AER 7

Chapter 7

*Knock knock.* A knock sounded, and Ji-wan rose from his seat. Soon the door to the division head’s office swung wide open, and Chairman Do Chang-ho and Do Seong-woo entered.

“You’ve arrived.”

Ji-wan stood and greeted the two men.

“What’s wrong with your hand again?”

Chairman Do frowned as he looked at the bandage wrapped around Ji-wan’s hand.

“I hurt it by accident while working out.”

“You?”

“This must be why pride is poison.”

Chairman Do clicked his tongue, telling him to be more careful, and sat in the seat of honor. The brothers followed their father and took seats diagonally opposite each other. The three father and sons formed a triangular formation.

“What brings you here in person? If you had just called, I would have run over.”

Ji-wan spoke with a face that feigned concern. Seong-woo thought this snake of a younger brother was something else entirely.

“I heard NK Automotive has been a bit noisy internally lately. I dropped by to offer some encouragement.”

“So you’ve come to supervise?”

Ji-wan struck the bull’s-eye with a smiling face. Seong-woo inwardly clicked his tongue, thinking the man was showing the lack of manners from his upbringing. In contrast, Chairman Do laughed heartily as if finding it amusing.

“Anyway, what a funny guy.”

Looking only at the intellectual appearance, Do Seong-woo resembled Chairman Do Chang-ho a great deal. Because of that, the chairman had expected that his eldest son had inherited his own capabilities.

But unlike the outward appearance, Seong-woo’s insides were exactly like his mother’s. To put it kindly he was delicate, but for a man he was excessively fastidious and could never become a gambler in business.

On the other hand, it was no exaggeration to say that Ji-wan was the spitting image of Chang-ho’s temperament.

At a glance he looked like a runaway colt, but his insides were not like that. He was quick with calculations of gain and loss, and once he decided on a path he bet boldly and cleanly. His guts were so large that he charged straight ahead without caring about others’ feelings—truly a bulldozer.

And if he sensed that things were going wrong, his improvisation was also outstanding, so he would wrap things up without major losses.

Thus Chairman Do had entrusted the struggling NK Automotive to Ji-wan. Of course he expected results, but more than anything he knew that Ji-wan’s movements would provide a strong stimulus to Seong-woo.

That was as far as the role of the illegitimate son went. The pacemaker for Seong-woo, who would become the true master of NK.

Unlike Ji-wan’s insignificant background, Seong-woo’s maternal family was immensely powerful. His maternal grandfather had been a former prime minister, and even now the influence extending into political circles was truly formidable.

Seong-woo’s biological mother was dead, but the former in-laws supported NK in both material and moral ways. Unless something extraordinary happened, the successor had been decided from birth.

“Is Madam Park in good health? And Su-ji and Su-bin?”

Ji-wan asked in a smoothly diplomatic way. Madam Park Geum-hee was Chairman Do’s third woman, and the two mentioned were the twin children born to her.

Yet more half-siblings, and complete scoundrels. No further modifiers were needed.

“Don’t even mention them.”

Chairman Do pressed his temple with an unpleasant expression.

Su-ji was lately addicted to plastic surgery, her features subtly changing every time one saw her, and Su-bin had been immersed in drinking and women and not long ago had caused a headache with an overseas gambling incident.

“The only ones I can trust are you two.”

Chairman Do spoke as if it were sincere.

“So get along well with each other.”

“Of course.”

Ji-wan pulled up one corner of his mouth as he looked at Seong-woo. Seong-woo, without any particular reply, slid his glasses up with his middle finger.

“You know your older brother may not express it, but that’s not how he feels inside, right?”

In place of Seong-woo, Chairman Do laughed heartily and spoke to Ji-wan.

“I heard about the coffee shop on the first floor. They say Seong-woo personally recruited some competition winner. The staff’s morale has risen a lot too. That must all have been done with the heart of cheering for his younger brother, no?”

Even at his father’s disclosure, Seong-woo remained expressionless. If it was Do Ji-wan, he would already know that Seong-woo had intervened.

“That’s right.”

So he added a soft interjection. Then he glanced at Ji-wan. If the existence of Ha Hye-ryeon bothered him, it would show.

There was no way his sharp father would miss Ji-wan’s subtle change in expression. If at that timing Ji-wan came out emotionally, nothing could be better.

Since Do Ji-wan would never bring up the woman’s story with his own mouth, the chairman might think that the ungrateful illegitimate son was ignoring the legitimate heir’s goodwill and even checking him.

“I heard about it already, but my greeting is late. Thank you, hyung.”

Yet Ji-wan folded his eyes and smiled like a fox. The smile was so perfectly natural that it looked completely sincere.

“Not at all.”

Just as expected. What a smooth operator of a bastard. Seong-woo cursed inwardly while smiling back at Ji-wan in the same way.

Chairman Do cleared his throat with a *hm*.

Judging by the atmosphere, Seong-woo seemed to have done something, but the harvest appeared incomplete.

“Then shall we try a cup of tea made by an expert?”

“You don’t drink coffee.”

Ji-wan cut him off firmly.

“Have them bring anything. Sikhye, whatever.”

In that instant a thought flashed through Seong-woo’s mind.

“There’s a friend who’s especially good. I’ll place the order.”

And he quickly called his own secretary. While giving instructions he smiled brightly toward Ji-wan.

Hoping that the older brother’s gift would please the younger brother’s heart.

***

A few nights ago a text had come from Young-hoon late at night. It was a night when Hye-ryeon was exhausted after being tormented by her aunt’s phone call.

[Can you talk?]

It was the first time he had contacted her at such a late hour, so Hye-ryeon quickly touched the green phone icon.

Young-hoon asked in a voice full of worry whether anything unusual had happened in the VIP lounge. When she said she was fine, he added that he was sorry for not looking after her because he had been distracted by family matters.

‘What are you sorry for, sunbae. It’s just work.’

Outside of work they comfortably called each other “sunbae.” Having suffered together for seven years, the two were quite close.

—I’ll strongly tell the higher-ups that I’ll handle the lounge duties as much as possible.

Young-hoon was also in a position where he had moved jobs because money was tight. He had little power, and he couldn’t afford to offend the higher-ups either.

‘It’s just work. I know you’re concerned, sunbae, but don’t attach unnecessary meaning to it.’

—I was just sorry, wondering if it stirred up your heart that had been living well……

‘If I still had feelings I wouldn’t have come to NK.’

When she spoke as if to herself, Young-hoon exhaled a breath of relief. Then a few days later he informed her that his father was about to undergo his final chemotherapy and that he would be a little late for work that day.

That day was today.

And just then a call came to the store. A man who introduced himself as the secretary to the vice president of NK Securities ordered coffee and drinks for the division head’s office.

With the specific request that “Manager Ha Hye-ryeon” must prepare and deliver them.

“Ha……”

Hye-ryeon’s stomach clenched tightly. What kind of scheme was this now? But it was work, so she had to do it.

The first thing she carefully considered was an order of “a drink that would suit an adult’s taste.”

Just a moment ago during the staff’s chatter she had heard that the group’s chairman had visited this place. Hye-ryeon could easily guess that the person who ordered the drinks was Chairman Do Chang-ho.

She took a yuzu from the refrigerator and hollowed out the inside. Into it she poured the ssanghwa-cha she had steeped in advance and tied it with string. After steaming it in a steamer for ten minutes, the yuzu ssanghwa-cha was complete.

After that she extracted espresso and prepared an Einspänner. She lifted the carrier containing the drinks.

“I’ll be back.”

She entrusted the café to Eun-chan and quickly headed to the 14th floor.

She knocked on the door of the secretarial office opposite the division head’s office. In the secretarial office they placed a tray on the desk as if they had been waiting. Teacups were included as well.

“Thank you for preparing them.”

Hye-ryeon greeted politely and poured espresso into a small shot glass. The ssanghwa-cha and Einspänner did not need separate cups.

Soon a female secretary carried the tray into the office. With that, Hye-ryeon’s duty was finished. Just as she was about to leave carrying the empty carrier, the secretary who had just entered the office hurriedly called Hye-ryeon.

“Um…… you’ll need to come inside for a moment.”

“…Me?”

Hye-ryeon pointed at herself with surprised eyes. When the answer came that yes, she set down the carrier she was holding and followed the secretary.

*Knock knock.*

A response permitting entry was heard, and the heavy door opened.

“That’s just talk from government people who know nothing. We’re attempting contact with the Ministry of Finance and Economy side, so please don’t worry, Chairman.”

Chairman Do nodded while listening to Ji-wan. Hye-ryeon tried hard not to look at Ji-wan. Just then Seong-woo raised his hand.

“Ah, over here.”

Hye-ryeon looked at Seong-woo with stiffened eyes. What was he trying to do now? An ominous premonition flashed.

“Is this coffee originally like this? The layers were separated so I mixed them, and the taste became strange.”

An Einspänner with cream and coffee separated had no taste when mixed. There was no way someone who didn’t know that would accurately order an “Einspänner.”

“An Einspänner should be drunk as is without mixing. I should have explained in advance. I’m sorry.”

Hye-ryeon bowed her head according to the manual. In times like this, regardless of the other party, politely apologizing was the answer.

Chairman Do, who had been talking with Ji-wan, paused for a moment and acknowledged Hye-ryeon.

“Ah. So it was your skill. The ssanghwa-cha tastes really good.”

And with his eyes he silently pressured Seong-woo to stop.

“…Thank you.”

Hye-ryeon bowed her head quickly along with the greeting. Ji-wan never once turned his body to look at her, and she found the situation so uncomfortable that she only wanted to leave the place quickly.

“I’m glad it suits Father’s taste.”

Seong-woo, who had been nodding, looked up at Hye-ryeon with a curt gaze and continued.

“I can’t drink mine. So I’d like you to make it again.”

“This person also has work to do.”

Ji-wan interjected in a thoroughly sunken voice. Even without seeing his face, she could imagine the chilly expression with his eyebrows lowered. Hye-ryeon’s throat burned dry.

“Ahem, it would be better to do as Ji-wan says.”

Chairman Do also added his voice in support. It was a world where even ordinary employees had to be treated carefully.

“It’s disappointing, but if that’s what the two of you want, well.”

Seong-woo immediately added.

“There’s talk going around that a barista with no award history at all seized a manager position the moment he transferred. So as the one who personally scouted her, don’t you think I’m in a rather awkward position? Especially with rumors that she’s my lover circulating.”

Chairman Do looked at Seong-woo with eyes that asked if such a thing had happened.

“So I wanted to make it clear……”

“Then I’ll quickly make it again……”

“That’s enough, so leave.”

Ji-wan cut off Hye-ryeon’s words about making the coffee again cleanly.

“Ah……”

Seong-woo let out a sound of realization and then snorted a laugh.

“So that was it?”

He looked back and forth between Hye-ryeon and Ji-wan with eyes that said he had caught them by the nape. Ji-wan also stared sharply at such a Seong-woo.

“You should have at least given this older brother a little hint.”

“Stop it there.”

“So people were mistaking me for you.”

Chairman Do’s gaze this time flew toward Ji-wan.

“I heard that not long ago only Ha Hye-ryeon was specifically pulled out to the VIP lounge. Even though there was a clear person in charge.”

“Hyung.”

In a heavy voice meaning for him to stop, Ji-wan called Seong-woo.

“Moreover—”

But he did not know how to stop.

“Clearing everyone out and the two of them alone in the lounge.”

He finally drove in the last wedge.

“You shouldn’t do that in the company.”