Chapter 49: The Answer - Min-ho and Attorney Choi's Morning Commute
On the way to work with Attorney Choi, Min-ho had spent the past few days meticulously checking the locations where subway stations would be built. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the map, double-checking to ensure nothing deviated from his memories.
Wanting to give Min-ho even a brief moment to rest, Attorney Choi broached the subject gently. "You can rest a bit in the car, young master."
"Time is everything in this plan. We have to save every minute, every second."
"Why aren't you heading straight out for a site visit today? Why come to the office first?"
"My aunt wants to see me for a bit. I'll head to Gwangjin-gu this afternoon, so keep that in mind."
"Understood, young master."
"Looks like we're here."
Min-ho always got out a short distance from the office. Upon reaching his destination, he unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out of the car. "See you at the back gate this afternoon."
"Yes, young master. I'll see you later."
As he straightened his clothes and waited at the crosswalk for the pedestrian signal, a man turned his head fully to stare at Min-ho's face. He even approached and spoke up. "Excuse me... aren't you Lee Min-ho from the credit team?"
"Yes, that's me. What can I do for you?"
"I never imagined running into you here. Sorry for the late introduction. I'm Jeon Deok-won, assistant manager in the management support team."
"Yes? Is there something you need?"
"Thanks to you, I had a great meal yesterday. I really wanted to thank you if I saw you."
A complete stranger had appeared out of nowhere to express his gratitude. Even Min-ho couldn't make sense of it. "Could you explain a bit more specifically...?"
"I'm running late, so I have to go. See you next time!"
Min-ho shrugged it off—after all, Min-ho was a common name—and continued on his way.
Upon reaching the first floor, Min-ho immediately realized it wasn't a misunderstanding or mistake. The staff at the desk waved when they saw him, and some even approached with warm smiles and greetings.
"Oh, Min-ho! You're here!"
It was a bizarre situation, but Min-ho responded nonchalantly. "Good morning. Have a great day."
"I came in 30 minutes earlier than usual just to greet you, Min-ho."
"I've been out of the office for a few days. Could you tell me what's going on?"
"You know exactly what's up, but playing innocent... Anyway, thanks to you, we had delicious beef."
It was one incomprehensible event after another. Even the employees waiting by the elevator approached Min-ho for handshakes.
-Our team had a team dinner after ages, and we're going to Jeju next month. Thanks!
-I thought I wouldn't get to say hi since we're in different teams, but I'm glad I did. Thanks to you.
-Thanks to you, Min-ho, the office vibe is amazing. Makes coming to work fun.
No one explained the full story, but everyone kept thanking him nonstop. To top it off, people kept coming up for handshakes without pause. As Min-ho experienced this sudden celebrity treatment, his savior appeared: President Kang Myeong-seon.
Her clear, ringing voice filled the lobby. "Good morning, everyone!"
-Good morning, President!
-Good morning, ma'am!
Min-ho had a ton of questions for Myeong-seon, but there were too many eyes around. Like the other employees, he bowed his head in greeting.
Still feigning ignorance, Myeong-seon greeted him with a bright smile. "I wondered who the popular one was this morning—it was Lee Min-ho, the employee. No surprise; everyone agrees, right?"
-Of course!
-The best employee, no question.
Min-ho shot her a look full of frustration and resentment, but Myeong-seon just smiled slyly without a word.
"Everyone else, head up first. I have business on the rooftop—want to come along, Lee Min-ho?"
"Yes, President. I have something to do up there too."
Moments later, the two arrived on the rooftop via elevator. As the doors opened, the smoking employees hurriedly hid their cigarettes behind their backs and bowed.
-Good morning, President!
-Hello, ma'am!
Myeong-seon returned their greetings with a radiant smile. "Manager Park, how many times have I told you not to put out your cigarette on my account? Don't mind me—finish your smoke at your own pace."
Min-ho and Myeong-seon moved to the spot with the best view on the rooftop. Her lips twitched as she lit a cigarette.
"You have a lot of questions for your aunt, huh?"
"If even a non-smoker like me came all the way up here, it must be more than one or two things."
"There are employees around—keep your voice down."
"That's why you brought me to the rooftop, isn't it?"
"What, kill two birds with one stone? Calling you to my office every time would look suspicious."
"It's already suspicious enough. Anyway, just tell me what happened."
Myeong-seon blinked exaggeratedly with a coy expression. "Tell you what? I don't know anything."
"You're really going to play it this uncooperative?"
"You can't receive without giving first. Let your aunt ask something."
Myeong-seon had racked her brain all night about what happened in Seongbuk-dong but came up empty. Chairman Kang stonewalled her, and Butler Moon kept his lips sealed. In the end, Min-ho was her only option.
Without hesitation, she asked, "You went to Seongbuk-dong again recently, right?"
Min-ho couldn't fathom how she knew, but if she truly knew nothing, she wouldn't have asked. Having grasped the situation from that single question, he answered flatly. "Yeah, I did."
"What did you talk about with Grandpa?"
"Hmm... just that work's fun, I'm working hard, that sort of thing?"
That wasn't the answer Myeong-seon wanted. She crossed her arms, cigarette in mouth, and fixed him with a piercing stare before replying. "If that were it, Dad's face wouldn't have been beaming like that."
"Nothing happened. What do a grandpa and grandson talk about? Just catching up, asking if work's going well."
"That's really all?"
"Why would I lie to you? What's in it for me? You know that."
Myeong-seon still felt a nagging doubt in one corner of her mind, but she had no real counterargument. With Min-ho lightly deflecting her questions, he went on the offensive. "Anyway, explain what happened first."
"The short version: good news."
"People thanking me at the crosswalk, mobbing me in the lobby, talking about great food and trips—what am I supposed to say without knowing?"
"That was Dad sending a bag to boost your morale."
Chairman Kang's bag. Typically, one bag meant 100 million won. Min-ho feigned ignorance despite knowing full well. "A bag? What bag?"
"He occasionally tosses them out when you do good work. One bag holds 100 million."
Only then did everything click for Min-ho. Bestowing a bag was an indirect way of saying Chairman Kang was extremely pleased.
"Use it for team dinners or whatever—up to you?"
"Exactly. Only our dad would shell out the price of an apartment just to cheer up his grandson."
"I didn't do much. But if Grandpa's happy, that's enough for me."
Myeong-seon still hadn't let go of her suspicions. "You're really not hiding anything, right?"
"You don't trust me, Aunt? Now you're hurting my feelings."
"It's not that—you know Grandpa's personality best. It was just so unexpected, so I had to ask."
"Probably because I'm not causing trouble anymore. Can't think of anything else."
"True enough. You've been a handful, but now that you're acting reformed, Dad must be in a good mood and splurged a bit."
Myeong-seon smiled slyly, her eyes half-lidded. Min-ho knew exactly what that expression meant. "Aunt, your hand's creeping toward my butt—is that my imagination?"
"You could survive in the desert eating eye boogers. How'd you know?"
"Employees over there are watching with eyes wide open."
"My hand's itching, but I guess not today."
To end the conversation, Min-ho bowed and spoke louder than usual. "President, I'll get going then. I'll keep working hard and give it my all."
"Yeah, sure. See you later, Lee Min-ho."
Myeong-seon watched his retreating figure for a long while. Exhaling cigarette smoke, she muttered to herself. "That fox must've bewitched Dad somehow... but I can't figure out what tail he wagged..."
***
After his talk with Myeong-seon, Min-ho headed straight to the credit team. The moment he opened the door, an unbelievable scene unfolded—like a surprise birthday party, with all the team members wearing party hats, popping confetti poppers nonstop, and cheering joyfully.
"Our Min-ho's here!"
"Team leader! The lucky charm has arrived."
"He's our precious vase—no falling now. Want me to carry you?"
He'd had a rough idea, but the team's reaction was even more intense than expected. Everyone crowded around, patting his shoulders and hugging him like long-lost family reunited.
Min-ho quickly asked Deputy Oh Seong-deok, whose mouth was grinning from ear to ear. "Deputy Oh, what's going on?"
"Ah... this? You know about the bonus from the chairman, right?"
"Yeah, I heard on the first floor."
"That's for the team dinner."
"You mean there's more?"
"The chairman's giving every member of our credit team a 1 million won incentive."
For salaried workers whose paycheck was everything, the joy of a bonus was indescribable. And 1 million won—two months' salary—needed no further explanation. The team members clenched their fists and raised them high, chanting Min-ho's name.
-Lee Min-ho! Lee Min-ho!
-Lee Min-ho! Lee Min-ho!
Min-ho bowed to the team and double-checked with Deputy Oh. "Is this for real?"
"Of course. Our performance has been great lately. The chairman ordered bonuses, team dinner, this month's outing, and even a sports day—all of it."
Amid the raucous welcome, one person couldn't smile: Senior Manager Seo Gwang-hun. He sat with a sullen expression, staring at Manager Hwang Jeong-min.
Eliminate Hwang, and he'd ascend to executive he'd dreamed of. Fail to, and his own head would roll. In this life-or-death dilemma—kill or be killed—Seo had only a month to decide.
Deputy Choi Bong-seok spoke to the anguished Seo, still undecided. "Manager, Min-ho's here."
"Huh? Oh, right. I should greet him too."
As Seo stood and locked eyes with Min-ho, his tangled thoughts began to unravel like a knotted thread. He went back to the beginning, retracing memories step by step.
Everything started after Min-ho's arrival: President Kang Myeong-seon's protection, Attorney Choi Jong-hoon's temporary assignment, Senior Butler Moon Sang-oh's appearance, Chairman Kang Jin-gwang's bonus, his own promotion to executive. He recalled it all meticulously.
Min-ho was exceptionally clever—no denying that. But he was undeniably the starting point of all these inexplicable events.
They seemed jumbled with no common thread. But one assumption, one word, could explain everything surrounding Min-ho clearly.
The single word flashing through Seo's mind: royalty.
If Min-ho was royalty, it all made sense. For now, that was the only answer. Everything revolved around Min-ho.
Too late to realize, but knowing changed nothing. Zipping his lips shut and aiding Min-ho was his best bet. Thus, the answer to his dilemma was all but predetermined.
Seo approached Min-ho with a sly smile, greeting him brighter than usual. "The chairman personally awarding this—truly our Lee Min-ho."
"Thank you. If you hadn't believed in me, Manager, I wouldn't be standing here."
"Don't say such hurtful things. Our Min-ho's so brilliant; he'd excel anywhere."
With Min-ho's true nature and his own worries perfectly resolved, Seo clapped with a beaming smile. "Alright, let's hear some words from our Min-ho!"
Min-ho gave a light nod and replied politely. "I've been away often for fieldwork. Thank you all again for covering for me."
-Lee Min-ho! Lee Min-ho!
-Lee Min-ho! Lee Min-ho!
Seo raised both hands to barely calm the endless cheers. "Lunch today! Dinner team meal! All on me—no one misses out!"
-Yes, Manager!
After the festive morning greetings, everyone returned to their desks and focused on work. About an hour later, the phone on Min-ho's desk rang.
"JK Credit Info, Lee Min-ho speaking."
"Moon Sang-oh here. Listen without responding. The real estate team you mentioned is ready. Come to Seongbuk-dong, and I'll brief you in detail."
Min-ho hung up without a word. Pi Dong-ho, sitting next to him, stared at his sly smile and asked, "Win the housing lottery? Good news? Share the joy."
"Wrong number. Some guy demanding jjajangmyeon out of nowhere. We got bonuses—let's get to work."
After finishing his morning tasks, Min-ho headed to Seongbuk-dong with Attorney Choi Jong-hoon.