Chapter 80….
The True Nature of CEO Jang (2)
CEO Jang Sang-su, watching the car drive away, turned to Director Gu Bong-han standing next to him and spoke.
“Clamp down.”
“Sir?”
“Yeo Si-yeon. Clamp down on her.”
“Yes, sir.”
The smile that had seemed like that of a friendly uncle faded, replaced by Jang’s indifferent expression.
“Just now, when that brat said he’d take her away, she really smiled brightly, didn’t she?”
“Ah, is that so?”
“Humans, you see, once they have somewhere to lean on, they start entertaining other thoughts. And when they have multiple things to grab onto, they always develop the instinct to choose.”
“You’re right, sir.”
Gu nodded along with Jang’s offhand words.
“So tighten things up, cut everything else off. Make sure she knows there’s only one place to lean on—here. Don’t give her the chance to even think about options.”
“Yes, sir.”
This was how CEO Jang had always built his company.
To some, it might look like gaslighting.
Strictly speaking, it was gaslighting. Harsh, but effective.
Not that Jang thought, “This is gaslighting, so I’ll use it.”
No—this was simply the method that had worked best for him in life.
The most effective way to bind a person was to remove all support and shrink their world.
The smaller the world, the narrower the thoughts.
Like fleas in a box, who can only jump as high as the box allows.
That was Jang’s management style—shrinking people’s worlds until they could think no further.
Yeo Si-yeon finally felt as though she could breathe again.
Before, CEO Jang had only hinted, in metaphor, that “if we date, it’ll be good for you.”
But this time, he had bared his fangs openly.
That moment had left her suffocated, even though she’d known exactly what kind of meeting this was.
She was only grateful that Woo Soo-han had agreed to come with her despite knowing everything.
Still, she began to wonder if it wasn’t best to end things here.
Soo-han seemed to think Jang’s tricks were simple.
But this was anything but simple.
Just then, Soo-han put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. You think I’m an idiot?”
His joking manner only complicated her emotions.
Yet as he continued to reassure her, she gradually felt herself calm down.
“It might sound rude, but… is that company really greater than Baeksan Group?”
“Not really.”
Even so, she couldn’t be sure how far Chairman Yang Man-sik of Baeksan would go to protect Soo-han, who wasn’t even family.
Just then, Soo-han made a call.
“A video call? With who…”
– What the hell? A video call out of nowhere?
“Boss!”
– I knew it was you.
“Here’s our actress, Yeo Si-yeon!”
– Huh? I told you to go film a movie, and you’re off fooling around instead?
“It’s not like that—it’s that gangster’s agency!”
Listening to their casual banter, Si-yeon grew more and more shocked.
She had heard they were close, even through Soo-han himself, but she thought there had to be some exaggeration.
Now, watching this call, she felt the rumors were actually understated.
– That bastard Jang Sang-su is the CEO there, right?
“Yeah. He keeps pushing me to woo senior Yeo here!”
Chairman Yang suddenly fell silent.
Si-yeon felt her heart pound louder with tension.
– That’s one crazy bastard. What about that poor girl’s life, to be pushed into your hands…
“……”
“Pfft!”
Si-yeon clapped a hand over her mouth.
She couldn’t help it.
She’d been so tense—and then Chairman Yang’s sudden blunt remark shattered her composure completely.
“I’ll hang up.”
– Hey! You brat! Like you’re any better? You’re still half a beggar! I hear you’re creeping around like some stalker these days! And what? You’ve had two wives run away already, and you think you can teach someone about romance? Idiot. You’d be better off learning from me.
“Huh? Boss, that’s crossing the line! I mean, with all due respect, what’s there to brag about? I saw Madam once, and the verdict was clear.”
– V-verdict?
“Pure devotion. Anyone who can put up with a nasty-tempered guy like you is basically an angel.”
– You brat!!
The chairman’s face filled the screen, red with fury.
“Whoa, feels like 3D—like you’re about to burst through the screen.”
– Still! Back in the day, women followed me down the street! Even now, when I go to my villa, the village wives—
“Careful, this is recorded. I’ll tell Madam.”
– …I just meant they said I looked pleasant, you idiot!
“Sure, you can explain to her directly.”
– Y-you’d really tell her?
“Relax, just joking. Anyway, we met today.”
– I’ve already been briefed. Manager Yoo’s tailing you. Who knows what kind of mess you’ll stir.
Listening to their back-and-forth, Si-yeon felt dizzy.
But the tension had melted away.
Their conversation went beyond familiarity—it was like real family.
“No wonder I felt bold today. I almost stirred trouble.”
– Good thing you didn’t. You can’t afford bad rumors now.
“Right, right.”
– You’ve got contracts, ad shoots, and investments in film. Be careful.
“Yes, sir. But seriously—they were pushing her at me. When I came back from the bathroom, things were a total mess. They even tried to get her to drug me.”
Si-yeon’s face went pale.
That had been said only when it was just her and Jang—before Soo-han had arrived.
“H-how did you know?”
“There are ways.”
“Haa…”
She finally exhaled in relief.
– That bastard’s pulled every dirty trick imaginable. Just never been caught.
“So I got her out of there, looking like death.”
– Good job.
“She kept looking anxious, so I called you. That was right, yeah?”
– You did right. Actress Yeo, don’t worry. He’ll handle things. You won’t be harmed.
Si-yeon looked at Soo-han.
He grinned at her.
“Feeling safer now? Told you I had strong backing.”
– That brat’s practically like a benefactor to me. Don’t worry too much.
“Thanks! I’ll treat you sometime properly—how about fermented soybean stew?”
– Love it.
“Okay! And if I need a favor, I’ll reach out.”
– I’ve been wondering how to deal with that bastard anyway. Call me.
“Yes, sir. Sleep well, Boss!”
– Alright.
It didn’t sound like a call between a tycoon and a regular guy.
It sounded more like a grandfather and his cheeky grandson.
If anything, it felt even closer than family.
“Hyung Yu-cheon, did you hear? Manager Yoo was tailing us today?”
“Yeah, that car behind us belongs to Baeksan’s secretarial office.”
“You knew?”
“He warned me. You think I’d be crazy enough to go in there without backup? Half that place is thugs.”
“No wonder you seemed bold.”
Hearing this, Si-yeon finally felt sleep wash over her.
Whether from relief or exhaustion, she drifted off instantly.
Snore…
“Wow, first time I’ve heard an actress snore.”
“Actresses are human too.”
She had fallen asleep the moment the call ended.
It was practically like she’d fainted.
She must have been drained mentally today.
“Hey, can I come out now?”
“Huh? You were still here?”
From between the blankets, a familiar face appeared—it was Man-su.
“Why’d you stay hidden this whole time? The car’s gone.”
“That actress suddenly got in.”
“She’s on our side.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“Oh… my bad.”
Man-su didn’t look like he’d suffered.
With pillow marks still on his cheek, he clearly had been napping.
“We need to talk when we get back.”
Hearing him, the spirit-elder finally spoke.
[He’s right. Let’s talk back at the temple. Too many ears here.]
Snore…
“Doesn’t sound like she’s faking sleep.”
[All the same.]
“Yes, sir.”
So we drove to the temple.
We first dropped off senior Yeo safely at her house, where Baeksan’s men also stood guard—another sign of the chairman’s care.
Finally, we arrived at Man-su’s shrine.
It wasn’t just for guests—it was where a shaman served the gods.
That gave it a unique aura.
[At first, I thought he was just possessed by an evil spirit. Maybe the spirit was playing tricks.]
“What? So he’s not possessed?”
[Tch, let me finish first.]
“Yes, sir.”
Unlike us chatting in real time, Man-su sat with his eyes closed, listening intently.
[He’s already beyond being simply human or spirit. The line is meaningless now.]
“What kind of fusion is that supposed to be? Did a ghost merge-transform with him?”
[Not like that. The spirit that had entered him was absorbed completely.]
I didn’t quite understand. Was it like me?
“Possession?”
[Not exactly. This was a perfect fit—they blended and became one. You can’t separate them anymore. You could call him a human with a ghost’s heart.]
“So an exorcism wouldn’t work?”
Man-su slowly shook his head.
“Even if Jang himself begged us, we couldn’t pull it out. Once fused, their life and death are tied. If separated, he’d likely die—or live as an empty shell. His body could even become a playground for wandering spirits.”
“A… playground?”
“Like how spirits pass through you—they’d come and go without permission. His body would be public property for ghosts.”
“Ugh…”
Just hearing it made me dizzy.
Possession sounds simple, but the psychological backlash is no joke.
