Backstory

Shin introduced Monopoly to his employees, who swiftly added it to their list of leisure activities. Within days, the game gained immense popularity in the company.

Walking through the building hall, Shin overheard employees discussing the game.

"After our shift, shall we play Monopoly?" suggested a male employee to his colleagues.

"Absolutely!"

"Since the game is only on the company computers, looks like we'll be staying late. I hope I don't get in trouble at home..."

"Yeah, my wife gets suspicious when I come home late," a man confessed, scratching the back of his head.

The group chuckled at his predicament.

"Don't worry; I'm sure others are in the same boat," reassured another employee.

"Honestly, if we could live here, I'd move my family and never leave the building..."

"Same here."

Listening outside the workplace through the wall, Shin couldn't help but smile at the employees' enjoyment.

"They seem to be having a blast with the game you introduced, Mr. Suzuki," remarked Lee Han, appearing behind Shin.

"Oh, Han," Shin greeted with a nod. "What's your take on the game so far, Mr. Han?"

Upon hearing the question, Lee Han smiled and replied, "I won't deceive you, Mr. Suzuki. Playing that game made me feel a strong connection, like I had returned to the past playing games with my father."

Shin smiled in response, nodding. "I see. It seems the game has resonated well with the people at KiShin."

Lee Han nodded with a smile before inquiring, "Mr. Suzuki, I've been meaning to ask – when is Monopoly going to be released? I'd like to introduce it to my family in South Korea."

Shin, upon hearing this, responded, "Your family, eh? The CD production is still underway; it might take about a week before it's released in Japan and the USA."

Lee Han nodded, saying, "I see."

As they walked down the hall, Shin suggested, "Why not bring your family to Japan? They can be entertained here at the headquarters, and you all can play during your free time."

"Thank you for the offer, Mr. Suzuki, but they're not keen on visiting Japan," Lee Han replied, pausing before adding, "Managing the family business keeps them quite occupied, and I'm not even sure if they'd agree to visit."

Surprised, Shin asked, "Your family owns a business?"

Lee Han chuckled and nodded, saying, "You're quite familiar with them, Mr. Suzuki."

"Really?" Shin said, wearing a puzzled expression. "What's the name of your family's business?"

With a smile, Lee Han replied, "It was the SamStar Group, Mr. Suzuki..."

Shin was visibly astonished. "Your family owned that!?"

Lee Han nodded, explaining, "Indeed, though I'm just the son of the founder's brother, so they don't quite treat me as family."

"Nevertheless, you're still part of a wealthy family, and you're family," Shin remarked, patting Lee Han on the shoulder.

"I suppose so..." Lee Han nodded slightly. As they entered the elevator, Lee Han began to share his story with Shin.

It turned out that Lee Han's father had been deemed unsuccessful by the SamStar Group's founder. Consequently, the founder's sons harbored disdain for Lee Han's father. During family reunions, Lee Han's grandparents would compare his father to the SamStar Group's founder. Even Lee Han himself was compared to his cousins, who were considered successful due to their father's position as the chairman of the SamStar Group at the time.

That's why, every year during the reunion, Lee Han would sense his cousins' arrogance towards him, and they treated him as if he wasn't part of the family at all.

"Unlike you, Mr. Suzuki, the young masters in South Korea were arrogant enough to proudly claim their father's success as their own..." Lee Han remarked, injecting a bit of humor.

"I had no idea about your backstory, and I'm only learning it now after five years of knowing each other," Shin admitted.

"Well, it's just my story, and everyone has a tale to share in their life. But I understand that people often don't pay much attention to others' stories. They're too busy with their own lives, after all..." Lee Han said with a simple smile.

"Well, I certainly care about your story, Mr. Han..." Shin smiled, offering comfort to Lee Han.

"Thank you. I hope the game is released soon. The family reunion is approaching, and I want to introduce the game to my family, especially my daughter and son..." Lee Han bowed as he spoke.

"Your family reunion? You still participate in such gatherings?" Shin asked, a hint of surprise in his tone.

"My father worked as a president in a SamStar subsidiary. That's why we were invited to the family reunion in the past. It wasn't just about comparing successes but also discussing business direction with the family. Now, my daughter works in the SamStar Group. Despite the discrimination we faced in the past, the Han Family prioritizes family ties over outsiders," Lee Han explained with a smile.

"Does the family reunion also include business discussions?" Shin couldn't help but think of the Suzuki family gatherings, which often involved business talks.

At every reunion Shin attended, business discussions were inevitable. Moreover, business figures who weren't part of the family were often invited to engage in talks during the gathering.

"Yes," Lee Han nodded. "The family knows I work in KiShin, and they're interested in meeting you. They even asked me to invite you to the reunion."

"Really?" Shin responded thoughtfully.

"Those cousins I disliked in the past are surprisingly kind when asking during phone call. They act differently when they see a use for someone. If you don't want to meet them, I understand—"

"Well, I'll consider it," Shin interrupted, stroking his chin as he headed to his office, leaving Lee Han slightly surprised but nodding nonetheless.