For all that he’d obediently bowed his head to be petted, Baek Heeu still stuck his lower lip out.
He already felt more like a younger brother than an older one, and with him pulling that sulky face, this once even Baek Kanghyeon’s hard gaze softened a little.
Maybe it was because Heeu was the person who felt most comfortable and familiar in the world, and at the same time the one he most had to protect.
“So what are you going to make for me?”
When Kanghyeon asked, Heeu smiled with bright eyes, as if he’d never been pouting at all.
Baek Heeu, once he started cooking, was the type to make so much the table legs might snap under it. Kanghyeon had long since known that much.
It wasn’t anything to be newly surprised by, but today he took it especially far. Maybe it was because, compared to the old place, the kitchen, counters, and dining table here were all excessively wide.
Heeu carefully packed the leftovers into prepared side-dish containers and smiled in satisfaction. Even so, the fridge was so big that, even after he’d put in all ten containers, there was still more than enough empty space.
In the meantime, Kanghyeon had brought Heeu a mug of hot tea in the living room. Catching the scent of his favorite Earl Grey, Heeu quickly took the mug in both hands.
“Thanks. And you’re having coffee again? In a can, even?”
His displeased gaze dropped to the canned coffee in Kanghyeon’s hand.
It was late enough that he should have stopped him even if it were coffee freshly roasted from good beans.
Let alone cheap instant.
No wonder the corners of Heeu’s eyes tightened in disapproval.
“I told you not to drink coffee at night. You won’t be able to sleep.”
“So what if I don’t. I can’t go into the office for a week anyway.”
Speaking with complete calm, Kanghyeon snapped the can open with a crisp sound and sat down on the sofa.
Just as he said, he was on a half-forced vacation for a week. He wasn’t due to start at BC Holdings, where he’d been reassigned, until a week later, so until then he had to stay home and rest whether he liked it or not.
Of course, the Baek Kanghyeon Baek Heeu knew was not someone who would actually rest at home. Just seeing him down an ice-cold canned coffee in one go now, it was obvious he’d bury himself in work again until dawn.
Knowing his personality, knowing he wouldn’t listen even if told to rest, Heeu took a deep breath and let the hot tea sit on his tongue.
“Do you think you’re going to manage the work okay?”
When Heeu asked, Kanghyeon, having emptied the can, let out a quiet snort of laughter.
“It’s a seat Father prepared. As expected, it doesn’t seem like a bad fit.”
“That’s a relief.”
Heeu’s gaze turned toward the study. He had handled the move on Kanghyeon’s behalf and had been the one to furnish the room that would serve as the study, so of course he knew where it was.
He lowered his eyes bitterly, picturing the mountain of “BC Holdings Finance Management Division” documents that would soon clutter that study.
A role Baek Heeu could never dream of reaching.
All the arrangements that only Baek Kanghyeon could ever be allowed to see were gathered right there.
The nail of the hand holding his mug scratched secretly at the smooth surface.
The faint creaking sound—whether it was coming from the mug or only echoing in his head—Heeu had no way to tell.
Pretending, as always, that nothing was wrong, he jerked his chin toward the study.
“What are you looking at right now?”
“Project materials I’ll be in charge of as soon as I take up the post.”
The so-called W (WAVE) Project.
It was a large-scale BC Holdings project centered on club WAVE, the most famous club in Korea, beyond just Gangnam.
Club WAVE was more than a simple entertainment venue; it was known for its sleek, luxurious atmosphere.
With its VIP-only bar and private rooms in a variety of concepts, it had long since secured its place as a hot spot frequently visited by celebrities and high-income clientele. In particular, the lavish events showcased every week could be called WAVE’s signature flourish.
The W Project’s purpose was to build a connected luxury hotel based on the reputation of club WAVE. Going further, its final goal was to create a landmark-level luxury resort in the middle of the city, combining all kinds of amenities and exclusive facilities for the VIP and VVIP customers the club had already secured.
To do that, a considerable number of Baekcheong Group subsidiaries would need to reach in and take part.
Construction and operations, interior and marketing, and beyond that, the introduction of cutting-edge technology, including AI.
For all of this, every subsidiary Baekcheong Group could proudly parade would end up participating.
And the one to take command of that project would be the new Division Head of BC Holdings’ Finance Management Division, Baek Kanghyeon.
If this wrapped successfully, it would be a flawless result no one could dismiss, and a lush red carpet rolled out before him. Of course, all the career Kanghyeon had built so far would be the obvious bedrock beneath it.
Should I say it’s just like Father.
Beating out three older brothers for a seat that had to be his alone was not something that pleased him. In his heart, he wanted to rebel outright, just once, against the father he’d obeyed so dutifully until now.
But the more he did that, the more the ones who would suffer were his brothers. So he had no choice but to walk quietly along the path his father had laid out.
Because he was Baekcheong Group’s only Alpha.
That fact left a bitter taste. So did the fact that his family was stuck in such an antiquated mindset, bound up in traits like this.
Noticing the way his face darkened, Heeu pulled a rueful expression. To shift the mood, he forced his tone light and asked:
“Oh, right—speaking of, how about the neighbor? Anything happen?”
Now that he said it, it had only been a single day since Kanghyeon had moved in. Under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t even run into your neighbors that quickly.
Heeu was already thinking he should change the subject, when Kanghyeon gave an unexpected answer.
“Not someone I particularly want to associate with.”
“You’ve already met him? Why?”
Heeu’s eyes went round.
The expression on Kanghyeon’s face as he thought of Kwon Haeil was far from good. The furrow between his brows dug deep, and his mouth was set with firm lines.
“Because he acts like a fucking lunatic.”
It seemed the image of Kwon Haeil in Baek Kanghyeon’s memory skewed firmly to the negative side.
***
Baek Heeu left Kanghyeon’s place when evening had deepened into full night.
“You don’t have to walk me down. It’s not like I’m going to run into anyone on the way.”
Heeu, stepping into the 101st-floor private elevator, tried to dissuade him, but Kanghyeon insisted on getting in with him.
“I’m just going down for a bit of air.”
Saying that, he pressed the button for Basement Level 4, where Heeu’s driver was waiting. At the absurd claim that he was going to Basement 4 to get some air, Heeu snorted.
The elevator, descending quickly without a single stop, reached Basement 4 in no time. The parking level there was also a special zone reserved only for 101st-floor residents and their visitors, so it was extremely quiet for its size.
A man in his fifties, a familiar face, was already out of the car and waiting, and bowed his head to Kanghyeon. Despite his burly build, his features were open and friendly; he had been Kanghyeon’s driver up until ten years ago, so the pleasure on his face at seeing him was plain.
“It’s been a while, sir.”
“Yes, it has. Please take good care of my brother.”
“Oh, of course, you don’t even have to ask.”
At Kanghyeon’s courteous words, the driver joked lightly and gave him a bright grin.
He politely saw Heeu into the car and started the engine. Only after the vehicle rolled smoothly out of the garage did Kanghyeon turn away.
I should go up and start by checking my team members’ personal profiles. I need to get their detailed track records into my head, too…
He was already running through, in his mind, what he needed to do the moment he got back upstairs.
If nothing else, the team’s personal profiles and grasping their personalities were a crucial part.
The bigger the company, the harder it was to achieve solid results off the back of just one or two high performers. Every person had to do their part, and beyond that, you had to pull their capabilities up above the average. Otherwise all you got was a perfectly ordinary outcome.
What Baek Kanghyeon’s father and Baekcheong Group always wanted was results beyond their people’s nominal capacity.
For example, perfectly carrying off Baekcheong Group’s new business, the W Project, right after taking up his post.
To do that, he needed to think carefully about how to place his people in the right roles, taking their abilities into account. It was also necessary to reduce strain and mental burden so they could display their real skills without holding back.
To that end, he intended to cut, cleanly and completely, the excessive team dinners and constant overtime that the previous Division Head had instituted. Back at BC Securities, he’d felt for himself just how much even that small policy change could bring the spark back into his team’s eyes.
And if possible, I should go check out club WAVE in person sometime soon…
He was deep in thought when the elevator chimed brightly, already having reached Basement 4. Since it was a private elevator, he took it for granted no one would be inside. As soon as the door opened, he stepped forward without thinking.
“Whoa.”
He almost collided with someone. If the other person hadn’t grabbed his arms with both hands, he would have practically fallen into their chest.
Come to think of it, this elevator might be reserved for the top floor, but that didn’t mean Baek Kanghyeon was the only one using it.
Sure enough, the man in front of him was Kwon Haeil, dressed in a sleek black trench coat.