Chapter 5

                                    

                                          
The Chous were lively and active the next day, yet they were confronted with a serious issue that had emerged the previous evening amidst their celebrations.
Taio said, "It's straightforward: bribe the District officer of that region and cut off their food and water supplies. They'll vacate the land on their own."
Shuo stepped forward, avoiding his elder brother's gaze, "Hyung, we'll secure the land, but what about the farmers?"
Taio told Shuo, "Your problem is you want to keep wealth and principles." Advancing, he placed a hand on Shuo's shoulder, "Sadly, they don't coexist, and as I recall, when forced to choose between them, you too went for wealth." He shook his head mockingly. "Remember?" Draping an arm around Shuo, he continued, "The sole difference between us is your reluctance to dirty your hands. I deceive the world about my nature, but you—you deceive yourself."
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Chaeyoung: "No, Hyung, how can such an important matter be ended so easily?"
Jihyo sat beside Dahyun, both gazing at the pool before them, "How is it possible, Oppa? There's no information about what happened to that man in any newspaper, website, or channel."
Dahyun: "Somehow, despite hundreds being present, no one witnessed the man burning to death."
Jihyo: "If anyone can suppress something this important, it must be our parents."
Jeongyeon settled between the two, "The man's death was tragic, but publicizing this incident would have tarnished our family's reputation. We must safeguard our family name."
Chaeyoung turned to his brother, his voice tinged with shame, "I can't believe this. Hyung, you're justifying our parents' actions."
Jeongyeon exhaled deeply, "I'm defending our family, our heritage, and our grandfather's legacy. In the business world, everything is fair game. People will strive for success by any means necessary. That man's actions were, in some way, a scheme against our family. In such a vast enterprise, there will always be challenges, adversaries, and attempts at sabotage."
Chaeyoung rose furiously, "A sabotage! Why would a person sacrifice their life just to sabotage someone?"
 Jihyo stood up as well, "Oppa do you realize who you're sounding like right now? You're talking just like our parents!"
Jeongyeon rose, his back to them. "I'm speaking like a Chou!"
Chaeyoung gestured toward Jeongyeon with intensity. "Sometimes I bloody wish you were more our hyung Jeongyeon and less of a Chou."
Jeongyeon moved away, his gaze fixed on the wall beside the tall room. "I am only Jeongyeon when the name Chou is linked to mine. Nothing is more important than the family name I'm simply trying to protect."
Jihyo looked at her brother with disappointment. "Not even a person's life?"
Jeongyeon glanced at her, then back at the water. "That's not what I mean. The incident was tragic! But that doesn't mean we should gamble everything and stay on that topic! I seriously think someone is trying to sabotage us."
Dahyun challenged, "How can you be so certain that someone is trying to sabotage us?"
Jeongyeon turned to his brother furiously. "And how can you be so certain that they aren't?"
Jihyo stood beside her younger brothers. "Because..." 
Before she could continue, a voice interrupted them. "Hyung? Noona? Chaeng?" Jeongyeon paused, his expression softening as he saw the newcomer, prompting Jihyo and Chaeyoung to turn and see Dahyun and Tzuyu standing there with arms crossed as the youngest went to the group. "I need to ask you something. Answer me truthfully, please."