Chapter 231: TRACES_Secretly Married to a Chaebol Alpha

<h4>Chapter 231: TRACES</h4>

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

 "Yeah, that’s what she told me," Song Sihyuk said while sitting on the bed, his workptop on hisp as the Alpha was still busy answering to business emails even at that hour. "Remember your old entertainment agency?"

 "Of course, Hyung," Garam said, pausing for a moment. "Oh, right. I remember 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 some reason, Song Sua suddenly wanted to debut a new idol group. It probably has something to do with her husband."

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

 "Yeah, so I believe her husband wants to run the entertainment 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 me, even if it’s cowardly of me.

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

 "Oh, really? I’m curious about why you thought I would ept the offer. Is it because I’m a former 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 former group as their role model."

 Ah, that was true.

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

 But that rarely happened.

 Yes, he would regrly 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 times 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 immediately lost their job because of a certain Alpha.

 But I don’t want to experience something 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 be 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 me, but I want to spend more time 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 me 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 me."

 Pfft.

 "You’ve changed, Hyung," Garam said, smiling and shaking his head. "You used to hate the idea of me working. Heck, you would even throw a tantrum every time I mentioned 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 time 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 improvement.

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

 "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 department store."

 "Oh. Aera World Mall?"

 The SG Group owned Aera World Mall— one of the top 3 most luxurious department 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 singlepany affiliated with the group.

 Hence, the Alpha’s rtives were running the smallerpanies they owned.

 Yeah, tant nepotism.

 That’s what being a chaebol means.

 "Ilsung Group’s department store beat usst quarter in sales."

 "Aigooya."

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

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

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

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

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

 That could only mean one thing.

 "Hyung, I know you," Garam said smugly. "You want me to ept 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 ept it or not."

 ***

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

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

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

 Hence, Song Sihyuk apanied their daughter in his ce.

 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 department store that was dedicated to kids’ sections. Therge toy stores, indoor ygrounds, kids’ café, and extensive clothing section for children were all there.

 "Thank you for epting my invitation," Song Sua said, even clinging to Garam’s arm while walking. "I wanted to show you the children’s floor of our department 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 customers 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,ughing softly while shaking her head. "To be fair, our target market is the elite. And the elite don’t go to the department store if they want to go shopping."

 Right.

 The department store goes to the elite’s mansions.

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

 "Middle-ss?"

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

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

 "Well, he married me— amoner. I beat the elitism out of Sihyuk Hyung."

 Song Suaughed softly. "Anyways, as I was saying, I’m nning 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 government is involved in your campaign, Noona."

 "As expected, you’re quick-witted," Song Sua said while nodding. "Yes, I’munching a campaign not only to promote the children’s section of our department store, but also to start the government 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 poption is barely getting by."

 "Hey, there’s no harm in trying. Plus, my major goal is to increase the sales of my department store and beat Ilsung Group next quarter. The campaign to help the government 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 n 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 time of his life teaching Seulgi how to y golf.

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

 Seulgi was only using a stic 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 y golf.

 The children were just ying 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 umbre while drinking beer.

 Lim Garam was in a business meeting 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 epting the brown envelope from Jung Han. He immediately opened it and took out the documents inside. "Let’s see..."

 Huh?

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

 ***

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Chapter 231: TRACES