Chapter 19
Yuseong, unusually, didn’t resist those words and remained silent.
Even if the rest wasn’t worth hearing, that was a fact—being young and inexperienced, the directors didn’t even expect much from Yuseong.
“Convincing them of my ability is a task I need to solve.”
Just as Yuseong was about to join Shinyang Trading’s Strategic Planning Team, Byeong-oh collapsed.
After that, it was only natural that Oh Dae-ho, wary of Yuseong, blocked her entry.
Up until then, Yuseong had only existed nominally as a director and had no real experience.
However, Byeong-oh had always made a habit of asking Yuseong whenever a major decision had to be made.
At first, being entrusted with critical decisions felt burdensome and uncomfortable, but over time, Yuseong came to understand her father’s intention.
It was a way to judge whether she had the qualities of a successor.
By having her indirectly experience the burdens a company leader faces, Byeong-oh had essentially begun early training for Yuseong as his successor.
And so Yuseong was confident.
She knew she was the only suitable person to take over for Chairman Shin Byeong-oh.
Hoo. After finishing her thoughts, Yuseong took a deep breath and lifted her head.
Yuna froze for a moment at the determined look in her eyes.
“Director Oh Yuna. Do you know the founding principle of Shinyang Trading?”
“…What? Why would you ask something like that?”
The founding principle of Shinyang Trading.
There was a four-character idiom that Byeong-oh always emphasized, whether in formal gatherings or casual moments.
Four characters Yuseong had heard so often her ears could almost have grown crusts.
“파사현정 (破邪顯正)!!!!”
Bang! Yuseong slammed the table and shouted.
“Ah! Jeez!”
Startled by her intensity, Yuna instinctively stepped back.
Everyone flinched slightly.
“This is the founding principle of Shinyang Trading. I assume all the directors here are aware of it.”
“Pasa… what?”
Hyunjung frowned, thinking it sounded like a person’s name.
“It means ‘Destroy evil, reveal justice.’ Chairman Shin Byeong-oh always tried to uphold it. However, as a result, Shinyang Trading has become corrupt. It has turned into a typical mafia-like company.”
Yuna blinked rapidly at Yuseong’s explanation.
‘What on earth is she trying to say?’
She couldn’t make sense of Yuseong’s point.
Then, Yuseong stared directly at Yuna and pressed her.
“Director Oh Yuna. Don’t you feel any responsibility? I understand that the corruption at Shinyang Trading has much to do with your influence and that of your father, Vice Chairman Oh Dae-ho.”
Yuna’s eyes went wide. “Oh my God, is she crazy?!”
The audacity of this person to talk like that about her father, Oh Dae-ho! Her blood boiled.
Unable to control her anger, she reached for Yuseong, intending to grab her hair.
“How dare you bring up my dad? You crazy woman?!”
But her hand was stopped by Su-hyeok.
“Ah!”
He firmly grasped Yuna’s wrist and flung it away as if it were something dirty.
“W-what are you doing? Why are you taking her side?”
Could it be… this man is Yuseong’s second-in-command?
Is she secretly playing along with him behind Kwon Hyuk-jun’s back?
While Yuna froze in shock, Yuseong coldly scolded her.
“Director Oh Yuna. Use proper honorifics. This is not a place for casual talk.”
“T-this…!”
Ignoring Yuna’s tantrum, Yuseong made eye contact with Chang-min.
Chang-min nodded and began distributing stacks of documents from a corner to the directors.
Yuna took a document and examined it.
“What… what is this?”
Her hands trembled as she read.
“This is the report detailing the embezzlement of company funds and manipulation of business plans by Director Oh Yuna, Shin Kyung-hee, and Vice Chairman Oh Dae-ho.”
It was information that could ruin them, extracted from Oh Dae-ho’s phone.
“How could members of the company’s top management commit such acts while Shinyang Trading faces a crisis?”
The directors, checking the documents with serious expressions, began questioning Yuna.
“Director Oh, is this true?”
“Damn it… No! This is all lies!”
“Stop swearing! If this is true, it’s grounds for legal action! Are you out of your mind?”
Faced with so many disapproving stares, Yuna couldn’t even defend herself and broke down crying.
“Why are you only picking on me? And she insulted me too! Why isn’t anyone saying anything to her?! You said Shinyang Trading is on the brink of collapse!”
“…What did you say?”
“On the brink of collapse!!”
A mixture of sighs and silence followed.
Yuseong, stunned by Yuna’s ignorance, finally stopped speaking.
Chang-min whispered to Su-chul.
“…Brother, my education is short, but I think she’s really hopeless.”
“She probably just has a blank mind. Yes, completely empty…”
Yuna sniffled, noticing the sudden silence and the awkward atmosphere.
“What… why is it so quiet? Did I say something wrong?”
Yuseong approached the flustered Yuna.
“Director Oh Yuna. When I said ‘존X 망,’ I meant the term referring to existence and ruin—‘존망’—not some slang.”
“…What?”
Sigh… Yuseong suppressed his irritation at Yuna’s complete lack of understanding and refocused.
This was the moment to appeal to the directors.
Yuseong began speaking to them with firm eyes.
“The state of Shinyang Trading is largely due to Vice Chairman Oh Dae-ho and his wife’s mistakes. However, I don’t think my late father was without fault either.”
“Director Shin Yuseong, what did you just say?”
The directors reacted to Yuseong’s criticism of Byeong-oh.
But Yuseong continued without flinching.
“Chairman Shin’s only weakness was that he was overly protective of his family. That is why he couldn’t remove Vice Chairman Oh Dae-ho, Director Shin Kyung-hee, or Director Oh Yuna, who repeatedly caused problems.”
While the chairman was alive, Oh Dae-ho had shown his claws, but every time, the chairman had failed to act properly, letting it slide.
Being too soft on family was a major flaw of her father, and the directors, fully aware of this, had nothing to say to Yuseong.
Now it was her turn to address the pain points of the directors.
“But I am different. Not all family are the same. You now understand why I distributed this report.”
“…So you mean…”
“If anyone betrays Shinyang Trading’s founding principle, they must be strongly disciplined, even if they are family.”
Yuseong spoke coldly and clearly to Yuna, who was fuming.
“Also, I am Chairman Shin Byeong-oh’s only child. If we are to properly manage a family business, direct lineage comes before collateral lines, right?”
“Ha…!”
“So, Director Oh Yuna, do not expect to be treated the same as me.”
Yuna, her lower lip white from clenching it, met Su-hyeok’s eyes with tears welling up.
For about a second, their eyes met.
“…!”
Su-hyeok glanced at Yuna as if she were a bug, then turned back to Yuseong.
Unlike when she looked at him, his gaze now carried awe.
“…Hmph!”
Unable to endure the embarrassment, Yuna stormed out of the meeting room.
Yuseong, unfazed, concluded her words.
“…Please help me carry on Chairman Shin Byeong-oh’s will, maintaining Shinyang Trading’s principles and values.”
She bowed 90 degrees to the directors.
“As his child and a member of Shinyang Trading, I ask this of you.”
Before Director Yoo Kyung-min, Chairman Shin Byeong-oh’s image flashed momentarily.
“I’ve lived with much shame, but now, help me live righteously, Yoo Kyung-min.”
Seeing the chairman bow before them, the directors likely imagined Yuseong as an embodiment of him.
And they all felt that while they might have thought no one could fill Shin Byeong-oh’s position, if there were anyone, it would be this girl before them.
Moved, Su-chul stood up, clapping and shouting Yuseong’s name.
“Shin! Yu! Seong! Shin! Yu! Seong!”
His twins followed, chanting along, and the directors also clapped and smiled.
“…Thank you!”
Receiving recognition from the directors, Yuseong, unable to hide her joy, inadvertently glanced at Su-hyeok.
Su-hyeok, seeing the proud expression on the little girl’s face, couldn’t help but smirk.
“Well done, Shin Yuseong.”
It was, without question, the perfect victory of his capable wife.
