BYB 25

Chapter 25

Eunho returned to the studio apartment with Jeon Gyujin.

“About that tteokbokki. I think it would be a huge hit if released as a meal kit. Managing Director.”

“……”

“Last time, the part-timer made it, right? Was it because the boss made it himself this time? It was much tastier. My chopsticks kept reaching for more.”

“……”

“How far have you progressed? Have you learned the recipe? You should learn it quickly and come back up to Seoul…”

*Tsss.* Popping open a can of beer from the mini-fridge, Eunho let out a hollow laugh.

“I haven’t even started yet.”

“Pardon?”

“Learning the recipe seems difficult. I’ll just try to negotiate well later on.”

Scratching his brow and smiling awkwardly, Eunho definitely seemed softer than before. Jeon Gyujin opened his mouth to ask a few questions, then closed it. He’d figure it out on his own, wouldn’t he? After all, he was Song Eunho, the Managing Director of Songhwa Foods, called a master of negotiation. A tenacious man who had never failed even once.

So all he had to do was trust and wait.

Just then, Eunho reached out his hand to Jeon Gyujin.

“First, give me your card. Secretary Jeon.”

“Why do you need the card?”

“Let’s buy just one bed.”

Eunho’s eyes sharpened as he spread his palm and wiggled his fingers. His pose was exactly like a middle schooler taking money from an elementary schooler. Jeon Gyujin laughed awkwardly.

“The CEO personally called and gave me instructions, knowing you’d do this, Managing Director.”

“……”

“Don’t help him. Don’t let him weasel out of it. Even if it can’t be helped, I will hold you responsible. Somehow, I will find out everything. In the worst case, you will be fired.”

“Has my father gone crazy?”

Eunho let out a hollow laugh.

This business trip had been strange from the start. Forcing him into undercover employment at an unverified, shabby beer house and blocking his funds.

Song Eunho’s business trip career was no short one, but this trip had been full of questions. It wouldn’t benefit him to resist, so he was just enduring it—but if he pointed out each inconsistency, there were far too many.

“Anyway, don’t ask for the card. I want to keep my job for a long time, Managing Director.”

Jeon Gyujin whined.

Eunho folded his hand back. He couldn’t ignore it when even dismissal had been mentioned. After all, Song Dong-young’s orders were absolute.

“Finish this quickly and return, Managing Director. Then everything will be resolved.”

Jeon Gyujin said, as if cutting through Eunho’s thoughts. At the same time, Jiwoo’s face flickered before Eunho’s eyes. The first thought that came to him was that he couldn’t go back to Seoul without resolving things with her.

Gyujin, unaware of Eunho’s feelings, continued the conversation alone.

“By the way, Managing Director, Executive Director Song Joo-ho is acting suspiciously. It seems he’s hell-bent on finding something to use against you.”

It was somewhat expected. Eunho stared straight ahead in silence.

“I did some digging, and it looks like he wants to frame you as an immature chaebol heir. That the meal kit business is all just exaggerated advertising, and that Song Eunho hasn’t actually accomplished anything…”

Eunho smiled sharply.

“What does he gain from such childish behavior?”

“The Executive Director may not gain anything, but you have a lot to lose, Managing Director. Reputation, for one.”

As Eunho chuckled, Gyujin moved a little closer to him.

“I don’t think this is something you can just laugh off. The fact that he’s called the factory manager to headquarters is suspicious too, and from what I’ve overheard, it seems he’s preparing an article. If articles questioning your qualifications as Managing Director keep appearing, the executives will also…”

“Which media outlet?”

“I’m not certain, but it seems to be HK Ilbo.”

“Of all places to choose?”

HK Ilbo was a media outlet under the HK Group, a rival of Songhwa. When it came to Songhwa, they would spread even unverified, dirty scandals.

“Managing Director, you need to defend yourself before that happens. To do that, you need to resolve this situation here as quickly as possible and…”

My half-brother, Song Joo-ho.

His hatred for me seemed to be growing increasingly severe, approaching madness. Why go this far? Both my father and brother were acting in ways I couldn’t understand. Eunho grew pensive.

“But is that reliable information?”

“Yes, I became close with the cleaning staff and asked around…”

“You heard it second-hand? Then it might not be certain.”

“But it’s almost certain…”

Eunho crushed the empty beer can and tossed it into the trash.

“Fine. Just watch for now. Nothing has surfaced yet, so just keep an eye on things.”

“Understood, Managing Director.”

It was a power struggle he’d have to go through eventually anyway. Although his father always took his brother’s side, for whatever reason, he hadn’t yet designated his brother as successor—so Eunho still had a chance. That fact seemed to make Song Joo-ho uneasy.

It was good that his brother was uneasy. It was proof that Eunho had grown that much.

But on the other hand, he felt somewhat conflicted. The thought of the war-like daily life he’d have to endure came to mind. The moment he returned to headquarters, he’d have no time for himself. Joking around in the sunlight or lazily lounging with a beer would no longer be possible.

How tenaciously would he have to endure to not lose to his brother? Thinking about it made him feel suffocated. The place he had so desperately wanted to return to now felt like a jungle.

HK Ilbo Headquarters.

Dragged in early in the morning, Ahn Inseok was summoned to the department head’s office and scowled. Because he had come face to face with the human being he hated most in the world.

The heir of the HK Group and Executive Director of HK Foods, Moon Hyungjun.

Despite being far younger than the department head, he sat arrogantly in the seat of honor, bouncing his leg insolently. Yet the department head could only bow his head without a word.

“Yes, yes, Executive Director Moon, everything you say is right. Yes, yes.”

If memory served, Moon Hyungjun was the same age as Ahn Inseok.

Some people lived busily without even time to eat, while this bastard, thanks to being born to the right parents, didn’t get a single article written about him even when he caused trouble. Drinking and women, drunk driving and assault, even gambling. The list of Moon Hyungjun’s transgressions flashed through Ahn Inseok’s mind.

Ahn Inseok had personally investigated several of them, but they were blocked at the department head level. In the spot where an article titled <The Ugly Truth of HK Group’s Profligate Heir> was about to be published, columns like <HK Group’s Moon Hyungjun Meets the Underprivileged> took its place instead.

“Reporter Ahn, you’re here? Sit down. Executive Director Moon, Reporter Ahn Inseok is here.”

“Is this guy the senior reporter for ‘that woman’?”

Ahn Inseok sat across from him, clenching his fists.

“Why did you call me?”

“Hey, you there. Don’t you know Executive Director Moon Hyungjun? You should greet him first. He’s made a difficult trip here.”

*Difficult trip, my ass.*

Cha Jiwoo, who had been particularly interested in environmental issues, had spent six months preparing an article that was buried by a single curse from this man. And that wasn’t all. When Cha Jiwoo, who had no intention of giving up on the article, passed the materials to a senior reporter at another media outlet, this man framed them with an affair scandal and sent them both plummeting.

A despicable human being.

“Reporter Ahn. What are you doing?”

But Ahn Inseok, powerless, had to conceal his anger and offer a greeting.

“…Hello, Executive Director.”

“Yes, Reporter. Have you eaten?”

“Yes, I have.”

Soulless questions were met with soulless answers, and Moon Hyungjun, smiling venomously, opened his mouth.

“That woman named Cha Jiwoo, she’s your junior, I hear.”

Like an arrogant chaebol heir, he didn’t know how to beat around the bush. He cut straight to the reason he had come all this way, pointing at Ahn Inseok.

“That’s correct.”

“She’s on leave?”

“Yes.”

“Then that won’t do.”

The day before Jiwoo left for long-term leave.

Not a single one of the environment desk reporters said goodbye to her. About half genuinely believed the affair rumors, and the other half, even if they didn’t believe them, kept their distance. After all, she was a reporter who had been marked by the higher-ups. For that reason alone, Cha Jiwoo had become a person to avoid.

That day, Ahn Inseok had seen her off, patting her shoulder.

—Take a break for a while. You know, these rumors are only temporary.

What had Jiwoo said then? She’d said she was sick of everything, that it was too hard. His heart had clouded with pity.

“Are you crazy? You’re still keeping a woman who should have been fired?”

Moon Hyungjun revealed his true colors and shouted.

“She dared to touch the HK Group. Why haven’t you cut that insane reporter yet? What the fuck. I thought she’d been dealt with long ago. But what? Leave? I was so pissed when I heard that today that…”

“Ah, Executive Director. Well, there are procedures for dismissal…”

The department head fumbled before Moon Hyungjun.

“Fire her immediately. You’re her senior, aren’t you? Contact her right now and tell her to write her resignation. Huh?”

Moon Hyungjun, who had been pointing at Ahn Inseok the entire time, eventually grabbed a stack of papers from the table and threw them directly at Ahn Inseok’s face. As the papers scattered and rained down on him, Ahn Inseok closed his eyes.

…Cha Jiwoo had only wanted to expose wrongdoing.

That kind-hearted girl knew no compromise or shortcuts. She had only acted quietly according to her convictions.

She’d said being a reporter was her lifelong dream. Even when interviews were difficult, every day was happy. Jiwoo, smiling as she said such things, looked as fresh as a newly bloomed spring flower.

That girl had stood up, using her small power to protect the environment, only to be broken in the end.

Thinking of her made his heart ache.

If another chance came, he wanted to protect her.

Because he had feelings for her.