Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Royal Family 5-3
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Han Ji-young no longer doubted or was surprised by Seo Ji-hyeok's actions.
After all that commotion, Seo Ji-hyeok went back into the restaurant and ordered two more servings of bulgogi.
The restaurant owner was the one taken aback by the sight.
Han Ji-young, fresh from the bathroom, had reverted to her usual composed and slightly prim expression. She sat across from Seo Ji-hyeok as if nothing had happened and accepted the drink he poured her.
They clinked glasses, took a sip, and she picked up some vegetables with her chopsticks.
Just like that, the two chatted amiably while filling their hungry stomachs with the delicious food.
"Manager, sorry to disturb you while you're resting."
They had finished their meal and were heading back to the hotel.
Han Ji-young had mentioned contacting Manager Oh, and when Seo Ji-hyeok nodded, she made the call.
"Yes. I'm currently with Mr. Seo Ji-hyeok in Yangseon City."
"........."
"Sorry I couldn't inform you ahead of time. The schedule was urgent. Anyway, Manager, I'm calling about that request. Yes, the Ilshin Chemical media play. I'd like one of the major news outlets to post an article on their online edition first. Yes, right now."
"........."
"Yes, not on a portal site—just a subpage on the news outlet's homepage should do. Yes, purely for show."
"...................."
"Yes, thank you. Then could you send the URL? Yes. You can come tomorrow afternoon."
While coordinating the schedule with Manager Oh during the call, Han Ji-young glanced at Seo Ji-hyeok's face.
When he nodded, she continued with the rest.
"Yes. I'll prepare the draft contract. Yes. It'd be best if our Special Sales Department signs the contract and passes it to Taesung Chemical."
"......................"
"Yes. We probably won't attend the afternoon meeting with Ilshin Chemical. We'll join up after it ends."
"...................."
"Yes. See you tomorrow. Sorry to disturb your rest."
Seo Ji-hyeok smiled contentedly upon hearing Han Ji-young's call.
Once a decision was made, she swiftly found her place.
That was likely the driving force behind her promotion to deputy manager after just two years on the job.
And it was exactly that quality Seo Ji-hyeok wanted.
The call ended, and moments later, the two arrived in the hotel lobby.
Was it the hotel's peculiar atmosphere?
Han Ji-young seemed a little tense.
"Deputy Han."
"Yes?"
"Not some 'trust oppa' nonsense, but because this is Yangseon City. Ilshin Chemical Chairman Kim Ho-sun is the king here. They say it's impossible to live in Yangseon City without stepping on his land."
"I get it. Even in a hotel, something could happen."
"Yes. After what went down earlier, it's pretty likely."
"Then should I head to your room, Mr. Seo?"
"No. Let's upgrade the room so we can both sleep comfortably."
A subtle look of relief flickered across Han Ji-young's face for an instant.
But when Seo Ji-hyeok turned toward the front desk, her expression shifted again.
'No way. Nothing will happen. But... what if...'
The moment what if crossed her mind, what flashed through Han Ji-young's head like lightning was the state of her underwear.
She shook her head vigorously from side to side.
'No. Absolutely not. If I say I'll shower first... Ah, that feels weird too...'
Unable to pin down her own thoughts, she shook and nodded her head until Seo Ji-hyeok returned with the key. She startled and stepped back without realizing it.
"What's wrong?"
"Ah... nothing."
"Having naughty thoughts?"
"Pardon...?"
"Just so you know, I'm not mentally ready yet. Underwear's shabby too. Anyway, not tonight."
Seo Ji-hyeok raised both hands and crossed them in an X over his chest.
Han Ji-young stared at him with a dumbfounded look before finally bursting out laughing. "Pfft..."
"Yes. No naughty thoughts. Sleep well tonight."
Han Ji-young's voice was bright.
Seo Ji-hyeok gave her a gentle smile, seeing her face light up to match.
Above all, the best part was that no one entered their upgraded room until morning.
At eight in the morning, they left the room, ate breakfast in the hotel restaurant, then moved to the coffee shop and claimed a comfy spot.
Han Ji-young pulled out her laptop and tablet, diving into some intensive work.
- Tap tap... tap...
Seo Ji-hyeok passed the time leisurely, listening to the music of her slender fingers dancing across the keyboard.
A short while later, at ten o'clock, the quiet coffee shop suddenly buzzed with activity.
Suits appeared first.
They approached the two tables besides Seo Ji-hyeok's, said something, and ushered the people out.
The staff stood rigidly at the counter, eyes fixed on the entrance.
"Looks like this hotel's tied to Ilshin Chemical."
"Yes. Let me confirm."
"No need. Here they come."
The two men already inside the coffee shop took positions on either side and swung the door open. In swaggered Kim Ho-sun, like a king's procession.
He looked far fiercer than in his photos.
"Hello, Chairman!"
As Seo Ji-hyeok had guessed, the hotel staff lined up at the counter bowed deeply toward Kim Ho-sun.
Not half-heartedly, either...
The four employees bending at nearly ninety degrees gave a rough idea of his everyday demeanor.
Like a king trailed by his entourage, Kim Ho-sun slowly approached Seo Ji-hyeok's round table.
A man who looked like his secretary pulled out a chair, and Kim Ho-sun sat right between Seo Ji-hyeok and Ji-young.
"Young folks from Taesung, eh?"
"Business card?"
"No need. Don't know Taesung well, but no one in Yangseon City would dare lie to me."
"Come on, with your piddly 10-billion-won annual sales hole-in-the-wall, bluffing like a full chaebol."
Even Han Ji-young, who'd sworn off being surprised, dropped her pen with a clatter.
If she reacted like that, Kim Ho-sun must have been floored.
And his retinue? The air practically froze solid.
So absurd that Kim Ho-sun stared blankly for a moment.
Then, moments later,
- Bang!
"You... you fucking punk... Think I'm scared of Taesung?"
"No. Not scared, so you've used someone else's land freely for nine years, right?"
"Land? What land?"
Kim Ho-sun had reason to stand so tall against Taesung.
Ilshin Chemical's main revenue came from Taesung rival Mirae Group.
Ilshin specialized in advanced materials and petrochemicals.
Mirae Group, lacking chemical affiliates, partnered strategically with Ilshin for stable supplies.
So even mighty Taesung held no fear for them.
Plus, Kim Ho-sun's family were generational large landowners in Yangseon City.
Rice paddies and fields of old, now crammed with buildings and shops.
His word alone could spike land prices, rents skyrocket, congressmen swap out, or some clown become mayor.
What did he have to fear?
But the word "land" from Seo Ji-hyeok's mouth left him baffled.
He'd figured Taesung was using the grandson's video to cut Mirae-Ilshin ties.
Land? What?
While he reeled in disbelief, Seo Ji-hyeok pressed on.
"You're using Taesung Chemical's factory site for free. Didn't think you'd even forget."
Only then did realization dawn on Kim Ho-sun.
His expression stayed incredulous, though.
"Hold on—so you're demanding the land back now?"
"No. Buy it."
"What? Not handing it over—you want me to buy it?"
- Thud thud!
That was when Seo Ji-hyeok pulled two phones from his pocket and tossed them lightly onto the table.
"Take these."
"What's this?"
"Fun videos of your fine grandson at play. That why you sent goons after me yesterday? Not mine—the girl's."
At "videos," Kim Ho-sun shot Seo Ji-hyeok a glare.
He flicked his hand up slightly, and his secretary snatched the phones off the table.
"Now I've got one video left in my possession."
"So I gotta buy the Taesung Chemical site at an inflated price?"
"Inflated? What price makes it 'inflated' to you?"
"150 billion. Not a won more."
Seo Ji-hyeok glanced at Han Ji-young beside him.
She spun her laptop screen around for Kim Ho-sun to see.
"Daehan Ilbo's tomorrow editorial. Nice title: Ungrateful Bastards. Eyes failing? I'll read the start. 'Nine years ago, under the banner of symbiosis, a firm seized Taesung Chemical's land without permission. Now flush enough to repay the favor tenfold, it still squats there...'"
"What bullshit is that? You never asked for it back—not once!"
"True. We let it slide till now. But who knows?"
"Huh?"
"Taesung Chemical struggles with factory land shortages. Yet out of symbiosis spirit, tolerated Ilshin Chemical's unauthorized occupation. Post-Ilshin's boom and IPO, even nominal usage fees denied... Article drops—who do folks believe?"
"What utter nonsense!"
"And the founder's grandson from such a shameless outfit gets nabbed on drugs. Prosecutors swarm, press piles on."
"You... you... you little shit..."
"Oh, right—one more. Video of your thugs threatening me yesterday. Company goons intimidating a Taesung rep here to talk site... Folks'll eat it up."
"Your guys beat the hell outta them, didn't they?"
"Your guys? They say that? How many?"
Kim Ho-sun was burly for his age.
Genes or gourmet hunts at death's door—who knew—but at 74, he was spry as hell.
Face massive too, cheeks drooping with greed writ large.
Those cheeks quivered.
If Seo was right, calling it "a few guys" was a lie...
This was pride.
In his own Yangseon City, he had been lied to.
Fuming, he glared at Seo Ji-hyeok like he wanted him dead.
Deep down, he itched to sic his men on the smirking punk, force him to his knees right there.
But Taesung or not, he couldn't.
No need to grovel thanks to Mirae ties, but ignoring Taesung outright? No dice.