Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Hong Ki-jun (3)
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Yu Jun-sik hurriedly cleaned up the spilled ssanghwa tea when a calm voice reached his ears. It was the succinct response of a Korean upholding the three bonds and five relationships.
"Yes."
Hong Gi-jun's reaction was in stark contrast to the shock of his second son, Yu Jun-sik. Anyone who understood Sein Group would be appalled, yet he was more composed than a student called to the principal's office.
'Hah... Is this what deprivation feels like?'
Yu Jun-sik's head rang as if he'd been struck in the back of the skull. He'd anticipated his brother-in-law would get a position since he was Yu Se-ra's husband, but wasn't he already overseeing several affiliates including electronics? And now chemicals too?
Sein Chemical might be struggling with annual losses, but it was a symbol of Sein Group. Like Da-jeong Trading under the top-ranked Da-jeong Group or Suyeong Distribution under the third-ranked Suyeong Group. The difference? While the founding companies of Da-jeong and Suyeong had dwindled to corner store status, Sein Chemical still held its own against any affiliate in scale.
Handing over the crown jewel, the very first company founded by the entrepreneur?
Yu Jun-sik instantly grasped Yu Myeong-seon's intent.
'Successor confirmed.'
Setting aside the audacity, it was far too premature. Hong Gi-jun was just thirty-nine. Even forty-two-year-old Yu Jun-sik was still considered young, stuck as executive VP of heavy industry.
Yu Jun-sik bit his lip until it bled.
It hadn't even been five years since he'd heard his sister-in-law, working at Da-jeong Electronics, suddenly quit and went to see her father.
He was already dissatisfied that the hotel had gone to his younger sister Yu Se-ra, and now major affiliates were being handed piecemeal to her husband, not even his daughter.
"Ahem."
Was he savoring the silence dominated by shock? As if he'd given plenty of time to think, Yu Myeong-seon leaned back on the sofa with a light cough. A satisfied smile tinged with pleasure played on the old man's lips—infuriating from Yu Jun-sik's perspective.
"Jun-sik, you know what Hong has accomplished, don't you?"
"Yes, of course..."
His brother-in-law was all over the news daily; denying it would get him kicked out like his older brother.
Still, he wasn't an outsider.
"Even so, Father, Sein is our Yu family's—"
"Yes, the Yu family built it. But Hong will make it even more glorious."
Damn it. Already flustered and at a loss for words, now he was being cut off—Yu Jun-sik felt like shedding bloody tears.
"And don't forget. Se-ra is a Yu too. My child, no one else."
That was the knockout blow.
His father had never discriminated between son and daughter since childhood. Unlike vulgar chaebol families pushing arranged marriages, he'd never interfered in his children's romances. Yu Myeong-seon was a lotus-like chaebol who walked a different path early on.
"After putting him through the wringer, I realized how capable he is, how invaluable. What Hong achieved in three years surpasses Sein's thirty years. I can entrust it to him. With that kind of savvy, he'll get the loss-ridden Sein Chemical back on track."
Ridiculous. With core tech stolen and product development failing, the affiliate was ripe for dissolution—yet turn it around? It could only be explained as acknowledging Chemical's prestige.
'This is practically begging.'
Begging his son-in-law to save the helpless chemical division. Knowing how much Yu Myeong-seon revered and missed his founder grandfather, Yu Jun-sik read between the lines perfectly. And grasped his own position clearly.
So he set his course.
He bowed politely toward his brother-in-law.
"Take care of it. Brother-in-law."
"Please help me out, brother."
Hong Gi-jun showed no wariness. Only then did Yu Jun-sik cautiously exhale the air trapped in his chest.
He was confident he could surpass an incompetent brother anytime. Thus, he'd considered allying with the fool to check his brother-in-law. But now, to survive, he needed to cut ties, not join hands.
'No way he'd hand the company to another family name, right?' He'd grown complacent with that thought. No chaebol owner did that—but he'd forgotten his father was different.
Yu Jun-sik swallowed his rage, imagining tomorrow's headlines.
「Sein Group Chairman Yu Myeong-seon Shockingly Names Son-in-Law Hong Ki-jun, President of Sein Electronics, as Heir.」
Something like that.
Yu Myeong-seon quietly took Hong Gi-jun's hand.
Hong Gi-jun gazed steadily at his father-in-law, as if to say not to worry.
At the sight, Yu Jun-sik grimaced bitterly once more.
He'd lived without want since childhood. No, more affluent than anyone. His father's was his and older brother Yu Mun-sik's. He thought the company would be too. But as the business grew into a group, the thorny thicket grew murky.
His father sent younger sister Yu Se-ra abroad for studies, then involved her in management, praising her work and handing over department stores and hotels.
And now?
'The son-in-law.'
It was over.
He moistened his parched lips with the cooled ssanghwa tea.
His father Yu Myeong-seon snapped him from his reverie.
"Jun-sik."
"Yes, Father."
"Soon, machinery and distribution will bear the Sein name too."
Meaning expansion and reorganization of group affiliates.
Yu Jun-sik narrowed his eyes and started scheming. More pie to share. Stuff your mouth full and you might spit out what's already there trying to add more.
"If I put you in management, manage. No funny business. You need to become president of machinery too."
"I'll keep it in mind, Father."
"Coming for Chuseok?"
"Of course, Father."
"Good. Off you go. Playing baduk with Hong today."
Yu Jun-sik patted his chest in relief as he left Chairman Yu Myeong-seon's house.
One might think he neglected his son, but as a father who cherished blood ties, he'd quietly look after Yu Mun-sik. It meant only stripping his position at the company. Just scolding him harshly in front of siblings to make him work straight. His father's temperament, seen since childhood, was uniquely so.
'He only keeps those who prove themselves.'
Sein Machinery...
What to do?
Yu Jun-sik paused in the garden and turned toward the reception room. His brother-in-law there suddenly seemed formidable. Some people shrink you just by existing. His grandfather, his father.
And...
'Hong Gi-jun.'
By usual conduct, no different from a saintly scholar. Purring in Yu Se-ra's arms like a kitten. Yet now, a tiger swallowing the group.
Yu Jun-sik nodded.
He lacked exceptional talent but had survived well thanks to one thing.
Perception and social savvy.
Not charging tigers, not drawing ire.
Pride?
Try feeding many mouths. Try wanting many things.
'He means for me to go to machinery and support brother-in-law.'
Yu Jun-sik resolved to consult his brother-in-law on Sein Machinery's direction.
After all, that's what the old man meant for the future—overthinking it was pointless.
As the sun dipped, a purple mantle draped over the fields. Han Yu-young's eyes, watching the scene shift in real time from where she spent most days, sparkled with a child's innocent wonder.
From the kitchen, she had a clear view of the canal and road in front. Preparing dinner, she let out an excited sound.
"Oppa, look over there."
"What? A flock of geese flying by?"
Son Gwang-yeon's gaze followed his wife's finger. True to his gentlemanly Seoul roots, he subtly caressed her waist.
A line of vehicles caught his eye. All black sedans.
"Maybe those land speculators from before?"
"Yeah? But we see them almost every day now."
It was a neighborhood with little traffic. Multiple cars racing like in a rally was naturally odd. And for days now.
Son Gwang-yeon scratched his sideburns, shrugging it off.
"Eh, probably heading home as the sun sets."
"You think?"
To Han Yu-young, it was a curious sight. The countryside was vast, but cars unseen before dashed by daily at similar times. No companies nearby.
"Looks just like salarymen getting off work."
With that, she shook off the unease.
At that moment, Jin-hyuk paced the rooftop with Yu-jin in his arms.
After school, touring the flower beds with his sister had become routine.
"Yu-jin, look at all the luxury cars."
"Wow— so many luxury cars!"
Yu-jin wriggled excitedly in her brother's arms. Fearing she'd slip, Jin-hyuk tensed his arms, furrowing his brow.
"Yeah..."
Too many. Their sudden exodus seemed suspicious.
At school during the day, he had no clue who they were. Mom didn't know either. Just assuming land viewers.
She said they appeared almost daily. Couldn't confirm same cars, but viewing land every day? Addicted to land fever like some drug?
'Four lanes.'
Definitely suspicious.
Too far for plates, but same models.
They parked out of sight to avoid blocking tractors or tillers. No cars visible on his running route.
'Run along the canal tomorrow?'
He couldn't ignore the ominous hunch. Hunches like that usually panned out. If harm came to family, he couldn't bear the regret. So he decided to investigate.
'If they're that sort, getting spotted by me was a mistake.'
Perfect timing with parents' trip.
He must have scowled unwittingly.
Yu-jin patted her brother's cheek.
"Smile. Oppa, smile."
"Heh heh heh— alright. Like this? Like this? Heh heh heh—."
Jin-hyuk's smile felt awkward, but with his sister, it turned foolishly genuine.
Moving unfamiliar muscles, his cheeks twitched grotesquely.
"Yeah, hee hee hee—."
"Heh heh heh—."
"Hee hee hee—."
The nine-year-apart siblings grinned like idiots for a while before heading down from the rooftop.
"Dad, lots of weird cars in the neighborhood lately."
"Ignore 'em. Land speculators will quit soon. Not just yesterday or today. Come on, baduk match!"
"......"
Dad pulled out the board nonchalantly, as if it were someone else's worry.
"Land speculators" didn't quite fit, but from Dad, it sounded oddly plausible.
Still, this dad was suspicious too.
'He seems to know something. Too many secrets for this dad.'
Jin-hyuk narrowed his eyes.
Usually cheerful, but when hiding something, he overacted.
'Makes me more curious. Gotta look into it quietly.'
No more letting it slide.
He'd probe anything remotely off.
Maybe time to peel back Dad's secrets—a cheeky thought.
"Jin-hyuk, I told Mi-kyeong about it—. Ah, this is so sorry."
"It's fine. Think of it as a honeymoon and go enjoy."
Jin-hyuk grinned broadly at his mom, who rubbed her hands fretfully like a fly. The deepest yet most transparent in emotions—his favorite.
As mentioned before, he wanted to give her a break too.
"Staying with the baby will be fun."
"Fun, right? Exciting—."
Yu-jin seemed to agree with her brother.
She swung her arms overhead, circling the living room widely. Her hopping looked like a wallaby.
"Hop hop! Hop hop!"
What was that? Anyway, her actions screamed excitement. Parents and brother's lips curved up watching the baby.