Jinhyuk Park arrived at Incheon Airport and got into the waiting car.
Inside, Daeyong Kyung, who had left the country earlier, was waiting for Jinhyuk.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“It’s only been a few days since I last saw you, President Kyung, but it’s good to see your face again. Let’s go straight away.”
Jinhyuk’s face was filled with fatigue.
Anyone would be tired after such a forced march, but he was now on his way to DS Headquarters, carrying his luggage in order to attend the DS New Year’s General Assembly that would take place shortly.
“Vice President. Are you all right?”
“This is nothing.”
During the days of Yoo Jeong-geol, Jinhyuk had even slept rough, spending several nights outside a client’s house in the freezing winter.
Compared to that, he was now treated almost like an emperor—his current conditions were nothing short of excellent.
His exhaustion was simply the result of not being able to rest as he traveled back and forth over long distances.
However, Junwoo Kim and Daeyong Kyung, who did not know about his past, seemed deeply concerned by Jinhyuk’s current relentless pace.
“I’m sorry. I did try to contact headquarters, but since today is a special day, the chairman insisted you must attend—”
“It’s fine. I can’t skip this. Besides, didn’t we come back with results? How could I miss out on the pleasure of announcing them? Don’t you agree, President Kyung?”
“Ah? Yes. Of course.”
Knowing what Jinhyuk meant by “results,” Daeyong Kyung smiled and responded.
“Let’s get going. And since every subsidiary president will be there today, we should make the rounds. Isn’t today the day Sanghyuk and I make our official debut?”
In the car to DS Headquarters, Jinhyuk briefed Daeyong Kyung on what to watch out for.
He pointed out which parts of their achievements to emphasize and which to gloss over, letting Daeyong Kyung know what to keep in mind when he took the stage.
Having returned to Korea first, Daeyong Kyung was puzzled when he was told to greet Jinhyuk at Incheon Airport before heading to DS Headquarters.
He knew Jinhyuk wasn’t fond of formalities and doubted he would summon him just for etiquette’s sake.
As he expected, Jinhyuk had called him to the airport for the upcoming DS Pharma semi-annual planning presentation, not for any ceremonial reason. Realizing this, Daeyong Kyung saw Jinhyuk in a new light.
“Be sure to highlight the biologics. Our direction is biosimilars and CMO, isn’t it? Of course, developing new drugs is important, but that’s a longer-term goal. Let’s focus on the visible results now and tackle new drug development step by step. What do you think? Doesn’t your vision for DS Pharma match the one I have in mind?”
“That’s exactly it. That’s the plan I envisioned when I joined DS Pharma.”
Daeyong Kyung now understood what it felt like to meet a lord who truly grasped his ambitions.
His experiences in San Francisco, and everything he heard in his current position, were exactly as he had dreamed.
And Jinhyuk was making that dream a reality.
Daeyong Kyung’s trust in Jinhyuk deepened.
Feeling that Jinhyuk understood what he wanted to accomplish, Daeyong Kyung’s confidence soared.
While they talked, the car soon arrived at Jongno, where DS Headquarters was located.
The area around DS Headquarters was crowded with cars, thanks to the meeting of major executives from the affiliates happening today.
“Let’s get out here and walk. Pull over.”
“Vice President, with your status, you should ride all the way in. I’ll go ahead and inform them that you’ve arrived.”
Seeing how hard it was to get inside due to the influx of cars, Junwoo Kim spoke from the passenger seat.
Jinhyuk tapped Junwoo’s shoulder and replied.
“It’ll be faster to walk in than to wait for you to go ahead and announce me. It’s just up ahead. Don’t worry.”
Jinhyuk didn’t wait for Junwoo to open the door for him; he simply stepped out on his own.
Immediately, Junwoo and Daeyong hurried out to flank Jinhyuk.
The area was packed not just with cars, but with people in suits—presidents and key executives from major affiliates and their subsidiaries, and their accompanying staff.
As Junwoo moved ahead to clear a path, traffic controllers were organizing the blocked cars, slowly letting groups of vehicles through.
When the line of cars shifted to the outer lane, even the people standing on the street were pushed aside, and for a moment, Jinhyuk’s group stood still, watching the arriving vehicles.
“Vice President.”
“It’s fine. No need to fuss about someone supposedly important arriving.”
In DS Group, except for Chairman Junman Park, Jinhyuk was considered the most important figure. Unlike usual, Junwoo Kim’s expression was tense.
He called the staff who normally followed Jinhyuk to open a path, but since Jinhyuk hadn’t ordered anything, he simply observed the situation.
Then, people began to get out of a car that had just squeezed through the jam.
The staff guarded those exiting, blocking the crowd as if acting as bodyguards.
“So that’s who it was… Someone important must have arrived. Let’s go.”
Spotting Sanghyuk Park getting out, Jinhyuk instructed Junwoo.
Waiting for Jinhyuk’s word, Junwoo began making way.
As those on the street stared at the new arrivals, the focus shifted to Jinhyuk and his entourage as they cleared a path.
“Vice President.”
Among the crowd, Heonsu Hyun spotted Jinhyuk and approached.
With Heonsu and the DS Construction executives, who all recognized Jinhyuk, converging, all eyes on the street turned toward him.
Even Sanghyuk, who had just gotten out of the car and was heading into DS Headquarters, paused, noticing the shift in atmosphere and spotting Jinhyuk. He quickly waved in greeting.
“Hyung.”
Only then did people realize Jinhyuk’s presence and began to clear a path.
Now joined by the DS Construction executives led by Heonsu, Jinhyuk’s group became the largest on the street.
With Heonsu and Daeyong on either side, Jinhyuk approached Sanghyuk.
Sanghyuk ran up and hugged Jinhyuk like a child.
“Hyung, it’s been so long! I heard you were on a business trip. Why are you walking in from the street?”
“Let’s go inside. There are too many people out here.”
As he entered, Jinhyuk realized that what had started as a group of three had become the largest crowd around.
Sanghyuk stuck close, speaking up.
“Hyung, what should I do?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t want to do this.”
“Mother would be heartbroken to hear you say that. Why don’t you want to?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to, but I have no idea what I’m doing… Plus, I’m getting engaged next month.”
“Why worry? It’s just an engagement, not a marriage. Time to start preparing.”
“But hyung, you’re not even engaged yet… Why do I have to go first?”
“Mother worries about you a lot. Don’t be like that. She’d be upset if she heard.”
Jinhyuk kept walking but glanced at Sanghyuk, who was tagging along closely.
This thunderbolt of a kid didn’t even understand his own mother’s heart.
Watching him, Jinhyuk could imagine how anxious Seoyoung Oh must be.
‘It must be killing her.’
The battle was about to begin, yet the general at the front line didn’t even understand the meaning of the fight.
Forget the war—Jinhyuk even doubted if Sanghyuk could handle a single battle.
Jinhyuk patted Sanghyuk on the back of his head.
“Don’t worry so much. It’s not marriage, just an engagement. If you don’t like her, you don’t have to marry her. Anyway, what do you think of the young lady?”
“She’s… well, she’s just okay.”
“So she’s not bad. Then give it a try. You should at least put your parents’ minds at ease.”
“What about you, hyung?”
“I’m not interested.”
As they rode the elevator up, Sanghyuk pouted all the way until, upon reaching the conference room, Sumahn Park and Kyungman Park approached.
“Our nephews have arrived. Well, well, who do we have here? President Hyun, President Kyung… You’ve brought both wings of the group—must’ve been quite a scene downstairs.”
“But we can’t compare to telecom, can we? No matter how hard we try, we’re probably just gnats compared to the group’s origin in heavy industries. Isn’t that right, Fourth Uncle?”
Jinhyuk matched Sumahn and Kyungman’s banter without backing down.
Thinking nothing good would come from lingering, he gave a slight bow and headed for his assigned seat.
With over forty subsidiary presidents and their key executives, the New Year’s General Assembly was a massive event with well over a hundred attendees.
Even the secretarial staff who usually sat at the back had to wait outside due to the sheer size of the gathering.
Once Jinhyuk sat down, Daeyong and Heonsu took their seats on either side, as if flanking him.
Behind them, the construction and pharma executives, along with sub-affiliate managers, encircled Jinhyuk like a formation.
Across from him sat Sumahn and Kyungman, with Sanghyuk a little further away—seats deliberately arranged so they would face each other.
‘How playful.’
Noticing this arrangement, Jinhyuk looked at Secretary Hwang watching from afar.
Catching Jinhyuk’s eye, Secretary Hwang approached and bowed.
“Sir, are you tired?”
“The trip wasn’t tiring, but this gathering is exhausting me.”
“You must get used to it. This is the weight you will have to bear from now on.”
“If Sanghyuk hears you say that, he’ll be upset.”
Jinhyuk motioned with his chin toward Sanghyuk.
Sanghyuk, desperate to join Jinhyuk’s side, watched with longing.
Secretary Hwang glanced at Sanghyuk, then turned back to Jinhyuk with a warm smile.
“Young Master Sanghyuk is the second son. No matter what anyone says, you are the next in line for DS. President Hyun and President Kyung, please support him.”
“Not at all. Rather, I worry that we might become a burden. I can vouch for Vice President Park’s ability.”
“I felt the same, traveling together on this business trip. I’m almost ashamed to be the president of DS Pharma.”
Secretary Hwang looked on with satisfaction as Daeyong and Heonsu praised Jinhyuk.
His smile was so parental it warmed the hearts of those who saw it.
After bowing to Jinhyuk, Secretary Hwang returned to finish preparing for the meeting.
As the presidents filed in, they all first greeted Sumahn Park.
With the telecom division under his charge and his vice chairman position, he naturally drew people in.
However, the longest conversations weren’t at Sumahn’s spot, but at Jinhyuk’s.
The other presidents sensed that Jinhyuk was rising to prominence.
While Sumahn frowned at the throng of people around Jinhyuk, Secretary Hwang stepped forward and began organizing the group.
“The New Year’s General Assembly will begin shortly. Please take your seats.”
At his announcement, the presidents wrapped up their greetings to Jinhyuk and returned to their seats.
About ten minutes later, Junman Park, the head of DS Group, entered, and the assembly began.
The meeting was essentially an expanded version of the regular monthly executive meeting.
Rather than discussion, it proceeded as a series of reports to Junman Park.
Each subsidiary’s plans, goals, and major issues for the year were presented for Junman’s guidance.
As presentations from several affiliates passed, it became DS Pharma’s turn.
Daeyong Kyung, having returned early instead of attending the Novo negotiations, was well-prepared, thanks to Jinhyuk’s guidance in the car.
Following him, Jungman Sa confidently presented the results from their days in San Francisco.
“Regarding the recently problematic plant utilization rate, normalization should be possible soon. We’ve reached an agreement with Pfizer Korea to produce rheumatoid arthritis medication, and have secured a twenty-year exclusive production license for a new prostate cancer drug from a new pharmaceutical company pending FDA approval. With utilization dropping to 20%, we expect to raise it to over 60% in the first half of the year.”
A buzz rose among the attendees.
The state of DS Biologics, as they knew it, had suddenly changed dramatically.
Until then, Junman Park had sat in silence, but at the DS Biologics report, he finally spoke up.
“Sixty percent utilization? Isn’t this just another contract that’ll be canceled before production, like before? And a twenty-year exclusive license? Who made such a reckless deal? Was it President Sa? Or President Kyung?”
“No, both contracts were personally handled by Vice President Jinhyuk Park, who returned today with the signed agreements.”
Although Daeyong had negotiated the Pfizer contract, Jungman Sa did not bother explaining such details.
After all, Jinhyuk was the one who had led the contracts.
All eyes in the room turned to Jinhyuk.
They had known he was returning from a business trip, but had no idea he would arrive having secured such major deals.
Who’s Jungman sa?