DYEH 31

Chapter 31

After greeting Seo-hee, Choi Jung-hoon went straight to see Chairman Han.

“Chairman, I’m here.”
“I thought you arrived earlier—what took you so long to come in?”
“I ran into Seo-hee.”

At the mention of Seo-hee, Chairman Han’s eyes lit up. He had already asked Jung-hoon to observe her, so he was eager to hear the man’s opinion.

Catching that expectant look, Jung-hoon promptly reported his impressions.

“As you said, sir, she seems like a completely different person. I always knew she was smart, but now she seems to have gained a sort of insight.”
“Exactly! I knew you’d feel that way. You didn’t believe me when I said she’d changed. The look on your face now is priceless.”

Chairman Han looked positively delighted, every inch the doting grandfather.

“Do you think something might have happened to her recently?”
“If I knew that, I wouldn’t have asked you to find out. I’ve no idea myself. Whatever it was, it must have been for the better, and that’s all that matters.”

His hearty laugh made his satisfaction plain.

“So, did Seo-hee ask you for a favor?”

It was as if he’d read Jung-hoon’s hesitation about whether to report on Jin Woo-hyuk.

“How did you know, sir? I was just about to tell you.”
“Come now. If you saw how much she’d changed, it must mean she asked for something.”
“As expected of you, Chairman.”
“Save the flattery. Out with it—what did she ask?”

Jung-hoon gave a detailed report on how he had helped Woo-hyuk at Seo-hee’s request. Chairman Han stayed silent until he finished, then finally spoke the question that had been on his mind.

“So, Jin Seong-hyun has an illegitimate son, does he? What kind of man is Assemblyman Jin?”
“He’s influential enough to be watched closely in political circles, though he hasn’t yet cemented his position. Still, he’s cultivated a clean, upright image, so I expect he’ll rise quickly within the party.”
“A clean, upright image—and yet he’s got an illegitimate child he’s kept hidden. Make sure that weakness is firmly in our hands.”

Jin Seong-hyun had been meticulous in concealing his son’s existence. The Shinsung Group’s intelligence network was excellent, and though the information had come out of deep necessity, it was something almost no one else could have discovered.

“When I saw Seo-hee just now, I half-expected her to ask me to find that boy a job.”
“And she didn’t?”

Chairman Han sounded surprised.

“No, sir. She said otherwise.”

Jung-hoon relayed her exact words.

“She said if he can’t even pass the regular hiring process, it means she misjudged him.”
“Ha! So she boldly recommends him as a talented man but leaves herself an escape route.”
“No, sir. She added confidently that she hadn’t misjudged him—that he would definitely pass.”

That audacious answer clearly pleased the chairman.

“Good. Let’s see for ourselves, then—how sharp her eye for people really is. To sit in this seat, one must tell rough stones from gems.”

Jung-hoon, too, was intrigued. Was Seo-hee’s confidence justified? Was Jin Woo-hyuk truly the kind of man who could serve Shinsung well?

“By the way, what about Jun-young? You’ve kept him in line, right?”
“Yes, Vice-President Han Tae-gyu contacted me.”
“Oh? What did he say?”
“He asked me to place his son in a core department.”
“And what did you tell him?”
“That I only follow your orders, sir. I said I’d assign people strictly by principle—based on their entrance exam and training scores.”
“This year’s new hires should be very interesting.”

Seo-hee had asked for Woo-hyuk to be placed at Shinsung Telecom, calling him a gifted man applying to Shinsung SDS. Meanwhile, the eldest grandson, recently back from America, was to enter Shinsung Electronics. And then there was Lee-soo.

Watching how the three grandchildren competed for the line of succession promised to be entertaining indeed.

“I want detailed reports on all the new recruits.”
“Yes, sir.”

Leaving the mansion, Jung-hoon got into his car. As the engine started, a faint smile curved his lips.

“I’m looking forward to this.”

He had spent his life working for Shinsung and was fiercely loyal to the company and to the chairman. His devotion ran deep—and like the chairman, he wanted nothing more than to see Shinsung become a truly global enterprise.

Pressing the accelerator, Jung-hoon drove out of the residential district in high spirits.

Knock, knock.
Lee-soo tapped on Han Tae-gyu’s study door.

“Dad, can I talk to you for a minute?”

At his permission, she entered. As always, their conversation quickly turned to company matters.

“How’s your exam prep for the open recruitment going?”

Lee-soo pouted. If it hadn’t been for Seo-hee’s sudden declaration that she’d go through the official process, she could have landed a special-recruitment position through family connections.

But thanks to Han Seo-hee bursting in unannounced, she now had to spend sleepless nights studying for tests and interviews.

“Of course it’s going well. Who do you think I am?”
“Don’t get cocky. You think our company’s easy to get into? There are lines of applicants who’d kill for a spot at Shinsung Electronics.”
“I know.”

That only made her want it more. Her first goal was to become Shinsung Electronics’ first female CEO. After that, she’d take the entire Shinsung Group for herself. She was certain she could do it.

“Look at your brother—he’s a top U.S. university graduate, yet he’s sitting for the same exams as you.”

She had almost forgotten about Han Jun-young. While other rich kids in America partied and did drugs, he had apparently spent his time studying.

He might show up to family gatherings dressed absurdly, but he could never fool her. Jun-young had always been the model student, living under his father’s watchful eye.

And people don’t change overnight. Just as only those who’ve eaten fine meat know how to savor it, only those who’ve played know how to have fun.

The Jun-young she knew wouldn’t know how to rebel even if someone pushed him to.

“I’m studying hard, Dad. I won’t tarnish your name. But actually—”

She softened her voice sweetly.

“What is it you want?”

Of course Tae-gyu could tell that tone—she always used it when she wanted something.

“If you’re about to ask me to pull strings for you, don’t even start. Unless you want both of us out of Grandfather’s favor.”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what?”
“I want to apply to a different subsidiary.”
“A different one?”

That surprised him. She’d always said she wanted to work at Electronics, the core of Shinsung Group.

Then he remembered hearing recently that Seo-hee had chosen Shinsung Telecom.

“Don’t tell me you want to go to Shinsung Telecom.”
“Yes.”

She answered without hesitation.

“And I suppose it’s because of Han Seo-hee?”
“Yes.”

Tae-gyu sighed, his gaze full of exasperation for his still-immature daughter.

“I can handle it, Dad.”
“You can just do well at Electronics.”
“No, Jun-young’s going there.”
“So what?”

Lee-soo felt frustrated. Her father must know what it meant for Seo-hee, Jun-young, and herself to all join as new recruits at once.

Was he planning to abandon her—to push Jun-young as the next heir?

It was possible. After all, Jun-young’s mother was the daughter-in-law the chairman respected, unlike her own mother, who was always looked down on.

That meant Jun-young had legitimacy on his side. Competing on equal terms would get her nowhere—not against Seo-hee, not against Jun-young.

She needed to build her own base of power, and that meant joining Telecom, where there was room to grow and shine.

But she hid her true intentions, using Jun-young as an excuse.

“Honestly, as long as Seo-hee’s around, it won’t be easy for my brother to inherit the group.”
“So?”
“He’ll need someone to keep her in check.”

Tae-gyu couldn’t deny that. For his son to win the chairman’s favor, Seo-hee’s flaws would have to stand out more clearly.

“I’ll be that person.”

And she was, in fact, the perfect candidate to make those flaws visible. Tae-gyu’s thoughts quickly settled—he would send her to Telecom.

Still, he pretended to hesitate, clearing his throat.

“Are you sure you can handle it?”

Her face lit up.

“That’s what I’ve been doing for years, Dad—keeping Han Seo-hee in line. I’m good at it.”

At that, Tae-gyu decided to offer her a little incentive.

“It won’t have to be long. Last one year, and I’ll bring you back to Electronics.”
“One year’s more than enough.”

No—just a few months should be enough to bring Han Seo-hee down, she thought. And then it’ll be Jun-young’s turn.

Hiding her sharpened claws behind a bright smile, Lee-soo looked at her father reassuringly, as if to say, Don’t worry about a thing.