The Wrong Direction
Lee Tak-hyeon slipped a piece of sushi into his mouth, closed his eyes for a moment, and savored the flavor.
"Mmm."
Letting out a short hum of satisfaction, he opened his eyes and passed the plate of remaining sushi to Lee Gyeong-eun. As if there was no further need to taste it, he set down his chopsticks and turned to Kim Seong-ho.
"Knowing what ingredients go inside and what shape it takes shouldn't make it taste better. So how did you manage this?"
Kim Seong-ho nodded at Lee Tak-hyeon's question and answered.
"You're right. If simply copying a recipe were enough to recreate it perfectly, anyone could become the world's finest chef."
He glanced briefly at the Chinese cuisine executive chef still standing rigid with tension, then looked back at Lee Tak-hyeon.
"The reason Ilhyeon Hotel can produce the finest food is that the precise results of our analysis are then recreated by the best chef in the country—the man standing right here."
Kim Seong-ho gave full credit to the executive chef.
Lee Tak-hyeon regarded the chef standing behind them and offered a word of praise.
"Well done. The food is thoroughly satisfying."
"Th-thank you, sir."
Only after hearing Lee Tak-hyeon declare himself satisfied did the executive chef finally allow himself to breathe.
"Have a special bonus paid out today to every chef working at Ilhyeon Hotel."
"Yes, sir. Understood."
Having given the order to Kim Seong-ho, Lee Tak-hyeon next turned to the general manager.
"I'll be taking lunch here every Wednesday from now on, so go ahead and reserve a table for me."
At Lee Tak-hyeon's declaration that he would return every week, the general manager's eyes shone with emotion. Like the executive chef before him, he bowed deeply and answered in a strong voice.
"We will serve the Chairman with the utmost devotion from this day forward."
"Don't make such a fuss as you did today. All I'm asking is that you prepare a seat. After tasting this food, I simply figured securing a table will soon become difficult, so I'm booking in advance."
With that final remark that they need not fuss over his visits, Lee Tak-hyeon dismissed the two men. Then he beckoned Kim Seong-ho over to sit beside him.
Kim Seong-ho gave the executive chef and general manager a quiet nod of acknowledgment for their hard work and took the seat next to Lee Tak-hyeon.
"I came to see what nonsense you might be up to simply because the hotel food was supposed to be good... and it turns out the food is so good it leaves no room for any other thoughts."
"Seong-ho, the dumplings and sushi were really delicious! They say there's a French restaurant here as well—I can't even imagine how good that one must be. Right, Mom?"
Lee Gyeong-eun bubbled with excitement and turned to Chu Suk-ja.
Chu Suk-ja looked down at her plate with a reluctant expression. The dishes that had held the dumplings and sushi only moments earlier now sat empty and spotless in front of her. At the sight of the clean plates she unconsciously licked her lips, then gave a reluctant nod.
"It was... good. Yes, it was good."
When even Chu Suk-ja agreed, Lee Gyeong-eun turned to Lee Tak-hyeon.
"Dad, let's go to the French restaurant too. They say the view from the windows is spectacular. And the shaved ice and cakes from the coffee shop next door are supposed to be incredible as well. Come on—let's try everything!"
Seeing Kim Seong-ho receive recognition made Lee Gyeong-eun as delighted as a child.
Lee Tak-hyeon smiled at her and said,
"We've already decided I'll come every week, so that's enough for today. If we eat everything now, there will be nothing left to look forward to next time."
"Ah! You're right."
Lee Gyeong-eun accepted her father's words and sent Kim Seong-ho a look that said he had done well. He answered that silent message with a bright smile.
Lee Tak-hyeon watched the couple exchange glances for a moment, then spoke to Kim Seong-ho.
"Now that I know the food is excellent, let's get to the real conversation."
At those words, the smile on Lee Gyeong-eun's face stiffened slightly. Unlike her, however, Kim Seong-ho remained perfectly calm.
"Yes, sir. Please go ahead."
He looked as though he already knew exactly what Lee Tak-hyeon intended to say.
Lee Tak-hyeon studied Kim Seong-ho's complete lack of tension for a quiet moment before opening his mouth.
"I hadn't planned to ask this here, but looking at you now has given me a different idea."
He finished speaking and the corner of his mouth lifted.
"At next month's second-half presidents' meeting, would you like to present Ilhyeon Hotel's performance yourself?"
"Honey!"
"Dad!"
Lee Gyeong-eun and Chu Suk-ja, seated together, both cried out in startled voices.
"Honey, Kim Seong-ho at that meeting? He has no right to sit there!"
Unable to comprehend Kim Seong-ho's attendance at the presidents' meeting, Chu Suk-ja turned on Lee Tak-hyeon. His eyebrows twitched at her words.
"Whether someone is qualified or not is for me to decide. If I tell someone to attend, that means they are qualified—whoever they are. Who are you to talk about qualifications?"
At the clear displeasure in Lee Tak-hyeon's tone, Chu Suk-ja flinched and immediately apologized.
"I'm sorry. I was just..."
"Stay out of company business."
Still irritated by her interference, Lee Tak-hyeon shot her another hard look. Then he rose from his seat and addressed Kim Seong-ho.
"I'll be listening to Ilhyeon Hotel's results at that meeting, so take note."
"Yes, sir. I'll make sure everything is thoroughly prepared."
"Good. You're busy, so get back to work. We're leaving now. No need to see us out."
With those final words Lee Tak-hyeon turned and left the room; Chu Suk-ja followed him in silence. Before departing, Lee Gyeong-eun gave Kim Seong-ho a brief, gentle hug that said everything she could not put into words.
Having completed this final test, Kim Seong-ho watched the three of them leave with a look of quiet satisfaction.
The Ilhyeon Group held presidents' meetings twice a year—once in the first half and once in the second. Presidents of every affiliate gathered to present their results from the previous half-year and to forecast the half-year ahead. Because the meetings were convened by Lee Tak-hyeon's direct order and ranked among the Group's most important events, every Ilhyeon affiliate poured its full effort into them. Those with strong results came determined to maintain them; those with poor results came armed with plans for a turnaround.
"Ugh... I'm so nervous I could die."
Jo Byeong-jin, face tight with tension, could not keep still and kept pacing back and forth. Kim Seong-ho watched him and spoke with a laugh.
"Why are you acting like you've never set foot in headquarters before? Don't tell me you forgot you worked here until you moved over to the Strategic Planning Office?"
"That's completely different from this."
Still unable to relax, Jo Byeong-jin shook his pale face and continued.
"We're meeting the Chairman..."
"You met the Chairman at my wedding."
"Come on. This time we're meeting him officially, with every affiliate president present."
"Just stand next to me. There's no need to get so worked up."
Jo Byeong-jin stared at Kim Seong-ho's unshakable calm with open amazement.
"Are you seriously not bothered at all?"
"What's there to be nervous about? Having the other presidents in the room doesn't change Ilhyeon Hotel's numbers, and I see the Chairman at home every morning and evening—so if anything, this feels familiar."
"You're something else."
Jo Byeong-jin knew all too well how difficult it was to actually think the way Kim Seong-ho did, no matter how easy the words sounded.
"Well now, Director Kim."
The moment they arrived on the twelfth floor where the presidents' meeting would take place, people who recognized Kim Seong-ho began greeting him.
"Have you been well?"
"President Park. How have you been, sir?"
"Fine, fine. Seeing Director Kim here like this is quite a change. We'll be running into each other often from now on—let's make sure we meet outside as well."
President Park of Ilhyeon Machinery offered his greetings, and right behind him President Jeong of Ilhyeon Precision spotted Kim Seong-ho and came over.
"Director Kim. How long has it been? I never even got a chance to say hello at the wedding, and now here we are."
"It's been a long time, President Jeong. Meeting you here feels even more special. You've been well, I hope?"
"Of course. More importantly, we should grab a meal sometime when you're free."
"Just let me know a convenient time and I'll arrange a meal for you at the hotel."
"Ah, perfect. No need to go anywhere else when we can eat right at the hotel. I've heard the hotel restaurants are excellent."
President Jeong clasped Kim Seong-ho's hand and smiled warmly.
"You've worked hard. It can't have been easy."
"All thanks to your concern, President Jeong. I'll keep working hard so I don't fall short of your expectations."
"Hahaha. This man..."
With smooth, practiced conversation Kim Seong-ho easily won the man's goodwill. President Jeong of Ilhyeon Precision left only after inviting him to dinner several more times.
One after another, the presidents of Ilhyeon Life, Ilhyeon Electronics, Ilhyeon Media, and the rest of the Group's affiliates came up to Kim Seong-ho and struck up conversation. Watching him handle every president with effortless skill, Jo Byeong-jin could only murmur in admiration.
What the...? Anyone watching would think he'd been navigating these waters for decades.
To Kim Seong-ho the presidents' meeting seemed no different from any other task. Talking with the affiliate presidents looked more comfortable for him than meeting friends. No one would have guessed this was his first time attending.
"The meeting begins in ten minutes. Presidents of each affiliate, please take your seats and wait for the Chairman."
When a secretary's office staff member made the announcement, the cluster of presidents around Kim Seong-ho reluctantly said their goodbyes and began filing into the conference room one by one.
"You really are something else."
"Something else? How so?"
Once the presidents had gone into the room, Jo Byeong-jin stepped closer.
"From what I overheard, all you ever exchanged at the wedding were a few passing words. How do you remember all of them?"
"I memorized them before coming."
"All those people?"
The Ilhyeon Group was no small company. The number of affiliate presidents alone easily exceeded sixty; memorizing them overnight was no simple feat. Kim Seong-ho merely shrugged.
"I only memorized the important ones. The rest I handle with improvisation. Besides, they're the ones recognizing me first, so it isn't that hard."
"Easy for you to say..."
While Jo Byeong-jin was still staring at him with pure admiration, an unwelcome figure appeared between them.
"Look at the flies swarming around you."
At the mocking tone, Jo Byeong-jin quickly bowed his head in greeting and stepped back. Lee Sang-jong watched him retreat for a moment, then turned to Kim Seong-ho.
"How does it feel? Flies fawning all over you—must be dizzying."
"I don't know what you mean, sir."
"You don't know what I mean?"
Lee Sang-jong gave a short, contemptuous laugh and took a step closer. He jabbed a finger hard into Kim Seong-ho's chest as he spoke.
"It means don't get cocky. The Ilhyeon Group is not a place a guy like you gets to drool over."
Even though Lee Sang-jong drove his finger into Kim Seong-ho's chest with force, Kim Seong-ho showed not the slightest sign of pain.
"President Lee Sang-jong, the Chairman will be arriving shortly."
With every president now seated and only Kim Seong-ho and Lee Sang-jong left outside the conference room, a secretary's office staff member urged Lee Sang-jong to go in.
"I know."
Lee Sang-jong snapped at the staff member, then fired a final warning at Kim Seong-ho.
"Just because a bunch of flies are buzzing around you, don't get any funny ideas. Got it? I'll be watching every move you make."
He glared at Kim Seong-ho, then brushed past him with a deliberate shoulder check and entered the conference room.
Kim Seong-ho watched him go in silence for a moment. Once Lee Sang-jong had taken his seat, the staff member invited Kim Seong-ho inside as well, and he and Jo Byeong-jin entered last.
Staying close to Kim Seong-ho's side, Jo Byeong-jin spoke in a low voice.
"Why is President Lee acting like that?"
"He must see me as a rival."
"A rival? Rival for what?"
Jo Byeong-jin looked at him, completely lost. Kim Seong-ho stood in front of the seat with his nameplate, smiled, and answered.
"He's started treating me as a threat to the next succession of the Ilhyeon Group."
"Next... successor?"
The words "next successor of the Ilhyeon Group" shocked Jo Byeong-jin so thoroughly that he froze and forgot to sit down. Smiling, Kim Seong-ho took him by both shoulders and gently guided him into his seat.
"No need to be so surprised. Second Brother has always been a champion at barking up the wrong tree."
"Barking up the wrong tree?"
Now seated behind Kim Seong-ho, Jo Byeong-jin recovered enough to ask. As Kim Seong-ho settled into his own prepared seat, he turned back and said,
"It's similar enough, but the direction is wrong. He shouldn't be aiming at me..."
Kim Seong-ho gave Jo Byeong-jin a bright smile and turned forward again.
Jo Byeong-jin desperately wanted to ask what on earth that meant, but the chance never came. The doors opened and Chairman Lee Tak-hyeon entered the conference room with Vice Chairman Lee Mun-jong at his side.