God-Given Business Genius - Chapter 120

Jo I-ruk momentarily doubted his ears. Until just now, Song Woo-yeon had worn an innocent face fit for an angel's house advertisement, but as soon as she left, he completely changed.

"What? You don't like me, do you, mister?"

It was an astounding turn of events. As Jo I-ruk stood speechless, Baek Jae-ha strode forward.

"That's understandable. Suddenly, a kid like me gets scouted as a talent and even receives such an amazing facility as a gift."

"......."

"From what I can see, it seems this was the CEO's unilateral decision. Am I right?"

Jo I-ruk slowly nodded.

"I knew you didn't welcome me the moment we met."

Baek Jae-ha perched on a nearby table as he spoke.

"I'm quite perceptive, you see."

His smiling face didn't look childlike at all. Jo I-ruk completely revised his earlier assessment of Baek Jae-ha.

Young, naive, and inexperienced?

That was merely an image Baek Jae-ha had crafted. This was probably closer to his true self.

Unrestrained to the point of seeming rough, slightly cynical, and cold.

A child's face with a grown-up's mind inside—an adult-child, so to speak.

"It doesn't matter. I'm used to enduring such treatment, and I'd never want to go back to where I came from, even if I died."

Baek Jae-ha spat out the words and smirked.

"My life so far has been nothing but a failure. With no real choices, I could only watch helplessly. This was the first stroke of luck that appeared before me."

Baek Jae-ha's eyes became dreamy, as if recalling that time. When he opened his eyes to a rustling sound in the pitch darkness.

The unfamiliar face he saw through the cracks of that small storage room.

Seeing that cold, expressionless face soften upon discovering him, Baek Jae-ha instinctively realized.

'Ah, this person is my savior.'

And that premonition wasn't wrong. Look. Baek Jae-ha had escaped from the dark, dirty storage room and was now standing in front of a clean, luxurious kitchen.

In Baek Jae-ha's mind, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"So, no matter what you do, mister, I will never let go of this ray of light that has fallen on me."

This was a kind of declaration of war.

It seemed this kid thought Jo I-ruk would try to sabotage him somehow, since he didn't like him.

It wasn't a normal way of thinking.

He seemed deeply mistrustful of people, hostile and exclusive.

'A body that doesn't seem fully grown, barely an adult with no proper guardian, when they said there were circumstances for bringing him here, I had a hunch, but...'

It seemed this Baek Jae-ha kid had grown up in an unusual environment. That's why he was on guard, bristling with sharp thorns.

'Does he think everyone who's not on his side is an enemy?'

A normal person would either shrink back if they thought others weren't favorable towards them, or try harder to make a good impression.

But to suddenly declare war and insist that he has nowhere else to go so the other should give up—from Jo I-ruk's perspective, it was exasperating.

'How on earth did we end up with a kid like this.'

But the resentment was brief. He had no intention of doubting Song Woo-yeon's judgment.

Jo I-ruk heaved a deep sigh and slightly loosened his tie that had been tight around his neck.

"Hey, you delinquent."

"......."

"Oh right, you said you're an adult? Anyway."

Baek Jae-ha's eyebrows twisted, apparently disliking the term. But Jo I-ruk wasn't happy about being called 'mister' either.

"You seem to be misunderstanding something. ...Regardless of my personal feelings, I have no intention of objecting to your employment."

"?"

"You're wondering why, right?"

"...Well, yes."

Jo I-ruk had no real intention of arguing with this child. His tone might be insolent, but he was still young, so it was understandable.

If that's the case, it's an adult's duty to teach what's wrong.

"Right. Honestly, if anyone else had brought you in, I would have asked if they were crazy. The expectations for this team are too high to entrust it to someone whose skills haven't been verified at all."

The company had even set up a test store and provided this state-of-the-art equipment. They had invested quite a lot of money.

Moreover, isn't The Song's identity in the food service industry? If the new menu development team doesn't work properly, it's a department crucial enough to make the company's future uncertain.

"But there's only one reason why I'm holding back all those rational doubts and objections."

"......."

"It's because CEO Song Woo-yeon brought you in."

Baek Jae-ha seemed to have no idea what that meant.

"...W-why is that? Of course, I know CEO Song is an amazing person. I've searched the internet while I've been here, and I've watched all the shows she's been on."

Quite often, people would approach Song Woo-yeon on the street, acting like they knew her, so it was impossible not to know.

"She's the CEO of a company this big, so she must be rich. She even paid the deposit for my studio apartment, saying it was just the contract fee..."

"It's not simply because she's a successful businesswoman or my boss. Well, you'll naturally come to understand this as you spend time here."

Jo I-ruk didn't want to go into a long, detailed explanation. He'd understand after working with Song Woo-yeon for a few months anyway. Why waste breath?

"Anyway. I completely trust CEO Song's decisions, and therefore, I trust you too, Baek Jae-ha."

There wasn't a trace of doubt on his face as he spoke with utter seriousness.

It was only then that Baek Jae-ha began to believe Jo I-ruk's words.

'...He's saying he doesn't like me, but he trusts me. Is that really possible?'

Though he was skeptical if such a thing was possible, Jo I-ruk didn't seem to be lying.

"......."

"Let me say it again, I don't trust you, I trust CEO Song's decision."

"I know."

He doesn't rashly harbor such expectations.

Nevertheless, Baek Jae-ha felt strange. This was the second time an adult had told him they 'trusted' him. The first was, of course, Song Woo-yeon.

The feeling was so ticklish that Baek Jae-ha couldn't help but pout.

'This kid. No matter what, a child is still a child.'

The softening of his heart was clearly visible on his face.

It was right at that moment when the atmosphere had considerably eased.

Click.

"Oh, were you two in the middle of talking?"

Song Woo-yeon had finished her call and was coming in. Immediately, Baek Jae-ha scurried over to her.

He looked like a puppy wagging its tail at the sight of its owner.

"CEO! I love this place so much. When can I start using it?"

"You can use it from today. Anytime you want."

"Wow...!"

The cynicism from earlier was nowhere to be found on Baek Jae-ha's face as he exclaimed in excitement. Jo I-ruk chuckled in disbelief at the sight.

'...Wait a minute. I hope I don't look like that to others.'

His eyes widened at the sudden flash of anxiety, and that's when Song Woo-yeon addressed him.

"What were you two talking about?"

"......."

Jo I-ruk glanced at Baek Jae-ha. While Song Woo-yeon's eyes were turned away from him, wasn't he glaring at Jo I-ruk with a cold face?

It seemed to mean, 'Just try saying something. I won't let it slide.'

Even if he did say something, would Song Woo-yeon believe it when Baek Jae-ha acts like a puppy in front of her?

'There's no need to get into a battle of wills with a child like that.'

Jo I-ruk steered the conversation with a calm expression.

"We didn't talk about anything special. More importantly, it seemed you received a call from Reporter Kang Yu-ha earlier. What did you discuss?"

"Ah, she requested an interview. Apparently, they're planning to publish a special article featuring rising startup CEOs. Given the reputation we've built and that it's not particularly difficult, I agreed."

"Then I'll coordinate the schedule with them and let you know later."

"Please do."

Song Woo-yeon seemed to have completely forgotten about the conversation between Jo I-ruk and Baek Jae-ha.

"Oh, Jae-ha. You want to use this place already? It's fine to use it, but we're still in the process of stocking ingredients. And since you're not particularly skilled at cooking, it'll take some time to find a chef..."

The conversation turned back to Baek Jae-ha.

"It's okay to take it slow. I can learn while cooking myself."

"That's admirable, but is there something specific you want to do?"

"Yes. There's something I want to make."

Baek Jae-ha smiled brightly.

"!"

"Already?"

A new idea had come to him this quickly?

When Song Woo-yeon and Jo I-ruk looked surprised, Baek Jae-ha twisted his body slightly, as if a bit burdened.

Jo I-ruk could bet his entire fortune that even this gesture was calculated.

Baek Jae-ha, acting like an innocent boy slightly burdened, cautiously opened his mouth.

"It's nothing grand. There's just something I've always wanted to try eating."

What could it be?

Jo I-ruk tilted his head.

It's not that he doubted Song Woo-yeon, but wouldn't he need to see for himself how well Baek Jae-ha could fulfill his role as an 'idea bank'?

The starting point of Baek Jae-ha's first project hinged on this.

As a result, he found himself naturally hanging on every word Baek Jae-ha said.

'I'll get a sense of it once I see this idea.'

Whether Song Woo-yeon was right this time too.

-That child's talent is real.

Song Woo-yeon's confident voice seemed to echo in his ears once again.

Whether Baek Jae-ha was aware of Jo I-ruk's piercing gaze or not, he slowly opened his mouth.

"I've always wondered why they don't sell this outside. It's delicious even as it is..."

What on earth was he talking about?

Before Jo I-ruk could press him, Baek Jae-ha continued.

"I mean things like churros or boba ice cream."

Ah!

Jo I-ruk's eyes widened involuntarily.

"You can only buy them at amusement parks, right? And they're expensive there. But what if you could buy them outside?"

Baek Jae-ha smiled brightly.

"I think I'd buy them."