87: Chapter 87 New Product Release

In mid-July, the heatwave in Seoul tightly enveloped the entire city. Inside the press hall of Shunyi Foods' headquarters, the air conditioning was running at full blast, yet the press section was still packed. Camera lenses from every angle were aimed at the podium, their red lights glowing in unison.

Chairman Wang Shunyi stood on the stage, wearing his custom deep-blue suit with his tie perfectly straightened. On the large screen were official photos of the two new products; the lighting made the texture of the packaging pop from the screen as if they were physically present.

The press section below was divided into three rows. The first row was the television broadcasting team; cameramen from KBS, MBC, and SBS shouldered their equipment, their red indicator lights looking like a row of small eyes. The second row consisted of reporters from economic newspapers, each with a notebook spread out before them, pen tips hovering over the paper, ready to strike at any moment.

The third row was occupied by people from fashion magazines and entertainment sections; they weren't there for the food, they were there for VIVID. Chairman Wang Shunyi knew this, but it didn't matter. As long as they came, took photos, and published articles with the words "Shunyi Foods" in the headline, it was a win.

"Media friends, analysts, thank you all for attending the Shunyi Foods 2024 Mid-Year New Product Launch Event." His voice projected through the microphone, bouncing between the walls and ceiling of the press hall before dispersing.

"In the first half of the year, Shunyi Foods' revenue reached 850 billion won, a year-on-year increase of 48%. Our market share stands at 28%, up four percentage points from the end of last year."

Below the stage, some people bowed their heads to record the numbers, while others looked up at the two new products on the big screen. "The two products launched today are not replacements, but supplements." He pressed the remote, and the large screen switched to the first image.

"The Low-Sodium instant bibimbap series. Each serving contains less than 600 milligrams of sodium, 50% lower than the regular version. The seasoning technology was developed in-house, reducing sodium without sacrificing saltiness. Middle-aged and elderly consumers can eat it, and so can those with high blood pressure. They won't find it unpalatable due to a lack of flavor."

He paused for a moment to let the reporters finish taking photos, then pressed the remote again. The screen switched to the second image.

"The High-Protein instant bibimbap series. Each serving contains 30 grams of protein, equivalent to five eggs. It comes in beef and chicken flavors, primarily targeting the fitness crowd. The protein enhancement technology took our R&D team eight months to develop, and there are currently no similar products on the market."

When the launch event reached the Q&A session, few of the reporters' questions focused on the new products; they were all asking about the Chinese market.

A reporter from MBC Economic TV stood up with a microphone and asked about the timeline for entering China. He said cross-border e-commerce testing would start next month, with products hitting the shelves within three months. Another reporter asked if they could go toe-to-toe with Master Kong and Uni-President; he replied that there was no reason they couldn't.

As the event dispersed, Chairman Wang Shunyi exited through a side door. At the end of the corridor, the six members of VIVID were taking promotional photos wearing white T-shirts printed with the Shunyi Foods logo.

Kim Ye-rin stood at the very front, her hair dyed light brown. Her makeup was heavier than last time, with eyeliner drawn out into a small, sharp wing. She immediately straightened up when she saw Chairman Wang Shunyi approaching, and the others stopped their movements as well. Choi Ji-yeon softly said, "Hello, Chairman," and the six of them greeted him in unison.

Chairman Wang Shunyi gave a nod, his gaze sweeping over their faces. "Ah, it's you all. Good." He then departed.

Kim Ye-rin's smile didn't change, but the light in her eyes dimmed slightly.

She took half a step forward as if to say something, but Choi Min-ju pulled at the corner of her shirt from behind, and she stopped.

Chairman Wang Shunyi didn't look back, his leather shoes clicking rhythmically against the floor. Behind him, the girl group quickly resumed their shoot, the sound of shutters and instructions for adjusting poses rising and falling.

At six in the evening, Chairman Wang Shunyi pushed open the door to Park Min-ji's home. On the dining table were kimchi soup, grilled mackerel, and seasoned spinach.

She hadn't done any low-sodium experiments today; it was just ordinary home-cooked food, but every dish was something he loved. He took off his coat, draped it over the arm of the sofa, sat down, and ladled a bowl of soup.

"The media response to the launch today was good. The economic sections are writing about the new products, and the entertainment sections are all writing about VIVID."

Park Min-ji sat down opposite him and picked up a piece of kimchi. "Isn't that perfect then?"

"The China market plan starts next month. The Tmall and JD.com stores are already set up, and the first batch of goods will be loaded onto ships by the end of the month."

She put down her chopsticks and took a sip from her water glass. "Did you contact Jang Jun-hyeok's side?"

"I did. He gave me a list of suppliers—customs clearance, logistics, e-commerce operations—they're all people he's worked with. They're reliable."

"That's good then."

She didn't ask anything else.

Chairman Wang Shunyi finished the kimchi soup, ate most of the mackerel, and left a few stalks of the seasoned spinach. He put down his chopsticks and looked at her.

"Minji, once the first step in China is stable, let's go away for a while. No computers, no phones. Just for a few days."

Her hand, which was clearing the dishes, paused for a moment. Then she picked up the plates and walked into the kitchen. The faucet was turned on, and the dishes clattered under the rushing water.

She didn't say "okay" or "no," only saying, "We'll see."

He didn't press her. He picked up his coat from the sofa, put it on, and walked to the kitchen door. She was drying a bowl and didn't look back.

"I'm heading out."

"Mm. Drive carefully."

The sensor lights in the hallway flickered on and then off. The elevator doors closed and then opened. The parking lot was very quiet; the sound of the car starting echoed a few times in the empty underground garage before vanishing.

The kitchen light was still on. She placed the bowl in the rack and turned off the faucet.

The young master had taken the soup bowl and plates from the table, leaving the surface clean. She stood by the window.

The lights of Namsan Tower flickered in the night. She watched for a while, then drew the curtains.