By Zephyria “Who was that person earlier?”
“Who? The guy who ruined today’s business?”
Choi Hong-seo nodded.
“Vice President of ARA Electronics. The eldest grandson of Hanseo Group’s founder.”
“Ah…”
“You really don’t know chaebols unless you’re someone dabbling in this industry, do you?”
CEO Myeong said dismissively, but Choi Hong-seo let it slide.
ARA Electronics… Hanseo Group…
It was true that even among chaebols, he wasn’t interested unless he was someone who frequented the entertainment industry. But even Choi Hong-seo knew names like ARA Electronics or Hanseo Group. Choi Hong-seo was Korean, after all. That level was beyond the highest class within that drawing room.
No wonder… Chairman Jo, who was usually arrogant even in front of most chaebols, had restrained his temper… He was truly a formidable person.
“When the founder died, the chairman of the group wasn’t the eldest son but the second son, Lee Woo-yeol. That Lee Woo-yeol is the guy’s uncle.”
“……”
“Let me put it more simply? That guy is Lee Seo-kyung’s cousin.”
CEO Myeong pointed upstairs with his finger, his brow furrowed. His expression was fierce, as if he were talking about his parents’ enemy.
At the name Lee Seo-kyung, the skin under Choi Hong-seo’s eyes twitched briefly.
The second son of the Hanseo Group owner family. The troublemaker of Hanseo Group in charge of the Nox Hotel Shanghai branch. Lee Seo-kyung.
“The second son, Lee Woo-yeol, took all the profitable businesses like hotels, distribution, and construction. The eldest son, Lee Hae-sung’s father, got electronics, finance, insurance… those kinds of things, which were relatively less important within Hanseo Group at the time. It was that guy and his father who built them up into the ARA Group like this.”
The news that Hanseo Group and ARA Group were about to finalize their spin-off was something Choi Hong-seo had vaguely heard about. It was news that every Korean would likely know.
“That family has always been strictly merit-based since the founder. Whether you’re the eldest son or a son, there are no exceptions. The eldest daughter now runs Hanseo Group. It’s a fortunate thing for Hanseo Group and the nation’s future. Imagine if that crazy Lee Seo-kyung was in charge. He’d uproot the nation’s economy.”
While fawning over Lee Seo-kyung as if his tail would fall off, CEO Myeong gnashed his teeth, calling him this and that behind his back.
“I feel like I should send a gift to the eldest daughter of that family for getting rid of that dog Lee Seo-kyung to China!”
CEO Myeong crossed his legs, brought a cigarette to his lips, and narrowed his eyes.
Lee Seo-kyung was, so to speak, a big spender among CEO Myeong’s ‘entertainment’ clients. Not only were the amounts he spent the highest, but his obnoxious personality was also the worst. Because of that, he had become a human trash on CEO Myeong’s blacklist, someone even CEO Myeong, who was also trash, wanted to avoid.
Furthermore, Choi Hong-seo began his career in the entertainment industry precisely because Lee Seo-kyung had ‘taken a liking’ to him.
For that reason, ironically, Lee Seo-kyung had become an enemy to both CEO Myeong and Choi Hong-seo.
“You must be living easier now that that guy has left Korea, right?”
“……”
Even if that guy left Korea, your son is still here. Can I live easily?
He wanted to snap that back at the model-like, gleaming face, but Choi Hong-seo instead took a few sips of water. Then, he changed the subject.
“Does that person earlier not like playing with celebrities?”
“What chaebol doesn’t like to play? It’s just that you weren’t his type.”
CEO Myeong scoffed.
Is that so? Was it because I wasn’t his type that he made me quit dancing? Because he wasn’t interested?
“Well, he might be the type who isn’t interested in men at all.”
Tapping ash into the ashtray on the table, CEO Myeong tilted his head.
“Seeing your reaction after you performed… it doesn’t seem like you’re a total loss… But, the fact that he sent you out of the room bothers me. It seems like he’s trying to persuade Director Kang to cast someone else as the lead while we’re gone. Though Director Kang isn’t the type to take casting advice from others…”
“……”
“Ah, fuck! Why did that guy suddenly butt in there? It was at the timing when Chairman Jo was almost won over by you!”
Like spilling coffee on a perfectly cooked meal, CEO Myeong lamented and felt wronged. He crushed the shortened cigarette in the ashtray haphazardly, muttering with an unappeased voice.
“Anyway, he’s just like a model student, isn’t he?”
“Model student?”
CEO Myeong snorted, taking a new cigarette from his pack.
“He’s famous. The model student of the third-generation chaebol world, Lee Hae-sung.”
It was a nickname with a sarcastic nuance.
“Don’t get any vain hopes. Being a model student doesn’t mean he’s morally upright or ethical, it just means he’s an FM who only knows work.”
With the filter of the new cigarette in his mouth, CEO Myeong mumbled, barely moving his lips.
“You’ve crawled around this industry long enough to know, right? There are only those who play openly and those who play in secret. Those who play without rumors leaking out are often dirtier.”
Lighting his cigarette, CEO Myeong pointed upstairs with his finger again, a confident expression on his face.
“He’s probably a pervert no less than Lee Seo-kyung.”
Choi Hong-seo somewhat agreed with CEO Myeong’s crude philosophy that there are only those who play openly and those who play quietly. His experiences so far had shown him that.
The people shouting that the world needs to change are, in the end, the people being suppressed in the current world. There is no one who claims the world needs to change while belonging to the privileged class. No one tries not to enjoy their privilege while being part of the privileged class. He had never met such a person.
Beyond the wide-open folding doors, the sound of artificial laughter erupted from the garden pool. It seemed some high-ranking official, drunk as a skunk, had forgotten social decorum and his age and jumped into the pool filled with models.
Well, at least today… I don’t have to entertain…
Choi Hong-seo thought blankly, gazing at the pool and the sparkling Seoul night view beyond it.
The model student of the third-generation chaebol world.
He met Vice President Lee Hae-sung of ARA Electronics again three days later.
■
Officially, weekends were holidays for ‘Layered.’ However, exceptions where they couldn’t rest occurred quite frequently. That day, they had a performance at a party held in a rented private underground club.
“Everyone, make no mistakes. The stage is important, but so is attending to the VIPs! Huh? Don’t just stand there looking sullen and grumpy! Smile brightly! Kim Young-ju, this is for you! Are you listening?”
CEO Myeong, who rarely accompanied them on weekend schedules, warned them repeatedly with the same message. Unlike the anxious CEO Myeong, the members other than Choi Hong-seo didn’t seem particularly tense.
“Anyway, they’re probably only curious about Hyung Hong-seo. Do they even care about us?”
“Then at least play your part well as a supporting role so Hong-seo’s reputation isn’t tarnished, you punk!”
Looking at the elaborate hair, makeup, and outfits, which were more meticulous than for a music broadcast, it was clear how important CEO Myeong considered today’s schedule.
It was a party to celebrate the inauguration of a third-generation heir of a chaebol family, who was only thirty-nine years old, as an executive director. It was a private gathering attended only by close acquaintances. That meant it wasn’t a dignified party. Thinking it was the kind of party that could lead to ‘entertaining,’ Choi Hong-seo remained silent the entire car ride.
The interior of the members-only club was decorated more luxuriously and splendidly than most hotel clubs. It was a new world unimaginable from the outside, which bore no conspicuous sign.
Before going on stage, they had to greet the day’s main guest first. This was where it differed from a usual schedule. While sometimes an official might visit the waiting room to greet them and take commemorative photos, it was uncommon for a singer hired to perform to seek out the host to ‘pay their respects.’
Right in front of the stage, on a sofa as wide and plush as a bed, sat the main guest, already somewhat intoxicated.
“Executive Director, thank you for inviting our kids today. We are ‘Layered’ from UB Entertainment.”
At CEO Myeong’s obsequious greeting, the main guest stood up unsteadily.
“Ah, yes. Our secretariat recommended you, saying you’re very popular these days… Wow, you’re all really handsome. Thank you for coming to this old man’s party, even though you must be busy.”
“What are you saying, Executive Director. We are more honored. Congratulations on your promotion, truly… ly.”
Ignoring CEO Myeong’s smooth, flattering words, the main guest approached Choi Hong-seo and lightly grabbed his wrist.
“What’s your weight? Are you 50 kilograms?”
Although the voice was seemingly gentle and soft, it was not genuinely so. Instead, it carried a condescending, dismissive, almost taunting tone, as if he were doing them a favor.