Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 478: An Old Plot Twist

"You mean to say, you are Zhenxiu's cousin? Are you sure you're talking about our Zhenxiu?" Yang Chen asked skeptically. Park Jung-hoon gave a bitter smile, "Yes, I can be sure. Although I only confirmed it through reports from my people a couple of days ago, we've been searching for so many years; we can't be wrong. Xu Zhenxiu is indeed my poor long-lost cousin."

Yang Chen lifted his head and glanced at the room on the second floor where Zhenxiu was.

Although the curtains were drawn, Yang Chen's sharp eyes saw that Zhenxiu had secretly opened a small gap, watching his conversation with Park Jung-hoon.

"I think we need to have a good talk about this. Let's go inside," Yang Chen sighed.

Park Jung-hoon, looking eager, quickly agreed and followed Yang Chen into the house.

A large group of bodyguards remained motionless outside, which slightly surprised Yang Chen. It seemed that the family background of Zhenxiu's mother was indeed extraordinary; otherwise, such a group of bodyguards wouldn't be so easily hired.

Wang Ma and Guo Xuehua were both at home. Seeing Yang Chen finally return, they seemed to find their anchor and brought some tea before heading to the kitchen, clearly intending to leave Zhenxiu's matter for Yang Chen to handle.

Park Jung-hoon only brought his assistant-cum-bodyguard inside and sat on the guest sofa, beginning to recount the details to Yang Chen.

According to Park Jung-hoon, Zhenxiu's mother, named Park Ji-yi, was the eldest daughter of Park Jung-hoon's grandfather. She had eloped with a man from Huaxia, who was Zhenxiu's father, and had not contacted her family since. Although they always knew Park Ji-yi had a daughter, the family's anger at the time meant they never reached out. In the past few years, however, as Park Elder's health declined, he began to miss his favorite eldest daughter and the granddaughter he had never met. He desperately hoped to see them once more in his lifetime.

Thus, Park Jung-hoon, being the only grandson, began to search for his cousin. Leveraging the family's considerable power, it took over two years to find Zhenxiu.

"With Huaxia being so vast, for your family to find Zhenxiu, and cross-country at that, it seems your family's power is immense," Yang Chen muttered.

Park Jung-hoon seemed somewhat proud and smiled, "Yes, I don't know if Mr. Yang has heard of the Xingyue Group; it is the commercial empire built by our Park family."

"Xingyue Group? You're the director of Xingyue Group, Park Jung-hoon?"

A sudden, pleasant female voice appeared at the doorway. Both Yang Chen and Park Jung-hoon looked over, only to see Lin Ruoxi unexpectedly return home and overhear their conversation.

After speaking, Lin Ruoxi walked to the sofa with her bag and sat next to Yang Chen, ignoring Park Jung-hoon's surprised gaze, and continued, "So, Zhenxiu's grandfather is Xingyue Group's founder, President Park Chuan?"

Yang Chen was aware that Lin Ruoxi had come home, but he wasn't too surprised since Wang Ma had informed him, and it wasn't unusual for her to inform Lin Ruoxi as well.

However, Park Jung-hoon seemed momentarily stunned by Lin Ruoxi's appearance and took a moment to recover before smiling awkwardly and saying, "Yes, my grandfather is Park Chuan. You must be President Lin of Yu Lei International. I've heard a lot about you; it's an honor to finally meet you."

Yang Chen, not being very familiar with the Xingyue Group, turned his head curiously and asked, "Wife, is this 'Xingyue' group very famous?"

Lin Ruoxi slightly frowned, still a bit unaccustomed to being called "wife" in front of others, but since she wasn't one to blush easily, she explained with some resignation, "The Xingyue Group is one of the largest chaebols in South Korea. Chairman Park Chuan is a legendary businessman in South Korea. Xingyue has substantial holdings in the automotive and electronics industries and owns various chains in real estate and tourism. Mr. Park Chuan has been on the list of Asia's top ten richest people for nearly ten consecutive years. The group's assets are roughly estimated to exceed 100 billion USD, making it a remarkable Asian family enterprise."

Yang Chen whistled, realizing that Zhenxiu's grandfather was indeed a wealthy man. While he wasn't very involved with financial matters, he had a basic understanding of what assets worth billions meant. At the very least, Lin Ruoxi, with her immense wealth, was still far from reaching the billion-dollar mark.

"President Lin is indeed the most dazzling new star in the business world in recent years. Although Xingyue has notable achievements, my grandfather has always been low-key, so we don't have a very high profile. I didn't expect President Lin to be so familiar with us, which is a bit embarrassing for me," Park Jung-hoon said modestly.

"You are also impressive. Being in your twenties and already a director of Xingyue Group proves that you are a qualified successor," Lin Ruoxi remarked.

"No, no," Park Jung-hoon quickly waved his hand and said, "I am only temporarily managing things for my grandfather. I do not intend to take over the Xingyue Group. The reason I am eager to find my cousin Zhenxiu is that our family hopes she can return to South Korea and take over the Xingyue Group from my grandfather."

"What? Are you saying Zhenxiu?" Even the usually calm Lin Ruoxi was a bit surprised this time, frowning, "Zhenxiu is just an eighteen-year-old girl. You want her to return to South Korea and manage the assets of Xingyue, worth billions? Do you think that will succeed?"

"I fully understand your concerns, President Lin, but our family will support her. It's my grandfather's long-cherished wish for his daughter's child to inherit the Xingyue Group. We are committed to fulfilling this wish," Park Jung-hoon said earnestly. He then stood up and bowed deeply. "I hope you two can help persuade my cousin to come back to South Korea with me. We will make up for all the hardships she has endured over the years."

Seeing Park Jung-hoon's eyes turn red, Yang Chen opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.

Lin Ruoxi also fell silent. Although everything seemed sudden, it all appeared to be true.

Just as the three of them were speechless, there was a noise from the staircase.

Turning their heads, they saw Zhenxiu, her eyes brimming with tears, swollen from crying, finally making her way down the stairs.

"Cousin, I really am your family. Please come back to Korea with me," Park Jung-hoon quickly walked up, looking at Zhenxiu with boundless hope.

Zhenxiu's hair was a bit disheveled, and her small face, worn by years of hardship, had almost lost all traces of innocence. Now, after being washed by tears, her pretty oval face showed a touch of mature defiance.

"I won't go with you. You don't need to waste your breath. If it weren't for you villains, my mother wouldn't have had to elope to Huaxia. If you hadn't turned a blind eye, my father wouldn't have gone bankrupt, leaving us behind. My mother wouldn't have died from lack of medical treatment, and I wouldn't have experienced these years of being looked down upon," Zhenxiu said, choking back tears. "If you have any conscience, go back and never disturb my life again. I am fine here. Brother Yang and Sister Ruoxi are my family; you are not."

Park Jung-hoon wanted to say something, but Lin Ruoxi stopped him.

"There's no need to say more," Lin Ruoxi stepped forward and hugged Zhenxiu, coldly saying to Park Jung-hoon, "You can't possibly understand what Zhenxiu went through as a child in the orphanage. I will take good care of her. She doesn't want to see you, so please leave."

"But President Lin..." Park Jung-hoon was still anxious, trying to speak.

"Yang Chen, are you a blockhead?" Lin Ruoxi ignored him and called out to Yang Chen.

Yang Chen scratched his head, knowing what that meant. Ultimately, it was up to him to escort Park Jung-hoon out.

"Brother Park, I'm in a tough spot too. You better not make it harder for me. Go back. This isn't simple. Zhenxiu is a living person; she can't just leave because you ask her to. You saw it yourself, my wife loves Zhenxiu much more than she loves me. I'm scared of her too, so you better leave quickly," Yang Chen muttered as he ushered Park Jung-hoon towards the door.

Park Jung-hoon, looking desperate and turning red and white, couldn't say anything, especially under Lin Ruoxi's icy gaze.

It was only after Yang Chen had escorted him outside and closed the door that Park Jung-hoon sighed deeply and said, "Mr. Yang, my grandfather is waiting for me to bring my cousin back to Korea. How can I report back like this?"

"Just tell it like it is. The old chairman can't blame you. After all, you can't tie Zhenxiu up and take her back, can you?" Yang Chen said with a laugh.

Park Jung-hoon shook his head, furrowing his brows, clearly distressed.

"I know it won't be easy. My cousin has been through too much trauma, but we genuinely hope she can come back," Park Jung-hoon said seriously. "Mr. Yang, although I can't take my cousin back to Korea today, I will come again. I hope you and President Lin can help persuade her. The Xingyue Group is her home."

Yang Chen readily agreed, "Sure, no problem. I'll definitely help persuade her," but he thought to himself: I can't even manage my own wife; who has the time to help you persuade your cousin?

Grateful, Park Jung-hoon finally left the courtyard with his assistant, bidding farewell to Yang Chen.

Yang Chen was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when suddenly a purple Maserati sports car screeched to a halt with a sharp brake, its tires fiercely rubbing against the road, stopping right outside the house next to the three Mercedes cars.

Yang Chen wondered who this new visitor could be. To his surprise, it was a "familiar face"—the South Korean pop star Yoo Yeon-hee.

Wearing large sunglasses that covered most of her fair face, with loose black hair and a black spring dress, Yoo Yeon-hee appeared to have left in a hurry, barely putting on any makeup.

"Jung-hoon! It really is you!"

Yoo Yeon-hee seemed oblivious to Yang Chen's presence, only seeing Park Jung-hoon about to get into his car. She joyfully shouted, took off her sunglasses, and ran up quickly like a happy little bird.

However, upon hearing Yoo Yeon-hee's call, Park Jung-hoon didn't seem excited. His previously sorrowful face turned impatient. Turning away, he said, "How many times have I told you not to come looking for me?"

His cold voice was completely different from the one he used with Yang Chen and the others earlier.

Yoo Yeon-hee seemed to be struck by lightning. Just as she ran up to Park Jung-hoon, she froze, her beautiful eyes instantly welling up with tears, showing a pitiful expression.

The sudden drama unfolding before his eyes made Yang Chen, who was about to turn back into the house, stop and watch with great interest. It seemed that Park Jung-hoon and Yoo Yeon-hee had a history. After all, a rich young master and a pop star—a classic tale of a heartless man and a passionate woman. This was practically the old upper-class trope right out of a movie!