Chapter 82
Because It's Not Necessary
The venue for the KQ Group's 50th-anniversary party gradually filled with more people. Starting with famous entrepreneurs from both domestic and abroad, the guest list included members of the National Assembly, high-ranking government officials, and well-known celebrities.
Within the crowd, Tae Seok-hyun and Tae Seok-ho, who had just entered the party, also met people with whom they had long-established relationships.
Observing them, In-hyuk simply nodded.
"That's right."
"Aren't you going to greet them?"
Baek Si-hwan asked in a concerned tone.
"Everyone seems busy, so I'll just stay put. Manager Baek, don't just stick by my side, go enjoy yourself. Events like these aren't exactly common, are they?"
"I'm fine, really."
At that, In-hyuk shrugged and picked up the dessert set on the table.
"You must be hungry."
"......"
No response came back.
At that moment, Tae Ju-ha, dressed in a deep green long dress, walked over together with her secretary, Heo Yu-rim.
"The man you were just talking to earlier, that was Chairman Baek Ji-woong of W&W Group, right?"
She must have seen from a distance the two parting after a conversation.
Meanwhile, In-hyuk calmly offered the dessert he'd just eaten.
"That's right. Oh, would you like some? It tastes better than I expected."
Tae Ju-ha shook her head.
"...... No, I'm fine. By the way, did you already know Chairman Baek Ji-woong?"
"No. Today was my first time meeting him. He approached me first."
"The first time? It looked like you two were quite friendly."
"We just briefly talked about business matters. Chairman Baek showed quite a bit of interest in the business I'm working on."
"I see?"
Even while Tae Ju-ha looked puzzled, In-hyuk kept eating his dessert.
Soon enough, Tae Ju-ha tapped In-hyuk's arm and spoke again.
"Did you go see your father and uncle?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I figured they wouldn't want to receive my greeting. Wouldn't you just feel embarrassed if you went for no reason, CEO?"
Because their faction in Taeshin Group had been shattered due to In-hyuk.
Of course, Tae Ju-ha knew the situation well, but, given her position, it was hard for her to act as In-hyuk did.
"But......"
"I won't stop you, so do as you wish."
At In-hyuk's indifferent answer, Heo Yu-rim spoke up carefully from beside Tae Ju-ha.
"The mood over there is not great right now. For now, let's do as Division Director Kang suggested."
"Alright, I will."
But the problem was with the people involved themselves.
"Oh, Ju-ha and Kang, are you two here?"
Tae Seok-hyun had spotted them and was approaching.
Of course, it wasn't as if he had only just noticed them.
He had been watching since the moment In-hyuk began talking with Chairman Baek Ji-woong.
It was indeed an intriguing sight.
"Good evening."
"...... Welcome."
Responding to the two, Tae Seok-hyun broke into a wide smile.
"Indeed. It feels quite different seeing you here at an event like this. It's wonderful."
In-hyuk could easily predict Tae Seok-hyun's intention.
'Is he trying to console and win over Tae Ju-ha, even now?'
A major storm had struck just before Taeshin Group's next decision. The one most affected was Tae Seok-ho, more than Tae Seok-hyun.
Of course, Tae Seok-hyun was not unscathed either.
With Chairman Tae Gun-seung now putting his strength behind In-hyuk, this move could become decisive.
"...... Thank you."
Tae Ju-ha's voice trailed off, clearly uncomfortable.
"Kang, you've worked hard all this time. I heard the TF division will be wrapped up soon. Once everything's settled, how about having a meal together? The whole child, of course."
"Ah......"
"I'll have to check my schedule since I'll be going to America for a while soon."
As In-hyuk interrupted, Tae Seok-hyun's brow twitched.
"America? For what?"
"For Greenbyte Labs. And I have to check in with the Accentia side too. You know how much investment fund was put in there."
A total investment of 10 million dollars. That meant a whopping 14 billion won.
Considering the scale of Taeshin Asset Management, it was no small sum, so Tae Seok-hyun found it hard to object.
"Is it impossible to even spare a day before you go?"
"I have a lot to prepare. It seems it'll only be possible after I return."
Hearing his firm answer, Tae Seok-hyun's expression hardened further.
But since he couldn't raise his voice in the middle of the KQ Group's anniversary party, he merely held back.
"Well, if that's the case."
"I'll contact you as soon as I come back from the trip. Let's all have a meal together then."
He deliberately emphasized "all."
He had no idea if his wife, Lee Sun-hye, and son, Tae Yeo-jun, would really show, but still...
"Alright. You two, enjoy the party."
Tae Seok-hyun withdrew.
Watching Tae Ju-ha fidgeting anxiously beside him, In-hyuk murmured quietly.
"You handle business so decisively, but when it comes to CEO Tae Seok-hyun, don't you think you lose your nerve a bit?"
"...... Pardon? What do you mean?"
"Just now, I mean."
Perhaps realizing what he meant, Tae Ju-ha pursed her lips tightly.
"......"
"Now that Taeshin Asset Management has become a subsidiary, you should be able to proceed with an IPO. And as long as you're not disposing of shares due to a management crisis, there should be no problems. So why do you keep acting this way?"
"I don't really know either......"
She had fought desperately to free herself from the Taeshin shadow and attain her current position.
After getting married and returning from America to become CEO, she thought she'd achieved enough.
Yet she was still under the palm of Taeshin.
While Taeshin Asset Management was being run steadily enough, its reality as a Taeshin Life subsidiary was hard to change.
"You have the strength you always wanted now. You should have more confidence."
"I never thought you'd be the one cheering me on."
"It's more advice than encouragement. Strength to protect your strength—if you waver even when you have it, it's meaningless."
"It's not a bad way to put it."
At that moment, Heo Yu-rim cautiously interjected from the side.
"CEO. CEO Moon from Hangang Heavy Industries, who attended the depository meeting last time, has arrived. Wouldn't it be good to say hello?"
"Alright. In-hyuk, I'll go for a bit."
"Go ahead."
As he watched her walk away, In-hyuk's eyes met Baek Si-hwan, who was standing quietly nearby.
"Don't you feel bored?"
"I'm fine."
"I'm a bit bored. I even feel like I shouldn't have come."
At his indifferent reply, Baek Si-hwan spoke up again.
"Division Director, aren't you going to greet anyone else?"
The majority of attendees were busy with business.
However, In-hyuk remained indifferent and simply stood, which undoubtedly seemed odd.
Looking around, he made eye contact with a few people.
Perhaps because he'd been speaking with Chairman Baek Ji-woong of W&W Group a short while ago, their curiosity only deepened.
"I just don't find it necessary right now."
"Then why did you come here?"
"Chairman Kang Cheon-gyu sent me a formal invitation, so I felt I should at least show up."
"...... I see."
Silence fell again.
The surroundings grew noisier, filled with music and voices.
Crowds gathered especially around the chairmen and executives of the large corporations.
At that moment, a middle-aged man and woman slowly walked toward In-hyuk.
They were Kang Cheon-gyu, the chairman and host of KQ Group's 50th-anniversary party, and his wife, Jeon Hae-in.
"It's been a while, Division Director Kang In-hyuk. Is this the first time since that incident?"
While the question hung in the air, Jeon Hae-in's demeanor sharpened like a knife by his side.
Her animosity was clearly directed at In-hyuk.
"Yes, it has. How have you been?"
"I've had nothing special happen. It's just that the company's been a bit noisy. You've had something to do with that, haven't you?"
He referred to the collapse of LifeStar Entertainment and how KQ Fabric was completely cut out from the military uniform business due to Kang Do-young's mistake.
It was hard to claim that In-hyuk's hand had nothing to do with the process, so Kang Cheon-gyu's tone carried a subtle hint of accusation.
"I suppose you're rebuking me."
"Haha—! Not at all. In business, things can't always go well. As long as the mistakes weren't intentional."
He was talking about Kang Do-young, heir to KQ Group.
Kang Do-young wasn't present at the party.
Because of his previous blunder, it seemed he was not permitted to attend at all.
"That's true. Ah, it's been a while since we last met, mrs. Jeon. Wasn't the last time at the gallery managed by my mother-in-law?"
On purpose, In-hyuk mentioned Jeon Hae-in, who had been keeping silent.
At that, Jeon Hae-in forced a slight smile under Kang Cheon-gyu's gaze.
"Was...it? It's been so long, I can't remember."
At that time, In-hyuk had revealed that he knew about being Kang Cheon-gyu's biological son.
For her, it was an unforgettable day, yet she blatantly dodged.
"That's understandable."
"The two of you met? For what reason?"
At Kang Cheon-gyu's question, Jeon Hae-in glanced at In-hyuk and trailed off.
"Well, it's just..."
"I happened to run into her when I visited the gallery to see my mother-in-law. I just gave a brief greeting."
"Ah, I see."
Jeon Hae-in, relieved, still looked at In-hyuk with a cold edge.
Kang Cheon-gyu's question continued.
"Were you okay after getting hurt in that incident? No lingering effects?"
"I'm fine."
"That's good to hear. And pardon my rudeness, but after all that happened, I heard a bit more about you... did you grow up in an orphanage?"
"It's not really a big deal. As you said, I'm an orphan. I don't know who my parents are, and I grew up in an orphanage in Andong, then graduated university with the support of the Taeshin Education Foundation."
With admiration, Kang Cheon-gyu nodded.
"I saw you graduated business administration at Korea University. Even with support, getting into Taeshin Trading is remarkable. And all the recent successes you've had."
"I was just lucky."
Suddenly, Jeon Hae-in cut in from the side.
"Why do you bring up things that make people uncomfortable?"
"Oh, is that so?"
"I'm alright."
In-hyuk fully understood her reason.
It was because Kang Cheon-gyu was suddenly showing unusual interest in him.
'Did he find out that I'm his son?'
But there was a point of doubt.
According to the informants he had in KQ Group through his connection/poaching, it would have been hard for him to find out.
'Did someone tell him on purpose?'
While lost in thought, In-hyuk met Kang Cheon-gyu's gaze, who had been closely observing his face.
"Aren't you curious about who your parents are? With what happened last time, and as a thanks for not making things noisy and handling it quietly, if you want, I could find them for you."
At that moment, Jeon Hae-in's eyes flashed frighteningly.
"My parents? I've lived more than thirty years without knowing and never felt inconvenienced. Is there really a need? Besides, my parents..."
"What about them?"
"Honestly, they might not be good people. And considering where I'm at now, it could negatively impact Taeshin Group."
He meant parents who appear only after their abandoned child becomes famous or wealthy.
Most cases ended poorly, so Kang Cheon-gyu could somewhat accept that reasoning.
"There could have been personal circumstances. Maybe they were too poor or unwell..."
"Maybe so, but I'm not thinking about it now. I have too much to do."
"Hmm...is that so? Just thought I'd ask. Still, if you ever change your mind, let me know anytime."
"Understood."
"Enjoy the party, and let's meet again next time."
Kang Cheon-gyu offered his hand and shook In-hyuk's.
As they headed off elsewhere, Jeon Hae-in turned to look back at In-hyuk, her eyes full of unease.