Munjeong - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

In the center of the long marble table, a centerpiece of subtly colored summer hydrangeas and silver candlesticks of varying heights was arranged with refined sensibility.

At the head of the table sat Chairman Jang, flanked on his right by Vice Chairman Jang Ikhyun, his son Jang Taeha, and Jang Yeonjun. Opposite them were Jang Sungjoo, CEO of JK Department Store and the chairman’s second son, sitting alongside his wife.

Chairman Jang frowned as he stared disapprovingly at the empty seat next to Yeonjun and asked in a dissatisfied tone,

“Your mother. Is she unwell again today?”

“She seems to have taken a lot of headache medication. When I went to fetch her, she said she was sleeping.”

Tsk. Even before Yeonjun could finish his explanation, Jang Ikhyun clicked his tongue and drank a gulp of cold water.

“No matter how many times we tell her to cut down on those pills.”

“…”

Despite the blatant display of disapproval, Yeonjun simply smiled calmly, unfazed. The tension in the air was palpable, prompting Kwon, the housekeeper who managed the kitchen, to step forward and lower her head tactfully beside Chairman Jang.

“Chairman, you mentioned wanting truffles the other day, so I prepared stir-fried truffles with beef brisket for you. The grilled tilefish was sent by Manager Kim from the Jeju branch.”

“Oh, Manager Kim?”

“Yes. He remembered how much you enjoyed the tilefish when you visited the Korean restaurant at the Jungmun branch.”

“That Manager Kim has a good eye for such things.”

Chairman Jang smiled contentedly as he took a bite of the neatly deboned tilefish, and Kwon also smiled with satisfaction. As those gathered at the table began their meal in unison, Kwon politely explained the various dishes on the table and quietly withdrew.

For a while, the only sounds at the table were the clinking of utensils against dishes, until Chairman Jang broke the silence.

“Representative Jang.”

Cough. Jang Sungjoo, startled by the sudden mention of his name, choked slightly and quickly drank a sip of water.

“Yes, yes, Father.”

“This isn’t the best time for such talk at the table, but there’s been no progress all quarter. That ambitious watch store you brought in has turned into a white elephant. Shouldn’t you deal with it promptly?”

“Cough, yes, well…”

The brand of artisan-crafted watches, heavily promoted as imbued with the spirit and craftsmanship of artisans, had garnered widespread popularity domestically and internationally. Two months ago, it had been introduced to JK Department Store under Jang Sungjoo’s direction.

However, a major exposé revealed that the watches, which cost tens of millions of won, were not crafted by artisans but mass-produced in factories. It was further disclosed that the production cost was less than 100,000 won. The scandal was a severe embarrassment on a global scale.

Despite the grand investment and aggressive marketing, the venture had backfired, making Sungjoo’s bold gamble seem foolish. Now, being reprimanded at the dinner table, his face turned bright red with shame.

“To make up for the losses, Representative Jang, you’ll need to run until your soles catch fire. You can’t keep spending time on rounds of golf and such.”

“Father, those were all for business—”

“And while you’ve been parading around, your nephew has been working to spare his grandfather any more headaches by sending a list of promising brands through Manager Kwak. Did you even know that?”

The unexpected bombshell caused all eyes, previously focused on their plates, to shift to Taeha.

“…”

Even amidst the silent uproar, Taeha calmly continued his elegant meal. He finally set down his utensils neatly, the clinking sound marking the end of the brief stillness. Though everyone else’s gazes demanded an explanation, he remained composed, exuding an air of nonchalance.

“…Is it true, Taeha?”

Unable to bear it any longer, Jang Ikhyun gestured toward his son and asked. Taeha leisurely sipped water, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and then answered unhurriedly.

“Yes.”

Gnash. Sungjoo clenched his teeth, glaring at his infuriatingly smug nephew, whose smooth face betrayed no reaction as he met his uncle’s gaze calmly. Chairman Jang cleared his throat, his voice grave as he issued a warning.

“Don’t glare like that. If you had done your job properly, there would’ve been no need for someone else to step in. You should be thanking Taeha instead.”

Tsk. As if waiting for this moment, Jang Ikhyun dabbed at his mouth with a napkin and chimed in smugly.

“I told you repeatedly to stack up reports when onboarding rising brands.”

That damned man. He usually treated his own son like an adversary but now smugly gloated because Chairman Jang had taken Taeha’s side. Like father, like son—his behavior was infuriatingly similar. Thankfully, his son at least had the sense to keep his mouth shut.

But there was no way Chairman Jang, who had little regard for Ikhyun, would let him off easily. Sure enough, Chairman Jang furrowed his brows and, after finishing a honey-soaked chestnut, spoke in a disapproving tone.

“The vice chairman isn’t in any position to criticize others. You’ve been singing ESG praises, but allowing reports of excessive material usage from the start? When expanding the duty-free shop, I told you to consider eco-friendly materials and release press statements accordingly. Did that go in one ear and out the other?”

Despite his advancing years, Chairman Jang’s sharp eyes and clear enunciation exuded an intimidating presence. Caught off guard mid-meal, Jang Ikhyun clenched his teeth and twitched his thick eyebrows in frustration.

Every time they seemed to make progress, someone would trip up at the peak. Watching these aggravating faces only stoked Chairman Jang’s temper. His disapproving gaze swept over them all before landing on Yeonjun, who had been quietly observing.

The root of all misfortune in this household. His features, uncannily resembling his mother’s, annoyed Chairman Jang to no end. The chestnut-colored hair, captivating eyes, and alluring gaze—all of it.

Since the day Yeonjun had appeared at the house holding his mother’s hand, Chairman Jang had regarded him with disapproval. After the “incident” 16 years ago, however, he had refrained from voicing further objections. His gaze darkened. Above all, there had been that child’s last wish.

Finally, Chairman Jang’s gaze rested on Taeha, who bore the strongest resemblance to himself. His wrinkled eyes softened, filled with a mixture of fondness and pride.

“Finish your meals. Taeha seems done as well, so the two of us will take a walk.”

Saying they had finished eating was merely a formality; in reality, it was tantamount to declaring that he had no appetite left after watching their pitiful display. As everyone shrank back in silence, Chairman Jang gestured to Taeha and rose from his seat, with Taeha quietly following behind him.

The gazes stabbing into their backs were undeniably intense.

Well-maintained, lush green grass stretched across the expansive grounds. Step, step. With his hands clasped behind his back, Chairman Jang strolled leisurely, inhaling the fresh air drifting down from Mount Mok-a.

“The air’s starting to cool, Taeha.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“It means summer is retreating, and autumn is coming. This year was particularly hot, but autumn needs to come quickly so we can see the maples and ginkgo trees turn colors.”

The sharp, discerning gaze that scanned the rest of the family softened into the gentle eyes of a grandfather when directed at Taeha. Taeha, well aware of his grandfather’s affection for him, simply bowed politely as they walked through the expansive garden together.

As Chairman Jang pointed out the various flowers blooming modestly and the meticulously maintained trees, he shared stories about their ages and when they were planted. Then, he suddenly stopped walking.

“Only the final hurdle remains.”

He turned to Taeha and murmured softly.

“It’s time for you to head to the U.S., where Executive Vice President Bae is, and hone your skills further. I can’t help but feel greedy and impatient. Spending time with the global marketing team will sharpen your ability to read financial flows.”

“Yes.”

As usual, Taeha replied calmly and without fanfare.

“When you return, I’ll prepare a solid position for you.”

“…”

Had this conversation taken place in the dining room earlier, his uncle and aunt would have caused an uproar. Suppressing a faint smirk, Taeha instead responded with composed sincerity.

“Yes. I will.”

His upright posture never faltered as he answered, and Chairman Jang’s eyes narrowed with a smile. The face, which occasionally carried traces of his late mother Ha-yeon’s aura, seldom revealed any strong emotions, even after all that had transpired.

Ha-yeon had been the same. The daughter of a respected mentor and a beloved daughter-in-law, her memory brought a momentary shadow to Chairman Jang’s face. Unlike the petty Ikhyun, she possessed a grand vision, a mind so sharp that even Chairman Jang himself had been surprised at times. Yet, she was never pretentious, maintaining a quiet wisdom, dignity, and an intimidating presence that overwhelmed people with just a glance. Taeha had inherited all of that.

To Chairman Jang, she had effectively served as a trusted advisor. Even now, he regretted binding her to his son, who lacked the capacity to match her. Thoughts of that precious child always stoked an unbearable rage within him.

Watching Chairman Jang’s subdued expression, Taeha stepped closer.

“Grandfather.”

“Ah, I was lost in thought for a moment.”

“You were thinking about Mother.”

Such a perceptive child. The calm smile playing on his handsome lips sometimes tugged painfully at the heart. With a small sigh of acknowledgment, Chairman Jang smiled faintly and held Taeha’s hand gently.

“Just keep climbing steadily as you are now. Though you say you’re paving your path on your own, I’ll make sure to clear away any obstacles along the way. I owe a great debt to you and Ha-yeon.”

“Debt? I’ve never thought of it that way.”

“My feelings are different. Whenever I think of it, my heart aches. I tell myself she’s probably living well somewhere far away, in a foreign country.”

“…”

Chairman Jang gazed deeply at Taeha before speaking softly.

“Next month, attend a meeting regarding a prospective marriage arrangement.”