Slim and Tight 3
“Do you still have something to say?”
Jin Young-gi frowned as he watched his daughter-in-law quietly enter the study. He assumed she was about to express dissatisfaction with his decision as her father-in-law.
Hong So-young quickly spoke up upon seeing his expression.
“It’s not that I disagree with your decision, Father. I’ll follow it completely.”
“Then what is it?”
“I have a favor to ask…”
“Sit down.”
Hong So-young gently took a seat across from him.
“Alright, what is it you want to ask?”
“Please allow the Hanseong Daily to continue investigating the connection between Aunt’s slush fund and Miracle.”
“What?”
“I heard they’ve even tracked funds going into shell companies. Just a little more, and Miracle will be fully exposed. It would be a waste to stop now.”
Though her request was audacious, it was also somewhat admirable. In a family where everyone seemed to be causing trouble, she was the only one showing a willingness to keep fighting.
Hong So-young anxiously met her father-in-law’s gaze, waiting for his response.
To her surprise, he spoke.
“How many of our family members have been thoroughly investigated like that?”
“What?”
“Don’t be alarmed; I’m not scolding you. Just answer. How many?”
“Uh… Father, I…”
“You don’t know anything?”
”…Yes.”
Jin Young-gi chuckled at his daughter-in-law’s flushed face.
She was raised like a princess, yet she wasn’t just a naive girl driven by ambition.
He wondered how he would have reacted if she were his daughter or son.
“Go to your family tomorrow and bring back all the materials they’ve gathered. Everything on our family and Miracle.”
“Father, I really don’t know much about the in-laws…”
“Alright, I’ll trust that you don’t know. But there must be materials. Bring them all. I won’t hold you accountable. Let’s review what you’ve proposed after seeing the data.”
Hong So-young’s face lit up.
He said they would discuss it again.
Her father-in-law clearly stated they would discuss it, meaning he was willing to listen to her thoughts.
“Yes, I’ll go tomorrow.”
“Good, now go and rest.”
As she was about to leave, she paused and turned back.
“Um, Father.”
“What? Is there something else?”
“It’s about Young-jun. Could you let him go?”
“What? Let him go?”
“Yes. Restricting his spending won’t solve anything. His face is his business card, and his name is his credit card. He won’t change just because he has no money. He’ll just hide it better. He’ll keep running up tabs for years.”
“So, you suggest we let him be open about what he’s doing?”
“Yes.”
Jin Young-gi was too taken aback to respond. Was she really suggesting they turn a blind eye to her husband’s affairs?
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. I know it’s impossible for Young-jun to live like an ordinary man. As the third-generation heir of Korea’s top conglomerate, people won’t leave him alone.”
He was struck by her boldness. Why hadn’t he noticed this side of her before?
“I’ll think about it. That’s enough for today. You can go.”
Hong So-young bowed her head again.
“By the way, when do you plan to give us a grandchild?”
Faced with a difficult question, she remained silent, but her father-in-law’s next words snapped her to attention.
“Having a child is the only way to truly become part of the Sunyang family. Remember, a child is the only way to connect our bloodline. You’re smart enough to understand what I mean, right?”
His words were shocking. She was just a daughter-in-law, not yet part of the Sunyang family. Families don’t change, but daughters-in-law can be cast out at any time.
Understanding her father-in-law’s intentions, she bowed deeply.
“I’ll do my best to give you a grandchild soon.”
“Really? The chairman said that himself?”
“Yes, the succession process is underway.”
“Wow, so it’s finally happening. Congratulations.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Uncle. I wouldn’t have made it this far without you.”
He watched his uncle’s expression as he offered the compliment. A relaxed, bright smile. Not the look he expected.
He hoped to see a spark of ambition, the look of a general ready for a major battle.
But Oh Se-hyun’s face was that of someone who had achieved everything.
He once mentioned retiring in five years, didn’t he?
With a third of Sunyang under his belt, does he think it’s enough? What if he believes he’s fulfilled his role?
“Good to know you realize that. Most successful people think it’s all their own doing.”
As Oh Se-hyun laughed, he pulled out a paper and began jotting down company names.
“Let’s see. Sunyang Life, Sunyang Fire, Sunyang Securities, Sunyang Card are the main ones, right? What are you going to do? Are you keeping the current management? Hey! What’s with the blank stare?”
“Oh, nothing. What did you say?”
Let’s worry about that later. He’s not retiring just yet.
“I asked about the management. How are you going to structure it? You should replace the entire current management, right?”
“Isn’t that a bit hasty? We’re not there yet.”
“You need to overhaul the personnel in one go. Remember how President Kim Young-sam cleaned out the Hanahoe? He dismissed dozens of generals in a week. That’s the textbook way to refresh personnel. Prepare a list in advance and act decisively when the time comes. It’s best to do it when things are chaotic to minimize backlash.”
“But if we start with a purge as soon as we take over, morale will plummet…”
“So what? Are you going to keep cutting people bit by bit? That would be worse for morale. It’s better to do it all at once than to have a prolonged period of uncertainty.”
The issue is always people. It’s easy to cut, but hard to fill the gaps.
How do we fill those vacancies?
Noticing his concern, Oh Se-hyun offered a solution.
“Don’t worry about people. There are plenty of talents. Clear out the top and promote from within. Not parachute appointments, but real promotions. Morale will skyrocket.”
“Then I should consult Grandfather. To separate the wheat from the chaff.”
Oh Se-hyun shook his head.
“Of course, Chairman Jin’s opinion is important, but you don’t have to follow it strictly. He’ll likely favor those who’ve been loyal for a long time, regardless of ability.”
How many have been promoted to executive positions just for being around? If I replace the old guard with new faces, they’ll surely be loyal to me.
This reaffirmed the necessity of generational change.
“By the way, Uncle, please keep an eye on the card company.”
“The card company?”
“Yes. We need to start there.”
“Why the card company? With the new law, their performance is through the roof. You should take your time with the most successful company. Stirring up a sense of crisis is unnecessary.”
“No, we need to prepare like Noah’s Ark before the storm hits. The current situation is too precarious. Aren’t they issuing cards to people without stable incomes?”
Oh Se-hyun paused, staring intently at him.
Does he think it’s just paranoia? Or does he trust my sharp instincts? Though it’s not just a feeling.
“Financial crises always start like that. Bad loans. Cards are a form of loan, so your point is valid.”
“Financial chaos from bad loans is a recurring issue, but people never seem to learn.”
To boost the economy, consumption had to rise. But that consumption was built on the public’s credit card debt, so collapse was inevitable.
The rosy outlook of economic recovery touted by the media would soon turn blood-red.
If everything collapses and Sunyang Card survives, we’ll reap the spoils. Becoming the top card company in the country is just a matter of time.
“Alright. I’ll investigate it thoroughly. This isn’t something you can gauge from news articles; you need to dig deep in the field. A detailed analysis of card issuance will help us draw conclusions.”
“You’re the only one I can trust, Uncle.”
“Enough. Once you become the owner of Sunyang’s financial affiliates, you’ll find plenty of trustworthy and capable people. Don’t worry. Remember? There are many talents out there.”
I’m anxious.
He’s preparing, too.
Physically, I’m still young. But from now on, my side will be filled not with people I trust and rely on, but with those who trust and rely on me.
Can I lead them?
When the real battle begins, can I stand at the forefront and lead them to victory?
I forced a bright smile to shake off the anxiety.
“Anxious? No way. My baseless confidence is my greatest asset, isn’t it? Haha.”
Chief Lee Hak-jae glared at the crowd gathered in his office.
“I told you, I can’t disclose details as it’s still ongoing. Why are you acting like this when you should know better?”
“What’s there to disclose? Just confirm if the rumor is true or not. Is it true that the financial affiliates are being handed over to that kid? He’s still a college student, right?”
“The succession plan is already set, and the financial part is the only thing left. It’s hard to keep it under wraps any longer, isn’t it? I also thought the youngest son, Yoon-gi, would get it. But suddenly, it’s the grandson? It’s absurd…”
Normally, it would be rare to see such defiance against Lee Hak-jae, a key figure in the group.
But despite his stern demeanor, no one seemed willing to back down.
“It’s the chairman’s directive. Are you suggesting we overturn it?”
“So it’s true. Well, I’ll be…”
“Mr. Lee, could you really accept this so easily? That child, barely more than a baby, is holding the purse strings of the entire group. Who knows what they might do?”
The presidents and executives of the financial subsidiaries couldn’t hide their frustration.
Lee Hak-jae understood their concerns, but he knew that force wouldn’t quell their resistance. What was needed now was to calm the waters and keep the company steady.
“Don’t you trust the chairman? He’s always made wise decisions, hasn’t he? And Mr. Jang, you should know better.”
Lee Hak-jae addressed the youngest-looking man in his late forties among the group.
“Aren’t all your peers just department heads? Some are even lower. Yet here you are, the youngest director, skipping over senior manager to become an executive director. That was the chairman’s decision, wasn’t it? Is anyone questioning that judgment now?”
Jang Do-hyung avoided Lee’s gaze. He was the poster child for rapid promotion within the Sunyang Group.
He had never hidden his ambition to become the youngest president, eyeing the CEO position at Sunyang Life. In this setting, age and rank were irrelevant.
“Mr. Lee, Jang’s case is different. He proved his worth to get here. You can’t compare him to a child who knows nothing and is here just because of their bloodline.”
“With the chairman in seclusion, we’ve held back from confronting him directly. But this is unacceptable. We need to meet with the chairman.”
As Lee Hak-jae listened to the endless complaints, his expression gradually shifted. A faint smile even appeared on his face.