Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 6

6. 2nd. Re-sewing a Button (4)

I blew my nose loudly, as if shaking off my disappointment, then handed the handkerchief to Park Tae-jin and asked,

“What happened to the car?”

“I’m scheduled to meet with the Chief Secretary tomorrow morning and finalize the contract. The Chairman was chuckling about it.”

“Grandfather will be angry if he finds out. Are you sure it’s okay?”

“People gossip about the king behind his back when he’s not around. This is nothing, right? And you’re not the type to mention this, Young Master, hehe.”

Park Tae-jin grinned slyly at my cautiousness. His demeanor slightly intimidated me.

I never knew Park Tae-jin had this side to him. Does he joke around now that he has some leeway?

“Bring the contract as soon as it’s ready. There’s someone I want to show it to.”

“Understood, Young Master.”

Park Tae-jin nodded with a satisfied smile, even though he didn’t know who I was going to show it to. He’s quick-witted, so he probably knows who I want the contract prepared quickly for.

***

“That Lee Sung-min is obsessed with cars, right? What happened, Oppa [older brother or male friend]!”

Having been humiliated, Jang Su-yeon called Jang Yong-jae at work as soon as she got home, venting her anger.

[Why are you so angry? If you want to vent, go find some pretty boy singers.]

As always, Jang Yong-jae casually suggested that Jang Su-yeon play around with handsome male singers, knowing she often struggled to control her temper.

“Ugh, seriously, Oppa! Seeing their faces today will only remind me of Lee Sung-min and make me even more upset. Especially since they’re all so smooth-faced.”

If that would relieve her anger, she would have called those handsome and sleek male singers a long time ago. But this was different.

She had trusted her brother Jang Yong-jae’s words and ended up being humiliated in front of Jang Ha-yeon, whom she didn’t even want to call her stepsister. Having suffered such humiliation in front of someone she loathed more than anyone else, she felt like she needed to vent her anger on Jang Yong-jae to feel better.

Sensing that he would inevitably become the target of Jang Su-yeon’s anger, Jang Yong-jae sighed inwardly.

Also, it was suspicious that Lee Sung-min, whom he always knew like the back of his hand, had acted strangely. Jang Yong-jae tried to soothe Jang Su-yeon while subtly inquiring about the situation.

[Is it true that he’s selling his car?]

“Yes, he is! He’s selling his car to his grandfather or someone and getting permission to drive it. What is that even supposed to mean?”

Jang Su-yeon’s voice became sharp again. She had thought she knew everything about Lee Sung-min, but she only found out today why that grandfather figure had been so protective of him. Had she been a fool who knew nothing?

Jang Yong-jae was just as annoyed. He wasn’t free enough to listen to Jang Su-yeon’s anger, and besides, she had failed to do what he had asked, so he was the one who should be complaining.

[Are you being serious? I coached you to do this and that, but you should have taken care of the rest. If you saw something was going wrong with his face, you should have backed off. Who was it that couldn’t get anything done because they were being stubborn?]

“Oppa!”

Jang Su-yeon screamed, and Jang Yong-jae sighed deeply.

[I’m swamped with work in the automotive division of Mulsan these days. Can’t you help me out?]

“That’s why I’m so angry right now! I’ve been working at Shinseong Planning since this spring. So I was going to secure Lee Sung-min this time and help you out, Oppa!”

Jang Su-yeon had planned to entice Lee Sung-min, a highly skilled individual, and exploit him to the fullest. If things had gone well, he would have given her everything, so she needed to get the first step right.

But the plan had gone wrong from the start, which was frustrating. Regardless of the humiliation she suffered today, there was no one as talented as Lee Sung-min.

Jang Su-yeon vented her anger on Jang Yong-jae for a long time before hanging up.

“Lee Sung-min… Lee Sung-min…”

Jang Su-yeon narrowed her eyes and repeated the name of the prey she had missed. She regretted it more and more because it was a prey she couldn’t afford to give up after missing it once.

***

The next morning.

Park Tae-jin dressed neatly in a suit and entered the first building of the Haedong Group’s twin towers on Teheran-ro in Gangnam [a wealthy district in Seoul]. As always, he took the elevator and entered the Chief Secretary’s office.

“Good morning, Chief Secretary.”

Park Tae-jin greeted, and the man sitting at his desk looking at documents raised his head.

“Oh, welcome. I’ve been waiting for you.”

On the desk in front of the man was a mother-of-pearl nameplate that read ‘Chief Secretary Ko Seung-ju (高丞株).’

Park Tae-jin smiled, looking at the nameplate that shone without a speck of dust.

“It always shines, haha.”

“The Chairman gave it to me as a gift, so of course. I polish this myself, no matter what, haha.”

After exchanging brief greetings, the two sat on the sofa.

“I heard from the Chairman. Sung-min will give up his inheritance if he drives a sports car one more time, right?”

“Yes. It seems like he’s trying to let you two go now.”

“That’s a relief then. I feel sorry for Myung-woo and my sister-in-law, but the living must go on. Not only Chairman Oh but also Sung-min’s maternal relatives were worried. But…”

Ko Seung-ju, who had been nodding while looking at Park Tae-jin, trailed off.

“I don’t know why Sung-min specifically added the word ‘personally’ to the condition. There’s no chance for him to drive a car officially in our group except for becoming an executive.”

The only place in the Haedong Group that makes vehicles is the Haedong Heavy Industries forklift factory in Gunsan. If there was any possibility, it would be Ado Motors of the Ado Group, which has a close business relationship with the Haedong Group, but Lee Dae-soo would never allow Lee Sung-min to be a test driver.

“It’ll be fine. It just shows how determined he is. He’s got the blood of the Chairman and Myung-woo Hyung [older brother or male friend] in him.”

Ko Seung-ju smiled awkwardly at Park Tae-jin’s words not to worry.

“I guess so. He’s got the pride of the Chairman and Myung-woo in him. I’ve been too sensitive lately.”

Park Tae-jin cautiously gauged Ko Seung-ju’s expression and asked.

“Is it because of that incident…?”

“It’s something that’s making not only us but also the other group’s secretariats sensitive. The real-name financial system [a system requiring financial transactions to be conducted under real names to prevent corruption and tax evasion].”

The atmosphere instantly became heavy, and Park Tae-jin stroked the back of his head.

“I’m sorry, Hyung. You must be busy with other things… Let’s get the contract ready quickly.”

The Chief Secretary’s finance and legal teams came in to prepare the contract, and Lee Dae-soo and Lee Sung-min’s seals were stamped, but the five letters ‘real-name financial system’ could never be erased from their minds.

***

Concentrating on recovery while looking at textbooks for the spring semester of my senior year in the hospital, it was already early March. Park Tae-jin had told the professors that I would be back in school next week, so I felt relieved.

“Say ‘ah.'”

“Noona [older sister or female friend], you don’t have to do this…”

“Just stay still. Ah-”

“Ah-”

With that relieved feeling, I bit into the apple that Jang Ha-yeon put in my mouth.

“Is it good?”

“Yeah.”

I don’t know if it’s a dream or reality. Jang Ha-yeon is feeding me fruit that I cut.

Jang Ha-yeon had been visiting me every day since the day I woke up from the nightmare of my past life.

She would only stay for about an hour due to work and then return to the hotel, but she would change the flowers in the vase, keep me company, and share food and fruit she bought from the Goryeo Hotel. It was a date in the hospital room, but it was like heaven.

I looked at Jang Ha-yeon’s eyes as I ate the apple.

“What’s wrong, Noona? Is there something you want to say?”

“That… Can I see it one more time?”

Jang Ha-yeon was embarrassed even after saying it, but I nodded without hesitation.

“Here.”

I took out a hard-cased document file from under the pillow and handed it to her. Jang Ha-yeon opened the file and looked at the paper inside.

Jang Ha-yeon had been looking at the contract every day since Park Tae-jin brought it. Every time she came, she looked at the contract and smiled brightly, as if she couldn’t believe it. I was grateful and sorry.

Why couldn’t I do this before? There was a time and place to stand on pride. When I let go of that ridiculous pride, I could see the smiling face of the person I loved comfortably.

Lost in regret for a moment, I came back to reality at the sound of Jang Ha-yeon’s voice, who was speaking with a worried expression.

“Are you okay? Is it okay for you to give up sports cars?”

“Why? Do you not like it?”

I deliberately asked with a sulky expression, and Jang Ha-yeon quickly shook her head.

“No! I like it. It’s great to think that you won’t get hurt anymore.”

“Then that’s enough. Do you need more?”

“That’s not it…”

She was hesitating, so it seemed like there was something she wanted to ask today.

“You said you’d give up your inheritance if you drove a sports car one more time. Did you know what that meant when you said it?”

How could I not know?

To people from chaebol [family-owned conglomerates] families like us, ‘inheritance’ is like registering for a resident registration card.

Not only did I sell the sports car, but I also stipulated in the contract that I would give up my inheritance if I drove a sports car ‘personally,’ so it seemed like it was a big shock.

Seeing Jang Ha-yeon feeling sorry because she thought it was because of her, I smiled and said.

“I won’t be racing recklessly anymore. Unless I’m a test driver.”

Only then did Jang Ha-yeon realize that I had created a loophole and made a pouty face.

“You again…?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll drive with a professional racer next to me, as you said. But I don’t know if I’ll have the chance. Our group doesn’t have a car company, does it?”

When I pointed out the most important fact, Jang Ha-yeon let out a soft exclamation.

“Ah… That’s right?”

“Well, maybe if I get involved with Shinseong Motors. Then it’ll be my job.”

Jang Ha-yeon smiled brightly at me. Seeing the pink glow on her face, I could roughly guess how she was imagining me getting involved with Shinseong Motors.

“I guess so, hehe.”

I’m sorry to her for making such a cute snort, but unfortunately, the way I’m thinking of getting involved with Shinseong Motors is very different. It’s a method that would shock her if she knew.

Hiding my apologetic feelings, I was having a different dream from her when I heard a clearing of throat.

“Ahem…”

“I’ll go now. See you later.”

Jang Ha-yeon turned around, greeted me, then quickly bowed her head and left the hospital room. Damn it.

“I think you can be discharged now. Your bones are all healed, and the bruises and stitched wounds have almost healed… You’ve worked hard, Sung-min.”

“No, Doctor. I didn’t even realize time was passing.”

When I reached out and pointed to the bookshelf where textbooks, notebooks, novels I read for fun, and economic magazines were, the director laughed heartily.

“Thanks to your girlfriend, you’ve been calm in the hospital room, not just because of the books, so you’ve recovered faster, haha.”

The director gave me advice, whether it was because today was the last day or because he felt sorry for me.

“Treat your girlfriend well, Sung-min. If someone takes care of you every day without fail… I won’t say more, haha.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

I was planning to do well without him saying anything. Who was the one who ruined the good atmosphere?

After sending the doctors away, I had Park Tae-jin bring a Dormeuil suit from my Itaewon house and changed into it. There was a reason why I wore this suit that my father had specially ordered from England as a gift.

‘I need to change our old man’s mind first.’

The current grandfather looked at me as nothing more or less than a grandson who had come to his senses.

A casual outfit, an indecisive attitude, an explanation that didn’t get to the point and only scratched the surface… Looking back on this time in my past life, I was disqualified as a successor to lead the group, so what could I do?

I need to change from now on.

Because I am Lee Sung-min, the eldest grandson of the Haedong Group, which is celebrating its 67th anniversary this year.

So.

I will wear the clothes my father gave me as a gift and meet the elders of our group, including my grandfather. Isn’t formality as important as substance in a company?

After fully arming myself as a businessman with the feeling of reviewing, I picked up the phone.

“This is Sung-min, Grandfather.”

[What’s wrong? Is something not right?]

“No. They said I can be discharged today. Minor wounds can be treated as an outpatient, and sequelae can be checked during regular checkups.”

[Haha, I see. Is there anything else you want to say?]

I could vividly picture my grandfather looking relieved just by hearing his laughter, but there was something else I wanted to say.

“I’m going to Samcheong-dong right now. Is that okay?”

[Without going home to rest?]

“There’s something I need to tell you today.”

[What is it you want to say?]

“What we didn’t finish at the end of the year.”

I had to change it this time.

Because it was something that would change the relationship between me and my grandfather, and the fate of our family and Haedong.

The silence that had been continuing on the other end of the phone was broken.

[Are you talking about the real-name financial system?]

“Yes. I’ve reviewed it thoroughly, so I’ll visit you and tell you.”

[…Alright. I’ll call Chief Secretary Go and the executive board, so you’ll have to speak properly.]

That’s what I wanted. Since it was a matter of our family’s hidden wealth that had been passed down since before liberation, it was only natural that all the key figures of the group would gather.

“Yes, Chairman. I’ll complete the discharge procedures and leave.”

[I’ll be waiting.]

After putting down the phone, I said to Park Tae-jin.

“Let’s go to Samcheong-dong, Hyung.”

“Y-Young Master…”

“I’ve prepared thoroughly. Don’t worry and let’s go.”

“Understood.”

After leaving the hospital room, I got into the German sedan with Park Tae-jin and headed to Samcheong-dong. This time, it’s time to fix the second button.