Chapter 64
It was early in the morning, but Yeonho's body felt like it had been hit by a truck. In just forty-eight hours, the sheer amount of chaos he'd navigated was already catching up to him.
'Is it because this stupid birthday event is right around the corner?'
Regardless of how exhausted he felt, he couldn't afford to rest. Sitting alone at the kitchen island of his penthouse, he picked at a quiet breakfast while staring intently at his laptop screen.
The apartment was dead silent. Freya and Carl had left early to stock up on groceries since the fridge was completely empty. Yeonho rarely cooked, preferring to order delivery, but Freya had insisted on filling the kitchen with actual food and essentials to keep him alive.
Yeonho hadn't argued. Being left completely alone was exactly what he needed right now.
"Alright, let's move everything over," he muttered, plugging in his phone to transfer all the stolen digital files onto his encrypted drive.
He paused, his eyes flickering toward the staircase. "Wait. The photo."
He slid off the barstool, darted upstairs, and returned seconds later holding the physical photograph Gyeongjae had handed him during that chaotic morning.
He set it down beside his laptop, staring at the faded print. "Where the hell did he even get this?"
He needed to figure out if it was genuine. He couldn't afford to make a single miscalculation. The photo clearly captured a childhood memory—Hana pushing a young Yeonho down a flight of stairs on their birthday. A picture like that was poison. Evidence of that caliber should've been buried or destroyed years ago to protect the Choi family's pristine public image.
So how did Gyeongjae get his hands on it?
At first, Yeonho assumed Gyeongjae had simply run a deep background check. But the more he thought about it, the less sense it made.
If Gyeongjae had hired an investigator, why was this the only concrete piece of evidence he pulled?
There should've been an entire paper trail tracking Yeonho from childhood to adulthood. Unless… his father had buried every dirty secret so thoroughly that almost nothing survived. But if everything was erased, how did this specific photograph slip through the cracks?
"What am I even overthinking this for…?" Yeonho groaned, slamming his forehead lightly against his laptop keyboard.
"He said he ran an investigation, but this was the only thing he brought me. Just this one specific birthday."
The photograph was messing with his head, blurring his focus.
"Where do I even start? Hire my own private investigator? Do I even have enough dark money to bribe someone reliable…?"
He let out a sharp breath and sat upright, slapping his cheeks to snap out of it. "Forget it for now. Stay focused."
Flipping open his leather journal, he scanned his handwritten notes on the original storyline.
The upcoming birthday arc was a major milestone. In the original plot, Hana spent the days leading up to the event meticulously inspecting the venue, ensuring every tiny detail was flawless—to the point where she eventually collapsed from sheer stress and exhaustion.
In the novel, it was framed as a dramatic moment of self-sacrifice for her grand day. But now that Yeonho knew the real Hana, he knew there was way more to that fainting spell than just "overwork."
Back then, her secretary had begged to call an ambulance, but Hana had refused, forcing herself to push through the pain just to keep up her perfect image.
And it paid off for her. The birthday bash wasn't just a party; it was an elite gathering of high-ranking government officials, celebrities, old-money families, and corporate tycoons.
That night, Hana was officially announced as the new board director and sole heir to the Choi enterprise.
It was the ultimate turning point of her life. She got promoted to her dream position, Yeonho was officially cast out into the cold, and all the male leads hovered around her, eagerly waiting for her to choose one of them.
She didn't pick, of course—she played the innocent maiden, telling them she cared deeply for all of them and needed more time.
And like absolute fools, the male leads bought it, thrilled that her feelings for them were growing.
After that, her life flowed smoothly—at least until Seungjo's ex showed up, corporate drama hit, and Yeonho stepped into his full villain arc.
Yeonho let out a dry, bitter laugh.
The funny thing is, I've already kicked off my villain arc early, and I've completely dismantled her damn harem.'
Hana might be a manipulative bitch, but she was arrogant. Way too arrogant.
"Let's make this party a little more entertaining for her," Yeonho murmured.
He pulled up his phone and dialed the private doctor Gyeongjae had brought over that chaotic morning.
The line connected after two rings.
[ Mr. Choi? Are we moving forward with the plan? ]
"Not quite yet," Yeonho said, his tone cold and decisive. "I need you to prepare something else for me first. Make sure you get everything ready."
[ Does this involving… Ms. Hana? ]
"Bingo," Yeonho smirked. "Now listen closely. Here's what I need you to do, Dr. Jeungmin…"
By that afternoon, Yeonho met Hana at a high-end boutique to review her final custom dress and oversee the fitting.
Hana was all smiles, practically glowing with satisfaction as she admired the sleek, alluring design in the full-length mirror.
Yeonho smiled right back at her—thrilled because his plan to completely ruin her big night was falling seamlessly into place.
Once the fitting wrapped up, Yeonho took personal charge of the dress, agreeing to transport it directly to the venue on the day of the party.
The only puzzle piece left was getting Hana to personally invite him inside the venue. If he wanted to trash her grand debut, he needed full access, and getting an official invitation from the birthday girl herself was the cleanest way in.
Fortunately, Hana was far too trusting and entirely obsessed with her stupid dress. She invited him on the spot without a second thought.
'Getting into a major plot event is almost too easy,' Yeonho thought, keeping his expression humbly grateful.
The following day at 2:00 PM, a sleek luxury town car pulled up along the curb of the grand estate grounds.
Sitting in the backseat beside Hana, Yeonho adjusted his glasses, intentionally ducking his head and playing the nervous, overwhelmed subordinate. Laying the gratitude on thick was the best way to keep her ego inflated.
"Ms. Choi… are you sure I should be here?" Yeonho asked, sounding hesitant.
"I really don't think someone like me fits into a place like this."
Hana offered a patronizing, graceful smile. "It's perfectly fine, Yeonho. Just come with me. I want to show you how grand the venue is. Besides, you're my personal stylist—it's only right that you attend my birthday."
Yeonho bowed his head, forcing a polite grin. "I'm incredibly grateful to work as your designer, Ms. Choi."
"I'm glad to hear that," Hana said softly, her eyes already drifting out the window.
"Stupid bitch," Yeonho muttered under his breath.
Hana blinked, turning back to him.
"Hm? Did you say something?"
"I said I'm very thankful, Ms. Choi," Yeonho corrected smoothly, not missing a beat.
"Me too. Come on, let's head inside."
Stepping out of the air-conditioned car, they walked toward a massive, towering structure that looked more like an exclusive museum than an event hall.
The moment they crossed into the grand ballroom, Yeonho's sharp blue eyes systematically scanned every corner of the room.
Dozens of event staff were rushing around, arranging long banquet tables, while technicians on scaffolding adjusted massive crystal chandeliers overhead. On the main stage, florists were constructing a elaborate floral backdrop. Along the left wall stood a massive buffet setup complete with a multi-tiered champagne fountain, while workers rolled out a plush velvet carpet down the center aisle.
Everyone was moving in high gear, striving for absolute perfection.
As they walked down the center aisle, an older woman in a sharp tailored suit marched briskly toward them.
"Ms. Choi! You've arrived!" the woman beamed, bowing slightly. "You look absolutely radiant today."
"Thank you," Hana replied, putting on her picture-perfect smile. "How are the preparations coming along?"
"We're nearly finished. We're just finalizing the fabric options for the table covers."
"Can I see them?"
The head event organizer bowed and led them out of the main hall toward a private back room stacked with design materials, linens, and samples.
They reviewed the fabric swatches, but Hana seemed torn. Almost every design looked luxurious, but she couldn't decide which one balanced the room best. Wanting to show off how much she trusted her new staff, Hana turned to Yeonho for his input.
Yeonho gladly stepped up—and immediately pissed off the head organizer with his ruthless critique.
"Honestly? These patterns are pretty basic," Yeonho said flatly, running his fingers over a silk swatch. "They all carry the exact same repetitive motif."
It didn't stop at the linens. When it came down to selecting the silverware to match the theme, Hana asked for Yeonho's opinion again, driving the organizer's blood pressure through the roof.
The woman was supposed to be a top-tier professional, yet a random fashion stylist was casually taking over her authority.
What irritated her even more was the fact that this smug normal looking guy has the exact same name as Hana's disgraced twin brother.
"This is by far the best option, Ms. Choi," the organizer pressed, holding up a heavy, ornate silver setting.
"It's way too flashy," Yeonho cut in smoothly, shaking his head. "We need balance, Ms. Choi. Otherwise, the table looks cheap."
The organizer's professional smile twitched violently, her right eye sparking with hidden rage.
Hana looked between them, humming thoughtfully. "They both look nice, but… Yeonho makes a good point."
"With all due respect, Ms. Choi," the organizer snapped, her polite facade slipping, "my selections are far superior to a stylist's opinion. Does he even have formal event training? He works with clothes and makeup. I manage high-society galas."
Yeonho let out a soft, mocking chuckle, turning to face her directly. "And I'm making a completely valid point, Ms… well, I don't even know your name. Like you said, I'm a stylist—which means my eye for visual aesthetics and modern taste is significantly sharper than yours. That silverware is hideously tacky."
Yeonho picked up a heavy butter knife and fork, holding them up to the light.
"Look at this engraving. It looks like it belongs in a gothic vampire movie. You want guests eating off this while the rest of the venue looks sleek and modern? They're going to think Ms. Choi is trying way too hard to impress them. It's distracting. Plus, the rough texture on these handles will be uncomfortable to hold while eating."
The organizer opened her mouth to shoot back, but the words caught in her throat. Yeonho had disassembled her choice with absolute precision.
He wasn't an event planner in this life, but in his previous life, organizing high-end club parties and exclusive VIP lounges had been second nature to him.
"Ms. Choi, what do you think?" Yeonho asked gently, turning to Hana with an innocent look.
"You're right," Hana declared coldly.
"I refuse to give the impression that I'm trying too hard. My family name cannot be publicly embarrassed over tacky silverware."
Hana turned on her heel and walked out of the supply room. Yeonho fell into step beside her, shooting a quick, amused glance over his shoulder.
The organizer was glaring at his back with raw hatred, begrudgingly following behind them.
Yeonho intentionally slowed his pace, letting the woman catch up until she was walking right beside him.
"You annoying little bastard," she hissed under her breath, keeping her eyes glued forward. "People like you should just drop dead. Stealing my authority like that… You think you're better than everyone else, don't you?"
"I'm just doing my job to ensure Ms. Choi gets the best result," Yeonho replied, his tone dripping with fake sweetness.
"We should be working together for our client, shouldn't we?"
"Shut up. Just admit you're after her money, you gold-digging male whore," she spat quiet enough so Hana wouldn't hear. "You want to get on her good side,is that it? Ms. Choi doesn't like men like you. She already has powerful men chasing her."
'I'm GAY! You annoying bitch!'
"Fuck. Why am I even wasting my breath on a leech like you?"
"I wonder the same thing," Yeonho smirked softly. "But let's keep it professional, shall we? We don't need to fight."
"Don't tell me what to do, you prick."
The woman deliberately slammed her shoulder hard into Yeonho's arm as she pushed past him, instantly putting her professional smile back on as she caught up to Hana.
Yeonho shook his head, choking back a laugh.
'How the hell did she get hired as a head planner? Immature idiot.'
For the next two hours, the silent rivalry only worsened. Every single time Hana stepped away or got distracted, the organizer took petty jabs at Yeonho.
Yeonho played the sweet, patient, long-suffering professional the entire time, driving the woman deeper into a blind rage. It got to the point where Yeonho's composure was hanging by a thread.
By late afternoon, Yeonho found himself standing in the quiet back hallway outside the organizer's private administrative office.
Hana and the head planner were currently back in the main hall, reviewing the security roster, catering staff, and VIP guest lists.
Excusing himself under the pretext of taking an urgent phone call, Yeonho had slipped away without raising a single eyebrow.
The hallway was dead silent. There wasn't a security camera or staff member in sight.
Checking both directions one last time, Yeonho quietly turned the brass doorknob of the organizer's office and stepped inside, shutting the door softly behind him.
It was time to execute step one of his plan.
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