Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Refusing the Blind Date
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Everyone has their own sense of self.
It's only natural that with different senses of self, people look for different qualities when choosing a partner.
The reason Yoo Kyung-soo wanted to set up a match between himself and his granddaughter Yoo So-geum.
It was because he was eyeing the successor to Future Distribution.
He had originally had a son, but lost him in a car accident. The pain in his heart was plain to see. He was probably hoping to solve the succession issue through her.
'That old man's full of greed. Even his child was just a disposable tool for success...'
The problem was.
My ideal woman wasn't Yoo So-geum.
Any normal guy might pick a beautiful woman, but not me. Looking in the mirror, I see a face that's like a danmuji roll-up gone wrong.
No matter how much money I have, I know my place.
'Yoo So-geum's a spoiled brat. She doesn't suit me.'
Would a sane person marry a drug addict for life?
If fate had me marrying her, I'd kick fate to the curb and choose Jin Seol-hwa in America or Kang So-yeon, who's probably hard at work writing right now.
If not them, picking Han Yu-jeong would be a hundred, a thousand times better.
'Come to think of it, Im Yun-ah's a fine woman too.'
She's great at fighting, shoots guns like a pro, cooks well—she's the full package.
Her looks, her personality—none of the women I just listed have any flaws. Well, one thing: backing.
Even that doesn't compare to Jin Seol-hwa, though.
"I don't know what kind of answer you're looking for. You suddenly tell me to go on a blind date... What's the reason?"
I played dumb and asked.
Surprisingly, he had no reason to hide it and told me straight out.
"From what I've heard about you, you seem decisive. It's an essential virtue for anyone in business. I like how you care for your employees, and your character seems solid."
Hey.
I just openly criticized you right in front of you.
And you think I have good character? Who knows.
Does Yoo Kyung-soo even realize?
That two women with sharp fangs hidden away are coming for him soon.
And their top boss is me.
From the start, the original plan to dominate Korea's distribution industry was mine.
'This is ridiculous. What gives this guy the confidence to paint such a rosy future?'
No need to think it over. I refused.
I shook my head firmly.
"I refuse. Why would I go on a blind date with your granddaughter?"
"You could have a future."
"Weren't you kicked out of the group? How could you give me a future?"
He still hasn't given up on the Future Group chairmanship.
His eyes sharpened for a moment.
"I, Yoo Kyung-soo, was once called a tiger."
"Haven't your teeth fallen out now?"
"Even without teeth, a tiger's still a tiger. When a herbivore faces a predator, does it look at the appearance? Or the fangs hidden inside?"
He wasn't going to back down easily.
Honestly, Future Distribution's market cap was around 5 trillion at best.
Compared to Selig, which moved tens of trillions as a base, it was a drop in the bucket.
No need to see or hear more.
'If worst comes to worst, I can just go to war with them using the money from coins.'
Harsh words for an old man, but even without deploying Selig, DJ Investment in the Philippines alone could handle them.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Elder."
After the pair left, a middle-aged man cautiously entered the main house.
The man's identity was Moon Tae-seong, the head of strategic planning at Future Distribution.
Who would ever guess that the caretaker-like figure was actually the real power behind a major corporation?
"Tae-seong."
"Yes, Elder."
"What did you think?"
Yoo Kyung-soo's last trusted ally was Moon Tae-seong. He hadn't betrayed him even after being ousted from the group and had stuck by him ever since.
Why else would he serve him here instead of at the company?
Moon Tae-seong was originally from a poor rural family.
Through sheer grit, he made it into Korea University, the nation's top school. At his lowest, viewing the world pessimistically, Yoo Kyung-soo appeared.
"Insolent to the extreme. To dare speak to you like that..."
"Forget that. Objectively speaking. If we brought him into Future?"
"..."
Who wouldn't be angry seeing his sworn lord insulted by some young punk?
If ordered, he'd chase him down right now.
"...He's talented."
"Talented? What makes you say that?"
No matter what anyone said, Moon Tae-seong was the top dog in strategic planning.
He formulated and executed strategies to achieve the company's goals and vision, collaborated with executives on decisions, and provided strategic direction.
And that Moon Tae-seong said firmly.
"Future Distribution is under attack from all sides right now. Didn't the chairman of Han Myeong Group, third in the industry rankings, just meet with Il Sung Group?"
"Yeah, it caused quite a stir."
"They probably want a political marriage."
"Hm..."
"Han Myeong Group runs the country's largest department store chain. Their services overlap heavily with ours at Future Distribution."
"In short, they're trying to steal our turf?"
Moon Tae-seong nodded.
"If Han Myeong succeeds in marrying Il Sung's youngest daughter, it'll be a serious threat."
The head of strategic planning himself was warning.
No way it was wrong, even after hearing it a hundred times.
Deep in thought, Yoo Kyung-soo recalled the man who had just left.
His looks might be lacking, but those eyes burned intensely.
The eyes of a challenger staking everything on his goal.
Like a captain exploring a new continent.
"For Future Distribution in its current state, no matter the scale, getting a man like that is practically impossible. Plus, the young lady..."
"Enough. I get what you're saying. In one word, our So-geum falls short."
Seeing his master self-deprecating, Moon Tae-seong bowed even deeper.
As if ashamed.
"I spoke out of turn. My apologies."
"No. No, you're not wrong. Honestly, without Future behind her, who would give So-geum a second glance?"
"Elder..."
"But we can't pass up a match like that. He was so bold even in front of me—he's got something big. Something unimaginable..."
Yoo Kyung-soo thought.
Probably a few hundred billion at least?
Even that was generous.
Looking at him, he seemed barely over thirty, yet a billionaire?
Impossible through normal means.
"Bring So-geum here right now."
"The young lady?"
The granddaughter he had cherished without ever laying a hand on.
Maybe because she reminded him of his son and daughter-in-law lost in the accident.
"This time, she has to listen to her grandpa. If she doesn't come, cut off her cards—everything!"
"!"
For Future Distribution.
No—for his own power, Yoo Kyung-soo was the type to pull out his ultimate weapon.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The time when she should be enjoying the VIP luxury boutique in the department store.
Yoo So-geum irritably tossed a clutch bag worth tens of millions.
A limited-edition new release, no less.
Even that was just a passing fad to her.
"C-Customer..."
This VIP luxury boutique was for select guests.
Mostly chaebol heirs or celebrities.
Here, status was determined by what luxury items you bought, and the daughters flaunted their pride against each other.
"Whatever, just put it back."
"Y-Yes, right away!"
The saleswoman bowed deeply and did as told. Backtalk? That meant instant firing, maybe personal revenge.
Like this.
Slap!
"Kyaaak!"
"You bitch, I said put it back, so hustle! What's with the slowness? Worm? Figures."
She eyed the saleswoman up and down as she spoke.
"With parents like that, no wonder you're stuck doing menial crap your whole life."
Even after the abuse, the saleswoman just kept her head down.
One cheek red and swollen, but she groveled like a servant.
To survive.
Yoo So-geum sauntered around like a noblewoman, surveying the place.
Who was she?
The one and only granddaughter of Future Group.
Even spun off from the affiliates, Future Distribution was Korea's top distributor.
With such solid backing, Yoo So-geum ran an art gallery.
Displaying fine works and bragging to guests, "I own stuff like this!"—one of her hobbies.
Last exhibition got delayed, fraying her nerves and causing an unintended scene.
But even that was just a minor hiccup to her.
Ding-a-ling!
Her phone rang.
Caller: Moon Tae-young, head of strategic planning.
No reason for the man who served her grandpa devotedly to call now.
"Young lady."
"Uncle Moon Tae-young?"
Calling a corporate powerhouse "uncle," Yoo So-geum tilted her head.
"The Elder wants to see you. Come to the main house immediately."
"Grandpa does?"
Recalling how he always showered her with huge gifts saying he missed her, she beamed innocently. Wondering what he'd offer this time for his granddaughter.
But.
When she arrived, the home's atmosphere was tense.
Her only grandpa sat in the sofa's prime seat, reading The Economist.
No—Yoo Kyung-soo softened his eyes.
"So-geum-ie."
"Yes, Grandpa."
"My precious child, I could put you in my eye and not even blink."
"Hehe, I love you too, Grandpa."
"Yes. To this old man, you're the most precious in the world."
As Yoo So-geum basked in the warmth, thunder struck.
"Shouldn't our So-geum be getting married soon?"
"...Me?"
"Yes. You need to become someone's wife and be happy."
Marriage out of nowhere.
The problem was Yoo So-geum was infamous.
Not in a good way.
She belittled people constantly, or worse, got violent.
She was no different from a thug.
"But to get married, the dress has to fit... That might be a problem."
"!"
No need to guess the rest.
"At least you need to look like your mom, right?"
"G-Grandpa..."
Telling Yoo So-geum to get a body like her mom's meant hire trainers and diet. From nearly 90kg to 40kg.
"What's wrong? Don't you want to listen to your one and only grandpa?"
"N-No, but..."
"I'll give you two months. Shape up to be slim like your mom."
"Th-That's impossible!"
Hearing she couldn't, Yoo Kyung-soo's gentle eyes twisted in an instant.
"If you can't, no card use ever again."
With that, he snapped all her credit cards in half.