Chapter 22
Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Royal Family 6-5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A frigid silence stretched between them for a while.
In the secretary's office outside, everyone had turned pale after hearing the earlier shout, but no one dared to knock on the door of the president's office.
It was Seo Ji-hyeok who finally broke the ice, inside and out alike.
"This is just my guess, but I think the chairman nurtured Engisys to test you, President. But you misunderstood. You twisted his intentions and wanted Engisys to become a company that even Taesung Electronics—the core affiliate of the group—couldn't touch. Shall I go on?"
Seo Ji-hyeok asked Kang Mi-young with a bright smile.
She, who had been glaring sharply at him, slowly leaned back against the sofa and clasped her hands together.
"Go ahead."
"That same misunderstanding probably applied to the wife of Engisys President Park Dae-hwi—your sister-in-law, President. She was the fifth daughter of Mirae Group's Lee family, in an ambiguous position. So the two of you easily joined forces, and now Engisys has become indispensable to both Taesung Electronics and Mirae Display. But you didn't expect it to backfire. You don't know your father at all. By the way, my legs hurt. Do I have to keep standing to talk?"
Kang Mi-young, who had been watching Seo Ji-hyeok with her arms draped over the armrests and fingers interlaced, slowly rose from her chair.
She walked past him to the sofa and sat down, then beckoned him with her chin.
Seo Ji-hyeok grinned and plopped down beside her with a bit more flair than necessary.
"Oh, much better."
"Continue."
"No drink?"
This was probably the first time Kang Mi-young had encountered someone like Seo Ji-hyeok.
She stared at him in disbelief as he smiled and asked for a drink.
But soon, she lightly pressed a small bell on the side table.
A moment later, a staff member entered after a soft knock.
"Something to drink. I'll have my usual afternoon one."
As Kang Mi-young turned her head toward Seo Ji-hyeok, he beamed innocently at the staff member.
"I'm curious what you usually have in the afternoon, President. I'll have the same."
The staff member left with their orders, and Kang Mi-young spoke again.
"Everything you just said is in the past. You know that, right?"
"Of course. I know it well."
"So what does the chairman want?"
"He wanted you to bring Engisys into Taesung, President."
"I have it under control. And I hold 28% of Engisys. Isn't that enough?"
"No. Why don't you understand Taesung better than I do? Since when has Taesung shared anything with outsiders?"
Kang Mi-young's face twisted as if she'd been struck by his words.
She had been born and raised in Taesung.
Who knew Taesung better than she did?
That's why she couldn't retort to what Seo Ji-hyeok had just said.
What? Where did I go wrong?
Her mind grew even more tangled.
"So what should I have done?"
"At the very least, you should have prevented Mirae Group from taking a stake in Engisys."
"Does that make sense? He's not my husband. He's Park Dae-hwi, the younger brother of my husband Park Chang-hwi, and Engisys president. His wife is Mirae's Joo Da-rim. How was I supposed to stop that?"
"If you didn't have the confidence to win that fight, you shouldn't have dragged Taesung into it at all."
"That's..."
"Wasn't it your greed, President?"
Kang Mi-young no longer snapped at Seo Ji-hyeok's words.
Instead, she let out a small sigh.
He was right. But she couldn't say her choice back then had been entirely wrong.
Of course, she hadn't expected her father to be that furious about it...
"The chairman judged that you lost the fight fought in Taesung's name. Your current situation is proof. Yet the fact that he's letting things stand means he must care for you deeply, President."
Why was that?
Even though the words came from this thunderbolt of a man, Kang Mi-young felt a sense of relief at Seo Ji-hyeok's statement.
And she realized it was because she wanted to hear—from someone other than herself—that her father, the chairman, truly cared for her.
"Now, get to the point."
But just then—
Knock knock!
The staff member entered through the lightly knocked door and spoke in a soft voice.
"President, your coffee."
"Bring it over."
"Yes."
Amusingly, what the staff placed calmly on the table was coffee from a famous franchise, emblazoned with a blue queen logo.
"Oh, this is what you drink? I thought it'd be something fancy."
"Preconceptions. Thanks. You're dismissed."
"Yes, President."
As the staff left, Kang Mi-young opened her tumbler lid and wet her lips lightly.
Seo Ji-hyeok opened his takeout cup and gulped it down like barley tea.
For a moment, the two savored their coffee.
"Shall I continue?"
"Yes. Now we're talking about the future."
"The Special Sales Department has secured 35% of Jinsung Tech's shares. You know that, right? And just now, Electronics promised 300 billion in investment over the next two years."
"From President Lee Seo-hoon?"
"Yes. Of course, on the condition that I convince you, President."
"Convince me? Of what?"
"Your divorce, which you've been hesitating over."
A smirk crossed the ice princess Kang Mi-young's face at Seo Ji-hyeok's straightforward pitch.
"You think I want a divorce?"
"Your husband reached the top as Finance Ministry Vice Minister at 58—a public servant who's gone as far as he can. Sure, politics lies ahead, but as you know, with three drunk driving incidents, four sexual misconduct scandals, seven media appearances for bribes and graft... politics is out of the question. Isn't it reasonable to say such a husband can't be a good one to you?"
"True. So?"
"When considering divorce, your biggest worry is Engisys. The moment you let go of that sword, it'll cut your own foot. I'm offering to solve that for you—with Jinsung Tech."
Kang Mi-young's eyes darted busily as she gripped her tumbler.
She was calculating the pros and cons.
If Electronics backed Jinsung Tech, it was obvious they'd become the top player in ultra-thin tempered glass domestically within three years.
Good. Too good an offer.
But it wasn't that simple.
Her agreement with her sister-in-law to build Engisys was meant to make them shields for each other when needed.
Both held precarious positions in Taesung and Mirae.
Gain Jinsung Tech, lose Mirae's Joo Da-rim...
Not an easy choice.
As her silence stretched—
"No more agonizing, President."
"It's not simple."
"It is. Bring Jinsung Tech and return to Taesung. Sell your Engisys shares to Electronics. They'll need Engisys until Jinsung Tech stabilizes. Once its usefulness ends, Engisys will be discarded. That's Taesung's way. And don't count on Joo Da-rim's power. It won't help you much, President."
Surprise finally flickered across Kang Mi-young's face at Seo Ji-hyeok's last words.
How far does this kid see?
And she grew curious.
About Seo Ji-hyeok...
Pure curiosity.
"Fine. So how much?"
"Five hundred billion."
"The full 35%, right?"
"Yes. But you know that if you proceed with the divorce, you could acquire Jinsung Tech personally as an investment. Otherwise, it has to be through the hotel."
"I know. Father wouldn't allow me to hold Jinsung Tech without divorcing."
"Yes. Then Electronics gets 10%, National Pension 6%. So Jinsung Tech President Park Seon-woong remains the top shareholder with 49%, you become second with 35%. Electronics at 10% third, National Pension 6% fourth. That protects Park's management rights while locking things for both sides. Also, he'll accept co-president. He's more into development than management anyway."
A clean wrap-up.
Kang Mi-young nodded in agreement.
"Good. We'll do it that way."
"But you know our department has no staff. We'll need you to handle the paperwork."
"Okay."
"Then business is done. I'll be going."
"Wait."
"Yes?"
"Who are you? What's your family name?"
"Wasn't your first words to me the truth, President? Talking among ourselves changes nothing."
"True enough. Anyway, consider this a debt I owe you. I'll help you once."
"Thank you. I'll be going then."
"Go."
Seo Ji-hyeok rose from the sofa and gave Kang Mi-young a light bow.
She acknowledged it with a wave.
Compared to when he entered, their relationship had shifted dramatically, but as he turned, his expression turned icy.
Mirae Group's opening is gone now. Aunts, shall we start the real family feud?
Kang Mi-young, unaware of his expression, gazed at his retreating back.
Inevitably, she compared him to her own children.
Her two foolish, immature sons, just like their father.
The notice appeared on Taesung Inc.'s intranet at exactly 9 a.m.
It took less than an hour for the ripple to spread across all affiliates.
"Hey, Oh Tae-hyung as director? Fine. But what's with Han Ji-young?"
"Man, a secretary's office alum with an executive title."
"Holding company executive director is basically affiliate VP level, right?"
"Fuck, twenty-six? Twenty-seven? Not even Korea University?"
"But what's the Special Headquarters even do?"
"Promoted to headquarters, so they'll recruit. Take me with you?"
Chaos everywhere—gathered groups chattered, boards exploded. A typhoon wouldn't do it justice.
But where the parties involved gathered, it was calm.
"Congratulations on the promotion, Director."
"Congratulations, Director."
Oh Tae-hyung, now an executive director, nodded warmly at Seo Ji-hyeok and Han Ji-young's greetings.
"Congrats to you too, Section Chief Han. At your age, this has to be a record."
"Yes, that's what they say. But not a single congratulatory text."
"Think of it as jealousy."
"True. I don't have close colleagues anyway."
"By the way, Ji-hyeok. What do you make of this?"
Seo Ji-hyeok had been thoroughly excluded from the promotions.
Despite joining just two months ago, landing in a discarded department with zero support, and delivering massive results.
But he didn't look the least bit upset.
Not managed expression—he truly didn't care.
Seo Ji-hyeok slowly opened his mouth.
And as his words continued, Executive Director Oh and Section Chief Han's mouths gradually fell open.
In astonishment.