Chapter 6
The long-stalled INTO Project finally broke ground.
Hyunsung Interior, which had been running a free home renovation program for low-income families, decided to invest in Inho City’s youth cultural center.
Although support from the Jeongseon Foundation had fallen through, from the perspective of Hyun Architecture, Hyunsung Interior—its parent company—was nothing short of a savior.
“Art.”
“Absolutely art.”
Minju, who had rushed to Inho City early in the morning to witness the project’s official launch, watched almost entranced as CEO Kwon oversaw the demolition of the fence around the Taeyang Mill.
The old corrugated iron fence crumbled and was lifted away with a fluid, precise motion.
“As expected, the excavator belongs to Mr. Cheon.”
CEO Kwon spoke with admiration. The small-framed Cheon maneuvered a machine larger than himself with perfect control, meticulously clearing the accumulated layers of time.
“We barely convinced him not to go to another site.”
“Whatever you used to persuade him, Team Seo, deserves a reward.”
“Bokbunja wine.”
CEO Kwon chuckled, giving Minju a friendly nudge on the shoulder. After his previous lonely years and a careful remarriage to a gentle Vietnamese woman, it was hard for Cheon to resist such a gesture.
“I was worried the project might get delayed, but it’s a relief.”
“Team Leader Seo, you’re usually lucky. He started this trusting you.”
“Not a disaster, then?”
“Look at it—coming down this beautifully, what disaster?”
Minju caught a side glance from CEO Kwon, who winked at her with satisfaction, as if reassuring her about the past failed presentation in Beijing.
‘Let’s try something fun together.’
Around the time Minju considered returning to Korea from Europe, she had received an invitation from CEO Kwon, her university senior. Her previous contract was ending, and the thought of a hearty Korean meal beckoned. Above all, concern for her father, who would be alone, solidified her decision to return.
CEO Kwon had always been more interested in renovating old structures than building anew. Since the founding of Hyun Architecture, he had garnered attention by creatively repurposing modern-era buildings.
‘Can I really do this?’
Though CEO Kwon had persuaded her—praising her discerning eye, historical knowledge, and practical experience—the field wasn’t one she could approach lightly, given her background in art history and cultural heritage recovery.
Still, she was drawn to the role of art director because of the allure of transforming spaces. The process of destruction and rebirth was challenging, but the results were consistently rewarding.
“Renovation feels like a second chance, like there’s still one opportunity left.”
“Don’t worry—you’ll have more opportunities. Don’t be too disheartened.”
Minju nodded, smiling gently.
“There’s no need to carry past failures. You can start fresh. That’s what it feels like—reassurance.”
Though she had taken on a foreign field, aware of her limitations, it was a bold adventure. She was captivated by the idea of breathing life into dormant buildings. Perhaps, she thought, lost love could be rebuilt the same way.
Someday, the Taeyang Mill would follow a similar path. A space once filled with delicate, happy memories would now become a vibrant playground for children. Yet, as someone who had hoped for support from the Jeongseon Foundation, a part of her still felt disappointed.
“Is the Jeongseon Foundation completely out of the picture?”
“Too early to be disappointed. Connections have a way of resurfacing.”
CEO Kwon suddenly held out his phone. Minju’s eyes widened as she read the screen.
“An invitation to the Jeongseon Foundation’s New Year’s gala?”
“Look closely—Team Leader Seo Minju’s name is on it. And it’s not Director Shin Su-yeon sending it, but Vice Chairman Jeong Hyung-woo. Seems the succession process at Jeongseon Group is in full swing, and they’re empowering the son.”
CEO Kwon added that for important guests, the foundation sometimes sends invitations in the son’s name.
“…It’s an honor, even for me.”
Minju diverted her gaze out the window while the CEO’s mood lifted. Cheon’s excavator was now lifting stones from the yard of the old building. Jeongseon Foundation’s New Year’s gala… a supposedly unrestricted contract still meant some oversight.
The fact that Hyung-woo had personally sent an invitation to prod the project along struck her as amusing. But no use blaming it; it was self-inflicted. Minju exhaled slowly.
Running distance: 4.9 km.
Facing the river, Taehwa pressed his watch and slowly regulated his breathing. Beneath his cap, his gaze fixed on the towering Jeongseon Chemical Building across the water.
The spiral-shaped building, designed to ascend toward the sky, exuded the grandeur of a global corporation. Taehwa’s usually indifferent gaze gradually sharpened, interrupted today by a man’s voice:
‘I want to exploit Vice Chairman Jeong Hyung-woo’s weakness.’
Three months prior, Seo Chan-jun, introduced as the head of a subcontractor for Jeongseon Chemical, had approached him. Upright in demeanor and voice, he seemed more suited to reporting wrongdoings than exploiting vulnerabilities.
Yet, asking for Hyung-woo’s weaknesses—despite the risk of having to grovel for access—was memorable in its audacity.
Had Taehwa handed over the information? No. The endless scandals—tax evasion, embezzlement, malpractice—combined with his sheer incompetence, made Jeong Hyung-woo’s inner rot obvious, despite the PR team’s best efforts. There was no shortage of potentially devastating material, yet none was released.
This time, however, his daughter had come into the picture.
[Seo Chan-jun, CEO of Gado Industries]
Taehwa pulled the crumpled business card from his pocket. The card left in the handkerchief by Seo Minju wasn’t hers. He had only heard her father was in business but had never met him directly. Their earlier lives were too busy to cross paths.
Still…
‘How did I not notice?’
Seo Chan-jun and Seo Minju resembled each other so clearly that anyone could tell they were father and daughter—their determined stubbornness, neatness, even the half-playful pride distinctive of conscientious people.
For days, questions had circled in Taehwa’s mind like a carousel: Why did Seo Chan-jun want to strike at Hyung-woo? Why did Minju want to marry him? What was Hyung-woo’s connection to this pair?
Could he endure without investigating what had happened—or what might happen? He inhaled deeply and released the breath alongside his conclusion:
“No. None of it makes sense.”
One shared blood, the other shared flesh. Taehwa filled his lungs and resumed running the route he had come.
“Taehwa, over here!”
As he entered the room, Michael raised a hand to greet him. This month’s regular birdwatching meet was at one of Michael’s favorite bars, alternated with Taehwa’s club as meeting venues.
Having a prior evening commitment, Taehwa arrived later than the others. As he exchanged greetings and took a seat, friends marveled over photos of black-headed eagles from the last trip.
“Look at that glossy head!”
“Check out those long legs—so sexy!”
“I should’ve gone. That conference…”
“Don’t worry. If you’re lucky this time, you’ll get to see them.”
The birdwatching club was Taehwa’s only hobby since leaving baseball. The group, made up of peers with different schools, backgrounds, and personalities, had formed three years ago around Michael.
Michael, who had completed his studies in the U.S. and inherited the family character business, connected Taehwa, Kim Min-gyo, and others through familial ties. Gan Seong-hoon and Lee Mu-yeol were connected via Michael’s cousin, Yoo Seon, an angel investor.
All had been fans of the Samyoung Unicorns, where Taehwa had excelled, and their birdwatching trips had naturally become a regular tradition.
“So this time, Kim Min-gyo, Gan Seong-hoon, and Taehwa are in, but Lee Mu-yeol is skipping?”
Michael closed his phone’s photo folder and opened his calendar to check attendance.
“He’s busy dating a florist.”
“Really? He asked when we’d see the eagles.”
“Of course, the girl’s more important. Eagles? Not so much.”
“True. Fewer people is better anyway—better for the birds, too. He can join next time after scoring points with his girlfriend.”
“Where’s Jeyoung?”
Looking around while pouring water, Taehwa noticed the absent friend.
