The peace of Jeju was a potent memory, a touchstone they carried back to Seoul. For weeks, their new normal felt not just sustainable, but buoyant. They were a unit, operating in smooth, productive harmony. The lingering resentments at LX seemed to recede into the background noise of corporate life. Director Park, though reinstated after his suspension, was a diminished figure, his influence waning. It was easy to believe the war was over.
The crack appeared not with a bang, but with a whisper. A minor news item in the business section: LX FACES MINOR SHAREHOLDER LAWSUIT OVER "NEPOTISTIC" APPOINTMENTS. The article was vague, citing "unnamed minority shareholders" concerned about "the concentration of non-traditional influence" at the highest levels. It was a footnote, easily dismissed. Ha-ru's legal team wasn't even concerned.
