Chapter 212
Chapter 212
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 212
Chapter Title: The Tiger Cub's Gambit
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Je Yoon-jae had dropped his bombshell and was now sipping his coffee. For someone who had just declared he would crush a company, his face was remarkably calm.
And for good reason—it meant nothing to him.
The Song was a mere pebble compared to the mountain that was JC. Even if the giant JC accidentally stepped on it, not a scratch would mar the sole of its foot.
Sure, JC had turned its gaze to international markets and was being somewhat overshadowed by Hyunmu at the moment, but that was hardly a devastating blow. JC's influence in the F&B sector—and throughout the distribution channels that fueled it—remained staggeringly immense.
'I was planning to just give a warning and move on.'
But facing Song Woo-yeon in person had changed his mind.
Je Yoon-jae's blue eyes swept over Song Woo-yeon once more.
'This guy's a tiger cub.'
He saw it instantly. This man wouldn't stop at just being a "small business."
'No hesitation. Even seeing me for the first time.'
Je Yoon-jae knew exactly how people reacted when they first met him. Even those nearing their forties crumbled helplessly.
A buyer he'd met in China had called him a nation-toppling beauty.
That striking beauty was a double-edged sword—a brilliant weapon for Je Yoon-jae, yet sometimes a weakness that made others underestimate him.
An excessively flawless appearance could overshadow one's true abilities.
Je Yoon-jae, who bore a striking resemblance to his mother's face, knew this all too well. So how had Song Woo-yeon reacted?
- To think I'd have the honor of meeting someone as distinguished as you.
Just a fleeting flicker of surprise in his eyes.
It had passed in an instant. Je Yoon-jae had never seen someone so young recover so quickly, masking their emotions and playing it cool like a seasoned pro.
'And he grasped even the offhand test I threw out right away.'
You couldn't react like that without a deep understanding of JC's internal affairs.
Je Yoon-jae had focused mainly on overseas branches, so few in Korea's political or business circles knew much about him.
'The gap between overseas and domestic branches, the succession structure, the board's opposition...'
He'd grasped every detail without missing a beat.
A small Korean business president with this level of insight into JC?
'He can't really be the illegitimate son, can he?'
Je Yoon-jae had gone straight to the chairman's office upon returning home. And he'd gotten a firm "no way" from JC's chairman himself.
'That fox of an old man didn't beat around the bush—he said flat-out no, so it must be true.'
Even Je Yoon-jae, who knew the facts, couldn't shake a sliver of doubt. How much more for everyone else?
That baseless rumor had spread like wildfire precisely because of Song Woo-yeon's extraordinary presence.
'I thought he was using petty gossip for dirty tricks. But apparently not.'
The board had fanned the flames, sure—but they probably hadn't expected it to blow up this big.
'If I leave him alone, when I finally take over JC, he'll be a real threat.'
The explosive growth was already drawing sidelong glances from everyone pretending not to notice. Give him time, and it was a no-brainer.
The Song was dangerous.
More precisely, Song Woo-yeon.
'So I'll nip it in the bud. Before it grows any bigger.'
In Je Yoon-jae's mind, this was the best move.
'Alright. How will he respond?'
Je Yoon-jae opened his eyes, which he'd closed while savoring his coffee.
He was curious what face Song Woo-yeon would make before this unavoidable natural disaster bearing down on him.
Would he mask his emotions and feign composure like when he'd first seen Je Yoon-jae? Or plead his innocence? Maybe even beg for one chance on his knees?
If so, Je Yoon-jae planned to walk away without a second thought.
Yeah.
That was the plan—until he locked eyes with Song Woo-yeon's smiling face.
"......?"
Was he sane? It almost seemed like he'd denied reality out of sheer despair.
'What the hell is with that composure?'
Even if he was hiding his panic and pretending to be unfazed, that leisure flowing across Song Woo-yeon's face was infuriatingly off. You couldn't fake something like that.
Song Woo-yeon genuinely didn't see this situation as a threat.
'How?'
The tables had turned completely. Je Yoon-jae felt himself starting to get anxious.
Just moments ago, he'd been utterly confident in his overwhelming advantage. Not anymore.
He couldn't read Song Woo-yeon's mind at all.
"......Does what I said sound like a lie?"
"No. I believe you're sincere."
Song Woo-yeon replied evenly. He even took a sip of his coffee.
"Or does it not feel real yet?"
"Hmm. If your director makes one phone call right now, no distributor would touch us starting tomorrow. I know that full well."
"And yet......"
How can you wear that nonchalant face? Je Yoon-jae swallowed the rest. It felt like he was losing.
But Song Woo-yeon seemed to read even the unspoken words.
"Director Je."
Song Woo-yeon set down his coffee cup and called him in a serious tone.
"You want to be the owner of JC."
"......"
"More than anything else."
"Ha."
Je Yoon-jae felt irritation surge to the top of his head. For once, controlling his expression was a struggle.
What nonsense was this? How dare he mention the chairman's seat in front of him.
The audacity.
"I'm not sure that's the right way to put it. I am JC's heir, after all."
No need to get worked up.
That was exactly the opening Song Woo-yeon was fishing for. He was pretty good at psychological warfare, it turned out.
Even if his approach only sharpened the blade in Je Yoon-jae's heart.
"You crossed the globe because of one rumor about an illegitimate child?"
"......"
Oops.
Je Yoon-jae bit his lower lip subtly, without letting it show.
"You've only been at the overseas branches. You're at a disadvantage domestically, and sensitive to public opinion here. I get it."
This guy really can't be left alone. That was when Je Yoon-jae solidified his resolve.
Then Song Woo-yeon dropped an unexpected name.
"Your cousin's working hard too, isn't he?"
"......!"
"The JC Group chairman has only one child, but he had one brother who co-founded the company."
Je Yoon-jae's eyes widened.
"Even though he's stepped back from the front lines now. His son—your cousin—is said to be no pushover rival."
Je Yoon-jae scrutinized Song Woo-yeon's face before asking.
"Who told you?"
"Does it matter?"
"It does."
It was a story even hushed within the group. The reason Je Yoon-jae, the sole legitimate heir, couldn't relax.
His cousin, who had entrenched himself in Korea early and built tight ties with the domestic board.
The subtle power struggle with him was known to only a tiny circle inside the company.
Others thought his cousin had no personal stake in succession and just did his job quietly. But Je Yoon-jae had seen through the darkness long ago.
"You're preparing for war with him, aren't you?"
"I asked who told you."
"Then you should let me live all the more."
"Listen, President Song."
Je Yoon-jae's patience was nearing its limit.
"I'll bring in Hyunmu."
Song Woo-yeon whispered softly.
But every word etched clearly into Je Yoon-jae's ears. He froze.
"......What did you say?"
"Hyunmu. Your cousin will gladly join hands with them."
Absurd.
Je Yoon-jae's mind instantly rejected it.
That would be treason. Handing JC wholesale to Hyunmu and settling for a puppet chairman hat.
Dragging in an outside force to settle internal power struggles? No company ever came out of that unscathed.
Unless they were idiots, who would...
"......"
Who would...?
Je Yoon-jae knew his cousin was the type to smash JC if he couldn't have it.
Right now, Je Yoon-jae had the edge, but what if he made his full move to claim the chairmanship after all preparations?
Once cornered like a rat, could his cousin really stay noble?
Would he not scurry to Hyunmu, beg for help, and have them pounce like it was manna from heaven?
Was that really impossible?
As Je Yoon-jae's expression shifted, Song Woo-yeon continued.
"At that point, you'll need a decent-sized ally in Korea."
To counter Hyunmu.
"But JC's been so focused on international markets for so long that its domestic grip lags behind Hyunmu's."
"......"
Je Yoon-jae stared at Song Woo-yeon silently.
"Don't you want a solid business partner here?"
Regrettably, it was all true. He couldn't refute a single word, and that stung.
"The established players are all too cozy with Hyunmu already. JC doesn't have many options."
Song Woo-yeon smiled brightly, as if he'd been waiting for this moment.
He extended his hand across the table. Pale and slender—Song Woo-yeon's.
"The Song seems like the perfect business partner. Don't you think?"
"......Haha."
Je Yoon-jae let out a hollow laugh. He'd been utterly dismantled.
When was the last time he'd been checkmated like this? It was so ridiculous it was almost amusing.
'Interesting.'
He wasn't the type to settle for just owning a small company. That realization made Je Yoon-jae want to watch him a bit longer.
Clap.
Je Yoon-jae clasped Song Woo-yeon's hand.
"An excellent choice."
Song Woo-yeon smiled warmly.