Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Informant
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A room salon in central Seoul.
Two middle-aged men sat facing each other across a table.
“There’s nothing to give you this time. The bastards at Daehan Construction are turning into complete stagnant water—they’re not getting anything done.”
“Stagnant water always rots. Must be worrying you plenty.”
Manager Kim Jung-ho of Seojin Construction shot back at the man’s grumbling.
His lips curved in a good-natured smile, but his eyes looking at the other man were filled with contempt.
No way he could look fondly on a guy smirking while selling out his company’s secrets.
Even so.
Clink-clink-!
Manager Kim poured whiskey generously into the man’s empty glass and said.
“Today’s not about business. Let’s just strengthen our friendship.”
The man picked up Manager Kim’s glass and flashed a sleazy grin.
“For our friendship’s sake, I’ll make sure to bring solid info next time. Oh, and what’s the status on casting Jin Suyeong?”
“Jin Suyeong? Already on board. Just needs the stamp now.”
“You still haven’t stamped it? Ha, is that little bitch eyeing Seojin too?”
“It’s not about guts—she’s just negotiating terms. Who’d dare test Seojin?”
There was bite in Manager Kim’s words.
The man caught the implication, and the corner of his mouth twitched for a moment.
The word “dare” included him too.
But the man didn’t show any displeasure.
He’d sold plenty to Seojin Construction over the years.
Daehan Construction’s annual business plans.
Budgets for landing redevelopment projects.
Even pre-patent construction tech right before filing and info on talent they wanted to scout.
He’d sold everything he could.
And now.
Those very things had become his “weak points.”
“I’ll have to keep listening to that bastard from now on.”
If Seojin Construction exposed him to Daehan?
It wouldn’t end with just getting fired.
They’d slap him with legal charges and strip him of everything he had.
That’s why he had to hang on even more viciously.
The man chuckled and raised his glass.
“A toast to Seojin Construction!!!”
***
After meeting Jeong Hee-joo.
Lee Dae-hyeok, who had gone to Daehan Construction, asked Joo Hyo-min about the differences between Seojin Construction and Daehan Construction in the break room just before lunch ended.
“It’s really suspicious. Sure, top-tier celebs are few and far between, so some overlap’s possible, but it keeps happening like this... They must be targeting us on purpose.”
Joo Hyo-min answered his question while sipping the perfectly mixed coffee Lee Dae-hyeok had brewed for her.
“Truth is, our construction tech and building infrastructure like heat dissipation aren’t lagging behind Seojin’s at all.”
A furrow formed between Joo Hyo-min’s brows.
“That’s what makes it so infuriating. It’s basically our PR team losing.”
She had her share of frustrations too.
Seojin was paying over double the appearance fees—who’d sign with Daehan unless they had a gun to their head?
It was the obvious result of budget shortages, but upper management blamed the PR team’s competence.
“Because it lightens the load if they’ve got someone to pin it on. I’m pissed too, but what can you do? Gotta suck it up if you’re a salaryman. Why the sudden interest anyway? Worked here a week and suddenly overflowing with company loyalty?”
“Just curious.”
Lee Dae-hyeok shook his head with an awkward smile.
Truth was, his loyalty was boiling over.
He’d take over Daehan Construction—no, the whole Daehan Group someday.
But he couldn’t say his real goal, so Lee Dae-hyeok changed the subject.
“Oh, and you said earlier you had something to tell me?”
“Nothing special until next week. Just run errands and get a feel for the job—that’s it. They won’t really grind you until after orientation, so think of it as getting paid to chill. Fun, right?”
“Not really. I came to work, not play.”
Did she think they were close now?
Lee Dae-hyeok shrugged at Joo Hyo-min’s joke.
Surprised, she continued.
“No parachute like you so far has been this way... So you actually want to work?”
“Yes.”
Joo Hyo-min crossed her arms and pondered at Lee Dae-hyeok’s firm answer.
It just so happened to be the day scheduled for a meeting with actress Jin Suyeong.
That cheeky pure-image actress.
“Why’s she suddenly backing out of the contract?’
Just recently, Jin Suyeong had verbally agreed to appear in Daehan Construction’s CF.
But she kept delaying the contract, then sent word she’d signed with Seojin Construction’s ad instead.
Of course, Daehan’s president and execs were livid.
They’d lost a famous actress slated for their ad model to their rival Seojin.
So the execs ordered the PR team to play money games if needed and secure Jin Suyeong for the ad no matter what.
The problem was.
Jin Suyeong’s side had already rejected the meeting request.
Now they’d have to storm the shooting set.
‘Going alone feels off... and dragging someone else might just end in blood.’
Joo Hyo-min mentally tallied people worth bringing.
Assistant Manager Im Soon-chul was too soft, and the other staff lacked the grit to handle Jin Suyeong.
Lee Dae-hyeok was the best bet, but... dragging a clueless newbie to a contract現場 was iffy.
‘Maybe test him on-site?’
After a moment’s thought, Joo Hyo-min spoke up.
“You know actress Jin Suyeong?”
“Yeah. Seen her on TV sometimes.”
A familiar name.
Lee Dae-hyeok nodded in response.
But.
‘Jin Suyeong? Jin Suyeong...’
Something felt off, like a fishbone stuck in his throat.
‘There’s definitely something...’
He had an episode about Jin Suyeong he needed to recall.
“Hmm.”
While Lee Dae-hyeok furrowed his brow and racked his brain, Joo Hyo-min explained the situation so far.
.
.
.
“If it’s a sudden rejection, it’s probably not just about money—some other reason.”
“Not money, but something else?”
Joo Hyo-min couldn’t quite follow Lee Dae-hyeok’s response.
Some actors nitpicked company image.
But Daehan Construction, despite slumping performance, had a spotless public image.
Never tangled in any scandals.
Yet not about money—what else?
“What kind of reason?”
“In cases like this, it’s usually emotional.”
“Emotional?”
“Love, hate, revenge—those kinds of emotions.”
Lee Dae-hyeok’s eyes sparkled as he smiled.
‘Ah, Jin Suyeong! Lee Dae-hwan’s second mistress.’
Finally dislodging the fishbone, Lee Dae-hyeok let out a chuckle.
He’d learned about the scandal between Lee Dae-hwan and Jin Suyeong thanks to Yoo Jae-man, ultimately.
[Gun-woo, we win before we fight.]
[How do we win before fighting, sir?]
[Grab their weaknesses.]
Yoo Jae-man was a winner.
But winners always had to battle countless enemies.
One of those was Lee Dae-hwan.
To topple Daehan Group and merge it, Lee Dae-hwan was an “enemy” who had to fall.
[Not really an enemy, though.]
[What do you mean?]
[That arrogant punk approached me first back then. Wanted the top two chaebols to team up and take the world. Thought he was on my level—the idiot.]
Lee Dae-hwan had once met Yoo Jae-man one-on-one, thanks to a close aide.
There, deluded into thinking they were equals, he’d proposed an alliance to Yoo Jae-man.
[Alliances are for equals, right? Pissed me off a bit.]
Furious, Yoo Jae-man merged Daehan Group and seized everything Lee Myung-guk had built.
In the process, he gathered dirt on Lee Dae-hwan via cops, prosecutors, paparazzi, and more.
One piece was Lee Dae-hwan’s flashy womanizing and debauched private life.
[Should’ve stopped at playing around, but drug addiction too? What’s wrong with Lee Myung-guk’s sons?]
After Daehan Group fell.
Kim Gun-woo only heard snippets about Lee Dae-hwan from Yoo Jae-man.
‘Drug addict, huh...’
Probably from the despair of losing everything.
‘That guy’s future will change too.’
Strange.
He was saving Daehan Group and altering his enemy’s future.
On top of that.
Jin Suyeong, who’d been Lee Dae-hwan’s affair partner, her future would change too.
‘Jin Suyeong was one of them. And this ad thing is her revenge.’
Screwing over Daehan Group? Probably because of Lee Dae-hwan.
‘Time to teach her what real revenge is.’
Lee Dae-hyeok’s eyes flashed sharply.
He had to pull Jin Suyeong to his side, one way or another.
She’d be a useful weapon to take down Lee Dae-hwan.
Plus.
‘In 2007, Jin Suyeong becomes paraplegic from a car accident. Even Yoo Jae-man’s paparazzi couldn’t link it to Lee Dae-hwan...’
Recalling Jin Suyeong’s memories one by one, Lee Dae-hyeok gritted his teeth.
‘Might be fun to dig into it this time.’
The truth could wait.
Now was the time to secure the weapon called “Jin Suyeong.”
“Anyway, just my guess from experience. We’ll know the real reason once we meet her.”
“So you’re saying you can persuade actress Jin Suyeong if we meet?”
“I’ve dealt with plenty like Jin Suyeong. Can’t guarantee, but... worth a shot.”
Not a lie.
Back as Kim Gun-woo, he’d met countless heiresses and elites.
Some were “dragons” who’d clawed up from nothing.
After grabbing money and success, they craved social prestige and pride.
Jin Suyeong probably wanted revenge to protect her pride.
He just had to help with that revenge.
“I’ll handle her my way.”
“Hmm...”
After hesitating at Lee Dae-hyeok’s bold claim, Joo Hyo-min made up her mind.
‘Fine. Take him along. If it’s gonna flop anyway... let him rack up some experience.’
But taking Lee Dae-hyeok on an outside errand wasn’t easy.
‘Will Manager Park okay a newbie going out?’
Park Min-chan hated newbies on outside duties.
He had this fixed idea: “Outside work = slacking.”
Probably because that’s what he did when he went out.
‘If he opposes to the end, nothing I can do.’
.
.
.
A moment later.
“So, you wanna take Lee Dae-hyeok on an outside errand?”
Joo Hyo-min nodded at Park Min-chan’s question and continued.
“Yes. Casting is a key part of PR work. I think this’ll help him a lot.”
“Experience over results? Work means delivering outcomes.”
Park Min-chan grumbled.
His point was valid, of course.
But he knew experience led to results too.
Still, Park Min-chan wanted to torment Lee Dae-hyeok, who knew his weakness, so he nitpicked.
Joo Hyo-min knew that and tried persuading him once more.
“Team leader, you need opportunity to get results. Give him a chance.”
“And if he fails? You taking responsibility?”
“Team leader, you know this contract’s doomed. How am I supposed to—”
“Enough, Joo Hyo-min. I’m talking to the newbie right now.”
Park Min-chan cut her off.
A sleazy smile spread across his face.
He knew it was forced, but he’d found his opening.
A chance to legally pin blame on Lee Dae-hyeok.
“If it fails, how will you take responsibility, Lee Dae-hyeok?”
“Responsibility means doing whatever the other side wants. Name your terms.”
Lee Dae-hyeok responded cockily to Park Min-chan’s pressure.
He wasn’t even using psycho metry, but he knew what Park Min-chan was thinking.
‘Trying to seize control, huh.’
Didn’t matter.
He’d secure Jin Suyeong’s ad contract, whatever it took.
As Lee Dae-hyeok waited calmly, Park Min-chan said.
“Fine. Go. I’ll decide your punishment by then.”
“Hmm, weird.”
Hearing Park Min-chan’s reply, Lee Dae-hyeok deliberately tilted his head.
“Thinking of failure before success. Wouldn’t a good contract benefit our department and company?”
“Th-that’s...”
Lee Dae-hyeok hit the nail on the head, and Park Min-chan stuttered.
“I-it’s just preparing for the worst. Of course I want success. Jin Suyeong’s top-three actress material. Nail it.”
“...We’ll be off. Lee Dae-hyeok, let’s go.”
Joo Hyo-min bowed her head slightly to wrap things up.
Sticking around just wasted time.
Lee Dae-hyeok gave Park Min-chan a quick nod, then followed Joo Hyo-min out.
Watching them leave the department, Park Min-chan waved.
“Have fun. Call if anything changes.”
Thud-.
Once they were out of the office, Park Min-chan’s lips curled up.
‘Please come back with the contract trashed. Then I’ll properly educate you. Heh heh heh.’
Park Min-chan smirked viciously, plotting how to legally torment Lee Dae-hyeok.