The Wife Is A Superstar 3

Chapter 529 - Dinner At The Kim Ancestral Residence Part III

Donghwi left everyone and marched off in anger to his own residence.

Jennie, Lisa and Alice glared at his back. Jia watched him leaving, a sad expression on her face, while Jihoon looked conflicted. Donghwi was still his eldest son after all.

"Jerk!!!" Alice spat when Hwi was gone.

"Alice, you should stop," Jia said in an exhausted tone, massaging her temples.

"I'm only telling the truth, Auntie. Uncle, your son is a big jerk!!!"

Jia sighed, not bothering to scold her niece anymore.

Jihoon didn't respond to Alice, turning to Jennie instead. "Ruby, you shouldn't have provoked your brother. He...he's very stressed. It's hectic at the company now, not to mention that he also has to deal with the custody battle."

Jennie frowned. "And I'm not stressed? Yeon is not stressed? Father, my schedule is also very hectic. I'm not only juggling my showbiz career but also my studies and my businesses. But do you see me acting out, making a mess of things and hurting others? And also please remember that he's not the only one dealing with the custody battle. Lisa and I are also very involved in it. If we leave your son to do what he wants, Yeon and your grandson will suffer. Lisa and I can't do that, Father. We won't leave Yeon on her own. She would be powerless to fight the custody battle without our help.

"And don't forget that it's your son who filed for this custody battle in the first place and made a mess of everyone's lives! Yes, Yeon left him before when she was pregnant but they got back together. It was your son who left Yeon this time and started distancing himself. So excuse me, Father, but don't tell me that I shouldn't have provoked your son. He's the one who provoked us first. What you're asking me is to be understanding of him, but does he deserve it? Do you want me and Yeon to martyr ourselves over a man like him? No way!"

Silence.

Nobody dared speak after Jennie's impassioned speech. The tension in the air became too thick. After a few moments of heavy silence, Jennie finally managed to calm herself down. Her angry expression smoothed out. It was as if she expelled most of the negativity inside of her with her earlier words.

"Father, I have a request," she said.

Jihoon looked at her now calm expression. "What is it?"

"I want to become more involved in Kim Industries," she said.

Lisa glanced at her, not surprised that she changed the topic all of a sudden.

In contrast, the others looked taken aback and confused. They knew that Jennie never showed any interest in becoming involved in working at the family company before, aside from partnering with Kim Industries for her company, Orchidia Beauty.

Despite this, Jihoon was still a full-fledged businessman and at the same time, a father. He smoothed out his own expression as well before speaking to his daughter in a serious tone.

"I know that Sir Jian is your business mentor and that you're a Cross Academy student. But even so, I can't give you an important position in my company just like that. And I'm sure that you're not asking me for an insignificant position, especially since you're already the President and CEO of your own company. Your two brothers started from the bottom and worked their way up. Your sister Jisoo would have also done the same if you didn't poach her from me after she graduated from business school. Even if you're a genius, I can't just give you a high position and hand it to you on a silver platter."

The others took on the role of spectators as they watched the father and daughter's discussion. It felt weird because the conversation went into a completely different turn after the earlier heated argument between Jennie and Hwi. The change in topic was unexpected...and confusing.

"I understand, Father," Jennie replied with a brief nod. "I won't ask for much. Just this. Please make me the face of Kim Industries. I'm a musician, a celebrity. That's my calling in life, despite my other skills in business and languages. My fame has been experiencing quite a significant increase, especially after I won a number of awards earlier this year and at the Sommet International Film Festival in France. I'm now one of the most well-known faces in the country. The film festival has also made me a little more known in Europe."

She said all of these in a straightforward manner. There was no arrogance or hubris in her tone. She was simply stating facts.

"I'll be an effective brand ambassador for Kim Industries. With my current status as a celebrity, I know that I can greatly contribute in increasing and improving the company's impression, reputation and presence among the people."

The corner of Lisa's mouth hooked upward into an almost unnoticeable smile. His smile might be small but it was filled with tremendous pride for his baby girl. He also nodded his head, approving of her "sales talk" about herself. Without a doubt, she was Grandpa's student.

Jihoon looked at his daughter for a long time, studying her. There was a quick flash of pride in his eyes before he hid it behind a stern expression.

"You know what you're asking of me?" he asked.

"Of course, Father."

"You'll have to work hard in fully understanding Kim Industries. Brand ambassadors are different from normal endorsers that way. You won't just endorse our company but also represent its entirety, including its values," he told her.

"Yes, I'm ready. I want this position, Father. Please give it to me."

Jennie looked at Jihoon straight in the eyes, conveying to him that she was serious in her request. She needed a way to gain more influence within Kim Industries besides being a shareholder, especially since Qiao Yu was having difficulty in purchasing shares in the company under her name. Sellers were biased against her. The first time was mostly a fluke because Qiao Yu was friends with the person who sold the shares.

She didn't want to start at the bottom of the company like what Donghwi and Jay did. That would take too long—years. There was no way she would waste that much time. If she couldn't take the traditional route, then she would need to find an unconventional way to enter Kim Industries. And this was what she decided to do.

Becoming a brand ambassador, an effective one, would be the fastest and most convenient way for her to gain influence in Kim Industries without having to start from the very bottom. If she used her cards right, she could forge herself into becoming an indispensable marketing and PR force for the company.

Once she succeeded in doing this, then she could take over the entire company along with the Kim clan, wash it completely clean of filth, and safeguard it until her godson expressed desire in inheriting it. If Little Jun didn't want it, then maybe one of her future children would. Only time would tell.

This was her ultimate goal in making this request from Jihoon. She already discussed this with Lisa beforehand. She had a motive but didn't share it with Jihoon. He didn't need to know it.