“The world sure has gotten good. Women and children can raise their voices. What a twisted world we live in. They’re gravely mistaken. If it was before, she wouldn’t have dared to make any noise. Little Hong. Am I too old-fashioned?”

“Not at all, chairman. Actress Lee is just someone who does not know her position.”

“And yet, such a person came to my study, briefed me about her abilities, and even tried to persuade me while talking about all sorts of things. I wonder how I should describe that?”

“I was insufficient in my handling of her. I’m very sorry, chairman.”

“No. Little Hong, you did well. You handled it too well that her eyes flipped. Next time, don’t take away every last dreg from her hands. There’s that famous idiom too: A cornered rat will bite a cat.”

The chairman gave him a book. It was a hardcover wrapped in velvet. He dusted the dust off it with a brush before inserting it in its place. After cleaning and putting away about twenty books, the chairman spoke again,

“How is the woman in Japan?”

“She’s quick to calculate. She also knows just enough greed.”

“Not a woman who would reach out for the...