Admiration
On the flight back to Korea, Grandfather and grandson were locked in a playful tussle.
The sensitive Chairman Kang hadn't slept a wink amid the deafening roar of the plane's engines and hadn't even touched his in-flight meal. Worried, Min-ho finally picked up his fork, but Chairman Kang still kept his lips firmly sealed.
"Grandpa, just try one bite of this meat."
"It just doesn't sit right with me."
"You haven't slept at all, and you haven't eaten a thing."
"This old man's fine. You eat up, my boy."
"If you don't eat, I won't either. And I won't sleep either."
No grandfather could win against his grandson. Chairman Kang stroked Min-ho's head with a pleased smile and spoke.
"Does it worry you that much?"
"Of course. Do you know how shocked I was that morning?"
"If I put myself in your shoes... this old man would've felt the same... To live long, you've got to eat. Fine, I'll take a bite of this."
"You promised. Let me cut it for you."
Min-ho finely sliced the meat and fed it to Chairman Kang before asking, "Grandpa, want me to guess what food you're craving most right now?"
"We've got time to kill. Go ahead, see if you can read this old man's mind."
"It's gotta be yukhoe. The kind you have in Seongbuk-dong."
"Spot on. Fresh from Gangwon Province, mixed just right by Kim Cheon-dae, topped with a perfect egg yolk—that's perfection."
"If it were any other day, I wouldn't push, but today's special. You've got a press conference when we land."
"True, I've got to look the part, so I need to eat."
After all the back-and-forth, Chairman Kang finally finished his meal. An hour remained until landing in Korea. Checking the time, Butler Moon reported, "Chairman, the press conference will be ready when we arrive at the airport."
"In all my years, I never thought I'd be doing a press conference thanks to my grandson."
"The secretariat has compiled expected questions from reporters and prepared Q&A responses. I'll review them upon arrival and report back."
"Good. Do that, but you're tired too—get some rest."
"Yes, Chairman."
Even the mighty Chairman Kang hadn't anticipated the ripple effects of this affair. The process and outcome were nothing short of a blockbuster movie. Needless to say, JK Group's corporate image had soared. And Chairman Kang himself had become another towering hero.
The airport was swarming with people. Reporters on assignment crowded in, while broadcasters relayed the scene live. Stepping off the cramped, stuffy plane, Chairman Kang no sooner touched Korean soil than people surged forward, begging for autographs and handshakes.
"Chairman, one autograph, please!"
"Thank you for sponsoring Hwang Young-ho!"
A mob like this was extremely dangerous. As his security detail held them back, Chairman Kang flashed a kindly smile and greeted each one personally.
"What does an old codger like me have worth seeing? You're the ones making me grateful."
While Chairman Kang was surrounded by the throng, Butler Moon had slipped out ahead to meet the secretariat. He returned with the Q&A sheet and reported to the chairman.
"What's the situation outside?"
"Far more reporters than expected. And here's the Q&A from the secretariat."
"So many questions... Fine, we'll go with these answers."
"Understood."
Peeking over his grandfather's shoulder at the sheet, Min-ho spoke up. "Butler, can we move somewhere quiet for a moment?"
"Yes. We've already secured a lounge with airport staff. This way, please."
Chairman Kang relocated away from the crowd. The moment the door closed, all eyes turned to Min-ho's mouth, as expected.
"Looks like my grandson has a clever idea brewing."
"Yes. The secretariat's Q&A isn't bad."
"But your face says it's not enough... Is there something more?"
Sponsoring Hwang Young-ho, acquiring Samin Newspaper, the historic gold medal—all of it stemmed from Min-ho's flawless, meticulous plan. If Chairman Kang stuck to the secretariat's script at the press conference, it'd be like sprinkling sand on a perfectly cooked meal.
Min-ho stared at the Q&A sheet. As expected, it was packed with textbook responses. A kind way to put it: stable. Bluntly: bland and forgettable.
Having once led the secretariat himself, how could Min-ho not foresee this? He'd anticipated it fully. The low-quality answers irked him.
With utmost gravity in his voice, Min-ho began, "Grandpa... Do you like these responses?"
"Press conferences are formal affairs. What choice is there?"
"I don't like a single word of them."
Min-ho's unexpected retort stunned them. He pressed on. "This paper is nothing but trash. I can't let you use something like this, Grandpa."
Without a hint of hesitation, Min-ho tore the sheet to shreds. Still unsatisfied, he crumpled it viciously and jammed it into the trash bin.
The press conference was set to start in ten minutes. Chairman Kang's hands were empty. Stunned by Min-ho's unimaginable act, even he stared blankly. Butler Moon and Lawyer Choi's pupils shook rapidly, though they kept their composure.
"This is like stale yukhoe without even an egg yolk. I can't feed you something like that, Grandpa."
Flashing a sly smile, Min-ho opened his bag and handed over his pre-prepared Q&A. "Grandpa, this is yukhoe fresh from Gangwon, topped with a plump, glossy yolk. Care to taste?"
"You don't mean... you prepared this in advance?"
"Yes. Please review it."
Chairman Kang's eyes barely registered the paper. He could only marvel at Min-ho's impeccable plan.
"You predicted Young-ho's gold... prepared the special edition... even the press conference?"
"Shall we check it out?"
Reviewing Min-ho's Q&A, Chairman Kang murmured, "Good lord..." He was so shocked he dropped the cigarette from his hand.
Admiration couldn't capture his feelings. The entire process was a work of art—a perfectly scripted masterpiece.
Butler Moon was speechless, merely staring at Min-ho's mouth in awe.
Min-ho slowly began explaining to Chairman Kang. "The secretariat's content was solid, but there was a fatal flaw."
"And this fixes it?"
"Yes. JK Group's sponsorship of Hwang Young-ho and his gold medal weren't coincidences. Saying so would render the Barcelona trip meaningless."
"Coincidence... So you're saying turn it all into destiny?"
"From start to finish, everything was your plan, Grandpa. Even the extra edition and special distribution."
"What if this old man refused the paper?"
"You'd just be a lucky chairman."
Now fully grasping Min-ho's genius, Chairman Kang couldn't suppress his delighted laughter. His grandson had laid a ironclad, perfect plan at his feet, crediting it all to him. Utterly enchanted by this fox of a boy, he gazed at Min-ho with affection and asked, "So it was all meticulously planned?"
"One word—coincidence or plan—changes everything. People's reactions, how they see you."
"True. Every detail matters, even the fringes."
"As group head, this elevates the corporate image beyond words."
"How are you so brilliant? That's worth more than money."
"Affiliate sales will boom, stock prices rise, top talent flocks. The gap with rivals widens—no need to explain."
Chairman Kang couldn't help but applaud, beaming with satisfaction.
"Fresh yukhoe without liquor? Unthinkable."
"You really went all out to surprise this old man."
"Check the next page?"
Flipping it, Chairman Kang prompted more explanation from Min-ho. "We need to signal this isn't the end. Promise ongoing support for unpopular sports like marathons."
"Our secretariat's sharpest minds combined couldn't match you, Min-ho."
"The special edition was prepped; don't forget to say you were certain of victory at the 20km mark."
"In short: your entire plan becomes mine?"
"Yes. It's the best choice now."
The taxi driver incident. Hwang Young-ho's gold. All orchestrated by Min-ho's judgment.
Chairman Kang sighed softly. Min-ho's brilliance thrilled him to no end. But as heir, the boy was too young, with mountains to climb. And he himself was aging. JK Group's overflowing coffers, once a dream to fill, now weighed like a burden.
Shaking his head, he ventured cautiously, "This old man wants you to take the lead..."
His quick-witted grandson caught the hint. Gripping Chairman Kang's hand, he replied, "I could step up as you say. But wouldn't it complicate things?"
An undeniable truth. Min-ho's sudden rise would only breed chaos.
"These words must come from your mouth, Grandpa. That's what gives them power."
"You're right a thousand times, Min-ho. Without power, it's all meaningless."
Min-ho firmly placed the papers back in Chairman Kang's hands. "My time hasn't come yet."
A roundabout answer, but the first glimpse of Min-ho's true feelings. Chairman Kang nodded. "Indeed... Funny how this old fool asks dumb questions and his grandson gives wise answers. We'll do it this way."
"I'll head to Seongbuk-dong with Lawyer Choi first and prep the yukhoe. Take your time."
Min-ho opened the door. Press conference time. Chairman Kang silently patted his back before stepping out.
The gate opened, and Chairman Kang appeared. A sea of reporters erupted in flashes, capturing his every move.
Lawyer Choi, who had watched silently, handed Min-ho sunglasses. "Young master, know the most shocking moment of my life?"
"When Hwang Young-ho won gold?"
"No. When you tore up the chairman's Q&A."
"Why so surprised? Time to get used to it, no?"
"I thought I had, but I was wrong."
Min-ho smiled and slipped on the shades. "We'll talk on the way. All that yukhoe talk on the plane has me starving too."
"Reporters have mostly moved. I'll escort you to the parking lot."
With his perfect plan complete, Min-ho left the airport straight for Seongbuk-dong.