Chapter : 05
Dohyeon rose from his seat without the slightest sign of disarray.
Even though he had just gotten up, there was not a single thing lacking in his appearance.
He ran a hand through his hair and checked the articles the secretary had sent him.
<Exclusive: Suspicions of Kangseong Electronics Concealing Security Flaws in ‘Innovative Data Chip’… Internal Documents “Acknowledged the Vulnerability”>
<Signs of ‘Mass Leakage’ of Customer Information… Is the Route of the Leak Connected to CEO Kang Dohyeon’s Line?>
<A ‘Security Hole’ Disguised as Innovation — The Worst-Case Scenario Caused by the Data Chip Vulnerability. How Will Kangseong Electronics Resolve This?>
<Kangseong Electronics Shares Plunge… Investors Panic as ‘Data Chip Risk’ Becomes Reality>
Dohyeon clenched his teeth.
The fact that the articles had ultimately broken through despite him having stopped one of them in advance probably meant that there was a ‘powerful’ force behind this.
He sighed and entered the dressing room.
Dohyeon took out a neat black suit and a spotless white shirt and put them on.
He adjusted the angle of his shirt collar and neatly straightened his tie.
As he put on his jacket, he smoothed out the shoulder line once.
He paid attention to even the smallest wrinkles around his pockets and the position of every button.
Dohyeon glanced over his watch collection.
He chose one that was not overly flashy but still possessed an air of dignity and fastened it around his wrist.
Looking into the mirror, he adjusted his cufflinks.
After finishing his preparations, Dohyeon called Jihwan.
— This is An Jihwan.
“Secretary An, have you issued the correction?”
— It’s prepared. Should I release it now?
“Do that. And have my office cleared out as well.”
A moment of silence followed.
Jihwan asked in a trembling voice.
— ……What? Hey, what do you mean by that…… No, CEO……
“As soon as the office is cleared, send the contents of the correction separately to me.”
— ……Understood.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
Dohyeon ended the call and told them to come in. A member of his staff entered and bowed to him.
“The Chairman has summoned you.”
Dohyeon straightened his clothes and followed the attendant down the hallway.
The hallway was excessively quiet. As if it were the calm before a storm.
When they reached the dining room door, the attendant opened it.
Warm light spilled out, revealing an elegantly prepared breakfast table.
Thin, glossy porcelain plates, with carefully prepared, high-quality dishes arranged upon them.
Dohyeon could barely stand the nauseating smell of the food.
Nevertheless, he stepped inside without revealing a single emotion.
Dohyeon bowed his head toward Chairman Kang, who was seated at the head of the table.
“You called for me, Chairman.”
The Chairman merely raised his eyes and looked Dohyeon over.
His gaze was so cold that it seemed as though he were reviewing a single report rather than looking at his son.
“Sit down. Let’s eat.”
Dohyeon sat beside his half-brother, Jinhān.
Jinhān glanced at Dohyeon once, then at Chairman Kang, before lowering his head deeply.
Across from Jinhān sat his stepmother, Miyeon, dressed in a black dress.
Miyeon smiled at Dohyeon. There was something chilling about her smile.
She lightly wrapped one hand around the handle of her teacup and leaned slightly toward Dohyeon.
“Dohyeon, it’s been a long time. Mother remembers all the side dishes you used to like and had them prepared. You should come home more often.”
Miyeon pushed the fried egg and seasoned bean sprouts toward Dohyeon.
Dohyeon glanced briefly at the table and offered a short word of thanks.
“Thank you for taking the trouble, Stepmother.”
At that moment, Chairman Kang spoke in a solemn voice.
“Now that Dohyeon is here, everyone, pick up your spoons.”
As Chairman Kang picked up his spoon, everyone began eating.
The only sound at the table was the quiet clinking of dishes.
Dohyeon did not touch the seasoned bean sprouts or the fried egg.
Chairman Kang broke the silence first.
“Did you see the articles?”
“Yes, I checked them this morning.”
Dohyeon gave a brief nod. Anything more would only sound like an excuse.
Miyeon looked at the Chairman with a worried expression.
“The news has been quite noisy lately. That innovative data chip, what was it…… a security flaw? Mass leakage? I don’t know much about those things, but it seems serious.”
The hand holding Dohyeon’s chopsticks tightened ever so slightly.
She knew the contents of the articles with remarkable precision, as though she had been pondering those exact sentences since last night.
Dohyeon answered calmly.
“We’re verifying the facts.”
Miyeon nodded slightly and set down her teacup. She lowered her gaze and ran her fingertip across the surface of the cup.
“But the world doesn’t wait for the truth, does it? I find that such a shame.”
Was that advice or a warning?
Without raising his head, Dohyeon quietly took a spoonful of soup.
Chairman Kang spoke again.
“I hear someone from your line has been identified as the person who leaked it.”
Dohyeon set down his spoon. Very slowly, without making a sound.
He could not afford to provoke Chairman Kang right now.
“There is no evidence to be certain that there was a leak in the first place. The media is simply writing sensationally. I will uncover both the truth and whoever is behind it soon.”
Dohyeon glanced briefly at Miyeon before turning his gaze back to the Chairman.
Chairman Kang gave a sardonic smile.
Dohyeon became certain from the Chairman’s cold expression.
Even if he simply verified the facts and caught whoever was behind it, Chairman Kang’s mind had already been made up.
‘It was a good thing I told him to prepare to step down as CEO.’
Even so, Dohyeon felt no despair whatsoever.
He was merely thinking about how he should plan his next step.
That was Dohyeon’s way.
Never looking back.
And eliminating everyone who stood in his way.
At that moment, Chairman Kang put down his spoon and spoke in a cold voice.
“There will be major personnel changes this time.”
Dohyeon’s brow furrowed. Miyeon’s smile deepened.
“Jinhān, I’m going to appoint you as the CEO of Kangseong Communications.”
Jinhān’s eyes widened. Surprise and delight flashed across his face.
Kangseong Communications.
It was no exaggeration to consider Kangseong Communications one of the core affiliates of the Kangseong Group, a marketing company.
Chairman Kang’s decision was essentially a declaration that he wanted to strongly push Jinhān as the ‘next heir.’
Although Jinhān could not hide his joy, he still glanced nervously at Dohyeon.
Dohyeon congratulated Jinhān with a beautiful smile, as though it had been drawn onto his face.
“Congratulations. I haven’t done much for you as an older brother, but I’ll attend your inauguration ceremony.”
“……Thank you, hyung.”
Tears welled up in Jinhān’s eyes as he looked at Dohyeon.
The Chairman wiped his mouth with a napkin before speaking to Dohyeon.
“Come with me for a moment.”
Chairman Kang threw a newspaper at Dohyeon.
The newspaper struck Dohyeon in the chest before falling at his feet.
Dohyeon picked it up.
<Exclusive: Suspicions of Kangseong Electronics Concealing Security Flaws in ‘Innovative Data Chip’… Internal Documents “Acknowledged the Vulnerability”>
The articles he had seen that morning were there.
Dohyeon neatly folded the newspaper and placed it back on the desk.
Chairman Kang shouted sharply at him.
“Do you know how much Kangseong Electronics’ stock has fallen because of that data chip you pushed for? Your pathetic greed! You’ve completely ruined the company’s image!”
“……The claim that the data chip is vulnerable to hacking is unfounded. I will soon……”
“Enough! Do you think I called you here to argue over the facts?”
“…….”
“I never should have made someone of lowly birth like you the CEO of Kangseong Electronics. It was nothing but a stroke of luck. Tsk.”
Chairman Kang slammed his hand down on the desk as though he could no longer contain his anger.
Dohyeon stared straight at him without even blinking.
That wretched birth.
If he could erase even half of the blood flowing through his body, Dohyeon felt as though he would gladly give his soul to the devil.
Then he would not have to endure insults like these.
Dohyeon bowed his head deeply.
“It was my mistake for handling the matter poorly. I will step down from my position as CEO.”
“Hah! At least you know your place.”
Chairman Kang threw a file onto the desk.
