Chapter 96: The Grandson-in-Law
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 96: The Grandson-in-Law
"Welcome, Miss."
Hannam-dong—an area famous for having the most expensive land in all of Seoul.
This was the residence of Yoo Taek-soo, the Chairman of Jeil Group.
As soon as she arrived at the mansion, Secretary Choi greeted her.
A white-haired gentleman with a neatly groomed mustache, Secretary Choi was a hidden founding member of the conglomerate. He had served her grandfather, Yoo Taek-soo, since the days he established Jeil Yudang, the predecessor of Jeil Group.
"Is Grandfather inside?"
"Yes, he is waiting for you. Please, follow me."
"Thank you."
Yoo Young-eun walked through the courtyard, following Secretary Choi’s lead. The subtle scent of pine wafted through the air, tickling her nose.
"It’s been a while, but this place never changes."
"It is a place like a pine tree, never losing its true colors."
As they stepped inside, a house servant took her coat. Acting as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she handed it over and headed toward the kitchen where Chairman Yoo Taek-soo was waiting.
Passing through a living room so vast it could easily be called a lobby, she reached the kitchen, which was completely partitioned off from the rest of the house.
"You’re here?"
The deep, heavy voice of Yoo Taek-soo, the ruler of Jeil Group, rang out.
To an ordinary person, his voice alone would have felt intimidating, but Yoo Young-eun responded with a gentle smile.
"Hello, Grandfather."
"You’re right on time. I heard you were coming, so I had them prepare your favorite galbi-jjim. Eat while it’s still hot."
The table was laden with a feast so lavish it looked as if the legs might buckle.
"Did you have all this prepared just for me?"
"Of course. Aren't you at the age where you need to eat well to grow?"
Chairman Yoo Taek-soo, her grandfather, always remembered what she liked best. Even when he maintained a stern expression and acted with gravity, he had a way of looking after her in his own subtle way.
"Everyone, get back to work. I wish to speak with my granddaughter alone for a moment."
"Understood, sir."
Secretary Choi led the servants out of the kitchen. As soon as the sound of their footsteps faded into the distance...
"So, how is work going?"
Yoo Taek-soo’s face relaxed, and a smile played on his lips. It was a kind smile he never showed to anyone else—only to Yoo Young-eun.
"Yes, the drama I just finished hit number one in its time slot before it ended."
"Number one... Not a bad result."
"I’m thinking of targeting the overseas market now."
"Overseas?"
"Yes. I heard that Korean dramas are booming in Southeast Asia through OTT platforms lately. I think I can step up into a much larger market."
"It’s not a bad choice. But will it be alright? I don’t recall our dramas ever being globally popular before."
"There’s no reason I can’t do it. You did it too, Grandfather. You took Jeil Yudang, which was only famous domestically, and expanded it into various businesses until you finally captured the overseas market. Didn't everyone say that was impossible at first?"
Yoo Taek-soo let out a hearty laugh at Young-eun’s bold retort.
"You’re not wrong. That’s right. Challenges taken when everyone deems them impossible often yield the greatest returns."
"I believe this drama can show that Korean stories can succeed globally. After all, everyone has a first love, don't they?"
"Hmm..."
Chairman Yoo Taek-soo closed his eyes and let out a sigh.
"Do you truly have no intention of taking over my work?"
The Chairman’s voice was softer and calmer than ever. It carried the decisiveness of an entrepreneur, yet it was laced with a grandfather’s unique brand of persuasion.
"No matter how I look at it, the person to grow Jeil Group even further is you, Young-eun."
"I’m sorry, Grandfa—no, Chairman."
"Calling me 'Chairman'... this old man is going to feel hurt if you talk like that."
Chairman Yoo gave a bitter smile.
"I’m sorry, Grandfather. I’m not the right person to lead the group. I believe I have my own work to do, and my own vision to follow."
"Is your 'broad vision' limited only to the entertainment industry?"
"Yes."
"Knowing one’s own shortcomings is also a quality of a leader. If you have insight, the rest can be learned. You could simply keep experts by your side, couldn't you?"
"Father and my uncle are already leading subsidiaries and preparing for succession, and my cousins are working hard too. Please, just wait for them."
"..."
Chairman Yoo simply stared at Young-eun in silence. His deep eyes flickered with regret, and he smacked his lips as if disappointed.
"I believe you are the most suitable successor. If you were the daughter of my eldest, Yoo Seok-hwan—if you were the eldest grandchild—I would have made you throw away that entertainment business immediately and put you in charge of the group."
"Don't say things like that. You need to stay in charge for a long time, Grandfather."
"Heh, you’re probably the only person who says that and actually means it."
Chairman Yoo’s eyes sharpened. He looked at her not with the soft gaze of a grandfather she saw every day, but with the eyes of a Chairman.
"Even if you aren't the daughter of the eldest son, you can still take over. I mean this sincerely. If you start learning the art of leadership and management now, you could use the image you’ve built to aim for even greater heights."
"My place is here. I want to show people that not everyone from a chaebol family is cold and rigid."
"...Is that your honest feeling?"
"Yes. I trust you know whose stubbornness I inherited, Grandfather."
"...Sigh. So you mean to say you won't compromise at all."
"Yes."
He let out a quiet sigh and spoke.
"Then, tell me. When are you going to show me my grandson-in-law?"
"Pardon?"
"Lately, this old man has been feeling quite lonely being by himself. I’d like to see a grandson-in-law, and maybe even a great-grandchild before I die."
"Grandfather..."
"You’ve already rejected my request to lead the group. Surely you won't reject my request to bring home a grandson-in-law as well? You can at least do one of them, right?"
A grandson-in-law.
She was someone who hadn't even had a dating rumor, mostly because no man who approached her ever met her standards. And now, he was asking for a grandson-in-law.
It was absurd.
She was only in her mid-twenties. She had intentionally avoided even the slightest scandal to focus on her active career in the industry.
"Uh... I haven't found anyone I like yet."
"Tsk, tsk. I figured you’d say that, so I’ve already picked out some decent candidates."
"What?"
"They’re all good lads. I’ve personally visited other groups and spoken with them. They’re all upright and have clear goals. You’ll like them."
"Grandfather, are you telling me to go on a blind date?"
"Of course. I have no intention of accepting some preposterous fellow as my grandson-in-law."
"But Grandfather, I still want to focus on my work."
"Cough! Cough! Oh my, I must be getting old. I keep coughing like this. I just want to see you get married before I pass away... Cough!"
Chairman Yoo’s face turned pale as he coughed. To an outsider, he looked so haggard they might actually think he was gravely ill.
However, Young-eun, who had fallen for this many times before, knew better. It was all an act.
I think I know exactly who I inherited my acting genes from.
"Fine. I’ll at least look at the photos."
At that, Chairman Yoo pulled out a thick binder.
"Here. This one is Im Hyung-mo from Gu-sang Group. Isn't he handsome? I heard he graduated from Harvard. His only flaw is that he’s a bit arrogant, but..."
Young-eun intended to reject him flatly. However, seeing the way Chairman Yoo’s face lit up as he listed the candidates, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
Chairman Yoo introduced various men—from corporate heirs and politicians to famous venture capitalists from abroad—insisting they were all great catches, but none of them caught her interest.
"You don't look pleased. Is there really no one you like?"
Even after looking through a list of over thirty people, there wasn't a single one she liked. Meeting them would be a waste of time and would only ruin the mood.
"I’m sorry."
"Hmph. And here I thought I picked them according to your taste..."
It was obvious he had tried. If he had brought this list a few months ago—no, even two months ago—there were people here she might have seriously considered. Since they were handpicked by Chairman Yoo, none of them would be lacking.
However...
They all fall short compared to him.
One person popped into her mind.
Choi Jae-ho.
A man who, from her perspective, was just an ordinary citizen whose only assets were a small gym and a house.
But his abilities, his boldness, and that strange, magnetic pull he had...
He was a man who felt suspicious for some reason, but his talent far outweighed any suspicion. Even now, while looking at a list of men with brilliant futures, she couldn't stop thinking about him.
"Young-eun."
"Yes?"
She snapped back to reality at Chairman Yoo’s call.
"You already have a man in mind, don't you?"
"Pardon?"
"You were thinking about that man just now, weren't you?"
"W-what are you talking about?"
For the first time, Young-eun looked flustered in front of the Chairman and shook her head.
"Weren't you just thinking about a man?"
"N-no, I wasn't!"
"Ho-ho, really? Then it should be fine for you to go on a blind date with one of these people, right?"
"What? How did it suddenly jump to that?"
"Then you do have a man?"
"I told you, I don't!"
Her face flushed hot. Her heart pounded as if a deep secret had been exposed. Her usually quick-witted mind felt dizzy and broken.
I was thinking about Jae-ho?
No. It’s just... it’s just because he’s so much better than any of the men on that list that he came to mind.
"Just admit what there is to admit. Admit it and introduce him to this old man, and that’ll be the end of it."
"N-no. I don't have anyone like that! Why would I have someone I want to introduce as a grandson-in-law?"
She denied it instinctively. Because it wasn't true. If Chairman Yoo got the wrong idea, things would get complicated. It would blow out of proportion.
They were just a trainer and a member, after all.
"Introduce him as a grandson-in-law? I never said that."
"Ah... you just said you wanted to see a grandson-in-law?"
"I was talking about these fellows."
Chairman Yoo pointed at the binder.
"So you have thought about it to that extent?"
Chairman Yoo gave a sly grin. He was delighted to see his granddaughter so flustered for the first time in a long while. She could just be honest, yet she insisted on denying it.
I wonder who she takes after.
As Chairman Yoo watched Young-eun with that mischievous smile...
"I’ll go on the date."
"Eh?"
Young-eun pressed her lips thin and pointed at the binder.
"I’ll go on a date with this man."
"You’re going that far...?"
"Because it’s not like I have someone I’m thinking of as a grandson-in-law!"
Young-eun’s face was redder than an apple, but Chairman Yoo feigned ignorance.
I wonder who she got that stubbornness from...
Chairman Yoo Taek-soo certainly didn't think she took after him.
*
After Young-eun left.
"That child is all grown up now."
"Indeed, Chairman."
"It feels like only yesterday she was toddling around calling me 'Grandpa'."
As he reminisced, Chairman Yoo’s eyes turned sharp. It was the gaze of a man who had raised a single company to a global powerhouse. It was a look that felt like it could kill with a single glance.
"By the way... what kind of pest has been buzzing around my granddaughter?"
"I will look into it."
"If some worthless fellow has approached my granddaughter..."
Chairman Yoo watched Young-eun’s car drive away in the distance, putting weight behind every single word.
"Get rid of him immediately. Use whatever means necessary."
"Understood, sir."