Chapter 134
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: The Chairwoman's Negotiation Lesson
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A brief silence stretched out, and my bewilderment only grew deeper. Because when Oh Hana had mentioned the Ilha Group, I hadn't been anywhere near this shocked, or felt like the person in front of me had suddenly transformed into someone entirely different.
So I'd thought she was just the carefree type who didn't fuss over things like someone's background. But that had been my own misconception.
"……."
The more memories from my childhood surfaced in my mind—the awe-inspiring tales of the Hanban Group's greatness—the more Han Aebom started to seem not just impressive, but towering. At the same time, all her past behaviors suddenly made perfect sense.
'Hanban Group's Chairman Han Serong…….'
Living in Korea without knowing that name would get you reported as a spy without a leg to stand on. No matter how disinterested I was in others or how flustered I'd been, failing to recognize it immediately was inexcusable. I could understand why Han Aebom looked so incredulous.
'Feels like I heard it for nothing.'
The thought slipped in unbidden. Now that I'd heard it, all it did was amplify my dread of what might come out of Han Aebom's mouth next.
"The conversation stalled for a moment, but I hope you'll forgive that. Let's pick it back up."
"Yes……."
"Considering my usual demeanor—or even more so, now that you know my family background—pride is as vital to me as my very life."
"R-Right……."
My lips were parched. My throat burned. I'd never craved water this badly in my life, and I wasn't even the type to drink much usually. I kept chewing on my dry lips when Han Aebom spoke up.
"I'd appreciate it if you could make proper amends for that. Have you thought of anything specific, Hyunwoo?"
"Th-That is……."
I'd just been nodding like an idiot this whole time, but now that it was my turn to respond, my mind went completely blank. Still fumbling like a fool, barely moving my lips, Han Aebom shot me a frustrated glare.
"So you didn't even think that far ahead and just asked me to help Oh Hana without considering my side at all?"
"……."
The ground seemed to crumble beneath my feet. She wasn't wrong about any of it. Shame and regret washed over me as I realized just how brazen I'd been.
At the same time, it hit me: this was how real negotiations and conversations worked in the adult world.
I finally understood what my friends meant when they said their first "real meeting" for a company collaboration had shattered their mental state, leaving them just pounding away at their laptops. Negotiations weren't child's play. The debate club stuff from high school? Pure kids' games.
"I'm sorry."
"I'll accept the apology, but in a situation like this, what matters is showing sincerity behind it. If you haven't thought of anything, I'll just state my demands, and you can decide whether to accept them or not."
I nodded eagerly at her taking the lead. Han Aebom placed her steepled hands on the table and continued.
"First, buy me a monitor. Your desk is small, so nothing too huge, but a vertical one should fit. I've heard dual monitors are a huge help for community... er, writing activities."
A monitor? That wasn't so bad.
"Got it."
I nodded readily. But that wasn't the end.
"Also."
Also?
"From now on, don't toss your worn clothes or underwear in the laundry basket. Hand them to me first. I'm not planning to resell them or keep them as souvenirs. No need to worry about them disappearing or getting damaged. If anything like that happens, I'll compensate you fully."
"P-Pardon?"
Her slightly disconcerting demand left me with a awkward expression, but under her impassive gaze, I flinched and nodded anyway.
"A-Alright."
"And."
More?
I stared at her wide-eyed, and she lifted her steepled hands to her chin before speaking.
"Personally, I think these are perfectly reasonable compared to what I'm giving up or losing. If you don't like them, just refuse."
"R-Right."
That had been the setup from the start, after all.
But…….
"Next, I want 100 date vouchers, redeemable whenever I desire."
"Th-That too…… Yes, alright."
The word "refuse" wouldn't even form on my tongue. The atmosphere wouldn't allow it. And she wasn't wrong about anything. She was sacrificing a lot to help, so what choice did I have? Still, each nod made my insides burn hotter. I could barely breathe.
"Hm, then one last thing."
I let out a sigh of relief, thinking it was finally over, but Han Aebom dropped a bombshell in her most serious tone yet.
"Get me pregnant within the month."
"……!"
"No way, Sis!"
As everyone, including me, reeled in shock, I finally managed to speak.
"Th-That's not possible. I really can't do that……."
Han Aebom's eyes sharpened instantly.
"Really? Truly impossible? Then I might not be able to grant your request either."
"Th-That……."
Isn't that too much?
The words nearly escaped, but I couldn't spit them out. My head spun, and tears threatened to well up.
"H-How about I just agree to a bit more of the earlier stuff……."
That was the moment.
The crushing pressure that had pinned me down vanished in an instant.
"Phew, Hyunwoo, you really have zero real-world experience, don't you?"
"……Huh?"
I blinked. It was definitely the same Han Aebom I'd been talking to, but she felt like a completely different person.
"For starters, forget all those demands I just made—they were all made-up tests. No need to take them seriously."
"Wh-What……."
She smirked softly at my dumbfounded expression.
"How did it feel, negotiating from the position of the desperate underdog?"
"……!"
"Not easy, right? Refusing the demands of someone in power. Once you start panicking, blood rushes to your head. Your thinking slows, and you make impulsive decisions. That's why perfectly sane people suddenly snap and end up on the news."
Han Aebom approached cautiously and pulled me into a tight hug.
"Even if it was just practice, making your first negotiation partner me might've been a bit harsh. As you can see, I've got plenty of experience in this area."
Tears nearly burst out. I held them back out of sheer embarrassment. If I'd been alone, I might've really cried.
"Sigh... There's so much I want to tell you. Hmm, where to start."
Han Aebom pointed out my flaws from the negotiation one by one.
"I get the feeling. You're worried that if you show any negativity, I'll get offended and scrap the whole deal. That's why the underdog always bows to the one in power."
"……."
"Ironically, the one in power has the luxury to refuse multiple times. And there are underdogs lining up to bow on their own."
She planted a kiss on my cheek and whispered gently.
"The rich get richer, the poor poorer. Some think in terms of investment returns, but it's more than that. Those with resources get far more opportunities, superior backing, and support. That's why conglomerates stay on top unless some massive downfall hits—it's generational."
Han Aebom explained all sorts of things. Even so, every decade or two, a monstrous talent climbs from the bottom. And how big companies try to crush them.
"Hanban Group is the opposite."
"……?"
"We actually like and help those people. Maybe that's how we grew by pretending to be the nice guys while others schemed. Truth is, Grandpa just enjoys nurturing rivals to bask in his own superiority. You could call it his good fortune."
Han Aebom said,
"Luck is a skill too. More precisely, luck follows those with skill—the ones destined to succeed."
Seeing my dazed expression, she made a rare apologetic face. Was it some maternal instinct? She hugged me tight again, pressing my face into her chest.
"I might've pushed too hard, but personally, shocks like this stick in your memory and lead to quick growth. That's how I learned, at least."
"I... see."
How old was she when she learned all this? I had an inexplicable certainty it was before ten. Mastering this before that age must be how she became who she is.
"Even so, yours is pretty serious, Hyunwoo. Even for a first-timer against me, you shouldn't freeze up that badly. I didn't expect you'd hold out until the pregnancy demand."
"……Sorry."
"Negotiation basics: Know your weapons, your opponent's weapons, and what they want—then steer the talk in your favor. Like me bringing up Hanban Group unnecessarily, or inflating the value of my pride when I don't actually care that much."
"Pardon?"
It was shock after shock. So all her behaviors toward me had just been tools to gain the upper hand?
"Eye contact, tone, pacing, posture, timing to interrupt—they all matter. Depending on how you use them, the whole negotiation shifts. Of course. We're not robots. Even if your product's quality dips a bit, stirring the opponent's emotions or building trust wins half the battle."
That was when it happened.
"Liar! Sis would never not care about her pride...!"
I nodded in agreement with Oh Hana. Han Aebom replied,
"It varies by person."
"...Huh?"
"At least for the people in this room, my pride isn't that important to me."
"N-No way. That's not touching... Who are you?! Who's wearing our Aebom Sis's skin?! Are you some master of disguise spy sent by Oh Hanam?!"
"Quiet down."
"Eep!"
Han Aebom stuffed an apple in Oh Hana's mouth and turned to me. Her gaze was so warm now, it was hard to believe the negotiator was fake. Yet she was subtly gauging my reaction.
"It was all just to help you in life going forward, Hyunwoo. Don't get the wrong idea. Anyone else can misunderstand, but not you."
Caught off guard by her adorable side, I spoke up.
"That image from earlier was too intense. It might leave a trauma."
For a moment, Han Aebom pouted like she was the one more shocked. I couldn't help but burst out laughing.