hooklinebooks Chapter 26 Zhang Yuanying
Chapter 26 Zhang Yuanying
Han Hee-joon strongly suspects that he was "tricked" into going to Japan to film a dating show with Oh Hae-won for three days while Kim Bum-soo spreads false rumors about him behind his back.
It's highly likely that the news that he participated in a dating show with a female idol was leaked by Kim Bum-soo.
Don't assume that the chairman of the group company isn't free and bored.
Otherwise, it simply doesn't make sense.
It doesn't make sense that Chairman Jung of Hyundai Kia Group would bring a female idol to what Han Xijun thought was a business dinner.
At that moment, Han Hee-joon looked at Kim Bum-soo, but Kim Bum-soo clearly avoided his gaze.
In April, the night in Seoul is serene, and a gentle breeze carries the fragrance of late-falling cherry blossoms to the eaves of Gwanghwa Gate.
The ancient gate tower was brightly lit, and a narrow banquet road circled around the Guanghua Gate tower. A similarly ancient building stood across the street from the Guanghua Gate.
The characters are the same as those under the eaves of the Guanghua Gate tower.
Under the eaves of the ancient building hangs a gleaming golden plaque with the three Chinese characters "Yipinzhai" written on it.
It is a century-old shop built in a century-old building.
Yipinzhai began operating in 1826 and was a restaurant where all the dignitaries and nobles in Hanyang gathered. The restaurant served only high-end imperial cuisine from the Qing Dynasty.
As time went by and circumstances changed, Yi Pin Zhai changed hands several times before returning to the Xianyu family in 1956. The restaurant was transformed into a high-end Chinese restaurant, employing the most skilled chefs in China to prepare distinctive high-end dishes from the eight major Chinese cuisines.
Shuiyunjian Private Room.
Kim Bum-soo and Han Hee-joon, who organized the dinner, arrived first.
Kim Bum-soo repeated what he had told Han Hee-joon at the company that afternoon: "There might be a surprise later."
Han Xijun simply said, "I'll sit for at most half an hour."
"Team Leader Han, the dishes haven't all been served in half an hour. Today's meeting is with Chairman Jung of Hyundai Kia Group..."
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door of the private room.
Outside.
The waiter asked, "Chairman Kim, the guests have arrived."
Kim Bum-soo then gestured for Han Hee-joon to stand up, saying, "Please invite the guest in."
Splash!
The door to the private room opened.
Kim Bum-soo had already walked around the dining table and headed towards the door to greet them.
Han Xijun could only follow behind.
There were three people in the private room.
The man in the lead was around fifty years old. He greeted Kim Bum-soo first and then stepped aside.
A man wearing glasses entered after him; his temples were graying, and he was about the same age as the man who had entered before him.
However, it was Kim Bum-soo who took the initiative to greet the man who came in after him.
After looking closely, Han Xijun recognized the man as Chairman Zheng, the current head of the Hyundai Group.
Understand why Kim Bum-soo greets people in such a "humble" manner.
As one of the four traditional chaebol families in H country, the current head of the Jung family holds a much higher social status than Kim Bum-soo, the tycoon of an emerging technology conglomerate.
"Team Leader Han"
Upon hearing Kim Bum-soo's "summons," Han Hee-joon quickly walked towards the door of the private room.
"This is Han Xijun, the team leader and head of our KAKAO Group AI R&D Center."
As he gestured for Han Hee-joon to greet him, Kim Bum-soo introduced, "Team Leader Han, this is Chairman Jung from the Hyundai Group."
Even if Han Xijun didn't pay attention to unexpected events in the research and development, it would be hard for him not to know those few important figures who frequently appeared in newspaper news.
"Chairman Zheng"
Han Xijun offered his respectful greetings.
Chairman Zheng extended his hand and said, "Team Leader Han, do you remember we met before?"
Han Xijun grasped Chairman Zheng's hand and shook his head, saying, "I'm sorry, I don't remember."
Kim Bum-soo tried to smooth things over.
President Zheng laughed and said, "It's alright. I went to KAIST before and met you at the entrance of the research building. I originally wanted to chat with you, but unfortunately you had to do some experiments and we missed each other."
Kim Bum-soo quickly interjected, "Science and engineering guys who do research are all clueless. I used to get lectured by Chairman Lee all the time."
The Chairman Lee mentioned by Kim Bum-soo was the late previous leader of the S Group.
After graduating from Seoul National University in 92, Kim Bum-soo joined the S Group, where he was responsible for developing online communication services.
After leaving the S Group in 97, Kim Bum-soo started his own business, from card games to chat applications. Every step he took was extremely difficult, coming from a rural background.
It seems like he's making fun of himself for being lectured by the old chairman in the past.
In reality, it was helping Han Xijun expand his business.
Talented researchers often have some "flaws" in their personality or other aspects, especially someone like Han Xijun who is obsessed with research projects. It's already quite remarkable that he even came out to attend a dinner party.
The reason for secretly arranging a dating reality show for Han Xijun was twofold: firstly, to let Han Xijun know that there are many other things to do in this world besides work, and that he is a human being, not a program code robot.
Secondly, the program helps people learn how to get along with each other, and encountering people with completely opposite personalities might help "change" Han Xijun's cold personality.
It's hard to say whether it will succeed or not right now.
However, the fact that Han Xijun didn't immediately refuse when invited to dinner this afternoon can be considered a success.
His gaze fell on the beautiful girl next to Chairman Zheng, who was tall, had delicate features, fair skin, and long, flowing hair.
Kim Bum-soo knew this girl.
Although I rarely follow the entertainment industry, this girl frequently appears in entertainment news and has high popularity and recognition, but I can't remember her name right now.
Han Xijun's gaze also fell on the girl.
It would be really stupid if he didn't understand what Kim Bum-soo meant by "surprise" at this point.
Unlike Kim Bum-soo, Han Hee-jun thought the girl was from Chairman Jung's family, such as Chairman Jung's youngest daughter.
Chairman Zheng, who had been observing Han Xijun, said with a smile, "You all know her, right?"
The girl bowed and nodded, her voice soft, saying, "President Kim, Team Leader Han, my name is Jang Won-young. Nice to meet you."
Kim Bum-soo continued, "That's right, Jang Won-young."
Han Xijun frowned slightly.
Your surname is Zhang?
Not Chairman Zheng's daughter?
Is that Chairman Zheng's lover?
wrong.
Kim Bum-soo said it might be a surprise for him, since Chairman Jung couldn't very well bring his lover to introduce him to someone else.
Therefore, this girl named Zhang Yuanying has no relation to Chairman Zheng; she was just brought along to attend tonight's dinner party.
What was her purpose, or rather, her function, in appearing?
A few minutes later.
Han Xijun, now seated, had a better understanding of the situation.
No waiters were allowed to come into the private room to serve us.
This girl named Zhang Yuanying "replaced" the waitress.
They were drinking the most famous baijiu in China.
With the help of the executive director of Hyundai Kia Group, Zhang Yuanying opened the bottle cap and carried it around the table, pouring drinks for the guests.
The decanter in front of Han Xijun was filled to the brim.
Before the bubbling from the wine had even subsided, Zhang Yuanying pulled out a chair and sat directly next to Han Xijun.
Kim Bum-soo, Chairman Jung, and the executive director of Hyundai Kia Group who came with them chatted alone, seemingly oblivious to Han Hee-joon and Jang Won-young.
Han Xijun glanced at Zhang Yuanying, noticing her trying hard to maintain a smile, and then reached out to pick up the wine dispenser in front of him, saying, "I'll pour a glass for Team Leader Han."
Han Xijun raised his hand in refusal.
He heard from Kim Bum-soo that this girl named Jang Won-young was also an idol.
He's so different from the idol Han Xijun knew.
Or rather, he's very different from Wu Haiyuan.
This is no idol; this is clearly just a tool that the chairman of a conglomerate can summon and dismiss at will.
Zhang Yuanying was stunned for a moment.
She didn't expect Han Xijun to raise his hand and refuse her offer to pour him wine.
Still trying to maintain a smile, she asked, "Is there anything else you need, Team Leader Han?"
Han Xijun spoke slowly, his voice low, looking at Zhang Yuanying whose smile was somewhat stiff, and asked, "What is your purpose?"