God-Given Business Genius - Chapter 195

"That's too much. Leaving just me out!"

Hyun Ye-won exclaimed with a sulky face.

"I know how to watch the sunrise too."

This was her reaction when I told her I had gone to see the sunrise with Baek Jae-ha and Jung Da-on after she asked what I did for New Year's.

Should I have asked Hyun Ye-won if she wanted to come along?

"It was such a sudden decision. And originally, the three of us had promised to go together."

"Ugh. Next time, you must take me with you."

"That would be nice."

With Hyun Ye-won joining, it would probably feel even more lively. At this rate, I wonder if we'll end up becoming a big family and all go to see the sunrise together.

Baek Jae-ha might be a bit disgruntled.

But he needs to expand his interpersonal relationships beyond just me and other people. He's at a level where he has no friends except for Jung Da-on and me.

Of course, it might get better when he goes to university.

Hyun Ye-won grumbled, half-lying on the sofa.

"Ugh. While some people were bored to death being dragged to uninteresting New Year's parties."

Then, grinding her teeth, she asserted:

"That Baek Jae-ha kid must have deliberately not told me...!"

"Haha. I'm telling you, it was decided suddenly the day before."

I hadn't even thought of contacting Hyun Ye-won.

"Is that why you came to work today? It was supposed to be a day off until today."

"Yes. I felt suffocated at home. I lied about going to work and just came out. I didn't know you would be here too, CEO."

"I had some work to catch up on."

Only Hyun Ye-won and I were sitting in the empty office. Thanks to that, Hyun Ye-won could whine to me without worrying about others.

I didn't expect there would be someone else besides me coming to work on a red day.

"By the way, a New Year's party. That doesn't sound too bad."

Before my regression, I used to spend New Year's like that too. It wasn't particularly fun, but I could meet people who were beneficial for business.

It wasn't a bad choice for killing time, more or less.

"Not at all. It's completely boring. I don't know anyone anyway, just following my father around and being introduced to uninteresting people."

Hyun Ye-won continued with a tearful expression.

"I'm just an accessory. It's to show off: 'Our Hyeonmu hasn't officially created a position yet, but we have a proper successor. We're doing well like this.'"

Well. While these might be important connections for Hyun Jung-hu, Hyun Ye-won probably has no interest at all.

No wonder it's not fun.

"Moreover, I even met Hyun Tae-seong yesterday, and he was so shameless!"

Bang!

Hyun Ye-won shouted, hitting the table with her fist.

"What happened?"

"Ha. He was acting like nothing had happened, so when we were alone later, I talked to him."

-Hey. Hyun Tae-seong.

-Hey? Is that how you talk to your older brother?

-You need to act your age to be treated like an oppa.

-You're still as rude as ever.

-Not as much as someone who tried to stab their sister in the back?

-Stab in the back? Someone might misunderstand if they hear that. Do you really have to condemn this oppa's love for his sister like that?

-Stop with the nonsense. Don't ever pull this kind of stunt again. I won't let it slide next time.

-What will you do if you don't let it slide?

-I might want to take away what's most precious to you. Like the Hyeonmu successor position.

-You...!

-So let's not create tiresome situations for each other.

"...And after I said that and turned around, do you know what that guy said?"

Hyun Ye-won said, her fist trembling.

"'Now that you have JC behind you, you seem to fear nothing? What would grandfather think if he knew about this?' That's what he said."

"I see."

"Why is JC suddenly being mentioned, really."

Hyun Ye-won shook her head as if dumbfounded. But because I had an inkling, I let out a small 'hmm' sound.

'I guess Director Hwang Tae-in reported the related information?'

That misunderstanding that I might be JC's illegitimate child.

Well. To explain why things didn't go according to plan, they would need an excuse. Involving JC would be burdensome for both Hwang Tae-in and Hyun Tae-seong.

Hyun Tae-seong seemed to firmly believe that I was JC's illegitimate child after hearing that.

'That's why he said such things to Hyun Ye-won.'

Hyun Ye-won was just confused, not knowing the real story.

'I didn't lie. They're free to make their own assumptions.'

In any case, JC's name was protecting The Song, so I silently thanked him in my heart.

"Anyway! I don't want to be dragged to these New Year's parties anymore. So make sure to invite me next time. Got it?"

"I said I got it."

"It's a promise. A promise!"

Only after extracting a promise from me did Hyun Ye-won smile broadly.

"Ah. And I watched the first episode. <Alley Secrets>!"

"How was it?"

"It was totally interesting!"

Hyun Ye-won's eyes sparkled brightly. Come to think of it, Hyun Ye-won had always made sure to watch every variety show I appeared in.

"I've seen you develop new menu items up close, but it was my first time seeing such detailed content. I was completely absorbed while watching. Other people's reactions are good too!"

I know. I monitored them diligently yesterday too.

At first, I needed help from Baek Jae-ha or Jo I-ruk to find people's reactions, but now I've become quite adept at it.

"Especially when that army base stew restaurant appeared as the last preview~ Phew. I keep waiting for the next episode to come out......"

Knock knock.

In the middle of Hyun Ye-won's enthusiastic speech, someone knocked on the CEO's office door.

What's this?

"Come in."

Swish. The door opened, and a familiar face appeared.

"...Ye-won-ssi was here too."

"Ah. Team Leader Jo!"

Hyun Ye-won quickly stood up and bowed.

"Happy New Year~"

"You too, Hyun Ye-won-ssi."

With Jo I-ruk's appearance, my mind became confused. Why did this person come to work too? Is today not a red day?

"Team Leader Jo, why did you come to work today?"

"I felt like I'd just hear nagging if I stayed at home. I also left something behind, so I stopped by to escape for a bit."

"I see."

No wonder his outfit is more casual than usual.

He always wears sharply pressed suits, but today he's just wearing a collared shirt with cotton pants. And instead of a coat, he's wearing a padded jacket.

"What kind of nagging made you come all the way to the company?"

"The usual repertoire, you know. Do you have someone you're seeing, when are you getting married."

Jo I-ruk let out a deep sigh as if annoyed.

"Ugh. If they want to nag during holidays, they should pay for it. You know that thing going around on the internet? Like '300,000 won for asking when you're getting married' and so on."

As Hyun Ye-won grumbled, Jo I-ruk nodded vigorously. And then, as if he had been pulling all-nighters for three days, he muttered with a tired face.

"They were trying to set me up right then and there, so I ran away immediately."

I don't know much about it, but it seems like quite a bothersome situation.

Well, whatever the reason...

"It's nice to see friendly faces in the new year."

As I smiled softly, Hyun Ye-won and Jo I-ruk fell silent for a moment.

Oh no. Was that too sentimental?

Just as it was about to get awkward, Hyun Ye-won sprang up like a coiled spring and hugged me tightly.

"Me too! I'm totally happy too~!"

Following that, Jo I-ruk cleared his throat and added:

"I... think it's nice too."

Jo I-ruk's expression as he said this was uncharacteristically embarrassed.

Still hugged tightly by Hyun Ye-won, I burst into laughter.

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Haa. With each exhale, white breath rose into the air. Warming my palms with my breath made me feel a bit more alive.

Swish.

I looked down at my phone screen. There was a message from an unfamiliar number.

-If.you.could.give.me.one.more.chance.I.would.be.grateful.Please.come.again.I.will.be.waiting.

The sender's name wasn't written, but I could easily guess who the message was from.

Lee Hyo-soon.

It was the owner who had received a harsh scolding from me last time due to terrible hygiene.

'I knew she would contact me again, but...'

Alley Secrets had successfully completed its first broadcast and was generating quite a buzz. It was clear that if a store was branded as 'unhygienic' on such a show, it would be difficult to recover.

So even if it wasn't sincere, she would try to act reformed somehow.

However, the unexpected point was,

'She contacted me even though we're not filming the broadcast.'

If the goal was simply image improvement, shouldn't scenes of effort, regret, and reflection appear on the broadcast?

But Lee Hyo-soon contacted me directly without going through the broadcasting station.

'PD Kim Hui-seong doesn't seem to know about this either.'

If he had known, he would have attached a cameraman, saying this too was all for the broadcast.

I also considered telling PD Kim Hui-seong and having this filmed, but since we're at the stage of deciding whether to proceed with the solution for this store or not, I didn't mention it for now.

And so, now.

I was standing in front of Lee Hyo-soon's store without a single cameraman.

Knock knock.

"Are you there?"

The store remained quiet despite my question. Is she not here? Just as I was starting to wonder,

Creaaak.

The door opened, and Lee Hyo-soon appeared.

Is it my imagination, or does she look much thinner since I last saw her?

"You came."

"Yes. Have you been well?"

"Oh, you know. Same as always."

"I ended up visiting you from the start of the new year. Happy New Year, Owner."

"Oh my. You too, CEO."

Lee Hyo-soon opened the door wide and stepped aside.

"Come in."

The inside of the store was empty and quiet. It was clear she had come here to wait for me on a day when the store wasn't open for business.

"Excuse me."

As I entered, I unwrapped my scarf and hung it on my arm. Sitting down in a nearby seat, I quickly scanned the store, and an unexpected scene unfolded.

"Oh?"

My eyes widened in surprise.

"Owner. ......What happened here?"