In the meeting room, whether it fell silent or not, Jae Oh saw only the message Chae Yoon had sent and replied without moving from his upright position.

「If you contact me, come out. I’ll pick you up.」

「Yes.」

He felt satisfied with the continuous replies. His previously stretched smile curved even sharper, growing broader.

While Jae Oh’s smile deepened, those who had seen Han Jae Oh, the Vice President’s smile for the first time, all blinked with wide-eyed astonishment.

Woo Jong felt the same way.

Never expecting to see the Vice President’s smile, let alone during a meeting, he was left speechless. However, Jung Woong’s voice shattered the quiet.

“Han Jae Oh. What’s going on? Why are you behaving like this?”

His tone suggested Jae Oh was seeing something he shouldn’t. At this, Jae Oh, previously engrossed in his phone, looked up.

Only then did Jae Oh realize everyone’s attention was on him.

After quickly glancing over the people who stared back at him with puzzled expressions, he calmly sat down and spoke.

“Aren’t we holding a meeting?”

His audacious comment, after having disrupted the meeting, was quite brazen.

His facial expression returned to the usual stern look of Han Jae Oh as if he had never smiled, making Jung Woong frown.

‘Has he lost his mind?’

Jung Woong, not particularly pleased with Jae Oh’s unexpected behavior, clicked his tongue briefly and resumed the interrupted meeting.

The executive meeting ended shortly after.

From the moment the meeting concluded until his return to his office, Jae Oh contemplated what he and Chae Yoon should eat.

What should they eat? What would Chae Yoon enjoy most?

As he deliberated with a serious expression, Secretary Jo approached him.

“Vice President, Chairman Kwon from Jo Corporation is on the line. I believe you should answer right away.”

Although slightly annoyed by the interruption, when informed that Chairman Sang Hoon had called directly, Jae Oh gave a slight nod, entered his office, and answered the call.

“Yes, this is Han Jae Oh.”

[Dash] Ah, Vice President Han. How have you been?

The hearty voice was one he hadn’t heard in a while.

[Dash] The hotel seems to be doing well. Indeed, Vice President Han’s capabilities are to be recognized.
Jae Oh had become acquainted with Sang Hoon two years ago because of a hotel project.

The Taeil Group, renowned for its dominant presence in fields like IT, electronics, and chemistry, had its next venture in the hotel and tourism business.

This project was orchestrated by Jae Oh, and it was during this time that Sang Hoon had reached out to him.

Jo Young Group, which had expanded its stature based on its construction ventures, had never lost its top position in the construction sector.

Given that almost every reputable building in Korea was built under Jo Young’s purview, there was no reason for Jae Oh not to collaborate with Sang Hoon.

Their joint endeavor concluded right after the hotel was completed. A year had passed since then.

Having had no significant interactions during this period, Jae Oh immediately asked about the purpose of the call.

[Dash] “Thank you. But why did you call?”

Sang Hoon’s brow furrowed slightly at the indifferent tone.

He was well-aware of Jae Oh’s brash nature. Having worked with him before, Sang Hoon had no expectations of a warm response to his outreach.

But the fact that he was calling directly now, bypassing the secretaries, implied some level of courtesy, which made Jae Oh’s aloof response all the more jarring.

Sang Hoon had always found the audacious Jae Oh off-putting.

It had been this way from their very first meeting.

If he wasn’t the grandson of Chairman Han Ji Pil, who would indulge such a young, brash individual? Sang Hoon had no desire to deal with him, but there was an earnest request from his beloved daughter, Ho Yeon.

[I need Jae Oh. Daddy.] [So, can you arrange it, Daddy? Please?]

Remembering his daughter’s fervent plea, Sang Hoon, suppressing his discomfort, continued,

“Do you always need a reason to call? I just thought of having lunch together today.”

Sang Hoon assumed that, after making such a gesture, Jae Oh would courteously accept.

However, the immediate reply was not what Sang Hoon anticipated.

[Dash] “I have a commitment today, so it won’t be possible.”

Sang Hoon’s eyes hardened.

“You have no appointments. I already confirmed it with your secretary. It’s quite rude to say otherwise, isn’t it?”
Jae Oh had coldly finished speaking, his voice heavy, as if demanding obedience.

“I have something important to say…”

[Dash] “Yes, I will hear whatever you have to say next time.”

Veins appeared on Sang Hoon’s forehead.

“Director Han, I haven’t finished.”

Just as he was about to chastise him for daring to interrupt, Jae Oh’s voice intervened.

[Dash] “Chairman.”

The tone with which he addressed Sang Hoon was similar to the latter’s.

It carried an air of superiority, as if to say, “I am above you.”

His patience was already strained by this display of audacity, but what followed was the last straw.