The Chairman Who Wants to Play and Eat

Chapter 21. What? He said that?

The news spread across the entire campus in an instant.

“Did you hear that Hyun Seong-yun from Seonghyeon Group declared he would change everything about our festival except for the name?”

“I did! I heard it!”

“Can we really expect something good from this?”

“Of course. If it were anyone else, maybe, but he’s a chaebol.”

Soon, the narrative shifted.

“Seonghyeon is reportedly teaming up with the Korean University Student Council to invest in the Korean University Festival.”

“Our Korean University cheerleading team has confirmed that Jo Pil-yong, Lee Wook, and Jang Won-rok will all be coming as invited performers.”

The anticipation grew like a snowball rolling downhill.

And it was only natural.

They are star singers known as the Troika.

Just having one of them come to perform would be enough to shed the label of a dull festival.

With the star power of these invited artists, they could even overshadow the likes of Yeonhui University’s Arakara or Gohang University’s Absolenti.

The rumor reached my ears.

“Are you really okay with this?”

It was the question from Assistant Manager Lee.

The meaning was clear.

Isn’t this getting a bit too big? Are you sure you can handle it? He wanted to express his concerns.

What he didn’t know was one thing.

That’s exactly why I’m doing this.

I was the source of that rumor. No one else.

I intentionally spread it further to expand the game.

“If I can’t succeed in one arena, I have to succeed in this one, right?”

The plan had never changed from the beginning.

It was always about making everyone at Korean University my ally.

Turning back time at the entrance ceremony, fully funding the freshman gathering, building the library, creating scholarships—these were all part of the same intention.

The festival was no different.

(It started a bit impulsively, but) this too is part of my grand plan.

Upon hearing my story up to that point, Deputy Lee Beom-seok tilted his head.

“To be honest, I’m not sure if this is the right path.”

It is the right path.

It’s just that it’s a path filled with blows.

For someone like me, who needs to stir up trouble and get properly scolded by the chairman, it’s a path I must take.

Instead of saying that honestly,

“I’m doing this for the students, after all. They need to study when it’s time to study, and play when it’s time to play. Isn’t that the right way to nurture talent?”

I said this.

Even with a look that seemed to say, ‘Then why is the young master taking the path of nurturing talent?’ Deputy Lee ultimately didn’t continue with his next words.

“It’s an important time with the chairman absent. What will you do if you get scolded even more later, young master?”

I feigned indifference.

“Oh, the chairman has arrived in Europe, right?”

“Yes.”

It was just a few days ago that Grandfather Hyun Byeong-geon suddenly left for Europe.

The reason was quite a masterpiece.

He couldn’t just sit still while his grandchild was working so hard.

He added,

“I’m an old-fashioned man; I know what’s good but don’t understand semiconductors well. However, I do know that for semiconductors to thrive, Seonghyeon Electronics must first operate well. Prepare for an overseas trip immediately. I need to see with my own eyes if our Seonghyeon Electronics products exported to Europe are selling well.”

······It’s an embarrassing statement.

So I decided to do the same.

I would repay embarrassing words with embarrassing actions. Isn’t that the duty of a grandchild?

It doesn’t matter if it’s not.

By the time he returns, it will be an irreversible situation.

He would probably say something like this.

“What? That brat Sang-yoon invited a performer to the school under the name of Seonghyeon while I was away? He’s really tarnishing our Seonghyeon name on purpose!”

I can almost hear that voice in my ears.

“By the way, young master.”

“Yes?”

“Since your intentions are firm, as a subordinate, I will naturally trust and follow you, but I must say this one thing.”

It was unlike him.

“Go ahead and speak.”

“Bringing in a singer is one thing, but where’s the logic in spreading rumors first and then bringing them in later?”

“Oh, that?”

What should I say?

“I believe that you will pull it off.”

“······.”

“Aren’t you the ace of the secretary’s office? I have no doubt that you will bring in more singers than the rumors suggest. Is that an unreasonable expectation?”

He gaped at me.

“Then I’ll ask for your help. There’s only a week left until the stage, so please put in some effort during that time. Coordinate well with the student council and the cheerleading committee on my behalf. You understand what I mean, right?”

It’s just a request in words, but it’s a command.

And this assistant will faithfully carry out that command.

‘Just like he always has.’

I trust him.

*

Seonghyeon Department Store Headquarters,

“By the way, Mr. Kang.”

“Yes, President.”

In the very center of the president’s office,

Hyeon Hee-jae, the third and eldest daughter of Chairman Hyeon Byeong-geon, spoke for the first time after receiving a report from Executive Director Ko Hyeon-ok of the advertising department.

“About the last thing you mentioned. That caught my interest.”

“It’s not entirely accurate. It’s just a rumor.”

“What does that matter? It doesn’t need to be precise; I’d like to hear more about it.”

That story was about Hyeon Sang-yoon.

He was the hottest figure in Seonghyeon.

He appeared suddenly, like a comet.

After making his mark by entering the law school at Korea University, he soon led the charge, putting Seonghyeon Electronics’ name among the top groups in South Korea’s semiconductor war.

That was good news for the company.

At the same time, from his aunt’s perspective, he was a thorn in her side.

Such is the nature of competition.

When someone rises, the opposite side descends.

So, when that detestable nephew climbs up so high, their place, and their children’s places, plummet down below.

Yet, if one can refrain from hatred despite that, then they must be a true master, a living bodhisattva.

But she merely smiled gently.

To reveal such inner thoughts would not be something that Hyun-hee Jae would easily allow.

“Then I will speak.”

After a pause, Ko Hyun-ok continued.

“It’s a story that everyone in the advertising world already knows. Seonghyeon Group’s Hyun Sang-yoon has been stirring things up with the young singers these days.”

“Stirring things up?”

“He’s been going around to recruit them.”

“Oh.”

What should I say,

Hyun-hee Jae quickly hid her flushed expression.

“That’s quite an unheard-of and bizarre situation.”

She spoke with elegance, shaking off the ash from her cigarette with a refined gesture. The tips of her fingers trembled slightly.

“It may be just a rumor…”

“But they say where there’s no smoke, there’s no fire.”

“That’s true.”

Hyun-hee Jae waved her hand dismissively.

“Yes, I appreciate your words, Mr. Ko. That was an excellent report. Please ensure that the advertisements you mentioned are executed well. And about that last story, don’t go spreading it around carelessly. It’s a family matter, you understand?”

“Of course, ma’am.”

With that, Ko Hyun-ok stood up.

The guest’s decree had been issued.

She needed to leave quietly.

She had spoken because she was asked to share the rumor, and that was all. How to utilize it was up to her superior, Hyun-hee Jae.

“I will take my leave now.”

Tap,

The door closed.

In the now-empty office,

A pleasant smile began to bloom softly on Hyun-hee Jae’s face.

‘What a wicked child.’

Can’t you hold back for even a moment after grandfather has left, doing such things?

I found a gap in my detestable nephew.

She had no intention of letting this opportunity slip away. She called the chief of staff. There was a place she needed to go immediately.

“Chief?”

“Yes!”

“Please prepare a vehicle.”

“Understood. I’ll get it ready right away. But where are you planning to go?”

In response to the chief’s question, the answer came.

“To Mulsan.”

A little while later,

“What? That guy did something like that?”

In the president’s office of Seonghyeon Mulsan, the voice of Hyun Seung-jae echoed loudly in the otherwise empty office.

“They said so.”

“Are you sure it’s not a misunderstanding?”

“Do I look like a fool who would rush all the way here just because I was deceived by a mere lie?”

“Well, that’s not entirely wrong, but…”

It was unexpected, but Hyun Seung-jae bit back his words tightly.

“Why? Do I have something on my face?”

“Why on earth are you telling me this?”

It was a sharp question.

“Why, you ask? I just wanted to share an interesting story.”

“Is that really all?”

“Must there be another reason?”

“We’re not exactly the kind of close friends who share jokes. You must have some ulterior motive to come all the way here. Am I wrong?”

At those words, Hyun Hee-jae scoffed.

“Think whatever you want, oppa.”

“Even if you don’t say that, I’ll think what I want.”

“Unbelievable.”

She pretended to rise in indignation.

“Isn’t it only natural for an aunt to come and ask the older sibling (Hyun-deok-jae) to scold the nephew since he’s raising his own child with such indulgence? If it’s a scheme, then I have nothing to say. The foolish younger sibling who’s scheming will step back.”

This time, Hyun-seung-jae scoffed.

“I’m not going far.”

She thought.

After all, she had said everything she needed to. She had achieved her purpose.

This much was enough. Even if she spoke like that, the second brother would eventually act on his own.

Meanwhile,

‘What a sly little thing.’

Hyun-seung-jae, who remained in the president’s office, thought.

He wasn’t unaware of his younger sibling’s intentions. It was a suggestion to quickly confess this to their father.

She didn’t want to say it herself.

She was probably trying to avoid being disliked.

‘Let it slide.’

What’s the big deal? Just a little bloodshed is all it takes.

If successful, wouldn’t everything be his share?

If the nephew he despised got kicked out with the eldest brother, the next in line would be him. It wouldn’t be Hyun-hee-jae’s turn.

To win, he first had to get his hands dirty.

Success was all that mattered.

Soon, a sly smile began to creep across his face.

*

Germany, Frankfurt.

What caught the eye of Hyun Byung-geon, the chairman of Seonghyeon, as he browsed the electronics import store in the city, was none other than Seonghyeon’s own electronics, covered in dust and pushed into a corner, overshadowed by other brand products.

Just how poorly had they been selling?

“Im Du-won!”

“Yes!”

Thanks to that, Chairman Hyun’s fury upon returning to the hotel was sky-high.

“Is this right? Can we even challenge the semiconductor market like this?”

It was Im Du-won, the president of Seonghyeon Electronics, who was accompanying Chairman Hyun on his European tour. But day by day, he could only shrink back like a sinner.

“I apologize, Chairman.”

This was all he could say.

“Are you sorry for the price?”

“······.”

“Ah, tsk tsk. If I had just sat quietly in the chairman’s office, I would have never known such disgrace for the rest of my life.”

“I have no words, even if I had a hundred mouths.”

“That’s right. You shouldn’t have any.”

Useless fools,

It was a humiliation I could hardly bear.

Setting aside the fact that we were being outdone by foreign products, seeing Seonghyeon’s electronics ranked lower than Jeongsang and Geosan’s made my blood boil and my stomach churn.

I couldn’t let this slide.

But how?

Was there really a way to turn this around?

Whether it was due to anger or some other reason, Chairman Hyeon suddenly felt a fog descend over his thoughts.

It was then.

Knock, knock,

“This is Manager Joo. Chairman, we have an urgent call from Korea.”

Chairman Hyeon spoke in a voice still tinged with anger.

“Who is it?”

“It’s President Hyeon Seung-jae from Hyeon Seung-jae Corporation.”

“Seung-jae?”

“Yes, that’s correct, Chairman.”

“Why is Seung-jae calling at this hour? Is something wrong with the company, or what?”

Instead of answering, Manager Joo stepped inside with the phone.

“He didn’t specify, but he emphasized several times that it was urgent. It would be best for you to take the call, Chairman.”

Chairman Hyeon clicked his tongue.

Since it was urgent, I suppose I should take it, but I wasn’t feeling particularly inclined to do so.

Manager Joo handed over the phone and retreated with President Im from the guest room.

Now, the chairman was alone.

“What is it!”

– Chairman, I have something important to tell you······.

“I’ve already heard that, so skip the unnecessary preamble and get to the point! International call rates are expensive!”

– It’s nothing but household matters. Sang-yoon has caused a big incident.

Incident?

Sang-yoon?

At the unexpected words, Chairman Hyun immediately lowered his voice.

“Quickly, tell me.”

Hyun Seung-jae’s report followed, having gained confidence.

As he listened, the Chairman’s brow furrowed and relaxed multiple times. It was a long, drawn-out ten minutes.

“What? He said such a thing?”

Finally, the Chairman spoke.

– Yes, Chairman.

“So, he took on that festival and said, ‘I plan to change everything except for the name,’ is that right?”

– That’s correct. Isn’t it disgraceful to be flirting with celebrities as soon as you’re not around, Chairman?

In that moment,

“I see. He certainly deserves a good scolding.”

The atmosphere shifted.

“We need to reprimand him, so tell everyone in the senior management of Seonghyun Group, at least the vice presidents, to gather here in Frankfurt immediately. I’ll give them a day, and not a single person should be absent. Seung-jae, you too!”

Even after hanging up, Hyun Seung-jae couldn’t hide his confusion.

‘Why the sudden call for the senior management?’

It’s fine to be angry.

It’s only right to scold him.

That was the intention behind the call from the start. He hoped all that anger would be directed at his nephew, Hyun Sang-yoon.

But the backlash landed in an unexpected place.

He couldn’t understand the reason.

“Manager! Manager!”

Not knowing the reason, but with his father Chairman Hyun’s orders given, he had to fly to Frankfurt without delay.

He hung up the phone.

“Manager Joo.”

At the Chairman’s low voice, Manager Joo entered the room. It was a softened tone.

“Yes, Chairman.”

“You heard outside, didn’t you?”

“Rest assured, I will prepare the emergency meeting for the upper management without any issues. The location will be this hotel.”

Chairman Hyun nodded.

“About Sang-yoon. He’s done it again this time.”

At the sudden mention of the name, Director Joo silently gazed at Chairman Hyun.

It was a warm gaze.

“To say he’ll change everything except his name is quite audacious and full of spirit, isn’t it? That’s right. What Seong-hyun needs to do moving forward is exactly that. Change everything except the name. It’s Sang-yoon who enlightened him on that. Hahaha.”