Sung Hyuk knocked and entered the study.

Based on the large desk backed by a huge window, both side walls were packed tightly with books without a single gap to be found. It was a space filled with the tastes of the study’s owner, a voracious reader.

As if to prove that blood doesn’t lie, Sung Hyuk also loved books very much. So much that he had sometimes suspected himself of being addicted to the written word.

He started reading less when the object of his addiction changed. Because the woman named Chae Young In was more interesting than books.

He lightly bowed his head towards the man with a dignified impression and piercing eyes.

“I’m here, Father.”

Chairman Cha, who was sitting at the mahogany desk, took off his silver-rimmed glasses and stood up.

“Sit down.”

Father and son sat on the black leather sofa.

“How’s work?”

Last evening, Han In Sook had called Sung Hyuk to relay that Chairman Cha wanted him to come home.

“I’m in the process of grasping the work.”

“No regrets?”

“No, none.”

Chairman Cha was very strict with rewards and punishments. That’s why he had intended to give the position of Head of Management Planning, which his eldest son Myung Gyu had held, to his second son Sung Hyuk.

It was to hold Myung Gyu responsible for the failure to acquire land for the complex shopping mall, and to praise Sung Hyuk for successfully finalizing the acquisition of promising startup companies while at SL Motors’ US branch.

But Sung Hyuk suddenly chose SL Entertainment instead of Management Planning. When asked why, the only answer he got was that he had changed his mind.

He allowed the action that went against his wishes, curious whether it was to avoid conflict and antagonism with his brother, or if there was another reason. It also reminded him of the day 3 years ago when he suddenly said he wanted to go to America.

Since he had a track record of surprising everyone by leaving abruptly and returning with satisfactory results, it was true that he was looking forward to see if it would be the same this time as well.

“I’ll wait and see what kind of results you produce.”

The taste of watching his unpredictable son’s moves was quite enjoyable.

“You won’t be disappointed.”

Sung Hyuk was determined to produce remarkable results.

Apart from his strong competitive spirit, it was to avoid being ridiculed for just chasing after a woman if his true purpose was ever revealed.

Because it would be troublesome if the sparks flew to Young In.

He didn’t want Young In to be disliked by his parents for no fault of her own.

Sung Hyuk honestly shared his opinion on investment plans to secure leadership in the future mobility market and left the study.

Knowing that Chairman Cha Hyun Woong was not someone who sought advice and counsel from just anyone, he felt pride and fulfillment that the past 3 years he had spent in the automotive industry were not in vain.

He became inwardly curious about how aggressively his father would invest in companies with new technologies, overcoming the limitations of difficult short-term profitability.

After closing the study door, he momentarily paused upon seeing Yeon Hong standing by the doorway.

Chairman Cha Hyun Woong’s youngest daughter and Sung Hyuk’s younger sister, Yeon Hong, was 22 years old this year, ten years younger than her eldest brother and eight years younger than her second brother. Though she had some quirky and bold sides, she was full of aegyo and monopolized the affection of the entire family.

The two were seeing each other for the first time in almost a month since Sung Hyuk had returned to Korea.

“What’s this? Empty-handed?”

Sung Hyuk retorted in a nonchalant tone to his sister, who was looking at his hands with narrowed eyes.

“Should I be holding something?”

“My gift.”

He turned away as if it wasn’t even worth responding to. Yeon Hong stuck close to his side.

“Oppa, do I look different anywhere?”

Stopping at the end of the hallway, he turned to his sister and gave an answer without hesitation.

“You gained weight.”

Yeon Hong glared at him with a sour expression.

“No, I didn’t!”

“Then what is it?”

“I cut my hair! It’s the first time I’ve cut it this short!”

Sung Hyuk took a step back, avoiding Yeon Hong who was thrusting her short bob with C-curl perm at him.

He was an indifferent brother who immediately noticed the hair length of an ex-girlfriend he happened to see after 3 years, but couldn’t even remember if his own sister’s hair was long or short when she visited America 6 months ago. His attentiveness was not manifested for everyone.

“Okay, I got it, so move that away.”

“What!”

“That thing you’re shaking right now.”

“Hmph!”

Following a loud snort, an irritated male voice echoed through the hallway.

“Why is her mouth hanging open like that?”

Turning his head, he saw a small-built man with a prominent character for ‘thousand’ on his forehead, and a graceful woman with her 5:5 parted hair neatly tied back in a single ponytail standing side by side.

It was Sung Hyuk’s older brother and sister-in-law, Myung Gyu and Jung Hye.

Myung Gyu, who took after his mother, had thin features and a blurry impression, while Sung Hyuk, who took after his father, had thick features and distinct facial features. Yeon Hong also took more after their father’s side.

“Who knows.”

As Sung Hyuk tilted his head sideways as if he didn’t know either, Yeon Hong, who had been pouting her lips, stomped away.

Jung Hye stepped forward and greeted Sung Hyuk demurely.

“You’ve come, young master?”

“Yes, sister-in-law.”

As soon as the formal greetings ended, Myung Gyu curled up the corners of his mouth and sneered.

“You think I’m a joke, right? That’s why you didn’t contact me even once for almost a month since you came back?”

Sung Hyuk responded calmly.

“You could have called first. I was hurt that there wasn’t even one call when you obviously knew I was back.”

The brothers had a very bad relationship. From a young age, Myung Gyu had been busy trying to keep his brother in check, who was better than him at everything, and Sung Hyuk didn’t feel the need to make efforts to improve his relationship with his brother.

Jung Hye also only pretended to be a kind sister-in-law on the surface, while actually considering her brother-in-law, who threatened her husband’s position, as a thorn in her side.

Glaring at Sung Hyuk with bloodshot eyes, Myung Gyu revealed his true feelings.

“Are you getting cocky now because you gave up the director position?”

Due to his careless handling, a major project that SL Group had been preparing as a matter of life and death had been disrupted, and as a result, he was on the verge of being sent to become the representative of SL Hotel.

The status of the hotel in SL Group was not very significant. Even if the position was higher, it was practically the same as being demoted.

Thanks to Sung Hyuk suddenly changing his mind, he was able to keep the director position by the skin of his teeth. While it was fortunate, on the other hand, his pride was hurt.

“I didn’t give it up though?”

“You didn’t?”

“It was a choice that had nothing to do with you, hyung.”

Sung Hyuk spoke the truth, but Myung Gyu didn’t believe it.

No matter how he thought about it, there was no reason for Sung Hyuk to choose SL Entertainment over Management Planning.

Right now, in Myung Gyu’s eyes, Sung Hyuk’s actions only looked like he was pretending to be magnanimous. So he felt like he was being mocked and felt even more miserable.

“But if you keep bothering someone who’s staying quiet, I might start wanting to go to Management Planning. So take it easy.”

Myung Gyu, who had been suffering from anxiety that he would be kicked out if Sung Hyuk changed his mind, clenched his fist tightly and muttered as if spitting out the words.

“Annoying bastard…”

He had to turn away, unable to retort until the end to do as he pleased.

On Monday afternoon, Young In was called to the CEO’s office again.

She wondered if there was someone else she needed to greet, but today the office owner was alone.

“You called for me.”

Sung Hyuk, who was sitting cross-legged on the main seat of the sofa, gestured to the seat on his left.

“Sit down.”

Young In went to sit in the place he indicated.

“I was wondering if you’ve thought about it.”

“You told me to think about it slowly, so I’ve been thinking slowly.”

In fact, when Sung Hyuk said to make the decision completely excluding personal feelings, she had already made up her mind. To accept the opportunity disguised as a request.

But then her heart wavered again because of personal feelings. When she thought of his mother, she hesitated once more.

“I think I’ve given you enough time.”

“It hasn’t even been two full days.”

How could just 42 hours be considered enough time?

“Did you think I’d give you a month or so?”

“I thought you’d give me a week.”

“I’m a bit impatient by nature.”

“I know.”

The corners of Sung Hyuk’s mouth curled up slightly.

“Team Leader Chae knows me well. I know Team Leader Chae well too.”

“…”

Young In kept her mouth shut, thinking she had said something unnecessary.

Although she had been worried ever since they parted coldly on Saturday evening, fortunately he didn’t seem to be in a bad mood today.

“Did you know that among the scripts proposed to the company, there are scripts that only executive-level and above can access?”

“Yes.”

“I’m thinking of giving you access rights.”

“…”

Young In pressed her clasped hands tightly. Though others might not understand why she was hesitating, for Young In it was an extremely difficult choice.

“Sometimes it’s not bad to stop thinking and just follow your heart.”

Sung Hyuk added with a slight smile.

“That’s what I’ve been doing lately.”

It was then that Young In’s phone vibrated inside her jacket.

Sung Hyuk’s gaze turned to her jacket pocket, noticing the vibration sound.

“Answer it.”

“It’s alright.”

“What if it’s an urgent call?”

Young In took out her phone and checked the caller. It was a call from Jin Gyo.

She couldn’t answer his call here, of all people. So she flipped the phone over.

“I don’t need to answer. If it’s urgent, they’ll call back.”

Sung Hyuk didn’t press further and continued what he was saying.

“I’d like you to make a decision right here, right now.”

Young In decided to make the choice her heart was leaning towards, as he had told her.

“Thank you for giving me this good opportunity. I’ll do my best.”

“You’ve made a good decision.”

No sooner had Sung Hyuk finished speaking than the vibration that had stopped started again.

“It seems like it is an urgent call. Go ahead and answer.”

Young In picked up the phone she had flipped over and placed on her lap. The caller was the same this time too.

What could it be?

Thinking it might really be an urgent call, she decided to answer.

“Yes, sunbae.”

Only then realizing whose call it was, Sung Hyuk furrowed his brow.

“Our company lobby? What brings you all the way here, sunbae?”

Sung Hyuk sensed that Seo Jin Gyo was not someone who could be dismissed as insignificant.