(It's My Life)
(Episode 19)
I...
was confident that I could...
give up on becoming the heir of Hyunkang.
It turns out, I was just afraid.
I'm incompetent.
I'm a nobody.
I was afraid others might find out about it.
Nam Jin.
However,
I don't think I can run away anymore.
"Shouldn't I give it a try even if I fall down or get knocked down?"
"If I try with all my might,"
"could I get away from the ditch I'm living in..."
"and reach the faraway ocean?"
Tell me, Seung Joo.
Do you think I can do well?
Yes, I believe in you.
You can certainly do a great job.
Grandpa worked so hard to grow Hyunkang to what it is now.
What if I ruin everything?
Don't you trust your grandpa's judgment?
He's a legend in this industry.
He wouldn't have entrusted you with such responsibilities...
just because you're his grandson.
He obviously saw your potential.
That's why he made that decision.
Goodness.
I wanted you to be my big brother as you're sweet and reliable,
but you're too softhearted.
I take it back. You can't be my big brother.
You just smiled.
By the way, what will you do now?
- About what? - You said that Choi Si Woo...
wants to cancel all contracts with Minhan Group.
I'm not sure what I should do.
Frankly, it's just crazy, you know.
Getting back at my dad's company for the engagement being called off?
I didn't know that Si Woo was such a loser.
I think he's reacting this way...
because his pride was hurt pretty badly.
His pride?
So far, he's been able to have...
everything his way, you know.
He's well-educated,
and he has never struggled financially.
Also, he is in a splendid position despite his young age.
Marrying someone like you, a charming girl from a good family,
is the path he's supposed to follow.
But you rejected him.
That probably crushed his pride.
That is unbelievable.
Just because of his pride, he'd try to make a company go belly up?
Mr. Choi.
Shall we grab a drink to celebrate?
Your cast is gone.
I got it removed today. I feel so light that I might fly away.
My gosh, you can't fly away.
Now that you've won the contest, you must work very hard.
You can't go anywhere.
- Let's go in. - Okay.
Hello, sir.
Okay.
This is my secret hangout.
Your secret hangout?
Whenever I'm angry, have a lot on my mind,
or want to be alone, I come here.
You're the first person that I've brought to my hangout,
so consider it an honor.
You came together today.
Pardon me?
She put up with a lot the last time you got drunk.
Mr. Choi.
Please wake up.
So you were the one that helped me that day.
Yes.
But how did you know that I was here?
By any chance, did I call you when I was drunk?
No, I called you.
That bartender said that you were very drunk,
so I got worried and came by.
I'm sorry. I don't remember anything because I was drunk.
Did I make any mistakes?
Ms. Han Seung Joo?
You thought I was her.
So I just quietly listened.
I'm not sure what I said to you, but please forget everything.
I mean, it probably wasn't anything nice.
You seemed lonely.
And that's why I momentarily resented that lady.
I wondered why she has to make you so lonely.
Congratulations. I didn't expect that you'd win the grand prize.
I'm impressed.
Here, cheers.
Thank you. I owe it all to you.
I really wanted to see your name on the list of contest winners.
Thank you for keeping your promise.
I'm grateful for everything.
Thank you for remembering my name...
and for recognizing how desperate I was.
Thank you for the encouragement as well.
You made me want to live,
and I thank you for that.
This is why I feel like...
I'm a wonderful person whenever I'm with you.
I bet my subordinates think that I'm a ruthless boss.
What if they're bad-mouthing me?
I'm sure they're not.
From now on, you'll be very busy.
You'll have to work late often, and you'll be under a lot of stress.
You're confident that you can get through it all, right?
Yes. I am confident, sir.
By the way,
if you decide not to move back home and stay here,
what will happen to that lady?
That lady? Who?
The lady that you like.
Was her name Jin Ah?
She must be waiting for you.
Jin Ah.
She's in Seoul now.
I mean, that's what I heard.
She's in Seoul?
What do you mean?
Do you not keep in touch with Jin Ah?
Jin Ah...
is ignoring me.
- She's ignoring you? - Yes.
She turned her phone off.
She disappeared.
I also sent her an e-mail, but she didn't check it.
Why?
I don't know.
Isn't it weird?
Mr. Lee said he saw her,
and Si Woo said he also saw her.
But she hasn't shown up in front of me.
Did Si Woo see Jin Ah?
Then you can ask him to give you her number.
She told him not to give me her number.
She said...
that I, Yang Nam Jin,
am a stalker, and she's sick of me.
So he shouldn't give me her number.
A stalker?
Gosh. That's nonsense.
Even I can tell you would never do such a thing.
I'm sure she had her reasons.
That's why my heart aches.
What kind of situation is she in?
Why does she have to hide from me?
My heart is aching so much that I feel like I'm going to die.
My gosh. Jin Ah is so mean.
Even if she had her reasons,
she shouldn't have made a decent man like you a stalker.
Gosh. Seriously.
Nam Jin. Nam Jin.
You shouldn't fall asleep here.
Nam Jin...
(My Mom)
Hello?
What?
Nam Jin had a drink?
Goodness gracious. How could this happen?
Nam Jin can't drink.
He passes out after drinking two shots of soju.
What? He drank three shots?
Oh, dear. This is bad. It's really bad.
Yes. Okay.
Call me when you arrive. I'll wait at the door.
They are unexpectedly passionate in early years of marriage.
Goodness. He must've been so upset to drink.
Did Nam Jin drink?
This is all your fault.
What did I do?
Gosh. I was enjoying watching it. Why would you do that?
I told you not to tell him about Jin Ah.
It's not like you don't know Nam Jin would do anything for her.
Why did you tell him that?
Well, since you brought that up, I need to say something.
You don't want to go back to our hometown either.
Why would you crawl back to that yearly rental house...
that is so cold due to draughts when you can live...
in a fancy house like this?
That's what Nam Jin wants. It's not that I want to.
You should be thanking me.
Nam Jin will likely stay here...
until he finds Jin Ah.
Don't waste your energy by packing and then unpacking your stuff.
By the way, did he find Jin Ah?
I don't know. I didn't ask.
Then whom has he been drinking with?
It looks like he drank with Seung Joo.
That's odd.
He went out to find Jin Ah. Then why did he drink with Seung Joo?
Gosh.
Ms. Choi, what brings you here?
"Ms. Choi"...
My... My angel?
Why... Why did my angel come here?
Oh, man. I didn't take a shower or wash my face today.
I'm so embarrassed. Gosh.
This house looks just as it was 20 years ago.
Ms. Heo hasn't changed at all either.
Thank you.
- Have you been here before? - Yes.
About 20 years ago, Chairman Ahn invited the entire design team...
to celebrate the success of the new brand.
Anyone who knew the chairman...
came to this house comfortably.
I was the only one who couldn't.
Isn't that funny?
You endured it and made it this far.
I'm going to change the atmosphere in this house.
I'll use marble for the floor...
and hang wallpaper in a brighter color.
As for the living room,
I'll decorate it like a book cafe.
When Si Woo gets married and has a baby,
I'll read a book with the baby in the living room.
You have great sense of beauty as I expected.
My angel.
Who are you?
Don't mind him. He's a little strange.
I'm not strange.
I'm Lee Sang Hyun, my angel.
"My angel"?
Hello.
Let me introduce myself.
I'm the vice president of Namjin Employment Agency.
Chairman Ahn Seok Ho's grandson,
Ahn Nam Jin, trusts and relies on me...
as if I were his own big brother.
I have such a good personality.
I'm the most romantic man of the century,
Lee Sang Hyun.
Oh, I see.
It's nice to meet you. I'm Jang Hee Cheol.
I see. It's nice to meet you too.
Please sit down.
It seems you're planning to renovate the house.
Where shall I measure first?
That's okay. The interior contractor will take care of everything.
Since you're here, you can measure the house...
in advance.
Why do you complicate things?
The interior contractor will charge you...
for travel expenses and meals.
So you're thinking...
of making a library over here.
- Yes. - Let me see.
The width is 6m 30cm,
and the height is 3m 15cm.
Hey, tall guy. What are you doing? Write it down.
"Tall guy"?
If you saw me measuring the size,
you should've been more quick-witted and written it down.
But you're just sitting there. Why are you even here anyway?
Width, 6m 30cm.
Height, 3m 15cm.
Gosh. Why are you speaking gibberish?
Don't you know how to write width and height?
I wrote it down properly, so... Oh, right.
Measure the place for curtains.
Gosh.
Oh, no.
What did you do? My goodness.
How could you break such a special flower pot?
Gosh. Ms. Yang.
Why would you make a fuss about an empty flower pot?
Does it look like an empty flower pot to you?
This is the garden balsam that I planted...
with Chairman Ahn!
Garden balsam?
When flowers bloom next year,
I meant to put them on his grave. How could you break this?
Why are you so careless?
Well... It's not like I did it on purpose.
Also, I don't have eyes on my arms.
What did you just say?
It was a mistake, so please understand him.
Buy a new one and plant it again.
- You are a terrible person. - Pardon me?
Do you know what Chairman Ahn say?
He said garden balsam gives people hope.
Do you believe you can buy hope with just money?
Gosh. It hasn't been that long since he passed away.
How could she already plan to renovate the house?
No wonder why he wasn't happy with her.
What?
What did you just say?
You heard me. Why are you asking again?
Hey. Calm down.
Why did you do something I didn't even ask and cause trouble?
Well...
- Did I measure it wrong? - Gosh.
Let's go, Mr. Jang.
Are you all right? Shall I carry you on my back?
No!
If you touch my angel,
I won't let it slide. I mean it.
Gosh. I'm so sick of him.
That hurts.
Nam Jin, this way. Put your arm around my shoulders.
Gosh, you're so heavy.
Thank you, sir.
Nam Jin, try to sober up. Is this your place?
- I don't know. - Come on and check.
What is going on here, Seung Joo?
Hello, Ms. Choi.
Is this why you called off your engagement to Si Woo?
You pushed Si Woo away for a loser like him?
What's going on between you two?
Since when have you been seeing him?
I understand why you got the wrong idea,
but Nam Jin has nothing to do with me calling off the engagement.
We're just friends.
I didn't think you'd do something like this. How could you?
How could you be with another man at this late hour?
How can something like this happen?
Ms. Choi, calm down. You can talk to her another time.
Getting worked up isn't good for you. You might faint.
I thought you could be feeling confused about the engagement,
so I tried to understand you.
But I'm realizing how audacious and rude you are.
Right, you're obviously that way because you take after your father.
I get that you're angry,
but please don't speak ill of my father.
It makes me very uncomfortable.
And you're also brash and impudent on top of that.
Gosh, enough already. Why are you being like this?
Let's go, okay? Come on.
I really want to cry.
My gosh, Nam Jin. What on earth happened to you?
- Carry him inside. Come on! - Gosh, he's so drunk.
- What did you eat? - My gosh, be careful.
Your breath stinks. Goodness.
Seung Joo, thank you so much for getting him home.
Come in for a cup of honey tea.
It's okay. It's getting late, so I should go home.
I'll feel uneasy if you leave like this,
so come in for a cup of tea, please?
My father always told me that it's discourteous...
to visit someone's place late at night.
My father...
is very strict with good manners.
Take care.
My gosh, you're so polite...
and friendly.
You really are perfect.
- Get home safely. - Thank you. Good night.
Man Seok, you must be hungry.
Here.
There aren't many side dishes, so I made this. Have some.
I put in some sesame oil, so it'll taste pretty good. Here.
When I ran away from my ex-husband,
I wanted to just starve myself to death.
On the fourth day of starvation,
I was lying down in my basement apartment.
Then Seon Gyu...
brought a big bowl of this bibimbap with radish kimchi.
But it was...
so delicious.
That was when I made up my mind.
"Why should I die?"
"I deserve to enjoy a good, exciting life."
"I'll splurge money on things and eat delicious foods."
You've been through so much.
I'll be good to you.
Please forgive Seon Gyu just this once.
I'll learn how to cook,
and be a good housewife. Please?
Man Seok.
All right.
Here.
How is it?
- Isn't it good? - Yes, it's delicious.
It's a little salty though.
Oh, no.
Should I put in more rice, then?
No, it's okay.
I'm a cheapskate, you know.
So, I prefer salty foods over bland foods.
Goodness.
I can't believe you got that drunk from just three shots of soju.
Why did you even drink, knowing that you're a lightweight?
What do you think? It's obviously because of Jin Ah.
If you bring up that girl's name one more time,
I'll stitch your lips together.
Ms. Heo, you should join us.
It's okay. I'll eat later.
Let's just eat together.
You can be casual with us. We're a family now, you know.
If you keep being this way, I'll be uncomfortable around you.
And your clothes too.
Feel free to wear something comfortable. Here.
Yes, please join us.
All right, then.
Hey, Seung Joo was totally fine.
Why did you get so drunk?
Seung Joo can definitely handle her drink.
If you drink with her, even you two will pass out before she does.
Be good to her.
That delicate, skinny girl dragged you all the way here.
Her body must be aching all over now.
Right, I'll call her later today.
- Who could it be? - Who's here so early?
Please help me, Mr. Ahn.
Well, what do you mean?
I apologize.
I rudely barged in like this because the situation is so urgent.
I'm Oh Sun Tak, the manager of the Daejeon factory.
Right, I remember you.
You came to the funeral, right?
Yes, that's right.
Since I'm hugely indebted to Chairman Ahn,
I wanted to express my gratitude for one last time.
But what brings you here today?
I heard our factory will be shut down by the end of the month.
I also heard factories that are not profitable...
- will be shut down soon. - The Daejeon factory...
is the very first factory that Hyunkang built.
The machines are old, and the facilities...
aren't up-to-date, which obviously lowers productivity.
Before Chairman Ahn passed away,
he promised us that he'd get us...
new machines and equipment to increase productivity.
How could they suddenly decide to shut down our factory?
I'll be retiring soon,
but what about all the employees at the factory...
who will lose their jobs overnight?
We eat together and work late together.
We've been through thick and thin together.
They're like family to me,
so it breaks my heart when I think that they'll lose their jobs.
I'm desperate, and I had to do something to stop it.
That's why I'm here to see you, Chairman Ahn's grandson.
We're sorry to hear about your situation,
but you've come to the wrong place.
What do you mean?
No decision has been made on who will inherit the company,
so Mr. Choi Si Woo can't take the liberty of making...
such an important decision on his own.
Or do you agree with Mr. Choi?
The problem is that he will...
give up his rights over the company and move back home.
From now on, Mr. Choi's words...
will be absolute at Hyunkang.
Be quiet.
Gosh, why did you have to pinch me like that?
Meeting you made everything clear to me.
Pardon me?
I can't let my family members be jobless overnight.
(Hyunkang Design Contest Award Ceremony)
Thank you.
- Come on in, Jin Ah. - Thank you.
Thank you.
The grand prize winner, Ms. Jung Jin Ah, will be...
joining our design team as of today.
Please welcome her with a big round of applause.
- Welcome! - Welcome, Ms. Jung.
Thank you. I'll do my best.
Your design was lovely and unique.
And it was well thought out. I was throughly impressed.
I've been a judge of the contest for over 10 years,
but I've never given anyone a perfect score other than you.
You guys can imagine how talented she is, right?
I'm so motivated, sir.
Good. I hope Ms. Jung will motivate everyone,
and this team will be full of energy.
That is what I want.
Yes, sir.
Ms. Jung, you will start working tomorrow,
so just meet everyone in the design team...
- and learn your duties today. - Okay.
If I compete...
for the succession rights as grandpa wanted,
can I stop all the plans...
that Director Choi is working on?
Are you talking about downsizing, closing the factories,
and turning our subcontractors...
into our subsidiaries?
Yes, Lawyer Heo.
You can't stop his plans,
but you can put them off for a year.
I'll ask you one more thing.
Even if Director Choi becomes the successor a year later,
can I still buy some time...
for the employees to be laid off to prepare themselves emotionally?
Of course.
Then I will give it a try, Lawyer Heo.
Are you serious?
Yes.
I can't kick my family members out of the company overnight.
We're all a family.
Prepare a new proposal regarding the collaboration,
and arrange a meeting with the person in charge in Europe.
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
I told you not to visit me without notice.
Do you have anything else to say?
Let me ask you one thing.
What kind of company do you want Hyunkang to be?
A reasonable and transparent company...
whose top priority is maximizing profits.
I also want to kick out all the old and overpaid employees.
Then replace them with young people.
That's very different from grandpa's management principles.
Well, I'm not grandpa.
Shouldn't such old-fashioned management end with his generation?
Grandpa thought of the employees as his family.
You can't kick them out because they've become useless.
Listen.
You can't survive in the corporate world with such sentiment.
There's fierce competition in this world. Do you hear me?
Then why do you compete?
Ultimately, you compete to live a better life with your family.
Stop saying pathetic things like that.
You're ditch water from countryside.
You wouldn't understand the thought of top quality water.
Hey, Choi Si Woo. Let's say you're top quality water,
and I'm ditch water.
But both of us will flow into the ocean in the end.
Let's do this.
Let's see which one of us...
will reach the ocean first.
Are you...
challenging me?
You see,
I don't think I can bear to watch you destroy...
the company that grandpa built his entire life.
Regardless of the result, I'll give it a try.
A man must be bold enough to do that, right?
Let's compete fairly.
You fearless fool.
You used to unclog drains and fix stone walls in the countryside.
What do you think you can do at Hyunkang?
You're no match for me.
Did you even dig up on me?
But you don't seem to know something.
I'm the type of person...
that has to see whatever he starts through to the end.
I keep trying until I pull it off.
If I fall down, I get back up and run again.
You see,
a man who has nothing to lose has nothing to fear.
That's why I just keep running.
How dare you challenge me?
I'm not challenging you.
I'm competing against you.
Fine. Let's do this.
I will crush you into pieces.
(It's My Life)
Compulsive gambling? How could Seon Gyu do this to me?
My poor brother Seon Gyu.
Please save Seon Gyu.
My mom wants to make dinner for you...
because she's sorry. Would you like to come over?
Also, your father's company...
will continue to work with Hyunkang for a year.
I heard you decided to compete for the succession rights.
You should've gone back to your hometown with the money.
You will regret this.