PA 52

“Right, I, Junhyuk, may never understand your heart for the rest of my life, but Yejun… he still had you in his heart.”

“…What?”

“He still liked you.”

It was at that moment. Junhyuk felt as though someone had struck him hard on the back of his head. After sitting still as ice for a long time without the slightest movement, Junhyuk raised his head and looked at Gyeongchan.

“Is that true?”

“In Spain, Wooju hyung asked Yejun about you for the first time in seven years.”

“About what?”

“He asked what kind of relationship you and Yejun had.”

“Ah…”

Junhyuk bit his lower lip, tense. Gyeongchan was a little dumbfounded that the great Cha Junhyuk could show such a side of himself.

“And then… Yejun brought up a story about you for the first time. Crying his eyes out, at that.”

“What… what did Yejun say?”

“That he just can’t forget you, Junhyuk. He asked what he should do.”

Junhyuk did not give any answer to Gyeongchan’s words, but instead shot up from his seat and ran out of the house. Gyeongchan stared blankly after him. He had to pray and pray again that the words he had delivered were not a mistake.

☂︎

Taejin Group’s Chairman Yoon Geonhyuk was receiving a work-related report.

“Setting aside the management, what are the reactions from the board and the shareholders?”

“Perhaps because of the outstanding performance Executive Director Cha has achieved so far, there were no major objectors. However, there were a few opinions that you, Mr. Chairman, should actively guide Executive Director Cha for the next two to three years.”

Secretary Oh replied, handing a few reports to Chairman Yoon.

“An old man should exit the front lines of management as quickly as possible. Which fool keeps trying to hold me back?”

Chairman Yoon spoke, clicking his tongue, but he did not seem to be in a bad mood. Perhaps because Chairman Yoon was well over eighty years old, the process of transferring management rights to Junhyuk was proceeding more smoothly than expected. Most of the company’s executives, the board of directors, and the shareholders also seemed to have judged that Taejin Group needed a new and youthful wind.

Moreover, Junhyuk had successfully led the company as the group’s representative manager for the past few years, so there were few who doubted his abilities.

“Chairman Cha attended all external activities without fail, and there were no particularly suspicious circumstances.”

“Then why is he forming a new legal team?”

“The reason for forming a new legal team was kept strictly confidential to prevent it from leaking to the outside. However, that legal team has sent our group an official document.”

“Chairman Cha isn’t the type to be needlessly greedy for company money…”

“Even when we recently tracked the funds of Saeil Group, there were no signs that he played around with money.”

Sanghyeon, who had started his business with nothing in his hands—that is, from scratch—was an entrepreneur capable enough to elevate Saeil Group to the ranks of the nation’s top 30 corporations at a relatively young age. It was truly a remarkable achievement. Chairman Yoon also highly regarded Sanghyeon’s abilities in that respect.

“Furthermore, the strategic planning office of Saeil Group has very secretly sent this report.”

“What is it?”

Chairman Yoon accepted the report that Secretary Oh held out. The frown on Chairman Yoon’s brow deepened as he read through the report. It contained information that Sanghyeon intended to gift all of his shares in Saeil Group’s holding company to Junhyuk, and that the matter needed to be processed in conjunction with the succession of management rights at Taejin Group.

“It’s too early…”

Now was the age to be most active as a chief executive, so Sanghyeon’s action of already starting the succession process was not easily understood.

“Mr. Chairman.”

“Come in.”

Just then, Min Jayoung made her presence known with a careful knock. Chairman Yoon put down the document in his hand and answered Director Min.

“Mr. Chairman, dinner is ready.”

“I’ll come down after I finish organizing this.”

Director Min gave a slight smile to Jiyun, who was standing behind her, and spoke gently.

“Jiyun, you should greet the chairman.”

“Hello, Mr. Chairman. It’s me, Jiyun.”

“Yes, it’s been a long time.”

In truth, Chairman Yoon had little interest in Jiyun, who failed to capture Junhyuk’s attention. He needed someone who could seize control of Junhyuk, no matter the method. However, Director Min seemed to have a different idea. She wanted to marry Junhyuk to Jiyun by any means necessary.

“My, my, why is this man staring so intently at our Jiyun and making her uncomfortable?”

“Did I do that?”

Director Min chided Chairman Yoon, laughing fussily.

“She’s already bound to be nervous in front of an elder; you, at least, Mr. Chairman, should make Jiyun feel comfortable.”

“Right, I was thoughtless.”

“Oh, no. I’m okay.”

Jiyun said, waving her hands at Chairman Yoon’s words.

“So, is your father doing well these days?”

“Yes, he is.”

Chairman Yoon got up from his seat, intending to play along with Director Min, and threw a few conventional questions at Jiyun. Jiyun, too, linked her arm with Chairman Yoon’s and answered affectionately, and Director Min watched the scene with a proud look.

“I took some care with dinner tonight; I hope it suits Jiyun’s palate.”

“Really? You didn’t have to… thank you.”

It was while the three of them were having dinner in this cheerful atmosphere. Secretary Oh approached Chairman Yoon with a slightly urgent expression.

“Mr. Chair-Chairman.”

“Secretary Oh, what is it?”

“Well… Executive Director Cha is said to have sent a private jet to Spain just a little while ago.”

“For what reason…”

“I do not know that much.”

While the two were speaking, Director Min, who was sitting across from Chairman Yoon, shot up and asked Secretary Oh as if to confirm.

“Secretary Oh, did you say Spain just now?”

“Yes… that is correct.”

At that moment, Director Min threw the glass she was holding in her hand against the wall and shivered all over. For a long while, she restlessly paced the dining room in a daze.

“Head of Security, where is the Head of Security?”

“Director Min, look here…”

“We have to bring Junhyuk back right now. Right now!”

“Director Min!”

Chairman Yoon, unable to tolerate Director Min’s foolish behavior any longer, shouted loudly.

“Junhyuk is the man who will become the head of our Taejin Group. Is Executive Director Cha still a young student? How dare you try to control the head of the group as you please?”

“But, Mr. Chairman!”

“Stay still. If you act recklessly like last time, I won’t tolerate it this time.”

“Ah, ah… that boy is there.”

Having confirmed Junhyuk’s feelings, who still had not forgotten Yejun, Director Min staggered with a despairing face and then collapsed on the spot.