Siblings Work in Business (101)
Present
Ji Ye-chan’s car arrived at the destination first, before Eun-ho, Eun-ji, and CEO Park.
A Bentley pulled into the parking lot of an ordinary commercial building.
The parking attendant, who had his feet up on his desk, jumped up.
He hurried outside.
“Welcome, sir.”
Ji Ye-chan, wearing designer sunglasses, lowered the car window.
It seemed like he was driving today; Yeong-hee was sitting in the passenger seat, preparing to get out.
In the back seat, PD Cheol-soo was looking out the window, seemingly indifferent to the parking attendant.
Next to him, Choi Tae-hyun sat with his arms crossed, eyes closed, like a statue.
“Just leave your car here and go inside.”
“Ah.”
The attendant seemed to also offer valet parking.
Ji Ye-chan, glancing at him, checked his name tag.
[Jo Kwang-soo]
Ji Ye-chan got out of the car, smiling.
“I’ll be counting on you, Kwang-soo.”
“Yes, sir!”
Jo Kwang-soo, taking Ji Ye-chan’s car keys, couldn’t hide his excitement.
‘Holy shit, I’m actually driving a Bentley…’
He was thinking about secretly taking a picture when…
“Ji Ye-chan.”
“Yeah?”
“Call Eun-ho and the Team Leader.”
“Ah, right. He told me to let them know when we arrived.”
Jo Kwang-soo stared at Ji Ye-chan and Choi Tae-hyun in surprise, his jaw dropping.
‘J-Ji Ye-chan?’
Everyone who lived through the 2000s knew Toxin.
Jo Kwang-soo was also a fan; one of their songs was his karaoke go-to.
“Hello? Oh, Eun-ho.”
Jo Kwang-soo, watching Ji Ye-chan talking on the phone in front of the building, froze at the familiar name.
‘How many Eun-hos are there in the world?’
He admitted he had been a bit cruel to those beggar siblings.
But after Eun-ho and Eun-ji ran away, all hell broke loose at school.
There was a commotion in the back alley.
Rumors spread, and somehow, they morphed into, “Jo Kwang-soo killed them.”
Although it was later revealed that they simply left, the school didn’t care about the truth. They were only interested in a juicy story.
The rumors were damaging, and his friends, one by one, started distancing themselves. He was abandoned.
The only thing left was a scar on his palm from the rusty metal rod.
Jo Kwang-soo transferred schools.
But the rumors followed him.
In high school, unable to endure the rumors, he dropped out.
A middle school dropout.
After getting his driver’s license, he realized he was good at parking.
As he pondered his future…
…the only thing he could do was park expensive cars.
Fortunately, it wasn’t a bad job. The restaurant was one of the best in town, and the pay was decent.
‘It can’t be him…’
Jo Kwang-soo scoffed.
‘Those beggars would be living even worse lives than I am. It’s kind of sad. They might have even starved to death on the streets.’
It was time to work.
Today, there was a Bentley, and now an expensive van, the kind celebrities used.
‘Is there a shoot or something?’
Expensive cars, rarely seen even in the city, were lined up, as if important people were visiting.
“Sir!”
Jo Kwang-soo called out respectfully.
The van window rolled down, revealing a large man with an ordinary face, who seemed to be a manager.
“I’ll park your car for you. Please leave it here and go inside.”
Then, next to him…
Jo Kwang-soo, looking at Seul-gi and thinking, ‘She’s the celebrity? She looks ordinary,’…
The van’s back door opened.
“We’re almost there, Senior.”
Eun-ho got out of the car, his phone to his ear, as if talking to Ji Ye-chan.
Jo Kwang-soo, forgetting to take the car keys from Hyun-woo, stared at Eun-ho with wide eyes.
Eun-ho, not even noticing Jo Kwang-soo, walked past him towards Ji Ye-chan, who was standing by the building entrance.
Then…
“You crazy bitch! You could have just woken me up! Why stomp on my thigh?!”
“You wouldn’t wake up.”
Eun-ho replied nonchalantly to Eun-ji’s outburst.
Jo Kwang-soo couldn’t take his eyes off Eun-ji.
Her long, dark hair swayed, and a pleasant shampoo scent wafted in the air.
He had thought she was pretty back then, but now…
She was breathtakingly beautiful. Her perfect features, her powerful aura, and her sharp eyes were like a rose with thorns.
“I’ll be right behind you. You can go up first.”
“Okay!”
Hyun-woo said, sending Eun-ji and Seul-gi ahead.
Eun-ji’s cheerful reply contrasted sharply with Hyun-woo’s polite tone.
The sight was a blow to Jo Kwang-soo’s pride.
He had thought they were beneath him, living worse lives than his, even pitying them.
And now, they knew the leader of a famous idol group, were getting out of a van, and even had a manager.
“Haha.”
Jo Kwang-soo’s laugh made Hyun-woo and Seul-gi turn to look at him.
“Hey. Long time no see, Eun-ho.”
Jo Kwang-soo said, looking towards the building entrance where Eun-ho had gone.
“Who are you?”
Eun-ho turned around, looked at his face, then shrugged and tilted his head.
He recognized him, of course.
He was good with faces, and this face was unforgettable.
But he didn’t want to acknowledge him.
So he pretended not to know him.
But that seemed to offend Jo Kwang-soo.
“Wow, you’ve scrubbed off the beggar look, haven’t you.”
Jo Kwang-soo said, his voice loud enough for Ji Ye-chan to hear, assuming he was fooled by Eun-ho’s appearance. He meant it to be humiliating.
“Your staff shouldn’t be calling guests beggars. That’s rude.”
It was Ji Ye-chan who spoke.
“Hey, you know me, Lee Eun-ho.”
Jo Kwang-soo said, ignoring Ji Ye-chan.
“Do I? I don’t know you.”
Eun-ho smirked, the corners of his lips twisting in mockery.
“What? He’s being like that to a stranger?”
“Ah… I remember now.”
Eun-ho clapped his hands as Ji Ye-chan asked.
“Ah, you’re that guy.”
“…”
“Sorry, I didn’t recognize you.”
Eun-ho slowly approached Jo Kwang-soo.
Back then, there hadn’t been much difference in their height, but now, at over 180cm, Eun-ho was clearly taller.
“That middle school bully wannabe. What was your name again… Jo… Flatfish?”
He said that on purpose, even though Jo Kwang-soo was wearing a name tag.
Eun-ho reached for his name tag.
“Ah, Kwang-soo. It’s good to see you, Kwang-soo.”
After checking his name tag, Eun-ho slowly looked him up and down, a gesture Jo Kwang-soo often did in the past.
“You look… well.”
Eun-ho said quietly, then placed his hand on Jo Kwang-soo’s shoulder.
Just as Eun-ho turned around to head back to the building…
Hyun-woo quickly stepped between them.
“Stop.”
Although it was hidden behind his back, Hyun-woo seemed to be twisting Jo Kwang-soo’s arm.
Jo Kwang-soo was even more enraged that it was the manager, not Eun-ho, who stopped him.
And the manager was surprisingly strong; he couldn’t move his arm.
Eun-ho, noticing the situation, leaned closer and whispered in Jo Kwang-soo’s ear,
‘Know your place.’
It was something Jo Kwang-soo used to say to him.
Turnabout is fair play, as they say.
Just then, Choi Tae-hyun, letting out a short “Ah,” took out his phone.
The timing was perfect.
As he pressed the record button, Jo Kwang-soo, his eyes bloodshot, yelled,
“You… little fucker!!!”
At that moment…
A man in a neat suit, who seemed to be the restaurant manager, rushed over, yelling,
“What’s going on here?!”
The manager’s gaze landed on the Bentley and the van parked outside, then he froze, recognizing the familiar faces at the entrance.
“Oh dear, oh dear, I apologize!”
The manager, his face pale, rushed towards Jo Kwang-soo.
“I apologize!”
“…”
Hyun-woo let go of Jo Kwang-soo’s arm as the manager arrived.
Jo Kwang-soo, despite the manager’s firm grip on his neck, stubbornly glared at Eun-ho.
“Kwang-soo, apologize.”
The manager said coldly.
Jo Kwang-soo’s body tensed, his fists clenching and unclenching.
But he slowly bowed his head to Eun-ho.
“Apologize, now.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“I apologize, I apologize.”
The manager also bowed his head.
Eun-ho watched them, memories flooding back.
He had thought,
‘Let’s forget about that asshole and focus on ourselves. Our success will be the best revenge.’
He still thought that.
But today, a new option had been added.
“You… you’re fired.”
“Sir? B-But…”
“I can’t trust you after you caused such a scene. Leave. Now.”
“Hyung!”
“Go.”
As they entered the restaurant, Jo Kwang-soo was kneeling in front of the manager, begging.
At least, he wouldn’t be causing any more trouble here.
“I am so sorry!”
The manager told Jo Kwang-soo to leave, then rushed towards Eun-ho and bowed deeply.
“We will fire him or ensure he’s properly disciplined. I sincerely apologize.”
“I understand.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Eun-ho nodded, knowing the manager wasn’t at fault.
The manager kept bowing until they reached the elevator.
“Excuse me, may I ask who you have a reservation under?”
“It should be under NRY.”
As they entered the elevator, the manager’s eyes widened.
“Oh my! What have I done… I apologize! Goodness.”
Eun-ho wondered what was so shocking.
But he understood as they were led to their table.
The first floor of the restaurant had elegant black walls adorned with paintings and a glittering chandelier illuminating neatly arranged round tables. There were many customers. He wondered if they even had a table for them, when…
“This way, please!”
The manager led them to the second floor.
The second floor was empty except for Yeong-hee and PD Cheol-soo, who had arrived earlier. There were several empty tables, already set.
Oh my gosh