God-Given Business Genius

If it’s not plagiarism, then?

“When comparing the bingsu from that establishment with our ’s Snow Flower Bingsu, while they might look similar on the surface, the texture and taste are completely different.

The toppings and the texture of the ice are entirely distinct.

Especially considering that the essence of ‘Snow Flower Bingsu’ is the milk ice that melts softly in your mouth, you can understand how significant this difference is.”

How big is the difference in the ice?

“On this point, I’ll quote Moon Yu-han-ssi, who worked hard to create our Snow Flower Bingsu.

Traditional bingsu machines typically use a crushing method. As you might know, they break and shave large ice blocks to create fine ice.

In contrast, the ice machine that Moon Yu-han-ssi is currently patent-pending completely reverses this principle and creates powdered ice in a new way.

It sprays water onto a cooled metal plate and instantly scrapes off the frozen powdered ice. It’s essentially a flash-freezing method.”

Flash-freezing sounds quite novel. What are its advantages compared to the crushing method?

“The biggest advantage is easier hygiene management. Since ’s Snow Flower Bingsu is made entirely with milk ice, managing dairy products was our primary concern.

If we stuck to the traditional crushing method, we’d have to make blocks of milk ice and store them in the freezer, risking product spoilage in the process.

Moreover, the need to constantly prepare milk ice was doubly troublesome.”

Thud.

I put down the printed interview article. Jo I-ruk was waiting for my reaction, his hands clasped in front of him at the desk.

“It’s well-written. The reporter conveyed our perspective neutrally, making it less off-putting for readers.”

“Yes. As you said, public opinion has dramatically shifted since this interview.”

I thought as much.

“Even the café owner who posted the plagiarism allegation has publicly apologized for their hasty remarks.”

“That’s good. Let’s wrap this up here. Dragging it out further will only increase fatigue.”

It would be perfect to end with something like, ‘When you’re doing well, jealousy from others never ceases.’

“Kang Yu-ha-ssi handled this well. We were saved thanks to her.”

I said, tapping my phone.

“Yes. I didn’t know you had a reporter acquaintance, CEO.”

“Haha. I picked her up when she was standing around like a lost puppy in the countryside.”

“?”

Jo I-ruk looked puzzled, probably thinking it was some kind of metaphor. I meant it literally.

“It’s good to have such connections. Sometimes we receive help like this, and other times we might help them.”

The media is a double-edged sword, but now I could keep it sheathed and draw it when appropriate.

“However… I’ve skimmed through the interview content, but I couldn’t find anything special.”

Jo I-ruk cautiously spoke up.

“About the ‘big corporation versus small business’ frame you mentioned, CEO. I’ve been pondering how to break that frame without revealing that we’re a small company.”

“Oh, you have?”

I didn’t know that. He must have been quite stressed.

“I was also surprised by how quickly public opinion changed after the interview. It seems too much to be mere coincidence…”

Jo I-ruk looked up at me with his head still bowed. Rather than glaring, he seemed to be watching my reaction while steadfastly continuing to say what he needed to say.

“You’re not the type to work that way, are you, CEO?”

Our Team Leader Jo. When did he grow up so much?

It feels like just yesterday that I brought him in when he was still green and put him through the wringer. Now he seems quite seasoned in the ways of the world.

“That’s an interesting play on words. Song Woo-yeon doesn’t work by chance (woo-yeon).”

“I didn’t intend it that way.”

“No, I like it. It’s nice to have at least one person who gets it. Makes my work more enjoyable.”

I grinned and continued.

“It’s simple. People still love a self-made success story.”

“Still? Or rather, self-made… you say?”

“Jo I-ruk-ssi joined after seeing my face from the start, so you might not realize, but it’s not common for someone my age to be in a CEO role like this, right?”

“I suppose not.”

Jo I-ruk nodded. Hmm. He’s following along without much resistance, so I thought he didn’t know. Seems he did know after all.

“A young entrepreneur just starting out. What an appealing image.”

The image of ‘youth’ offsets the image of ‘big corporation.’ When the images of underdog and powerhouse mix, it neutralizes the resistance.

“But that’s not all. The fact that I’m a GED graduate who dropped out of high school, an orphan who grew up alone without parents.”

Each of these elements plays a crucial role.

“If I had grown up in a wealthy family and started a business with my parents’ money, there would have been much more resistance. Many would have been jealous.”

That’s why I deliberately leaked some personal stories in the interview. Not blatant sob stories, but enough to make people feel I had a tough upbringing.

“But people’s thinking is funny, you know? No matter what path I take afterward, they look down on me just because I’m a GED graduate and an orphan.”

Isn’t it interesting?

“They treat my background almost like a social class. No matter how successful I become, that one label makes them think I’m beneath them.”

“That’s…”

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. I’m not wallowing in self-pity. I just wanted to point out that these attributes of mine can be both advantageous and disadvantageous. In this case, they worked quite favorably.”

And I was prepared to actively utilize even the slightest bit of sympathy that fell my way.

Before my regression, I was ashamed of being an orphan and desperately tried to hide it, but now I’m past that age.

“CEO… did you think of all this from the beginning?”

“Well, more or less?”

I did think my background would be helpful.

“…I see.”

Jo I-ruk nodded with a stiff expression.

Strange. Why is he acting like this?

Even before my regression, we had a superior-subordinate relationship, so we weren’t exactly close, but at least he didn’t seem this unilaterally intimidated.

“Am I going to eat you or something?”

“Pardon?”

“No, you just seem too tense.”

I meant it as a joke, but Jo I-ruk flinched. Come on, that’s too much.

“I don’t think I’ve ever scared you. Did I do something wrong? Ah, is it because I got angry with Boss Park Seung-jae? I’m not usually like that. You know that.”

“…It’s not that. In Park Seung-jae’s case, it was clear where the responsibility lay.”

“Then what is it?”

“I just…”

Jo I-ruk pushed up his glasses and said,

“I can’t fathom what you’re thinking, CEO.”

“Hm?”

“So I guess I’m unconsciously tense. I didn’t realize it showed. I’m sorry.”

“No, there’s nothing to be sorry about.”

I waved my hand at Jo I-ruk while thinking to myself.

‘So there’s this kind of side effect.’

The experience I’d accumulated before my regression created too big a gap with the current Jo I-ruk. That gap is making Jo I-ruk suddenly fearful.

People tend to feel more comfortable with those who fall within their range of expectations.

It’s difficult to be at ease with someone who might pull out a gun in the middle of a meal without seeming strange. And to Jo I-ruk, I’m that kind of person.

‘This is tricky.’

Suddenly, I found myself reflecting on my actions.

Hmm. To others… I must seem like an unfathomable genius. But I’m not really that kind of person.

Rather, I’ve failed many times and have many shortcomings. It’s just that my experience covers it all up.

I can’t just ruin a brand to show my human side.

In times like these, it’s better to approach it this way.

“There’s no need to be afraid.”

I smiled gently.

“We’re on the same team, aren’t we?”

This happened before my regression too. People who followed me like a deity based on the success story I’d created.

It’s not inherently bad for people to feel awe towards me. In fact, if used well, it can become a quite useful mental resource.

As proof, there was Jo I-ruk, whose face regained its color when I reminded him that we’re on the same team.

“…Yes!”

Our Team Leader Jo. How can I help it when your thoughts are so clearly written on your face? I thought this to myself but didn’t say it out loud.

After all, it’s better for me if expressions are easily readable rather than well-hidden.

“The franchise owners must have had a hard time with the recent incident. Please convey some compensation and reassure them that they don’t need to worry too much.”

“Yes, understood.”

“I’ll be stepping out for a bit.”

“Where are you going?”

In response to Jo I-ruk’s question, I smiled and tapped my phone screen.

The name was clearly displayed.

“I should treat our lifesaver to at least one meal, shouldn’t I?”

⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱

“You have quite a way with words.”

I opened the conversation in front of a bubbling kimchi stew.

Slurp!

Even though I offered to buy something more expensive, she insisted on kimchi stew. Kang Yu-ha hurriedly dug in with her spoon, seemingly unaffected by the boiling hot stew.

“Ow, hot!”

Of course it’s hot. Did you expect it to be cold?

I was at a loss for words seeing her act like this in front of a steaming kimchi stew.

Slurp.

“Ahh. Delicious. Kimchi stew tastes best when it’s hot. Try some.”

She looks like she’d prefer pasta, so this is unexpected.

“Oh right. What did you say earlier? Ah, about the interview? Haha. Thank you for the compliment.”

“I’m not just being polite, I really mean it.”

Did you think I wouldn’t know any journalists before my regression? I’ve seen countless articles written by them.

But Kang Yu-ha’s interview stands out even among those.

As you naturally follow the flow of the article, you eventually reach the conclusion, “Oh? I guess it wasn’t plagiarism.”

Unlike a journalist’s duty to simply convey facts, she excels at manipulating the reader’s thoughts. I’m not sure whether to call it ironic or fitting.

“You’re too kind. It was thanks to the good material you provided. How did you manage to give exactly the answers I wanted? This was the easiest interview I’ve ever done. It felt like you’d been inside my head.”

“It’s because you asked such good questions, Reporter Kang.”

“Come on, you’re being too modest.”

Kang Yu-ha laughed heartily. The atmosphere wasn’t bad at all.

We exchanged compliments, buttering each other up, until Kang Yu-ha caught onto a casual remark I made.

“Let me know if there’s anything I can help you with next time.”

“Ah!”

It was just an offhand comment, but Kang Yu-ha’s eyes lit up. She put down her spoon with a clatter and exclaimed,

“CEO. Have you ever considered appearing on TV?!”