Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 153

153. Eye Contact (2)

The words that had brought Lee Byeong-chun to where he was now had come from Tae-soo’s mouth.

‘How does he know my secret resolution that I’ve never told anyone before…!’

Lee Byeong-chun was born into a wealthy family and wasted his youth.

Even after his children were born, he lived like a loafer.

It was said that the moment he saw his sleeping children’s faces, he suddenly regretted his wasted years and made a resolution.

Since then, Lee Byeong-chun had reflected on that day, repeating those words in his mind.

“At your age, you can only see the success and failure of life.”

Those who succeed young tend to become arrogant.

Success easily gained in youth grows like a poisonous mushroom, eroding a person’s character.

“That’s not something a young man can say.”

“I had such days too.”

Tae-soo also denied his ability to smell money and wasted his time.

He worried his parents and younger sibling, living like a bum, eating away at his years.

“You too?”

“Yes, I wasted my life.”

In his youth, he lived idly, and after that, he lived as Cheongil’s [a large corporation] dog.

He worked hard enough to become a workaholic, but in the end, he only did good for others and was discarded.

His past life had no substance.

“Then one day, I suddenly came to my senses.”

He regressed.

To his young days at 24.

He resolved not to live such a wasted life again.

He decided to live for himself, using his abilities to the fullest.

“My parents were getting old.”

Tae-soo’s words sent another ripple through Lee Byeong-chun’s heart.

Lee Byeong-chun had come to his senses when he realized that his children were growing up quickly.

The memories of that day flooded back.

Lee Byeong-chun rarely showed his emotions, but he answered with a slightly trembling voice.

“I had that too. You and I have quite a few things in common.”

Tae-soo nodded.

“I also ruminate and reflect to not forget the past.”

He couldn’t forget his past life even if he wanted to.

He was walking, fueled by the resentment and revenge against Cheongil.

“It won’t be easy. The brighter the present and future, the easier it is to forget the dark past.”

“If you forget the past, you’ll only repeat the same mistakes. Life is too short to waste like that.”

Tae-soo looked different.

To be honest, he had lightly regarded Tae-soo, who was the same age as his son, as a subordinate.

“Do you say these things to other people?”

“Of course not. And don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone else these words either.”

Tae-soo smiled.

“It takes two years to learn to speak. But it takes much longer to learn not to speak.”

“Hmm…”

Knowing how to choose your words is difficult.

Depending on the person, the place, the situation, the power relationship, and the intention.

Lee Byeong-chun looked at Tae-soo with new eyes.

“I can’t believe you’re younger than my son. Are you really a 27-year-old young man?”

‘I’ve never seen such an old soul like you,’ he thought.

It was as if he briefly saw the shadow of someone who had long reigned over the position of a conglomerate chairman.

A firm voice that seemed to lead people while fighting against the harsh storms of the world.

Not even a hint of wavering.

“Rather, I’m learning something from you.”

The thought that he was just a green, inexperienced kid disappeared.

Lee Byeong-chun reached out his hand to Tae-soo.

“Shall we shake hands?”

The attitude of patting his subordinate’s shoulder and encouraging him with satisfaction was gone.

Before he knew it, he was seeing Tae-soo as one of the equal conglomerate chairmen.

Lee Byeong-chun was the first to offer a handshake.

It was just a simple handshake, but it meant a lot to Lee Byeong-chun.

“I hope you continue to have good exchanges with my son in the future. Compared to you, he’s still lacking. Please teach him a lot.”

Continuing to have good exchanges with the next chairman of the Samcheong Group [a fictional conglomerate] was welcome on this side as well.

‘I guess I made a good impression.’

Otherwise, the arrogant Lee Byeong-chun wouldn’t have acted like this.

He was from a wealthy family for generations, and after starting his business, he had maintained the top position in the business world for a long time.

He heard that he doesn’t easily offer or receive handshakes.

“By the way, did you say you’re still unmarried? Perhaps your marriage partner is…”

“I have to go now. It was nice meeting you.”

“…”

Eye contact or whatever, Tae-soo ran away.

* * *

Han Cheong-ho’s study.

In the darkened study, not even a breath could be heard.

Han Cheong-ho was thinking and thinking in the darkness.

Knock knock.

With the sound of knocking on the study door, Han Il-kwon entered.

“Get out.”

“What are you so upset about?”

“Han Gyeong-ryeon’s [a company name] public funds are gone.”

“How did that happen?”

“Get out. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Han Il-kwon turned on the light with a click.

Han Cheong-ho frowned at the fluorescent light.

But Han Il-kwon didn’t care and said.

“If something certain has gone wrong, it means someone created a variable and stabbed Father in the back.”

“That’s right.”

Kang Tae-soo!

“You can pay him back as much as you’re angry, so why are you so upset?”

Han Il-kwon whispered.

“Shall I step in and solve it?”

He was confident in doing bad things.

Secretly harming others was a pleasant game, wasn’t it?

“I can’t touch him carelessly. If I touch him, I and Cheongil will be in danger.”

If Park Jeong-hwan [a powerful figure] finds out, it’s a weakness that will disintegrate Cheongil.

That bastard has it.

“If we mess with his family, what can he do?”

“If we mess with his family, he said he’d immediately reveal it to Park Jeong-hwan and the media. Cheongil and I are too precious to die together just to kill those bastards.”

That was the reason why he couldn’t get rid of Tae-soo.

Thanks to that, he had to watch Kang Tae-soo running rampant.

“Oh, Father. Why are you so honest?”

Han Cheong-ho, who had been running Cheongil with bribes and lobbying, wasn’t he?

Honesty was the word farthest from Han Cheong-ho.

But even Han Cheong-ho had to admit that Han Il-kwon was better at doing bad things.

“We just have to hide that we did it.”

“Huh…”

“Let’s call the Gukbin Hall [a criminal organization] guys.”

“Hahaha!”

It was a good idea.

Just listening to his son made him feel relieved.

“What are you going to do with the Gukbin Hall guys?”

“First, let’s give him a light warning.”

“Warning?”

“To make him realize that someone is targeting him.”

Han Il-kwon rolled his gleaming eyes.

“Or just die without knowing.”

Dozens of criminal methods came to mind and disappeared.

Han Il-kwon smiled bitterly.

“Watch. He won’t be able to sleep soundly anymore.”

It was said that a hidden enemy is more frightening than an exposed one.

A German proverb said that it’s difficult for ten people to stop one thief.

“Originally, the one who has to protect is the weak.”

* * *

Geumsan Hotel Bar’s VIP room.

Jang Jun-yong was treating everyone to a big feast, thanks to the chairman’s backing.

The luncheon that started at the hotel restaurant continued into a drinking party.

People who were moderately socializing left one by one, and Jang Jun-yong also sent away his confidants.

Only Jang Jun-yong, Tae-soo, and Secretary Kim remained in this VIP room.

“Thanks to Chief Cha [Chief of the Presidential Security Service] visiting Han Gyeong-ryeon today, I benefited from it.”

The words of the Chief of the Presidential Security Service were heavy.

Especially since he knew that Han Cheong-ho had bought many members.

“If Chief Cha hadn’t come, Han Cheong-ho would probably have become the next chairman of Han Gyeong-ryeon.”

That would have been the case.

So he called him on purpose.

“Is it your handiwork?”

Tae-soo didn’t answer.

But there was no way Jang Jun-yong wouldn’t know that.

Cha Gi-beom had only come to Han Gyeong-ryeon twice so far.

And each time he came, he caused a big stir.

“It was an unusual and bold move for Chief Cha.”

The reason why Cha Gi-beom was attached to Park Jeong-hwan as a confidant was different.

It was because he was a man who put all his energy into serving with loyalty rather than wielding power properly.

But Cha Gi-beom rarely wielded power properly.

Unless someone had given him a hint.

“Thank you for today. I also got to see Han Cheong-ho’s face crumple, thanks to you. Hahaha.”

Han Cheong-ho, who was suppressing his resentment because of his pride.

Jang Jun-yong smiled with satisfaction, thinking of Han Cheong-ho.

It was all thanks to Tae-soo.

“Take this.”

Jang Jun-yong took out a golden business card from his pocket.

The shiny golden business card was held between Jang Jun-yong’s fingers.

“You used the golden business card when you went on a unity vacation with the Taeyang Group [a fictional company] back then, right?”

He exchanged the golden business card and used charter buses, passenger planes, Jeju Island [a popular vacation island in South Korea] resorts, restaurants, and so on well.

After that, the morale of the Taeyang Group soared.

“Use it for something more difficult this time.”

“Thank you.”

Tae-soo put the golden business card in his pocket.

Jang Jun-yong stared at Tae-soo’s actions.

“Why did you recommend me instead of Park Tae-jong?”

Tae-soo only drank alcohol without saying a word.

Park Tae-jong also didn’t like Han Cheong-ho.

So Jang Jun-yong wondered why Tae-soo pushed him instead of Park Tae-jong.

‘When linking Park Jeong-hwan, Jeon Doo-ho [powerful figures], and Han Cheong-ho together, I have to prevent any information from leaking out.’

The grand plan was just around the corner.

In that sense, it was better for Jang Jun-yong to take charge of Han Gyeong-ryeon.

When Tae-soo didn’t answer, Jang Jun-yong changed the subject.

“I heard that Chief Cha is flying around like a fish in water these days.”

He drove out Chief Secretary Kim Jeong-rim, came to Han Gyeong-ryeon and put pressure on them, and met with the Army Chief of Staff and commanders to gather strength.

“Chief Cha wasn’t a person with such skills. How on earth did you shake that heavy guy?”

With interests.

Since they had a common enemy called Jeon Doo-ho, it was easy to get his cooperation.

“Be careful. Han Cheong-ho must know what I’ve noticed.”

Jang Jun-yong said while drinking liquor.

“They won’t leave you alone.”

Tae-soo tilted his glass of liquor and stopped.

‘It’s about time.’

The third piece of evidence was with Tae-soo.

But Han Cheong-ho chose to form a marriage alliance with Jeon Doo-ho’s family instead of Park Jeong-hwan.

Wasn’t that a sign that he had decided to switch ships?

‘How far will the guy who’s stirring up Jeon Doo-ho and planning the grand plan care about Park Jeong-hwan’s eyes?’

The time for threatening with Park Jeong-hwan was also running out.

The time for each other to read each other’s minds had come.

‘Han Il-kwon, who has a short temper, will probably step out first.’

Tae-soo had spent 45 years with Han Il-kwon in his past life.

‘I should check how Gwang-rok hyung-nim [term of endearment for an older brother or close male friend] organized the security office.’

Surely there would be preparations for that.

* * *

“Where are you going again, Tae-soo? I’ll be sad if you run away like this.”

Jang Jun-yong grabbed Tae-soo’s arm.

He was drunk and not very perceptive.

He was caught trying to sneak away.

Tae-soo’s eyebrows twitched.

“If you keep doing this, I won’t drink with you next time.”

“Ah, why are you so prickly again? By the way, you don’t have a golden business card, do you?”

It was a drunken rant.

He gave him that golden business card earlier.

He didn’t know how many times he had heard that sound.

Jang Jun-yong smiled broadly and took out a golden business card from his pocket.

“I saw it all earlier. A blue business card from Samcheong and a white business card from Lucky Seven [a fictional company] came out of your pocket? Only our Geumsan’s [a fictional company] golden business card was missing?”

Immediately after the election of the chairman, he met Lee Byeong-chun of Samcheong and had a brief conversation.

At that time, he casually took out his business card and had a friendly time, and he had been talking about that all night.

“This golden business card, Tae-soo, take it! Take it all! Take it all! Woo hahaha!”

Jang Jun-yong was stuffing the golden business card into Tae-soo’s pocket.

‘Was this old man’s drinking habit giving out business cards? He made a fuss last time because he couldn’t give out the golden business card.’

This time, Geumsan’s Secretary Kim was startled again.

He quickly grabbed Jang Jun-yong and clung to him.

“I’m sorry. It seems our chairman has had too much to drink.”

“Woo hahaha! Our Tae-soo, take all the golden business cards! Thanks to you, I became chairman again. Did you see Han Cheong-ho’s face? Woo haha!”

He scattered the golden business cards in the air like confetti.

The more he did, the closer Tae-soo was to losing his patience.

A cold smile hung on the corner of his lips.