The Youngest Son of Sunyang

"Willing to stake your life on my grandson...? Is that what you want?"

"I don't mean to entrust my life to Manager Jin Do-jun. It means I want to be closer to him, to work with him."

"Why? What do you mean? Why do you want to be with our Do-junie so much that you'd risk your one and only life?" Chairman Jin's eyes glared with intensity as he questioned him.

Kim Yoon-seok felt a shiver down his spine. Did he make a mistake? Did he misunderstand and think that he was someone who wanted to stick around and be a part of his grandson's life just because he saved him once?

"I want to stand in front as well."

"What?"

"I've always had to stay in the shadows. I'm ashamed of my role like that. Earlier, you told me to speak my mind about what I want. Now, I'll tell you for sure. I want to feel proud of myself and stand confidently in front of others."

"A guy who doesn't even know his place!" Between clenched teeth, Chairman Jin's anger was evident.

Kim Yoon-seok hadn't imagined that such a reaction would come.

He thought he might hear words of advice, even a scolding to look after his grandson better... but all he was getting was Chairman Jin's anger, and it seemed like all the chances were slipping away.

"Someone like you will only hinder our Do-junie. A clueless guy like you, who threw himself away like a piece of trash after making a meager contribution, is thinking of sticking to our grandson and leeching off him?"

"Chair... Chairman. I've never once considered such a thing. If a situation arises where I need to hinder Manager Jin Do-jun, I'm even willing to cut ties and step aside. Please trust me."

If it weren't for the immobilizing casts, he would have even knelt.

Speaking with determination while lying down, wrapped in bandages, felt unjust.

"Noisy. At this very moment, you've let slip your grasp on the third chance as well. People like you are always the same. Foolish idiots who can't even distinguish between excrement and soybean paste."

Chairman Jin suddenly stood up, there was no outlet for his anger, so he kicked the helpless chair.

"I won't take back what I've given. Once your body is able to move, I'll kick you out immediately. If you dare to meddle in Do-junie's affairs again, I will take your pitiful life."

He shouted a warning that sounded like a threat.

"Chairman..."

Kim Yoon-seok wanted to hold Chairman Jin's leg or do something to express his sincerity, but he couldn't move, so all he could do was watch Chairman Jin as he left the room.

"You were told not to wander around the hospital, and that was just yesterday. If you called because of seasoned chicken, it's absolutely not allowed."

Grandfather had been calling since morning, urging him to come quickly.

It's noisy. If they wanted him to come, he would come without all the talking, right?

A voice so loud it made him question whether the person had really undergone surgery echoed from the phone.

When he rushed to the hospital, his grandfather, with a stern expression, was waiting.

"Do-jun."

"Yes?"

"There's someone who wants to be your dog. Do you know about it?"

Thrown off by the sudden question, he was still aware of who they were talking about.

"Are you talking about Manager Kim Yoon-seok?"

"Yeah, that guy."

"I met him yesterday."

"Even though he rejected it when I offered him a large sum, he now wants to stand by your side. Did you approve of it too?"

Did he make a mistake? Did his grandfather not like the idea of someone as young as him trying to gather people around him already?

"I've decided to give him a conditional chance."

"Conditional?"

"Yes. Even if he messes up my work, I've decided to forgive him three times."

"What if it goes beyond three times?"

"I'll let him go. He saved my life, so I've given him three chances. Isn't that enough to repay a debt?"

"Hmm..."

After a moment of silence, his grandfather suddenly said something completely unexpected.

"What do you think are the virtues of a dog?"

" Virtues of a dog?"

"Yeah, the qualities people like in dogs."

"Loyalty to their owner, maybe? There's a saying 'a loyal dog.' Besides, there's no word 'faithful' used for any animal other than dogs."

"You're wrong."

Wrong? If loyalty isn't a virtue of a dog, what is? No matter how hard he thought, he couldn't come up with anything other than loyalty.

"Loyalty comes with a condition. It's called righteousness. Being loyal means guiding your owner in the right direction. That's why dogs don't backtalk their owners. Blocking their path when the owner is going the wrong way is also loyalty, and changing their direction is also loyalty."

"Isn't following even when it's not right also a form of loyalty? There's a saying 'blind loyalty,' isn't there?"

"That's being a sycophant."

It's difficult. So, dog's virtues aren't loyalty... Could it be love?

"The virtue of a dog is devotion."

Ah...!

Giving everything, body and soul, dedicating all one's strength, not sparing sacrifices. The difference between devotion and loyalty is that devotion has no conditions.

"Do you think that guy will be devoted to you?"

"So far, yes."

When he confidently answered, his grandfather showed a slight sneer.

"Why?"

No need for a lengthy explanation. Wouldn't this person, who could see through most things with just a word or two, understand?

"But that guy has already made a mistake."

"You, grandfather?"

With a stern look, his grandfather said, "He told me he wants to serve you. When does a dog ask for permission to choose its owner? He's considering himself higher than you."

If it were something trivial, it would be infinitely trivial. Shouldn't I be able to say enough since it's my grandfather and the group chairman?

At first, I thought this extreme refusal to tolerate even such a trivial thing was too severe, but then I reconsidered.

It's not just hiring an employee; it's choosing a successor. Shouldn't there be no room for any shortcomings?

"Has he made any more mistakes?"