Chapter 28. What’s So Special About the Chairman? (3)
Chairman Choi Hyuntae, who had remained silent throughout the presentation, finally spoke.
The heavy, cold pressure he carried when entering the room had disappeared.
“...How did you think of something like this?”
Jinhyeok answered calmly.
“At first, I was only thinking about finding land for a mixed-use shopping mall. But once I focused on the corporate values you’ve always emphasized, Chairman, I finally saw the answer. Preserve the existing landmark and pursue mutual growth with the people inside it. I could find this solution because of you.”
Hearing an answer he liked, Chairman Choi stared sharply at the screen.
“Why did you choose those locations for the gateway structures? From what I can see, you deliberately placed them in those directions.”
Hic.
His uselessly honest body reacted to his conscience.
One gateway faced Yeongdeungpo Station.
The other faced the Mullae-dong 4-ga metalworking district.
Across the road from it was none other than Daeyoung Precision.
He couldn’t exactly say,
Because the night view from my building will be incredible if I place it there.
Jinhyeok held his breath until the hiccup stopped, then gave the answer he had prepared.
“You saw correctly. These two gateways are only the beginning. Someday, if redevelopment of Mullae-dong 4-ga moves forward, our landmark will pass through the metalworking district and eventually extend all the way to Dorimcheon Stream. Of course, we need to secure the future gateway locations before that happens.”
Chairman Choi stared at the concept image for a long time.
“Commercial District Analysis Team, was it?”
“Yes. I’m Team Leader Kang Jinhyeok.”
The corners of Chairman Choi’s mouth rose.
He remembered his conversation with Director Baek before the meeting.
Now he understood why Baek Kangjin had confidently told him he would understand after meeting Jinhyeok personally.
He said this was someone worthy of entrusting Seongun’s future to? His planning and analytical ability really are remarkable.
The old businessman’s heart started beating loudly.
He even felt the desire to somehow expand the project all the way into 4-ga.
After staring at Jinhyeok, Chairman Choi looked toward Taesik.
Was this why he looked so confident?
For Chairman Choi, Taesik was an irreparable wounded finger that hurt simply by existing.
The child of the woman he had loved long before meeting his current wife.
Calling it adultery felt slightly unfair.
His wife had taken the position of Seongun’s official lady under the condition that he could continue seeing that woman.
She probably never expected them to have a child.
Still, Chairman Choi couldn’t stand proudly before Taesik.
He had been the one who abandoned the woman he loved because of his ambition to make Seongun larger.
That was why he desperately wanted Taesik to grow.
Even if Taesik didn’t become the group successor, Chairman Choi wanted to give him at least one affiliate company.
It wasn’t enough.
But it was the way this foolish father had chosen to apologize.
You’ve placed a good talent beside you.
Have you finally become capable of taking care of yourself?
Seeing Taesik’s change, Chairman Choi smiled with satisfaction and began clapping.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
“Excellent. This is the best proposal I’ve seen so far.”
At Chairman Choi’s praise, Jinhyeok bowed.
Geum Seokcheol instantly jumped to his feet.
His loud applause began.
The others, who had still been staring in shock, joined with a standing ovation.
The cheers were loud enough to reach Taebong waiting in the underground parking lot.
Jinhyeok lowered his head and trembled slightly as he muttered,
“Whew... I thought I was going to suffocate.”
From the outside, he had looked more relaxed and confident than anyone.
Inside, not at all.
Despite thinking the chairman was nothing special, Jinhyeok had forgotten several prepared lines during the presentation.
After the meeting.
Inside the Seongun Development director’s office.
Chairman Choi Hyuntae leaned deeply against the sofa, his excitement still visible.
“Incorporating the company’s values was excellent. But choosing the gateway locations in those directions was especially clever. Going beyond the assigned task and presenting a future blueprint... His ability to see the larger flow is outstanding.”
Chairman Choi delivered praise he hadn’t been able to openly express in the conference room.
Sitting opposite him, Taesik finally felt relieved.
Baek Kangjin, who knew Chairman Choi better than anyone, asked a question he knew the chairman would enjoy.
“It seems you saw a future the rest of us missed, Chairman.”
“Haha. Come now. You’re being humble. You noticed too, didn’t you? Isn’t it obvious what will happen after those two gateways are constructed?”
“You think the Seoul city government will eventually propose extending the gateway concept?”
“Exactly. That won’t be only Seongun’s landmark. It will definitely become an excellent landmark for Seoul too.”
Taesik swallowed dryly.
He hadn’t thought that far.
Kang Jinhyeok had mentioned that they should secure a few locations in 4-ga in advance.
Taesik had thought that was something to consider much later.
“Taesik.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“That man was only a manager until recently, correct? You were the one who ordered the director to promote him to team leader?”
“That’s correct.”
“Why? Did you know he would produce this kind of result?”
If Taesik said yes, all the glory would become his.
But Taesik wasn’t the kind of person who lied for a moment of praise.
“No. The person who first noticed him was Director Baek. I only became interested much later. The Étoile Bakery and Baristers cases currently receiving attention were also handled by Team Leader Kang without my involvement.”
“Oh. I heard about those. So that was the same man? Hahaha. He really was an unusually talented employee.”
Chairman Choi clapped once and looked at Taesik.
“So what comes next?”
Taesik gave Baek Kangjin a signal.
Now was the best timing.
Kangjin had already made up his mind.
“Chairman, before that, I have one proposal.”
“A proposal?”
“Yes. I intend to take the vacant Seongun Development president position. Would that be acceptable?”
Chairman Choi raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Didn’t you say you would leave it empty until the right person appeared?”
“I did, but I changed my mind. I want to establish the direction Seongun Development should follow, then hand the position over and leave.”
