The Return of the Ruined Chaebol's Third-Generation Heir - Chapter 123

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Return of a Fallen Chaebol Heir — Chapter 123
“You came? Sit for a moment.”
The next day, Lim Do-hyeon and I were summoned to the CEO Office by Oh Jin-su.
When we entered, Oh Jin-su was busy with reports and approvals, but after Lim Do-hyeon and I sat down to wait, he approached us shortly after.
“There are a few things I want to tell both of you.”
Oh Jin-su began as soon as he took his seat.
“First, we’ve decided to fill the vacant positions in the Operations Division as planned, and beyond that, we’ll be bringing on two additional specialists in Fulfillment.”
“But no decision has been made yet—is it alright to proceed with hiring?” Lim Do-hyeon asked, seeming puzzled.

Filling positions was going according to plan, but Seonjin Automobile Group hadn’t yet revoked Seonjin Global’s status as a Preferred Negotiation Partner.
We would hire Fulfillment specialists, but staffing for cargo operations and sales was scheduled to begin only after that decision came through. Lim Do-hyeon’s question was reasonable.
“Regarding that—second, we’ve heard from Seonjin Automobile Group.”
At Oh Jin-su’s words, I opened my eyes wide and looked at him. He nodded.
“The Seonjin Automobile Group CEO proposed extending the existing contract by two years. The arrangement remains the same—we continue Contract Operation of logistics for all affiliated companies under the group.”
Oh Jin-su smiled broadly as he said this, and Lim Do-hyeon let out a sigh of relief.
Everyone had tried not to show it, but the pressure this situation had brought was immense.
“You’ve worked hard. Truly, without you and Team Leader Kang, we would’ve drifted without a proper direction. Thank you both so much.”
“No, sir. You haven’t said it, but you must have worked hardest of all,” Lim Do-hyeon replied.
I nodded at his words.
“And Team Leader Kang Seon-woo worked the hardest. He said he’d prepare for both victory and defeat, and I’ve never seen anyone actually do it before.”
“Yes, you worked the hardest, Kang. If you hadn’t raised the alarm from the start, we’d have thrown all our resources at the competitive bid without realizing we were under attack.”
I bowed slightly in acknowledgment of Oh Jin-su’s and Lim Do-hyeon’s words.
“So, what do you think happens next?”
“If you’re asking for my personal assessment, I don’t think Seonjin Automobile Group has given up on internalizing their logistics yet.”
“Thinking about the two-year timeframe, I came to the same conclusion.”
“Then we need to use these two years as a transition period.”
From the beginning, I’d pursued both tracks simultaneously precisely to buy time.
“Starting next week, the Fulfillment dock at the Gunpo Hub will begin operations.”
We’ve signed a Fulfillment contract with a small e-commerce company. The volume isn’t large, but it’s exactly the right amount to use as a testbed.
Moreover, once smartphones start becoming widespread, the scale of online shopping will grow far beyond what we can imagine now.
We need to scale back corporate logistics while expanding parcel delivery and Fulfillment operations.
“And in a year, the Chungcheong Fulfillment Center will be completed. I see this two-year timeline as the perfect final window we’ve been given.”
Oh Jin-su and Lim Do-hyeon nodded at my words.
“It aligns perfectly with my term as CEO too. Good. I feel better knowing our direction is set for my tenure.”
Oh Jin-su looked at Lim Do-hyeon.
“Director Lim, I’d like Planning Team 1 to handle the Seonjin Automobile Group cargo contract and corporate logistics, while Team 2 under Kang takes charge of Fulfillment and parcel delivery. What do you think?”
“We’re the first in Korea to attempt Fulfillment, and it was Team Leader Kang who proposed implementing it, so we’ll take it on as you’ve directed.”
With the direction for our future work decided, Oh Jin-su spoke as I stood to leave.
“Kang Seon-woo.”
“Yes, CEO.”
“You’ve worked incredibly hard. I truly feel we’ve been given breathing room because of you.”
“No, sir. It was because two leaders like you believed in what I said that we could navigate this crisis.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.”
Lim Do-hyeon and I bowed and left the office. When we returned to the office, Lim Do-hyeon called out loudly to everyone.
“Things are going to get busy from today on.”
The planning team members who’d been working stood up one by one, focusing on Lim Do-hyeon’s words. Their faces showed bewilderment.
“We’ve decided to extend the Seonjin Automobile Group logistics contract for two more years.”
As Lim Do-hyeon announced this, some team members still looked confused, so he smiled and continued.
“Literally. We won the competitive bid for Seonjin Automobile Group’s cargo contract.”
“Wow!”
Only then did the team members understand. They cheered, and several clapped and laughed.

* * *
“So why are you here today? You must be busy looking for investors, so let’s keep this brief and you can go.”
Meanwhile, at Seonjin Global.
Kang Jin-ho snapped at the uninvited visitor in his office, then turned his attention to the documents on his desk.
“I’m here to relay the Chairman’s message.”
“As if I didn’t know? That Chairman speaks to his own son only through his proxies, after all.”
The Secretary Director continued unbothered by Kang Jin-ho’s hostility.
“He said he will revoke Seonjin Global’s status as a Preferred Negotiation Partner.”
At those words, Kang Jin-ho felt what he’d been avoiding become reality. He closed the document he was reading, sighed, and closed his eyes.
“Affiliated company logistics will continue to be contracted to Seonjin Logistics for the next two years.”
……
“For the next two years, Seonjin Global is to strengthen its Substantive Foundation while preparing for the next contract, he said.”
Just as he’d left Kang Jin-ho stranded in America for seven years, his father’s choice now, even after his return, was abandonment.
“Regarding Seonjin Global’s operations specifically: continue with the Logistics System Construction, but reduce staff to roughly ten people or so. Also, terminate the truck and warehouse contracts, he said.”
Kang Jin-ho, who’d been listening quietly, looked at the Secretary Director.
“How does that make sense? Tell me to build a foundation over two years but shrink the business entirely?”
“This is the time to avoid public scrutiny, he said. Fair Trade Commission investigations and legal matters will be supported by the group.”
……
“And as for logistics, the group will introduce you to a few Subcontractors of Seonjin Automobile Group. Starting with their logistics work, you can build experience and——”
“Leave if you’re done.”
Kang Jin-ho couldn’t listen anymore. He looked at the Secretary Director.
“Tell him I’ll accept this as meaning another opportunity will come in two years.”
The Secretary Director had no response to Kang Jin-ho’s words.
Kang Jin-ho understood what that silence meant: nothing was guaranteed.
His father wasn’t offering another chance in two years—he was ordering him to stay quiet for those two years.
Kang Jin-ho set the documents down on the table.
“I’ll do as told and keep quiet. Go.”
“I will relay that to the Chairman.”
Once the Secretary Director left, Kang Jin-ho crumpled the documents in his hands and threw them.
“Argh!”
Still unsatisfied, he hurled the items on his desk aside and collapsed into his chair.

* * *
“Oh, you’re here?”
After work, in Yeouido.
When I entered the restaurant where I’d arranged to meet Danny, he was already seated. A can of beer sat in front of him, so it looked like he’d arrived early and waited.
“I’m late. Sorry. I’m always late.”
“Nah. Check the time. I came early and was waiting.”
At Danny’s words, I let out a small laugh and sat down.
“Why did you come so early?”
“Ah, I was restless. Couldn’t concentrate on work. Congratulations.”
I bowed slightly.
“Director Jung told me about it. So you orchestrated the media play this time?”
“Yeah. Even though you’re gone, I still had Kang Tae-yong as a backer, so I decided I had to block that off first.”
“Well done. I was actually wondering about the timing myself, but then our CEO laid out the whole board for us, and we just had to dance on it.”
Danny made an exaggerated dancing motion.
“Today’s meal is on you, right? You won, sure, but dealing with Kang Jin-ho wore me out something fierce.”
“Of course. Should we order?”
After ordering food, once the staff had left, Danny opened up.
“That Kang Jin-ho—he’s got a serious need for validation.”
I listened quietly to Danny’s words.
“He’s always talking about what he’s done, but there’s no real substance—yet he gets thrilled when you acknowledge him.”
I nodded.
In my previous life too, the reason Kang Jin-ho took everything from me came down to one thing: the belief that he should carry on the Seonjin name. And being compared to me probably never sat right with him.
In a way, he was very much his father’s son—even though Kang Tae-yong never admitted it.
“From my perspective, the man himself didn’t seem bad. But he was simply too inadequate to be entrusted with that large business. He lacks the vision to see the bigger picture. Unlike you, Seon-woo.”
From Danny’s position, meeting him for the first time, his assessment made sense.
“Are you following the media reaction? They’re tearing in viciously. I hear the Fair Trade Commission will launch an investigation soon.”
“Yeah, from the media’s standpoint, they probably wanted to prove they’re above Seonjin Automobile Group. They got their opening.”
The media, who’d been cautious and in a subordinate position because of Seonjin Automobile Group’s advertising, were now attacking Seonjin Automobile mercilessly, eager to show their own power.
“How far out did you see this?”
At Danny’s question, I shrugged.
“So you see this far?”
“Yeah. The game was structured to flow this way inevitably.”
The only variables were if Kang Jin-ho came to his senses or if Kang Tae-yong stepped in actively—but neither of them would imagine for even a second that their actions would invite tragedy.
“Anyway, now that we’ve bought ourselves two years, Seonjin Logistics, Ribbon, and DK all need to grow in earnest.”
“What’s your goal? Before, I figured you were just focused on becoming Seonjin Group’s heir and running with that, but after this, it doesn’t seem that way.”
At Danny’s words, I looked at him for a moment before speaking.
“I’m taking Seonjin Automobile.”
“… Really?”
“Yes. Every company with the Seonjin name—I’ll take them all back and make them one again. However long it takes.”
The Seonjin name that my grandfather built, my father loved, and I’d tried to protect—I could never hand it to anyone else.
And that aligned with my goal in this life: making Seonjin the world’s greatest company.
“You’re genuinely terrifying. I’m just glad we’re on the same side.”
“Congratulations to you too, Danny. The advertisements are running huge in the media.”
“That’s why I’m drowning in work every single day. Why are there so many calls?”
“Ha ha ha, you ride the line well.”
At my words, Danny shook his head with a wry laugh, then nodded.
“Yeah. I ride it well.”
We looked at each other and smiled.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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