Chapter 1. A Killer Feeling

This is the story of the one and only black mark in the flawless life of Kang Gwon-ha, the CEO of Daeseong Brewing, the largest liquor company in the country.

“Are you seriously saying you feel nothing for me? That’s strange. That can’t be right.”

“…”

“Could it be something like emotional numbness? Or maybe a vision problem? Or do you just have some very unusual sense of beauty?”

It was an unprecedented crisis that suddenly rolled into the arrogant life of a man who had never known what it meant to lack anything.

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s not like you’re going to give me anything.”

“…What?”

“Again with that wide-eyed ‘What?’ face. What do you think I’ll say to that?”

“…”

“Joo Do-ah, you really have a knack for driving people insane. You don’t even realize what you’re doing to me.”

For the first time in his life, he found himself yearning more than for his own life for that cold yet lovely woman.

“I’m saying I like you. Dammit. So much that I couldn’t care less about that damn brewing method of yours.”

A little rough, yet…

“Joo Do-ah, I’m drunk on you. Me.”

This is the story of Kang Gwon-ha’s first love, intoxicating and sweet.

* * *

It was late April when pear blossoms were in full bloom. The season of small white flowers spreading their fragrant scent had arrived. Spring was at its peak.

But unlike the rest of the world, which was bursting into vibrant colors and brimming with life, there was one place still in the middle of a bitter winter.

It was the traditional hanok mansion in Hannam-dong where Kang Ho, the chairman of Daeseong Brewing, resided.

“Make sure you don’t make any mistakes. You know what they’re like.”

“Yes, team leader.”

The granite walls surrounding the vast estate were taller than a grown man. Tall pine trees stood proudly, exuding the dignity of the house. Even the security team stationed at the iron gates gave off an intimidating air like the gatekeepers of hell.

The house was just like its owner, Chairman Kang.

“Executive Director Kang Dae-sik of Daeseong Distribution has arrived.”

“CEO Kang Mi-ra of Daeseong F&B and Executive Director Seo Hee-jin have arrived.”

The fortress, armed with CCTV on every corner, was unusually busy today.

The entire Kang family had been summoned early that morning.

Among the line of foreign luxury cars waiting at the gate, a single top-of-the-line black sedan manufactured domestically came to a stop.

The security guard who checked the license plate stiffened noticeably.

“Director Kang Gwon-ha of Daeseong Brewing has arrived.”

All the security team members with earpieces shared the same expression.

The hand of the guard waiting to open the back seat door trembled slightly.

At that moment, Secretary Shin Dong-hun got out of the passenger seat first. He stopped the guard from opening the door and spoke crisply.

“Wait a moment. He’s still handling some business.”

“Ah, yes.”

The guard obediently pulled back his hand. Everyone acted like they couldn’t afford a single lapse in discipline. And in fact, everyone waiting there felt the same way.

How long had they been standing like that?

Tap tap.

At the light sound of knuckles on the window, the guard quickly opened the door as if he’d been waiting for it.

The glossy toe of a pair of straight-tip dress shoes touched the ground first. A sharply creased pant leg ran down a long, lean leg that moved with disciplined precision.

The man, nearly 190 centimeters tall and a boxing enthusiast, had a presence that overwhelmed everyone around him the moment he appeared.

One of the security guards nearby even swallowed a dry breath.

“Secretary Shin, this.”

“Yes.”

Shin quickly approached and accepted the tablet the man handed him.

“Tell them to reinforce the marked sections and send it back.”

“Understood. When should I have it ready?”

“Today. On my desk before I leave work.”

Shin had intended to mention that the proposal had taken a month to put together, but he shut his mouth immediately. His boss only ever wanted one kind of answer.

“Yes, Director.”

The man fastened the buttons on his immaculate jacket one by one. Even that simple motion heightened the tension in the air.

He casually swept his gaze across the mansion’s exterior, then lifted his wrist to check the time.

“Hmm, perfect timing.”

His long, narrow eyes closed slowly, then opened again beneath deep eye sockets. His slicked-back pomade hairstyle made his thick eyebrows stand out even more. Just then, the sun broke through the clouds and shone down on him like a spotlight announcing his arrival.

“Welcome, Director.”

Everyone bowed their heads before the towering man. He gave the waiting security team a businesslike smile.

“Good work, everyone.”

He patted the shoulder of the nearest guard encouragingly and walked forward. None of the guards raised their heads until he passed by.

Before he even reached the iron gates, the doors swung open wide as if to welcome him.

Right before he stepped through, his gaze swept over the rows of foreign cars lined up like sausages.

His darkly pigmented lips curled into a smirk.

“Unbelievable. No sense whatsoever.”

Idiots.

Chairman Kang Ho of Daeseong Brewing was a devoted supporter of domestic products. Considering the company had grown on traditional liquor, that was only natural.

His cousins’ obsession with foreign goods was pitiful yet convenient.

Thanks to them, he stood out even more as the perfect heir, complete with talent, looks, and character. They made flawless background extras.

“I have a feeling we’ll be hearing good news today. Don’t you think so, Secretary Shin?”

“Yes, I think so too.”

Leaving Shin’s swift response behind, the man entered the house.

He was the head of marketing planning at Daeseong Brewing, the country’s largest liquor company, and the chairman’s only grandson.

“I’ve got a killer feeling about this.”

This was the arrival of Kang Gwon-ha, the heir apparent.

* * *

Inside the main building of the mansion.

In the private reception room, Chairman Kang sat on a silk cushion as he greeted Gwon-ha. Despite it being April, he wore a white ramie hanbok, as he tended to run warm.

“Director Kang, you’re here.”

The chairman stroked his neatly trimmed beard and gestured leisurely.

The cousins who had arrived earlier were already seated, leaving one spot open to the right of the chairman.

“I’m a bit late.”

“No, you’re right on time.”

The chairman’s support made the relatives’ expressions twist. Gwon-ha let out a small laugh and walked toward the empty seat.

“Dad, did you see how well Hee-jin did with the first quarter sales for Espérang?”

Before Gwon-ha could even sit, his aunt Kang Mi-ra jumped in first.

Espérang was the name of the new coffee franchise launched by Daeseong F&B.

“She used to be a little lost, but now that she’s a year older, she’s completely turned herself around. You must be proud of our Hee-jin. Of course you are. She’s your only granddaughter.”

Seo Hee-jin, sitting beside her, played the part of the well-bred, gentle noblewoman, saying quietly, “Oh, Mom~” as if to stop her.

Oh, shut the hell up.

The fake politeness that didn’t suit her at all made his skin crawl.

He thought she hadn’t heard his inner scoff, but Hee-jin shot him a sharp side-eye.

‘Is that what you call a complete turnaround? More like her eyes turned 180 degrees.’

Suppressing a smirk, Gwon-ha took his seat.

Chairman Kang blew on his chrysanthemum tea in a celadon cup and nodded once.

“Yes. I reviewed Hee-jin’s performance report. Sales have increased a lot.”

At that single sentence thrown out like a charitable handout, Mi-ra and Hee-jin’s faces brightened immediately.

Uncle Kang Dae-sik, who had been watching quietly, chuckled slyly and chimed in.

“Ah, those sales came from forcing franchise owners to buy in bulk and constantly holding free events for customers, didn’t they…”

“Uncle, that’s not it…”

“Hee-jin, honestly. You don’t know the first thing about business. Daeseong isn’t a charity, right, Father?”

Nice one, Uncle.

Sure, after taking over as CEO he’d siphoned off half of Daeseong Distribution’s clients for himself, but a bit of recklessness like this was welcome today.

This was like getting a reward without lifting a finger.

Gwon-ha rubbed the corner of his mouth to suppress his grin.

Just then, the chairman’s expression hardened.

“Whenever you meet, all you do is tear each other apart.”

He set his teacup down with a sharp clack, and the noisy room instantly fell silent.

“It’s not like that, Father… I just thought you should know the facts.”

“Grandpa, I’m the one being wronged here. That’s not what happened. Uncle misunderstood…”

“Dad, I stayed quiet.”

Everyone scrambled to defend themselves. Excuses poured out left and right, but if you listened closely, every one of them was painting themselves as the victim and the target of slander.

It was like watching a farce.

And it was exactly the kind of thing Chairman Kang Ho hated the most.

His gaze finally settled on the silent Gwon-ha.

‘Here it comes.’

‘Finally, I’ll take everything. Talent, looks, character, and now honor.’

A shiver of excitement ran up his spine. His heart pounded with anticipation.

Everything was about to fall into place.

“I’ll give my seat to the one who fulfills my wish.”

“…”

“Go to Yehwa Village and bring back the brewing method for Cheondo Ihwaju.”

The killer feeling he’d had…

“Do it without stepping out of line.”

…turned into a reality he wanted to kill.