Episode 417
Idang was undoubtedly the second largest company in Korea, but its image was not good.
Some pointed out that it did not look sophisticated because it was based on outdated traditions at a time of rapid development, and above all, it had the image of a fearsome capitalist rather than being consumer-friendly. When it comes to this party of the past, there are still people who think of the solemn and cold-hearted superiors.
However, the current Lee Party has a more homely image than any other company, and its second-highest contributor was Lee Jae-hee, right in front of us.
“I was surprised. Now that I’m over 40, I’m realizing that the youngest child who left our house was more playful than I thought. Is that right, Jaehyeong?”
“…Of course, sister.”
Lee Jae-hyung was smiling brightly, but everyone in the room knew his nervous intentions. Ever since they were little kids, the war of nerves between Lee Jae-hee and Lee Jae-hyung was famous, and the loser was always Lee Jae-hyung.
Of course, Lee Jae-hee thought that Lee Jae-hyung was just laughable. She smiled brightly.
“Oh my, are you not feeling well? “My mother said she prepared a late-night snack, but Jae-hyung can’t eat it.”
“Haha… I just got motion sick for a moment. “I came after a long car ride.”
“Anyway, I can’t lie about my age. Even though I’m over 50, I don’t get carsick, but my sister told me to take care of my health, right? “Isn’t it enough to just work?”
“Hahahaha….”
Lee Jae-hyung’s jaw tightened as he heard him say out loud, ‘If you’re not going to pay for the night, quit your current position.’ No matter how much he wanted to refute, there was a big difference between the positions of chairman and director, and as an old man, Jaehyung Lee tended to submit to that level of hierarchy.
‘Even if that’s not the case, you’ve suffered from Lee Jae-hee all your life, so there must be a subservience engraved in your soul… you poor bastard.’
Lee Jae-heon took a step back from the war of nerves, which was not a war of nerves between siblings, and was appreciating Lee Jae-hyung with pity. Unlike Lee Jae-heon, who was able to escape from various secret struggles because he was treated as a failure from the beginning, Lee Jae-hyung has been humiliated by Lee Jae-hee in every situation since he was a kindergarten student.
Moreover, Jaehee Lee has never once lost her face in front of her younger siblings.
“Oh, you’ve been talking too long in front of the house. Come on, let’s go. “Mother is waiting.”
They say that they are always smiling, but the fear was quite significant for the younger brothers who were physically threatened with their lives. Originally, a person who smiled and hid a knife behind his back was scarier than a person who openly said shit.
Lee Jae-hee muttered as Lee Jae-hee took the lead, flapping the hem of her skirt.
“My brother lives like this, Jaeheon.”
“…Cheer up.”
“That’s right….”
A childish war of nerves that can be seen between typical siblings. However, what was different from other families was that this family was not a metaphor, but a place where people could really have their heads blown off. Their mother actually cut off their father’s head. From the perspective of Lee Jae-hyung, who serves as a director of an affiliate company, Lee Jae-hee, his older sister and chairman, was an object of hatred and submission.
As we went inside, an old man dressed in his daily hanbok came out.
“I’m here? “It’s late.”
“Jaeheon came home late from work.”
“What’s the big deal? All you have to do is just do it roughly.”
“Is the youngest one a little more sincere? “Please look after me kindly, mother.”
“Do you think I look ugly then?”
The old man, whose back was straight despite his wrinkles, glanced at his children with an inorganic gaze. It was a gaze that measured the value of objects rather than blood relatives.
“Sit down. “Busan’s wife prepared some snacks.”
“Oh my, it looks delicious….”
Lee Jae-hyung sat cross-legged on the heated floor, rubbing his palms, Lee Jae-hee took a seat next to his mother with a charming gesture, and Lee Jae-heon took a seat next to his father, who was sitting silently like an old tree. It was an inevitable choice as there were no seats available.
‘Taste is really… why do you use something as small as a pea on a large table? The house is very spacious….’ Maybe
it was because I came to my parents’ house that I felt like my personality in this life was stronger than in my previous life. As I lifted my chopsticks, suppressing the familiar grumbling that naturally bubbled up inside me, my father, who had been quiet until now, asked:
“The company.”
“…great.”
“okay.”
That was the end.
“….”
Every corner of this damn house.
‘I didn’t become independent as soon as I got older for nothing.’
Although it may be slightly different from the love of an ordinary family, his parents were really not interested in Lee Jae-heon compared to Lee Jae-hee and Lee Jae-hyung, who truly cared for their youngest child. The third child, who was less intelligent and less capable than the first and second children, was like a child they did not have.
Although it is said that it has a homely appearance for the sake of Idang’s image, if it were not for that, it might have sunk along with the car in Incheon Port a long time ago. Oh-seong’s position as manager is also likely to control the worthless third child.
“…Um….”
“It’s delicious.”
“It’s delicious.”
But the food was innocent.
‘Well, is your tongue reasonably high-quality? ‘Where did Busan get a chef from?’
Thinly sliced Seolhamyeok and simple raw meat. Chestnut tarak porridge that is not suitable for the season. A set of dried kimbap and colorful tea dishes as small as your little finger. It was too flashy a composition to be placed on a small table that would be difficult for five people to sit side by side.
The sense of discomfort that comes from such a gap has made Lee Jae-heon sick of it in the past and even now.
“…I really enjoyed the meal.”
The meal time wasn’t very long. No one really came all the way here just to have a late-night snack. They loved their double side, but there was no need to hide their true feelings until they came home. The family did not hide their purpose. At least within this house.
Mrs. Lee began speaking.
“I heard you’re going to an event.”
“Yes, that happened.”
“What is lacking?”
“Rather than lacking something, it’s probably something I want.”
“Is that so?”
After a short question and answer with Jaeheon Lee, she nodded.
“Don’t cause an accident.”
“…I have that spirit too, mother.”
“I guess so.”
His parents did not dislike or hate Lee Jae-heon.
‘It’s just indifference.’
They truly did not care what happened to Lee Jae-heon. No matter what you do, it’s okay as long as it doesn’t affect the company, and even if you go down a wrong path, it’s okay as long as it’s not revealed to the media. And this indifference also applied to the first and second children. However, we only treat the two because they have practical value.
Lee Jae-heon in his current life was daunted and saddened by that, but he was not the Lee Jae-heon who remembered his past life.
“I’ll have a nice trip.”
“…Okay, go ahead.”
This indifference actually made Lee Jae-heon feel comfortable.
‘It would be just fine like this.’
They treat people with real value, but there is no soul-piercing interaction. Therefore, as long as they do not cause harm to each other, there is no need to blush or worry about becoming exhausted. It was a very familiar relationship to Lee Jae-heon from his previous life.
The moment I set foot in the house, I felt the ego that had emerged in this life fading away again.
“Everyone, go in.”
“Yes, mother.”
“Drink in moderation. know?”
“sure.”
As if the meal was over in an instant, the two old men quickly disappeared.
‘…Did Lee Jae-heon feel disappointed about this?’
However, the current Lee Jae-heon, who gained insight from his past life, knew. Rather, it was lucky for the siblings to leave without saying a word like they did now. It means that I have no intention of interfering with whatever they do, and at the same time, it means that I will provide cover to some extent even if a problem arises.
So much so that even looking at Lee Jae-heon’s empty hands without fingernails makes me think that’s the case.
“….”
But how is it that there isn’t even a single real mannequin in this madman’s den?
Does this make sense?
* * *
Jaehyung Lee asked as he drove to the event venue.
“What about your child?”
“To the hotel. I will come right on time for the event. “The child is not yet mature enough to show it to his mother and father.”
“aha.”
“You can’t make a mistake… Where are Junhee and Junyoung?”
“They’re eating something at a nearby cafe. They will come in on their own. “You’re all grown up.”
“Of course it is.”
Although the conversation sounded quite cynical, the lines were clear and they truly loved my family.
‘…I guess it’s in the same context that my parents, who retired early, didn’t sag their necks.’
Variables are the biggest enemy for businessmen. There was a good chance that his mother, who was the former chairman, or his father, who was still the president of an affiliate company, could become such a variable, but neither the current chairman Lee Jae-hee nor the director Lee Jae-hyung considered it a major problem. Although it may not be parental affection, it was because there was respect for superiors.
Just as their parents wanted, the Lee family was truly harmonious. Even though the direction was a little different from that of an ordinary family, I had no intention of denying it.
“Oh, and Jaeheon.”
“Yes, sister.”
“If you pursue pleasure too much, your bones will quickly deteriorate.”
“…yes?”
“I was told to enjoy it in moderation.”
It was a warning of its own. I won’t care where and how you kill people, so don’t enjoy it so much that it affects you or anyone nearby. That kind of warning.
Jaeheon Lee nodded calmly.
“All right.”
“How can you be so kind…? There is a world of difference between me and Ha Jae-hyung. I wish we were just siblings. “If Jaehyeong was a cousin, I would have been able to take care of him.”
“Oh….”
Lee Jae-heon, who was at a loss for words, made a shocked expression, and Lee Jae-hyung, who was also shocked, protested.
“What’s wrong with me?”
“You don’t taste cute.”
“What… is he cute?”
“What you’re doing is cute.”
“Wow.”
Jaeheon Lee’s eyes became blurred.
I’m forty-two. I live after hearing my older sister call me cute.
“…Well… Is there anything I should be careful about when I go to the event?”
“Uhm, nothing. “You know the basics.”
Lee Jae-hee tapped my cheek with her finger and continued speaking
.
“You mean we just have to greet the people we introduce?”
“I… know that too.”
“Anything else? “People won’t really care if you leave midway, so it’s okay as long as you don’t get into an accident.”
The term ‘accident’ here means ‘an issue serious enough to cause someone to bleed.’ This means that it is not a big problem for Lee Jae-heon, who is the only member of this group to have a vague presence, to openly act like a brat or embarrass someone.
Lee Jae-heon, feeling reassured, smiled. Seong Ji-ho’s mutterings came to mind. That’s right, this is royal life.
“Yes, I understand.”
“And this is a gift.”
What Jaehee Lee handed over was a thick document.
“Uh…”
The identity of the document was proven by a photo of Song In-myeong on the front page.
Lee Jae-hyung protested to Lee Jae-hee with his eyes wide open as if he couldn’t believe it.
“…sister? “When did the materials I prepared become a gift from you?”
“Jaehyung, if you live this strictly, you won’t be able to use it. “The corporate image will get worse.”
“This is why I hate every corner of this guy’s house.”
Whatever the two gentlemen were arguing about was no longer of interest to Lee Jae-heon.
‘…It’s quite detailed.’
Song In-myeong’s ID photo was nothing more than a prologue. What family did you come from, what school did you go to, what did you study, and how did you spend your daily life? It really felt like I was watching an exhibition of great people that had meticulously written down the life of a certain writer.
Yes, great people. A biography of an outstanding and wonderful person.
“….”
Jaeheon Lee asked.
“It seems like things are going pretty well?”
“I told you everything that Jaeheon was fascinated by. After looking into it, I found that he had quite a wide network of contacts and a good reputation in the industry. Should I say that I am treated as a rising star? “It has a name, right?”
“Huh.”
A portrait of a woman sparkling with an enchanting red light inside the jewel. A picture of a hanging scroll tightly woven with black and white thread. A doll with an elegant appearance that brings to mind the word elegance. The richness of the canvas is dizzying enough to shake one’s spirit.
This is all made by people.
“…That’s cool.”
‘Lee Jae-heon’ looked at Song In-myeong’s work for a long time.
“I didn’t know you would create something this… amazing.”
“Well, you said we didn’t officially meet, but just saw your work by chance, right?”
“Yes, even back then I never thought it would be like this.”
The more I looked at the photos, the more impressed I became.
‘You crazy bastard.’
Why take those good hands and use them for something like this?
If you don’t recall the identity of the material, it just looks like a well-made crafted item. Lee Jae-heon was completely sick of the delicate craftsmanship that made it hard to believe that it was made by such large hands, but he was able to realize once again that Song In-myeong was not in his right mind. You really were a crazy bastard.
Lee Jae-heon, who was reading the personal information, asked.
“…Is this the author’s name?”
“Yes. He seemed humble and nice.”
“aha.”
Author’s name: Mentee.
It was an incredibly humble name.
(Continued in the next part)
