Secretly Married to a Chaebol Alpha Chapter 231: TRACES

"SUA NOONA wants to offer a job?" Garam asked, surprised, while doing his nightly skin care routine in front of the dresser. "And she wants to manage an idol group?"

"Yeah, that’s what she told ," Song Sihyuk said while sitting on the bed, his work laptop on his lap as the Alpha was still busy answering to business emails even at that hour. "Rember your old entertainnt agency?"

"Of course, Hyung," Garam said, pausing for a mont. "Oh, right. I rember you passed the ownership of the agency to Sua Noona. But I thought the agency wasn’t doing well after Lee Junsu’s scandal a few years ago."

"The agency managed to get by when they started handling actors instead of idols. But, for so reason, Song Sua suddenly wanted to debut a new idol group. It probably has sothing to do with her husband."

"Ah, right. Sua Noona married an A-list actor, who used to be a mber of one of the first-generation idol groups."

"Yeah, so I believe her husband wants to run the entertainnt agency."

"I see."

Song Sihyuk raised his head and looked at Garam. "So, are you interested in managing an idol group?"

"Can I turn it down, Hyung?"

"Of course. You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. In fact, you don’t have to turn Song Sua down yourself. I’ll do it for you."

"Thank you, Hyung."

Song Sua could be very persuasive when she wanted to, so Garam was afraid that he might get carried away and find himself agreeing even if he wasn’t interested in the offer.

That’s why it’s better if Hyung talks to her for , even if it’s cowardly of .

"You’re welco," Song Sihyuk said, tilting his head to one side. "But I was so sure you’d accept the offer, honey."

"Oh, really? I’m curious about why you thought I would accept the offer. Is it because I’m a forr idol?"

The Alpha nodded. "And you still care about the idol industry. You treat your idol hoobaes well, especially those who have you and your forr group as their role model."

Ah, that was true.

Since Garam started his career as a soloist, there were instances where he would et his hoobaes in music shows and radio programs.

But that rarely happened.

Yes, he would regularly produce music.

But his promotions for his new songs were usually limited.

And it was his choice to appear less on TV.

I want people to focus on the music that I put out, and not on the fact that I’m married to a chaebol.

During the few tis Garam held a press conference to promote his music, he had bad experiences where malicious reporters would ask him about SG Group’s controversies instead of asking him about his music.

Of course, those reporters imdiately lost their job because of a certain Alpha.

But I don’t want to experience sothing like that again.

"Honey?"

"Oh, sorry. I spaced out a little," Garam said, blinking. "Anyways, the idol industry has always been toxic. But I noticed that it has been a lot more toxic now, especially judging by how entitled idol fans have beco recently. So, I don’t think I can handle fighting a system on my own."

Garam wasn’t young anymore.

I don’t think I have the energy to fight a whole system for an industry that I no longer belong to.

Moreover...

"And, this is selfish of , but I want to spend more ti with our children— especially now that we’re officially adopting Seulgi."

"That’s a very valid reason, honey," Song Sihyuk said, nodding. "But, if you ever change your mind, just let know. I’ll support you with everything I have. If you want to dismantle the toxic idol industry that you hate, then feel free to use ."

Pfft.

"You’ve changed, Hyung," Garam said, smiling and shaking his head. "You used to hate the idea of working. Heck, you would even throw a tantrum every ti I ntioned that I wanted to restart my career as a soloist."

"Ah, right? I was an insufferable asshole back then."

You still are, Hyung.

"But I guess you can say that I’ve matured a bit. When I saw how happy you were during the ti your first solo song— after years of hiatus— reached #1 on the charts, I forgot why I was so against letting you restart your career as a singer."

Aww.

Okay, fine.

It wasn’t ground-breaking.

In fact, Song Sihyuk should have been supportive of his career from the start.

But this is Hyung we’re talking about here— and this is already a big improvent.

"Thank you, Hyung," Garam said, smiling. "I’ll let you know if there’s sothing else that I want to do later."

"Alright," Song Sihyuk said, nodding. And then he suddenly paused. "Honey?"

"Hmm?"

"Actually, Song Sua proposed another project. But it’s a campaign that will include our children."

"What kind of project is that?"

"It’s for our departnt store."

"Oh. Aera World Mall?"

The SG Group owned Aera World Mall— one of the top 3 most luxurious departnt stores in the country. The other top 2 luxury shopping malls belonged to Ilsung and Daesung Group.

Moreover, Aera World Mall is being run by Sua Noona now.

Song Sihyuk was the chairman of SG Group, but he couldn’t run every single company affiliated with the group.

Hence, the Alpha’s relatives were running the smaller companies they owned.

Yeah, blatant nepotism.

That’s what being a chaebol ans.

"Ilsung Group’s departnt store beat us last quarter in sales."

"Aigooya."

"That’s why Song Sua is planning to launch a huge campaign to promote our departnt store. I think she wants to change Aera World Mall’s target market. Plus, I heard she’ll be working with the governnt for this specific campaign."

"Now I’m getting curious. What is this campaign and why is the governnt getting involved?"

"Should we et Song Sua, after all?" Song Sihyuk asked. "It’s her project, so I believe she can explain it better than I do."

Garam raised an eyebrow, finding Song Sihyuk’s action suspicious.

He told he’d turn down Sua Noona’s offer on my behalf, but now he wants to et Sua Noona for this campaign that involves our children?

That could only an one thing.

"Hyung, I know you," Garam said smugly. "You want to accept this project, don’t you?"

"I thought this campaign is the best stage to officially introduce our children to the world. But, of course, it’s still up to you, honey," Song Sihyuk said, nodding. "I’d like it if you listen to the project proposal first before you decide whether to accept it or not."

***

"I’M SORRY for asking you to co here, Garam-ah."

"It’s alright, Noona," Garam said, smiling while nodding. "It’s been a while since I’ve been to the departnt store anyway."

I was supposed to go here for Seulgi’s hair salon appointnt, but I got sick.

Hence, Song Sihyuk accompanied their daughter in his place.

Anyway, right now, Garam was in the Aera World Mall.

To be precise, he was taking a stroll with Song Sua in the specialized floor of the departnt store that was dedicated to kids’ sections. The large toy stores, indoor playgrounds, kids’ café, and extensive clothing section for children were all there.

"Thank you for accepting my invitation," Song Sua said, even clinging to Garam’s arm while walking. "I wanted to show you the children’s floor of our departnt store. It’s pretty empty, isn’t it?"

"Yes, Noona," Garam answered while nodding. "Did you reserve the entire floor so we won’t be disturbed?"

Only Garam and Song Sua were walking in the hallway.

Of course, there were bodyguards around them.

But there wasn’t much foot traffic on the floor.

Most of the custors were in the café, but only a handful of children were there.

"No, I did not close this floor— this is really the extent of the children’s section’s foot traffic, even though it’s a weekend," Song Sua said, laughing softly while shaking her head. "To be fair, our target market is the elite. And the elite don’t go to the departnt store if they want to go shopping."

Right.

The departnt store goes to the elite’s mansions.

"That’s why I’m planning to change our target market," Song Sua said, pausing for a mont. "No. Actually, it will be more appropriate to say that I’m planning to add a specific group to the target market— and I’m aiming for the middle-class married couples, whether they have a child or not."

"Middle-class?"

Not even the upper middle-class, but just the middle-class?

"If our grandfather were still alive today, I’m sure he wouldn’t let do this project. He’d say targeting the middle-class was akin to cheapening the brand value of our luxury departnt store," Song Sua said, smirking. "But Sihyuk doesn’t have that kind of mindset. Not anymore, at least."

"Well, he married — a commoner. I beat the elitism out of Sihyuk Hyung."

Song Sua laughed softly. "Anyways, as I was saying, I’m planning to target young married couples who have children to shop in our mall. And I’m also aiming to convince married couples who don’t have any intention to have a child to change their mind."

"Oh?"

"Garam-ah, as you already know, our country is suffering from a low birth rate."

"Oh," Garam said, nodding. "I think I know now why the governnt is involved in your campaign, Noona."

"As expected, you’re quick-witted," Song Sua said while nodding. "Yes, I’m launching a campaign not only to promote the children’s section of our departnt store, but also to start the governnt propaganda to convince young couples to have children."

"In this economy? I’m sorry, Noona. I don’t think even my children’s cuteness could convince our people to have children. It’s easy for us since we’re rich. But the majority of the population is barely getting by."

"Hey, there’s no harm in trying. Plus, my major goal is to increase the sales of my departnt store and beat Ilsung Group next quarter. The campaign to help the governnt with its propaganda is just a bonus. I just want to gain the President’s favor."

"Why do you need the President’s favor, Noona?"

"You never know."

Aigooya.

"Can I see the exact plan for this project, Noona?" Garam asked, changing the topic. He didn’t want to know why Song Sua needed the President’s favor, after all. "I want to know if this project will be good for my babies or not."

"Sure," Song Sua said, nodding. "Let’s head to my office."

***

"YOU DID WELL, Seulgi-ya!"

"Thank you for praising Seulgi, Oppa!"

Song Sihyuk chuckled while watching Song Gunwoo have the ti of his life teaching Seulgi how to play golf.

Now his kids were celebrating the baby’s first hole-in-one.

Seulgi was only using a plastic club for safety purposes, but she still managed to hit the golf ball that smoothly entered the nearest cup (the physical hole in the ground).

No, they didn’t go anywhere to play golf.

The children were just playing in the mini-golf course in their mansion’s vast yard.

Song Sihyuk, on the other hand, was sitting in the sun lounger under the umbrella while drinking beer.

Lim Garam was in a business eting with Song Sua.

Hence, he was in charge of the kids today.

"Chairman Song, I apologize for disturbing your rest..."

Song Sihyuk raised his head. "What is it, Jung Han?"

"The result of our Intelligence Unit’s investigation is out, sir," Jung Han said politely while handing a brown envelope to Song Sihyuk. "This is about Young Lady Seulgi’s background."

Ah?

Song Sihyuk almost forgot that he had asked his people to run a thorough background check on Seulgi.

I followed Seong Kyungmin’s advice.

"Alright," Song Sihyuk said after accepting the brown envelope from Jung Han. He imdiately opened it and took out the docunts inside. "Let’s see..."

Huh?

Song Sihyuk was shocked after reading the important information that was on top of the docunt. "Seulgi is actually related to my wife?!"

***

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