Chapter Index

    Executive Director Jang Do-hyung said that those who focus solely on numbers despise uncertainty the most. Isn’t Do-jun trained in logical thinking? Law school, stock charts, financial investments—naturally, he lacks the confidence to manage a credit card company driven by bonds.

    Bonds are inherently uncertain, especially in a business targeting the general public!

    Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki observed President Lee Min-seop intently, casually tossing out the remark.

    “The road ahead will be rough.”

    “Vice-chairman, are we just going to stand by and watch…”

    “Enough.”

    Jin Young-ki cut off President Lee Min-seop.

    “This is Father’s will. It’s only been a couple of months since things were divided according to his wishes. We can’t have infighting already.”

    It meant the time wasn’t right yet.

    President Lee Min-seop quickly bowed his head.

    “My apologies. Being on the front lines, I was too hasty.”

    “Father finalized the group’s succession plan but also silenced the media. Doesn’t he want this to pass quietly? We need to avoid Soonyang Group becoming the talk of the town.”

    “Yes, sir.”

    President Lee Min-seop quietly rose from his seat.

    “Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule, Vice-chairman.”

    “We’re in the same building. Come by often. Let’s have tea and chat about life. We shouldn’t let our relationship be divided just because the shares were,”

    “Ah, of course. Unless you’re pushing us away, Vice-chairman, we’re always ready.”

    Lee Min-seop emphasized the word ‘we’.

    Jin Young-ki was not one to miss the meaning behind it.

    As President Lee Min-seop repeatedly bowed and left, Jin Young-ki immediately called his chief of staff.

    He summarized Lee Min-seop’s words, and Chief of Staff Baek Jun-hyuk focused intently, not wanting to miss a single word.

    “What do you think?”

    “I think we need to meet with Executive Director Jang Do-hyung first.”

    “Jang Do-hyung? Why?”

    “Those were his words. We don’t know if it’s Do-jun’s intention or not. Executive Director Jang is also ambitious. He might have his own agenda for leaking this to President Lee Min-seop.”

    “Why would Jang Do-hyung do something like this?”

    “Because he’s too good at his job, haha.”

    “What?”

    “Executive Director Jang’s career ends where he is. He’ll never become CEO. All of Soonyang Life’s financial product strategies come from Jang Do-hyung’s mind. Promoting him would mean taking him away from hands-on work…”

    “You keep your ace pitcher on the mound until his shoulder gives out.”

    “Exactly. Jang Do-hyung is Soonyang Life’s starting pitcher.”

    Jin Young-ki thought about Soonyang Life, Jang Do-hyung, and Soonyang Card but soon stopped, choosing what he did best.

    Giving orders.

    Ordering subordinates who were good at thinking deeply and strategizing—that was Jin Young-ki’s job.

    “Meet with Jang Do-hyung. Find out what he wants and what he can offer me.”

    “Understood, Vice-chairman.”

    * * *

    “President Lee Min-seop?”

    “Yes. Yesterday, on New Year’s Day, the first person he met was Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki. Doesn’t that seem strange?”

    “And Do-jun?”

    “He only met with Executive Director Jang Do-hyung.”

    “Jang Do-hyung means Life Insurance?”

    “Yes.”

    “Are the old men starting to resist? As soon as the new year began?”

    “It’s becoming a reality for them. They have to go greet their son, no, their grandson on New Year’s.”

    “They rejected the old men’s prideful greetings and only met with the youngest, Jang Do-hyung? Our clever nephew is still clumsy when it comes to handling elders.”

    Jin Dong-ki chuckled.

    “Vice-chairman, doesn’t something seem suspicious?”

    Three men sat before Jin Dong-ki.

    They were Jin Dong-ki’s new team of secretaries, formed after he inherited the Heavy Industries division.

    It was based on the logical judgment that many heads are better than one.

    “What’s suspicious?”

    “Shouldn’t someone like President Lee Min-seop go straight to the Chairman if he has a complaint? Why Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki?”

    “What would he say to Father? That he can’t work with a kid and wants to jump ship? Those guys have nowhere else to turn. They probably considered both Hyung-nim and me. The result was Hyung-nim.”

    “Vice-chairman, would President Lee Min-seop just voice his complaints?”

    The secretaries rushed to voice their questions and opinions, eager to show off their intelligence since they were newly appointed.

    People can’t be equal. The three received the same rank and salary, but the fact remained that some would fall behind while others would move ahead.

    “What else besides complaints?”

    “They need to survive. They probably offered something while asking for help. They’re not amateurs enough to just beg.”

    “What’s interesting is that the president of the card company stepped forward. Isn’t the head of the financial affiliates Soonyang Life, no matter what anyone says?”

    There are many eyes in the group headquarters. Eyes that watch on behalf of someone and report immediately.

    The fact that the two men met on the first day back at work will already be all over the building, and it’s obvious that people will soon be gossiping about the succession issue.

    “You didn’t gather just to raise questions, did you? So, what’s the conclusion?”

    The three men exchanged glances. It was hard to tell if they were reaching an agreement or just being cautious.

    “We will meet with Executive Director Jang Do-hyung.”

    “Executive Director Jang?”

    “Yes. Executive Director Jang is also part of Soonyang Life. It’s not natural for him to meet with President Lee Min-seop.”

    “He might be the only one who has glimpsed Do-jun’s thoughts. Since he heard something about the card company from Do-jun, he ran straight to President Lee Min-seop.”

    “You’re going to find out what Jang Do-hyung knows?”

    “Yes. If Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki knows, we should know too.”

    Jin Dong-ki had foreseen this situation, but it had arrived too quickly, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

    That the two elders had to be so keenly aware of every little action of their young nephew….

    “Alright. Contact him discreetly. Be careful not to cause rumors.”

    “Yes, we will be careful.”

    After his secretaries left, Jin Dong-ki fell into thought.

    Should he meet with his younger brother, Yoon-ki? Or his nephew?

    * * *

    “The two brothers’ power plays are something else…. President Lee Min-seop only met with Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki, but Vice-chairman Jin Dong-ki’s side approached me first.”

    “They don’t even see each other in the same building, but who knows how many eyes they have planted everywhere…. Hehe.”

    “Eyes, you say?”

    “Executive Director Jang, do you know how many female employees are on the executive floor of Soonyang headquarters? I don’t know their official salaries, but the money deposited in their accounts is probably ten times their paychecks.”

    “So, my secretary too…?”

    “You don’t give her anything extra, do you, Executive Director?”

    “I sometimes give her cab fare when she works late.”

    “And do you know what kind of handbag your female secretary carries?”

    “I have no idea. I don’t pay attention to that kind of thing….”

    “Take a closer look at the female employees working on the 20th floor and above in the main building, where the group’s core executives are. Their handbags, clothes, accessories—anything that costs more than their monthly salary. Be careful of those girls.”

    His secretary always organized her desk after work. The thought that everything he had left behind—memos, work-related documents—had been reported to someone sent a chill down his spine.

    “Now, let’s move on from that…. What did my second uncle’s side say?”

    “At first, they just asked about my well-being. Like casual inquiries. But eventually, they grilled me about the chief of staff.”

    “And what did you say?”

    “That he seems a bit overwhelmed. Hehe.”

    Executive Director Jang Do-hyung seemed to relish this taste of intrigue, constantly wearing an amused smile.

    “Mentioning only the card company seemed off, so I said you didn’t show much interest in anything besides the securities firm, and their eyes changed.”

    “It’s probably because Soonyang Life holds a lot of the group’s shares. Is there anything specific I need to know…?”

    “I subtly hinted that you were very worried, especially about the unwanted card company. I even added that you wished they had given you one or two of the heavy industries affiliates so you could sell them off to Miracle’s HW Group.”

    Jang Do-hyung took out some documents.

    “This is a list of Vice-chairman Jin Dong-ki’s heavy industries affiliates. I’ve highlighted the companies that are worth trading for the card company. Just considering the corporate value, they are either equal to or slightly less valuable than the card company.”

    I need to discuss this list with Oh Se-hyun. We need to choose the company HW Group needs most and prepare for negotiations.

    “Has Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki’s side been quiet?”

    “Chief of Staff Baek Jun-hyuk came by.”

    Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki’s right-hand man, Chief of Staff Baek Jun-hyuk.

    A figure I’d only caught glimpses of at Grandpa’s residence.

    Well… I’ll get to know him.

    “What did he say?”

    “He told me not to dance for a kid and to just say what I wanted.”

    Wasn’t he the type to beat around the bush? It’s a bit surprising that someone so direct works as a chief of staff.

    “What did you reply?”

    “I said I needed time to think.”

    “What kind of answer did Chief Baek want to hear?”

    “He probably wanted to gauge the extent of my ambition. He would then offer something accordingly. In return, I’d have to take the lead in easily taking away what the chief of staff has.”

    I’m curious too. Just how big is this man’s ambition?

    “What are you planning to answer?”

    “I’d like to discuss that with you, Chief of Staff….”

    He looks at me with earnest eyes.

    This man wants to hear the real deal I can offer, beyond just being seen as an influential figure.

    Executive Director Jang Do-hyung and I only have a draft contract; we haven’t reached the final contract we can both smile and sign.

    “Chairman of Soonyang Financial Group.”

    “Pardon?”

    “That’s the title that will be printed on your business card, Executive Director. Don’t you like it?”

    He was silent for a while.

    Not vice president or president. Chairman—doesn’t that mean entrusting me with all the major affiliates?

    He probably assumed I would take that position. He probably never thought my talk about separating ownership and management was genuine. He believes that I’m just taking a step back because of my young age and will step into the forefront at any moment.

    Because no one in the chaebol family has ever truly stepped back.

    “Chief of Staff, are you serious?”

    “Did you think I’d be willing to work with a young man like you without that level of compensation? If so, I can’t trust your commitment to me, Executive Director. We can’t overcome challenges and walk together without getting something in return.”

    “But you already promised me the best treatment in Soonyang Group.”

    “You might be satisfied with that now. But once you have enough money, you’ll naturally want something higher—whether it’s power or ideals.”

    Executive Director Jang Do-hyung looked at me as if I were a fascinating creature.

    “What is it? How can you think like that at your age? Forgive me for asking such a rude question, but I can’t help it.”

    “Didn’t you tell me to show them Miracle? Hehe.”

    I didn’t forget to warn the still surprised Jang Do-hyung.

    “However, when you get that chairman position and how long you keep it depends entirely on you, Executive Director. If you fall short of my standards even a little, I will not only remove you from the chairman’s seat but also fire you immediately according to your executive contract.”

    “There’s no such thing as ‘happily ever after,’ then.”

    Now his expression changed to one of disbelief.

    “Do you want ‘happily ever after’? Then you’d better go to Jeju Island right now, buy a detached house, and grow carrots.”

    “Don’t even dream of a fairy-tale ending…. You surprise me once again. Haha.”

    “Are you satisfied?”

    “I’d be a fool to refuse.”

    Jang Do-hyung jumped up.

    “I’ll meet with Chief of Staff Baek Jun-hyuk again. I’ve just decided what to say.”

    There was no need to say more. Executive Director Jang Do-hyung now had to prove his worth.

    Chapter Summary

    Executive Director Jang Do-hyung's meeting with Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki raises suspicion with Vice-chairman Jin Dong-ki and his staff, leading them to believe Jang might be acting on Do-jun's behalf or pursuing his own agenda. Meanwhile, Do-jun discusses the political landscape within Soonyang with Jang, revealing his plans to offer Jang the chairmanship of Soonyang Financial Group, contingent on his performance, emphasizing a pragmatic, results-oriented approach.

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