Chapter 53

53. What Happened at the Company

"Manager, have you heard from the kids yet?"

"Not yet. They said they would decide and contact us by early next week. I'm sure we'll hear from them soon."

Manager Park Sung-woo of HC Entertainment spoke in a relaxed tone, but he couldn't quite hide his anxious expression.

At the same time, in a different place, Manager Jang Dong-soo of NTN was in the same boat.

'I'm dying of curiosity. They must have made their decisions by now, right?'

Jang Dong-soo, who used to bite his nails when he was young, was unconsciously gnawing at them again.

And then.

In the office of WP Entertainment.

President Lee Seung-soo stood by the large window, looking down at the distant view.

'Well, I guess I am getting old.'

Lee Seung-soo was known for his boldness, but even his heart was trembling slightly.

When you're young, money and success are enough as life goals. But the expectations of an old man who has achieved money and success are different.

No matter how much money you have, there's a desire to possess something that no one else can ever have.

This is why tycoons collect antiques and ancient paintings.

A massive gemstone that shone brighter than any jewel he had ever seen. Lee Seung-soo truly wanted it.

His 'intuition' burning in his chest was telling him about the boy named Woo Jin-hyuk, who might be his final masterpiece in the twilight of his career.

Perhaps it was a brilliant work that even the current best in Korea had never possessed.

But, in that sense, the boy was not an ordinary catch that could be easily reeled in with just the name 'Lee Seung-soo.'

A massive catch from the wild sea, breathing roughly, capable of easily breaking the fishing line and escaping.

All he could do now was hold the fishing rod tightly and wait for the catch to come.

It had been a long time since he felt such excitement.

President Lee Seung-soo, who had been standing with his hands behind his back, clenched his open palms tightly.

***

"You're working on Saturdays too, so you couldn't come to see my play... I'm sorry, son."

"It's okay, Dad. It's fine. Mom. Even if you hadn't worked, Busan is too far. And you don't have many days off."

Jin-hyuk's mother, Kim Sun-hwa, smiled.

"I'm a bit disappointed. It's the grand prize, you know. Your play won the grand prize, and I couldn't see it. I've never seen you act."

"Watch it on TV later."

"By the way, Jin-hyuk."

Kim Sun-hwa still looked incredulous.

"Are you really going to be on TV dramas? I still can't believe it."

"Yes, I am."

"Mom, I won't believe it until I see your face on TV."

Jin-hyuk smiled in response, and his mother handed him a lunch box.

"Here, this one is for Dad, and this one is for you. Eat well with Dad."

"Okay."

Woo Jin-hyuk volunteered to deliver lunch boxes to his father, who worked almost every Saturday. Since he couldn't go last week due to the drama festival, this was the first time in two weeks he was having lunch with his father.

His father's workplace was a small company about a 10-minute bike ride away.

A pharmaceutical wholesaler. Shinjin Pharmaceuticals.

The entrance looked like a miniature school gate, and the company name was engraved on an old-fashioned sign to the right.

In front of the parking lot, which was quite spacious for its location in the city center, stood a three-story old building showing signs of age.

"Hey, come on in. Why didn't I see you last week?"

A security guard with a friendly face greeted Jin-hyuk with a smile.

"I was in Busan for a school event."

"Oh, I see. Haha. Manager Woo must be happy to have a son who delivers lunch like this. He looks better every time I see him."

While Jin-hyuk was chatting with the security guard, a familiar voice called out.

"Hey? Woo Jin-hyuk!"

It was Min Seo-yeon.

"What are you doing here?"

"My dad's company."

"Oh."

"You?"

"On my way home from the academy."

"Got it, then…."

Just as Jin-hyuk was about to say goodbye to Seo-yeon, the security guard spoke to her.

"Haha. Is our young lady friends with Manager Woo's son?"

"Yes, sir."

Seo-yeon replied warmly to the uncle, which was somewhat surprising given that she wasn't particularly sociable.

"Jin-hyuk!"

Jin-hyuk's father, Woo Bong-soo, was walking towards the entrance.

"Come on in. Thanks for coming."

"It's just a short distance, no problem."

"Right, right."

As Bong-soo approached, Seo-yeon bowed deeply.

"Hello! I'm Min Seo-yeon, Jin-hyuk's classmate."

"Oh! So you're his classmate. Jin-hyuk, you have such a pretty friend."

Woo Bong-soo looked at Jin-hyuk and Seo-yeon with a pleased expression.

"Here's the lunch, Dad."

"Right, right."

Bong-soo smiled at Jin-hyuk and then spoke to Seo-yeon.

"Have you eaten, Seo-yeon? If not, why don't you join us? Jin-hyuk's mom is a great cook, and we have plenty of food."

"No, Dad. This friend…."

She's not the type to eat with a stranger she's never met before….

"Yes, I'd love to! I'd be eating alone at home anyway."

'...'

Seo-yeon's behavior was so different from what Jin-hyuk was used to, it was almost unrecognizable.

While Jin-hyuk was puzzled, Bong-soo and Seo-yeon were already heading towards the building.

Jin-hyuk hesitated for a moment before following them. As Bong-soo was about to enter the building lobby,

"Manager Woo!"

"Yes, sir."

"Wait, I was just going to get my golf clubs… Oh, Seo-yeon!"

The president, who had been frowning at Bong-soo, suddenly brightened upon seeing Seo-yeon.

"Seo-yeon! What brings you here?"

Although he greeted her warmly, the president was not entirely comfortable with Seo-yeon.

Min Seo-yeon, the daughter of Yoon Sung-hee, the board chair of Seongdo Hospital, was the daughter of the most important client for Shinjin Pharmaceuticals.

If Seongdo Hospital cut ties with Shinjin Pharmaceuticals, the company could suffer a significant blow.

The president had met Seo-yeon during a visit to the Seongdo Hospital board room and had encountered her several times since then, so he knew her face well.

As the president approached Seo-yeon with a broad business smile, Jin-hyuk followed.

The president's eyes widened.

"Ah, Jin-hyuk. Say hello. This is our president."

"Hello, I'm Woo Jin-hyuk."

"Oh, oh, right."

The president looked back and forth between Jin-hyuk and Bong-soo.

"Who is this?"

"Ah, yes. He's my son."

What?

Is he adopted? The boy was so handsome that it was hard to believe he was the son of the unassuming and ordinary Bong-soo.

Seeing Bong-soo's son, the president felt somewhat intimidated, even though the boy was still a high school student.

The boy exuded an aura that was far from ordinary.

Moreover, Jin-hyuk's cold gaze towards the president was unsettling.

'What is that look?'

The president grumbled inwardly but was also taken aback.

A small-minded person, weak before the strong and strong before the weak.

"President, the kids are here, so let's finish our meal first, and then I'll take care of what you mentioned."

"Huh? Oh, right…."

The president looked displeased but couldn't say anything more in the presence of Jin-hyuk's aura and Seo-yeon's intense gaze.

As Jin-hyuk and his group were about to head to the basement cafeteria,

"Seo-yeon."

The president called out to the group, which had stopped.

"Go on ahead. I'll talk to Seo-yeon for a moment and then join you."

After confirming that Bong-soo and Jin-hyuk had gone down the stairs, the president asked Seo-yeon.

"Seo-yeon, how do you know Manager Woo Bong-soo?"

Seo-yeon stared at the president. He was overly friendly, almost servile, every time he saw her.

Seo-yeon disliked such people. She had seen from a young age in the jungle-like world of tycoons how excessive flattery towards the powerful often turned into violence towards the weak.

Seo-yeon had observed the president's attitude towards lower-ranking employees several times and knew her feelings about him were accurate.

She knew exactly why he was asking this question.

"Manager Bong-soo's son, Jin-hyuk, is my best friend."

"R-really?"

"Well, he's not just a friend, but also a savior."

"A savior?"

"Yes. He saved my life."

At that time, he probably saved her life when she was about to be attacked by Jang Seok-hwan and his gang on the rooftop.

If Jang Seok-hwan knew what Seo-yeon was thinking, he would have fainted, but it didn't matter. It was her own private thought, and no one could confirm it.

Seo-yeon decided to remember it that way.

"What?!"

The president's eyes widened. A friend who saved her life was not an ordinary relationship.

"So, I consider Manager Bong-soo like a father."

Seo-yeon had no father. Her words clearly showed how she felt about Bong-soo.

The president's memory of his actions towards Bong-soo flashed before his eyes, making him break out in a cold sweat.

"O-oh, I see."

"That's why you called me, right?"

"Ah, well, that and… um…."

The president took out his wallet and handed a few 50,000 won bills to Seo-yeon.

"Ha-ha. Here, take this as a little allowance from me."

Seo-yeon didn't take the money but stared at the president's hand. The president felt even more nervous under her gaze.

"Uncle, do you know this is a bribe?"

"Uh? No, giving a little allowance isn't a bribe…."

"Sigh. Uncle, you don't know my mom's personality, do you?"

He knew. He knew all too well. The straightforward personality of Yoon Sung-hee, the board chair of Seongdo Hospital.

Seongdo Hospital was famous for not accepting any commissions in drug selection, a common practice in the industry. If any commissions or bribes were discovered, they would not be overlooked.

The president's hand slipped the bills back into his pocket.

"Phew. Seo-yeon, I was just so happy to see you. Please understand."

"Yes, I understand."

Seo-yeon forced a smile, turned to leave, and then turned back to the president.

"By the way, just in case…."

"?"

"If Manager Bong-soo and I are very close, and you start giving him special treatment, that would be unfair, like a bribe."

"Uh? Oh, oh, right."

"So, please treat him as you always do. Very fairly."

As Seo-yeon emphasized the word 'fairly,' the president's expression darkened.

"Understood."

Seo-yeon bowed to the president and headed to the cafeteria.

***

In the small cafeteria on the first basement floor, they sat in the middle of the dining area, which was not operating on the weekend.

A small feast prepared by Jin-hyuk's mother was spread out on the table, more than enough for three people.

Jin-hyuk's father served rice to an extra bowl and handed it to Min Seo-yeon.

"Let's eat well!"

Seo-yeon started eating with a politeness Jin-hyuk had never seen at school. She ate so well, as if she hadn't eaten in days, and Jin-hyuk felt like he was looking at a different person.

Swoosh—

Seo-yeon subtly pushed a dish towards Jin-hyuk, one he often reached for.

Jin-hyuk hesitated and looked at her,

and Bong-soo, who caught their eye contact, smiled.

It's not like that. Whatever you're thinking, it's not.

But if Jin-hyuk said anything, it would make the situation more awkward.

Seo-yeon chatted with Jin-hyuk's father throughout the meal, making it seem like the most lively conversation possible.

After the unusual meal,

"Ha-ha. Seo-yeon, it was great to see you today. Jin-hyuk is a bit shy, so please take care of him at school."

"Yes, I will. Don't worry."

Oh, who's taking care of whom?

Jin-hyuk shook his head.

"Then, I'll go. Dad."

"Right. Be careful. Seo-yeon, too."

"Yes, have a good day."

Jin-hyuk and Seo-yeon turned to leave, and Bong-soo watched them until they were out of sight.

A smile appeared on Bong-soo's face.

Just as he was about to turn back to the company building,

"Hey, Manager Woo!"

"Yes, sir."

"Ahaha. Well, why don't you go home now?"

"Huh?"

"Since you've been working Saturdays, why don't you have dinner with your family tonight?"

Bong-soo looked puzzled at the president's sudden change in attitude.

What's he up to?

"Ah, what? Go home when someone tells you to. Hurry up."

"Ah, yes. I'll just pack up… Ah, I'll drop off your golf clubs on my way home."

"Phew! What golf clubs? I can take care of personal matters myself. Business and personal life should be separate! Right? Ha-ha. Just go home."

The president smiled awkwardly, and Bong-soo looked at him with a puzzled expression.

***

Monday afternoon.

Beep—

Two managers from two of the top three entertainment agencies in Korea were holding their phones, hearts pounding.

The representative of the remaining agency was also on the line.

"President, it's a student named Woo Jin-hyuk. Should I connect the call?"

President Lee Seung-soo, uncharacteristically nervous, replied,

"Yes, connect the call."