Real Man

Yoo-hyun opened his mouth with a clear vision in his head.

“I’m going to start with acquiring Shinwa Semiconductor, and make Hansung Electronics the best company.”

“Huh?”

Everyone looked dumbfounded at his sudden remark.

Yoo-hyun didn’t hesitate and declared his determination.

“That’s why I want to create a company where not only the people here, but all the employees can have dreams and pride. I want to create a company where everyone can shine.”

Park Doo-sik, the deputy manager, snorted.

“You talk as if you’re the president or something.”

“If necessary, I’ll do that too.”

Was it because Yoo-hyun had never stepped up before?

Everyone was speechless at his unexpected ambition.

Among the blinking people, Vice President Shin Kyung-wook smiled.

“If you have that much resolve, I should help you.”

“It won’t be easy.”

Yoo-hyun smiled back firmly.

The moment Vice President Shin Kyung-wook made up his mind, the direction was set.

The problem was how to go in that direction.

It had been a long-standing issue.

Even Vice President Shin Kyung-wook, who had discussed with Yoo-hyun about the acquisition of Shinwa Semiconductor, found it hard to follow.

Naturally, it was impossible for other people to understand easily.

Yoo-hyun presented a concrete plan to the still bewildered people.

“The expected response of the group strategy office’s strategy manager when the acquisition of Shinwa Semiconductor is announced is…”

The very realistic and detailed content cleared the fog in their heads.

At some point, they began to see the tasks and crises they had to face.

The weight of Yoo-hyun’s words came to them belatedly.

Thud.

Yeo Tae-sik, the executive director who had been listening, put his glasses on the table.

This small action showed the psychological pressure he was under, who was known for his calmness.

“So we have to do all this to have a chance?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Phew. Okay.”

The executive director took a short breath after confirming Yoo-hyun’s nod.

Although it was worth arguing, he made a different choice as the second-in-command of the innovation strategy office.

He stepped forward, leaving Vice President Shin Kyung-wook behind.

“I think it’s better to talk about how to do it than to ask questions in this situation. What do you think?”

“I agree. There’s so much to talk about, I think we’ll have to stay up all night just to sort it out.”

“Then why don’t we talk while having a meal…”

Deputy Manager Park agreed, and Manager Park Seung-woo nodded and spoke.

Before Manager Park Seung-woo’s murmur was delivered, Executive Director Yeo Tae-sik opened his mouth.

“Then let’s start right away. Deputy Manager Park, you take notes, and Manager Park, you summarize.”

“Yes, sir.”

Deputy Manager Park, who stood next to the whiteboard, picked up a pen.

Manager Park Seung-woo also reluctantly put his hand on the keyboard.

He looked very sorry, but no one noticed him because they were all focused.

Deputy Manager Park took charge of the progress.

“I made a list of keywords from what Manager Yu said. Since nothing is confirmed, I’ll proceed with a free discussion.”

The whiteboard had a timetable for the acquisition of Shinwa Semiconductor.

It was filled with difficult contents in a tight schedule.

They hesitated, but they didn’t back down and expressed their opinions.

“To find out why Micron lowered the acquisition price…”

“In case of additional bidding from competitors…”

“Considering the current government’s economic policy…”

The whiteboard was quickly filled up, and conflicts of opinions also occurred here and there.

“I think the announcement of the acquisition of Shinwa Semiconductor should be done after the internal preparation, around the third quarter settlement.”

“We need to move it up to meet the schedule. If you think about it from a different perspective…”

Even Manager Park Seung-woo challenged Vice President Shin Kyung-wook’s opinion.

But no one thought it was strange.

Rather, it created an atmosphere that they had to actively participate to make it work.

‘I can see how the innovation strategy office was like.’

Yoo-hyun hid his pleased smile and joined the heated discussion.

“I agree with Manager Park. The important thing is to keep the plan secret. To do that…”

“To add to what Manager Yu said…”

Deputy Manager Park and Executive Director Yeo Tae-sik also actively participated and expanded the idea.

The intensive summary work, which everyone was absorbed in, was only finished when the sun rose.

The finishing touch was given by the breakfast that came out of room service.

It was after they finished eating in a tired state.

Manager Park Seung-woo, who came to the sauna with Yoo-hyun alone, grumbled, recalling the situation a while ago.

“Come on, if there was such delicious food, we should have eaten it sooner.”

“We had dinner, didn’t we?”

Yoo-hyun, who was stretching his body in the hot spring, said a word, and Manager Park Seung-woo raised his voice.

“I had to run in after leaving the food because I suddenly had to report to a very important person. I had a lot to prepare.”

“That person is important, right? Isn’t he?”

“Of course he is. My mentee is more important than anyone. But…”

“But what?”

“Anyway, what I’m saying is, it would have been more efficient if we had discussed while eating. I had no strength to talk because I was hungry.”

He was the one who talked the most, but it was not his place to say.

Yoo-hyun corrected him, recalling the situation.

“Why didn’t you say that when you were challenging the vice president?”

“The atmosphere was serious, how could I say that. This kind of thing should be taken care of by the top. Anyway, the vice president is a nice person, but he has no sense, no sense.”

“Haha. I’ll tell him right away.”

“No. Don’t. Never.”

“No, I will. If he can’t read the minds of his employees, he’s not a leader. I’ll make sure he never does that again.”

Manager Park Seung-woo was angry at Yoo-hyun’s mean words, but that was it.

“How dare you try to tease your mentor… You look stronger than last time, don’t you?”

His hand, which was about to put him in a headlock, quietly came down as soon as he saw Yoo-hyun’s upper body muscles.

Yoo-hyun laughed and looked at his belly.

“Our proud mentor has gained some weight again.”

“I guess I have a Korean food constitution. Rice goes in well.”

“And you drink well too.”

Was it because he remembered the drinking party with Han Jae-hee?

Manager Park Seung-woo quickly turned his gaze to the front and snapped.

“Let’s not talk about alcohol.”

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

“…”

An awkward silence followed at a random point.

Splash. Splash.

After tapping the water surface with his palm for a while, Manager Park Seung-woo said bluntly.

“The people who gathered today, they were all good.”

“In what way?”

“First of all, the vice president is a bit of a workaholic, but he has insight. His thick double eyelids and long eyes look just like that.”

“Hahaha. What are you talking about?”

“There’s such a thing as physiognomy. He’s exactly the type of person who can lead. You can tell by looking at Executive Director Yeo.”

The context was strange, but it was true that Vice President Shin Kyung-wook had insight.

To be honest, he had a better vision of the future than Shin Kyung-soo by a few steps.

He just lacked a bit of coldness.

Manager Park Seung-woo guessed his thoughts and asked him.

“What about Executive Director Yeo?”

“He wears thin silver glasses and has droopy eyes, which makes him look calm. You know how calm he is, I thought his clothes would burst when I had a meeting with him last time.”

“That’s a very lively expression.”

“Deputy Manager Park is the same. He looks round and gentle, but he bosses me around. He’s a really good person.”

Manager Park Seung-woo’s words made Yoo-hyun chuckle.

“Hahaha. That’s good, right?”

“Of course. These people are all human-like.”

“Are there any non-human ones?”

Yoo-hyun asked reflexively.

Manager Park Seung-woo spat out a word at him.

“Director Shin Kyung-soo.”

“…”

He closed his mouth for a moment and left Yoo-hyun behind, Manager Park Seung-woo opened his mouth.

His voice, which had lost its playfulness, sounded quite serious.

“You suddenly stepped up like this, it’s because of the person you met today, right?”

“I don’t know.”

Yoo-hyun shrugged, and Manager Park Seung-woo calmly said.

“I had a senior when I was in the U.S. A senior who was doing MBA in the next neighborhood.”

“Then he must be in Korea now.”

“No. He went to Wall Street. His role model was Director Shin Kyung-soo.”

“I see.”

He just agreed, but Manager Park Seung-woo made an exaggerated gesture.

“You know how famous he is. And his title is so cool. The second generation of Korean chaebol, conquering the U.S. Wall Street. It’s like a movie poster, isn’t it?”

“The title is childish, but I guess so.”

“Haha. Right. But he quit.”

“Why? He must have been a well-respected person if he went to Wall Street.”

“He had a conflict with Director Shin Kyung-soo, I guess.”

“What kind of conflict?”

It wasn’t a problem that he cut 30 percent of the staff overnight, or that he wiped out the growth potential.

Shin Kyung-soo was not the kind of person to hesitate over such things, and the senior was not the kind of person to go without knowing.

The real problem was what happened next.

“When the employees rebelled, he apparently did some dirty work under his orders. You know, framing them for embezzlement, bringing in competitors, harassing the employees.”

“That’s nasty.”

Yoo-hyun frowned at his dirty deeds.

“Yeah. It was nasty. He did it with a lot of guilt and fear, but he sold the company again.”

“Why?”

“It turned out that he and the CEO of the company had been playing a rigged game from the start. They had no intention of saving the company, but they trampled on people like that.”

“I see.”

It was a typical Shin Kyung-soo behavior, and it was already familiar to Yoo-hyun.

Yoo-hyun nodded indifferently, and Manager Park Seung-woo put some weight on his voice.

“My senior was really shaken. He must have felt guilty and scared about this. How could he work again in this situation?”

“It must have been hard.”

Yoo-hyun sympathized sincerely, unlike his past self who had chosen success over conscience.

Manager Park Seung-woo paused for a moment and said in a low voice.

“To be honest, I don’t know Director Shin Kyung-soo well. I’ve seen him, but he’s not someone I can figure out.”

“He doesn’t show his true self.”

“Right. But I know he’s dangerous. Everyone grovels in front of him, so I know he’s very powerful.”

“He is. Very much.”

It was not just a word, Shin Kyung-soo was the peak of the Royal Family.

He didn’t have the title of chairman, but he already had a strong influence on the whole group.

If he had more time and formed his own faction, he might be untouchable.

Yoo-hyun was lost in thought, and Manager Park Seung-woo gave him a stern look.

“But you know what I know?”

“What?”

“He’s done for.”

“Why?”

“He messed with the wrong person.”

“Who?”

“My mentee.”

“…”

Yoo-hyun blinked at his absurd words.

Manager Park Seung-woo added another spoonful.

“And he didn’t even know I was next to him.”

“What do you mean?”

“When we join forces, there’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s game over. Right?”

He didn’t just say it, he even stretched out his fist like a scene from a boy’s comic.

His eyes were very serious, as if to prove his sincerity.

“…”

“Don’t you know how to bump fists when you join forces? Why, you’ve seen it in movies…”

Yoo-hyun lowered his head, unable to watch, and Manager Park Seung-woo tried to explain.

This was also a very Manager Park Seung-woo-like scene.