A Hot Welcome (1)
Having returned to Korea with the triumphant air of a conquering general, Yoon-gi immediately summoned Fernandez and handed over the list of brands to be brought into the store. Construction inside the department store began to proceed like clockwork, and Yoon-gi often stopped by to check on the progress. If the first six floors felt like any typical department store you might see in the United States or Europe, the seventh floor was an entirely different world. It felt as if one had stepped back into the Renaissance era.
However, there was a specific part of his visits that moved Yoon-gi more than anything else: the sight of Choi Cheol-min and Park Gyeong-ja struggling. Seeing them in that state, which he did quite often, served as a source of vitality for Yoon-gi, who was otherwise bogged down by a murderous schedule. And today, he was certain he would experience that vitality twice over. When he returned home, Choi Cheol-min and Park Gyeong-ja were standing in front of the gate, looking anxious. Of course, Yoon-gi intended to open the gate without saying a single word to them, but the fact that both of them dropped to their knees on the ground forced him to turn his head.
"Yoon-gi, please... please forgive us..."
Tears were streaming down Choi Cheol-min's face. His skin had turned a dark, bronzed color, and his body had become bloated. Yet, his haggard complexion betrayed that while his nutritional intake might have been high in quantity, it was utterly lacking in quality.
"I don't want to," Yoon-gi said, intentionally being spiteful. At that, Park Gyeong-ja made a show of trying to grab Yoon-gi’s legs to beg for forgiveness. Naturally, Yoon-gi quickly pulled his legs away, leaving her to collapse ungracefully onto the ground.
"Yoon-gi, this aunt of yours was truly wrong. I should never have done such things to you... Please... please, just forgive us. It’s so painful... How long do we have to live like this..."
Yoon-gi turned his gaze toward Park Gyeong-ja and smiled thinly. It was no wonder, as Park Gyeong-ja’s appearance had changed drastically compared to the past. Her skin had lost much of its elasticity, perpetually soaked in the hot, humid air of the kitchen, and whether it was because she lacked the leisure or the time, there was no trace of makeup on her face. Furthermore, her hair was so unkempt that it was hard to tell when she had last had a perm, and the burn marks visible here and there on her arms made Yoon-gi smile.
"Yoon-gi, please..."
Despite the tearful pleas of Choi Cheol-min, whose belly had bulged from the low-quality, high-calorie diet forced upon him by his grueling labor, Yoon-gi just laughed and walked into the house. Soon, the sound of Choi Cheol-min and Park Gyeong-ja wailing loudly outside the gate began to drift in, but this, too, had no effect on Yoon-gi.
'It’s a relief Grandfather isn't home today. If he heard this, he might have felt heartbroken.'
Having completely lost their influence over the household, Choi Cheol-min and Park Gyeong-ja had been reduced to a state where they couldn't even pick the right timing for such theatrics.
'Whether that crying is genuine or not is irrelevant to me. If the time comes when I can look at them suffering and feel nothing...'
Yoon-gi thought that would be the moment he could finally forgive them. Of course, Yoon-gi himself didn't know when that day would come.
"I'm home."
As soon as he stepped inside and closed the front door, the unpleasant wailing was blocked out by the thick walls and double-paned windows.
'Should I feel disappointed, or should I think of it as a relief?'
Watching his younger sister, Jung-ah, come running toward him in excitement, Yoon-gi thought, 'It must be a relief, right?' After playing with Jung-ah for a while, he headed to the study.
"You were already here? You could have taken your time since it would have taken a while for Secretary Ryu to get off work."
At Yoon-gi's words, Choi Cheol-kyu smiled and shook his head.
"It's not just because of our appointment; there are so many books here that I lose track of time whenever I read. Maybe that's why I end up coming early."
Choi Cheol-kyu gave a perfect, 100-point answer as always. Even from the perspective of social skills, there was no benefit in arriving later than one's superior without a special reason. No matter how much Yoon-gi told him to take his time, Choi Cheol-kyu would likely never truly arrive "leisurely" in the future.
'Come to think of it, if it were my brother-in-law, he might actually take that advice and arrive truly leisurely.'
Thinking of Jo Cheong-woo, Choi Cheol-kyu chuckled to himself and continued reading. Yoon-gi also pulled a book from the shelf and sat down to read. Constant self-improvement. Yoon-gi knew better than anyone that even if you were born with talent, you couldn't progress without consistent effort, and Choi Cheol-kyu felt the same.
'No matter how capable I am, I was just a guy who barely managed to be an assistant manager in a group that barely cracked the top 100. I have to keep studying. Otherwise, I'll be left behind.'
Choi Cheol-kyu knew better than anyone that Yoon-gi wouldn't stop at just YK Department Store. That meant Yoon-gi’s circle would increasingly be filled with exceptional talent. Just looking at Fernandez, he was displaying abilities beyond what Choi Cheol-kyu had imagined. As soon as he arrived, he had rearranged the exterior of the department store where possible, and the interior construction, based on the seventh floor, made one feel as if they were looking at Renaissance-era Europe. Furthermore, the proficiency being built by the employees of the construction firm run by Kim Jeong-seon under Fernandez was also incredible. Even if not quite at Fernandez's level, their ability in constructing nearby commercial facilities, including the mini-department stores, was truly worthy of the term "workhorses."
'Perhaps Fernandez will rise to the rank of secretary-level staff unless he changes jobs. Before that, I must solidify my own foundation and build it even higher...!'
Choi Cheol-kyu’s concentration, as he gritted his teeth, was truly at an astonishing level, and that focus continued for a while even after Ryu Geun-tae entered.
Snap!
Startled by the sound of fingers snapping right in front of his eyes, Choi Cheol-kyu jumped and lifted his head with a gasp.
"Chief Choi, your concentration is truly amazing. It's been 10 minutes since I arrived."
With Ryu Geun-tae’s grinning expression, Choi Cheol-kyu checked his watch and let out a sheepish laugh.
"Ah, I apologize. I had no idea."
"What book are you reading?"
At Ryu Geun-tae’s question, Choi Cheol-kyu showed him the cover, and Ryu Geun-tae sat down, thinking, 'I should buy that and read it too.' Fundamentally, Ryu Geun-tae and Choi Cheol-kyu were partners, yet they were also in a relationship where they had to compete appropriately.
"Secretary Ryu, is there something you need to report?"
At Yoon-gi’s words, Ryu Geun-tae nodded.
"Yes. I heard from my uncle that a department store has been under construction in Yeouido for a few months now."
At Ryu Geun-tae’s words, Choi Cheol-kyu almost jumped out of his seat. Pioneering the construction of high-end department stores was the very spirit of YK Department Store, and if another department store appeared in Yeouido, it would be a stain on that spirit. However, noticing that Yoon-gi’s attitude was calmer than expected, Choi Cheol-kyu managed to control his expression and quietly waited for Yoon-gi to speak.
"Did you hear this through people working at other construction sites?"
"That is correct."
As Ryu Geun-tae replied, among the laborers working at construction sites, there were many who moved from place to place. In the case of YK Department Store, people who came once tended to return, so there was almost no information leakage, but at other construction sites, people who drifted from place to place often let slip various pieces of information. In this case, one of the new recruits who had come to the YK Department Store site had let it slip, "I heard a department store is being built in Yeouido too~," and the remark had eventually reached Kim Jeong-seon’s ears.
"You can probably ignore it."
"I, is that so?"
Ryu Geun-tae stuttered slightly at Yoon-gi’s unexpected words.
"Yes. Actually, I already knew about it."
"Pardon?"
Choi Cheol-kyu was grateful to Ryu Geun-tae in his heart. It felt like he was voicing the questions he himself wanted to ask.
"It was about two months ago, shortly after JSD was promoted, that I received a call. They asked if a department store was being built in Yeouido and if we shouldn't prepare countermeasures."
"Ah...!"
"Actually, it wasn't really worth mentioning, so I didn't tell you two. Looking at the investment sources and financial situation of that department store, I didn't think it would last long."
"If the Chairman says so, I will put aside any priority regarding the Yeouido department store."
"Do that."
Although Yoon-gi had spoken briefly in front of Ryu Geun-tae and Choi Cheol-kyu, in reality, he knew very well that the department store being built in Yeouido would go bankrupt before long. Because in his life before regression, he had seen it turn into a mere complex shopping arcade, despite calling itself a department store. From the start, Yoon-gi knew exactly which department stores would survive until the end in Korean society. Of course, those department stores wouldn't launch for several more years after YK Department Store, and even if they did, they would have to face various restrictions while the New Military Group remained in power in this life.
"Are there any other items besides the Yeouido department store?"
"No, there are none. Everything is going smoothly."
At Ryu Geun-tae’s report, Yoon-gi nodded and began to explain the purpose of calling the two of them today.
"It’s nothing else, but you two have worked under me longer than anyone else, haven't you?"
Hearing this, Ryu Geun-tae and Choi Cheol-kyu simultaneously smiled with various emotions. Smiles that were awkward, embarrassed, and filled with pride.
"Secretary Ryu, are the stocks and land you've bought so far rising well in price?"
Ryu Geun-tae bowed his head.
"Thanks to you, Chairman, I think my son will at least be born with a silver spoon later on."
"You haven't even married yet. Shouldn't you start thinking about marriage?"
"Aigoo, it's not the time yet. I will serve you as best as I can, Chairman, and think about marriage later."
Hearing the answer, Yoon-gi thought of 'Eleanor' for a moment, then smiled with the thought, 'That wouldn't work, would it?'
"Still, I can't let you stay unmarried because of me. I'll look for a good match for you if I find one."
At Yoon-gi’s consideration, Ryu Geun-tae scratched the back of his head with a "hehe" sound, and even Choi Cheol-kyu chuckled at the sight.
"Uncle, you haven't worked as long as Secretary Ryu, so you probably haven't had much room to profit. You haven't bought land around Cheonggyecheon, and you probably have no idea what stocks are worth buying, right?"
Choi Cheol-kyu shook his head slightly.
"I couldn't buy land, but every time Secretary Ryu buys American stocks, he gives me a hint, so I've been making a little profit here and there."
Realizing that his two closest aides were maintaining a moderate collaboration rather than infinite competition, Yoon-gi smiled again.
"That’s a relief, then. However, the money earned that way is, after all, just secondary income, and I thought I should give you two an interim bonus for your work so far before YK Department Store officially launches."
At Yoon-gi’s words, both Ryu Geun-tae and Choi Cheol-kyu wore moved expressions. There were only two people here right now. No Fernandez, no Jo Cheong-woo. It meant that Yoon-gi had officially acknowledged that the two people in front of him were his left and right arms. Of course, they were two people who had worked believing that was a given, but the fact that the words came directly from their superior’s mouth was certainly a moving experience.
"I am at a loss for words that you think of us that way, Chairman. If there is the greatest stroke of luck in my life, it is receiving the dispatch order from the Group Secretary's Office."
Choi Cheol-kyu, not to be outdone, continued.
"Should I just call you Chairman too? For some reason, the feeling of wanting to call you that is welling up."
Yoon-gi chuckled and shook his head.
"No, wouldn't a reasonably comfortable relationship be better for us in private? I don't know about when I get much older, though. Anyway! The interim bonus I want to give you two is..."