God-Given Business Genius - Chapter 212

Je Yun-jae sipped his coffee after making his explosive declaration. His face was remarkably composed for someone who had just announced his intention to destroy a company.

This was because, to Je Yun-jae it was an action of little significance.

Compared to JC, <The Song> was like a pebble before a mountain. Even if the giant JC accidentally stepped on and killed it, it wouldn't even leave a scratch on JC's foot.

Although JC had slightly fallen behind Hyeonmu after turning its attention to the international market, this wasn't a significant blow to JC Group. Its influence in the F&B market and the distribution industry flowing through it remained immeasurably vast.

'I originally planned to just give a warning and move on.'

But upon actually meeting Song Woo-yeon his thoughts changed.

Je Yun-jae's blue eyes scanned Song Woo-yeon once.

'This is a tiger cub.'

He realized at once. This person wouldn't stop at just being a 'small to medium-sized enterprise'.

'There was no wavering. Despite seeing me for the first time.'

Je Yun-jae knew very well how people usually reacted when first meeting him. Even those approaching their forties would helplessly falter when facing Je Yun-jae.

A buyer he met in China had described Je Yun-jae as having 'beauty that could topple a nation'.

That outstanding beauty was like a double-edged sword, serving as Je Yun-jae's excellent weapon while also being a weakness that made people underestimate him.

Excessively outstanding looks sometimes obscured one's abilities.

Je Yun-jae who was the spitting image of his mother, knew this painfully well. But how had Song Woo-yeon reacted?

-To think I'd meet such an esteemed person. It's an honor.

A momentary flicker in her eyes, and that was all.

There was a fleeting look of surprise, but nothing more. Je Yun-jae had never seen such a young person compose themselves so quickly and act so skillfully as if nothing had happened.

'She seemed to immediately understand the story I brought up as a test.'

Without a detailed knowledge of JC's internal affairs, one couldn't react like that.

Je Yun-jae had mainly been rotating through overseas branches, so even in domestic political and business circles, few people knew much about him.

'The gap between overseas and domestic branches, the successor structure, even the board's opposition...'

It meant she was aware of everything, without missing a single point.

For a CEO of a domestic small to medium-sized enterprise to have such a high level of understanding about JC?

'She's not really an illegitimate child, is she?'

Je Yun-jae had visited the Chairman's office as soon as he returned to Korea. And he had received a definitive "that's impossible" from JC's Chairman.

'If that fox-like old man said it wasn't true, not in a roundabout way but straight out, then it really must not be.'

Even Je Yun-jae who knew this fact, was beginning to have doubts. How much more so for others?

This rumor, without any proper source, spread so quickly precisely because of Song Woo-yeon's extraordinary nature.

'I thought he was using this ridiculous rumor to pull some dirty tricks. But it seems that's not entirely the case.'

The board must have encouraged the rumor, but they probably didn't expect things to escalate this far.

'If left alone, when I eventually take over JC, he'll become a formidable opponent.'

Even now, everyone is covertly monitoring his explosive growth while pretending not to. Given time, it goes without saying.

<The Song> is dangerous.

To be precise, Song Woo-yeon is.

'So I'll cut off the sprout. Before it grows too big.'

In Je Yun-jae's opinion, this was the best choice.

'Now, how will she react?'

Je Yun-jae opened his eyes, which he had closed while savoring his coffee.

He was curious to see what face Song Woo-yeon would make in the face of this unavoidable natural disaster.

Would she compose herself and feign calmness as she did when she first saw Je Yun-jae? Or would she plead that it was unfair? She might even prostrate herself and beg for one more chance.

If she did that, Je Yun-jae was prepared to leave without hesitation.

Yes.

Until he faced Song Woo-yeon's smiling face, that was certainly the case.

"...?"

Is she in her right mind? Je Yun-jae wondered if perhaps he was denying reality out of too much despair.

'What is this composure?'

The composure flowing across Song Woo-yeon's face was too irritating to be seen as just hiding her confusion and pretending to be fine. This wasn't something that could be faked.

Song Woo-yeon truly didn't perceive this situation as a threat.

'How on earth?'

The tables had completely turned. Je Yun-jae felt himself starting to grow impatient.

Until just now, he had been certain of his overwhelming advantage, but not anymore.

He couldn't gauge what Song Woo-yeon was thinking.

"...Do you think I'm lying?"

"No. I'm sure you're sincere."

Song Woo-yeon replied calmly. She even took a sip of coffee.

"Or is it that you can't believe it?"

"Hmm. If you make just one phone call now, Director, there won't be a single distribution company willing to work with us from tomorrow. I'm well aware of that."

"But..."

How can you have such a composed face? Je Yun-jae swallowed the rest of his words. Somehow, he felt like he was losing.

But Song Woo-yeon seemed to have read even those unspoken words.

"Director."

Song Woo-yeon put down her coffee cup and called her in a serious tone.

"You want to be the owner of JC, don't you?"

"......"

"You covet that position. More than anything else."

"Ha."

Je Yun-jae felt a displeasure that reached to the tips of his hair. It was rare for him to find it difficult to manage his expression.

It was absurd. What nonsense was this all of a sudden? Who dares to talk about the Chairman's position in front of whom?

How impudent.

"I'm not sure if that's the right expression. I'm already JC's successor."

There's no need to get excited unnecessarily.

That gap is probably exactly what Song Woo-yeon is aiming for. Now that he looked closer, her psychological warfare was quite skillful.

Although her method was misguided, only serving to sharpen the blade in Je Yun-jae's heart.

"You came all the way from the other side of the globe in person because of a rumor about an illegitimate child?"

"......"

Oops.

Je Yun-jae bit his lower lip imperceptibly.

"You've only been in overseas branches. You have many disadvantages in terms of domestic sentiment. I know you're sensitive to domestic public opinion."

Indeed, this person can't be left alone. As Je Yun-jae was firming up this thought,

Song Woo-yeon brought up an unexpected name.

"Your cousin is working hard too, isn't he?"

"...!"

"The JC Group Chairman had only one child, but there was a brother who co-founded the company, right?"

Je Yun-jae widened his eyes.

"Although he's retired from the front lines now. That brother's son, in other words, your cousin, is said to be a formidable rival."

Je Yun-jae scrutinized Song Woo-yeon's face and asked,

"Who did you hear this from?"

"Is that important?"

"It is important."

It was a story kept hushed even within the group. It was also the reason why Je Yun-jae couldn't feel at ease despite being the only legitimate heir.

His cousin, who had established himself early in Korea and built strong relationships with the domestic board of directors.

The fact that he was engaged in a subtle psychological warfare with him was information known only to a select few within the company.

Others thought his cousin had no personal feelings about succession and was just quietly doing his job. But Je Yun-jae had long since grasped those dark inner thoughts.

"Aren't you preparing for war with him?"

"I asked who you heard this from."

"If that's the case, all the more reason to keep me alive, don't you think?"

"Look here, CEO Song."

Just as Je Yun-jae's patience was reaching its limit,

"He will bring in Hyeonmu."

Song Woo-yeon whispered softly.

But each word clearly etched itself into Je Yun-jae's ears. He faltered.

"...What did you say?"

"Hyeonmu, I mean. Your cousin will gladly join hands with Hyeonmu."

Nonsense.

An immediate rebuttal rose in Je Yun-jae's mind.

That would be tantamount to treason. It meant handing JC over to Hyeonmu's grasp and merely wearing the hat of a figurehead CEO.

Bringing in outside forces to resolve internal power struggles? No company has ever ended well doing such a thing.

Unless he's an idiot, there's no way he would do such a thing...

"......"

Is there... a way?

Je Yun-jae knew that his cousin was the type who would gladly destroy JC if he couldn't have it.

Right now, he thinks he has a chance against Je Yun-jae but what if Je Yun-jae completes all his preparations and steps forward to inherit the chairmanship?

When he becomes a cornered rat, will he still be able to act noble?

The possibility of him running to Hyeonmu, begging for help somehow, and Hyeonmu jumping at the unexpected opportunity...

Could it really not happen?

As Je Yun-jae's expression changed, Song Woo-yeon continued speaking.

"At that time, you'll need a fairly large friend in the domestic market."

To deal with Hyeonmu.

"But JC has been so focused on conquering the international market for a long time that its domestic grip is weaker than Hyeonmu's."

"......"

Je Yun-jae silently looked at Song Woo-yeon.

"Wouldn't you like to create a decent business partner domestically?"

Regrettably, it was all true. It was incredibly frustrating that he couldn't deny a single word of what Song Woo-yeon was saying.

"All the already established companies are likely to be closer to Hyeonmu. JC doesn't have many options."

Song Woo-yeon smiled brightly as if he had been waiting for this moment.

Swish.

A hand extended in front of Je Yun-jae. A white, slender hand, belonging to Song Woo-yeon.

"<The Song> seems like just the right business partner. Don't you think?"

"...Haha."

Je Yun-jae let out a hollow laugh. He had been completely outmaneuvered.

How long has it been since he's been caught off guard like this? Perhaps because it was so absurd, it was even somewhat delightful.

'Interesting.'

This is not a person who would be satisfied with merely being the owner of a small to medium-sized enterprise. Thinking this, Je Yun-jae felt like watching a bit more.

Tap.

Je Yun-jae grasped Song Woo-yeon's hand.

"An excellent choice."

Song Woo-yeon smiled brightly.