Chapter 20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Anything Over That Belongs to Kangyul
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Hmm, it's fun, but... not sure how to put it."
Jang Deokcheol scratched his head after watching the full 40-minute video.
"It's boring, right?"
Jang Deokcheol nodded awkwardly, unable to voice the harsh truth.
"I thought the same. The editing drags on forever, and at first, I thought it was some human-interest documentary."
Plus, 40 minutes was way too long. It showed habits from terrestrial TV editing—dragging out useless parts unnecessarily.
A lot of Park Jun-hyung's signature phrases and gestures had been cut too.
"Should I tell the filming team to redo it?"
"Even if we ask, they won't get it. They've never done it that way before."
Kangyul pondered as he watched the video.
He was the only one who remembered the pre-regression 'What's Up Man' videos. Unless he edited it himself and showed them, they wouldn't grasp the vibe.
Kangyul immediately messaged Park Gyusu, the filming team leader.
[President:] Team Leader Park Gyusu. Got the raw footage for the first episode of 'What's Up Man'?
[Park Gyusu:] Yes, President. I have all of it.
[President:] Send it all to me.
[Park Gyusu:] Got it. Sending right away.
'Time to roll up my sleeves and get to work.'
Professional video editing was beyond him, but YouTube-level stuff? Kangyul could handle that.
It was an asset from his pre-regression days of learning everything under the sun.
'Let's edit it to capture exactly that feel.'
Today was too rushed; he'd start at the office tomorrow.
"President. After school today, you're set to have dinner out with Chairman Im and Madam Park."
"That's today?"
Kangyul's family always dined out for birthdays.
It eased the burden on the nanny from setting grand tables every time, and it was one way to actually see each other's faces.
It was their family pact, sort of.
'Come to think of it, it's been over a week since I last saw Mom and Dad.'
Im Myeonghan, chairman of Seonjin Group, was predictably swamped. Park Jeong-a, beyond her agency business, had apparently expanded big into fashion.
The two jetted domestically and internationally daily.
'Deokyul and Jiyul will be thrilled to see Mom.'
From the car, Kangyul spotted Deokyul and Jiyul running over from afar, chocolate smeared around their mouths from snacks.
"Ugh, come here. Big bro will wipe your mouths."
Kangyul pulled out tissues and cleaned his brothers' faces.
"Was the chocolate yummy?"
"Yeah! The math teacher gave it for acing the quiz. I got them all right, so Deokyul hyung and I shared."
"Nice! Good job, Jiyul."
"Hehe."
Suddenly remembering something, Jiyul fished a mystery lump from his pocket and handed it to Kangyul.
It was half-melted chocolate clumped with lint.
"This one's for you, hyung!"
"...Uh, thanks. I'll enjoy it."
Kangyul couldn't bring himself to refuse Jiyul's sparkling-eyed sincerity and brought it to his lips.
He was icy toward Mun Seyun and Mun Segwang, but endlessly warm to his brothers.
'Seeing how he still looks after Seongtae... he's incredibly kind to his own people.'
Jang Deokcheol felt truly fortunate to serve Kangyul.
"Alright then, off to the hotel restaurant where Chairman Im and Madam await."
The car glided away from the school.
Seoul's Wonang Hotel.
The sole hotel owned by Seonjin Group.
According to Jang Deokcheol, it was the founding company started by Im Myeonghan's father—Kangyul's grandfather.
That's why they kept it, even after 60 years of aging and ongoing losses.
'Hmm, prime real estate in central Seoul... such a waste.'
Im Myeonghan dined here with family on special days, sometimes gazing at the hotel with nostalgia.
'Must hold more value than the company itself.'
"We've arrived at the hotel."
Kangyul snapped out of his thoughts, got out with his brothers. An elderly manager with deep wrinkles greeted them warmly.
"Welcome, young masters."
His creased face spoke of years of wisdom.
Oddly, the manager always recognized Kangyul among the triplets. Kangyul wasn't the biggest either; if anything, he was shrinking compared to his brothers as time passed.
"Yes, Grandpa. How've you been?"
"Just guarding this hotel as always. Heh heh, only Young Master Kangyul worries about this old man."
Kangyul felt a prankster urge at the manager's words.
Tilting his head innocently, he said,
"I'm not Kangyul hyung. I'm Deokyul."
"Heh heh, Young Master Kangyul. Trying to fool me? I can tell at a glance."
The manager bent down, looking at Kangyul.
His eyes held a grandfatherly warmth.
"You look just like that friend of mine."
"That friend?"
"Yes, the one who built this hotel—my old friend."
Kangyul considered denying it more but stopped as Jang Deokcheol approached.
"Tch, can't fool you, Grandpa. It's cold. Let's head in."
Kangyul deliberately clasped the manager's hand tightly as they entered.
Regardless of else, he returned kindness in kind.
Im Myeonghan and Park Jeong-a were already at the hotel restaurant, chatting and laughing like it was a date after ages.
"Mommy!"
Infuriatingly, Deokyul and Jiyul bolted straight to Park Jeong-a.
They shied from the increasingly stiff Im Myeonghan as he aged.
'These punks. Can't grasp their father's burdens yet.'
Im Myeonghan smiled bittersweetly down at the kids.
Kangyul flashed an even brighter grin and ran to Im Myeonghan.
"Daddy!"
"Aigoo. Hey, kiddo."
Im Myeonghan hugged Kangyul tight.
A faint whiff of alcohol—he'd shared a drink with Park Jeong-a while waiting.
"You've bulked up since last time."
The mood was warm and cheerful.
The twins chattered about school.
"Today I aced the math quiz, so I shared the chocolates with Kangyul hyung and Deokyul hyung!"
"Our Jiyul's a math whiz, huh?"
"Yeah! I'm good at math, and Deokyul hyung's great at taekwondo!"
Quiet Jiyul turned talkative around Park Jeong-a, words bursting like a dam.
Chatty Deokyul, meanwhile, was busy with soup and bread.
As main courses arrived, the twins focused on eating.
Wonang Hotel was legendary for its food, at least. Even Kangyul, usually indifferent to meals, dug in eagerly.
"By the way, heard the Hwijeong Elementary foundation changed hands?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. Midas Foundation? Some quirky new company took it over."
Kangyul, mouth stuffed with meat, nearly spat it out in shock.
"And get this—the foundation chairman's named Kangyul."
"Oh my, what a coincidence. Not a common name."
"Right? I was stunned too. Visit the school sometime and check him out. Gotta know who we're dealing with."
"Sure."
'...No way in hell am I meeting him.'
Kangyul shook his head unconsciously. Im Myeonghan thought he was choking.
"Kangyul, sip water while you eat."
Gulp gulp—
Kangyul downed water to calm himself.
Someday he'd reveal his business ventures, but not today.
'They might snatch it all.'
He still remembered donating his entire lottery jackpot.
Park Jeong-a, eyeing Kangyul thoughtfully, stroked his head and asked,
"Kangyul, when you grow up like Daddy and become a cool CEO, will you give Mommy your company?"
"...My company?"
"Mommy wants it— you gonna say no?"
Park Jeong-a fake-cried while peeking at him.
'This lady's pulling out her old habits with that awful acting.'
"...Only if market cap's under 100 billion."
"Huh?"
Park Jeong-a tilted her head, sure she'd misheard.
"Only companies under 100 billion market cap."
"And over that?"
"...Anything over that belongs to Kangyul."
Im Myeonghan and Park Jeong-a burst out laughing, clutching their stomachs.
100 billion qualified for KOSDAQ listing.
Trivial for Seonjin Group's trillion-scale chairman, but sky-high for an 8-year-old.
"Deal. If you bring a company over 100 billion, I won't touch it. Right, honey?"
"Huh? Of course. No lottery tricks this time. Promise!"
Kangyul hooked his pinky with Im Myeonghan's before he could back out.
"Promise sealed!"
"Like father, like son. You threw tantrums for a company as a kid too."
"Ahem. I was too young to know better."
Laughter filled the meal nonstop.
'...Should I get it notarized?'
Only Kangyul stayed dead serious.