It seemed as if a smile briefly flickered across Park Junman’s face as he stared at Park Jinhyeok for a long while.
But Park Junman quickly wiped away the smile that had crept onto his face and turned to Park Jinhyeok to ask what brought him here.
“So, what’s the reason you made such an expensive trip all the way to Pyeongchang-dong?”
In response to Park Junman’s question, Park Jinhyeok took a deep breath and began to say the words he had prepared.
“After meeting with the Chairman last time, I realized something. I thought it was time for me to finally come to my senses. That’s why I’m planning to take company affairs seriously from now on.”
“Is that so? You want to really work at the company? That’s a commendable thing to hear after such a long time. But if you want to work, you could just start showing up to the office. Why have you come to see me?”
With interest piqued by the story, Park Junman straightened his posture.
“I came because I want to do something I really want to try.”
“Something you want to try? It sounds like DS, which you’re currently registered with, doesn’t really catch your interest.”
“The place I’m at now is the Holding Company of the group. It does encompass the whole group, but it’s not quite enough for me to show what I can really do.”
“Oh~. Not enough to show your ability? Depending on how I hear it, you sound like someone with a great deal of capability.”
As he listened, Park Junman stroked his chin.
Through his journal, Park Jinhyeok had learned that this was Junman’s habit whenever he heard something interesting.
‘Good. I’ve succeeded in getting his attention.’
Seeing Park Junman’s reaction, Jinhyeok gained a bit more confidence and continued speaking.
“I know very well that the Chairman isn’t fond of me right now. I won’t deny that it’s my own fault. That’s why I want to find a place where I can demonstrate my abilities to the fullest. If I do that, perhaps the Chairman’s view of me might change, and that’s why I came here.”
He used to think that just sitting comfortably at the Holding Company wouldn’t be a problem.
But if he did that, he would be giving his enemies more time and opportunity. In the past, when Jinhyeok left every gap open, his very life was threatened; he knew he couldn’t stay idle anymore.
That was why he decided to make a move. And to do so, rather than idling away at the Holding Company, it would be better to go down to an affiliate and put his abilities to use.
The right corner of Park Junman’s mouth curled upward.
At a glance, it seemed like he was taking Jinhyeok’s words as a boastful child’s bravado, but Jinhyeok could see from Junman’s expression that things were proceeding smoothly.
He’d seen this look often from main contractors during his Yoo Jeonggeol days, whenever things went his way.
Junman moved his hand to pick up the cold teacup in front of him.
But while his hand moved, his gaze remained fixed on Jinhyeok.
And then, an unexpected question flew from his lips.
“Who are you?”
At those words, Park Jinhyeok froze in place.
He was so stunned that he didn’t know how to respond, and his mind blanked for a moment.
Junman watched the unmoving Jinhyeok, then wet his lips with tea and said with a smile.
“Ever since your accident, you’ve changed completely, haven’t you? If an accident changes a person this much, maybe it’s not so bad after all.”
At Junman’s words, the chill in Jinhyeok’s heart melted, and he let out a silent sigh of relief.
‘Damn. That scared me.’
He’d been anxious, fearing Junman might have realized that Yoo Jeonggeol had entered Jinhyeok’s body, but now saw that Junman was simply amused by his change.
Junman took a cigarette from the pack on the table and put it between his lips.
“Looking at you now, you seem to be getting greedy for DS Group. Right. If you’re born as the eldest son of DS, it’s only natural to want to inherit DS. But who said anyone was giving it to you? I’m not like the elders of the past. I have no intention of handing over management just because someone was born well but has no capability. That seat feeds hundreds of thousands of DS families. I think it’s wrong to let someone unqualified sit there.”
He lit the cigarette, inhaled deeply, and savored the taste for a moment.
Jinhyeok, however, didn’t think Junman was being entirely sincere.
“Chairman. To break the Succession Principle of the Eldest Son that DS established, there have to be certain conditions, don’t there?”
“Conditions?”
“Yes, conditions. You can’t just break the Succession Principle of the Eldest Son at will. You’d need a fatal mistake on my part, or some justifiable reason, right?”
At this, Junman grinned widely, bending over with the cigarette in his mouth.
“Do you think I can’t do it? This is Park Junman, Chairman of DS we’re talking about.”
“You could, of course. Why couldn’t you? But doing it and handling the aftermath are two different matters. DS doesn’t belong to you alone. Many people support it, and especially the Board of Directors and the Shareholders’ support is essential. And what about the elders? Those who stepped back after supporting you for the Chairmanship under the Succession Principle of the Eldest Son. Even if they’re not active anymore, as senior figures, they’re still a pillar supporting DS. Can you convince those who inherited the group under that principle to just break it with a word? I trust you wouldn’t ignore such things.”
Hearing Jinhyeok’s words, Junman straightened up and burst out laughing.
“Hahaha. So? Are you trying to persuade me to hand over my seat to you?”
“Persuade you? How could I do that? I’m only making a suggestion. If you give me the chance, I’ll prove my abilities and inherit the group fairly. That would satisfy both the Succession Principle of the Eldest Son and your preference for capability, wouldn’t it?”
“What the… Just what sort of treatment did you get at the hospital? Did your brain get messed up or something?”
Although Junman asked if he was crazy, his expression was one of clear satisfaction.
He stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray and spoke.
“Fine. Do what you want. I’ll trust your eyes that saw that painting. I’ll tell Director Oh, so go to the gallery and play around with the paintings to your heart’s content.”
“No, I don’t want to go to the gallery.”
“You don’t want to go to the gallery?”
For the first time, Junman looked genuinely taken aback.
Everyone in Pyeongchang-dong knew Jinhyeok liked paintings.
Even as a middle schooler, the number of canvases Junman had ripped up because Jinhyeok insisted on painting easily numbered in the dozens.
Last time, Jinhyeok had quickly discerned the real and fake paintings hanging in the Home library, showing that although he’d stopped studying, his discerning eye was still sharp.
Naturally, Junman thought Jinhyeok’s desire for art would still be alive.
“Didn’t you tell me about the fake painting so you could go to the gallery?”
“What could I possibly do at the gallery? Even if I bring together good artists and hold a successful exhibition, that doesn’t prove my management skills. And you want me to show my skills under Director Oh? You know that’s not possible.”
“So you really do covet management rights.”
Junman thought he’d read all of Jinhyeok’s thoughts until now.
That was why he’d always indulged his requests and believed everything was happening within his grasp.
He thought Jinhyeok’s words today were just a little greed from someone closest to succeeding him.
That’s why he’d suggested the gallery, assuming Jinhyeok would be pleased.
But now, faced with Jinhyeok’s outright rejection, Junman was puzzled.
And when Jinhyeok questioned how he could prove management skills at the gallery, Junman felt a chill run down his spine.
“Then where do you want to go? You must have thought about it to come all the way here.”
“I want to go to DS Construction.”
“Where?”
“DS Construction, sir.”
With a blank expression, Junman stared at Jinhyeok.
But as a faint smile began to spread across his face, Jinhyeok felt an instinctive sense of unease.
His instincts were telling him this choice might have been a mistake.
For days, Jinhyeok had agonized at home over where to go.
His conclusion was DS Construction.
Though he’d worked over ten years at various jobs, he’d always been far from management; cleaning up messes for the ones in power was all he did.
So even if he boasted to Junman about showing his ability, in truth there was nothing much he could do.
But he had one special talent no one else did.
The ability to see value.
He laid out all the DS affiliates and considered where that ability would be best utilized, and construction seemed the perfect fit.
Construction is all about land; with his eye for value, if he could secure good plots and build on them, he thought he could raise DS Construction up.
However, Junman’s expression made him doubt whether he’d made the right choice.
“Bold. Very bold. Why haven’t I seen this side of you before?”
Junman’s words didn’t sound like praise.
Jinhyeok waited quietly for what he would say next.
“You want to take on DS Construction, which is currently preparing for restructuring? Hahaha. Well, that’s not bad. If you’d asked for the chemical division, which is doing well, or stable telecommunications, I’d have docked points for that. But construction, eh? You want to show your abilities in a division we’re still deciding whether to keep or scrap. I can see you thought hard about this.”
‘Preparing for restructuring? Thinking of scrapping it?’
Jinhyeok felt a pang of realization.
He’d chosen the affiliate where his talent would shine most, only to discover the division itself was in crisis.
This was completely unexpected.
“Don’t tell me you chose it because of your mother’s side?”
“My mother’s side—you mean Dongjeong Industries?”
“That’s right. Did you pick it thinking you could borrow strength from your mother’s family?”
“Well. Isn’t borrowing strength also a skill of mine?”
At this point, Jinhyeok decided to just brazen it out.
He hadn’t picked DS Construction with Dongjeong Industries in mind, but now that Junman brought it up, it sounded plausible.
“Good. You should have at least that much nerve.”
Junman stood and picked up the phone from his desk.
He dialed somewhere.
“Yeah, it’s me. Jinhyeok will be going down to DS Construction as Chief of Headquarters for the Restructuring Headquarters. Get his office ready. I’ll have him report there starting next week.”
While Junman made the call, Jinhyeok turned his head slightly so he wouldn’t be seen.
‘Damn. Of all things, it’s a division facing restructuring? Seriously, what is this?’
It was too late to backtrack and ask to go to the gallery instead.
He’d already declared his intention, and if he tried to back out now, it would be even more embarrassing.
Cursing himself for only thinking about land prices, Jinhyeok watched Junman finish the call and tried to keep a straight face.
“Restructuring is a thankless job; even if you do well, you’re lucky to break even, and if you mess up, you’ll be blamed for everything. Still, you’re volunteering for it, and as Chairman of DS Group, I’m actually grateful. Taking up your father’s burdens of your own accord—maybe your filial piety runs deeper than I thought.”
“Thank you for thinking that way.”
“Hehehe. As if I don’t know the truth… but thanks, anyway.”
Junman grinned slyly.
Watching his son crave management rights finally eased the chill in his heart.
“Anyway, since you want to do it, I’ll let you. There’s really no need to make you Chief of Headquarters… but you said you’re confident you can achieve results, so I’ll give you the chance. Go ahead, do as you please.”
At Junman’s words, Jinhyeok realized.
‘This bastard. He’d already decided to clean up DS Construction from the start.’
Others might not notice, but Jinhyeok, having survived at the bottom rung of sales, knew exactly what Junman meant.
When a client hands you something like it’s a favor, it usually means it’s an empty shell, more of a burden than anything.
Of course, if you can make that shell look good, it can turn into a blessing, but most of the time it’s just garbage you’re better off refusing.
But now, Jinhyeok had asked for it himself.
He couldn’t say no.
With nothing to lose, he shrugged off his discomfort.
He couldn’t work under Oh Seoyeong at the gallery, nor could he just take up space at the Holding Company.
Having crawled through the lowest rungs in his past life, Jinhyeok decided to accept it as his fate to crawl at the bottom and take things in stride.