Chapter 5

### Chapter 5: How to Catch This Guy (2)

### Planning Director Seo Hyung-gil

A man who has been thriving despite having no achievements.

Considering Im Byung-dal's nature, it was incomprehensible how such a person could survive.

If so, there was only one reason.

He had grabbed the golden lifeline.

And he had the ability to grab that golden lifeline.

This, too, was a kind of ability.

Even those at the top, who have keen eyes, do not make someone their own just because they flatter them a bit.

People of this ilk either clean up the dirty deeds of those at the top, or they can smell things others cannot, or for some unknown reason, they have the ability to sense danger.

Indeed, what kind of ability did Seo Hyung-gil have to survive?

And,

It was also necessary to know who recognized Seo Hyung-gil's abilities.

'...Who could it be?'

The person who helped Seo Hyung-gil get to this position.

As he carefully examined the personnel records, his doubts resurfaced.

***

Director Seo Hyung-gil puffed on his cigarette, looked at Jae-jun's resume, and raised his head with a puzzled look.

He glared at Jae-jun with fierce eyes, rolled his eyes from side to side, and nodded his head.

Even as he stubbed out the finished cigarette in the ashtray, he did not take his eyes off Jae-jun.

He took out another cigarette, put it in his mouth, lit it, and glared at Jae-jun as if to say, "Why are you here?"

The room was soon filled with cigarette smoke.

To think that the office of a leading securities company in South Korea was like a raccoon den.

He could roughly tolerate the smell obscuring his vision, but he couldn't stand it going through his nose and down his throat.

Cough, cough.

What a heavy smoker.

The indoor smoking ban was introduced in 2015, but since it was 1996, he would have to endure this smoke for about 20 years...

He urgently needed a smoking cessation room.

When Jae-jun cleared his throat, Seo Hyung-gil finally looked at his own cigarette, stubbed it out, and opened the window.

"Are you the top candidate in this special recruitment?"

...Straight to informal speech.

Jae-jun looked at Director Seo Hyung-gil, and with his indifferent expression, Seo Hyung-gil frowned.

"Aren't you going to answer?"

Kang Ho-seok, noticing Seo Hyung-gil's expression, nudged Jae-jun's arm.

Hmm... This is annoying.

For a mere director to speak informally to the grandson of a conglomerate... It's annoying.

And he almost laughed, but he kept his lips tightly shut.

'When did I become a conglomerate's grandson?'

Feeling ashamed of himself, a self-deprecating voice emerged from within.

"Hello, I am Jae-jun, who has just joined the company."

Jae-jun's listless and lazy tone made Seo Hyung-gil's eyes widen.

'A voice that makes me feel dirty for some reason. A voice that fits his appearance, which I've seen somewhere before.'

"Right, that voice. You, no, no. Let me see."

He flipped through the resume again.

"Right. Jae-jun. What, Jae-jun? This is the name of the chairman's grandson... Could it be...?"

Ho-seok, standing beside him, was startled and looked at Jae-jun.

"Mr. Jae-jun, are you the chairman's grandson...?"

Jae-jun flinched inwardly.

He would find out eventually, but not now.

He had to deny it outright.

"...No."

"Really? What do your parents do? Quickly, tell me about your family...?"

Director Seo Hyung-gil didn't seem to be treating a new employee.

"No, we have the resume here. I can see it."

Seo Hyung-gil's tense eyes quickly scanned Jae-jun's resume.

"...Hmm. Your parents are in Australia. This is different from the chairman's grandson's background... Living with your grandmother?"

Seo Hyung-gil narrowed his eyes and raised his eyebrows.

"Just a namesake, right?"

"Yes."

Jae-jun answered firmly this time.

Tsk, what a pain.

Seo Hyung-gil searched his hazy memory for Jae-jun's appearance.

Finally, a single image split into several.

It was clear.

How could he not recognize the grandson who, with his white-dyed hair and leather outfit, had caused a ruckus while drunk?

But seeing this guy, who now looked like a model of propriety in a suit, as the chairman's grandson made his throat dry and his mouth taste bitter.

"Want some coffee? Sweet mixed coffee."

"I'm fine."

"Oh, really...? Then I'll have it myself...?"

Kang Ho-seck, who had been watching Seo Hyung-gil's awkward speech, stepped forward, seemingly infected by Seo Hyung-gil's discomfort.

"I'll make it."

"Okay, thanks."

Kang Ho-seck pressed the coffee pot button and waited for the water to boil, occasionally glancing at Jae-jun.

'The chairman's grandson? From the way Director Seo Hyung-gil is acting, it seems to fit... But does it make sense? They said the chairman's grandson went abroad to avoid studying. But Jae-jun here is clearly the top candidate in the entrance exam! No way.'

When the water boiled, Kang Ho-seck made the coffee and handed it to Seo Hyung-gil.

Seo Hyung-gil took a sip and asked Jae-jun with a confident tone.

"Master, right?"

What are you so confident about?

Obviously, the confidence that he is the master.

When you are confident, the right thing to do is to show respect.

Raising your speech is a very important issue in the workplace.

No, it's the most important issue.

Regardless of actual age, the relationship between superiors and subordinates starts with respect.

This is exactly the case now.

If he is the chairman's grandson, he should be respected.

If he spoke informally and this young troublemaker said, "Director, you spoke informally to me," to the chairman, I, an older and senior employee, would lose my job immediately.

However, it's also bad to show respect to someone who shouldn't be respected.

If this guy looks like the chairman but is just a regular new employee, and I show him respect,

This would be a huge blemish on Seo Hyung-gil's life.

This guy might chew on this blemish as a snack, or even worse, make a large poster and post it on the bulletin board.

On the day all employees find out.

It would be a disgrace, a disgrace, a complete disgrace.

Still,

Being fired is worse than being disgraced.

"Is the chairman well?"

Jae-jun slightly tensed his eyes and then relaxed them.

"What do you mean?"

"How could I not know you, Master? Why are you saying this? I only clean up after you..."

Seo Hyung-gil quickly closed his mouth and looked at Kang Ho-seck.

"Mr. Ho-seck? What are you talking about?"

Ho-seck interjected.

"You, be quiet. I'll explain later."

He waved his hand to Ho-seck to stop interfering and fixed his gaze on Jae-jun.

He slowly examined every inch of Jae-jun's face.

Jae-jun repeated Seo Hyung-gil's words in his mind.

'Clean up after me? Wait, so Director Seo Hyung-gil's golden lifeline was me?'

Jae-jun smiled slightly at Seo Hyung-gil.

Seo Hyung-gil's confident voice burst out.

"Right. You are the master."

"No, I'm not."

"But there was an order to create a position in the planning department. Why did you take the entrance exam? And you even came in first."

"Excuse me, but I am not the chairman's grandson."

"Master?"

"No, I'm not."

"You are."

"No, I'm not."

"What's going on?"

"You, be quiet."

"Yes."

Seo Hyung-gil glared at Jae-jun and directed his anger at Ho-seck.

'Is he hiding his identity as the grandson and joining the company? Is that possible?'

It is possible.

The rumors about the chairman's grandson in the company are that he is a troublemaker, but no one knows what he looks like.

The media was thoroughly controlled.

By whom?

'By me, who handles the company's dirty work.'

Seo Hyung-gil had been puzzled by Jae-jun's sophisticated appearance.

But now, after confirming he was the grandson, it fit perfectly.

If he dyed his black hair white, messed it up, changed his suit to a leather outfit, and parked a Harley Davidson motorcycle next to him... it would be the same.

'But, he's denying it...'

Then, I'll have to play along.

Whatever reason he had for joining the company, this was clearly a project to cultivate the chairman's grandson.

Indeed, the chairman is so deep.

But this is not the case.

The chairman's grandson needed to be kicked out of the company immediately.

Who am I?

I am the person who has been cleaning up after this brat for over 10 years.

I could see clearly what kind of trouble he would cause in the company.

Sigh.

Seo Hyung-gil sighed and looked at the ceiling, where he saw the kind face of the chairman.

'Chairman, please conduct the grandson's cultivation project elsewhere. There are many other places. Other large corporations, ah, not there. If an accident happens, it would be more difficult for the chairman. Then, it would be better to send him far away, to a place where he can feel the sanctity of labor, like a western mine, or a place where he can deeply appreciate the value of the environment, like a Siberian laboratory.'

With his resolve firm, Seo Hyung-gil opened his eyes wide and looked at Jae-jun.

"Anyway, you're not the chairman's grandson...?"

"Yes."

"I understand. You're not...?"

'Good. Show some attitude, you shameless brat.'

Seo Hyung-gil glared at Jae-jun but spoke to Ho-seck.

"Hey, Ho-seck. Take him to No Gyeong-beom for now."

Ho-seck, wide-eyed, asked.

"No Gyeong-beom? Director, that's not good. You know how No Gyeong-beom treats new employees, right?"

I know, that's why I'm doing this.

"Since he's the top candidate, he should be able to endure, right? Don't you think so, Im Jae-jun?"

"Right."

See, he agrees.

He needs to be thoroughly ignored by No Gyeong-beom to come to his senses and leave the company.

Jae-jun's calm demeanor, without a single blink, made Seo Hyung-gil's eyebrows twitch, and Ho-seck quickly noticed.

"Okay, then. Director, we'll go now."

"Okay, good luck."

As they left the director's office, Ho-seck looked at Jae-jun with curiosity.

"Do you smoke, Jae-jun?"

"No, I don't."

"Then let's have some coffee."

***

12th Floor, Coffee Shop.

Jae-jun and Ho-seck found seats by the window, from which they could see the entire landscape of Yeouido.

Ho-seck, who had to take Jae-jun to No Gyeong-beom but felt a bit sorry for him, wanted to give him some coffee before sending him off.

When the server brought the ordered coffee, Ho-seck took a sip.

"Jae-jun, I see you lived in Australia according to your resume."

"...Yes, that's right."

Ho-seck looked out the window at Yeouido Park and spoke.

"Here is different from abroad. It's not a place where individual thoughts are respected. You must absolutely obey your superiors, and the hierarchy is as clear as in the military... Oh, you're exempt from military service, right?"

Ho-seck's nagging started again.

"Anyway, as a new employee, you need to be humble to work comfortably. You need to be quick on the uptake. If not, whether you're the top candidate or not, you can be made to quit within a month here."

Jae-jun chuckled inwardly and nodded.

'Only my grandfather can make me quit.'

Still, Jae-jun was a rookie in the workplace.

His fresh and spirited attitude came first.

"I understand."

"So, when greeting your superiors, bow 90 degrees. Answer their questions at the speed of light. Got it?"

"...I understand. Thank you."

Ho-seck's worried nagging continued.

"And since you lived in Australia, your English must be really good."

"Me? Oh, yes, a bit."

"Then I'm a bit worried about you, Jae-jun. You'll be called to various places. Being able to communicate in English means the foreign exchange team will call you at any time."

"Why is that?"

"There are quite a few people who can't communicate in English, even though they can read it. Ah, the English education in South Korea..."

Ho-seck shook his head dramatically and looked at his wristwatch.

"The time is still okay. Ha ha!"

Phew.

Ho-seck sighed with a smile.

Jae-jun's eyes, which seemed to look at him pitifully, were too clear.

Then, I should set him free.

"No Gyeong-beom... The team leader just said he's not an easy person. Shouldn't we go quickly?"

"We should go, but... Jae-jun, No Gyeong-beom is not an easy person."

Ho-seck chuckled, as if to say he was more than just not easy.

No Gyeong-beom.

The top of the top at Current Securities.

A fund manager who started as a support staff and now earns a high salary.

A sensitive, nervous, and dictatorial person, known for his nickname 'Mad Dog' because he never lets go of a stock once he bites.

He is also praised for his incredible sense of investment.

"No Gyeong-beom, the fund manager, is very... how should I put it, a cold person."

"Cold...?"

"...Hmm, you should never move or speak first until he is looking at the monitor or you have spoken to him. His specialty is tormenting analysts. Some support staff couldn't last a week and quit."