Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 65

65. 20th. Without Saying… (4)

That evening.

I was at a bar in Itaewon, having a cocktail across a table from Jang Ha-yeon, who had called me.

“Are you okay?”

“What can I do? I have to follow what Grandpa tells me to do.”

I swallowed the laughter that almost burst out at Jang Ha-yeon’s words, along with a mouthful of martini, and replied nonchalantly. I had ordered a martini because I felt like it today, and if I had drunk something lighter, such natural acting would have been impossible.

I couldn’t understand why Jang Ho-geon was so interested in me. I know his secretariat collects all sorts of information, but to send Jang Ha-yeon to comfort me, really.

Anyway.

It was good for me. If Jang Ha-yeon was worried about me becoming the largest shareholder of Haedong Securities, then Shinsung Group must be completely in the dark about my position within our group.

These days, my family and group members are working well together, and even my father-in-law is cooperating. Thank you, I might as well cooperate with you too?

I put down my glass and smacked my lips.

“It’s a bit of a shame. Even if I’m the largest shareholder, Grandpa effectively holds the management rights, and I paid taxes on top of that.”

I said it calmly, but my stomach ached at the mention of taxes.

‘With a hundred billion, I could buy 2 percent of Shinsung Electronics stock…’

I paid roughly 100 billion won in taxes to the National Tax Service because of this stock swap. It was all because of Grandpa’s principle that group stock inheritance must be clean. Of course, Grandpa, Lee Myung-jin, and I all had to pay taxes without exception.

Fortunately, Grandpa lent me and Lee Myung-jin the money he received from selling the affiliate’s stock to Haedong Corporation, so we paid the taxes with that money, but it’s money we have to repay someday. Jang Ha-yeon looked at me pitifully, whether she knew this or not.

“Isn’t that too much tax to pay?”

“What can I do? I’ll just have to make it up with dividends later.”

I said it like that, but I didn’t feel good about the thought of paying back the money.

I can’t bring in Standard Capital funds carelessly. Evading the National Tax Service’s reverse tracking through Triumph Capital is possible, but considering the future of the US stock market, it would be better not to.

I was twisting my lips, trying to figure out how to pay off the debt without using the money in the US as much as possible, and Jang Ha-yeon chuckled as if my appearance was funny.

“Our little one, it stings a lot?”

“Still, how much will I pay later? It’s a relief that I got at least one thing early.”

I was sincerely grateful to Grandpa. Other *chaebols* [large Korean family-owned conglomerates] might criticize our family for splurging money on three generations, but Haedong Securities in the future will never be a company that can be obtained with 100 billion won in taxes.

Seeing my expression relax because of that thought, Jang Ha-yeon opened her mouth.

“Still, I’m jealous. Won’t Securities eventually be your company?”

“That’s not true, sis. I only have the stock, but I can’t do what I want. The important thing is that I have to discuss it with Grandpa, Uncle, and the CEO. They’ll take care of it themselves if possible.”

I waved my hand at her, who was congratulating me.

Even if she’s the woman I love, business is business. Until the time comes, I just have to pretend that I only inherited the stock and have no real power.

I added one more nail to the coffin, pretending to be a little gloomy.

“And I’m still an employee of Haedong Corporation. You got the title of Managing Director at the beginning of the year. I need to get my title soon too.”

Just because you’re a *chaebol* doesn’t mean you automatically become the head. You have to start from the bottom, even if it’s just superficially, from Manager or Deputy General Manager, and go through executive positions to get involved in group management or inherit the position of the next head.

I can legally influence group management without even superficially doing it when the time comes, and I have a way to take over the Chairman’s office at Haedong Corporation, but I deliberately pretended to be envious towards Jang Ha-yeon.

Then, Jang Ha-yeon looked at me with narrow eyes and a sulky expression.

“You’re deliberately praising me, aren’t you?”

“I inherited Haedong Securities, thanks to my parents. You got your Managing Director title with your own strength. Just selling that painting last time would be enough for dozens of hotel employees’ salaries. Isn’t that right?”

Aside from the fact that she grew up in a good environment thanks to being the daughter of a *chaebol* head and started as a Deputy General Manager, Jang Ha-yeon was a human victory in itself. She didn’t even refuse night shifts, and in the meantime, she made money for Korea Hotel through art investment and hotel renovations, didn’t she?

Perhaps she felt the sincerity in my voice, Jang Ha-yeon smiled slightly.

“Oh my, our little one. You’ve matured a lot? Hehe.”

This lady seems to think I’m trying hard so she won’t dump me. Well, it’s better if I pretend to be young.

I took a sip of my cocktail and asked what I had been curious about.

“Sis, how are Uncle’s car business and clothing business doing?”

“Well… the clothing business is fine because it’s a small part, but the car business seems to be having a hard time with the Busan factory construction. Yong-jae is doing it for the first time since he became a Managing Director, and Father is pushing it, but…”

Jang Ha-yeon tilted her head and took a sip of her cocktail with a reluctant expression. As expected, Jang Ho-geon and Jang Yong-jae were working hard and putting their heart and soul into digging a big hole, so I didn’t have to worry too much.

I changed the subject because she seemed to be in a bad mood because of me.

“How’s the Shinsung Electronics convertible bond doing?”

“The kids are all crying. They used the money they earned this time to pay off their loans as soon as they earned it, and the performance is not good because of the exchange rate fluctuations in Japan… Sigh.”

She’s worried about Jang Yong-jae, Jang Su-yeon, and Jang Min-jae, but Jang Ha-yeon’s lips twitched subtly. The Shinsung Electronics stock price is below the agreed conversion price, so how much will those three be burning inside?

I smiled at Jang Ha-yeon with a bit of swagger.

“I don’t know who it’s thanks to, but you saved money, didn’t you?”

“Our fund manager did a great job. Good job, good job~.”

Jang Ha-yeon pouted her lips at me and made a teasing sound, but it didn’t sound bad. I smiled and looked at her while drinking my cocktail.

***

The next morning.

After finishing my meal, I checked my watch and called Claire.

“It’s been a while, Claire. Have you had dinner?”

[I’m going to eat later. I’m meeting my father and going to JFK Airport.]

“The airport?”

[I’m going to pick up my mother. I’m a little nervous because it’s the first family dinner, hehe.]

Claire’s voice was full of life. How happy must she be that the family that had to be torn apart was reunited?

“Congratulations, Claire.”

[Johnny, it’s all thanks to you. I couldn’t have dreamed of it if it weren’t for you? Thank you.]

“You’re welcome. We did it for each other’s benefit.”

“So, how’s the thing I asked for through my uncle going?”

[I’m creating a paper company to collect North Limited stock. I think it would be better to handle it with a loan, what do you think?]

“A loan?”

[You should always have cash on hand. I put it in the S&P 500, and the index is rising well. I think I can dispose of it when I need it.]

If Claire is saying this, I think I can slowly take out a loan. If I combine the money I earned in Japan with the money I invested in the stock market, my total assets are over $6 billion, so I can handle it.

“Do that. Is Triumph doing well too?”

[Of course. My father is also collecting it as quietly as possible with Chairman Lee’s slush fund. We’ll secure everything by managing the stock price until June next year. After the work is done, we’ll transfer 30 percent each from both sides in the first round.]

My lips curled up as I heard about the progress.

Triumph is now a solid ally of our family. We’ll have to give them a proper commission, but if they collect all the stock while suppressing the stock price at the current level, receive the bonds, and finish the first sale, both our family and the Royce family will win-win.

I smoothed my expression and opened my mouth with a slight smile.

“Thank you. But… I have a favor to ask.”

[What is it?]

“I had a shareholding reorganization within the family this time…”

After telling her about the story of taking over Haedong Securities, the internal restructuring, and the establishment of Haedong Securities, I heard Claire’s voice.

[Those people, you want them to train at our company?]

“Yes. You have to learn finance in New York.”

The twenty people that Cho Young-chan picked are not ordinary people, but people who will stand side by side with me in the battlefield called Korea. They may leave in the middle, but I have intervened in their lives, so I will share stock and train them with effort.

After answering, I heard Claire’s light laughter in my ear.

[That’s true. You’re going to pay for the training, right?]

“Of course. I used Uncle’s name. Uncle learned how to manage money under the CEO of Haedong Securities when he was in college. Is that okay?”

[Sure. I’m the CEO of Standard Capital, so you used that as a connection?]

“Yes. I was so busy that I contacted you now. I’m sorry, Claire.”

I did it because it was ambiguous to drag Standard Capital into the war in Korea, but I felt bad because I sold my lover even though I knew the two were dating.

Moreover, Claire is Henry’s only daughter. Isn’t she the person who will one day become the successor of Triumph Capital? Claire’s voice was heard to me, who was feeling sorry.

[What are you sorry about? What if the owner is reluctant to ask the manager for that much?]

“Still, Claire is also Uncle’s lover and a friend to me.”

[That’s a private relationship. Those people only know that Sun and I are the mentor and deputy, right?]

Claire continued to speak to me, who was nodding as if we were talking face to face.

[Above all, I’m a professional manager hired by Johnny at Standard Capital. Give me instructions like an owner. Get it?]

“Got it. Thank you, Claire.”

[Okay. See yo… Ah!]

As I was about to say goodbye and hang up the phone, Claire let out a soft exclamation.

“What’s wrong?”

[Gucci called.]

“Gucci?”

[They reviewed our proposal and said they want to see us in New York. It seems like they want to negotiate an investment.]

It had been over a month since I heard from them, so I had forgotten about it, but it was welcome news. A brand like Gucci is worth investing in, so I was willing to invest as much as possible as long as it wasn’t an excessive amount.

I said in a voice that was so happy that my tone naturally rose.

“That’s great, haha.”

[But they said they want to see you… what do you think?]

“Huh? I did the sketches according to Claire’s order, right?”

[That’s true, but they want to see the protagonist who made the sketches come out? They said they think they can get inspiration if they talk while looking at you?]

‘A meeting…’

It didn’t sound bad.

According to what I heard from Jang Su-yeon, who was a Tom Ford follower in my previous life, Tom Ford had a same-sex lover around this time, so it seemed like they wanted to see me out of curiosity as an artist.

“Okay, Claire. I can’t miss the opportunity to catch Gucci, haha.”

[Okay. I’ll set up the meeting place, so let me know when you set the date, Johnny.]

After that, I checked the status of the investment project and told her that I would bring the green tea that Grandpa had given me when I went to the United States, and then I finished the call with Claire. I was very satisfied that I was working well with a friend on the other side of the world.

***

I immediately set my departure schedule and met Jang Ha-yeon for a drink.

“America… you’re going?”

“Yeah. I’ve been away for too long, so I feel like I’m being watched. Grandpa said that would be better too.”

Jang Ha-yeon put down her cocktail glass and looked at me with a sad expression.

“Sigh, I can’t keep you by my side…”

My heart ached when I saw her sighing. If she were the daughter of any other *chaebol* family, matchmakers would have already come from all over with lists of potential marriage partners, wouldn’t they?

But.

I couldn’t just commit right now because of my feelings. If I become Jang Ho-geon’s son-in-law before the end of the year after next, I could turn a jackpot into a bust, so I had to postpone it until then.

As I was wondering how to firmly hold Jang Ha-yeon’s heart, the Bulgari bracelet on her left wrist, which was supporting her chin, caught my eye.

Seeing that, I quickly opened the bag I had put next to me. I always kept it in my bag to use when I proposed, but I thought I should use it now.

Jang Ha-yeon asked as I took the box out of my bag.

“What’s that?”

“Wait and see.”

I opened the lid of the box with the words ‘BVLGARI’ written in gold and put the bracelet inside on my right hand.

“Hey, what’s with a man wearing a bracelet?”

“Give me your hand.”

I put Jang Ha-yeon’s left hand on the bar and put my right hand right next to her.

“Think of this bracelet as handcuffs.”

“Handcuffs?”

Jang Ha-yeon looked at the bracelet after hearing my words, and I also looked down at the bracelets on my hand and Jang Ha-yeon’s hand. Since the same bangle design bracelets were side by side, it looked like the police and the criminal were wearing the same handcuffs in a movie.

“Could it be… ?”

I smiled as I saw Jang Ha-yeon’s eyes shaking.

“I’ll only be caught by you. Until the end.”

Happiness spread across Jang Ha-yeon’s face. Seeing that smile, I knew I could go on my business trip to the United States without any worries.