If You Don't Like It, There's Nothing You Can Do
Hwang Seokchan was the eldest son of the Hwang family.
As the eldest son, he was granted authority befitting his position.
But that came with equally heavy responsibilities.
He hated it.
By nature, he was mild-mannered and enjoyed peace and quiet.
For someone like him, the responsibilities thrust upon him simply for being the eldest were far too great and terrifying.
That was why he had no desire to become chairman.
But.
The expectations around him.
The gazes of his family.
And countless employees.
All of them were waiting for his decision.
In the end, he had no choice but to take the seat of the chosen one.
It was a poisoned chalice, an iron throne.
The position of chairman of a massive conglomerate.
One wrong decision could cost thousands their jobs and even shake the national economy.
Every time he signed a document, it felt like years were shaved off his life.
His forehead widened with age.
His insides rotted away, unable to withstand the stress.
All of it was eating away at his life.
He wanted to quit.
He wanted to hand it over to his younger brother and escape this seat.
But he couldn't.
Because he was the eldest son of the Hwang family, the chairman who had to bear the expectations of countless people.
He.
Couldn't run away from his responsibilities.
Not even knowing his body was dying from stress and pressure.
Hwang Seokgyu was the second son of the Hwang family.
The second son of a great father who had built a chaebol empire with nothing but his two fists in his youth.
Not as much as the eldest, but the responsibilities and authority given to the second son were still too much for one person to handle.
'At least that's a relief.'
Whenever things got tough, he looked at his older brother.
His brother, forever chained to the company just for being the eldest.
At least he himself had married for love.
Of course, the sweet romance of their dating days had evolved into a terrifying wife who nagged him relentlessly.
Still, he thought he was happy.
After all, his brother would become the captain steering this massive ship.
He could just suck on the honey as president of an affiliate company.
If the affiliate struggled, he could just ask his brother for help.
That was it.
So.
He believed the chairman's seat would never come to him.
He thought he lacked both the vessel and the ability compared to his brother.
"Congratulations on becoming chairman! We sincerely celebrate this!"
And yet, the chairman's seat landed squarely in his lap.
Because his father had named him as the next chairman.
He couldn't believe it.
Sure, as president of an affiliate, he'd earned respect for his unpretentious, down-to-earth style and stable management.
But anyone could do that much, right?
For someone like him to captain this massive ship?
But.
The captain's hat was already in his hands.
And that.
Tormented him endlessly.
Once captain, there was far too much to do.
Even meeting family became a struggle.
He even wanted to hire professional managers, but no one capable of running this giant company existed.
They all looked like vultures ready to tear the ship apart to fill their own bellies.
So he did it.
Abandoned himself, abandoned his family.
Became nothing but a cog in the company machine and steered it forward.
"...I'm sorry."
"...Ah..."
In the midst of it all, his wife fell ill.
She, who had grown up in an ordinary family and married into a chaebol, couldn't bear the weight of being the chairman's wife.
Even as a president's wife, she'd struggled.
She had always lived like she was wearing ill-fitting clothes, trying to help him manage the company.
He hadn't realized it was eating away at her body.
Because he was a company cog.
Because he had to lead countless employees.
Because he could only watch as she grew exhausted from excessive stress and schedules.
"Aaaah!!!"
Seeing his always-present wife's haggard face filled him with despair.
Why him?
Why him of all people?
He had no interest in the chairman's seat.
Why me...!!
He despaired.
At the poisoned chalice of the chairman's position.
The price of sitting on a throne he never wanted.
Whoa. This is a total mess.
Is the chairman's seat really that tough?
The chaebols on the news always act like they own the world.
"What do you think?"
"Ugh..."
How should I put this?
Under Hwang Piljung's expectant gaze, I just told it like it is.
"...What?"
He looked utterly incredulous.
Can't blame him.
It was like hearing he had to sacrifice one of his sons to the company.
"W-Wait a minute. What do you mean? Those boys are capable and ambitious."
"Then why not ask them over dinner?"
In the end, Chairman Hwang Piljung nodded.
And so, dinnertime arrived.
His two sons, seated across from me and Hong Siyeon, eyed us with clear curiosity.
"I'm Kang Noah, the streamer from Chajajak. Please subscribe and like."
"...What?"
"A streamer?"
They looked utterly baffled.
I'd be too.
A random streamer showing up at their house.
"...Are you here to attack our family?"
"Or maybe target our company..."
The two sons.
Presidents of major corporations, glaring at me.
I ignored them.
That wasn't the point.
"You two. Are you interested in the chairman's seat at Somyeong?"
"......"
"What do you want with that info?"
They were openly wary.
Time to hand it over to Chairman Hwang Piljung.
"Mr. Kang Noah is an amazing fortune teller."
"...Pardon?"
"Dad, didn't you skip your last health check? Fortune telling...?"
"It's real, I tell you."
"I vouch for him too."
The father and uncle nodded, but the sons still looked skeptical.
Here goes.
"You two. Flip over these cards."
They flipped them over reluctantly.
Let's get started.
"President Hwang Seokchan. You were practicing putting in your office today."
".....!!"
"That putter was a bit bent today, wasn't it?"
"...H-How."
"The one who bent it is sitting right next to you."
Hwang Seokchan whipped his head around.
Hwang Seokgyu hurriedly averted his gaze.
"You... I told you not to touch my golf clubs...!!"
"S-Sorry."
"And President Hwang Seokgyu?"
"......."
"It's sweet you're preparing a surprise party for your wife, but don't put the ring in the cake. She'll swallow it."
".....!!! "
He'd planned to hide a ring in the cake for their anniversary next week.
The same way he'd proposed.
He'd wanted to cheer her up since she'd been struggling lately.
It ends up a disaster, though.
"I-Is that... true?"
"Yes."
"...Guess I absolutely can't do that."
"She gets furious about it."
"Then what does my wife like...?"
"Hey, hey. This isn't the time for that."
Regaining his composure, Hwang Seokchan looked at me.
"Uh... Mr. Kang Noah, was it?"
"Yes. Call me Noah casually."
"Ahem. Alright, Noah. What do you want from us?"
"It's not what I want. It's what this old man wants. You two, be honest."
Does anyone here want the chairman's seat?
The mood at the table sank fast.
Great. This stir-fried pork is all mine then.
While they sat in silence, I dug into the jeeyuk bokkeum heartily.
Whoa. The housekeeper here is an amazing cook.
"Dad. Since it's come to this, I'll say it. Honestly... the chairman's seat suits Seokgyu better than me."
"No, no. I lack confidence. And if hyung becomes chairman, can't we get help from your wife's company?"
"Would your sister-in-law do that?"
"Maybe if I beg nicely? Our Yeojin says even being a president's wife is tough."
"What's so great about being a president's wife...?"
"She has to follow to every event, do volunteer work, attend gatherings—it's exhausting! She prefers staying home and doing housework!"
The brothers' eyes turned fierce.
Seeing that, Chairman Hwang let out a deep sigh.
"I never... imagined..."
He seemed shocked that his sons, capable as they were, had no ambition for the seat.
And chagrined at his own shortsightedness in not knowing their hearts.
He looked utterly dejected.
"Then... what do we do with the company now?"
Someone had to become chairman.
The vast empire of Somyeong needed an emperor.
Hong Siyeon raised her hand slightly.
"Why not hire a professional manager?"
"Professionals might prioritize short-term results over long-term vision to protect themselves."
I agreed with that.
One game company I knew put pros in charge, and they shut down the very games that kept it alive because they weren't popular.
They sacrificed R&D for quick profits, shortening the company's lifespan.
That's why Chairman Hwang was against it.
"We can't entrust the company to such people."
"There must be some proper professionals out there..."
"Everyone I've seen picks self-preservation over the company's future."
The old man was cold and resolute.
His distrust of others seemed unshakeable.
"Then leave it to Uncle."
"Uncle's running an affiliate too."
Caught in the crossfire, Hwang Piljeong panicked.
"N-No, I was planning to retire and go fishing leisurely."
"You still owe me for that spinning top."
"You're bringing that up here?!"
In that instant, Hwang Piljeong's future changed.
Originally set for a leisurely retirement fishing, he became a slave—no, an emperor—helming the massive company.
The company?
Runs fine.
No issues with the Hwang family either.
Later, his only son becomes chairman, and with real ability, the company thrives.
"Yes. That should work."
We'd need to check out Hwang Piljeong's son, but joy lit up Chairman Hwang Piljung's face.
In the end, Hwang Piljeong called his son.
Hwang Seokju, the executive director dragged from overtime at the office, was capable and ambitious.
And so?
When asked if he wanted the next chairman spot—and told he could have it—his future shifted.
To becoming Somyeong's chairman and running it properly.
"Chairman... no, Uncle. Can you really entrust it based on one fortune teller's word?"
His gaze turned to his cousins.
"And handing me the chairman role out of nowhere when they can do the job? I don't think I have the qualities either."
He spoke with utmost composure.
Valid point.
"Executive Director Hwang Seokju. I know you shouted in the bathroom mirror yesterday, 'Ah~! I want to be chairman!'"
Spot on.