The Chairman Who Wants to Play and Eat

Chapter 25. Two is better, right?

“I’ll head straight there, Director.”

I was on my way back to my family home, racing away from the campus when I received a call from Deputy Lee Beom-seok. It was Director Joo Yong-hoon from the secretary’s office.

“What’s going on?”

After the call ended, I asked.

“The chairman just returned to the country. He’s not going straight home; he plans to have a light drink before heading back.”

“At this hour?”

“Yes, and he’s also asking for you to come over right away.”

Me?

I had hoped for this, but I didn’t expect it to be so urgent.

Assistant Lee, who had noticed my slightly stiff expression in the rearview mirror, added, “The vice chairman has been called as well.”

“My father?”

“Yes, that’s right. The chairman mentioned he wanted to have a cozy drink with the family.”

That statement made my mind even more complicated.

While traveling through Europe, I had caused a major incident by pouring money into the Korean University festival.

It was something I had started knowing I would get scolded from the beginning, so I understood why I was being called.

But why my father too?

He must be either very angry or not angry at all—one of the two.

But there’s no way to find out which it is right now.

‘The only way is to go and see for myself.’

I have to go anyway.

I can only hope he’s angry.

That way, the succession structure will collapse, and the Gangnam building will come into my hands.

“I’ll turn the car around.”

“Please do.”

Before I knew it, the car had started heading towards Samcheong-dong instead of the family home.

For some reason, my heart was racing.

We arrived in front of the restaurant in less than thirty minutes.

“The two elders are waiting inside.”

I must be late.

Following the employee’s guidance, I headed to the most secluded private room in the Japanese restaurant ZEN in Samcheong-dong.

“The young master has arrived.”

The door opened silently.

“Have you come?”

Chairman Hyun Byeong-geon and Vice Chairman Hyun Deok-jae were raising their glasses.

“I’m sorry for being late, Grandfather.”

“Since I called you late, it’s only natural, isn’t it? Enough with the useless chatter, sit down quickly.”

“Understood.”

I went to the empty seat and sat down.

First, I observed the expressions of the two men.

Grandfather Hyun’s expression, as always, showed no signs of change.

It was as thick as ever.

In comparison, my father’s expression was somewhat less impenetrable.

Worries about me, concerns about the company’s future, various thoughts were readable.

It wasn’t that my father was lacking or insufficient.

I had always had a knack for sensing such things since I was young.

“Song-yoon, I hear you’ve been busy lately?”

I hadn’t even touched the food yet. Grandfather’s nagging had begun.

In that moment, I felt a surge of joy.

‘Is it finally starting?’

The more it progressed, the more cautious I had to be.

I couldn’t be hasty.

I waited for the scolding, carefully keeping my anticipation from showing on my face.

“I apologize.”

“Apologize? Nonsense. Thanks to you, things have gone well.”

“Excuse me? What do you mean…?”

“I thought you would already know. Didn’t you hear? What I said to the executives in the meeting, to change everything except for the names, was taken directly from what you said at school. Didn’t you know?”

I replied.

“I had no idea.”

How could I not know?

I was pretending not to know, even though I did.

“Stop playing dumb. It won’t work. If you’re going to act humble, get up right now.”

Chairman Hyun raised his voice deliberately.

“I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize or feel sorry, haha.”

Since he wasn’t angry, it was easy to diffuse the tension. My father chimed in with a smile.

“I didn’t know that the students at Korea University could have so much fun. They study hard and play hard, it seems. I also helped a bit from behind the scenes. I put some pressure on the singer that Sang-yoon was recruiting.”

“Of course! What use are those who can only wield a pencil? If you want to manage the world, you need to know how to have fun as well. Both did well. I’m proud of you.”

Something feels off.

“Take the cup.”

Grandfather lifted the bottle.

As I politely extended my empty cup, my eyes quickly scanned the table. Judging by the angle at which he tilted the bottle, it was already quite empty.

I see.

He’s already drunk.

What he said in this state is meaningless.

‘Thank goodness. Really, thank goodness.’

I decided to think that way this time.

Still, I must not let my guard down.

For now, the festival matter is out of the question.

Even if he seems to be speaking lightly, he won’t forget once he sobers up.

I need to handle this well from now on.

Even if you’re caught in the mouth of a tiger, as long as you keep your wits about you, you can survive.

Even while I’m in this situation,

“Indeed, my blood is different. My child, not envious of anyone else’s ten sons, that saying was true.”

“Father, with all due respect, isn’t Sang-yoon my child? If there’s any pride to be taken, it should be mine, not yours.”

The two of them had somehow turned my praise into a reason to clink their glasses.

It would be troublesome if it got any later.

I must speak about it now.

I need to dampen the momentum of those tsunami-like compliments, even just a little.

“I actually have something to say.”

There was no response. It seemed they were too busy bickering to hear me.

“Grandfather.”

“$#^&$&&*((.”

“Father!

“!@@^#%&ㅆ^&%^(.”

Thanks to that, my voice grew louder.

“Please listen to me. I have something to say!!”

This time, I was heard. Both of their eyes turned toward me.

Now is the moment.

“I was actually hoping to visit you both to discuss something important, and since the opportunity has arisen, may I speak here?”

To get straight to the point, I failed.

It was certainly not my fault.

‘While my grandfather was traveling around Europe for me, I also discovered a new item. It’s a new business called the internet, where people around the world exchange data through connections. I even signed a contract with an expert.’

I said this.

I had expected my grandfather to respond like this.

‘What a ridiculous kid. I pampered you, and now you want to go all out. Do you see this grandfather as a mere puppet?’

But to my surprise,

It was not that.

Hearing my words, my grandfather burst into laughter and suddenly called for Manager Joo.

‘Manager Joo, Manager Joo. Come in.’

‘Yes, Chairman.’

He entered like lightning.

‘Do you know what my grandson just said? He claims to have found another new item. Didn’t I tell you? I knew this kid would surely be up to something interesting in that brief moment. My instincts were spot on.’

Then he continued,

‘I heard that while I’ve been away from Korea, you’ve been paying special attention to the semiconductor research institute. Amidst all that busyness, when did you prepare another new business? Impressive.’

He spoke to me like this while smiling again.

This was unexpected.

What is this,

Does this even make sense? More praise?

Once again, my plan failed in such a hollow way.

The chairman did not stop there. Right then, he made a call to President Im Du-won of Seonghyeon Electronics.

He issued a stern order to create a new ‘Computer Communication TF’ instead of the semiconductor TF, which has now been officially promoted.

‘Send that kid Sang-yoon to the new TF. … Yes, do that. … What do you mean? Of course, his rank stays the same!’

Wait a minute,

Everything is fine, this is it.

But,

‘Why is my position still the same, huh!?’

I shouted silently at my grandfather. Of course, it was a soundless echo.

So there was no answer to be had.

Anyway,

I just piled on more work.

In trying to pull back, I ended up adding one more.

‘Damn it.’

From semiconductors to communications,

At this rate, I was bound to unintentionally become the octopus arm of the Seonghyeon Group.

*

A month passed.

“Thank you, thank you.”

In front of the engineering building at Korea University,

Listening to Professor Eo Nam-jun’s incessant expressions of gratitude, which seemed unlikely to reveal any emotion, I gazed at the boxes being trucked in.

This was the first task of the TF.

We remodeled the laboratory of the Department of Computer Engineering at Korea University.

Not a dark and dreary underbelly, but a bright and splendid lab that would successfully connect to the world’s ‘second’ and our country’s first research and development network, that is, the internet.

The most important thing was the system.

It was completely overhauled.

First, the old computers that had crashed every time we rebooted were replaced with the latest mainframe from IBM,

And while I was at it, I imported devices from all existing computer manufacturers—DEX, APPEL, Solar Microsystems—and stuffed them all into the lab.

Ah, and that router or whatever it was too.

It wasn’t easy to obtain.

I heard it was a prohibited item for export outside NATO.

So I used Seonghyeon’s name a bit.

It showed some sincerity in importing each part separately and assembling everything.

Of course, the final stage was up to the graduate students.

Though dissatisfaction arose, it quickly melted away like snow at the sight of the special scholarship of five hundred thousand won provided by Seonghyeon.

“It feels so refreshing.”

Today is the last day.

Beside me, Professor Eo Nam-jun, who has now transformed into the responsible professor for the industry-academia cooperation project between Seonghyeon and Korea University, chimed in.

“If it weren’t for Hyun Sang-yoon, this would have been nothing but a dream. I’m grateful, truly grateful.”

“I never thought I’d hear you say that, Professor.”

“What can’t I say, heh heh.”

With a new computer in place, what couldn’t be done? Saying this, he scratched his head.

I had a question.

“I understand that you couldn’t change it due to lack of funds, but surely you could have replaced at least the computer you use as a host. After all, it’s the first computer in Korea to challenge the internet, and just looking at it, it seemed so outdated.”

“It’s not just outdated. The specs are terrible too.”

“Is there a reason for that?”

“Of course, there’s a reason. How could there not be? It’s precisely because of…”

It’s because of Jeongsang and Geosan.

The two groups competing with us in the semiconductor war are also very interested in the internet and computer market.

They are currently jointly developing a 16-bit UNIX computer.

It’s the first in the country.

If they succeed in development, that is.

Given the circumstances, Professor Eo explained that their ambitions have been growing.

They said this.

“Please assist Korea University in the development of a domestic UNIX computer. As soon as it’s completed, we will replace not only the research funding but also all computers in the lab. However, until then, you must continue using the current system.”

Is that supposed to create a reversal effect or something?

It’s a kind of power play, but not quite.

“While waiting for that…”

Professor Eo trailed off. It seemed he was upset just thinking about it.

Wait a minute?

The first 16-bit UNIX computer in the country?

That word suddenly stimulated my frontal lobe.

I felt as if a new idea was rising within me.

I need to confirm this.

“However, Professor.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’m talking about the first domestic 16-bit computer being developed at Jeongsang and Geosan. How far along is the development? Do you happen to know?”

“I do know. It’s almost finished. It was scheduled for commercialization by the end of this year.”

“What if, right now, Seonghyeon Electronics were to develop something similar? Could they catch up to that pace?”

He shook his head.

“Even if they churn out developers, that would be impossible.”

He’s not one to sugarcoat things.

So it must be true.

Challenging the 16-bit computer is out of the question.

That crosses a line.

To even attempt something that can’t be caught up to from the start is like heading into a wall with no ground beneath you.

Going in without properly assessing the possibilities would not only get the chairman scolding me, but it’s also an unqualified act.

But,

“Perhaps…”

I asked again.

“If it’s not 16-bit but rather 32-bit from the beginning, and if we take our time with a generous budget and development period, could we then beat Jeongsang and Geosan?”

This option seems more feasible.

While 16-bit has become impossible due to timing, 32-bit hasn’t even been touched by them yet.

We’d be starting from the same line.

That should be enough.

After all, I have no intention of winning.

I need to create a scenario where we fight to the end and lose regrettably.

That way, I won’t lose my qualifications as Seonghyeon’s grandson, and I can also avoid tarnishing the trust that Chairman Hyeon, my grandfather, has built up over the years.

I need to calculate this carefully.

“32-bit? Why suddenly that?”

His eyes widened.

“Because double 16-bit is 32-bit. Double means it’s better, right?”

Once again, I must calculate this carefully.