12.1

“We’re currently checking other candidates. It’s just being delayed a bit, so don’t worry too much.”

Seonkyung quickly spoke, seizing the softened atmosphere. From Seonkyung’s perspective, Seonho’s handling of the situation had saved her from a firestorm. Seonho was Seonho, and his faults were a separate issue.

“Is there really a need to rush into marriage? He’s only twenty-six years old.”

Minhu joined their conversation.

“Yes. Even he got married at thirty. Marriage is not something to rush into.”

Yoonjeong chimed in, glancing subtly to support Minhu.

“I didn’t know. I didn’t expect you guys to be so concerned about Seonho’s marriage.”

Seonkyung said this with a smile towards them, but her eyes were not smiling.

“It’s a matter concerning the young master, of course, we’re concerned. Who marries that early these days?”

While they said this, from their perspective, the later Seonho’s strategic marriage happened, the better.

If Seonho married a woman from a powerful family, they would be threatened for the position of successor. Therefore, they were secretly relieved that Seonho could not marry Joo-eun.

“You’re not wrong. I also want to marry someone with whom I naturally develop affection, just like the two of you.”

Seonho said, smiling towards Minhu and Yoonjeong.

“What did you say?”

Seonkyung looked at Seonho with displeasure.

Minhu and Yoonjeong had met and married under the guise of naturalness, orchestrated by a wedding consultant. With Joo-eun, there was no need for such a process since they had known each other since childhood.

Seonho’s idea didn’t sit well with Seonkyung, as a natural marriage requires a period of preparation.

“Isn’t it a more urgent matter for my brother to have a child than for me to get married? You two have almost been married for two years now.”

Seonho said this with a worried tone, skillfully redirecting the focus from himself to his brother and sister-in-law.

“That’s right, we should have one.”

Yoonjeong glanced at Minhu and spoke feebly.

“Have you ever been to the hospital, you do know that you have to go as a couple when you go, right?” 

Seonkyung asked Minhu and Yoonjeong.

“Shouldn’t you be taking care of that?”

Chairman Yoon, who had been quietly eating until now, spoke without looking up from his plate.

“Wouldn’t it be more comfortable if your own mother handled it? As you know, I’m busy with company work.”

His brief words carried a lot of meanings.

I don’t want to interfere with your child issues, I’m busy with work, but your mother has a lot of time since she’s only at home. So, go to the hospital with your mother, etc.

“Okay. I’ll make an appointment with Mom and go.”

Yoonjeong said in a subdued voice.

“You should go to the hospital too, Minhu.”

Seonkyung’s words made Minhu visibly upset.

“Are you saying there’s a problem with me?”

“That’s not what I meant. It’s not easy for busy people to track their fertile periods. IVF isn’t a bad option, so try to get a consultation this time. If the mother is healthy, getting pregnant isn’t that difficult.”

Seonkyung told Minhu, who then glared at her with a look full of displeasure before taking a deep breath.

“Okay.”

Yoonjeong glanced at her husband with a mixture of resentment in her eyes, but Minhu thoroughly ignored it.

Seonkyung’s gaze lingered on Chairman Yoon, who was sitting next to Minhu, before moving away.

How could the father and son be so alike?

Minhu was the spitting image of his father, not just in looks but also in his actions. He was ambitious and greedy, never wanting to let go of anything.

Even when marrying out of necessity, he somehow managed to look after his own pleasures.

The marriage between Minhu and Yoonjeong, while publicly celebrated as a natural love among the wealthy, was internally riddled with ambition.

Yoonjeong, too, was the same, willing to endure until her husband took over the company leadership, just like herself.

Seonkyung turned her gaze to Seonho, who was sitting next to her. Just as she disliked Minhu for resembling his father, she felt more affection for Seonho, perhaps because he resembled her.

One would think Seonho would either be just handsome or just smart, but possessing both qualities made Seonkyung somewhat weary. Being too smart, Seonho had effortlessly become a candidate for a successor.

Leaving him be seemed wasteful, yet pushing him forward revealed many flaws. However, Seonho, trusting his own abilities, seemed to disregard the power of an arranged marriage.

Confusing people about whether he wants to be a successor or not.

“Seonho is getting promoted to department head next year, right?”

Seonkyung asked dryly, looking at Chairman Yoon.

“Isn’t that too soon? He hasn’t really proven himself yet.”

Before Chairman Yoon could respond, Minhu spoke up.

“To make results, you need authority. What can he do as just a team leader? You started as a department head yourself.”

“I had been abroad for studies and was older, but that’s not the case with Seonho. Authority should be granted according to capability.”

Minhu seemed annoyed at comparing Seonho to himself.

“My brother is right.”

Minhu was surprised that Seonho seemed to agree with him.

“Team leader, department head, what does it matter? Performance is what’s most important, it’s all about the result.”

This statement implied that unlike Minhu, who had the initial advantage, he could demonstrate his worth through actual performance, and this confidence irked Minhu.

“What will you use to improve performance and show results? Oh, you mean that car subscription business plan you sent out the other day? Do you really think that’s going to generate profits? Who’s going to pay for a car subscription when they don’t even own the car?”

Minhu scoffed intensely, pressing on.

“You’re in your early 30s, and already your mind is rusting? Are you properly analyzing trends? Or are your subordinates incompetent?”

“What?”

Minhu clenched the fork in his hand until the tendons on the back of his hand stood out. Contrary to the content of his words, Seonho’s bright smile only infuriated him more.

Regardless of his reaction, Seonho turned his gaze to the honorary chairman.

“Grandfather, this can work. I’ve already tried it when I was twenty.”

Unlike the tensed Minhu, Seonho remained very relaxed.

“You’re not talking about swapping sports cars with your immature friends, are you? Get serious. This isn’t some fancy social club. The scale of the capital involved is completely different.”

Minhu attacked Seonho again. His fierce onslaught wasn’t really because the business was worthless. Minhu would normally observe the market situation more closely.

However, he was anxious because there had been many instances where Seonho pushed forward seemingly doomed projects and turned them into successes.

If Seonho, at a younger age and merely as a team leader, succeeded where he had failed, it would indeed show that he could transcend everything through performance, just as he claimed.

That would leave Minhu unable to leverage his age and experience anymore, shrinking his foothold—a devastating blow, which is why he was so desperately opposing.

“Exactly. Even a simple casual social club was a success. So, this time, I’m going all in.”

Seonho signaled to Junsu, who seemed to have been waiting for just this moment, and he distributed tablet PCs to everyone except Yoonjeong.

“These are the market analysis updates, operational plans, and projected earnings added to the documents I submitted a few days ago, along with a report on the expected growth in brand value.”

“Why are you bringing it to the dinner table? Just submit it formally to the company.”

Chairman Yoon spoke with a displeased expression.