(Episode 26)
Everything's the same.
Yes.
What?
She's pretty obtuse.
Hasn't Ji Eun caught onto anything?
No, she has no idea.
I love the thrill of it. It's fun.
What do you gain by ridiculing me like this?
It's not a bad idea to let her know...
what will happen to her if she crosses the line.
How ridiculous.
But here's what you don't know, Mi Ran.
When someone does me wrong,
I never forget to return it to them.
That won't affect me at all.
You must think I'm a joke.
From now on, I should think about...
what I'm going to do with you.
Sure. Okay.
I'll keep you updated.
Okay, bye.
Ji Eun, can you get me a cup of tea?
What were you having so much fun talking about?
It's a secret.
I guess I shouldn't ask since it's a secret.
The green tea smells nice.
It comes from poison.
These leaves grow...
with poison inside them.
And once they manage to overcome that poison inside them,
they're finally able to give out a nice fragrance.
Hating someone is also poison.
And your heart is how you can change that into a nice scent.
In other words, it all depends on how you choose to think of things.
Ji Eun, would you also like some tea?
Sure.
Do you have something to say to me?
Should I have something to say?
(Seorin)
(CEO Jang Se Hoon)
(Investment Status)
(Revenue Settlement)
Retrieve the investment we made to Seo Jung Min's advertising agency.
Sir.
He's the chairman's son.
What does that have anything to do with retrieving our investment?
It's been over a year since we've invested in them,
but they still haven't brought us any profit.
And it's way past their due date.
Tell the legal team to send...
a certified document requesting for the investment.
But sir.
I know his advertising agency isn't an affiliate of our company,
but this might only end up causing trouble.
Mr. Kim.
An affiliate is a firm that brings profit...
to our company.
And the investment that was made to Seo Jung Min's agency...
was obviously illegitimate.
Don't make me repeat myself...
and just follow the rules.
The chairman is here.
Mr. Kim, how is everything with the finance team?
Is everything okay?
Mr. Kim, go and take care of what I asked you to do.
Why does he look so nervous?
I told him to retrieve the investment...
from Seo Jung Min's advertising agency.
I asked him to send the agency...
a certified document requesting for the investment.
And if they raise an issue,
I'll have the legal team put them under provisional attachment,
file for an injunction, and secure their assets.
You really are merciless.
The investment was made without a due date,
and that's already a problem.
He may be your son,
but I can't just turn a blind eye to it.
Starting a fight with Jung Min might not be such a bad idea.
I'm guessing you know what I mean judging by that smile on your face.
I want him to join the company...
and have him work with me.
I couldn't come up with a way to make him do that.
But I'm starting to think...
you might be the best person to make that happen.
I'm just a CEO who's working here under contract.
And once the contract ends,
whom you choose to be your successor...
will no longer have anything to do with me.
If you help me get what I want,
I'll extend the contract,
give you a stock option, and reward you in many other ways.
Mr. Jang.
Shouldn't my son take over my company?
There comes a time when a man needs to take a big step forward.
If he puts his mind to it, he'll do way better than me.
He's very competitive, thinks big,
and he's very smart.
You should help him find his place here.
Do me a favor.
Keeping a distance...
can be a way to provoke someone.
I'll keep a distance from your son for the time being.
You're right.
That's how human psychology works.
If you keep being hostile with him,
he might change his mind.
It's your orders,
so I should do as you say even if I disagree.
I don't want to get on your bad side.
This is why I like you.
You speak your mind, but you still do as I say.
If I had a daughter, I would've wanted you as my son-in-law.
Do you need anything? I'm off to the supermarket.
No, not really.
I wonder what Will would want to eat.
I'm thinking about cooking spicy seafood stew for dinner.
My goodness, Will loves spicy seafood stew.
How did you know?
I thought today was your first day.
I don't know.
I just figured it'd be a nice menu.
The weather is chilly,
so I thought a nice, hot stew would be nice.
I'm also thinking about cooking oyster jeon...
and making marinated abalones.
They're all good for stamina.
You talk as if you're his wife.
You even care about his stamina.
I don't know if I should thank you...
or get upset at you for crossing the line.
He pays me well,
and he's very well-mannered.
So I'm just trying to do my best.
Would you call that crossing the line?
By the way,
I won't be working as a helper at your place anymore.
Why? Why are you suddenly quitting?
I'm sure you know why.
Ji Eun, are you angry at me...
because I made you spill the doenjang stew that day?
Or are you upset because I didn't give you any tips?
You're pretty arrogant.
How dare you sneer at me when you're nothing but a helper?
You should know your place and behave accordingly.
If you wanted me to behave like a helper,
you should've treated me like one...
instead of thinking of me as Se Hoon's ex-wife.
Listen to me.
You did a background check on me...
and hired me as your helper to make a fool of me.
Was that fun for you?
You even installed a camera to keep your eyes on me.
Why would you do something like this to me?
Do you really not know why?
You're playing tricks on Will.
You're using your unstable financial status...
to make him fall for you again...
while acting like you're not interested.
Do you think I don't know that?
You really do lack discernment.
You installed cameras here, so I'm sure you saw everything.
Se Hoon was the one...
who called me here.
You should be taking it out on him, not me.
He may have called you here to help,
but you still should've avoided him.
You could've cut him off,
but you used your job as an excuse...
to keep your eyes on my man!
I'm not interested in your man. Not even one little bit.
I'm only here because it's my duty...
to work for him until he gets a new helper.
Are you going to keep playing nasty?
Don't you think you're the one who's playing nasty?
Do you have no faith in Se Hoon?
How dare you put on airs in front of me?
There's no point in talking to you anymore.
I guess I should sort this out with Mr. Jang.
Do you have evidence to prove that I installed cameras here?
It looks like that must be the evidence.
Stop right there.
Mi Ran, are you okay?
This is who I am.
This is how pitiful I am!
Because of my legs,
I can't even chase after him...
even if he chooses to leave me one day.
Please don't try to take him away from me.
He means the world to me. He's my everything.
So please... Please don't sway him.
I never intended on doing that.
It's over between us.
We just have bitter feelings toward each other.
That's what makes me so nervous.
The fact that you feel bitter means you still care for each other.
I know...
he still holds a place in his heart for you.
That's probably why he called you here.
And I'm sure he truly wishes to help you.
I don't plan on receiving any help from him.
There's no reason for him to help me either.
I asked my boss to find a replacement for me,
so I'll be quitting soon,
and I won't be meeting him anymore.
Do you mean that?
Can I really trust you?
Of course.
So you don't need to feel anxious.
Mi Ran.
Misunderstandings and anxiety only get worse with time.
I'm sorry. I should've known better.
I let my jealousy take over,
and I ended up taking it out on you.
I'll trust you from now on.
I'm sorry for what I did.
I know you're a good person.
Can I ask you a favor?
Can you not tell Will that I know about this?
If he finds out that I know,
it'll confuse him even more.
And that might cause his feelings for me to change.
Please.
Thank you for being so forgiving and understanding.
I'll help you get up. Do you think you can stand up?
Thank you, Ji Eun.
If you can't beat your enemy, at least keep them as your friends.
I told you not to cause a fuss.
It's the chairman's orders.
He'll get angry at me if I don't escort you properly.
I guess I was too thoughtless.
I can't let you get an earful from him because of me.
Shall we go then?
Just a second. Please wait.
The elevator is full.
The last person to get in should leave the elevator.
Excuse me. I'll leave.
Mr. Seo.
You can stay. I'll wait for the next one.
It's my duty as a man...
to always yield to women.
"You can stay. I'll wait for the next one."
Do you want to get on his good side because he's the chairman's son?
Was it too obvious?
I heard he might start working at Seorin Group soon.
Who knows?
He might become the executive of the home shopping business.
Why are you telling me that now?
Then I would've gotten out of the elevator.
I wanted to succeed all on my own.
(Seorin)
Are you even trying to be a nice stepmother?
Marriage is all about becoming a big family.
And I married your father.
So that naturally makes me your mother, doesn't it?
From what I know, you're not legally my mother yet.
Don't be so mean. It's hard to bear with it.
I still can't get a grasp of what kind of person you are.
You seem like a very wise woman,
but it also seems like you have an ulterior motive.
I can't blame you for thinking...
that I married your father for money...
since there's no way to prove that's not true.
Should I give you a tip?
Everything my dad says is a lie.
So don't trust him too much.
After you.
I'm also on my way to meet my dad.
Sit down. Don't keep standing there.
I'll come back next time.
I'll give you some space.
It looks like you want to talk to him in private.
Just stay.
What can't you say in front of your mother?
What is it that you want to talk about?
It's regarding something very private,
so I wanted to talk to you alone.
But if you just want me to say it,
then I'll go ahead.
Are you nervous...
that it might be an issue regarding other women?
I've never once cheated on your mother.
- Can I trust you on that? - My goodness, of course.
Han Na Kyung.
You know her, right?
Who is she?
I heard she was in a serious relationship with Jung In.
Then you would've made them break up with each other.
How do you expect me to know every single girl...
that your brother dated?
I'm sure your favorite pastime...
was to keep your eyes on Jung In.
So there's no way you didn't know.
Why do you keep bringing him up when he's already dead?
Why do you get so angry and try to avoid the subject...
every time I mention Jung In?
Are you hiding something from me?
What is it that you're doubting?
Jung In tried so hard to take over your position,
so it's just very hard to believe...
that he committed suicide.
Let me tell you what you're doing.
You keep making absurd assumptions because you feel guilty...
for having neglected him...
until things got worse and led to his death.
Just focus on your own life, you fool.
You really know how to hurt me, Dad.
You didn't have to say that.
Why did you have to hurt him like that?
How can I not get angry when he keeps behaving that way?
Try being half the man Jang Se Hoon is.
He became successful at a young age...
and managed to become the CEO of Seorin Group.
Now that Jung In is gone,
you're going to start comparing me with Jang Se Hoon?
If you don't want me to compare you with him,
you should at least earn your keep.
I was lucky enough to be born with a rich dad,
so why can't I reap its benefits?
You'll have to take care of yourself from now on.
We received a legal document from Seorin Group's legal team...
asking for their investment back.
Did you ask the legal team...
to withdraw the investment?
Or was it Jang Se Hoon's idea?
What does that matter?
You just need to pay back what you borrowed.
I must say, Mr. Jang is a man of action.
Let's go.
- Go where? - I found a gallery for you.
You've been supporting me for the past 10 years,
so it's time you go back to work and get some fresh air.
I heard Jung Min's advertising agency isn't doing well.
You shouldn't pressure him like this.
That's his problem.
Business is all about not losing money.
Do you care for Jung Min that much?
I know you, honey.
The only reason you paid so much to scout Mr. Jang...
was so you could make Jung Min get competitive.
You chose to push him to the edge of a cliff...
to make him join the company. Am I correct?
Kids take up half of their parents' lives.
I should use Jang Se Hoon to provoke him...
in order to make him get to his senses.
He was born as my son, so he should do what I say.
Plus, I have no one else to rely on other than him.
You can't just barge in like this.
I told you it won't take long.
It's fine. You can leave.
Mr. Jang.
Do you have something against me?
It looks like you're here to protest.
But I just followed the rules.
Before that, you should've thought of the circumstances.
We both work in the same building, and we're not strangers either.
So why would you send a legal document...
to provoke me like this?
It looks like you're used to being treated as the chairman's son.
I want the two of us to get along.
But why are you so aggressive?
I'm not interested in being friends with you.
That's not why I came here.
I really hate guys like you.
I'm just doing my job,
and you just need to pay back what you owe.
Isn't it simple?
My goodness.
I wasn't planning on returning the investment,
but it looks like I might end up in jail if I don't.
I'll give you time.
I'm so grateful.
You're teaching me that things don't always go my way.
I don't have a safety net like you do.
So I must do my job.
If I did nothing wrong, I wouldn't be so angry.
And if I'm at fault, I don't deserve to be angry.
But since I'm in debt,
I'll just shut my mouth and leave.
It looks like you're the boss and I'm the employee.
You still like that kind of stuff even at your age?
It's just a pretty piece of trash.
What kind of trash costs over 10,000 dollars?
This bag costs over 10,000 dollars?
They must be crazy.
I used to have tons of bags like this.
But I had to sell all of them.
My goodness, you were nuts.
No matter how rich you may be,
why would you need a bag that costs over 10,000 dollars?
A bag is just to carry stuff around.
Spending money on useless things just because you're rich...
is something you should never do.
My goodness.
There's no point in talking to you.
My gosh.
Men don't like talking anyway.
Are you kidding me?
You're not a man to me.
It was just a figure of speech.
When did I ever tell you that I think of you as a woman?
You really drive me crazy.
Well, don't go crazy.
By the way, I heard you're rich.
Who told you that?
The lady who makes side dishes told me.
I heard you own about two commercial buildings.
I heard you also own this building and the house we live in.
They tell me you're pretty well off.
That's nonsense.
I just have a little money.
Your wife is gone, but you still have money.
So why are you still single?
Because life is all about solitude.
And I don't want to feel like I'm cheating on my late wife.
Unlike how you look, you're very pure at heart.
What about you? Why are you single?
Right now, I like it better this way.
If I get lonely after I marry off my daughters,
I'll get myself a boyfriend then.
What's your ideal type?
Anyone is fine as long as he's not a guy like you.
What's wrong with a guy like me?
You're petty.
Stop reading magazines and get back to work.
And whom are you calling petty?
I even gave you an advance.
I get so angry every time I talk to that woman.
("William Jang, the Marketing Genius...")
("Gets Appointed as the CEO of Seorin Group")
What's the name of the company?
It's Seorin Group.
The company that used to be called Seorin Fashion Group?
Yes.
You're Chairman Seo Mun Su's son?
Once we pay our employees,
we'll be at a deficit again this month.
Why don't we try to renegotiate with Seorin?
You want me to stoop low and ask Jang Se Hoon for a favor?
As long as he has our weakness, we'll never reach a fair deal.
Then what do you plan to do?
I'm sure I'll be able to find a way.
Are you going to give up Seorin's shares?
No, I should keep that.
If I bet all my cards, I might lose everything.
I should always be prepared for the worst.
I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
You say you hate your dad, but you're just like him.
If I put my mind to it, I can be just like him.
I think I know a way out of this.
Did Chairman Chung agree to sign the deal earlier than planned?
I think it might be possible.
Then where should we start?
Revise the proposal,
and get ready to do a presentation.
What about the translator and interpreter?
I was just about to call her.
I just finished work and was just about to call you...
to ask you for the documents that need to be translated.
Oh, really? Where are you right now?
You're not too far away from here.
I'll go pick you up. Send me the address.
Let's eat dinner and have a meeting at the piano bar.
It's kind of urgent.
Let's talk once we meet.
I'll be there in no time.
I'm on my way home.
I want to go home early and get some rest.
You even canceled our lunch date.
These days, you're always busy or tired.
I'm sorry.
I'll free my schedule this weekend.
Okay, bye.
Nice timing, right?
How much did you miss me?
I just don't get it.
Why didn't you miss me?
I never said I didn't miss you.
My gosh.
I was stressed all day, but you made me feel all better.
Did something happen?
Did someone make you angry?
Yes, something happened.
And some arrogant jerk made me get angry.
So I feel like I should teach him...
not to mess with a fuse.
(Phoenix 2020)
That house was Jang Se Hoon's house?
- I quit as of today. - I'm glad you quit.
Jung Min, I just want us to be good friends.
What are you doing? I was sleeping for goodness' sake.
Am I no longer a woman to you?
Must you pressure me like this?
- Are you still not over her? - Will you please stop?
I also hate myself for pressuring you like this!
I wish you all the best, Mr. Jang.
I wonder why it had to be this way for us.
Do I have to long for you until the day I die?