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Translator: uly
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: First Day Preparations
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After meeting Kim Mi-jin, Lee Dae-hyuk moved about busily.
In truth, he didn't have much to do himself.
Kim Mi-jin had taken charge of tasks like establishing the corporation and making donations, while Kim Jae-woon was burning the midnight oil on investments, raking in profits.
And finally, the day before his first day at work.
Lee Dae-hyuk found himself, led by Kim Mi-jin and Yoon Tae-ho, in a place he never could have anticipated.
"Our Young Master's clothes fit him perfectly. Wow, really, you look so handsome. Sigh, why did I ever fall for this guy when I could have had a tall, handsome man like you?"
"Is that something you say with your husband right here?"
As Kim Mi-jin grumbled playfully, Yoon Tae-ho pretended to glare at her.
But even as Lee Dae-hyuk smiled at their lighthearted banter, he felt a wave of fatigue.
The place where Lee Dae-hyuk stood was the VIP room at Daehan Department Store.
Since he had nothing—no suit, shoes, or briefcase for his first day—they had dragged him here.
But Lee Dae-hyuk was troubled.
He knew he wasn't the real star of this show.
Kim Mi-jin and Yoon Tae-ho were delighting in dressing him up in suits one after another, like children playing house with a doll.
They seemed as joyful as parents sending off their grown son for his first day on the job.
It was probably the kind of happiness they'd get from a daughter, experienced vicariously through him.
That was how precious Lee Dae-hyuk was to them.
"I've instructed them to set you up with the very best suits, bags, and shoes from Daehan Department Store."
Suits followed by shoes, ties, belts, briefcases, and more.
Yoon Tae-ho let out a satisfied smile as he adorned Lee Dae-hyuk with all these luxury items.
Clothes make the man, indeed.
Especially for Lee Dae-hyuk, who had inherited good looks from his handsome parents—his appearance was on par with any actor.
But due to his depression, he hadn't taken proper care, dulling his charm.
Now, dressed in high-end suits, his innate beauty began to shine through.
"Wow, you look so handsome. Thanks to you, Young Master, Daehan Construction's female employees are in for a treat. A real treat."
Kim Mi-jin clapped her hands, and Yoon Tae-ho nodded in agreement.
"As expected of our Young Master."
The two showered him with endless praise in excited voices, utterly delighted.
But.
"Um... you two."
Blushing with embarrassment, Lee Dae-hyuk spoke in a small voice.
"Please call me 'Mr. Lee Dae-hyuk' outside. If others hear 'Young Master,' they'll think we're shooting a historical drama. It won't look good for Daehan Group's image either."
Lee Dae-hyuk wanted to stop them from calling him 'Young Master' altogether, but they were so insistent on the title that he compromised: just add 'Mr.' outside.
Yoon Tae-ho and Kim Mi-jin nodded awkwardly.
"Got it. Youn... I mean, Mr. Lee Dae-hyuk. I'll remind him."
"You're the one saying 'Young Master' while talking about reminding him? Do... I mean, um, Mr. Lee Dae-hyuk."
Kim Mi-jin flushed as she scolded Yoon Tae-ho, her old habit slipping out unbidden.
'Sigh... I knew it wouldn't change easily. Anyway, this place...'
Letting out a soft sigh as he looked at them, Lee Dae-hyuk surveyed the special VIP room that offered exclusive service.
A 40-pyeong space dedicated to VIPs, where the finest items from desired categories were brought and displayed.
If a VIP wasn't satisfied, the items were swapped out repeatedly.
And every rotating suit, shoe, belt, or briefcase here cost as much as an average office worker's annual salary.
'No doubt chaebols think differently.'
Their basic sense of money was on another level.
Having observed Yoo Jae-man up close, he thought he'd grown accustomed to chaebol spending habits.
But now that he was one himself, it felt dizzying.
'I need to shed this commoner mindset.'
To beat Yoo Jae-man, he had to become a perfect chaebol.
He needed to think, act, and judge like one for any chance of victory.
Perhaps that's why he might need to buy these suits, ties, shoes, and belts.
But not now.
Tomorrow, he was starting as an ordinary 'employee,' not a chaebol heir or executive.
"You two insisted, so I tried them on, but I have no intention of buying any of this."
"Don't you like them? Should we have them bring others?"
"Yeah, let's do that. Staff..."
As soon as Kim Mi-jin asked, Yoon Tae-ho moved to call over the attendant by the VIP room entrance.
But Lee Dae-hyuk stopped him in a serious tone.
"Tomorrow is my first day at work. As a new employee."
"Yes. That's why we're here preparing with you and the missus."
At Yoon Tae-ho's response, a faint crease formed between Lee Dae-hyuk's brows.
'Has affection clouded their judgment?'
The old Kim Geon-woo might have raised his voice at them for missing something so basic.
But thanks to Lee Dae-hyuk's memories, he explained the situation calmly instead of getting angry.
"My joining the company is still a secret. I'm entering as a regular new hire, not a chaebol third-generation."
"Ah!!"
At his point, the couple's mouths fell open in unison.
In their excitement, they'd overlooked the most crucial detail.
What would happen if he showed up to his first day decked out in luxury brands no entry-level salary could afford?
The company wouldn't turn upside down, but he'd draw wary, suspicious glances.
Who would want to get close to such a flashy(?) new hire?
Especially for Lee Dae-hyuk, entering as a regular employee to learn Daehan Construction's inner workings.
It was a mistake he absolutely couldn't make.
Of course, it was a minor thing that could be brushed off.
His identity wouldn't be exposed instantly in the company.
But he demonstrated meticulousness, not overlooking even the smallest flaw.
Had the VIP room staff not been present, Yoon Tae-ho and Kim Mi-jin would have bowed their heads, apologizing while calling him 'Young Master.'
"..."
"I've played dress-up doll for you out of respect for your intentions, but now let's go buy some real clothes I can actually wear."
***
Time passed, and the morning of his first day arrived.
After a simple breakfast and shower, Lee Dae-hyuk stood before the mirror in the mid-range suit he'd bought yesterday.
It was the cheapest one in the men's suit section, so Yoon Tae-ho and Kim Mi-jin had vehemently opposed it, refusing to let him wear such a thing.
But what could they do? He was the boss.
Ignoring their protests cleanly, Lee Dae-hyuk bought the suit and sent them home.
"...So this is what it feels like?"
Dressed in the suit, Lee Dae-hyuk was lost in a strange sentiment.
[Geon-woo, your mom saw you in a suit before she died. That's enough. It's enough.]
Back when he lived as Kim Geon-woo.
His mother had so desperately wanted him to wear a suit and become an ordinary office worker.
What mother would wish for her son to be a gangster?
He'd wanted to appear as a normal businessman to her, at least.
But deceiving one person for decades is impossible.
Over time, even his mother had suspected his true nature.
'Still, I wore suits plenty.'
A bitter smile tugged at Lee Dae-hyuk's lips.
He knew her wish wasn't just about suits—it was for him to live an ordinary life.
He'd worn suits, but in the end... he never lived an ordinary life until his dying breath.
This life wouldn't be ordinary either.
'I'm sorry, Mom. I can't fulfill your wish to the end.'
A pang of regret and contemplation rose within him.
Slap-!
Lee Dae-hyuk slapped both cheeks hard with his hands.
This wasn't the time to indulge in sentiment.
It was only just beginning.
Sentiment—no, stray thoughts—could wait until he'd achieved everything and succeeded in his revenge.
Was it the stinging pain on his cheeks?
Or his renewed resolve?
With determined eyes fixed ahead, Lee Dae-hyuk left the room.
***
Stepping out to the front gate, Lee Dae-hyuk frowned.
Yoon Tae-ho stood there with the security detail.
"Didn't I tell you? I'd handle commuting on my own."
"Ah, well, you see..."
Yoon Tae-ho scratched his head with a troubled look.
He'd planned to keep his distance during commutes, as Lee Dae-hyuk wished, while still providing protection.
He hadn't intended to show up in front of him today at all.
Celebrations for the first day could wait until evening.
But his plans went awry from the start.
A sudden special guest had given him orders.
'An uninvited guest today, I suppose?'
Yoon Tae-ho glanced back at the 'special uninvited guest' behind him.
Then.
Step, step—
A man stepped forward from behind Yoon Tae-ho and burst into hearty laughter upon seeing Lee Dae-hyuk.
"I brought Yoon the Manager because I wanted to see you, Young Master. If you're going to scold someone, scold me instead. Haha!"
Lee Dae-hyuk couldn't help but be startled by the sudden appearance of the man.
It was Kim Dae-min, Chief Secretary, the closest aide to Lee Myung-guk.
***
"It's been a while since we've talked just the two of us."
In the sedan, driven by Kim Dae-min's personal secretary.
Even at Kim Dae-min's gentle tone, Lee Dae-hyuk didn't lower his guard.
Today was an important day, after all.
Yet here was Kim Dae-min, the second-busiest person in Daehan Group after Lee Myung-guk, coming to see him?
There had to be some intent behind it.
'An order from Father?'
Drawing on his memories, Lee Dae-hyuk made a few inferences about Kim Dae-min.
Not exactly friendly, but not an enemy.
He was one of the few outsiders who knew best about the abuse Lee Dae-hyuk suffered.
He hadn't approached him specially, nor taken direct action against Lee Myung-guk's wife and children to stop it.
'Just a bystander?'
Whenever he ran into Lee Dae-hyuk with Lee Myung-guk, he'd offer a soft smile.
Always maintaining an appropriate line and distance.
But even as a child, Lee Dae-hyuk understood that smile.
It was a dry, emotionless one.
Kim Dae-min was just a bystander like the others, not someone who would help him.
Same as always.
He'd probably come now on his father's orders, to offer support.
Yet his sharp eyes scanned Lee Dae-hyuk keenly.
'Not sure if he's here to help or to spy.'
In any case, Kim Dae-min wasn't on his side right now.
Even so, Lee Dae-hyuk harbored no hostility.
To achieve his primary goal of becoming Daehan Group's heir, he needed to keep friendly relations with Kim Dae-min.
'Should I have shaken his hand right away?'
Doing it now would feel awkward.
They weren't close enough for him to brush dust off his shoulders like with Yoon Tae-ho.
'Too bad, but there'll be other chances.'
Lee Dae-hyuk swallowed his regret.
As his father's close aide, they'd cross paths often.
He could extract all the juicy info(?) then.
For now, he needed to focus on reshaping his image.
"Thanks for taking care of me at the hospital."
"No need to thank me. I was just doing what needed to be done."
Pride laced Kim Dae-min's voice.
His words struck Lee Dae-hyuk as odd.
Today was his first day at work.
He wouldn't have come just to show off his pride.
To draw out Kim Dae-min's true intentions, Lee Dae-hyuk fired the first shot.
"I've always been grateful for you, Chief Secretary. Not just to Father, but you'll be essential to me in the future too."
"...Essential. Thank you for the praise."
Kim Dae-min's eyes narrowed slightly.
He'd caught the core of Lee Dae-hyuk's words.
The Daehan Group chief secretary would be necessary.
That was tantamount to declaring his intent to become chairman.