Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Hyunmu Takes Notice
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Hyun Jeong-hoo paused while reviewing the report, his eyes fixing on one particular spot. Seo Si-hwan, the subordinate standing before him, stiffened visibly, tension etched on his face.
"......"
A familiar name.
Hyun Jeong-hoo stared intently at one item in the [2013 Trend Report]. Then, he tapped a spot lightly with his fingertip.
"This name's been popping up a lot lately."
"Yes? Ah, Song Woo-yeon."
Seo Si-hwan checked where Hyun Jeong-hoo's finger pointed. He'd paid close attention to that section himself, so it stuck in his mind clearly.
Hyun Jeong-hoo nodded.
"He's the CEO of [The Song], right? Sales are skyrocketing, but I heard they're still just a small to mid-sized company."
"Yes, that's correct. However, this 'Song Woo-yeon' has boosted his profile by appearing on various broadcast shows like [Raid the Fridge] and [Infinite Challenge]. His personal brand recognition actually outshines that of [The Song] itself."
"Interesting."
A fresh approach.
Usually, polishing the brand image comes first.
"Of course, there's also the success of their line led by snowflake bingsu. One of their brands, [Happiness Snacks], has massive support from young people with challenge menus like Nuclear Chicken Feet tailored for YouTubers."
"Hoo."
"Even when the plagiarism controversy erupted, they handled it well and turned it into an opportunity by appearing on [Raid the Fridge], stamping their name not just with the youth but across various age groups."
It was the epitome of a current 'trend.'
"He even made a brief guest appearance on the national living room staple [Infinite Challenge] and drew a huge response. His current momentum is impressive, but his future potential seems boundless."
"Quite the glowing review."
"Just my personal opinion, but he seems to get along well with the press and is shrewd beyond his years."
Seo Si-hwan cautiously wrapped up.
Tap, tap.
Hyun Jeong-hoo kept tapping the report with his finger.
Song Woo-yeon. Those three syllables grated on him.
"Boundless future potential... Meaning he'll be tussling with our Hyunmu Group over market share down the line. Right?"
"Yes?"
Seo Si-hwan was caught off guard by the sudden turn and blurted out a retort before realizing his mistake. His face paled as regret hit him.
He quickly dropped his gaze and continued.
"Ah, he's not a match for us yet. It's just an upstart company. They have a long way to go compared to Hyunmu Group."
"Well, sure. Didn't you say it's just getting started?"
Seo Si-hwan swallowed the urge to snap, *You know that, so why ask?*
No, [The Song] hadn't even properly shaped up as a company yet. It was still a greenhorn outfit.
Sure, the rate at which its subsidiary brands and branches were multiplying was astonishingly geometric. But to Seo Si-hwan, it was like a poisoned chalice.
*Rushing like that usually leads to screwing things up.*
Especially for a brash young president of a startup. No need to spell it out.
Sooner or later, it'd trip over its own feet. Seo Si-hwan could picture it vividly.
*Either mismanagement tanks their profit margins, or they get complacent at a decent size and fall behind to latecomers.*
The possibilities for problems were endless. Conversely, the odds of smooth growth to threaten Hyunmu were nearing zero.
*The guy's a total rookie with no real corporate management experience.*
He seemed built for TV, so he wouldn't starve, but that was the extent of it. Growing a company takes skill *and* luck, and in Seo Si-hwan's eyes, this 'Song Woo-yeon' had already missed his window.
Maybe if he'd been around in the '90s or early 2000s, he could've built an empire by now. But in 2014? Too late.
In other words,
"He's not worth the chairman's attention."
That was it.
Keeping an eye on it and seeing how far it grows was plenty. Rookies popped up all the time in this world.
But Hyun Jeong-hoo saw it differently.
"Dig into his background."
"......"
For real? Seo Si-hwan gauged Hyun Jeong-hoo's expression.
*Background check on a milk-drinking infant of a guy? What, his alma mater?*
No, wait—he dropped out of high school, so that's his peak. Should they track down his kindergarten too?
*Has age dulled his edge?*
Seo Si-hwan eyed him suspiciously.
This heir, who took over at a young age, was still dubbed a 'young entrepreneur' even past forty.
He'd revolutionized Hyunmu and become its new growth engine—truly praiseworthy.
*Back in his youth, every product he launched was a hit. That's old news now that he's stepped back, but he was a pro at weeding out flops.*
And Seo Si-hwan knew Hyun Jeong-hoo's other 'talent' well.
Nipping potential threats in the bud before they grew.
That was one of his winning strategies. Thanks to it, Hyunmu still reigned as industry number one.
So it wasn't the first time Hyun Jeong-hoo had targeted and crushed a young entrepreneur.
*But how do you even touch a kid like that?*
No scandals like affairs at his age. Illegitimate kids? Absurd.
As if reading Seo Si-hwan's thoughts, Hyun Jeong-hoo added,
"Even a minor flaw will do. Something that could tarnish the honest, self-made young mogul image he's built up."
"!"
Seo Si-hwan's eyes flew wide open.
Oh, right. That approach.
Seo Si-hwan had only planned to check tax records or legal issues for [The Song].
But Hyun Jeong-hoo was aiming higher.
*Song Woo-yeon's ride owes a lot to that clean, upstanding image. But if a personality scandal blows up...*
Seo Si-hwan imagined internet news comment sections. A flood of unimaginable vitriol.
Doesn't even have to be big.
Even if it's legally fine.
*The bar for 'morality' is far stricter, and the public tolerates no flaws.*
"Yes. Understood."
Seo Si-hwan bowed his head, muttering an internal excuse toward Song Woo-yeon.
*Sorry, Song Woo-yeon. It's not like I want to do this. But to make a living, orders are orders.*
In that sense, Song Woo-yeon was really unlucky.
Of all people, to catch *Hyun Jeong-hoo's* eye.
*Once that guy bites, he never lets go.*
Seo Si-hwan clicked his tongue.
I set the report down and said,
"Sales at the Shanghai Branch are steadily trending upward too."
"Yes, that's right."
Jo Yi-ruk nodded.
"Chef Jung Ha-neul and Chef Anderic, whom you got close with on [Raid the Fridge], visited one after another to try the Chinese-Style Braised Pork Noodles and posted proof shots. That drew even more crowds."
"Aw, I already thanked them with a call earlier."
"Expectations for the Chinese-Style Braised Pork Noodles had spread via the broadcast, so we can anticipate a boom for a while. The other planned branches should proceed on schedule."
"Make it happen."
As I nodded, Jo Yi-ruk went, "Oh, right," and shared another piece of good news.
"[Raid the Fridge] is number one among cable variety shows, they say. Lots of people around me are tuning in."
"Haha. No wonder PD Kim's grin was ear-to-ear lately. They're hitting new ratings records daily. I'm no expert, so I don't get the details."
Anyway, seemed like hefty incentives were rolling in. Time to treat him to a meal.
"How's franchise management these days?"
"I did another round of undercover checks recently. All good except a few spots, which got warnings and retraining."
"With Team Leader Jo holding it down, I've got nothing left to do."
I grinned, and Jo Yi-ruk cleared his throat awkwardly. Acts like he doesn't care, but he loves the praise, this guy.
"Good news on top of good news—feels great. Can't remember the last time I felt this at ease. Well, except wanting that 'Eto Motto' photo meme off the internet."
"My nephew uses it too."
"Please, no."
I recoiled, and Jo Yi-ruk chuckled. No clue what makes it funny.
Maybe my body's young, but my soul's aged out of it.
"Whatever the reason, it's giving us free promo."
"True, but still."
"Good is good—leave it at that."
Ugh, can't argue with that. We were bantering like this, trading light jabs, when—
Bang!
"?"
The door flew open as No Se-hee burst in.
She wasn't one to skip knocking and barge like that, so rather than call out the rudeness, I wondered what was up.
"Team Leader No, what's wrong?"
"Sir."
No Se-hee stared at me with a rigid expression. Something serious was brewing.
"You need to see this."
She thrust out a printout of an internet article.
[[Raid the Fridge]'s Song Woo-yeon Chef: Self-Made Success Myth All Lies? … Ties with Prominent Construction Firm]