Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 81

81. 24th. Surveillance (1)

“You’re being rude from the first meeting. What country’s etiquette dictates raising your hand first?”

I stood up from my seat and glared at the middle-aged, pot-bellied man from under my hat. He hesitated for a moment, then frowned and shouted,

“Do you know who I am? I’m Oh Gwang-seok! You scruffy-looking bastards… Don’t you dare avert your eyes!”

“Do you even know who this man is…!”

I quickly shouted when I saw Park Tae-jin jump up and raise his fist.

“Hyung [older brother or male friend], stop! Did Grandpa spend all that money to send you to Seoul University and the Special Forces for this?”

I didn’t like talking down to Park Tae-jin, but I had no choice. You have to be tough in front of guys who act tough because they think they’re strong. But… Oh Gwang-seok? That name sounds familiar.

While I was lost in thought after shouting, Park Tae-jin stopped his fist. The man swallowed hard, seeing the fist that had nearly struck him stop right in front of his face.

“Seoul University? Special Forces?”

Oh Gwang-seok paused at my words. Park Tae-jin’s murderous aura, honed from exchanging bullets and blades with enemies overseas, and the knife scar on his neck, froze him in place.

‘He attacks first and then gets scared…’

He’s just riding on someone else’s coattails, but I need to put this guy in his place. I saw a noticeable badge, but I feigned ignorance and asked,

“What’s your affiliation?”

“Why do you need to know my affiliation!”

“Isn’t that badge from Shinseong Group?”

As I threw a cold dagger with my voice, Oh Gwang-seok’s eyes widened. But only for a moment. Oh Gwang-seok raised his voice even louder.

“So what! I’m Oh Gwang-seok from Shinseong Corporation, what are you going to do about it!”

Oh Gwang-seok from Shinseong Corporation?

Racking my memory, I finally remembered who this bastard was.

Oh Gwang-seok.

In my past life, when I married Jang Su-yeon and was assigned to the Restructuring Department, he was the executive director of the construction division of Shinseong Corporation. He was notorious for his violent tendencies and brash personality, which led to constant safety accidents at every site he managed.

So, I fired him during the IMF crisis [International Monetary Fund crisis, a period of financial instability in the late 1990s]. I heard he stepped down as an advisor and badmouthed me like crazy. He thought he had nothing to fear because a fourth-generation chaebol [family-owned conglomerate] who had failed had become the son-in-law of Shinseong Group?

Perfect. I don’t like using my position for personal vendettas, but I need to show this bastard exactly who’s in charge. I don’t like talking down to Park Tae-jin, but I have no choice since I have to meet force with greater force.

“Hyung, call Yong-jae hyung for me.”

“Yes? …Yes, young master.”

As I glared at the guy in front of me, Park Tae-jin, who had been momentarily stunned, quickly made a call. I took the phone from him and waited for the call to connect, looking at Oh Gwang-seok with a beaming smile.

[This is Jang Yong-jae from the Automotive Business Division of Shinseong Corporation.]

“Yong-jae hyung, long time no see. It’s me, Seong-min. How are you doing?”

He probably knows that Su-yeon and I have broken up by now, but I shamelessly put on a mask and greeted him with a friendly voice.

[Ah… is that you? What’s going on?]

“I was thinking of hyung. Someone from hyung’s company just smacked me and Tae-jin hyung in the back of the head.”

[What?]

I heard the sound of a desk being slammed and Jang Yong-jae’s raised voice from the receiver, and I saw Oh Gwang-seok’s face turn pale white.

“I know you’re busy, hyung, but would I lie to you? His name is Oh Gwang-seok, and he says he’s from Shinseong Corporation. Check it out.”

As I spoke with a sly smile, I could hear Jang Yong-jae shouting loudly from the phone. The thought of the Shinseong Corporation office being turned upside down made the corners of my lips curl up.

[Where are you right now?]

“Do you know a place called ‘Naju House’ near the Shinseong Group headquarters? Come there.”

I hung up the phone and looked at Oh Gwang-seok with a smile.

“W-what are you?”

“Me? I’m Lee Seong-min?”

“Are you kidding me? What’s your affiliation?”

“I majored in Business Administration at Seoul University. Oh, I graduated last March, so it ‘was’ Business Administration? Hehe.”

“Y-you…!”

I’m only now realizing how good it is to be young. How infuriating must it be to be provoked and scratched by a young punk like me? Like a dog that can’t quit eating poop, Oh Gwang-seok’s face turned as red as if it would explode.

“I won’t let it slide a second time, Mr. Oh Gwang-seok.”

As Park Tae-jin glared at him with a frosty look, Oh Gwang-seok couldn’t even think of hitting him and was just trembling his fists.

“What the hell are you guys doing?”

“Just watch for a moment, mister. Until Yong-jae hyung comes.”

“Y-Yong-jae hyung, who is that?”

“I told you to wait, didn’t I?”

“You bastard!”

Just as Oh Gwang-seok couldn’t hold back his anger and raised his hand high, the door burst open.

“Lee Seong-min!”

I turned around and saw a handsome man looking at me with a desperate expression. Long time no see, my dear brother-in-law.

***

“Hyung!”

Jang Yong-jae strode towards me. Knowing who this guy was, Oh Gwang-seok’s face began to turn blue.

“Is this the guy?”

“Yeah. He smacked us each in the back of the head. One for me, one for Tae-jin hyung. It hurts so much.”

Jang Yong-jae’s eyes widened as I frowned and stroked the back of my head.

“Really?”

“Really, I’m telling you? Right, everyone?”

As I shouted as if to be heard by the people in the restaurant, a plump man stepped up as the first witness.

“It was a mess. He smashed the soup bowl and cursed just because the order was a little off… You see that broken bowl over there?”

“It can happen that you make a mistake because it is lunch time and it is crowded, but he was too much. We saw with our own eyes that these friends didn’t even touch him, but I don’t know what would happen to him if he just ate it, tsk tsk.”

Jang Yong-jae glared fiercely at Oh Gwang-seok as testimonies and evidence poured out from everywhere.

“I don’t know who he is, but he’s been caught by the Yongko [dragon child, a term for someone born into a powerful family]. He dared to mess with the eldest grandson of Chairman Lee Dae-soo from Samcheong-dong.”

Jang Yong-jae pretended not to know him and spoke sarcastically, causing Oh Gwang-seok’s eyes to widen.

“…Excuse me? Chairman Lee Dae-soo?”

“This friend is the eldest grandson of the Haedong Group, and Chief Park Tae-jin is someone Chairman Lee cherishes like a son. If I were you, I would kneel down and apologize right away? Managing Director Oh. Gwang. Seok. from Shinseong Corporation Construction Division.”

Oh Gwang-seok’s face turned pale white as Jang Yong-jae’s name, chopped into pieces, was deeply embedded in his chest, and his legs were trembling like a puppy about to pee.

He’s riding on someone else’s coattails, but who cares? I can’t step forward yet, so wouldn’t it be beneficial to honest and powerless people to get rid of that trash-like guy by borrowing Jang Yong-jae’s hands? I thought I should drive a wedge in completely and added one more word.

“And that mister, he shouted loudly, ‘Do you know who I am? I’m Oh Gwang-seok from Shinseong Corporation, do you think I’m a beggar?’ Right?”

Everyone agreed, saying that I was speaking in a hateful way. Jang Yong-jae raised his eyes at the sight of the landfill unfolding before him.

“Is what this friend saying true?”

“…Excuse me? ……”

“Let’s go outside, Managing Director Oh.”

“M-Managing Director…”

Even when Oh Gwang-seok called out in an anxious voice, Jang Yong-jae cast a cold gaze at him and turned his head towards Park Tae-jin.

“Chief Park, I’m sorry, but please go out with Managing Director Oh.”

“Yes.”

Jang Yong-jae watched Park Tae-jin drag Oh Gwang-seok out with a contemptuous gaze and sighed.

“Seong-min, let’s go eat somewhere else.”

Jang Yong-jae’s face was full of desperation. He’s a guy who values his pride and face, so he wouldn’t be able to eat, let alone have a drink, in this atmosphere.

“I ordered something…”

“Are you possessed by a ghost who died without eating Gomtang [Korean oxtail soup]?”

As I trailed off, grumbling, Jang Yong-jae scolded me like a child, just as I wanted. He seemed to want to focus on me in order to somehow resolve the situation.

“I have no choice, I guess. Hyung will pay, right?”

“Of course. Here!”

As I opened a way out, Jang Yong-jae quickly raised his hand and shouted. Seeing his hand, a plump-looking middle-aged woman came out. Judging by her attire, she seemed to be the owner.

“Yes!”

“Calculate everything this friend and the other customers ordered. How much is it?”

“Yes… Just a moment.”

The owner diligently showed Jang Yong-jae the calculator she had tapped. Jang Yong-jae immediately took out two one million won bills from his wallet, wrote his phone number and signature on the back, and handed them over.

“You don’t have to give me the change. Give them more when other customers come later.”

“Yes… Customer.”

After hearing the owner’s dazed reply, Jang Yong-jae asked me.

“Who is the victim?”

“That person over there.”

As I pointed with my hand, Jang Yong-jae walked over to the employee and politely handed her a business card and a ten million won cashier’s check that he took out.

“This is the Shinseong Group Secretarial Office number. If you tell them what happened today, we will compensate you as soon as possible, madam.”

“You don’t have to do this…”

“Our group’s person made a mistake, so we have to take responsibility. The check is a personal consolation payment. As the eldest son of the chairman, I will take responsibility, so please forgive me generously.”

As Jang Yong-jae smiled, she saw the owner at the checkout counter nodding and received the business card and check.

“Lunch for everyone is on Shinseong Group! Forget what just happened and enjoy your meal!”

I could see a hint of relief on Jang Yong-jae’s face as he shouted with a friendly expression. He still can’t give up his habits, he’s still obsessed with his pride and face.

***

Jang Yong-jae took me out of the restaurant and patted me on the shoulder.

“How is it, Seong-min? This is marketing. Hehe.”

“Marketing?”

“You know that the core of marketing is ‘existence’ and ‘goodness,’ right? This is also image marketing, that’s it.”

Look at him talking in front of me as if he’s one year older? I laid the mat for him, but he’s taking all the credit?

It wasn’t even close, but I decided to play along. I need to give him the impression that I’m still young.

“Better than the professors?”

“Right? No matter how much the professors talk on the podium, it’s much better to learn once in the field, hehe.”

Jang Yong-jae, who had been boasting to the fullest, walked towards Park Tae-jin and Oh Gwang-seok, who were far away in front of the alley.

“Let’s go inside and talk, Managing Director Oh.”

“Yes… Managing Director.”

The four of us went into the alley as it was.

“Seong-min. Chief Park. Excuse me for a moment.”

After briefly asking for understanding, Jang Yong-jae took out a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth.

“Whoooo-.”

He lit it and blew the smoke he had sucked in onto Oh Gwang-seok’s face.

“Managing Director Oh.”

“Yes…, young master.”

“Are you crazy? Are you trying to ruin the company’s image? The electronics are fighting with Geumgang, and the cars are fighting with Taehyun, so it’s like walking on thin ice, are you in your right mind! We have to reunite the divided group, are you crazy!”

Unlike before, he glared at Oh Gwang-seok with eyes that seemed to be covered in lime and fiercely drove him away.

“I-I’m sorry, Managing Director!”

“If you’ve eaten your age, you should eat it nicely. Do you think the chairman gave you an executive position to do this!”

A cold wind was blowing, but Jang Yong-jae’s anger did not subside.

“I’ve investigated you all. In the construction sites you’ve been in charge of so far, there have been 10 deaths and 200 serious injuries?”

Oh Gwang-seok couldn’t even look Jang Yong-jae in the eye, as if his weaknesses had been exposed.

“T-that’s…”

“Shut your mouth before I break your neck. Are you crazy? How much money did you spend to shut people’s mouths for the delayed construction period every time someone got hurt or died, you son of a bitch!”

Jang Yong-jae was also a thorough person, no less than me. Perhaps because of that, he scraped together all the swear words he could find and threw them at Oh Gwang-seok without rest.

“P-please save me, Managing Director! I’m sorry!”

“Just with words? Put it into practice with actions. Hurry!”

As Jang Yong-jae sent a signal to me with his eyes, Oh Gwang-seok quickly bowed his head. He even began to bend his waist as if it would touch the ground.

“I’m sorry, Young Master Seong-min. I have committed a crime worthy of death. Please forgive me. I beg you.”

“It’s not right for someone who’s old enough to be my father to bow down like that. Stop it.”

“Managing Director Oh, is that all?”

As I accepted the apology out of courtesy, Oh Gwang-seok straightened his back, but Jang Yong-jae stretched out his arm and pushed me back. This bastard, could it be?

“…Excuse me?”

Jang Yong-jae sneered as Oh Gwang-seok rolled his eyes.

“Don’t you remember what I said earlier?”

“W-what are you talking about…?”

Jang Yong-jae brought the hand holding the cigarette to Oh Gwang-seok’s face, who was stuttering.

Tick.

With the sound of lightly flicking the cigarette, the cigarette ash hit his cheek and fell.

“I said that if I were you, I would kneel down and apologize right away. Have you already forgotten that?”

Oh Gwang-seok trembled like an aspen tree. The humiliation of being hit with cigarette ash by a guy who could be his son and the fear that the guy was someone who could put his neck on the line at the same time seemed to overwhelm him.

Jang Yong-jae looked at that scene and spat out in a cold voice.

“Kneel down and apologize. Hurry!”

He knelt down so hard that it made a thud, put his fists on his knees, bowed his head, and apologized.

“I’m sorry. I really did wrong. I will live carefully from now on. Please forgive me.”

Thud. Thud.

His tears fell on the ground. Was it because of the self-disgust of his situation, or was it because of anger?

I thought it was enough and tried to step forward, but Jang Yong-jae stretched out his arm and stopped me.

“Bang your head.”

“Yes?”

“Are your ears blocked? I said bang your head on the ground!”

That crazy bastard. He’s been an executive at Shinseong Group, so he’s a guy who’s had everything from dust to shit water on his hands, but he was going to see the end of it.

The blood vessels in Oh Gwang-seok’s clenched fist bulged. But he did as he was told, put his unclenched hands on the ground, and banged his head on the ground.

“I’m sorry! Please! Please forgive me!”

Oh Gwang-seok shouted loudly like a wailing beast, and Jang Yong-jae indifferently looked down at Oh Gwang-seok, who had his head buried in front of his feet.

“If something like this happens again, it’s over.”

With those cold words, Jang Yong-jae stepped on the cigarette butt he had dropped right in front of Oh Gwang-seok’s head with his shoe and went out of the alley. A nasty bastard.

But.

I’m just hiding my claws right now, but I’m a more ferocious guy than that guy right now. No matter how much he tries to act cool in front of me right now, it will take him at least 30 years to catch up with me.