Chapter 149: The Plot Thickens: Alliances and Schemes

Watching Jin Seo-yoon’s reaction, Mayor Choi cautiously inquired, “Do you really believe Do-jun is clearing the path for you?”

She let out a long sigh at her husband’s question.

“Listen carefully. Oh Se-hyun is nothing more than a figurehead Do-jun hired. Do-jun is the true owner of Miracle Investment. That means the Ajin Group, Soonyang Automobile, and Dae-ah Construction that Miracle acquired are all Do-jun’s. You know, don’t you? Soonyang Automobile holds a whopping 17% stake in Soonyang Group?”

Mayor Choi found it hard to believe. Wasn’t he still a university student?

“You know what’s even more astonishing? He accomplished all of this without his father’s help. That’s why his father is so utterly devoted to Do-jun. I even understand why he gave him extra shares when he handed over the automobile company.”

“Wh-What on earth is that kid… made of? Was he just born with his grandfather’s blood running through his veins?”

As the unbelievable truth sunk in, something else struck him.

“Did he take everything your father gave you?”

He didn’t need a direct answer; Jin Seo-yoon’s expression confirmed it.

“Good heavens. How could he have done all that in such a short time…”

Jin Seo-yoon sighed repeatedly before slowly speaking.

She recounted how they started the spin-off while burdened with Soonyang Group’s debts, utilized Miracle’s funds, and ultimately made disastrous stock investments.

Having heard the whole story, Mayor Choi erupted in anger.

His targets were Chairman Jin, who deliberately created an opening for his young grandson to seize the department store group, Jin Do-jun, who exploited that opportunity using stocks, and Jin Seo-yoon, who fell victim to their scheme.

“Stop it. It’s irreversible. Now you know my situation, right? Perhaps I won’t be of any help to you. I’m even ashamed to admit I’m broke…”

“Enough,” Mayor Choi said, gently taking Jin Seo-yoon’s hand.

“You might have lost what was given to you, but you’ve gained a formidable asset.”

“An asset who will take down my brothers.”

“Exactly. If I can find a way to cut that asset’s lifeline, Soonyang will be in your hands, no, our hands. Maybe this is even a good thing.”

“You’re still so optimistic. It used to annoy me, but today, it’s different. It sounds good.”

Jin Seo-yoon firmly grasped the hand of Mayor Choi, who had clearly stated his intention to cooperate.

“Good. I’ll stick close by his side until he tramples over my brothers. I’ll prove my worth by having him entrust the department store and hotels to me. You, on the other hand, need to aim for the presidency after your re-election as mayor. We can’t rely on Father’s influence anymore, so we have to do exceptionally well.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely win the mayoral re-election.”

“Oh, and just in case, never reveal Do-jun’s true identity to my brothers. They’re already a bit suspicious, but they’ll dismiss it as unbelievable nonsense.”

“Of course. If my brothers become wary of the ‘asset’, this whole thing falls apart. Be careful yourself not to let anything slip.”

Jin Seo-yoon noticed a newfound affection in Mayor Choi’s gaze. Was this what it meant for a couple to support each other in difficult times?

To realize this simple truth only now, past the age of fifty.

“Stop by the hotel sometime. Let’s have dinner together. That kid, Do-jun, is generous. He’s still letting me stay in the suite. You know where it is, right?”

* * *

“I’ve seen the reports. What countermeasures have you prepared?”

“I’m working on it. But aren’t we rushing things a bit? Incheon International Airport isn’t opening until March next year. The selection process for businesses hasn’t even been announced yet, and we’re making moves already….”

“Grandfather’s way is to finalize arrangements before the fierce competition begins. Don’t you know that?”

Her pride wounded, his aunt bit her lip. Final reports on major projects across the distribution group were always received through her.

If the farmhand is powerful, tenant farmers will heed the farmhand rather than the landowner. The landowner must always force the farmhand to kneel. Only then will the tenant farmers remember who the real owner is.

“You’re well aware of Incheon Airport’s scale. We can’t afford to miss out on the duty-free shops. Moreover, there’s information suggesting that at least three duty-free permits will be granted in Seoul in line with Incheon Airport’s opening.”

“Surely, they won’t exclude our Soonyang? We’re always in the top 3, after all.”

His aunt still believed they held the privilege. Unless this misconception was shattered, holding onto the vice-chairman position for long would be difficult.

“Aunt.”

“Yes?”

“The government is well aware of the changes in shareholding. They know we’re entirely separate from Soonyang Group…. Do you think they’ll be mindful of us? Grandfather certainly won’t move for our sake. In the past, he would have understood and acted accordingly without us even speaking. But now, he won’t budge unless we ask him.”

Although her expression was still disgruntled, she didn’t press further. The years she had lived like a princess were too long for her to grasp their changed circumstances overnight.

“I’ll meet with officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Korea Customs Service to pull some strings. Aunt, please thoroughly review the duty-free shop application documents.”

“Me? Review documents?”

“Then who will give the final approval? You’re the vice-chairman.”

After glaring at him without an immediate response, his aunt softened her expression and spoke gently.

“Do-jun, you still don’t know me very well, do you?”

“I do. You’ve never looked at documents like these, have you? But if you want to run the business, you absolutely have to look at them. And you need to understand them perfectly. I’m not asking you to understand the accounting books, but you must review other reports and plans.”

“I know. I’ll try to look at them diligently. What I mean is, use me in a more useful and appropriate way.”

“I have plans to utilize your connections, Aunt. The time just isn’t right yet….”

“No. What I’m best at isn’t mobilizing connections.”

“Then what is it?”

“Leading shopping trends.”

“Leading shopping? What do you mean?”

He genuinely didn’t understand. His aunt leading shopping trends?

Wasn’t it designers and celebrities who led fashion trends?

“Approve 1 billion won for marketing expenses. And watch what I do.”

“One billion won?”

“Hey! Why are you looking at me like that?”

His aunt chuckled and playfully slapped his back.

“Ouch! What is it?”

“You’re giving me that look like I’m going to waste money again.”

Why was she being so agreeable? It felt a little strange. That made him even more suspicious. But she had only held the precarious vice-chairman position for a few days; would she really try to pull a trick? Surely she wasn’t planning to embezzle company funds. Besides, it was only a billion won.

“Alright. Please teach me what it means to lead shopping trends. Consider the 1 billion won a lesson fee.”

As soon as he finished speaking, his aunt snapped her fingers.

“Okay. From now on, pay close attention to everything I do.”

* * *

A few days later, his aunt called him to the hotel.

The suite his aunt was staying in was piled high with fashion lookbooks.

“What’s all this?”

“These are fashion show lookbooks showcasing this year’s Spring/Summer trends. They’re from the haute couture and prêt-à-porter shows in Paris, as well as the four major collections in Milan, New York, and London…. I attended Fashion Week every January, but I couldn’t go this year. You know why, right?”

Having been effectively ousted from the company, she didn’t have the leisure to go gallivanting at fashion shows.

“We need to pick out what will sell well here. That’s the first step in this business.”

Many of the items in the lookbooks were marked with various checkmarks. He couldn’t discern the criteria, but there were diverse symbols.

“You should look too. If you, as a man, claim to have no interest in fashion, it will be difficult to manage department stores and hotels.”

“Aunt, what’s this? It’s not clothing.”

His aunt glanced at the lookbook he pointed to and said, “Bedding. Curtains, sheets, that kind of thing. Those are important too.”

And that wasn’t all. There were also quite a few lookbooks for major department store items like watches, shoes, and cosmetics. In essence, she had brought the entire luxury department store into her hotel suite.

“Well? See anything worthwhile?”

“It all looks good.”

“That’s right, most of it is good. Because they’re incredibly expensive luxury goods. The cheaper items cost as much as an average department head’s monthly salary, and the expensive ones are worth an annual salary.”

Of course, there were many things that couldn’t be bought even with several years’ worth of salary.

“Listen carefully. Just because something is expensive doesn’t mean it’s good. There are things that look good just by looking at them, and then there are things that look good when you wear them or place them in your home. Which one would you choose?”

“Of course, it should be good when you use it.”

“But it might not look that great just by looking at it, right? Would you readily pick it up?”

If people weren’t initially drawn to it, a purchase wouldn’t occur. And if it wasn’t good when used, there would be no repeat purchases. It was a dilemma.

As he tilted his head, unable to answer, his aunt offered a slight smile. It was an air of superiority.

“It’s about discerning taste. Ordinary stores cater to different price points, but with luxury goods, price isn’t the deciding factor. You have to capture customers solely with your discerning taste.”

The word “discerning taste” appeared again.

Did he really lack discerning taste?

His aunt called all the waiting staff.

“Contact Paris and have all of this sent over.”

At his aunt’s gesture, the staff gathered all the lookbooks.

“Yes, Vice-chairman. Shall we have the usual company handle the setup?”

“Yes. Tell them to pay extra attention this time. Tell them a crucial project is at stake.”

“Understood.”

After the staff member left with the lookbooks, the next staff member laid out samples.

They were invitation cards.

His aunt quickly scanned them and picked out a few to examine closely.

“Prepare it with these.”

She casually tossed one, and the staff member respectfully accepted it.

The last remaining staff member presented something resembling a restaurant menu.

His aunt reviewed the list of dishes one by one, marking her selections.

“Prepare the courses like this, and book the chef at Le Train Bleu. And have him handle the tableware too. That kid has a good eye.”

“Understood, Vice-chairman.”

Once the staff had left and they were alone, his aunt stretched out her arms with a grand yawn.

“It’s been a while since I had this much fun. Looking at nice things always lifts my spirits, even if it’s tiring. Ho ho.”

His aunt took a sip of wine.

“Do-jun. Do you think you understand what I just did?”

“Well, you used your discerning taste to request luxury good samples that have marketability. That’s as far as I can guess.”

Disappointment flickered in his aunt’s eyes.

“Unbelievable. Is that all? Ah, your sister-in-law hardly does any luxury shopping, does she? She’s a frugal woman.”

Was she implying something about his mother?

At his sharp gaze, his aunt quickly waved her hands.

“Don’t misunderstand. I don’t mean it in a bad way. What I mean is, naturally beautiful women like your mother look good even in simple clothes. Even if she wears a ten-thousand-won dress from the local market, it looks like a luxury item.”

“I get it, so explain the rest. Surely we’re not buying all those samples? I can’t blow 1 billion won on buying those.”

“Do you think I’m an idiot? Buy all that? The 1 billion won I’m using for marketing is to buy the favor of 100 influential and wealthy Korean women. It’s the cost of making those women sing praises of our Soonyang Department Store and Hotel to the point of obsession. That’s what 1 billion won buys.”

It had been a while since he had seen his aunt so confident and assertive.

Was this what his aunt did best? Winning the hearts of the wealthy?