Episode 80: Expansion (2)
“An arboretum? Wow. That’s a massive dream.”
“Haha.”
“You know, I used to want to build a Neverland-like zoo when I was a kid too,” Lee Soo-min said, waving his chopsticks in the air.
“A really huge, awesome safari. I honestly thought that by now, with how fast technology is advancing, we’d actually be able to build a real Jurassic Park. With a Stegosaurus mom, dad, and baby, a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and pterodactyls flying across the sky. Squawk, squawk!”
Hold on, man. Dinosaurs are a bit much. …And what’s with the seagull noises for a pterodactyl?
“Well, that’s more of a childhood daydream.”
“Eh? Wait, so you’re telling me you’re actually serious about building an arboretum??”
“Yes.”
Lee Soo-min stammered, caught off guard.
“I mean, that rice paddy is pretty spacious, but you can’t pull that off with just one hill.”
“I know. But they say well begun is half done.”
“Ha, wow. You’re quite the romantic.”
“Haha. Am I?”
Having finished their jjambong, the two scraped up the remaining tangsuyuk down to the last bit of sauce.
Setting his chopsticks down, Lee Soo-min spoke.
“Just getting through each day is exhausting enough, so taking on a brand-new challenge isn’t exactly easy. Don’t you already have your hands full? You work at the monastery too.”
“It’s no fun if you just do the exact same thing every time.”
“Fun? People don’t live just for fun.”
Sihyeon gave him a subtle, playful jab.
“Oh, come on. It looks to me like you do half of your work for fun too. You didn't open an animal clinic just for the money. You did it because you love animals, and you just happen to make a living off of it.”
“Can’t argue with that.”
“If you were only in it for the cash, you’d be working at some massive hospital in Seoul. Why else would you tire yourself out driving all over the place for house calls here?”
Lee Soo-min burst into a hearty laugh.
“I’m not looking to build an arboretum just to make money either. I just want to have an arboretum. A vast plot of land with tons of trees. Growing trees and flowers I’ve never cultivated before, connecting with them… I think that would be the most fun thing in the world.”
“All right, fair enough. But there are practical issues. Like money. And land.”
“Those are secondary problems. Once the goal is crystal clear, a way always presents itself.”
As Sihyeon spoke with absolute confidence, Lee Soo-min looked at him with an impressed expression.
“And here I thought you were just drifting through life along with the flow.”
“Me?”
“Aren’t you??”
Sihyeon fell into thought, quietly chewing on a piece of mushroom.
“Going with the flow is nice, but please just think of me as someone who prefers to live life with some excitement.”
“Is an arboretum really something you can pull off just because it sounds exciting?”
“?”
“The scale is just wild, that’s all. You’re a lot more ambitious than you look. I never in a million years imagined you’d want to start an arboretum.”
Ah. It is definitely a long-term project. Sihyeon nodded in agreement.
“Yeah. To be honest, I feel like I'm standing at a crossroads. Just living comfortably like I am now isn't bad, but I keep wondering if I should try doing something meaningful. My mind changes pretty often, though.”
“That's a lifelong homework assignment.”
He was right. It was a question to ponder forever, a choice he would constantly have to make. Lee Soo-min poured some jasmine tea and murmured:
“I’m the one who really needs to do some reflecting like that. I want to get married now, and I want to expand the clinic a bit. But nothing comes easy.”
“Weren't you dating Saetbyul-ssi? I assumed you two were getting married soon.”
“…How did you know?”
Sihyeon chuckled.
“I’m pretty sure the entire neighborhood knows by now.”
“Really?”
“You guys wore matching headbands all through the mushroom festival. Even Heemang-ee had one.”
Lee Soo-min scratched his head nervously.
“But she hasn't accepted my proposal yet. What should I do?”
“……You’re surely not asking me for relationship advice, right?”
“……Sorry.”
A colossal estate nestled right in the center of the new district.
The headquarters of Fiore Co., Ltd. was famous for its breathtaking landscaping, drawing plenty of couples who enjoyed walking along the company walls for dates. Taking photos against the backdrop of the red bricks and gardens under the bright sunlight made anyone’s face stand out exceptionally well, and it carried its own distinct charm when it rained.
Furthermore, Fiore’s botanical garden, which operated strictly on a reservation basis during specific seasons, housed a vast collection of rare, hard-to-find flora, making it a bucket-list destination for plant enthusiasts.
It was currently 9:00 AM, a quiet hour before any visitors had arrived.
Beep.
Beep.
Sihyeon tapped his keycard and stepped inside the botanical garden.
The garden was so devoid of even a single breath that it felt a bit eerie, but Sihyeon particularly loved this time of day. The plants that had soaked up abundance of sunlight during the daytime released dense natural energy overnight, making the air thick and dewy.
Sihyeon walked past the cacti and glanced over at the tall, purple spikes of broadleaf liriope. This beautiful flower was one of the plants Sihyeon desperately wanted to cultivate himself. Moving along, he walked over to a belladonna plant that had just begun to bear fruit.
“I didn't expect to find this here,” Sihyeon muttered to himself.
Beneath the deep green leaves, the tiny, dark purple berries emitted a faint, subtle toxicity. They were small enough that an untrained eye could easily mistake them for blueberries. However, eating just three berries could cause severe poisoning, and thirteen could be fatal to an adult male—making it a highly perilous herb.
Even a minuscule dose contained hallucinogenic properties, requiring extremely stringent standards when utilized for medicinal purposes. Of course, to a Druid capable of reading natural balance, it was simply one of many toxic plants that could be handled with ease. Back then, it was just one of countless options available to him, but now, it was a forbidden fruit he couldn't get his hands on even if he wanted to.
He heard footsteps approaching from behind.
“Do you really want that plant that badly?”
It was Hosu.
“Hey. Good morning.”
At Sihyeon’s greeting, Hosu rubbed her eyes. Her glasses were hanging loosely around her neck.
“Yawn. Want some coffee?”
“Just catching a whiff of the aroma is enough for me.”
“All right. Follow me.”
Hosu walked ahead. Passing an artificial waterfall and climbing a set of iron stairs, they reached a small breakroom equipped with a vending machine. Hosu tapped her card against the machine and grabbed a coffee.
“Even though we have an expensive espresso machine in the office, there are times when I just crave this vending machine coffee.”
“Really?”
“It’s sweet, so it hits the spot when you’re hungry.”
“It smells sweet enough to give me a cavity. How do you drink that?”
Hosu giggled before turning serious.
“What about you? Is that belladonna coated in honey or something? You looked like you were about to steal it.”
“Ah. If it weren't for the CCTV cameras, I might actually have swiped it.”
“Sure. Is it really that hard to get a hold of?”
“There are ways, but I don’t want to go through the black market or sketchy underground routes. It makes me want to grab a sack and go forage in the wild mountains of Europe.”
“Those wild mountains probably have owners too, you know.”
Sihyeon let out a dejected sigh. Taking a sip of her coffee, Hosu looked at him and said:
“There’s a much easier way, so I don’t get why you’re stressing over it.”
“Huh?”
“Just ask the Chairman to secretly give you one.”
Sihyeon’s eyes went wide.
“Is that allowed?”
“We can just keep it a secret. Why not? What are you going to do with a single belladonna plant anyway, launch a terrorist attack?” Hosu said casually.
“Oh??”
“Knowing his personality, he’ll definitely give it to you. Thanks to that toxic herb you discovered last time, he managed to land a hundred-billion-won contract. He’s the type of guy who can't stand being indebted to anyone.”
“That thing was a deadly poison, though.”
Hosu smirked.
“Hey, you can't have that one. We harvested every single bit of it and moved it to the research lab.”
“…Is that so?”
“Look at you getting greedy.”
“I should have stolen a root back then.”
“Oh, please. As if you would ever do that.”
Having finished the coffee, the two headed toward the main building. Hosu pulled Sihyeon along, saying they should strike while the iron was hot.
Once they passed the main entrance, employees in sharp suits were moving about busily. Sihyeon gazed longingly at the colossal terrarium in the center of the lobby with pure envy before heading toward the elevator. Hosu laughed at his expression.
“You live in the middle of the mountains, yet you’re envious of something like that?”
“Well, yeah. A perfect, self-sustaining ecosystem is circulating right inside there. Don’t you know the mysteries of nature? Plus, it has a flawlessly intricate waterfall, and when the light hits it from outside, a rainbow actually forms.”
Hosu clicked her tongue.
“Between the belladonna and this, you have a bizarre hoarding habit.”
“Yeah. I admit it.”
As Hosu pressed the elevator button, Sihyeon murmured:
“But even if you’re his relative, he’s still the Chairman. Is it really okay to just drop in on him without an appointment?”
“Normally, I wouldn't do this either. But I happen to have some business with him. I was actually looking for an excuse, so this worked out perfectly.”
Something felt off.
“Wait, you’re not like me. You guys are family, so shouldn't you be able to meet him comfortably?”
“Ah. I called him this morning and got thoroughly shot down.”
“Eh? I feel like I’m being used here.”
“You are. Just let it slide this once.”
Ding.
The elevator came to a halt, and the doors slid open.
“Chief Kim Hosu. And Kang Sihyeon-ssi.”
A secretary dressed in a cream-colored dress greeted them with a picture-perfect smile.
“Chief? May I ask what brings you here today?”
“Kang Sihyeon-ssi here has some urgent business with the Chairman.”
Hosu nudged Sihyeon forward. The secretary checked her computer screen before replying:
“You need to schedule an appointment in advance. Furthermore, the Chairman is currently in a meeting.”
“With whom?”
At Hosu’s question, the secretary wore a troubled expression.
“It’s Kim Ho-yeon, isn't it?”
“Ah, well.”
“I knew it.”
“I'm sorry.”
Hosu was determined to get an answer, while the secretary put up a defense with her practiced corporate smile. Sihyeon felt suffocated by the flawless back-and-forth exchange. The two weren't exactly whales, but he felt like a shrimp caught in a clash of titans.
Unable to watch any longer, Sihyeon cut in.
“Um, since we’re already here, could you at least check if the Chairman might have a moment of time for us?”
“Ah, yes. Please wait a moment.”
The secretary quietly stepped into the Chairman's office. Sihyeon whispered to Hosu:
“Who is Kim Ho-yeon?”
“Kim Hosu, Kim Ho-yeon. Can’t you tell? He’s my older brother.”
“And? Why are you being so aggressive?”
Hosu knit her brows, her voice turning icy cold.
“Because he’s a sworn enemy that needs to be taken down, and an absolute piece of human garbage.”
“What? You said he’s your brother.”
“Don’t you watch dramas? In chaebol families, siblings are viewed as rivals rather than family.”
“Is there no room for a little compromise or giving in?”
“Compromise is something you do after you have everything. I don’t deal in crumbs.”
“…Wow. That's ruthless.”
The secretary stepped out of the Chairman's office and held the door handle open.
A man walked out.
He was a handsome, well-built man, standing slightly taller than Hosu. Beneath his wavy hair that partially covered his forehead, his eyes fixed on Hosu with a mocking sneer.
“Kim Hosu. It’s been a while, hasn't it?”
Hosu cracked her neck from side to side, her voice flat and cold.
“I told you not to act like you know me, didn't I?”
“I’ve been doing well too, little sister.”
Kim Ho-yeon didn't seem to care in the slightest about Hosu’s icy tone.
“I heard a rumor that you've grown greedy for the cosmetics division.”
“You should just focus on what you're already doing. I heard all about your electric car exploding during its road test. Which number was that again, the eighth?”
“It was the fourth!”
Kim Ho-yeon’s face twitched violently. Tucking her hair back, Hosu spoke with pure disdain.
“So like I said, focus on doing that right. If you landed an executive position through nepotism, you should be working your butt off instead of poking your nose into other places.”
“Isn't it only right that I take it over rather than my little sister?”
“Stop talking nonsense, it's disgusting. If you have time to waste like this, go give a fat bonus to the injured employee and visit them in the hospital. Before you end up on the news again for a power-trip scandal. If the stock prices plummet this time, even Mom won't be able to shield you.”
At Hosu’s scathing words, Kim Ho-yeon’s face flushed crimson all the way down to his neck.
“…Ha. You really don't back down by a single word, do you?”
“When it comes to you, I won't lose in anything. Even if we play rock-paper-scissors, I'll beat you every time.” Hosu glared dead at Kim Ho-yeon.
“You little—!”
Kim Ho-yeon suddenly swung his hand forward. In that split second, Sihyeon pulled Hosu back while firmly grabbing Kim Ho-yeon's arm. The man tried to break free from his grip, but when Sihyeon refused to let go, he smirked slyly.
“I was just making a gesture. Just a gesture.”
“…….”
Sihyeon let go of his arm and let out a heavy sigh. What kind of trash is this guy?
Just as Sihyeon was about to speak up, the door swung open again, and Chairman Hwang Kyu-hyun revealed himself. Hosu, boiling with rage, was trembling slightly, while the smirking Kim Ho-yeon instantly shut his mouth.
“Why stop? Why don't you keep going? Go ahead, broadcast it to the whole world. Air all your dirty laundry.”
“Uncle, you know how it is. Hosu treats me like dirt.”
“And did you give her a reason to?” Chairman Hwang Kyu-hyun asked, turning to Kim Ho-yeon with a slight smirk.
“You, play a game of rock-paper-scissors with Hosu right now.”
“Pardon?”
“She just said she wouldn't even lose a game of rock-paper-scissors to you. Go on, try it.”
Kim Ho-yeon waved his hands frantically with a sycophantic laugh.
“Oh, come on, Uncle. You sure love your jokes.”
“I said, try it.”
“Hahaha. I'll come back another time!” Kim Ho-yeon backpedaled, quickly opening the door and vanishing from sight.
“A fellow with the capacity of a tiny soy sauce dish. What am I supposed to use him for?”
Chairman Hwang Kyu-hyun turned to Sihyeon and nodded.
“You, come on in.”
“Yes, sir.”
Hosu poked her head forward.
“What about me?”
“Goodness. You come in too!”
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