The Genius Grandson Of The Cash King Becomes A Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 128

#128

“Please, try the scent.”

“Okay.”

The employee’s face was full of smiles as he looked at Eun-soo, who was beaming.

He looked like he was admiring a work of art.

‘Is he smitten?’

It was hard to tell if he was sampling the scent or just staring at Eun-soo.

What one person could do, three were now doing.

All the women glanced at Eun-soo.

“Ah, it’s so nice. I’ll take this one.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll use it well, Jung-hoon. Thanks.”

Everyone suspiciously glanced between Jung-hoon and Eun-soo.

They looked at us once and then whispered to each other, ear to ear.

It was obvious to anyone that they were suspicious.

‘Ugh, nothing good ever comes from being involved with this bastard. I need Da-hye!’

Jung-hoon wanted to get out of there quickly because of the burdensome attention from the people around him.

Eun-soo, however, was unbothered.

“Wait here for a bit. I’m going to the bathroom. Big business.”

After Eun-soo disappeared into the bathroom, Jung-hoon, left alone, had to endure everyone’s stares.

The looks were predictable.

It was the face of someone looking at a gay man who had stolen a man.

The scent of perfume Eun-soo had sprayed lingered strongly behind him.

‘Ugh, this feels awful. I need to leave quickly.’

Jung-hoon stood up, looked back, and said,

“Let’s go!”

It wasn’t Eun-soo.

A perfect goddess, a woman as beautiful as Aphrodite [the Greek goddess of love and beauty], stood before Jung-hoon.

A subtle scent of perfume, the same as Eun-soo’s, wafted from her body.

“I’m sorry. I thought you were my friend.”

Jung-hoon apologized with a bow, then stopped in his tracks.

‘I definitely know her, but who is it?’

He thought hard but couldn’t recall.

He sat back down and pondered, but it only appeared faintly, like a mist.

It felt like he could figure it out with just a small hint.

It was frustrating.

Eun-soo, who had gone to the bathroom, still hadn’t returned.

He was truly skilled at exhausting people.

***

‘It’s Yoon Jung-hoon……’

Ha In-sun was startled to see the young man blocking her path.

She had only seen him in photos until now; this was the first time in person.

‘He’s more handsome than I thought; people are right.’

She avoided Jung-hoon and approached an employee.

“Hello, Madam.”

The employee, recognizing her as a VIP customer, greeted her.

“Bring me the perfume I usually buy.”

“That is…….”

“Why?”

“That is… the last one was just bought by that gentleman.”

The employee pointed to Yoon Jung-hoon.

She becomes anxious without the perfume.

She can’t sleep well either…….

Ha In-sun looked at Jung-hoon.

He was glancing at her.

‘Surely, he doesn’t know me.’

There was no way he could know her.

“Then when will it be back in stock?”

“It will be in next month. I apologize.”

One month without that perfume?

It’s what resolves all her anxiety and depression…….

Ha In-sun pondered.

The things that would happen over the next month flashed through her mind.

Lack of sleep, hysteria.

She might even turn to alcohol again.

‘Absolutely not.’

She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them and walked up to Yoon Jung-hoon.

“Excuse me. I’d like to buy that perfume from you for three times the price. Please, I can’t sleep without it.”

Ha In-sun pleaded with Jung-hoon.

“I’m sorry. It’s not mine. It belongs to my friend, but I’ll ask him.”

“Please.”

Jung-hoon replied with a faint smile.

‘Who is it…… definitely…….’

Eun-soo was returning.

“He’s coming over there.”

Jung-hoon turned his head to look at him.

His pupils were shaking as if there was an earthquake.

The name, faintly obscured in his mind, emerged clearly.

‘Ha In-sun!’

He looked at Eun-soo.

Eun-soo was biting his lip tightly as he walked towards them.

He seemed fine, but his whole body was tense.

“L-let’s go, Jung-hoon.”

“Ah… this person said she can’t sleep if she doesn’t have the perfume you bought……”

Jung-hoon calmly explained the situation.

Ha In-sun exclaimed briefly.

“Ah, no. It’s okay, I don’t need it.”

After answering in a trembling voice, she quickly moved away.

Eun-soo was closing his eyes.

The tips of his fingers were trembling slightly.

“Eun-soo.”

Jung-hoon called out, and he opened his eyes.

“Give me the perfume.”

He took the perfume from Jung-hoon and ran outside.

He found her staggering.

Eun-soo stood in front of her.

She looked startled.

The two of them didn’t say anything to each other.

They just stared blankly at each other.

“E… un…….”

Ha In-sun tried to move her lips to call out a name.

“My name is Jung Eun-soo… I am definitely not the person you think I am… You can’t sleep without this perfume? I used this perfume whenever I missed my mom… What is it that keeps you awake?”

He said calmly.

And he placed the perfume in her hand.

“Use it. I don’t think I’ll need it anymore.”

“Why…, why don’t you need it anymore?”

Ha In-sun, who had barely blinked her eyes, asked with difficulty.

“The her I longed for was a mirage that didn’t exist. I just realized that the sharp-faced, venomous woman is my mother.”

“Ah…….”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she bit her lip tightly.

Eun-soo left Ha In-sun, who was rooted to the spot, and returned to Jung-hoon.

He gave a faint smile and then said loudly on purpose.

“Let’s go, you bastard.”

Eun-soo cursed at Jung-hoon.

He wanted to hide it.

“Are you okay?”

He nodded and then said calmly.

“I just realized. The mom who existed in the scent was only in my dreams. My mom isn’t such a beautiful person. She was just a cruel and venomous woman.”

The cruel past that surged before his eyes the moment he faced her.

Eun-soo accepted the horrific memories of his childhood relatively calmly.

The mother who existed only in his fragrant dreams was kind and gentle.

But the beautiful her he faced today revived the harrowing memories of his childhood.

Jung-hoon kicked Eun-soo’s butt hard.

“Run!”

“Yeah, today… let’s run.”

He wanted to run until he was out of breath.

Today is a day to run until sweat hides the tears.

That day, Jung-hoon didn’t pursue Ha In-sun.

He strongly felt that thick, ill-fated cords were connected to each other.

***

Deep in the night, Lee Heon woke up, feeling the emptiness beside him.

‘Where did she go? Can’t she sleep again today? Tsk, it’s been days already.’

He left the bedroom and went to the living room, but no one was there.

The kitchen was also dark.

She wasn’t the type to go outside at this hour.

‘Did she go to meet that bastard?’

A dirty feeling crept up.

At first, he thought it was jealousy.

The unusual gaze of Chun Seong-han looking at Lee Seok and Ha In-sun,

And Ha In-sun’s affectionate expression and awkward gestures.

He tried to shake off the jealousy by getting counseling, but it didn’t go away easily.

He wanted to use the power of science to dispel his suspicions.

Science, in the name of truth, confirmed that he was right.

Chun Seong-han and Ha In-sun, and their son Lee Seok.

My child… is he alive?

He thought of that child.

His hidden child, whom Ha In-sun was secretly raising at the temple.

The only direct descendant of the imperial family. Lee Hwan.

‘He’s probably already dead. He couldn’t have survived in the bag.’

A regretful look fell over Lee Heon’s face.

Soon, he shook his head and regained his senses, then looked for Ha In-sun again.

A faint light leaked through the crack in the study door.

He could hear Ha In-sun’s voice from inside.

He perked up his ears.

‘Lee Hwan is alive. He’s with Yoon Jung-hoon. What should I do? My hands are shaking, I can’t sleep. Get me some medicine.’

Lee Heon’s eyes widened as he listened closely.

‘Hwan is alive…….’

He felt dizzy.

He couldn’t open the door and face the truth.

He slowly backed away from the study door, just like that day.

He went back to the bedroom and lay down as if nothing had happened.

His son, Hwan, is alive…….

The past days flashed by quickly like a revolving lantern [a type of shadow lantern that projects images when rotated].

The moment he learned the dirty secret, he couldn’t leave it alone any longer.

He had to leave his descendants.

But after giving birth to Lee Seok, she refused to sleep with him.

One day, burning with revenge, he forcefully subdued her, who was strongly resisting while drunk.

He forcibly planted his seed in her body.

Some time later, Ha In-sun disappeared without a trace.

About five years later, he learned that she was hiding in a temple in Sinan, Jeolla Province.

He saw a child playing with grandmothers in the town he went down to catch her.

Big eyes, a high nose, and… a large mole on his shoulder that was inherited in the imperial family.

He sensed it.

‘It’s my son.’

But he couldn’t approach.

To make that child the direct heir, he had to reveal everything.

A cripple who had his wife stolen.

He had to reveal a secret so shameful that he wanted to die.

He couldn’t do that. So he decided to bury it.

Then everyone would be happy.

But Ha In-sun thought differently.

She was determined to kill the child, who could have been sent to an orphanage.

She put him in a bag and abandoned him in the deep mountains.

Lee Heon couldn’t stand by and do nothing, nor could he step in and take the child out.

He put the bag containing the child in the luggage compartment of a express bus.

Living or dying was the child’s fate.

A life that had to be abandoned by his parents, even though he was of the imperial bloodline.

It was harsh, but it was the only way for everyone’s peace.

Ha In-sun came in.

“Were you not sleeping?”

“I woke up for a bit.”

He could smell alcohol on her.

“I thought you had quit drinking since returning from Sinan…….”

“……I couldn’t sleep.”

She, who hadn’t slept for several days, fell asleep only after emptying a bottle of brandy.

Lee Heon, who had learned that the child he had abandoned was alive, couldn’t fall asleep and only blinked his eyes.

***

Yoon Jung-hoon and Lee Hwan, huh.

Not confirming Lee Hwan’s end was a regret for all eternity.

If only Ha In-sun hadn’t stopped him then…….

‘Who on earth saved that child?’

He clearly abandoned him in the deep mountains where there was no one.

Lee Heon?

No, there’s no way he would know.

If he knew, he wouldn’t be standing still like a cripple.

Chun Seong-han’s head throbbed.

He had to get rid of both of them, but this wasn’t the time.

He had to take care of Han Pan-soo as quickly as possible.

With Hanho Group faltering.

He would acquire Hanho Technology with the funds Ha In-sun was pushing, and then seize control of the army.

After that, he decided to eliminate the two annoying bastards.

He called Han Pan-soo.

“There’s a dinner tonight with the generals. You should attend too.”

“Of course, they’re like servants who live off my money, so I should go and act like the owner. See you later.”

Chun Seong-han hung up.

He took out a burner phone from under his desk drawer.

“Hyun-bok, it’s an operation tonight. Eliminate one person.”

“How should I handle it?”

“Send him to Gangwon-do as usual [a euphemism for killing someone and disposing of the body in Gangwon-do province].”

“Understood. Who is the target?”

“Target? You’re asking too many questions.”

“I apologize.”

“This is your last chance, Hyun-bok. If you fail, you’re retiring.”

“I will do it without fail. General.”

Chun Seong-han, who had hung up, called Park Soo-gil of the Haesong Law Firm.

He was preparing the contract that would decorate the finale of tonight.

“Old man Park, this is Chun Seong-han. Is the contract ready?”

“A contract under duress is invalid. You know that well, don’t you?”

“Just say it was voluntary. I don’t think whether it’s duress or not is something you should be concerned about.”

“Ahem, do as you please. The Cheonji Association has become interesting. The beautiful order that bloomed from balance and checks has collapsed.

Do as you please.

I’m curious to see how long your Cheonji Association will last.”

“I plan to surpass the thousand-year history of Silla [an ancient Korean kingdom]. Hahaha.”

“Your laughter is quite hearty. I’ll be watching. Whether it lasts a thousand years or one year.”

Chun Seong-han’s face crumpled after hanging up.

“Anyway, you and Park Hyun-chul will soon follow Han Pan-soo.”

Murderous intent emanated from his body.

***

The stars of Korea gathered in the Minister of National Defense’s space in Hannam-dong.

“Chief of Staff, make a cool bomb shot [a mixed drink where a shot glass of liquor is dropped into a glass of beer or other beverage].”

Chun Seong-han’s suggestion.

The Army Chief of Staff held the glass up high and poured whiskey and beer in a 1:1 ratio.

“Khahaha, 1:1 is the truth after all.”

“That’s right, Minister.”

“Everyone, raise your glasses!”

“Yes.”

The generals replied in powerful voices.

Chun Seong-han made eye contact with each and every general.

“Now we risk our lives for the future of the country. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

After answering loudly, everyone emptied their glasses.

“When is the uprising scheduled to take place?”

When the Capital Defense Commander asked, Chun Seong-han glared at him.

“Commander, what are you talking about, an uprising?”

“I apologize. General.”

He bowed his head.

“Everyone, watch your mouths, understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

Soon after, when Han Pan-soo entered, everyone stood up and welcomed him.

“Chairman Han has arrived?”

“Has everyone been well?”

Han Pan-soo said, putting strength in his shoulders for the first time in a while.

“Yes.”

Everyone bowed their heads and answered.

But because of their bowed faces, their mocking expressions were not visible.

Glasses went back and forth, and empty bottles piled up quickly.

Chun Seong-han suggested that Han Pan-soo move his seat.

“Hey, I have a favor to ask.”

“How much is it this time? As you know, the company’s situation isn’t good right now.”

“Yeah, I know that well, so… sell me the company this time.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

Han Pan-soo’s expression twisted.

‘Was this it? Is he trying to take away even the company now? I’m glad I prepared a countermeasure.’

He had to stay calm.

“Transfer all of Hanho Technology’s shares to me. I’ll give you a generous price.”

“How much are you thinking of buying it for? If the price is right, I’ll sell it too. You’re more suited for it than I am.”

“Really? Hehe, thank you for recognizing that.”

“How about one hundred won [approximately $0.08 USD]?”

A deep wrinkle formed between his eyebrows.

“Oops, sorry, let’s make it ten million won [approximately $8,000 USD]. No, I’ll be generous. How about one hundred million won [approximately $80,000 USD]?”

“Are you kidding me?”

Han Pan-soo’s face turned red.

“Kidding? That’s just the beginning.”

The door opened.

A masked man quickly subdued Han Pan-soo, who was trying to stand up.

And he stuck a needle into his neck.

Han Pan-soo smiled bitterly at Chun Seong-han.

“Puhaha, do you think you can take my company like this?”

Chun Seong-han frowned and asked the masked man.

“Is the drug taking effect already?”

“Not yet.”

“Why does that bastard have that expression?”

Chun Seong-han grabbed Han Pan-soo by the collar and shook him.

“What are you plotting?”

“Well, try to take away something that doesn’t even exist.”

Chun Seong-han threw Han Pan-soo down.

And he handed him the prepared contract.

Under the influence of the drug, he left his signature according to Chun Seong-han’s instructions.

The contract was perfectly concluded.

He also clearly recorded that it was not coercion through filming.

But a strange feeling of unease didn’t leave him.

“Get rid of him!”

“Understood.”

Ji Hyun-bok put Han Pan-soo in the car and set off.

He thought he should call Yoon Jung-hoon.

He paused for a moment.

Chun Seong-han’s words came to mind.

‘If you fail this time, you’re retiring.’

The retirement of a black ops agent is only death.

The phone rang. It wasn’t his.

He took the phone out of Han Pan-soo’s pocket in the trunk.

‘My love, our daughter.’

He had a daughter.

He made a bitter expression, put the phone on the floor, and smashed it with a rock.

– Crack.

He went back to the car and stared blankly ahead for a while.

‘Because they’re the most fucked up relationship, they’re family……’

He couldn’t see anything because of the deep darkness, but he kept staring blankly.

His hardened face softened and a smile appeared.

Ji Hyun-bok took out his phone with a calm expression.

“I can’t help it. My life doesn’t belong to me.”

The fear of death that he couldn’t hide.

The tips of his fingers were trembling slightly.

Genius Grandson of the Cash King, Becoming a Chaebol