The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 3

The Making of a Billionaire Villain – A Man of Many Talents 02 –

***

Jeong Hyun-woo’s residence was a two-story house, the kind you often see in American movies.

The first floor housed his secretary, Choi Kyung-min’s, room and the living room, while the second floor contained Jeong Hyun-woo’s room and study.

Choi Kyung-min’s room was strategically placed on the first floor to monitor Jeong Hyun-woo’s movements.

“I think I should take a break from school starting next year.”

Choi Kyung-min paused, surprised by Jeong Hyun-woo’s sudden declaration.

“You’re saying you want to take a leave of absence?”

“I’ve already been out for more than half a year anyway, right? Would I even be able to adjust if I went back now?”

He meant that since the drug addiction treatment was lengthy, he needed time to prepare for returning to school.

‘That makes a lot of sense.’

Choi Kyung-min slightly lowered his head.

“I will discuss it with Chief Hong.”

Jeong Hyun-woo raised his eyebrows.

“Do you think this is something to discuss?”

At the sharp tone, Choi Kyung-min deeply bowed his head.

“I apologize.”

“If I want to rest, I will rest.”

Jeong Hyun-woo had a definite reason for needing to take a break from school.

‘Because Plan A has become impossible.’

Plan A was to cultivate the image of a model student, not a troublemaker, and gain recognition from the Jeong family, and further, from his grandfather, Chairman Jeong.

But in the current situation, Plan A was impossible.

So, he chose Plan B.

Gradually climbing the ladder with his own strength in America.

Even knowing the future to some extent, it wouldn’t be easy.

“Then I will convey that.”

Choi Kyung-min thought that the reason Jeong Hyun-woo was acting out was because his parents weren’t around.

‘He’s going through puberty, and without parents to guide him, he’s doing whatever he wants.’

Neither his grandfather, Chairman Jeong, nor his uncles or aunts showed any interest in him.

In short, Jeong Hyun-woo was isolated.

Two days later.

Choi Kyung-min informed Jeong Hyun-woo that the leave of absence had been processed.

“So, I can return next year?”

“If you want to return for the new semester, you can start in August.”

In the U.S., the new semester for middle and high schools often starts in August. According to him, an August return would mean taking almost a year off.

Choi Kyung-min thought it was excessive, but Jeong Hyun-woo nodded.

“A year should be enough.”

“There’s one condition attached.”

“A condition?”

“They said to get a private tutor.”

Even though he’s not attending school, he still needs to study.

In fact, it was a natural measure for a *chaebol* [a large South Korean business conglomerate] family.

“So?”

As Jeong Hyun-woo raised his voice, Choi Kyung-min lowered his head.

“Young Master, you must take lessons.”

“I’m not saying I won’t take lessons. Who will be teaching me?”

He refused to be taught by his secretary, Choi Kyung-min.

‘Because I can’t know his true identity yet.’

Frankly speaking, he couldn’t learn from someone under the command of someone on the opposite side.

“They said you can find your own tutor.”

“That’s good.”

Choi Kyung-min sighed inwardly at the words that it was good.

‘Phew, at least he’s not insisting on not taking lessons.’

His biggest worry was that Jeong Hyun-woo would refuse to take lessons.

“I’ll start looking tomorrow.”

Jeong Hyun-woo raised his right index finger.

“I have a condition too.”

Choi Kyung-min hadn’t expected him to set conditions.

“Yes?”

“They must be American.”

Even if an American had a relationship with the Jeong family, they couldn’t be as close as a Korean.

‘Right now, the people I need to be most wary of are the Jeong family members.’

He had learned through various channels that the Jeong family members didn’t think highly of him.

“I understand. I’ll try to find an American college student or professor.”

“There’s one more condition.”

“What is it?”

“They must be a woman.”

This time, Choi Kyung-min readily nodded.

“I understand. I will find a female tutor.”

Jeong Hyun-woo chose a woman as his tutor not because he was particularly interested in women.

In fact, he didn’t specify that she had to be young or beautiful.

He simply said that she had to be a woman.

‘This will be better for future persuasion.’

Jeong Hyun-woo calmly tried to put Plan B into action.

***

“Chief Hong, this is Choi Kyung-min.”

The person Choi Kyung-min was talking to was Hong Won-ik, the chief of staff of the Daewoon Group.

Chief Hong Won-ik was an exceptional figure who had risen to power as the head of the secretariat in his forties.

Compared to Choi Kyung-min, the difference was like the full moon and a firefly [a vast difference in status and importance].

“How’s Hyun-woo?”

He didn’t treat Jeong Hyun-woo with respect. He hadn’t treated Jeong Hyun-woo’s father with respect either, so there was no reason to respect his son.

“He’s been in his room ever since he was discharged from the hospital.”

“He hasn’t gone outside, has he?”

“Except for when he comes out for meals, that’s right.”

“Good.”

Chief Hong Won-ik was satisfied with Choi Kyung-min’s work.

‘If a troublemaker goes out, that’s a disaster.’

What he was worried about was Jeong Hyun-woo continuing to cause problems.

“He’s agreed to the tutor as well.”

“Really?”

“But there was a condition.”

“A condition?”

“He asked for an American, not a Korean.”

Chief Hong Won-ik was slightly surprised by his answer.

“Is that so?”

“Is there a problem?”

“I was wondering if that would be possible since Hyun-woo isn’t very good at English.”

“Was that so?”

Choi Kyung-min had been in the United States for two months, but he didn’t know much about Jeong Hyun-woo.

‘If his English is lacking, shouldn’t he not have been sent to an American school in the first place?’

He couldn’t help but narrow his brows.

“Were there any other conditions?”

“He wanted a woman rather than a man······.”

Chief Hong Won-ik gave a bitter smile.

“I see. I see.”

“Chief, what do you mean by that?”

“The kid’s been scheming.”

“Yes?”

Chief Hong Won-ik hardened his voice.

“Agent Choi, Hyun-woo seems to be trying to get the tutor to run errands for him, so keep a close watch. And warn the tutor firmly.”

Choi Kyung-min was startled by his words.

“Chief, I apologize. I didn’t think that far ahead. But I don’t think you need to worry about that.”

“Hmm?”

“I’ve found the right person.”

Chief Hong Won-ik tilted his head.

“The right person?”

“She’s currently in her first lesson with the young master.”

“What kind of explanation is that?”

“That is······.”

At the same time.

Jeong Hyun-woo was facing his new tutor.

“I’m Sarah Hilton.”

A female college student with long blonde hair gently waved her hand at him.

However, he focused more on her name than her hair color or innocent attire.

‘Sarah Hilton?’

The moment he thought, ‘Could she be a Hilton from the Hilton Group, famous for the Hilton Hotels?’ Sarah Hilton lowered her hand and said,

“Yes, that Hilton.”

A word that showed that many people she met were fixated on her last name, Hilton.

‘If she’s really an heiress of the Hilton Group, I’m meeting someone amazing.’

If Sarah Hilton was an heiress of the Hilton Group, there was no need to worry about her relationship with the Daewoon Group.

‘It’s 1981 now, and the Hilton Group is probably dozens of times bigger than the Daewoon Group. Anyway, how did Secretary Choi find such an amazing person?’

Frankly speaking, it was unbelievable that that goody-two-shoes had such impressive recruiting skills.

However, Jeong Hyun-woo shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t know anything. It wouldn’t be fun if he was surprised by the name Hilton, as she expected.

“I don’t know Hilton very well. But I know the name Sarah. Doesn’t it mean princess in Hebrew?”

Sarah Hilton’s eyes widened at his words.

“How did you know that······.”

Not many Americans knew the origin of the name Sarah.

Moreover, Jeong Hyun-woo was of Asian descent and a foreign student, not an American.

“I read it in a book.”

“I see.”

“Books teach you a lot. And what surprised me a little was that the outfit goes well with the name.”

“The outfit?”

“It looks like a princess’s dress.”

Sarah Hilton was wearing a white dress with excessive frills, which could be seen as either innocent or old-fashioned depending on the person.

She gave an awkward smile at Jeong Hyun-woo’s answer.

“It’s a little different from what Tom told me?”

Tom was Choi Kyung-min’s American name.

Charlie and Tom.

You couldn’t say that either of them had good naming sense.

“Different from what he told you?”

“Charlie doesn’t speak English very well, so Tom asked me to pay attention to you.”

Before.

Before he entered the drug addiction treatment center, Jeong Hyun-woo would have definitely acted that way.

But the six months he spent there had completely changed him.

“Tom is naturally full of worries. Didn’t he seem that way at first glance?”

Sarah Hilton nodded.

“He seems like a serious person.”

“Shall we start the lesson?”

Sarah Hilton looked at him with a strange expression.

‘There’s something about this kid.’

Was it maturity beyond his age?

She instinctively realized that there was something about Jeong Hyun-woo. But she couldn’t quite figure out what it was yet.

“Teacher?”

As Jeong Hyun-woo asked again, Sarah gave an awkward smile and sat down.

“Okay, shall we start?”

The lesson began for the two people with different agendas.

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