The Poisoned Chalice
Bad reviews of Tado-myeon poured out through the media day after day. Right after the product launch, patients flooded hospitals complaining of inexplicable stomach pains. All they'd eaten was a single bowl of ramen—at most. None other than Tado-myeon itself.
"As expected of a Scoville 20,000 beast..." I glanced at the massive negative article splashed across the front page of the newspaper and offered a silent prayer for Nongwon's departed soul. They were probably scrambling for countermeasures right now. In times like these, keeping my distance from Nongwon was the smart play.
"So, Seoyeon plans to outsource production of this Chilgyejang Bowl Ramen, right?"
"Yes... Have I made a mistake, perhaps?"
"Nonsense. As the saying goes, product launches are a race against time. A truly brilliant decision, worthy of the Han granddaughter."
I immediately requested meetings with Grandpa and Dad. Well, "meetings" was a stretch—we all lived in the same mansion, so it was really just knocking on doors.
Nongwon had poured every last won earmarked for Chilgyejang into developing Tado-myeon. Factory expansions. Equipment upgrades. Massive ad campaigns. They'd dressed it up as a bold challenge, but in truth, they'd drunk from a poisoned chalice.
I quietly curled my lips into a smile. Chilgyejang Bowl Ramen was also the product from my most guarded rival. If we had ample production lines, I wouldn't have agonized like this. But Hansung Food had teetered on the brink of ruin, forcing us to squeeze maximum profit from limited budgets and facilities. We'd had no choice but to shelve Chilgyejang, tears in our eyes.
Then, providentially, Nongwon made a fatal blunder. They'd abandoned the surefire Chilgyejang and pivoted to Tado-myeon.
Grandpa took a single chopstickful of the Chilgyejang prototype, and his eyes went wide.
"Excellent. More convenient than cup ramen made with Hansung Jjapaghetti, and above all, a popular flavor perfectly suited to our nation."
At a price far cheaper than standard cup ramen, it would capture a broad consumer base on its own. From cash-strapped students to office workers and soldiers—anyone could grab it without hesitation. And naturally, the taste held its own against any other ramen.
"Good. Son Seongu, you take charge of the Chilgyejang project and assist Seoyeon directly."
"Father!"
Dad was clearly trying to dissuade him. I was just a kindergartener, after all; he couldn't help but cast a worried glance my way.
"Seongu."
"Yes, Father."
"Have I not told you before? You can't hide a needle forever. It will always pierce through in time."
"..."
"In group business, age is just a number. Haven't world-renowned geniuses been overlooked for something as trivial as that?"
"Father..."
Dad looked back and forth between Grandpa and me, then let out a deep sigh. I knew it. He just wanted me to grow up happy and fulfilled, without a care in the world. Sheltered from harsh market winds and bloody chaebol rivalries. He wished to keep that world far from me.
That's why he couldn't protest further.
I toddled over and climbed into Dad's lap. He wrapped me gently in arms thicker than most grown men's thighs. His palms felt especially rough today—traces of the years he'd toiled to protect our family.
"Daddy!"
I rubbed my cheek against his broad chest and whispered softly.
"Daddy, Seoyeon isn't struggling at all. It's actually fun."
"Seoyeonie..."
"Hehe, Mommy said so herself."
"?"
"Mommy's dream is to take a leisurely trip to Europe with you. But you're always busy, the company's in trouble, and you even hid emergency cash in the wall because you never know when we might get kicked out of the mansion?"
"!"
Both of them coughed awkwardly in unison. Dad's eyes trembled like there was an earthquake. Because they'd never taken a proper honeymoon after marriage.
Embarrassed, they averted their gazes.
"So Seoyeon wants to grow up fast and help with your work. That way, Mommy's dream comes true sooner."
"S-Seoyeonie!"
"Kyaa~!"
Moved, Dad crushed me in a bear hug. Grandpa smacked his lips enviously from the side.
"After all, for this Han Seongu, there's no one but our little girl! Krheungheung!"
Dad, who looked scarier than any bandit, wept like a waterfall. I patted his back with my tiny hands.
As long as nothing happened to me, our family wouldn't be evicted from Grandpa's mansion. So I had to protect it all. I'd reincarnated as a chaebol heiress through hardship; I couldn't live forever looking over my shoulder.
I'll protect it all, no matter what. This house, my family, and my still-shaky position. And if I could seize Hansung Group in my own hands while I'm at it... that wouldn't be half bad.
＊
"Uncle!"
Seo Jieun headed straight to Nongwon's headquarters the moment she saw the media reports. Tado-myeon's side effects. The extreme spiciness nearing Scoville 20,000 had finally backfired. The front page screamed with a sensational headline: Tado-myeon Stomach Pain Outbreak.
"D-Damn it!"
Jang Sehun, in his office, clutched his hair and glared at the newspaper on his desk, at a loss. Phones were already ringing off the hook from customers heading to Nongwon. And they'd diverted funds from other investments—how much worse could it get?
"H-How did this happen?"
"Uncle?"
"This... it's all over. How did I climb this far!"
"Uncle!"
"J-Jieun?"
"Good grief, what is this? The other employees are swamped with customer complaints. If even you lose it here, who's going to hold things together?"
"R-Right. In times like these, I need to keep my head."
Seo Jieun flopped onto the plush sofa. Nongwon was in dire straits. Jjajang ramen had flopped. Their ace in the hole, Tado-myeon, had turned to poison. Consecutive failures threatened to topple every other project. Surrounded on all sides, she took a deep breath.
"Uncle, I have something to say."
"Y-You do?"
"Yes. I've been thinking... It seems Hansung Food is hiding some massive secret we don't know about."
"...What do you mean?"
Seo Jieun pulled out Hansung Jjapaghetti, Sichuan Hansung Jjapaghetti, and the newly launched Haeguri from her bag, placing them one by one on the table.
"Remember? Hansung Food partnered with Japan right at launch to distribute successful ramens domestically."
"Yes."
As Jang Sehun nodded, she continued.
"It failed, of course. Forcing Japanese tastes on our people was doomed from the start."
"True. Back then, we didn't even consider Hansung a threat..."
"Exactly. Hansung Food was supposed to fail. Chairman Han Seongcheol himself stepped in for those Japanese ramens, and it all collapsed spectacularly."
She couldn't pinpoint exactly where things went wrong. But one thing she was certain of: a monstrous genius lurked at Hansung Food. One who could upend the entire industry.
"You said it yourself, Uncle—there might be a Hansung mole in our ranks at Nongwon."
"Right. Otherwise, my jjajang ramen prep..."
"Uncle. What if... just what if."
Seo Jieun paused dramatically. It was too absurd a hypothesis.
"What if there's no mole at all?"
"...Huh? What are you saying?"
"I'm speaking hypothetically. What if Hansung's ramens came purely from their own skill?"
She'd launched a thorough investigation to uncover the secret of Hansung Jjapaghetti. Sleepless days and nights, mobilizing every resource at her disposal. And she'd learned the truth: Hansung Food had produced them through pure talent, no tricks.
"Uncle, see this?"
"...What's that?"
The item she pulled out: the olive seasoning oil packet from Hansung Jjapaghetti.
"I know how many years you've slaved over jjajang ramen development. But this? We never had it. We talked granule soup, flakes, maybe some liquid spice packet. But olive seasoning oil? Nowhere."
"!"
"Uncle, where did this olive oil come from? Did Nongwon have a department seriously developing it? Not that I know of. Who even thinks to put olive oil in ramen?"
"S-So you're saying my suspicions were wrong?"
"Yes. We need to pivot our strategy. At this rate, we'll be lucky not to get booted from the industry altogether."
Only then did Jang Sehun snap to his senses. Nongwon's reserves weren't depleted yet. From her checks, the shelved Chilgyejang project seemed the most viable option left.
"Uncle, even now, we could pivot back to Chilgyejang..."
Of course, they couldn't continue the conversation.
A shocking report came over the internal line.
"What? Hansung is launching what?!"
Division Chief Jang Sehun shot to his feet. Seo Jieun's eyes widened in disbelief.
"H-Hansung is putting out Chilgyejang?!"