I Became the Youngest Daughter of a Chaebol Family-Chapter 81: A Pleasant Life (1)

The film club mostly just watched movies.

‘I get why it’s so popular.’

Clubs that didn’t require you to think much and just had fun were always the best. The president seemed to be trying to make it a little more productive, but...

Well, that was a losing battle.

“Wow... It’s the first time I’ve seen you in person this close.”

A petite upperclassman chattered brightly, her eyes sparkling.

“‘In person’? That’s a funny way to put it, Seo-hye sunbae. But it kind of feels nice being treated like a celebrity.”

I gave a slight smile, and she tilted her head and asked,

“Oh—ah, that’s true. But didn’t you have a ton of pictures taken? I saw your face all over the school.”

...Did she?

Ah, now that I think about it, probably. I was student rep, and I modeled for the school uniform samples. Anyone who got their uniform tailored probably saw my face first.

Lee Seo-hye clapped her hands sharply to shift the mood.

“Anyway! Welcome to the film club! So, what are you going to be? An actor? Or the director?”

She clearly hadn’t considered the role of passive film watcher. Then again, I didn’t join this club just to watch movies either.

I swept a glance around the room. The movie that had been playing earlier had already stopped. Everyone’s attention had turned to me, the school’s most famous student.

‘Yep, that’s more like it.’

“Obviously, I’ll be the director.”

“...Uh, okay. I’ll write that down.”

Looking slightly disheartened, the upperclassman lowered her head and scribbled my name in the roster.

“Who was directing before? Was it you, sunbae?”

“Huh? Ah, no. It was Seon-woo.”

The director’s a solo role. Traditionally, it was held by the club president, the one with the most authority.

But me? I’m the supreme power of Daehwa Middle School. A club? I could create or dissolve it on a whim. Compared to that, a small club title was less than a speck of dust.

And logically, it made sense for me to direct anyway. No one here knew more about film than I did.

Even Jeong Seon-woo, the club president, smiled pleasantly and nodded.

“I’d be happy if you took on the director role, Lady Ha-yeon.”

“Well... if you’re saying that, Seon-woo...”

Seo-hye sunbae murmured like a deflated puppy. She seemed a bit hurt, like her role had been taken.

“I’m not only going to direct though. That’d be kind of... disappointing, wouldn’t it? If I’m going to be here, I ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ should be on camera too. Haven’t you ever thought about it, Seon-woo sunbae? Like, ‘Man, if my good-looking face doesn’t show up on screen, this film is suffering a major loss’—you know?”

“I—I’ve never thought about that.”

Yeah, right. Liar. I think that all the time.

“...Is that so.”

But Seo-hye seemed convinced, nodding as if hypnotized. She really was too easy, that sunbae.

After the rough outline of the club activities was done, I sat back down and resumed the movie, which had been paused earlier.

It was a fairly popular Korean film—and seeing Mom in it left me feeling a little off.

***

Hong Ha-ryeon.

That was my mother’s name.

She said she was named after Ji Ha-ryeon, a female novelist from the Japanese occupation era. I guess Yoo Jin-cheol didn’t put nearly as much effort into naming his daughter.

My name—anyone could see it was a copy of hers.

And... after all that, he barely ever called me by name. He said calling me that reminded him of his wife.

But that wasn’t Yoo Jin-cheol’s fault.

As he always said, it was mine.

And that wasn’t gaslighting—it was just true. Before I reincarnated, Yoo Jin-cheol, Hong Ha-ryeon, the nanny, and even the nanny’s child were all doing fine.

Yoo Jin-cheol, who had been running his business normally, suddenly died in a car crash. His original wife—my nanny—had her life’s trajectory completely stolen and ended up becoming my “nanny.” Her child, who should’ve grown up being called ‘young master,’ died before even reaching elementary school.

And my mother? She was at the peak of her career when she got pregnant with me thanks to some divine prank. Probably just to boost my appearance stats a little.

I was, by nature, someone who lived by stealing the lives of others.

So yes, it was my fault.

That’s why... more than anyone...

.

.

.

“...”

Now I feel like shit.

Ugh, what’s the point in thinking about the dead? Let’s just have fun. Have fun.

It’s not like anyone’s forcing me to work, right? Honestly, Freud’s whole theory that everything sharp in dreams represents a penis was kind of a stretch.

I’m me, and my desires are mine.

Hoo.

I let out a long sigh and brushed back my damp hair. I had just washed my face in the restroom.

“Ji-yeon... come here and hold me.”

“Huh? Ah, okay, Lady Ha-yeon.”

Seo Ji-yeon scurried over and offered me her lap as a pillow. Her gentle patting and pleasant perfume helped calm me down a little.

‘...She’s small.’

Well, I’m the tall one here.

“What clubs did you join again, Ji-yeon?”

“Um... Game club and board game club.”

“It’s not just a game club, it’s a software development club.”

“But honestly, all you do is play games there, Lady Ha-yeon.”

“...”

Low blow. Using facts like that.

Ahem.

I cleared my throat and carefully asked,

“Have you thought about joining another club? Like swimming, maybe...?”

Seo Ji-yeon flailed her hands in panic.

“N-No way! I’d get kicked out of my house!”

What kind of rumors are going around about me? And what kind of parent is Mr. Seo that he’d throw her out for wearing a swimsuit?

Sure, the official school swimsuits were a bit revealing, but nowhere near as much as the ones I wear.

“Don’t worry. I’ll talk to your father myself.”

“N-No thank you. Please, Lady Ha-yeon... Just leave my parents alone...”

...What the hell.

Sure, her parents work at my company, but I didn’t do anything that bad. And being an executive isn’t even that hard, right?

“...Is it a money issue?”

“No! Definitely not!”

It’s just that her parents happen to be my employees...

Hmm. Getting close with someone is harder than I thought.

***

Thinking about Ji-yeon made me realize how limited I was.

It took me a while to understand that it’s hard to be friends with someone who holds your parents’ fate in their hands.

“Well, yeah. Normal friends don’t use honorifics.”

“...You’re just realizing that now?”

Seo Ji-yeon grumbled, carrying my share of the shopping bags.

We’d stopped by the department store I owned after school so I could buy her a few gifts.

Hmph.

“Ji-yeon.”

“Yes?”

“Wouldn’t it actually be better for you if I treated you like a friend?”

“....”

Seo Ji-yeon’s expression went stiff. Her gentle eyes blinked with a clunk, and her thin arms and legs began trembling like a leaf.

Oops. Maybe that was too much.

“Ahaha, I’m just joking. You are my friend, Ji-yeon.”

Yep yep.

We’re totally friends.

I even give her money to buy snacks at the school store. If we weren’t friends, I wouldn’t do that.

“...Um, Lady Ha-yeon.”

“Yeah? What?”

“T-Then can I get a boyfriend too?”

...?

What kind of question is that?

“Of course you can. You think I’d care about that? I mean, if you start ditching me for him, that’d be a bit of a problem though.”

If my subordinates don’t get married and have kids, I’m the one who suffers. I need at least their kids around to have decent conversations with by the 21st century.

Frankly, Seo Ji-yeon’s old-fashioned by my standards too.

Sure, breaking up couples for fun is great entertainment, but that’s just a joke, right?

And I believe that real love doesn’t get shaken by silly things like that. Like those film club kids I saw earlier.

“But why do you ask?”

“Um... I just don’t know what kind of guy you like, Lady Ha-yeon. What if I fall for someone you like...? That’d be kind of bad, right? It might even shake my eternal loyalty.”

“Ah, so you’re curious about my type?”

Seo Ji-yeon squirmed and fidgeted with her hands and feet. Under the bright lights of the department store, I realized again that she was actually quite pretty.

“I-I didn’t say it like that...”

Even as she said that, her eyes sparkled.

Kids these days sure are curious about stuff like that.

I rested my chin in thought for a moment, then replied. It was a question I already had an answer to.

“Well, let’s see... Someone good-looking, great body, tall, smart, nice personality... Ah, and most importantly, filthy rich and incredibly powerful.”

“...Where in the world would you find someone like that?”

She tilted her head. As if such a person didn’t exist.

“They’re right here.”

I pointed at myself.

Then spun around and looked into the mirror, locking eyes with my reflection. Yep. I’m the perfect match for my own type.

“....”

Seo Ji-yeon hesitated, then mumbled with her lips twitching.

“What? You have something to say?”

She shut her eyes tight and forced the words out.

“Y-You’re not exactly the ‘nice personality’ type, even as a joke, Lady Ha-yeon. T-To be honest...”

“....”

Shock.