Former Mastermind To Chaebol Son-in-Law

Chapter 51

Don't Even Think About Bringing It

After settling the situation that had unfolded on the road, In-hyuk arrived at Go Mi-ah's studio.

Of course, Hong Yu-geon and Van Hester were also with him.

"Why did you go for the interview?"

No matter how much he thought about it at the company, he couldn't understand, so he asked that first.

"You told me to set up equipment somewhere safe."

"I did. But that doesn't mean it had to be at our company."

"Where else could be as safe as there? And if I'm getting a new security processor, I'll need some top-notch equipment too."

In response to her explanation, In-hyuk was dumbfounded.

"That's not what I'm talking about. Are you really planning to work at the company? You'd have to come in every day."

Go Mi-ah was a hardcore night owl.

That hadn't changed at all in the original timeline either.

So whenever In-hyuk needed something, he'd always request it with her active hours in mind.

"Lately my health's been getting really bad, so I want to try becoming more of a morning person! But it's hard to get healthy just staying at home. I thought, this is my chance! So I went for the interview."

"... Health? Why do you suddenly want to get healthy?"

"Umm... So I can live a long, easygoing life spending money?"

For some reason, the end of her sentence rose like a question.

"Wouldn't it be better to work out if you want to get healthy? Just get a PT at a health club."

"Eh! I need to fix my lifestyle first! But why don't you want me at the company? Afraid your wife will say something? Are we even some sort of thing to each other?"

"......"

Without realizing it, In-hyuk clenched his fist.

At that moment, Hong Yu-geon circled his arm around In-hyuk to restrain him.

"Whoa~ whoa~ Boss. Calm down. She's just a kid playing around."

"... That's even more annoying, so back off."

The memory of recently riding a motorcycle together surfaced in his mind.

"Ah, sorry."

Hong Yu-geon quickly stepped away again.

Meanwhile, In-hyuk let out another sigh.

"So, in the end, you want to use Taeshin Asset Management's server room?"

"That's right. Honestly, if we tried to set up a place like that anywhere else, it would stand out no matter what. But if you cover things on the equipment side, and I just have to get hired? It's killing two birds with one stone."

"Who uses old sayings like that anymore?"

It wasn't the kind of analogy you'd expect from someone barely in their early twenties.

"How about 'pulling up the stream and catching a crayfish'? Seeing the person and picking the mulberry, too..."

"Pick what? Anyway, your plan is fine, but it's not exactly risk-free, you know."

"Why~!"

"Once you're working at the company, your skills will show one way or another."

"I'll just hide them."

"You wouldn't be a new hire, though. They'd only bring you in based on your skills as an experienced worker. Never showing your results at all would also be a problem."

"I'll just do enough to get by. Don't you trust me?"

He knew better than anyone how smooth and shameless she could be.

But at the moment, In-hyuk had not yet figured out if anyone besides Baek Si-hwan within Taeshin Asset Management was a dangerous person.

"Hah..."

"Boss! You don't even know if she's passed yet, so why not just wait and see? If Mi-ah doesn't make the final cut, there's no way for her to get in anyway. It's not like you'd parachute her in to make her even more conspicuous."

It wasn't wrong.

In-hyuk couldn't say anything more.

"Alright, fine. And just in case, if you get hired, let me know how you plan to move once you're inside."

"You really think I'll pass? Honestly, I thought the chances were low."

Go Mi-ah was currently on a leave of absence from KAIST, still a college student.

No matter how skilled she was, it was difficult for a company to hire someone with little work experience, who hadn't even graduated yet.

She herself knew the reality, so she hadn't expected much.

But In-hyuk's thinking was different.

"Actually, that's why your chances are higher."

"... Why?"

"The security processor overhaul is my plan, and CEO Tae Ju-ha got head office's approval to push it. So, what would the people who don't want it to succeed think?"

Go Mi-ah didn't take long to consider.

"They'd probably hope for an accident?"

"Then, what kind of person do you think they'll want us to hire this time?"

"... Someone who's not good? Wait, are you saying they'll see me that way?"

"Even if they look at your portfolio, it'd be hard to believe that's really your skill. And being a student on leave, lacking work experience..."

It was an interpretation that flipped her previous worries around.

At the same time, she let out a sigh—and a hint of suspicion.

"Come on... Would they really be that dumb?"

"There aren't many options. And... oh, there's something important I nearly forgot."

Just as he was about to continue, something occurred to him.

"What is it?"

"If you do start coming to work, absolutely don't! bring your own lunch. That alone could make you stand out even more."

"Why? You think people will gather around because the food looks too delicious?"

For a moment, In-hyuk wondered if she truly knew nothing about her own cooking.

But he couldn't flat-out say it tasted like hell.

Yet, letting it go unchecked, he could already picture someone trying it out of curiosity and what would happen next.

"Just—don't even think about bringing it in."

In the end, he pleaded sincerely, not giving her the real reason.

* * *

The next day.

From the morning, In-hyuk reviewed and approved the pending AMK Partners' Chulsan Capital acquisition case completed by M&A Team 1, along with other investment portfolios.

Some submissions were rejected. Still, those decisions were based on his knowledge and experience of the future.

Of course, he couldn't write the true reason, so he compared current intel and materials the staff had investigated to compose the justification.

Just then, his gaze met Hong Yu-geon's, who was sitting on the sofa in front of his desk.

"Why are you staring at me like that? First time seeing someone work?"

"I just wonder what, uh, the division director actually does around here."

It was a question similar to before.

"You already know. I'm this company's division director and your employer."

Van Hester was also sitting on the sofa, so he addressed them together.

At this, Hong Yu-geon shook his head in disbelief.

"Geez! Who doesn't know that? Ah, did you go home and talk with the missus yesterday?"

"Talk? About what?"

"You didn't say a word after all that happened yesterday? Are you even really married?"

This time, In-hyuk let out a little laugh.

"You already know we're just married in name, but you're still asking that... are you messing with me?"

"No, but still—you're a couple! If you saved her in a situation like that, things could change, right? Yesterday, the division director even told me to make a U-turn after seeing it from the other lane! 'Hey! Turn the car now'! That's exactly what you said, right?"

He was mimicking exactly what In-hyuk had done the previous day.

Even Van Hester was amused, his body shaking with suppressed laughter as he ducked his head.

"That was just because it was urgent."

"Sure, easy for you to say. But are you really going to leave that guy like that? Not getting rid of him?"

Hong Yu-geon jerked his head toward the cloudy glass. On the other side, Baek Si-hwan was working all day at his desk.

Having already witnessed his brutal side during the destruction of Daemyung Detective Agency, there were worries about what else he might pull.

"We don't even know what he's planning. If we do anything first, it could expose us."

"True... I guess you have a point."

While this trivial (?) conversation continued, the internal call rang.

Diririri— diririri—

The display showed it was the CEO's secretary's office, not Baek Si-hwan.

"Yes, this is Kang In-hyuk speaking."

[Hello, division director. The CEO is asking for you. If you're not busy, she'd like you to come now.]

There was no clear reason she'd summon him, so he was curious.

"Understood. I'll head over right away."

In-hyuk tilted his head in puzzlement as he hung up and got up from his seat.

"The missus wants you?"

Hong Yu-geon asked.

"So it seems. I'll be out for a bit, so get ready to head out for outside appointments."

"Okay."

Donning his jacket, In-hyuk soon arrived at the CEO's office.

Tae Ju-ha rose from her desk to come over and sit facing him.

"Sorry you had to see that scene yesterday. And... thank you."

She brought up something he hadn't expected to be mentioned.

"I only stepped in because it seemed like you were in a difficult situation while I was passing by."

"If you hadn't shown up, I wouldn't have avoided trouble. But where were you yesterday? I heard you didn't come home until after midnight."

"I had to meet a client for work. They were only available at that hour."

The truth was, he'd stopped by Go Mi-ah's studio before returning home, but he couldn't say that, so he covered with an excuse.

But as she listened, Tae Ju-ha's face grew even more quizzical.

"Only at that hour? Was it a business dinner, by any chance?"

She seemed to be misunderstanding.

"It wasn't that kind of meeting."

"What kind of meeting would that be?"

"..."

With one question leading to another, In-hyuk lost his words for a moment.

Seeing this, Tae Ju-ha gave a faint, bemused laugh.

"Sorry. It's rare to see you at a loss for words, Kang In-hyuk."

"I didn't know you enjoyed this kind of thing."

"It's not that I particularly enjoy it."

From a young age, after her biological mother passed away, Tae Ju-ha became part of the Taeshin Group family and had to walk on thin ice.

She'd become materially wealthy, of course, but living labeled an illegitimate child among those who never truly welcomed her was like enduring hell.

Only thanks to her grandfather Tae Gun-seung, who recognized her talent and gradually lent his support, did she begin to breathe a little easier.

Still, to protect what she'd managed to gain in such hardship, she never had the luxury of showing a smile to strangers.

"... I see. Then, did you call me because of what happened yesterday?"

"Oh, no, that's not it. You saw the candidate at the interview yesterday, right? Go Mi-ah."

Saying this, she placed Go Mi-ah's resume, which she'd been holding from the start, onto the table.

"If you're asking if I knew about her applying... I didn't. I was surprised when I saw her at the interview."

"You said Go Mi-ah was an informant for stock investments, but she also has considerable skills on the IT side? Aren't you still working with her?"

In-hyuk had no idea what she was getting at.

"We just had her help out briefly, more like a part-time thing."

"I see."

"Are you curious about Go Mi-ah?"

"She's talented. As long as there's no problem, I think she could be fine."

Her face looked like she'd made up her mind.

"But she's still a student who hasn't even graduated. No matter how well she works, if an issue comes up, people higher up could seize on it."

"Are you... against Go Mi-ah joining?"

"I can't quite say I'm in favor."

Tae Ju-ha sighed briefly.

"Now that I think about it, you gave a pretty cold score at the second interview. Was it because you'd worked with her before?"

"Believe it or not, that's irrelevant. Now that we're overhauling the company's security processes, I'm just being careful."

"I'll take your points into consideration. Ah, any unusual matters in the MP division?"

Most things proceeded at In-hyuk's discretion.

Tae Ju-ha, as CEO, received reports, but she couldn't know everything about ongoing issues.

"Nothing particular. Ah, I plan to go on a business trip abroad in two weeks."

"A business trip?"

"I need to do due diligence on an investment for the fund; it'll take about four days. Depending on circumstances, it could be longer. I'll submit the documents on the fixed matters within the week."

"I... see."

"I also have outside appointments this afternoon. If you have nothing else, I'll take my leave."

In-hyuk stood up calmly, greeted her, and left the office.

Left alone, Tae Ju-ha pursed her lips, dwelling on the subtle feeling she'd been somehow brushed off.