Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 109

109. 33rd. On the Boundary of Winter and Spring, Beginning and End (1)

Park Tae-jin was driving the company car provided by Haedong Group toward the Hi-Mart Eunpyeong branch. The streets of December 1996, with 1997 fast approaching, buzzed with the year-end spirit.

After picking up the 20 servings of pre-ordered sushi from a Japanese restaurant, Park Tae-jin continued driving until the Hi-Mart Eunpyeong branch, marked by its large sign, came into view.

“The more I think about it…”

Park Tae-jin trailed off, a smile playing on his lips.

Even smaller conglomerates than Haedong Group were eager to flaunt their names. For them, a sign on a building was prime advertising.

However, Lee Sung-min wanted to change the sign, anticipating endless expansion, or rather, the envy it would stir. Park Tae-jin was not only impressed by his meticulousness but also wondered just how much he planned to grow the group to consider changing the sign for such a reason.

“What he’s accomplished in just four years is amazing, but… haha.”

A satisfied look spread across Park Tae-jin’s face as he chuckled softly.

Wasn’t Lee Sung-min the one who had been managing everything from personal matters to the family, the group, and Standard Capital without a break since waking up in the hospital? If this was all he had shown so far, given the circumstances, Park Tae-jin couldn’t even begin to imagine what the future held.

After parking in the underground lot, he carried the large bags from the back seat and headed for the Hi-Mart office.

“Excuse me.”

When Park Tae-jin knocked and entered the office, all eyes turned to him. Na Chang-seok, the most senior employee, quickly rose from his seat and approached.

“What did you bring so much for, Director Park?”

“I brought it because it’s almost dinner time, Director. Aren’t you working overtime again today? Haha.”

Na Chang-seok smiled awkwardly at Park Tae-jin’s friendly demeanor.

“I know, it’s a problem when the company grows too fast. If we open the Yeongdeungpo branch, it’ll be the 11th store, haha.”

Park Tae-jin laughed heartily at Na Chang-seok’s jest.

“Thanks to you, you’ll be using the title of Managing Director from next year, right? Haha.”

“That’s true, but… I’m embarrassed, haha.”

Na Chang-seok was slated for promotion to Managing Director in the year-end personnel reshuffle. The group’s top management had decided to expand the Hi-Mart business division after witnessing the aggressive opening of 10 stores across Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Jeonju, Gwangju, and Busan since the previous year.

“That’s right. All the friends here have been promoted too. As CEO Tae said, we need to plant stakes and take root, haha.”

Na Chang-seok, who had been laughing heartily, gathered the people with a look of sudden realization.

“What are you all doing? Quickly set up what Director Park brought.”

“Yes, Director.”

The male employees took the bags and unpacked the sushi boxes, while the female employees set up water bottles, paper cups, and cutlery. Soon, the entire office staff gathered and began eating.

“I heard you went to Australia and Panama last summer?”

Na Chang-seok asked after swallowing a piece of sushi. Park Tae-jin responded after swallowing his own.

“Rumors travel fast. I went to Australia with CEO Bae and the director, and I went to Panama with Director Kim of the New York branch and the director.”

Park Tae-jin then shared only what he could about his experiences in Australia and Panama. The staff, mid-meal, paused, chopsticks hovering over their food, and listened intently.

“Wow, that’s amazing. How much money are we talking about?”

“I can’t say for sure, but looking ahead, it will be a significant business. It was a project that had been a long-cherished wish since the time of the founding chairman, so the chairman, vice-chairman, CEOs, and chief of staff actively promoted it.”

Na Chang-seok stopped exclaiming and nodded.

“I guess so. The investment in Kazakhstan last year… Kazakhmys! I heard that Kazakhmys will also start paying dividends from next year, and the Australian zinc mine is also doing well?”

“Yes. We commissioned a survey from Deloitte’s headquarters in the UK this time…”

The eyes of the people widened as if they would pop out when they heard the results of the survey.

“Thirty billion dollars? How much did you make?”

“It’s almost five and a half times bigger. The director collected and organized the data while traveling to and from the United States, and the chairman made the decision after seeing it, haha.”

Na Chang-seok clicked his tongue, looking at Park Tae-jin, who was laughing heartily with a proud expression.

“Like begets like… The chairman and the director are on a different level. They’re scary people.”

Na Chang-seok’s team members laughed at him.

“So, isn’t it the director who laid the foundation for Hi-Mart, Director?”

“That’s right, Director. We’re steadily increasing the number of stores, and our sales methods and performance are above par, so we’ll definitely overtake Shinsegae [a large South Korean conglomerate] next year, hehe.”

As the employees said, Hi-Mart was eagerly anticipating the coming year, aiming to surpass SSK Mart [Shinsegae’s retail arm]. Whether it was store openings, sales strategies, or sales and net profit, the employees were confident they would catch up with the Shinsegae Group in every aspect.

“Bring the director with you later, Director Park. He’ll be surprised when he comes, haha.”

There was no need to specify who the ‘director’ Na Chang-seok was referring to.

***

After finishing the meal and helping with some tasks, Park Tae-jin left work with Yoo Hyun-jung and headed to an indoor food stall near Itaewon, as she had requested.

“You look very tired, Tae-jin. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay, Hyun-jung.”

The two emptied their soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] glasses, gazing at each other affectionately.

Since the end of last year, they had been a recognized couple within Hi-Mart. Yoo Hyun-jung was naturally sociable and skilled at her job, and Park Tae-jin was an impeccable man and the ‘chairman’s’ son-like closest aide.

The Hi-Mart family supported them, so within Hi-Mart, no one envied this couple.

After refilling Yoo Hyun-jung’s soju glass, Park Tae-jin put down the bottle and asked.

“You’ll be promoted to Deputy Manager next year, right, Hyun-jung?”

“Yes. But compared to Tae-jin, I still have a long way to go. Tae-jin is already an executive, hehe.”

Yoo Hyun-jung smiled softly but didn’t hide her ambition. Park Tae-jin smiled back.

After a light clink of soju glasses, Yoo Hyun-jung emptied hers and took a breath before asking.

“But Tae-jin.”

“Yes, Hyun-jung.”

“Isn’t it hard to serve the director?”

“What do you mean?”

“When I see the director working, I can’t even imagine serving him. Department stores, discount stores, resource development, even merchant banks… Whew.”

Yoo Hyun-jung trailed off, sighing and slumping her shoulders.

“I’ve been digging into distribution for 6 years, but I don’t know if I’ll even catch Tae-jin’s eye, let alone the director’s.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Well… our business division is doing well, so the CEO likes it, but other affiliates and departments are all in trouble.”

“Trouble?”

“Because of the director.”

Yoo Hyun-jung’s complaint was no exaggeration.

Because of Lee Sung-min, who was achieving results in everything he touched, everyone from the group’s executives to the low-level employees was under immense pressure. This stemmed from the changes in Haedong Group’s top management after Lee Dae-soo returned from his business trip to New York.

[Did I tell you to find something like Director Lee’s Australian zinc mine? What did you do? You can’t even meet the deadline for something like that? Ugh!]

[Hey, Director Lee has been going around department stores and discount stores and even achieved results. Is it that difficult to buy store sites? What are you trying to do?]

[What are we going to do if Director Lee and I eat up the money we earn by investing in the United States? Did you do the loan review properly?]

[I’m tightening my belt, and Director Lee is working hard outside to grow the group. But you want to spend your corporate cards lavishly? Huh?]

Bae Jae-hoon, Tae Jae-ho, Jo Young-chan, Lee Myung-jin, and other top executives of the group grilled their subordinate executives more harshly than ever, constantly mentioning Lee Sung-min.

The executives had to endure the grilling without a word because the eldest grandson of the chairman, a grandson unlike the successors of other groups, was the object of comparison. Naturally, the anger that the executives suffered trickled down to the lower-level managers.

[Director Lee is working for our company while working for another company. Where does he have time to rest? Eliminate all coffee breaks under me and work during that time! Don’t even dream of getting overtime pay!]

[Director Lee saved our department store’s main branch at that age, but can you even swallow food with that much sales? Huh! If you can’t produce noticeable results, at least work efficiently!]

[If you lend money to a shady company, you’ll all lose your jobs! Make sure you know whether it’s a recoverable loan and whether it’s a company that’s doing its job properly!]

[Don’t touch the company dinner (회식) expenses. Reduce waste of supplies and overtime pay thoroughly!]

Some were struggling to get promoted, and others were struggling because they didn’t want to be pushed to a dead-end job or fired. The sound of wailing never stopped throughout the Haedong Group.

It was fortunate that the retirement age of 60 was guaranteed, welfare was good, and rewards were given according to performance, but countless Haedong Group employees couldn’t stand the stress and wrote resignation letters.

‘It was decided after the New York trip, but everyone is in an uproar. Everyone is putting up a smokescreen because of next year, but to use Sung-min as the standard… Hehe.’

Park Tae-jin smiled bitterly as he watched Yoo Hyun-jung, who had told him about the situation within the group, refill her glass with a gloomy expression. As a member of Haedong Group’s top management, albeit in the lowest position, he knew why this uproar had occurred.

Still, Park Tae-jin didn’t want to see his woman looking dejected, so he offered words of comfort.

“Don’t worry, Hyun-jung. The director isn’t the type to pass on responsibility to his family.”

“Really?”

“You experienced it at Hi-Mart, didn’t you? Sometimes I have to learn from him.”

Park Tae-jin’s answer was sincere.

Lee Sung-min wasn’t the type to immediately say he couldn’t do something and pass it on to others if he could do it himself, right?

Even though he didn’t show it, Park Tae-jin felt a great sense of self-reproach for not being able to properly help a child who was like a younger brother or nephew. Lee Sung-min was becoming a great mountain, to the point where he felt skeptical about his own value, which he had thought would not be inferior anywhere as a graduate of Seoul National University’s business school and a special forces officer, even though his origins were humble.

Nevertheless, Park Tae-jin didn’t give up and found his role. As a result, he realized that Lee Sung-min wanted him by his side and gained stability from it.

So, Park Tae-jin decided to make it his role to keep Lee Sung-min’s center and was helping him as needed while staying by his side.

Unaware of Park Tae-jin’s feelings, Yoo Hyun-jung’s eyes regained their vitality.

“Really, Tae-jin?”

“I promise, Hyun-jung. So, don’t feel too pressured and just keep working hard as you are, haha.”

Park Tae-jin laughed heartily and emptied his soju with Yoo Hyun-jung. Yoo Hyun-jung put down her cleanly emptied glass and took a light breath.

“…Tae-jin.”

“Yes, Hyun-jung.”

“But when are we going to stop calling each other ‘Mr.’ and ‘Ms.’?”

“What do you mean?”

Yoo Hyun-jung gave him a disappointed look when she saw Park Tae-jin blinking in confusion.

“We’ve been dating for a year already. Besides, Tae-jin, you’re older than me, but when I hear you call me Hyun-jung, it feels like you’re still putting up a wall.”

“Ah…”

It was a direct statement, but Yoo Hyun-jung knew Park Tae-jin’s personality well, so she had been holding back for a year before complaining. Park Tae-jin stopped the exclamation he had been about to make, looking embarrassed.

“I’m sorry, Hyun-jung.”

“Again! Again! Make it comfortable, Tae-jin. You can just drop the honorifics, right?”

Park Tae-jin couldn’t say anything even though Yoo Hyun-jung raised her voice. Wasn’t it ridiculous to refuse when the person involved wanted him to be comfortable?

Park Tae-jin got up from his seat and sat next to Yoo Hyun-jung. Then, he put his hand on her shoulder and pulled her into his arms.

“Then shall we start over from day one today?”

“Tae, Tae-jin?”

Yoo Hyun-jung was surprised by Park Tae-jin’s sudden change in demeanor, but she didn’t reject his touch. Rather, happiness began to show on Yoo Hyun-jung’s face.

“Then… can I call you ‘oppa’ [term used by a younger woman to address an older brother or boyfriend] from now on?”

Park Tae-jin nodded at her cautious question, and a smile bloomed on Yoo Hyun-jung’s face. As he broke down the wall of his heart and patted Yoo Hyun-jung’s shoulder after a year of dating, something came to Park Tae-jin’s mind.

‘I wonder if Sung-min is doing well?’

***

After parting with Park Tae-jin, I had dinner with Jang Ha-yeon and then went to the cocktail bar in Itaewon as usual.

“I heard your uncle got married?”

I choked on my drink when Jang Ha-yeon suddenly asked me a question while I was drinking. It was a secret wedding conducted in utmost secrecy, so how did she know?

“Cough! Cough!”

“Are, are you okay?”

I quickly covered my mouth with my hand and turned my head to cough, and Jang Ha-yeon patted my back. As the coughing subsided, I cleared my throat and asked her.

“How did you know that, sis?”

“My father heard the news from the Ministry of the Interior and told me. He said that your uncle overcame age and national borders, but he doesn’t know when you’re going to get married, even though I’m only two years older than you. I’m fine with going slowly like now…”

Ah, I’m going crazy.

Why is Jang Ho-geon so obsessed with me? Even Jang Ha-yeon is okay with it.

My wedding should be prepared no sooner than the end of December next year. I have to squeeze as much as possible out of Jang Ho-geon before the wedding so that I feel less sorry for Jang Ha-yeon.

I was well aware that I was being cowardly and didn’t like it. I even felt disgusted with myself for calculating in front of the person I loved.

But.

I couldn’t suppress my desire for revenge by just looking at Jang Ha-yeon. I had already fed Jang Yong-jae once, so I felt a little relieved, but I had to personally make sure that Jang Su-yeon, that damn woman, was completely ruined and see it with my own eyes.

‘I’m going crazy. I didn’t know it would be so difficult to solve both love and revenge…’

Jang Ha-yeon’s expression darkened as I unconsciously let out a sigh.

“I’m sorry, Sung-min. I was also frustrated with my father…”

Jang Ha-yeon blamed herself, but I was the one who should be sincerely apologizing. I’m the one who’s been lying to the woman who loves me the most right now.

Perhaps it was because of the times, but I’ve been thinking about it lately. About how Jang Ha-yeon would look at me when she knew my true self.

To be honest, I was scared.

I was afraid that Jang Ha-yeon, who loved her father so much, wouldn’t be able to bear me making her father suffer.

I was afraid that she would stop loving me as she does now.

But.

I didn’t want to pass on the burden I had chosen to her. I shook my head at her.

“No, sis. You’ve been called by Grandpa and traveled around this year, haven’t you? I didn’t want to show you my weak side, but I still have a long way to go.”

Jang Ha-yeon looked at me with moist eyes as I gave a sheepish smile. My heart started beating faster at the sight of her eyes, which I hadn’t seen in a while.

“Sung-min.”

“…Yeah.”

I don’t know why I can’t control myself when my mental age is in my mid-fifties. I hadn’t had much alcohol, but my mouth was dry and my face was hot.

“I, today…”

Jang Ha-yeon hesitated for a moment. What will be the next words out of her mouth?