Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 229

We arrived at Sung Medical Center and immediately went to the office.

“Is my father-in-law here?”

“Is Father here?”

“Yes. He instructed that no guests be received except for the two of you.”

We nodded at the secretary’s reply, who was guarding the door, and opened the door to enter the office. Inside, Jang Ho-gun was sitting alone on the sofa, drinking whiskey.

“Welcome. Sit down and have a drink.”

Seeing two empty glasses on the table, it seemed he had something to say to us over drinks. I exchanged a glance with Jang Ha-yeon, nodded, and we sat down together.

“Here.”

“Yes.”

Holding the rocks glass with both hands respectfully, I received the drink Jang Ho-gun poured. As I took the glass away from the bottle, Jang Ho-gun looked at Jang Ha-yeon and extended the hand holding the bottle.

“Have a drink too, Ha-yeon.”

“Yes… Father.”

Jang Ha-yeon also leaned forward and received the drink Jang Ho-gun poured. After pouring the drinks, Jang Ho-gun put the bottle down.

“This seems like it will be the last thing I do at Sung Medical Center. Let’s raise a glass.”

“Yes.”

We drank whiskey at the same pace as Jang Ho-gun. After we took our glasses away from our lips, I was the one who asked the question.

“Why… did you do all this, Father-in-law?”

“Didn’t you hear from Representative Seon?”

“I did hear that creating the holding company was a test for my brothers-in-law and sister-in-law to see who would be the successor, and… that we were also included in that test.”

Jang Ho-gun nodded, took a sip of his drink, and sighed.

“Yes. You two were qualified to take the test I gave. And you two were the only ones who passed.”

“But… why did you call us here?”

At my cautious question, Jang Ho-gun made a groaning sound.

“…Because of a secret that only you and I must carry for the rest of our lives.”

“A secret to carry for the rest of our lives?”

“Do you know why your parents, who were my friends, died in a car accident?”

As soon as I heard Jang Ho-gun’s question, the back of my neck turned cold. Why was my parents’ car accident being brought up in this situation?

“What are you trying to say, Father-in-law?”

“That accident was caused by my in-laws.”

I thought I must have misheard something. My parents died because of the Hwang family of the Chosun Daily [a major South Korean newspaper]?

“Fa, Father-in-law?”

“Fa, Father?”

Even as both Jang Ha-yeon and I stared with wide eyes, Jang Ho-gun wore a bitter expression.

“Actually, I once had feelings for your mother.”

It was a series of shocks. Jang Ho-gun had a crush on my mother?

“But back then, I was too shy to confess. I wasn’t qualified to love because of my father.”

That must have been the case. Wasn’t Jang Byung-ho the one who started the bad relationship with my mother’s family while building Shinseong Electronics? Even my great-grandfather, who had recalled my great-uncle from Shinseong Group, wouldn’t have allowed their relationship.

“Above all, your mother loved your father more. And I couldn’t betray my loyalty to your father. So I watched them get married. But…”

Jang Ho-gun trailed off and drank his liquor.

“My wife thought it was strange that I was close to your parents. She thought I was still meeting your mother because I couldn’t let go of my feelings for her.”

“So, are you saying… that’s why you killed my father and mother…?”

Jang Ho-gun nodded with the expression of a sinner.

“Many events in the world are caused by small misunderstandings. If I had known, I would have done anything to stop it, but by the time I found out, your parents were already dead. I barely managed to gather evidence, but I had to hide it because of your relationship with Ha-yeon, and… the rest of my children. I’m sorry.”

For the first time in his life, Jang Ho-gun bowed to me. But I couldn’t just let it go.

“So… are you trying to hand over Shinseong Group to us as a couple? As the price for my deceased parents’ lives?”

I asked in a trembling voice, and when Jang Ho-gun didn’t answer, I shouted.

“Tell me, Father-in-law! No, Mr. Jang!”

“How can Shinseong Group be compared to the lives of my friend and the woman I loved, Seong-min? Still, it’s the least I can do to repay you for loving my most precious daughter, my most regrettable daughter.”

“Do you think that makes sense, Father? Even if Mother isn’t my biological mother, she killed my parents! How can I live next to Seong-min in the future!”

Tears streamed from Jang Ha-yeon’s eyes as she shouted at Jang Ho-gun. Seeing Jang Ha-yeon crying, the anger that had been burning like a fire in a dry field subsided as if it had been hit by a rain shower.

“Stop it, honey. He’s still your father.”

“What father! If something like that happened, you should have told Grandfather! You hid it to send me to you!”

Before I knew it, Jang Ha-yeon was leaning on me, crying, and my chest and heart were getting wet. As I patted Jang Ha-yeon’s back, who was crying incessantly, I asked Jang Ho-gun.

“Then… what are you going to do about my mother-in-law? Even if you didn’t know, I can never forgive my mother-in-law and her family.”

I wanted to rip out Hwang Na-yeon’s hair right away, but I was barely holding back because Jang Ha-yeon was asking for forgiveness in place of Jang Ho-gun. Nevertheless, Jang Ho-gun calmly accepted my murderous gaze and opened his mouth.

“That’s why I wanted to see you. By now, everyone should be gathered. Let’s go to Hannam-dong [an affluent neighborhood in Seoul].”

Hannam-dong meant Jang Ho-gun’s house. What on earth was he planning to do there?

***

Arriving at Jang Ho-gun’s mansion in Hannam-dong, we entered the living room and were met with the sharp gazes of the Jang siblings sitting on the sofa, and Hwang Na-yeon.

“What are you doing here!”

“How dare you come here after ruining your in-laws?”

“You’re so shameless, Brother-in-law.”

Everyone said something, but Jang Ha-yeon and I looked down at them with contempt. Even Jang Ho-gun was silent with a stiff expression, and before we knew it, only a cold chill lingered in the living room of this house.

“Start, Son-in-law Lee.”

“Yes, Father-in-law. Soon, through a creditors’ meeting, all Shinseong Group shares held by the Jang family will be incinerated. Instead, Standard Capital will convert all of its bonds into shares and initiate restructuring, including contributing all Shinseong Electronics shares to Shinseong Holdings in kind.”

Whether the four women glared at me as if they wanted to kill me or not, I continued to deliver blows to them.

“After the restructuring is completed, half of the Shinseong Holdings shares held by Standard Capital will be acquired by my wife, Jang Ha-yeon. Shinseong Financial Holdings will be delisted and merged with Shinseong Life Insurance, and then all shares will be transferred to Haedong Corporation.”

“Hey, Lee Seong-min!”

“Father!”

“Dad!”

“Honey!”

At the news that everything they had would be taken away by me, Jang Ha-yeon, and our family, Jang Yong-jae, Jang Min-jae, Jang Su-yeon, and Hwang Na-yeon shouted in turn, but Jang Ho-gun opened his mouth with a stern expression.

“If you don’t like it, handle everything from the Shinseong Group bonds held by Standard Capital to the Shinseong Card bad debts.”

“Fa, Father?”

Everyone sitting on the sofa was taken aback, and Jang Ho-gun continued.

“I don’t have any more power. I’ve used up all my slush funds [secret funds, often used for illegal activities] and don’t have the capacity to repay tens of trillions of won in debt.”

“The, then if we sell even the artwork in the Shinseong Art Museum…”

“Those are all fakes. Don’t you know that I sold all the originals to create slush funds?”

Jang Yong-jae, who was about to say let’s hold on a little longer, glared at Jang Min-jae with a murderous look. Wasn’t Jang Min-jae the one who used up all the slush funds?

“And one more thing. If you want to become the chairman of Shinseong Group, you’ll have to send your mother to jail.”

“Fa, Father?”

“Wh, what are you saying, honey?”

Following his children, even Hwang Na-yeon was taken aback, but Jang Ho-gun threw a yellow envelope he was holding in front of Hwang Na-yeon.

“Do you remember this? You were blinded by jealousy and killed this son-in-law’s parents.”

“Yo, honey?”

Hwang Na-yeon’s face turned pale, and…

“Mo, Mother?”

“Mo, Mom?”

Everyone sitting on the sofa couldn’t hide their shock and looked at Hwang Na-yeon.

“If you don’t want to make your mother live in prison until she dies, shut your mouths and stay still. Until you die.”

Jang Ho-gun seemed to think that he had to show his children and wife a harsh side of himself in order to soothe my anger. But even with such an appearance, he couldn’t shave off even a speck of my anger.

“Father-in-law, that alone cannot resolve my anger.”

“Then, what are you going to do?”

“I will keep the promise I made at Sung Medical Center. Wouldn’t it be enough if I keep that promise?”

After listening to my words and pondering, Jang Ho-gun nodded with a heavy expression.

“Do as you wish.”

“Yes. Hwang Na-yeon, stand up.”

“Wh, what? Hwang Na-yeon… ssi [a Korean honorific, similar to ‘Ms.’ or ‘Mr.’]?”

Hwang Na-yeon wore a dumbfounded expression, but it only fueled my anger further.

“You should be grateful that I’m even calling you ‘ssi.’ I’m forcibly holding back from wanting to kill you right now because of my father-in-law. All of you, stand up too.”

“Ho, honey…?”

Jang Ha-yeon seemed to have not expected such harsh words to come out of my mouth, and her eyes were shaking and her body was trembling. I grabbed Jang Ha-yeon’s arms and answered quietly.

“I’m sorry, honey. Don’t worry, I’m not really going to kill them. I can’t be the parent of a murderer for the sake of our child who will be born in the future.”

“Okay…”

I gave a bitter smile to Jang Ha-yeon, who nodded, and returned to a dry expression. Perhaps it was because of my murderous intent, but all four of them were standing up.

“If you want to stay in Shinseong Group, slap your mother with your own hands.”

“What? …You son of a bitch!”

Jang Yong-jae rushed at me with his eyes on fire and his fist raised, but I grabbed Jang Yong-jae’s arm and slammed him to the floor.

“Argh!”

Jang Yong-jae, who had been slammed onto the unpadded marble floor, screamed and couldn’t think of getting up.

“Don’t mess with me, Jang Yong-jae. You only know how to drink and use your fingers to boss people around. You don’t even know your place.”

“Yo, you bastard…!”

I stomped on Jang Yong-jae’s chest, who couldn’t even think of getting up because he was badly injured, and bent my knees and brought my face to his, glaring at him.

“Try messing with me more. I can step on you and kill you like this.”

“Ugh!”

As I put more weight on him and pressed down on his chest bones, he groaned and repeatedly pounded the floor with his hands.

“I, I understand! So stop! Please…!”

“Please what?”

“…Save me!”

“Sa, save me?”

Seeing my expression with raised intonation, Jang Yong-jae said urgently.

“Sa, save me! Save… Keuh, keuek…”

“Bingo.”

I smiled and answered, looking at Jang Yong-jae, who was choking as if he couldn’t breathe, and then returned to an indifferent expression.

“You idiot. Why did you mess with me?”

I straightened my body, took my foot off Jang Yong-jae’s chest, and turned my head to the remaining three. Whether it was the mother, the female, or the male, they were trembling in shock at the sight of Jang Yong-jae being knocked out.

“What are you going to do? Are you going to mess with me like Jang Yong-jae and end up the same way? Or are you going to do what I tell you to do?”

“I, I’ll hit her!”

Hurriedly answering, Jang Su-yeon and Jang Min-jae stood facing Hwang Na-yeon.

“You, you guys… !”

Jang Su-yeon, momentarily hesitating at Hwang Na-yeon’s trembling gaze, stepped forward, acting like the older sister she was.

“…I’m sorry, Mom. I don’t want you to go to jail. It’s all… for you.”

After delivering her pathetic excuse, Jang Su-yeon shed tears and raised her right hand high. With her eyes tightly shut, Jang Su-yeon brought her hand down on Hwang Na-yeon’s cheek.

“Ahk!”

Hwang Na-yeon was thrown onto the sofa, while Jang Su-yeon was biting her lip so hard that she was bleeding and crying.

“It’s not over yet, Hwang Na-yeon. What are you doing, brother-in-law? Get her up.”

“B, brother-in-law…”

With eyes filled with fear, resentment, sorrow, and anger, Jang Min-jae looked at me.

‘Yes, that’s the look I must have had before I died.’

Believing that the anger and pain I felt would spread to those bastards as well, I spoke to Jang Min-jae in a dry voice.

“I’ll keep my promise, brother-in-law. If you want to keep your position, do as I say.”

“…Yes.”

Hesitantly, Jang Min-jae raised Hwang Na-yeon, who was sprawled on the sofa, sobbing.

“Mi, Min-jae! I! I’m your mother! I gave birth to you after bearing the pain!”

“I’m sorry, Mom. But… murder is not the answer!”

“Agh!”

Jang Min-jae, whose jaw muscles were bulging from clenching his teeth so hard, slapped Hwang Na-yeon’s cheek with a loud smack. Hwang Na-yeon screamed and cried while standing, then collapsed to the side as if she had lost her mind.

She seems to have lost her mind.

How great must the shock have been for someone who used to order people around with a single finger to be slapped by her own children.

It was the price she paid for running wild without knowing that the higher the position, the deeper the fall.

‘Did you want to give yourself a clean slate that badly? You’re worse than Bo Xilai [a disgraced Chinese politician].’

I clicked my tongue inwardly at Jang Min-jae’s ruthless act of throwing his own mother into a bottomless pit, and then I began my turn.

“Jang Su-yeon, brother-in-law, both of you come here.”

As soon as I gestured, the two of them stood facing me. Looking at the two who didn’t even dare to make eye contact with me, I raised one corner of my mouth.

“Jang Su-yeon, I heard you called me impotent?”

“…Yes?”

Looking at the flustered Jang Su-yeon, I said nonchalantly.

“Shut up.”

“…Yes.”

I swung my hand at Jang Su-yeon’s cheek with full force.

“Ahk!”

Jang Su-yeon, who had fallen to the floor after being slapped, looked up and glared at me, but it was only for a moment.

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t slap your cheeks. Brother-in-law, get ready.”

As if he couldn’t even dare to speak, Jang Min-jae nodded and closed his eyes tightly. I slapped Jang Min-jae’s cheek again with full force.

“Ugh!”

Seeing Jang Min-jae sprawled on the floor as well, I felt not just relieved but also empty.

“Hoo-, hoo-…”.

Breathing heavily, I turned my body and looked at Jang Ho-geon and Jang Ha-yeon.

“I’m sorry, Father-in-law.”

Along with the apology, I heard Jang Ho-geon’s voice as he bowed 90 degrees.

“It’s alright. There’s no way around reaping what you sow.”

Accepting those words as absolution, I raised my head and said to Jang Ha-yeon.

“I’m sorry, honey.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about, honey. You just did what you had to do as a child.”

Looking at each other and nodding, Jang Ha-yeon and I looked around the chaotic living room and said.

“If everyone here keeps their mouths shut and just breathes until they die, as Father-in-law said, then there will be no need to send Mother-in-law, or rather Hwang Na-yeon, to jail. We’ll give you a small amount for your worthless stocks and leave your positions in the company. But.”

Pausing for a moment, I took a breath and issued a final warning.

“If you oppose this deal, I’ll show you exactly what it’s like to live without being able to die. As an example, I’ll smash the Joonguk Ilbo [a Korean newspaper] sign with my own hands first.”

I won’t kill them.

I don’t want to become the same monster, but I’ll make them regret it for the rest of their lives, to the point where they’d rather die.

I’ll make you beg me to kill you.

I’ll pave a thorny path for you that will cause you more pain than I experienced in the past, a path you’ll never forget even in hell.

***

Some time later.

[…The collapse of the financial sector, which was feared due to the credit delinquency crisis, is expected to be quickly resolved thanks to Standard Capital’s unprecedentedly generous investment. In addition, collection agencies and credit information companies that have acquired a large amount of delinquent debt have announced a joint press conference stating that they will recover the acquired debt over 20 years…]

I smiled as I watched the news in the Standard Capital office.

“It’s just a matter of moving my money from the United States to Korea, but they’re gilding it [making it seem more attractive or valuable than it is].”

“I know, right? They’d be shocked if they knew that the collection agencies and credit information companies were all created by the private loan organization you’ll inherit later, hehe.”

This deal wasn’t just a losing deal for me. Although the process is complicated, isn’t it a huge money laundering operation to move tens of trillions of won, including interest, to our family’s private loan organization?

More than anything.

The credit delinquents whose creditors have been changed to our family’s private loan organization only have to repay their debts with the principal and interest frozen for the next 20 years.

It’s like buying a 1 million won bond for 20-30,000 won, so the private loan organization’s profits are sufficient, and we’ll arrange jobs at the Haedong Group for the unemployed, so there’s no reason to give up on life, even if it’s a little difficult.

‘If it’s this much, everyone will win-win.’

As I justified myself, I heard Park Tae-jin’s voice.

“By the way, I never thought your in-laws would give up their shares so easily.”

Looking at Park Tae-jin’s surprised expression, I gave a bitter smile.

“They must be happy that I’m taking over their worthless stocks. My uncles and aunts-in-law must have thought that the tide had turned because my father-in-law was selling off all of his shares, so they handed them over.”

The murder of Hwang Na-yeon’s parents, which I can never tell Park Tae-jin.

When they learned about that incident, they couldn’t deny their human nature, so they said they would hand over all of their shares to save Hwang Na-yeon.

“Still, they got hundreds of billions of won, so what’s not to like? Right?”

“I don’t know if that money is nothing compared to the hardships they’ll have to endure as employees of Shinseong Group in the future, hehe.”

In the future, the third generation of the Jang family will have to wear employee ID cards around their necks like ordinary employees, pass through security, and suffer the harsh evaluations of the surrounding employees. I can’t stop them if they want to stay, but we’ll have to see how long they last.

“By the way, when are you going to have the inauguration ceremony?”

“I’m going to call a joint board meeting at Seonguiwon [a traditional Korean building] in a few days and announce it there. They have to let me use the office from the first day, hehe.”

I’m sorry to my deceased parents, but the dead are dead and the living are living, so I couldn’t tell my grandfather either. As long as I’m alive, it’s good to live happily until the last day of this world, so I believed that my parents would understand.

***

A few days later.

5 p.m.

As the sunset began to set, dozens of black sedans flocked to Seonguiwon. The men who got out of the cars all took their seats at the tables set up outdoors.

Among those tables, two royal seat tables in the center in front of the stage were occupied by my grandfather and Bae Jae-hoon, Tae Jae-ho, Jo Young-chan, Go Seung-ju, and Park Tae-jin, and the other was occupied by Seon Hae-cheol and Claire, Henry, and Isaac, who attended disguised as an executive of Chase Manhattan, smiling.

And I was sitting at the table on the stage as the acting chairman of the joint board meeting in the capacity of the representative of Standard Capital Korea, the largest shareholder of Shinseong Holdings.

“The reason for requesting the convening of the Shinseong Group joint board meeting today is to determine the leader who will lead the future of the newly born Shinseong Group. Prior to that, I would like to inform you that at around 4 p.m. today, Jang Ha-yeon, CEO of Korea Hotel, purchased half of the Shinseong Holdings shares held by Standard Capital, becoming the joint largest shareholder with Standard Capital.”

As the hall buzzed, I tapped the microphone with my hand to draw attention.

“The acting chairman recommends CEO Jang Ha-yeon as the new chairman of Shinseong Holdings and the new chairman of Shinseong Group. Are there any objections?”

Looking at the hall buzzing once again, I announced one more fact.

“For reference, this director’s Haedong Group and this director’s Standard Capital are opposed to the merger of Haedong Group and Shinseong Group. Isn’t that right?”

The place where my question was directed was the table where the executives of Haedong Group were sitting. My grandfather, the eldest of that table and considered the most powerful person in this country, stood up from his seat.

“That’s right. Although I have stepped down as an advisor to Haedong Group, I have answered the requests for advice from several chairmen within the group that the merger of the two groups would not be good for the economy of this country. If we merge, wouldn’t the jobs of the people here be the first to go? Hehehe.”

The merger of the two groups would mean the dismissal of most of the presidents of Shinseong Group in this room.

The group will be in turmoil just by changing the president, but wouldn’t it be more difficult to recover if we carry out a major purge? We have to fire the people we have to fire, though.

My grandfather’s laughter spread to the people and filled the hall of Seonguiwon, easing the atmosphere, and my grandfather, who was seated, winked at me. I gave a short smile and erased it, then opened my mouth.

“I’ll ask you one more time. Those who approve of the inauguration of CEO Jang Ha-yeon of Korea Hotel as chairman, please stand up.”

After making the statement, I stood up first, and my family and friends sitting at the royal seat table also stood up. Centered around them, the CEOs of Shinseong Group also stood up from their seats like a wave.

“Majority in favor. I hereby declare that the inauguration of CEO Jang Ha-yeon of Korea Hotel as the new chairman of Shinseong Group has been approved. The new chairman, please come up to the stage.”

As soon as my progress statement was finished, Jang Ha-yeon, who was behind the stage, came up to the stage wearing a black suit.

Jang Ha-yeon, with her ponytail and intense makeup, shook her wide-bottomed pants and approached me, making the sound of her high heels clicking.

‘I don’t know whose wife she is, but she’s so pretty, hehe.’

Her appearance today was wrapped in a powerful beauty that was different from the soft beauty I always saw. Jang Ha-yeon, who smiled slightly at me, who couldn’t erase my smile, stood in front of the podium where I had plugged in the microphone.

“Hello, this is Jang Ha-yeon, the new chairman of Shinseong Group.”

Following my grandfather’s applause, everyone’s powerful applause was heard. Some were clapping with sincerity and some were clapping reluctantly, but at this moment, neither Jang Ha-yeon nor I could be more proud.

“The current Shinseong Group has entered a path of hardship due to the deeds of the former owners. Even the chairman cannot estimate when that path of hardship will end, so I cannot help but feel sorry.”

From the beginning, she made a deliberate and heavy statement, and a silent atmosphere flowed through the hall. It was Jang Ha-yeon who broke that atmosphere, the one who created it.

“However, it is also true that we cannot hesitate and fall into pessimism. In the future, the newly born Shinseong Group must liquidate its old ways and bad habits and grow into a model company and a leading company that is suitable for the global era. In response, the chairman also promises to do her best to run this race to everyone here.”

Jang Ha-yeon will surely make Shinseong Group spread its wings of revival and fly high. I have a reliable partner named Na, but isn’t she also a person who will work hard?

While people were applauding, I stood up from my seat and stood next to Jang Ha-yeon.

“I believe that Chairman Jang Ha-yeon will do well. In response, Haedong Corporation also promises to support Shinseong Group as a brother company.”

This was the inauguration congratulatory gift I gave to Jang Ha-yeon. In order to show that this was not just an empty promise, I declared my will in public, and I smiled at Jang Ha-yeon, who was surprised.

***

A few days later.

We, who couldn’t make time due to our respective work, finally made time on Sunday and arrived at the Haedong Corporation Incheon Warehouse. We left the children at my grandfather’s house because it was a holiday, and we looked around the Incheon Warehouse.

“This should be enough for Shinseong Corporation’s trading division and Shinseong Electronics to use together.”

“Thank you, honey.”

The Haedong Corporation Incheon Warehouse was evolving into a logistics automation warehouse as it continued to expand. We were planning to lease a part of this warehouse to Shinseong Corporation’s trading division at a low price and process the export of goods produced at Shinseong Electronics’ Suwon plant to China.

After looking around the warehouse, we walked to the pier with the executives.

“But is it true that your father worked at the Incheon Warehouse?”

“My grandfather made him work there every vacation like a part-time job when he was a college student. So he was going to make me work at the Incheon Warehouse first when I graduated from college, hehe.”

Smiling, I took out a bottle of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] and a paper cup from the bag.

“Hold the glass for me, honey.”

“Okay.”

I filled the paper cup that Jang Ha-yeon was holding with soju, put the soju bottle on the floor, and took the paper cup back.

“Father, Mother, rest in peace now.”

With a low murmur, I slowly poured the soju into the sea water. After pouring about half of the soju, I took a breath and slowly poured the rest of the soju.

‘I hope the past me can rest in peace now too.’

I felt relieved after pouring all the resentment and lingering feelings I had been holding into the alcohol I was pouring now. After emptying the paper cup, Jang Ha-yeon said to me with a smile.

“Your face has never been this bright before.”

“Really? I thought I was always bright because I was next to you.”

“Let’s go to Samcheong-dong [a district in Seoul] for lunch soon. Your grandfather and the children will be waiting, hehe.”

Looking at Jang Ha-yeon, who was smiling brightly, I nodded, put the paper cup and soju bottle on the floor, turned my back to the sea, and went back to the car with Jang Ha-yeon.

Having shaken off all the regrets of the dead Lee Seong-min.

fin.