She wasn't simply a joke, she was a complete embarrassment!
"Let me clarify it one more time, President Manoban is not familiar with Miss Jeon. He only met her once at the recent Chanel event and has never considered pursuing a relationship with her. President Manoban and Jennie's relationship is going great, please don't look at them with judgmental eyes."
"This will be the last time Manoban Entertainment speaks up about this issue. If any member of the media makes up any more false rumors, then I'm sorry, Manoban Entertainment won't show any mercy."
After speaking, Minho turned around, walked back to Manoban Entertainment and returned to his office in high spirits.
The remaining reporters quickly packed up their equipment. They had plenty to write about this time.
So it turned out the heiress had flipped the entire story around!
Word quickly spread online about Somi's misunderstanding.
"When I think about it, I feel a little embarrassed on behalf of the rich heiress. She had actually thought Lisa seriously wanted to marry her."
"Somi has taken her narcissism to another level..."
"Have you guys not noticed? For someone as black-bellied as Lisa, only someone with an EQ as high as Jennie could match him. An heiress with a brain like a pig isn't even worth Lisa's time. That's why Minho stepped out to clarify on his behalf."
"Wrong! Even Minho couldn't be bothered."
"Haiz, what a satisfying face slap! Did she really think she could do whatever she wanted just because she had money?"
"She's wrong. Jennie also has a powerful family background. She's simply never depended on them..."
...
All the various news sources made Somi sound completely shameless. The way she flipped the situation around was so embarrassing that even Father Jeon was disgusted. Although he rarely got angry at Somi, this time, she had thrown herself into the mess with no one to blame; he saw everything clearly.
"Do you feel embarrassed at all?" Father Jeon asked with his hands clasped behind his back in the study room.
Somi's face glowed red as she avoided eye contact.
"Even if you're not embarrassed, my old soul is completely embarrassed by you! Isn't that great? Now, no matter where I go, I have to put up with weird looks. This is a result of the stupid joke you created. Even clients have canceled contracts because they've lost trust in us!"
"What did you expect to achieve from all this? Why did you provoke Manoban Entertainment?"
"Did you think you could beat the Kim Family? Jennie obviously has 4 siblings, yet Elder Kim only loves her. With a calculative heart like that, how could you beat her?" Father Jeon was so angry, his entire body trembled.
"For the next month, you are not allowed to take a step out of the family home. Stay here and reflect on your actions."
"But..."
"No buts! Those socialite meetings can do without your attendance." After speaking, Father Jeon waved his hand at Somi, "Go out and get some rest."
After hearing that contracts had been canceled because of her, Somi finally realized the seriousness of the situation.
Staying at home for one month was nothing. With the humiliation she was receiving, even half a year want enough.
She was much too embarrassed!
She had originally thought that Lisa wouldn't be able to explain the situation, since what she said was the truth. Who would have thought...
... for someone that existed in the entertainment industry and was the ruler of it, how could he be called the King of Entertainment if he couldn't deal with a small issue like this?
What a joke!
What a complete and undeniable joke!
...
Jennie originally had a shoot to attend for 'Stupid', but because it was raining outside, she ended up being stuck in the hotel.
Yuna looked at the reports on Minho's response and laughed happily while she sat on the bed. Jennie put down the script in her hands and looked at Yuna as she shook her head, "Is it really that funny?"
"Don't you think it's funny at all?" Yuna stood up and placed one hand on her hip, "No wonder Boss couldn't be bothered dealing with her, even Minho looked careless towards the incident."
"They are both amazing," Jennie replied straightforwardly.
"So, don't you think it's interesting working in PR? Every time they turn a situation around, the happiness and satisfaction they feel must be so amazing."
Jennie lifted her head and looked at Yuna. She was exactly as Lisa expected; a lover of excitement and challenge.
"In that case, after Rosé returns, you can officially join the PR department. You can become Minho's student. I'm sure you will surpass him someday."
Yuna's eyes were filled with spirit and joy, not holding back her emotions at all, "OK, I will definitely do my best!"
After speaking, Yuna continued browsing through the discussions online. But, slowly...her expression changed, "Jennie unnie...because of Somi, some people are beginning to look into your family background."
With the mention of her family, Jennie's smile disappeared.
Yuna was aware that this was Jennie's weakness. She quickly tried to change the topic, but Jennie suddenly said, "Hand me my phone..."
"I think you should leave matters like this to Boss..."
"Hand it to me."
Yuna hesitantly handed the phone to Jennie. As soon as she got hold of the phone, Jennie started browsing through the discussions.
Not only did the netizens find out that she was born into a perfume empire and had an impressive identity. They also found a photo of the Kim Family; this time, even Elder Kim was implicated.
In reality, Jennie had never hidden her identity from the public, it's just, no one ever brought it up. This time, because of Somi, netizens wanted to prove Jennie's status was no less than Somi, so they posted up a photo of the Kim Family as proof.
"I know you dislike being connected to the Kim Family. But, this time, the Kim family are bound to be implicated."
"It's not like I can determine the conditions in which I am born. I have definitely been through ups and downs in the entertainment industry, but I've always depended on myself to make money. My conscience is clear, so there is nothing I should worry about," Jennie handed back her phone, but her expression had already darkened more than just a couple shades.
Yuna helplessly let out a sigh. In reality, she felt, the Kim Family should have been more or less responsible for everything that happened. Because, if it wasn't for Kim Jongin, Jennie would not have been kicked out by Elder Kim.
"Jennie unnie...don't be upset."
Jennie looked at Yuna and forced a smile.
However, that night, Jennie received a phone call from Nancy. Her voice shook anger, "Wasn't embarrassing the Jeon Family enough? Did you want to drag the entire Kim Family into the dirty gossip with you?"
"Just because you were born illegitimately and want to live a lowly life, that's your problem to deal with, don't embarrass the entire family."
"The Kim Family only want to appear in finance magazines, not on the headlines of entertainment news!"
Jennie did not say a word, she simply allowed Nancy to complain. After a short moment of silence, she finally asked, "Have you finished talking?"
"Would you believe that I have the ability to keep you on top of entertainment headlines for an entire month?"
Nancy: "..."
"I know how to deal with this matter. The Kim Family don't need to get involved."
"Whether I'm living in glory or suffering a downfall, it is my issue to deal with. I've never considered sharing my life with the Kim Family. Nancy, don't ever call my phone again - it's extremely annoying..."
"You!"
"Don't you have any self-awareness at all?"
Before Nancy could respond, Jennie had already hung up the phone. As she put down the phone, her eyes looked obviously upset.
It wasn't her choice to be born into the Kim Family. Wasn't it enough that she had mentally tortured herself over it for so many years? How much further did the Kim Family want to push her?
"Unnie..."
"I'm fine," Jennie looked at Yuna and revealed a comforting smile. The rain outside further lowered Jennie's mood. But, as soon as she thought of Lisa, her emotions stabilized. In fact, she felt a sense of warmth sweep over her body.
Once upon a time, in order to hide from the Kim Family and to take care of Kim Jongin, she had been willing to give up on the career that she loved so much. At that time, she was happy to move behind the scenes and become a supportive wife and loving mother. But now, she felt, only standing in the most dazzling position, would she match Lisa's grandeur.
So, she would never retreat because of the Kim Family again.
"Jennie unnie, someone is knocking on the door. It must be Boss. I'll go open it."
"OK," Jennie smiled.
However, to her surprise, the person to appear at the doorway holding a black umbrella, was Elder Kim's assistant, "Miss Jennie, the chairman wants to see you. He is in the car downstairs."
Jennie glanced at Yuna. Although her emotions were complex, she couldn't find a reason to reject her grandfather - especially since he was already downstairs.
Jennie gestured for Yuna not to follow her and mouthed instructions for her to call Lisa. Yuna nodded her head. As soon as Jennie left she immediately pulled out her phone and called Lisa.
"Hello Boss, the Kim Family have come to look for Jenjen!"
Lisa was already on his way to look for Jennie, so as soon as he heard Yuna's words, he immediately sped up his car...
Downstairs...
The assistant held onto his umbrella as he escorted Jennie to a black car that was stopped beneath a tree. Jennie looked through the window at the old man that sat inside and couldn't help but sigh. She could no longer recall whether it had been 4 or 5 years since they last saw each other...
"Miss Kim, please..." the assistant opened the car door and gestured for her to step inside.
Jennie hesitated for a moment, but still ended up stepping aboard. This meeting was so sudden, she hadn't even changed out of her costume yet.
Elder Kim had an honorable presence to him. He sat up straight and turned to look at Jennie as he smirked, "Is this how shameful you are these days?"
"Grandfather, have you come because of the news articles?" Jennie ignored his question and asked. "If you have, I can assure you that I will deal with it myself. There was no need for you to come all the way here."
"Hmmph," Elder Kim grunted. "You sure are stubborn. It's already been 9 years! Don't you miss your mother and grandfather at all?"
"Since you had the courage to walk out. Why couldn't you put up with a little bit of scorn and contempt from your siblings?"
"You're overthinking the situation. I left the Kim Family simply because I wanted to pursue a career in entertainment," Jennie denied. "I have no interest in perfume."
"But you were born with natural talent."
Jennie fell silent.
However, the atmosphere in the car turned so icy cold, it made it hard for one to breathe.
"If you want me to forgive you, I want you to break all ties with the entertainment industry, break up with the rascal from the Manoban Family, and return to the Kim Family."
Jennie remained silent for a few moments before replying, "I am good the way I am right now."
"What's so good? You get trodden over by rubbish news every single day. If you want glory, can't grandfather give it to you?"
"No you can't," Jennie replied straightforwardly, "If I return to the Kim Family, I won't be able to eat nor sleep. I will feel guilty every single day that I use the Kim Family's money, because I feel like it is stolen and snatched from someone else. It will drive me crazy! Grandfather, can't you just set me free?"
"Are you that disgusted by the Kim Family?" anger began to show on Elder Kim's face. "So disgusted that you can't stay for even a second?"
"Yes."
"What has that Manoban rascal offered you?"
"He has given me everything I was missing. Thing's that grandfather can never give me," Jennie said in a choked up voice.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Dignity," Jennie laughed at herself. "Grandfather, I know it is impossible for you to disregard the rest of the family for my sake."
"Do you feel a lack of dignity being born into the Kim Family?" Elder Kim was slightly shocked as his hands began to tremble.
"I'm sure you are well aware whether I have any dignity. Must you ask the obvious?"
"Do as you please! If one day, you decide to return to the Kim Family, you better clean up all ties with the entertainment industry. I will never accept a grandson-in-law involved with entertainment, regardless of how capable he is." Elder Kim gave up trying to convince his granddaughter. When it came to personality traits, apart from a natural talent in everything they did, stubbornness was something the grandfather and granddaughter shared.
"In that case, I don't think there will ever be a place in the Kim Family for me..."
"Jennie, a few years ago you suffered so much because of Kim Jongin and was even kicked out of the Kim Family. Look what happened in the end," Elder Kim's eyes turned red, "This time, because of a man again..."
"He's different."
"What if I insist that you give up on him?"
"I won't be able to do it. Even if I have to die, I wouldn't be able to do it. I can give up on anything, but when it comes to Lisa, no one can take him away from me. Not even you, grandfather." As Jennie spoke, her voice was firm and the words flowed out of her mouth quickly, not allowing Elder Kim to cut in.
After quite some time, Elder Kim finally found his voice again, "If you had to choose between me and him?"
"I don't need the empty Kim Family, I just need him."
Naturally, the grandfather and granddaughter were destined to separate on bad terms.
They simply had different opinions.
Elder Kim loved Jennie, but his love came with a price.
Jennie was naturally shooed out of the car. After the black car drove away, Jennie spotted Lisa standing not too far away holding an umbrella, waiting patiently for her.
Jennie's tears uncontrollably flowed from her eyes. Seeing this, Lisa immediately removed his jacket and wrapped her up in it, pulling her tightly into his embrace.
"It's fine...everything is fine. You have me."
Jennie held onto Lisa with all her might. It wasn't until she was forced to make a choice did she realize that Lisa was more important to her than anything in her life.
"Hubby..."
"Yes?"
"Do you know how important you are to me?" Jennie asked amongst the rain.
"I know," Lisa replied in a deep voice as he kissed her on the head. "But, you must remember, I will always love you a little more than you love me."
Jennie buried her head into Lisa's embrace as her tears fell upon his sweater. The couple stood in the rain for quite some time before Lisa finally said, "Let's return to the hotel. You can tell me everything your grandfather said to you."
"Ok," Jennie nodded her head.
Lisa hooked his arm around Jennie as they returned to the hotel. He felt a surge of emotions; who did the old man think he was bullying?
Even if it was someone from the Kim Family; even if it was an elder; as long as they made Jennie unhappy, he wasn't going to let it pass!