looked like her jaw might hit the floor.
Youngsook quickly regained her composure.
“Taeyoon, Seorin is here to help me. I get lonely, and she’s so polite and helpful…”
“She’s good at her job. That’s great. I need someone like that too.”
“No, Taeyoon, listen—” Myungsook tried to stop him, but he cut her off.
“That’s my only condition.”
Their eyes locked.
Youngsook rubbed her temples in frustration.
After a long pause, she waved her hand and stood up.
“We’ll talk about this later. I’m tired. I’ll rest now.”
She left for her room.
Now, only Seorin and Taeyoon were left in the living room.
After that intense kiss under the gingko tree, being alone with him again made Seorin feel incredibly uncomfortable.
Becoming his assistant… just the thought of it made her dizzy.
As she tried to quietly walk away, Taeyoon stood up and grabbed her wrist.
Startled, Seorin looked around and whispered, “What are you doing?”
Taeyoon smiled, completely calm.
“You did this yesterday, now again inside the house? Don’t you know this is wrong?”
“That’s just your opinion. Once you become my assistant, this sort of thing will happen all the time. So why worry?”
Seorin glared at him.
Nothing had been decided yet, and still, Taeyoon acted like she was already his.
“You said yesterday you didn’t want me near you,” she snapped.
“Can’t you just leave me alone?”
Seorin had no idea what he really wanted. But one thing was clear: the more he acted this way, the more exhausted she became.
Just standing here was already too much—she was crushing her pride just to hold herself together.
If you keep doing this… I really can’t endure it.
As he looked at her distorted expression, Taeyoon smirked.
“I don’t care. As long as I can keep you by my side.”
“You can never escape me, Eun Seorin.”
Her blue-gray eyes trembled like waves.
“Because I won’t let you go.”
And with that, Taeyoon left.
Seorin stood there, dazed and broken.
It felt like endless despair had swallowed her whole.
Later, at the department store…
“How about this one, Seorin?” Myungsook held up a coral-colored dress.
“It looks great on you,” Seorin answered with a mechanical smile.
“Really? Then I’ll buy it.”
Seorin, her arms already full of clothes, took it without complaint.
They had been shopping for hours, and Myungsook still didn’t seem done. She had moved on to browsing new racks.
A department store staffer stood nearby awkwardly, unsure what to do, stealing glances at both women.
Even though a personal shopper was available for Youngsook (a VVIP customer), she insisted on using only Seorin.
Seorin’s feet were aching in her uncomfortable shoes.
Then Youngsook’s voice came, sharp and sarcastic:
“Taeyoon keeps pestering me to give you to him. Why does he insist on using someone I brought here for myself?”
Youngsook looked at Seorin like she was a tool—one that should obey without question.
In truth, Seorin was brought here for Youngsook to control Taeyoon more easily.
Taeyoon had always been firm about his opinions—once he said no, he never changed his mind.
The only exception… was anything related to Seorin.
If she said something, he often listened.
Thanks to Myungsook’s powerful family wealth, TK Group had rapidly grown into one of Korea’s top conglomerates.
But the foundation was still thin and unstable.
If the company’s only successor—Taeyoon—was labeled as unstable or unreliable, it could shake their control.
The one who turned Taekyung Hotel’s second son into the TK Group’s chairman was Youngsook herself.
Without her bold mergers and acquisitions, TK wouldn’t be what it is today.
There was no way she would let the company she built fall into someone else’s hands.
If securing TK’s future meant dirtying her hands, then so be it.
She would do whatever it took.
