The Seat of the Firstborn

“Grandfather, it’s Jae-hwi. I have something to tell you.”

It had been a summer day years ago when Jae-hwi had sought him out with sparkling eyes. From that private meeting onward, the Chairman’s heart had begun to shift. He didn’t know exactly what had triggered the boy, but the once-gentle eyes were suddenly filled with a sharp, venomous intent. It was a change Goo Kwang-hyun found quite to his liking.

After heading to Germany, the boy hadn’t just graduated early with honors; he had sprinted through his doctoral degree as well. Following that, he joined the European branch of GH Electronics and, in short order, drove their market share to number one in the region.

The Chairman didn’t care if “tainted blood” was mixed in, as long as the boy was useful. As for a messy past? He had already made sure it vanished as if it never existed. And so, today…

“Chairman, I was thinking of making seaweed soup with abalone for dinner. Young Mistress Jae-kyung is visiting, and it happens to be her birthday soon.”

The employee mentioned selecting the menu specifically for the eldest granddaughter, who loved abalone seaweed soup. Goo Kwang-hyun set down the inkstone he had been grinding for a long time. His gaze, peering over his reading glasses at the neatly arranged brushes, remained stoic.

Sheep hair, pig bristle, bear hair, ox hair, horse hair. The brushes—made from every imaginable animal—varied in size and length. Yet, despite the vast selection, his hand always reached for one in particular.

“Hmm… do we have any good beef?”

“Oh, of course, sir.”

“Forget the abalone. Put in the beef instead.”

Recalling his eldest grandson Jae-hwi, who preferred meat over seafood, Goo Kwang-hyun gave his instructions. The employee bowed and withdrew.

It had been a long time since he had summoned his son, his daughter-in-law, and all his grandchildren. For Jae-hwi, this would be the first formal meal with the family members other than the Chairman himself. Having resolved to throw his full weight behind the firstborn grandson, the Chairman finally selected his brush.

A Wooyang-gyeomho—a brush made by mixing ox and sheep hair. By combining the strengths of both, it offered perfect resilience, absorption, and elasticity.

“There’s no reason to insist on purity alone,” he muttered to himself, nodding as a thin smile touched his wrinkled lips.

“Father, you’re out.”

“Father, welcome.”

Goo Yoon-mo and his wife, Lee Seol-ran, bowed as Goo Kwang-hyun approached the table. Despite being eighty-two, he looked robust as he studied the faces of the family members standing around the table before taking his seat.

His son and daughter-in-law; his granddaughters Jae-kyung and Jae-eun; Jae-eun’s husband, Ahn Sang-jin; and finally, Jae-hwi. Walking past them all, Goo Kwang-hyun sat at the head of the twelve-person table and gave a curt nod.

“Not Jae-kyung.”

The family members, who had been about to sit, froze at the old man’s brief words. Standing to the left of Goo Kwang-hyun—directly across from Goo Yoon-mo—Goo Jae-kyung’s expression contorted.

The old man, spoon already in hand, cast a narrow gaze toward the far end of the table where Jae-hwi sat.

“Jae-hwi. Come sit here.”

“…Grandfather!”

“Let’s eat. Manager Park has prepared a feast. She must have worked hard.”

Instead of acknowledging Jae-kyung’s fury, the Chairman praised the staff’s efforts. Under his command, everyone sat down while cautiously reading the room—everyone, that is, except Jae-kyung and Jae-hwi.

Goo Jae-kyung bit her lip, her chest heaving. With a sharp movement, she pivoted and marched toward the seat next to Lee Seol-ran, where Jae-hwi had been standing.

Jae-hwi pulled out the chair for the fuming Jae-kyung. Then, he walked past Goo Jae-eun and Ahn Sang-jin—who were pressing their lips shut to hide their shock—and took the seat his grandfather had indicated.

“Oh, the seaweed soup reminds me. Jae-kyung, isn’t your birthday coming up?”

Lee Seol-ran attempted to thaw the frozen atmosphere with a bright smile, and Goo Kwang-hyun nodded.

“Yes. Manager Park wanted to celebrate Jae-kyung’s birthday since she hasn’t visited in a while, so I told her to go ahead.”

Jae-kyung looked down at the bowl in front of her and frowned. Manager Park had been the head chef here for nearly twenty years and knew the Goo family’s tastes inside out. Yet, despite claiming to celebrate her birthday, she had served beef seaweed soup. It was the perfect excuse to vent her foul mood.

“Manager Park. Do you not know that I only eat abalone seaweed soup?”

“…I am sorry.”

The employee, who was busy placing a bowl overflowing with beef in front of Jae-hwi, gave a brief apology and retreated.

“Jae-kyung, do not harass the staff just because your own palate is picky.”

At the Chairman’s word, Jae-kyung’s mouth snapped shut again. There was a brief silence as she toyed with the idea of a rebuttal.

“Now that you’re a year older, it’s time you started a new family.”

“Grandfather, I—”

Goo Kwang-hyun lifted his spoon, his eyes not even brushing her direction. It was clear he wasn’t asking for her opinion.

“A divorce isn’t a stain on one’s reputation these days, but it won’t be as easy to find a match as it was the first time. I shall look for someone suitable.”

“…Yes.”

For Jae-kyung, who had been enjoying her single life after the divorce, this was a bolt from the blue. However, knowing her grandfather’s temperament, she chose silence over a charming protest.

“It has been a long time since the whole family gathered.”

“Yes, Father. It’s such a shame Da-eun and Ha-eun are still studying abroad. It would have been wonderful to have them here.”

At the mention of the “whole family,” Lee Seol-ran quickly brought up her two daughters overseas—a desperate plea from a daughter-in-law to ensure the granddaughters who weren’t present wouldn’t be forgotten.

“Hmm… I suppose.”

“Father, Da-eun entered a competition last week, and she—”

“There has been enough talk over the food. Now, eat. Start eating.”

Cutting off his daughter-in-law’s unwanted chatter, Goo Kwang-hyun took a spoonful of soup. Lee Seol-ran, who had been about to brag about her daughter’s award, immediately fell silent. The rest of the family lifted their spoons. Jae-hwi had only just begun his meal when a voice spoke up.

“This is the first time I’ve had a meal with Jae-hwi.”

When Jae-hwi looked up at the mention of his name, Goo Yoon-mo gave him a smirking nod, signaling him to keep eating.

“But Father, hasn’t Jae-hwi just arrived after living in Europe for so long? Wouldn’t it be too taxing for him to start working immediately?”

“Hmm…”

“Give him some time to adjust to life in Korea. Besides, he’s at the prime of his youth. He needs a chance to rest and hang out with friends.”

To a casual observer, it sounded like an uncle’s warm concern for his nephew. But the true intent was transparent. He was displeased that the nephew had snagged the position of Managing Director of GH Electronics the moment he touched down in Korea.

Jae-hwi raised his water glass to his lips to hide a scoff.

“Is that so, Jae-hwi?”

“No, sir.”

Jae-hwi matched his grandfather’s brevity. Then, he adjusted his posture and looked directly at the smoothly smiling Goo Yoon-mo.

“I appreciate my uncle’s concern.”

“…….”

“But as the firstborn grandson, I must fulfill my duties. If I needed rest, I would have asked for it myself.”

As the firstborn grandson. Jae-hwi watched the corner of his lip curl as Goo Yoon-mo’s face stiffened at the weight of those words.

Snake-like man.

Jae-hwi knew exactly how the Goo family viewed him. His uncle, who had been lurking in the shadows for years waiting for a chance to expand his power within the group, would find him particularly galling.

“True. Jae-hwi’s achievements in Europe were significant. He suffered long enough in a foreign land; I would have given him an even higher position if I could.”

At the Chairman’s words, Yoon-mo’s brow twitched. Jae-kyung and Jae-eun also looked grim, while only Ahn Sang-jin, Jae-eun’s husband, nodded and gave Jae-hwi a thumbs-up.

“But Jae-hwi declined, saying he was too young. Even though I told him there was no need for such modesty.”

“Yes, Grandfather. It wouldn’t look good to the public to have someone so young in an executive role.”

“Hmph… Who would dare say anything about what I do with my own property?”

Goo Kwang-hyun, who had been looking at Jae-hwi with pride, suddenly turned a razor-sharp gaze to his right. His chilling stare landed directly on Goo Yoon-mo.

“Wouldn’t you agree, Managing Director Goo?”

“…Yes, sir.”

The fact that he addressed him by title rather than his name, “Yoon-mo,” was a clear warning. Know your place. Yoon-mo caught the subtext and answered reluctantly, though he couldn’t hide his look of pure disgust.

Watching this, Jae-hwi reached out. He picked up the plate of braised short ribs in front of him and placed it before his uncle, tilting an eyebrow as if encouraging him to eat his fill.

His relaxed demeanor—like a host treating a guest—turned Goo Yoon-mo’s face a dark shade of livid. Jae-hwi then smiled back at Goo Kwang-hyun, who was watching him with satisfaction.

“Grandfather, perhaps later. Once I have achieved results that everyone can accept, I won’t decline then.”

“Right, right.”

“Father, when will my husband be—”

Lee Seol-ran’s shoulder jolted mid-sentence. It appeared Goo Yoon-mo had grabbed her arm to silence her before she could run her mouth any further.