I Became the Youngest Daughter of a Chaebol Family-Chapter 55: Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer (2)

Just like Karl Marx mooching off a rich friend while obsessing over the end of capitalism, Yoo Jin-ha # Nоvеlight # too, with a complete ignorance of engineering and science, tried to lead the advanced semiconductor industry.

This was how liberal arts majors usually ruined the world.

And at least Karl Marx was a great thinker and had good friends. Yoo Jin-ha had no genius engineer friends (though he did have a genius engineer nephew), and he wasn’t exactly cut out to be some legendary executive either.

Which meant he was even more fucked.

Case in point: around the time I was knee-deep in internet culture in my past life... Yoo Jin-ha was getting hammered for running Daehwa Group into the ground like an empty counter. Daehwa stock was hitting new record lows day after day.

There was this joke going around that Chairman Yoo Seong-pil’s only real mistake was not forcing his second son into engineering school. I remember that because it came from a guy who lost 300 million won in stocks—so maybe it wasn’t really a joke.

Well... I don’t know what happened after that. Unfortunately, Yoo Jin-ha outlived me.

But when something is lost, something else is gained.

Yoo Jin-ha, once a sensitive literary boy, went through a three-stage baptism—dictatorship, chaebol family values, and overseas study—and evolved into a cold-blooded opportunist psycho.

“Oh, Ha-yeon. How’s business going these days? I heard you're not just doing the securities firm, but also branching into department stores.”

Yep, Yoo Jin-ha was the kind of shameless bastard who could casually talk business with a grade-schooler. He even threw in some actual competitive jabs from time to time—that’s the level of Yoo Jin-ha’s shamelessness.

Why the hell is he like this to me?

“Ehehe, I’m still just an elementary schooler, y’know?”

– Slip.

I tried to breeze past it naturally, but because of the way Yoo Jin-ha had positioned himself, I got blocked due to the size difference.

Damn it, if it weren’t for this damn hanbok skirt...

“No, if you were just an elementary schooler, I wouldn’t even bring it up. Our little Ha-yeon is the prodigy of the Daehwa family, isn’t she? Haha.”

Yoo Jin-seok, being an average joe, probably still thought I was just a kid... but Yoo Jin-ha seemed to suspect that I was hiding some secret scheme just like he was.

Tch.

Even if I am plotting something, this is bad. No way it leaked already, right?

The biggest problem is that I don’t know how much Yoo Jin-ha knows—or doesn’t know. And Yoo Jin-ha himself was deliberately leveraging this ambiguity.

“The department store’s just a hobby. Same with the game... business, I guess. These days I’ve been focusing on Daehwa Securities, but it’s not easy.”

The first two are hobbies, to be honest.

But would Yoo Jin-ha see them that way?

‘People who are cunning tend to think more deeply.’

It’s a good thing his attention is mostly on Yoo Jin-seok and Chairman Yoo Seong-pil. If he’d focused solely on me, I would’ve been exposed long ago.

Same goes for Yoo Jin-seok and Yoo Seong-pil too. I’m not playing this shadow game for nothing.

The most important thing here isn’t hiding what I’m doing—but making sure Yoo Jin-ha’s attention doesn’t fall on me.

I acted like a child who was moderately ordinary, yet moderately exceptional.

“You know how Japan’s bubble just popped? I think it’s a pretty good opportunity. I already pulled all the real estate I had there... Looks like it’s heading into a long-term slump, which means lots of chances to make money.”

I stared at Yoo Jin-ha with innocent eyes. He smiled gently and replied,

“Oh, I see. If Japan enters a prolonged recession... your grandfather would love that.”

“Oh! Because of semiconductors, right? If Japanese companies lose competitiveness, Daehwa Electronics will surge ahead.”

“Exactly. Haha, must be nice to own shares in Daehwa Electronics. They’re going to skyrocket.”

“Hehe, I just got lucky.”

I tried my best to look smug and harmless, but Yoo Jin-ha remained unmoved.

Or rather, it would be more accurate to say he maintained a foggy demeanor.

The way he slowly built his plans while never saying or doing anything that could be held against him—it was no joke. If I hadn’t known the Yoo Jin-ha from my past life, I wouldn’t have been able to find a single crack in his words or actions.

“...Let’s walk a bit. The Chairman’s waiting.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

– Tap tap.

Yoo Jin-ha and I slowly walked toward the mansion while exchanging conversations that could be interpreted in multiple ways.

“Have you been making any friends lately? Haha, it must not be that fun for you at school—probably hard to find anyone on your level, right?”

‘Does he know about Myrian? If I lie here, it’ll raise his suspicion... How much should I tell him?’

I gave him an answer mixed with just the right amount of truth and lies.

“Hmm... that’s kind of true. But I did find one decent friend. Not quite at my level yet... but still smart enough to be fun.”

“Huh, that’s surprising. Didn’t think anyone would meet your standards.”

“Aww, stop flattering me like that, Uncle. It’s embarrassing.”

– Tap tap.

“Come to think of it, that secretary who’s always glued to your side—she’s not around today?”

“Oh, Si-hyun’s at the secretary’s office right now. Said she was going to see the Chief Secretary—it’s been a while.”

“Hmm. Hak-cheol brought her in, right? The secretary’s office has been so busy lately, I wonder if she’ll even get to see him.”

“Really? I guess things are pretty hectic on the political front these days... Maybe he’s working on slush funds or something.”

– Tap tap.

“Ahaha, that’s a secret. Still, things will settle down soon. My father will be returning soon, after all.”

In front of the mansion, Yoo Jin-ha paused for a moment and looked at me with a smile.

“Don’t you need more secretaries? Seems like you’re pretty busy lately.”

The sunlight created a backlight behind him. I looked at his face, now hidden in shadow, and slowly shook my head.

“I’m still fine for now. Si-hyun can handle most things on her own..., and I’ve also pulled a few people from Daehwa Securities. I’d feel bad poaching more from Grandpa’s already-overloaded secretary office.”

Sifting out the spies was already a huge task.

I smiled slightly and said to Yoo Jin-ha,

“Mm..., though it is kind of inconvenient on days like today. If you know someone good, please recommend them later. My current secretary is getting older, so I have to start considering her stamina.”

“Right. When people in high positions work their subordinates too hard, it’s easy to breed resentment. Good to know you’re aware of that.”

Not wrong.

Originally, executive secretaries were supposed to work in three shifts, or be rotated out every 1–2 years. If you didn’t, they’d burn out fast.

At first, I only had Si-hyun. Later, I added another secretary and switched to a two-person rotation. It would’ve been impossible if Si-hyun weren’t so tough.

Still smiling kindly, Yoo Jin-ha offered me a bomb.

“I know someone. That Han Sang-hyun I mentioned before, remember? He used to work for the Chairman’s secretary office—should be reliable. He’s a friend’s son, so you can trust him.”

No, if you trust him, that means I can’t trust him, damn it?

I sighed inwardly.

I couldn’t exactly reject it outright.

Guess there’s no helping it. I was going to wait a bit longer, but... it’s time to launch that project.

***

Chairman Yoo Seong-pil, post-surgery, looked noticeably gaunt.

“Huff... you’re here, Ha-yeon.”

His doctor had insisted that too many visitors would be exhausting and bad for the patient’s recovery, so only one-on-one meetings were allowed.

Naturally, I was last in line by generational rank.

I approached Grandpa, who looked drained from meeting so many people.

“Yes, I’m here now. Grandpa.”

His wrinkled hand showed just how aged he’d become. It made my chest ache a little.

‘...Can’t believe I still have feelings like this.’

“My lungs, cough. Huff... It’s hard to breathe.”

Grandpa grimaced, then stared at me quietly before speaking bluntly.

“Feels good, huh? Making all that money.”

Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.

I tilted my head.

“...Huh?”

“Your fund. In the U.S. You made a killing, I heard.”

I glanced around. Of course, there were bodyguards nearby.

“...”

Hmm.

Who could’ve told him?

There were... quite a few candidates.