SWNOVELXO Chapter 144
“How about you just stop?”
“……”
Choi Na-kyung quietly gazed down at the table, her hands clasped together. There was a mug of tea emanating steam, freshly brewed.
Honestly, she’d never really had a long conversation about tea until it got cold, but still, she’d never jumped straight into the main topic like this when tea was served.
“Honestly, I don’t know what you’re talking about when you say ‘stop’.”
Choi Na-kyung said this while slipping a finger around the handle of her mug. She raised the warm cup and took a sip.
The bitter aroma of the tea filled her mouth. Perhaps it was too hot, as it tasted a bit astringent.
But it seemed her counterpart had no intention of even touching their tea.
“The company can hardly be said to have a good image already.”
However, her counterpart offered a subtly evasive answer to Choi Na-kyung’s question.
…This person had been on Ye In-soo’s side even before he was born.
No, in fact, most of the people in this photo were still on Ye In-soo’s side. The company was founded way back during his grandfather’s time and had continued on till now. It was more strange if there weren’t any relatives from that family around.
And to those people, Choi Na-kyung did not seem to be part of the ‘Ye family.’
It made sense. She was neither blood-related nor had she given any blood. Just an alien outsider who entered as the second wife at the request of the first wife.
In this photo, there were Ye In-soo’s long-time friends and family members as well. It was fortunate that he didn’t have any siblings. If he did, Choi Na-kyung wouldn’t be able to hold this position.
“Even if the image isn’t good, there isn’t another company like ours.”
Choi Na-kyung said this as she set down her mug.
It was exactly as she said.
Other companies within Yujin Group might differ, but that’s not the case with Yujin Electronics, the subject currently under discussion.
In a capitalist society, a company’s fate is entirely dependent on its capital.
Of course, the people leading that company matter too, but whether or not they can execute everything dictated by ‘capital’ is crucial.
Producing CPUs with performance hard to match in other companies, launching products with a clean design that everyone considers beautiful, and collaborating with celebrities to ensure those products sell well through strategic marketing.
It all boils down to one thing: ‘money.’
And Yujin Group was a massive enterprise, one of the few that could be compared for its capital not only domestically but globally.
Such an enterprise would not collapse overnight due to a mere ‘image’ issue. Rather, it could go under due to poor investments.
“This isn’t what I’m talking about right now.”
Besides, what you’re saying is completely different from what I was just discussing.
However, she didn’t voice these thoughts. After all, Choi Na-kyung had learned not to say everything she wanted to say even after all these years.
“You’ve handed over most of the management to this photo. Since that incident, have I ever directly overseen this company? I’ve simply taken the presentations you all prepared and gone to present them.”
In reality, the personal image of ‘Choi Na-kyung’ wasn’t particularly bad.
The circulating rumors were only within the ‘inner circle.’ They never ventured outside the upper class. If they did, Yujin Group would directly investigate to find out who spread those rumors.
The incident regarding the patent had long since faded into memory. Besides, the lawsuit was between companies. While Choi Na-kyung might have pursued it due to personal feelings, ultimately, the hit was taken by the company’s image, not hers.
Thus, to the public, Choi Na-kyung was seen as quite ‘acceptable.’
Younger compared to others from different companies and undeniably beautiful.
One who, bearing such an image, had efficiently secured a place at the top of the company.
Essentially, she was someone who fit the so-called ‘trend.’
The presentations crafted by experts within the group were flashy and appealing. Those presentations were delivered by a beautiful woman, the company’s chairwoman.
It was bound to get good reactions.
That didn’t mean there weren’t gossip or rumors. Her being the second wife and thus becoming the chairwoman. Consequently, claiming she chased that position… Such rumors floated, yet Choi Na-kyung laughed them off every time.
What she truly valued wasn’t money.
Money was merely a means to an end.
“And if the chairwoman’s image goes down, all the presentation’s image will go down with it.”
“……”
If an entertainer were to fall from grace, the related products would become subjects of boycott in no time. They’d authenticate product destruction, sponsors would cancel all contracts, and apologies would be plastered on the company’s website.
If that happened to the chairwoman…
Well, it might not be such a big deal.
In the worst case scenario, even if the chairwoman went to prison, companies that already had a dominant market grasp wouldn’t be easily shaken. No matter how much the news blared, people would still buy when they needed to.
However, this all depended on the ‘type of crime’ as well.
“Chairwoman, when was the last time you visited Sara?”
“……”
Was it about a month ago?
“Why do you ask such things? I thought you said you wouldn’t interfere with family matters.”
When he had approached Sara, Choi Na-kyung had been proactive in protecting her.
Not just him, but anyone trying to get close to Sara for their own reasons were potential enemies to Choi Na-kyung. She judged and acted accordingly.
“That’s right. I decided to mind my own business. We tried our best to hold you in high regard.”
She had merely been treated as the ‘wife’ tasked with raising the company’s heir safely.
Yet, she didn’t need to say that. Just like before, she knew how to differentiate between what needed to be said and what didn’t.
……And the truth is, that was exactly why Ye In-soo took her as his second wife.
They had never desired each other.
Ye In-soo simply wanted someone who would be a mother to his daughter, while Choi Na-kyung had just wanted to be Sara’s… well, simply that.
“But recently, we received some information that we simply can’t ignore.”
“I thought you said you wouldn’t conduct investigations?”
“I didn’t conduct an investigation. Rather, it’s more accurate to say that someone seems to be sending information on purpose.”
He said this as he handed over a document envelope.
It wasn’t a very thick envelope. It was unsealed.
However, the fact that nothing was written on it was somewhat unsettling.
“……”
Choi Na-kyung took the envelope.
She opened it and checked the contents inside.
What was there were photos.
Pictures taken periodically at the same time every day.
Such photos were densely printed across several sheets of A4 paper.
Every single photo was aimed at the front gate of the mansion. Photos of Sara going to school.
…Bringing her friends home and coming out with them.
“…What does this mean?”
Choi Na-kyung tried her best to hide her agitation, letting the envelope fall onto the desk as if tossing it.
It wasn’t the fact that the sender had these pictures that disturbed her.
Rather, she was agitated about the fact that Sara had been living with her friends in the same house.
However, the person in front of her, who only thinks about money, would surely misinterpret her agitation.
“It’s just pictures, after all.”
“The chairwoman appears in only four of those photos. You entered and exited twice, I believe…”
He let out a mock sigh and said.
“Chairwoman, could it be that you’re neglecting Sara?”
“……”
Ah.
So that’s what this person wanted to say.
“……Where did these photos come from?”
“What are you going to do if I tell you? Will you sue that person to stop them from taking such pictures? Chairwoman, using that method too often can have the opposite effect. And you can’t always guarantee that you’ll win against that opponent.”
“……”
“And, we don’t know. We believe it’s safer to avoid any ‘illegal’ actions while uncovering such information.”
More than that, it was likely that this information was beneficial to them.
“……There’s some empty space between these photos.”
In the end, Choi Na-kyung could only make such a feeble excuse.
“Does that mean you visited during that time?”
“……Yes.”
“Is that so?”
She didn’t exactly look convinced.
But it seemed she had decided to believe it.
Choosing to trust seemed to be more beneficial for ‘money’ than distrust, after all.
“If so, how about bringing Sara to the company sometime? Clear up any misunderstandings with everyone and show her around the office. After all, someday Sara will likely work here too.”
“……”
Choi Na-kyung merely lifted her teacup again, without responding.