A wine bar in Cheongdam-dong. Low string music drifted through the private room at the back.

Wine cabinets filled the walls, and small lights sat on the tables.

Gu Jayeon, the foundation chairman of Cheonghwa High School, waited in silence while the woman across from her savored her red wine.

Min Seoyeong. She was the wife of Gu Hoseon, chairman of the Hyundo Group, and foundation chairman of the Hyundo Cultural Foundation.

There was a connection between them from the woman's years as president of Cheonghwa High's parents' association, but they weren't on easy terms.

At the school, Gu Jayeon was the foundation chairman. But that position didn't carry weight outside the school.

This woman was the lady of the Hyundo Group, third in the chaebol rankings.

That was why Gu Jayeon had cleared her schedule and come, despite the sudden call.

"It's good to see you after so long. When Changjin was at the school, I used to see you fairly often, Madam Chairman."

Min Seoyeong set down her wineglass. The smile on her lips was softer than when Gu Jayeon had last seen it.

"It's been a while. You've been well, I hope?"

Gu Jayeon smiled back at her. She had a guess why she'd been called here.

Gu Changjin and Ha Tae-ung.

The story of the two boys' falling-out at Yongpyong had already spread as far as the private gatherings of the business world's wives.

Wherever it passed, the story got more inflated and more twisted.

An arrogant student who respected neither sunbaes nor hoobaes. A boy who trusted in his money and ignored even the adults.

And at the end of those rumors, the name of Cheonghwa High School kept trailing along.

"You said you're a distant relative of my family, didn't you, Madam Chairman?"

Min Seoyeong pushed the cheese plate toward Gu Jayeon.

What came up before any talk of the school was, unexpectedly, their shared surname.

"I'm a very distant relation of the chairman's family."

"Distant or not, it's the same family. Changjin's father knows who you are when your name comes up, too."