Chapter 1573. Ardent (3)

Hwang Jeong-Hu settled down and asked, “By the way, you implied earlier that I was being greedy, didn’t you? What do you mean by that? You think I shouldn’t absorb MK into Jaegyeong?”

“No, you mustn’t do that,” Hwang Min-Su replied, his complexion getting slightly pale. “First of all, the two companies have far too disparate corporate structures. Forcing the merger will create problems for both sides. Also, you mustn’t underestimate MK. Its assets alone will easily surpass Jaegyeong.”

“Really? How the heck did Jin-Ho even create something like that? That’s completely absurd.”

“I know it’s nonsensical, but it is what it is.”

“Huh. Huhuh... Well, I’ll be.”

Since Kang Jin-Ho was behind it, Hwang Jeong-Hu had a hunch that MK’s scale must be absurd, but his son was painting a picture that sounded even more absurd than his imagination.

“It’s not merely a matter of MK’s scale, either. The two companies are simply too disparate. If two disparate corporate structures exist under one name, problems will inevitably rear their heads. Even if two must co-exist, they must not intermingle. We must prevent embers from falling into this volatile mixture.”

“Then, what do you suggest?”

“We need to take our time.”

Hwang Jeong-Hu tutted. “But that’s one thing we don’t have a lot of, okay? Did you forget how old I am already?”

Hwang Min-Su shook his head. “See? There you go again.”

“Huh?”

“I told you. Jaegyeong isn’t your trophy. Aren’t you thinking of wrapping everything up before taking a step back from the frontline?!”

“...”

“You can’t solve this issue like that! If you’re serious about taking a step back, trust us and let us handle it. However, if your goal was to find a substitute who would take over what you’ve built and keep it going as-is? I recommend you find someone else other than our chairman.”

Hwang Jeong-Hu furrowed his brow. His son was being rather rude just now.

No one would’ve dared to behave like this toward him. But Hwang Jeong-Hu didn’t lose his cool because Hwang Min-Su was speaking as MK’s president, not as the son of Jaegyeong’s chairman.

Emotions had no place in business transactions. Those who failed to separate their personal feelings from official business had no right to run a company.

Hwang Jeong-Hu asked, “So, you think my plan is difficult to implement?”

“Yes,” said Hwang Min-Su with a simple nod.

“Fine. Then, what do you think is the better option?”

“It’s for MK to take over Jaegyeong.”

“...? Say what now?” Hwang Jeong-Hu stared at his son in dismay. “Are you out of your mind? You think MK is special enough to do that?!”

“It doesn’t matter what things look like on the surface, father.”

“...? What do you mean by that now?”

“It doesn’t matter even if it looks like Jaegyeong is taking over MK. But what matters is who will take the lead once the merger has been completed. Weren’t you thinking of turning MK into one of Jaegyeong’s subsidiaries?”

Hwang Jeong-Hu nodded. The way he saw it, that seemed like the best idea.

“And that’s exactly what we must avoid doing.”

“What the... Are you saying this from a businessman’s perspective? Or as an employee of MK?”

Hwang Min-Su sighed softly. “Leaving Jaegyeong helped me realize something important, father. And that’s... Jaegyeong has lost its momentum. It’s somehow chugging along all thanks to your presence and the structure you’ve set up. But there are clear limits to both.”

Hwang Jeong-Hu yelled unhappily. “What the hell are you talking about! Don’t you know that Jaegyeong has been growing again?!”

“Yes, that’s true. But that growth is slowing down gradually, isn’t it? What do you think will happen once that growth stalls?”

“...!”

Hwang Jeong-Hu couldn’t respond to that.

“I’m sure you already know the answer. You should already know that Jaegyeong needs another push, a second wind of sorts. And that’s what you were expecting from Chairman Kang, weren’t you?”

“Mm...!”

“If you’re going to entrust Jaegyeong to him, then you should do so properly. Don’t tie his hands behind his back and ask him to fight on. For one, I will not sit back and watch our chairman go through that situation.”

“Urgh...”

Hwang Jeong-Hu mouthed a cigarette with a frown of frustration on his face. After lighting it up, he puffed away in silence for a while, then glanced at his son.

“Okay, so... Even if it looks like our side is taking over, the ones who will manage the entire operation must be the people from your side? So that your system of governance can be transferred over here?”

Hwang Min-Su nodded weightily. “Yes, father.”

“Well, I’m sure you aren’t thinking of lining your pockets, but...”

“If you want, I will not get involved with MK.”

“Not get involved with what, you dummy!” Hwang Jeong-Hu yelled again in irritation while puffing away. “Look. This is a gamble, okay? A massive gamble! Those people are utterly clueless, so how do you expect them to manage Jaegyeong?”

“Father, please remember that Chairman Kang isn’t you. Do you honestly think all the directors and presidents who stuck by you through thick and thin will even listen to our chairman’s orders?”

“They won’t even be able to look Jin-Ho in the eye, though?”

“But forcing them through such a process will only stress everyone out, father. Our chairman already has a good team working for him, so why should he force himself to work with unknown people? In the end, isn’t this you being greedy? You just don’t want the people who have worked together with you to build this company losing their positions. Am I wrong?”

“...”

Hwang Min-Su shook his head. “I’m not saying you’re wrong to want that. But the thing is... New alcohol should be kept in a new container. Please take them all with you. When you walk away, you’re supposed to take all the toxins with you, not just honor. Please don’t saddle the next generation with more burdens, father.”

Hwang Jeong-Hu sucked on the cigarette for longer than usual before slowly nodding away. “Very well. I understand what you’re saying.”

“You didn’t make the wrong choice, father. At least, that’s what I believe.” Hwang Min-Su grinned brightly. “Our chairman might be a man of mystery, but... For some reason, doesn’t he give off a certain impression that whatever it is, he will still make a fairly decent fist of it?”

“That vague impression is the problem, I’d say,” Hwang Jeong-Hu replied with a wry grin of his own.

If he were being honest, there was absolutely no logical basis to his belief that Kang Jin-Ho would do an excellent job with Jaegyeong. MK might be growing at a quick rate, but Hwang Jeong-Hu knew that was not due to Kang Jin-Ho’s abilities. Even so...

I never had anything concrete to base my life-altering decisions on, anyway.

Decisions made on concrete bases didn’t really qualify as decisions. The role of the chairperson wasn’t to find answers built on firm foundations, but to find solutions to questions with no apparent answers.

This was one of those occasions.

Hwang Jeong-Hu managed to grow Jaegyeong to this size only because he made correct decisions based on his intuition, not logical bases, during critical moments. And now, he was about to make one last critical decision for the future of Jaegyeong.

Hwang Jeong-Hu groaned. “Urgh... I wanted to teach him how to run a company and stuff, though.”

“You know that’s not going to happen,” Hwang Min-Su chuckled and replied. “And I’m sure that is not what you were hoping to see from our chairman, either. We both know he’s not the type to personally oversee a company’s operations. No, he’s the type who makes decisions and delegates tasks to his subordinates.”

“Well... If it’s running Jaegyeong, you can always do that for him.”

“I told you, I’m not interested.”

Hwang Jeong-Hu tutted. “You won’t have a choice if he orders you to do it.”

“That... is true, isn’t it?”

Hwang Min-Su groaned deeply. His opinion and Hwang Jeong-Hu’s roughly aligned, as it turned out. Both of them viewed Kang Jin-Ho as an ideal candidate to lead Jaegyeong, but not because of his excellent business acumen.

One would say Kang Jin-Ho’s commerce-related abilities were average at best. Actually, if one were being brutally honest here, his abilities were well below average. However, his special ability was something else. And it was the natural talent for commanding the best-of-the-best business people.

Hwang Jeong-Hu chuckled again. “Isn’t he such a strange guy? Especially in this era? I can’t believe that you even waltzed in here to argue with me for his sake. All while glaring fiercely at me, to boot!”

“Yes, I agree he’s a strange man.”

Hwang Min-Su would never have shown up here and argued with his father if the matter didn’t involve Kang Jin-Ho or the potential harm to his company.

“This is exactly why I can’t give up on this idea,” said Hwang Jeong-Hu while cackling away.

“In any case, please reconsider the part we’ve discussed, father.”

“Yeah, yeah. I got it.”

Hwang Jeong-Hu dismissively waved his hand. Although his gesture seemed to indicate his annoyance, in reality, it indicated that he had already started thinking about it.

Hwang Min-Su nodded in satisfaction, then got up to leave. “Then, please excuse me. I should be on my way now.”

Hwang Jeong-Hu tilted his head. “Already? What’s the rush?”

“I’ve said my piece, after all. I need to go to work.”

“It’s fine. Stay. Join me for a meal.”

“I’m sorry?”

Hwang Min-Su reflexively looked around him. They weren’t at home but in Hwang Jeong-Hu’s office, so where would this mystery meal materialize from?

“I mean, this is the first time you’ve come to see me in a long time, so I gotta treat you, right? What’s the rush, Min-Su?”

“B-but, I need to go to work. And it’s already getting late...”

“What’s the matter with you? You think I don’t have enough clout with your boss? You think I can’t phone him and tell him you’ll be coming in late today?”

“...”

“Stay. Join me.”

Hwang Min-Su’s expression cramped up. “I’ve already had breakfast.”

“Me too! What a coincidence. Isn’t that great, though?”

Hwang Min-Su tilted his head. That’s a weird thing to say, no? What’s great about that?

“Stay for lunch.”

“...”

“While we wait, how about you help me with some paperwork?” Hwang Jeong-Hu slyly grinned. “My eyesight isn’t what it used to be. It’s getting harder to read all these documents these days, Min-Su.”

“B-but? You can’t ask an employee of another company to...”

“What’s the problem with a son wanting to help his father?”

...Of course there’s no problem. Yes, there’s technically no problem at all, but!

Hwang Jeong-Hu’s grin deepened. “Stop being a wet blanket and goooo over there, okay? Yes, right by that desk. Don’t worry, though. I’ll make it worth your while with a hearty lunch.”

“Well... I guess that’s not a bad trade.”

“Eh... You’ve always liked seolleongtang, right? Let’s order that for our lunch.”[1]

Hwang Min-Su’s expression fell. “I... never liked seolleongtang, father.”

Hwang Jeong-Hu frowned and tilted his head. “Eh? Then was it gomtang instead?”[2]

“...”

Let’s just say I like them all, father. I think that’ll be for the best.

***

“Fufufufu~.”

“...”

“Fufufufufufufu~!”

“...”

“Fufufu, fufufufufufu! Fufufufufufu~!”

Kang Jin-Ho stared weirdly—subtly, of course—at the person grinning in front of him.

What does she want now?

Even he could tell that she wanted to boast about something, judging from her expression. However, what did she want to boast about?

Kang Jin-Ho decided he might as well start probing away. “So... How was your trip to America?”

Choi Yeon-Ha’s expression brightened. “Owwo, America?”

Kang Jin-Ho’s expression crumpled a little just then.

She proudly said, “That’s how the Native Americans speak, you know! Ehehe~! We’ve only shot the first scenes I’m in, but everyone’s been praising me for how much my English has improved! All the hard work I’ve put in was worth the trouble, I’d say!”

“Oh, of course.”

“And, and! They praised my acting chops so many times, too! Some even gave me a standing ovation! I’ve never seen crew members getting shocked like that before.”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. “Mm? Maybe it’s because Americans like overreacting?”

Choi Yeon-Ha narrowed her eyes slightly. “What did you say?”

“...I’m sure they were reacting that way after witnessing a fantastic demonstration of your acting ability.”

“You think so, too?”

When Choi Yeon-Ha bloomed into a radiant smile, Kang Jin-Ho also grinned in satisfaction.

Yup, now I can proudly call myself a modern-era man.

He didn’t expect to get a reminder like this, but here was yet another confirmation that, yes, he had become a splendid example of a modern-era man who got whipped hard by his girlfriend!

Choi Yeon-Ha boastfully said, “Did you know how nervous I was? As it turned out, though, Hollywood wasn’t all that. I mean, it’s just like any other place with people in it.”

“I’m relieved to hear that.”

Han Eun-Sol, who had been silently eavesdropping on this exchange, cautiously piped up. “Since you brought that up, noona... I mean, Director Choi?”

“Ng?”

“They called me earlier to ask about, mm...”

“Okay?”

Han Eun-Sol fidgeted as if he didn’t want to say it out loud, but eventually forced himself to speak.

“They wanted to know if we’d be okay with hiring a voice actor to dub over you.”

“Dub over me?”

“Yes. They want to do ADR work on your scenes.”[3]

“...?” Choi Yeon-Ha tilted her head. “Okay, so... When you say dubbing over me, they want to hire a voice actor to dub over my lines?”

“Well, yes. That’s what it means to...”

“Why?”

“I mean, it’s.... Uh.” Han Eun-Sol grinned sheepishly. “M-maybe they thought your tone or inflections weren’t up to their exacting standards?”

“Not because my pronunciation was dog’s ass?”

“...”

Veins bulged on Choi Yeon-Ha’s forehead. Those deceitful bastards! If that was the case, they shouldn’t have praised her or something in the first place!

“Eiii! Bastards! Besides! A Korean should just worry about sounding like a Korean, am I right?!”

Choi Yeon-Ha snorted like an enraged bull to indicate how foul her mood had gotten, then snapped her head toward Kang Jin-Ho.

“This won’t do, Mister Jin-Ho!”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. “I’m sorry?”

“Please find me an English tutor! I’m gonna fix my pronunciation for good!”

“Sure, I guess? But why me...?”

“That old gent who was with you! He really knew how to capture the emotions of the scenes.”

“That old gent? You mean... Wiggins?”

“Yes, him!”

“I... will try to talk to him.”

“Please! You have to!”

Choi Yeon-Ha’s eyes burned in the flames of determination.

Meanwhile...

Wiggins was focusing on magic research in the Martial Assembly HQ when a chill abruptly ran down his spine, making him shudder in confusion and dread.

1. Seolleongtang or ox bone soup is a Korean tang (soup) made mostly from ox leg bones, brisket and other cuts. ☜

2. Gomtang or beef bone soup is a traditional Korean cuisine made with various beef parts such as ribs, oxtail, brisket, ox head or ox bones. ☜

3. ADR, or automated dialogue replacement, is a common post-production process in filmmaking. This process replaces dialogue recorded on set with new dialogue recorded in a sound studio in a bid to fix or improve the original recording. ☜