Chapter 103: The Rule of Distinguishing Between Friend and Foe (1)
” Hahaha! I’ve never seen anyone grill meat like that in my entire life. What a fascinating talent you have! “
Not just grilling meat.
Chairman Yoo had never met anyone like Kyung-joon in his 70+ years of life.
There were very few people who didn’t cower in his presence as the chairman, except for other chairmen.
Even his own son and daughter-in-law treated him with difficulty.
Moreover, he proudly declared war on his profile of The World, saying that he would take the first place of his granddaughter!
And now, he was even going a step further.
” Yoo Seol-ha, here. Your turn. “
” ……My turn for what? “
” What else but to grill the meat? Your grandfather grilled, and I grilled, you’re not going to be the only one who doesn’t grill, are you? “
” ……. “
How could he not be interested in someone who didn’t hesitate to treat him so casually?!
Chairman Yoo had seen it after a long time.
The promising energy he had exuded in his youth.
The energy of a true go-getter.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
” I, I’m done grilling……. “
Thud!
The meat Yoo Seol-ha grilled looked like a grilled black hole.
Perhaps that’s why it tasted like a black hole too.
” Yoo Seol-ha, you shouldn’t cook. “
” This old man agrees. “
” ……Ugh. “
Yoo Seol-ha, known as the Ultimate Daughter who excels at everything in school.
However, contrary to rumors, it seemed she wasn’t good at cooking.
It was probably not that she lacked talent but rather that she had never done it before.
After all, even schools didn’t teach cooking in class.
Moreover, she was a precious daughter from a chaebol family.
She probably never touched water except when washing up.
Somehow, the grilling commotion came to an end.
” Hmm. I’ll be right back, need to use the restroom. “
Chairman Yoo got up from his seat.
” Ah, me too. “
Kyung-joon followed Chairman Yoo to the restroom.
It wasn’t that they had a habit of going to the restroom together like school kids.
It was just that he saw a fleeting look in Chairman Yoo’s eyes.
Judging from his recently sensitive senses, that look was a signal.
A signal to have a brief conversation.
A while later.
‘He actually came to the restroom.’
Pitter-patter.
The two men were relieving themselves in front of the urinals.
One was a tycoon who controlled the world’s No. 1 company.
And the other was just an ordinary high school student from South Korea.
The first to speak was the tycoon.
” Aren’t you going to ask? “
” Ask what? “
” Why I asked you to come with me. “
” Well. “
The pitter-patter sound stopped.
Kyung-joon casually zipped up his pants and said,
” I just thought I knew. “
” Oh? You thought you knew? “
Chairman Yoo looked intrigued by Kyung-joon’s words.
Kyung-joon walked over to the sink and turned on the water.
He spoke as he did so.
At length.
” The Chairman of the Seolha Group. The World, operated by Seolha Entertainment. And the Mythical Job within it. Then there’s my profile, I suppose. If I consider the rest of my surroundings, I think the answer is pretty obvious. Especially since you even had your granddaughter dine with us. “
” Haha! What a bright young man! “
Chairman Yoo vigorously zipped up his pants and stood in front of the sink as well.
He spoke as he washed his hands.
” It’s not something to talk about in the restroom, but…… as the grandfather of my lovely granddaughter, I have to ask you this. “
Chairman Yoo turned off the faucet with a thud and roughly dried his hands.
Then, he turned his upper body slightly back and looked down at Kyung-joon, asking,
” Do you think you can win? “
It was a question only someone at the very top could ask.
Just because someone got a little lucky.
Just because someone worked hard for a short while.
How could someone who managed to climb up here dare to covet the position of his granddaughter, who had been at the top from the day she was born, without a single exception?
” ……That’s a valid point. “
Kyung-joon seemed to shrink momentarily at Chairman Yoo’s words.
But he quickly regained his composure and asked back,
” But, Chairman Yoo. Before I answer, may I ask a slightly presumptuous question? “
” Go ahead. “
” Is the purpose of your granddaughter’s studies to inherit the prestigious Seolha Group, am I right? “
” Of course. What else could it be? It’s my granddaughter’s dream and the mission of someone born into the Yoo family. “
” Then, in terms of the size of our dreams, I’ve already won. “
” What? “
Chairman Yoo’s forehead creased slightly at Kyung-joon’s slightly provocative statement.
Kyung-joon smiled faintly and continued,
” My dream is far more absurd and grand than what the Seolha Group has achieved in reality. If there’s such a difference in the size of our dreams, there’s no reason why I can’t beat your granddaughter. “
It wasn’t a foolish question, foolish answer situation, but rather a foolish question, foolish answer situation.
A foolish question is met with an equally foolish answer.
That’s why it’s even wiser.
The truth is, you never know what’s long or short until you try.
Whether you can win or not is something no one can be sure of until the results are out.
Upon hearing those words, Chairman Yoo lifted his chin and burst into laughter.
” Hahaha! You’re a bold, even cocky fellow! Good, very good! “
Chairman Yoo grinned just like Kyung-joon.
” Yes, you talk about reality, so I assume your dream lies somewhere outside of reality? “
If there was a reality outside of reality.
It would probably be virtual reality.
Kyung-joon silently nodded.
Seeing that, Chairman Yoo smiled faintly.
” I still have no idea what your dream is. But one thing I do know is that it must be truly absurd, just like you said. To think that it’s even greater than what this old man has built and what my granddaughter, who will inherit and further develop it, dreams of. “
An absurd dream.
A seemingly impossible dream.
Such dreams are always ridiculed.
Therefore,
” I heard that a dream is only good if others laugh at it. “
Isn’t it said that dreams should be big?
The bigger, the more foolish, the better when it comes to dreams.
” Haha! You’re certainly eloquent, young man! Well done! “
” I’ll take that as a compliment. “
They both dried their washed hands with the hand dryer and were about to leave the restroom.
At that moment.
Chairman Yoo paused.
From his broad back, which seemed to encompass the whole world, came the serious voice of a seasoned veteran.
” Give it your best shot. If you beat my granddaughter, I’ll give you a little something. “
” A gift, sir? “
” I’ll give you a good push on your way up. “
” You’re not going to push me off a cliff, are you? “
” Hahaha! Maybe I will! “
A conversation between the one who had already changed history, standing at the top of the world, and the one who was about to change history, standing at the bottom.
Thus, the conversation between Chairman Yoo and Kyung-joon became the most memorable event in South Korea, no, the entire world.
Of course, this would only become known decades later.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
While Kyung-joon and Chairman Yoo were having a historic conversation in the restroom, Yoo Seol-ha was intently observing Seung-hak, who had fallen asleep.
She blinked, debating whether to poke Seung-hak’s chubby cheeks with her finger.
” Zzz…… Zzz……. “
Baby Seung-hak, who had fallen into a deep sleep after eating the ribs Kyung-joon had grilled for him.
Yoo Seol-ha’s icy expression softened at the cute sight.
If the students of Cheongshin High School saw this, they might experience cognitive dissonance.
Kyung-joon was one of those people.
Kyung-joon clicked his tongue in disbelief, staring at Yoo Seol-ha.
” Hmm. “
” Gasp……! “
Yoo Seol-ha finally noticed Kyung-joon watching her!
She felt like he had seen something he shouldn’t have and didn’t know what to do.
However, the cooling function of the Seolha Group’s refrigerator was the best in the world.
Yoo Seol-ha’s expression, which had momentarily flushed with embarrassment, returned to her usual cold indifference.
However, Kyung-joon was having fun teasing the Yoo family after his conversation with Chairman Yoo.
” Do you like babies? “
He brought up the topic that Yoo Seol-ha had tried to ignore.
Squeeze, squeeze.
He even hugged the sleeping Seung-hak and poked his cheeks.
It was as if Kyung-joon was teasing her, saying, ‘You wanted to do this, didn’t you?’
” Ugh……. “
It was a huge provocation, but she didn’t seem too flustered.
” ……I don’t dislike them. “
She said, tucking her beautiful black hair behind her ear.
A faint blush from her previous embarrassment was visible on her ears.
Kyung-joon didn’t bother pointing it out, as he had no intention of picking a pointless fight.
Instead, he asked something he was genuinely curious about.
” I thought you didn’t really like babies. “
” I don’t dislike them. “
The same answer as before.
‘She’s like a broken record.’
There was no need to continue the conversation if she didn’t seem interested.
Thinking that, Kyung-joon decided to just observe Seung-hak, who was in dreamland.
He might as well enjoy some healing time until Chairman Yoo returned.
At that moment.
Yoo Seol-ha did something unexpected.
She added an explanation to her previous answer.
” ……I like babies because they’re pure. At least they don’t approach you with ulterior motives. “
Kyung-joon simply nodded in response.
Her words seemed to carry various meanings.
Like a sharp thorn in her heart.
He didn’t pry into what it was.
A chaebol heiress must have her own worries.
Then, Yoo Seol-ha asked another question.
” What about Grandpa? “
” Well. “
She had found it strange that Kyung-joon had returned from the restroom alone.
Kyung-joon hesitated for a moment before deciding to tell the truth.
” He said he had a sudden urge. “
” ……. “
Maybe it was because they let the old man eat the meat rare.
It was a moment of realization for Yoo Seol-ha as to why older people didn’t like their meat undercooked.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
After Chairman Yoo returned from the restroom, the meal came to a natural end.
The original purpose of the meeting also seemed to have been roughly settled during their restroom conversation.
The bet on whether he could take Yoo Seol-ha’s first-place spot or not.
Although Yoo Seol-ha, the person involved, was oblivious to this fact.
Anyway.
Just when he thought it was all over.
” You’ve been up to some interesting things in the game lately, haven’t you? “
This time, while Yoo Seol-ha was in the restroom.
Chairman Yoo brought up the topic of the game.
The game Chairman Yoo was referring to was undoubtedly The World.
” That’s why it’s been chaotic lately. There was even a power struggle between departments at this general meeting because of you. “
” Oh my…… It’s not that big of a deal. “
” It just shows how important you are. There might be a few Mythical Job holders, but you’re the first and only player to unlock the Territory System. “
” Hahaha……. “
Kyung-joon could only awkwardly adjust his glasses at the chairman’s praise.
” Hahaha! “
Chairman Yoo also laughed openly, his mouth forming a perfect ‘O’.
But suddenly.
” However. “
The atmosphere shifted.
” Do you know this? “
Chairman Yoo’s laughter ceased abruptly, and a glint appeared in his eyes.
An intense gaze.
It was a look only someone who had reached the pinnacle of the present world, the pinnacle of the business world, could possess.
” Let me give you some advice. “
Kyung-joon’s forehead creased slightly at the sudden change.
He felt an inexplicable pressure, as if he were standing naked before the chairman.
Chairman Yoo’s heavy lips parted, and he spoke.
” At this rate, your territory will be ruined. “
His words were shocking, to say the least.
Translator’s Blog
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