Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 37

12th. As Expected, Unexpectedly (3)

Chairman Jang Ho-gun, after hanging up the phone, let out a sigh of relief and burst into a hearty laugh.

“Haha, my goodness. I’m seeing all sorts of things as I live.”

“What is it, Chairman?”

At Lee Soo-han’s question from the sofa, Jang Ho-gun smiled broadly.

“That rascal Sung-min stood up for Ha-yeon in front of his grandfather. He went to Samcheong-dong [an affluent neighborhood in Seoul often associated with traditional Korean houses and political figures] this morning, I hear…”

Lee Soo-han listened to the story and was freshly impressed by Lee Sung-min’s unexpected behavior. He also managed to hide his surprise at Jang Ho-gun’s uncharacteristically elated demeanor.

“I didn’t expect Sung-min to do that. It seems different from what you mentioned before. Even though he’s the eldest grandson, wasn’t that going against Chairman Lee?”

“If you think so, how much more would I? That guy is probably the youngest person in this country who could stand up to that man.”

Jang Ho-gun, speaking to Lee Soo-han, wore a slightly bitter smile.

“I apologize for dragging him into this fight between adults, but seeing him step up to protect his woman, he’s quite the man. Just like my friend’s son, haha.”

“He needs that kind of guts to take care of Ha-yeon, haha.”

“Of course, of course. If he’s going to take my daughter from me, he needs that kind of nerve, euahaha.”

Jang Ho-gun, laughing heartily as he looked at Lee Soo-han, took a light breath.

“How many more articles are they planning to release?”

“I met with the editor-in-chief of Dongyang Daily and heard that they need to keep writing until at least three or four other places copy them. I think that would be good.”

At Lee Soo-han’s answer, his expression composed, Jang Ho-gun nodded.

The power of a media company is only exerted when other media companies act as megaphones. Speaking alone is just an empty echo, but when other media companies pick it up, it spreads further and louder, which made sense.

“I understand. You can use all 5 billion won [approximately $4 million USD] that they promised us to bring in other newspapers. The bigger the screen, the more viewers, right?”

“Yes, Chairman. After the apology article, I’ll hand over the list of celebrity drug users to President Go for use in diverting attention. Our scholars in the prosecution are also ready, hehe.”

“Good. I like the ending too, hehe.”

Jang Ho-gun, who studied journalism and film in college, seemed to like the script that Lee Soo-han had written, as he exchanged a sinister smile with him.

***

[Some Businessmen Lack Common Sense and Engage in Outdated Behavior That Must Be Eradicated for the Creation of a New Korea]

[S Group Heiress Uses Hotel Like Her Own Home. How Far Will the Privatization of Companies Go?]

[S Group Skimps on Factory Workers’ Salaries but Spends Lavishly on the Owner Family’s Hotel Accommodation.]

As time passed, Dongyang Daily’s articles became sharper, progressing from a kitchen knife to a sashimi knife, and then to a scalpel. The other newspapers, which had been hesitant, also began to write articles with the same tone, one by one. Naturally, public opinion about our group and Jang Ha-yeon was worsening day by day.

“Sis, are you okay?”

“We’ll have to wait and see. They say Dad and Chief Lee are trying their best.”

After finishing our survey of Lotte Department Store in Jamsil [a large shopping and entertainment district in Seoul], we moved to Lotte World next door, wearing hats pulled low and masks, and sighed deeply as we looked at each other.

I don’t know what Jang Ho-gun is doing. His own daughter is getting hurt; how long is he going to drag this out? Unable to bear it any longer, I said to her.

“Sis, let’s stop this.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s hand over the tape you have to your uncle. That one thing will solve everything, right?”

“But…”

I cut off her hesitant words.

“Say you were dragged here by me. Hyung [term used by a male to address an older male friend or brother], stop by Korea Hotel, pick up the stuff, and let’s go to Assemblyman Sung’s office.”

“D-Doryeonnim [term of respect for a young master]?”

Park Tae-jin stuttered as I spoke with a stern face, but as things have come to this, I have to confront them directly.

“Hurry. Let’s go, Sis.”

“…”

“Yes, Doryeonnim.”

I spoke with a coldly hardened expression, and as I took her hand and stood up, Park Tae-jin also followed us with a hardened expression.

***

After leaving Lotte World, we stopped by Korea Hotel to pick up the tapes that Jang Ha-yeon had collected, and then arrived at the entrance of Assemblyman Sung’s office by car. Before arriving, I had called my grandfather, and Jang Ha-yeon had called Jang Ho-gun, to get permission for a meeting, of course.

“Who are yo- Bu-bujangnim [Deputy Manager]?”

The security guard, who tried to block our car and check our faces, widened his eyes as Jang Ha-yeon, sitting in the back seat, lowered the window and revealed her face.

“We need to go in quickly. It’s urgent.”

“Yes, Bujangnim.”

The security guard next to the car and even the man sitting inside the checkpoint-like building came out and pushed the two doors wide open.

After parking the car and getting out, I looked at Jang Ha-yeon. Her eyes and hands were trembling.

“Don’t be scared, Sis. I’m here.”

“Sung-min-ah…”

Her voice trembled as I spoke, holding her hand.

“Let’s go, Hyung.”

“Yes.”

As I walked with her on the stone path to the main building, I felt strange. When I was in charge of the auxiliary office, it was my job to arrange hundreds of pots of chrysanthemums and wreaths in neat rows on both sides of the stone path’s lawn every morning for the memorial service of Jang Byung-ho, the founder of Shinsung Group…

“Doryeonnim.”

“Yes.”

“Have you perhaps been here before?”

I flinched at Park Tae-jin’s question. The current me has never been here!

“No? Sis didn’t say much, so I’m just going wherever my feet take me.”

“I see. I was surprised because you were walking so confidently.”

“How can I be timid from the start when it comes to protecting my woman? Let’s go.”
The hand of Jang Ha-yeon, whom I was holding, tightened, but I can’t act like a fool. I didn’t even make eye contact with her, just held her hand and entered the main building.

“This is the place, right?”

“Yes…”

After turning the corner and walking down the hallway with the wooden floor, there was a desk placed in front of the door.

“Who are yo- Bujangnim? Who are these people with you…?”

The male employee, who recognized Jang Ha-yeon from afar, jumped up from his chair. Even though he had been contacted, how surprised would he be to see me holding Jang Ha-yeon’s hand and Park Tae-jin, who is nearly 1.9 meters tall, behind us?

“This is Lee Sung-min from Haedong Group, and Park Tae-jin. Is the Chairman in?”

“Yes. Please wait a moment.”

The employee, bowing slightly, pressed the intercom button and informed Jang Ho-gun that we had arrived.

[Tell them to come in.]

“Please wait a moment. I’ll…”

The employee, who had taken his hand off the intercom button, tried to open the door, but I raised my hand to stop him.

“I’ll open it myself today. Open it for me next time I come.”

The embarrassed employee sat down, and I opened the door and entered the room. My heart was pounding because it was the first time I had entered the room in a long time.

***

“It’s been a while, Sung-min. I’ve been waiting for you.”

As soon as I entered the room, Jang Ho-gun got up from the sofa, walked towards me, and greeted me warmly.

‘What is this?’

Jang Ho-gun, who hated me so much in my past life, was now greeting me with a gentle smile. Why?

While I was blankly standing there, Jang Ha-yeon squeezed my hand slightly, and I came to my senses. Only then did I notice Jang Ho-gun’s outstretched right hand.

“I’m sorry, Chairman.”

My first greeting is ‘I’m sorry’… I felt like I would be sorry for the rest of my life, but because Jang Ha-yeon was in front of me, I politely wrapped Jang Ho-gun’s hand with both of mine and tried to be as respectful as possible.

“Haha, what is there to be sorry about? You came because of business. Straighten your back and come here.”

Jang Ho-gun, who was patting my back while laughing heartily, pointed to the sofa with his left hand. On the opposite side of the sofa was Lee Soo-han with a calm expression.

“Hello, Chief Lee. I’m late with my greetings.”

“It’s alright, Sung-min. I understand that you must have been very upset by the rumors the reporters are spreading these days. I’ll be on my way now, Chairman.”

As expected of someone with a keen sense, Lee Soo-han tried to leave, but Jang Ho-gun waved his hand.

“You stay seated. We need to hear what our Manager Jang came here thinking, right?”

Is this an interview already? Whether I’m qualified as Jang Ha-yeon’s son-in-law, or rather, as a member of the Shinsung Group’s management team.

“Chief Park, take a seat too. I used to see our kids occasionally when they were little, but time has already passed like this, haha.”

“Thank you, Chairman.”

Jang Ho-gun sat down on the head seat and rested his arms on the armrests, while I and Park Tae-jin sat on the left sofa, and Jang Ha-yeon sat on the right sofa where Lee Soo-han was sitting.

“I know why you came. It’s because of Dongyang Daily, right?”

“Yes, Chairman. The media companies have copied enough that people are talking badly about us even at the department store. If it spreads any further, the reopening will have little effect even after the department store consulting.”

When I conveyed that his daughter and our group’s image would be tarnished if he didn’t fix it quickly, Jang Ho-gun also nodded.

“I was talking about that with Chief Lee before you guys came. We’re going to broadcast the accommodation expenses between the two groups on the news tonight… Give it to me, Chief Lee.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Lee Soo-han took out a file from the bag he had leaned against the sofa and handed it to me. So he was going to use this now!

“Take it, Sung-min.”

“Yes… Chief Lee.”

Feeling awkward, I received the file and flipped through the contracts one by one.

It was as we had planned. There were the department store consulting contract and the side contracts that both sides had added.

But, I couldn’t believe it after seeing the next page.

“This is…”

“You must be surprised. If you take our daughter, this uncle wants you to grow the distribution business, haha.”

No way.

I pretended to be surprised on purpose because Jang Ho-gun and Lee Soo-han were in front of me, but I couldn’t say anything after seeing his casually smiling face.

Why is a chaebol [large South Korean business conglomerate] a chaebol? Isn’t it because they try to expand their business endlessly? But he’s going to entrust the distribution business to me and Jang Ha-yeon?

It seemed like a transparent lie, but unlike me, who nodded, Jang Ha-yeon looked at Jang Ho-gun with wide eyes.

“Father?”

“Instead, you guys have to do everything from start to finish. I’m not going to touch it. Got it?”

As Jang Ho-gun looked at her with a warm gaze, Jang Ha-yeon couldn’t answer and lowered her flushed face. Jang Ho-gun laughed heartily as he looked at his daughter and turned his head towards me.

“The last page is the main point. Check it out.”

“Yes.”

I moved to the last page and skimmed through the same content as the original contract, checking if the content I wanted was there.

[…Haedong Group will pay for the hotel room charges of Jang Ha-yeon, Manager of Korea Hotel, from ‘Haedong Group’.]

Since this is important, I swallowed hard as if to show the two people and read the next content.

[In this clause, ‘Haedong Group’ refers to Lee Dae-soo, Chairman of Haedong Group, who is the same person as Haedong Group. Therefore, Lee Dae-soo will transfer the room charges of Jang Ha-yeon, Manager of Korea Hotel, from his personal account to the Korea Hotel account on a daily basis. However, if Jang Ha-yeon pays for her own room charges, the room charges paid by Lee Dae-soo will be fully attributed to the profits of Korea Hotel.]

Got it!

The real side contract had all the content I had made up, and only this content was summarized in the contract to be distributed to the media.

But it was strange.

If I only disclose this contract with the seals of my grandfather and Jang Ho-gun, I will deliver a counter punch to Hwang Hyun-sung. But you’re only going to disclose the account details?

As I looked at him with doubt, Jang Ho-gun took a light breath and looked at me. He opened his mouth slowly as if he understood me.

“I’m thinking of doing that for now. I’ve already told Chairman Lee, so try to meet him and check.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

There must be a deal between the two of them that I don’t know about. Still, I couldn’t let what we had prepared rot, so I looked at Jang Ha-yeon and nodded.

“Chairman, we, or rather, Manager Jang Ha-yeon, have something prepared.”

“Oh, really? Let’s see it.”

Jang Ha-yeon took out a box from her Birkin bag and handed it to Jang Ho-gun.

“What is this, Manager Jang?”

As Jang Ho-gun opened the box and asked, holding up one of the dozens of tapes inside, Jang Ha-yeon opened her mouth calmly.

“These are tapes recorded from the first day of consulting, Chairman.”

“Recording tapes?”

“I recorded my work in real time in case something happened. Everything from going to work at dawn to going to bed is recorded.”

Jang Ho-gun and Lee Soo-han’s eyelids twitched for a moment. It seems like they both took a hit, hehe.

“Hmm… I understand. I’ll give this back to you, so give it to me when I ask for it later.”

“Yes.”

“And believe what I say at home, Manager Jang. Got it?”

“Yes, Chairman. I will believe you.”

Seeing the two fathers and daughters protecting each other while calling each other Chairman and Manager reminded me of my deceased parents.

###

After sending the three people out.

“The two kids are doing cute things, Soo-han.”

“That’s what I’m saying, Chairman.”

The two middle-aged men found the anxious appearance of the young prospective chaebol heirs to be both cute and admirable. Their prudence in trying not to be caught from the start was incomparable to the other chaebol successors of their age who were causing all sorts of bizarre accidents.

“We dragged it out a bit, didn’t we? It’s going to be on the 9 o’clock news tonight?”

“Yes. I gave 500 million won each [approximately $400,000 USD] to the heads of the three major broadcasting stations’ news departments, along with Chief Go, and handed over the data, so the whole country will be buzzing. We will start a group audit as soon as the article is released.”

Lee Soo-han, following Jang Ho-gun’s instructions after receiving a call from Lee Dae-soo before entering Assemblyman Sung’s office, handed over a copy of the account transfer to the heads of the three major broadcasting stations’ news departments along with Go Seung-joo.

Of course, he also ordered them to keep it a secret until they die.

“That’s good. It’ll be worth watching if I show the contract when we watch TV in the living room tonight, euahaha.”

Jang Ho-gun laughed loudly, thinking about the crumpled faces of Hwang Na-yeon, or rather, the in-laws behind her, who would be watching TV in the living room tonight.