The Genius Grandson Of The Cash King Becomes A Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 14

#014

During break time, Jeong-hoon was engrossed in memorizing English vocabulary.

He felt confident enough that he wouldn’t make a single mistake on any English passage.

So, he had started memorizing advanced business vocabulary.

It was far beyond the level expected of a second-year high school student, but Jeong-hoon felt he had to prepare for the future.

“Jeong-hoon, someone’s looking for you.”

“Huh?”

Jeong-hoon, startled from his concentration, looked up.

“It was announced over the loudspeaker. They want you to go to the principal’s office.”

“The principal’s office? Not the faculty office?”

Jeong-hoon asked, surprised.

“No, it was definitely the principal’s office.”

Just then, the second-year head teacher walked in through the door. He scanned the room, searching for someone.

“Hey, Yoon Jeong-hoon, the principal wants to see you.”

“Yes?”

Jeong-hoon replied, puzzled.

“Hey, it’s good news, so hurry up and get over there.” The teacher wore a pleased smile.

“Yes.”

“But why have you changed so much? It’s almost strange,” the head teacher said as they walked down the hallway.

“Yes? Have I changed a lot?”

“Of course, haven’t you noticed? Think about this time last year. You were always slumped over on your desk during class, never talking to your friends… And if someone pointed something out, you’d bristle up like a hedgehog…”

Jeong-hoon glanced at the second-year head teacher, thinking, ‘He’s been watching me pretty closely.’

“Ah, well…”

‘If I get to live my life once, I don’t have to live like that. And I am the grandson of the Cash King of Korea, so I have a lot to prepare for,’ he couldn’t exactly say. He’d probably get a smack on the back of the head for joking around.

“I wanted to become someone who fits in better with others. And… there’s something I have to do.”

“Who is it that changed you so much overnight? That person is lucky.”

“That’s…”

Jeong-hoon hesitated. Would they believe him if he said it was Madam Hyeon Jeong-ok?

Jeong-hoon was doing his best every moment to become a grandson worthy of his grandmother and to take revenge with her.

“I know, I know. Even though I haven’t had much romance myself, I can tell, you rascal. Hehehe.”

‘Romance? What romance?’ The teacher had completely misunderstood. And that person’s face clearly showed that they had never been in a relationship…

Well, high school students are at an age where they are very interested in the opposite sex and sex.

Jeong-hoon also found the camping trips [referring to his morning routine of going to the mountain] he went on every morning awkward but nice.

But Jeong-hoon, whose body was a high school student but whose mind had lived for almost 40 years, couldn’t bring himself to see his classmates that way.

The female students he knew at school felt somehow alien to him. They just looked like cute nieces.

Of course, there were exceptions…

But now was not the time to be distracted by such things. There were many other things to worry about.

“Then what is it that you must do?”

“That’s… surviving. Surviving and protecting what’s precious.”

“What?”

The head teacher stopped in his tracks, flustered. He turned his head and stared at Jeong-hoon.

“Jeong-hoon, did you perhaps… go crazy from studying too much? Hahaha.”

Jeong-hoon was serious, but it was a fact that no one would believe.

‘Well, I guess it’s the first time they’ve heard of studying to survive.’

“Who’s targeting you that you’re saying that? Hehe. Anyway, these days, tsk tsk.”

Jeong-hoon said what the teacher wanted to hear.

“Ahem, it’s just that it’s fun because I’m working hard. And it’s not bad to be praised.”

“Right. It’s good to live diligently and be recognized.”

“Yes.”

As they talked, they arrived at the principal’s office.

“Relax, it’s good news, so don’t worry too much… Congratulations. Keep up the good work, fighting!” [Fighting is a Korean expression of encouragement, like ‘You can do it!’]

“Yes, thank you.”

After sending Jeong-hoon into the principal’s office, the head teacher took out the phone hanging on his waist. He looked around and slowly started writing a text message.

[I have confirmed what you were curious about. It’s because of a girl he likes. And it seems he has some paranoia due to academic stress. Other than that, there’s nothing else. I will report again.]

He pressed the button to send the text message and headed to the faculty office.

‘Studying to survive…’

The head teacher shook his head, chewing over Jeong-hoon’s words. He was just dumbfounded by the teenagers’ absurd delusions.

But thinking about Jeong-hoon’s situation once again, he quietly muttered to himself.

“Well, maybe that’s true.”

He entered the faculty office with a chilling smile.

***

“Come on in.”

The principal greeted Jeong-hoon with a kind smile.

Jeong-hoon opened the door and entered the principal’s office. Tense, Jeong-hoon bowed deeply and then raised his head.

The chairman was sitting in the seat of honor on the sofa.

On the left was the principal, and on the right, two people he had never seen before were sitting side by side. One of them was holding a large camera.

“Ah, Jeong-hoon. Come and sit here.” The principal gestured for Jeong-hoon to sit next to him.

“This friend is Yoon Jeong-hoon, a second-year student at our school. He’s the star of the show today.”

“Hello.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Lee Pan-soo, the head of the social affairs department at Joongboo Daily.”

The middle-aged man held out his hand. Jeong-hoon shook his hand in an awkward posture.

The chairman, who had been leaning back on the sofa, moved his body and picked up a coffee cup. He took a leisurely sip, put the cup down, and looked at Jeong-hoon.

The principal, who had been watching the chairman’s expression, opened his mouth.

“The reason we called you here today is none other than a scholarship.”

At the word scholarship, Jeong-hoon raised his head and looked at the chairman.

The chairman opened his mouth heavily.

“First of all, I apologize for my son making a promise to you on his own.”

“Ah, it’s okay.”

The chairman paused and continued. “And after discussing it with several teachers, I decided to give you a scholarship because your personality has improved a lot and your circumstances are difficult.”

“Yes?”

Jeong-hoon’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected it at all since yesterday.

But a scholarship…

“Thank you, Chairman.”

“Ah, the scholarship is something I’m personally sponsoring. It’s not related to the school. If you work hard, it will continue until you graduate. It’s better than a school scholarship.”

“Yes. Thank you. Perhaps…”

“Ah, the condition is admission to Seoul National University [SNU, the most prestigious university in South Korea]. That’s all. It won’t be difficult, will it?”

Jeong-hoon deliberately made a stiff expression. He was confident that he could get into Seoul National University as he was now.

Maybe not the law school, but other departments might be possible?

But he had to be humble in this kind of situation. And is Seoul National University a place where you can get in just by studying hard?

He had to give off the impression that it wouldn’t be easy.

“Well, Seoul National University isn’t easy… What happens if I fail?”

“Hahaha, what can we do? We’ll just lose money. Don’t worry about that and do your best for the sake of the school and my honor.”

The chairman wore an expression that it was nothing.

“As expected, the chairman’s generosity is amazing. I heard that he wasn’t even a student with consistent grades. For the chairman to personally provide such great support…”

The Joongboo Daily reporter across from him praised the chairman.

Jeong-hoon began to suspect the chairman’s words more and more. He wondered why he was trying to give it with his own money when he could just give it with the school’s money.

“Generosity is nothing, it’s praise. Talent recognizes talent.”

“I will definitely write this story in the article.”

“Hehe, please do. Please write a great story. Help me get nominated for the next general election.”

“Of course.”

Only then were all the questions answered. All of this was a media play for the chairman’s entry into politics.

Well, it wasn’t bad for Jeong-hoon. He needed money anyway. He had to check the money.

“Then, Chairman, is it 500,000 won [approximately $400 USD] per month as you promised?”

The chairman’s eyebrows twitched. The social affairs reporter wore a surprised expression.

“Oh, Chairman, I thought it was 250,000 won, but 500,000 won, you’re really amazing.”

The chairman quickly relaxed his stiff face.

“Hahaha, I was trying to hide this… but I got caught.”

“I will definitely write down the amount.”

The camera reporter, who had been listening to their story boredly, stood up.

“Okay, let’s take some pictures.”

The photographer asked for various poses. The chairman wore a smiling face to the point where his facial muscles cramped.

The last shot was a two-shot of Jeong-hoon and the chairman at the entrance of the main building.

“Okay, we’re taking the picture. One, two, three.”

The last shot ended with the sound of the shutter clicking.

The photographer bowed to the chairman. The head of the social affairs department also came to the chairman’s side and greeted him.

“Then I’ll be on my way. Don’t worry too much about the scholarship article.”

“Worry? Please take care of it.”

The chairman took out a white paper envelope from his pocket. Then, without hesitation, he shoved it into the head’s pocket.

“Why are you giving me this again?”

“Hehe, you should have a meal on the way. If I didn’t have a prior engagement today…”

“Chairman, you must be busy, thank you for your concern.”

“Then I’ll be going.”

They exchanged bitter smiles and parted ways.

The chairman, who had been watching the two people walking away, looked at Jeong-hoon. The chairman, who had been smiling kindly, now had a stiff face.

“You have a good talent.”

“Yes?”

“You got 250,000 won in an instant.”

“The promise was 500,000 won.”

“That’s the promise I made with my son, and well, it doesn’t matter whether it’s 250,000 or 500,000 won. It’s enough if the article comes out well.”

“I will work hard as much as I receive.”

The chairman heard those words and smiled at Jeong-hoon.

“I don’t care whether you work hard or spend that money on entertainment. Thanks to you, I made my son a cripple. Even a cripple is still my son, it hurts my heart.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Well. Dong-soo won’t be coming to school anymore. If you kicked my son out of school, you should be sorry.”

The chairman’s expression gradually distorted.

“It’s strange how people are. That son of mine caused so many accidents that I only thought about how to kick him out… Thanks to you, I kicked him out, but I feel empty without him, so I don’t like you very much.”

“You got caught in the trap you made yourself. I just avoided it.”

“Yes, I did. If I were a saint, I would understand you. But I’m a person, a person. So be careful from now on. I’ll destroy you with even the smallest thing.”

The chairman looked at Jeong-hoon with blazing eyes. Jeong-hoon didn’t back down either.

“Try it. I guess you’re like the chairman, treating orphans with nothing as you please.”

“What did you say, you bastard?”

“Ah, don’t worry, Chairman. I’ll go to Seoul National University, even the law school.”

Jeong-hoon and the chairman’s sharp gazes crossed tensely in the air.

The chairman, whose blood vessels were popping out on his face, raised his hand high. Jeong-hoon also glared at the chairman without backing down.

“Puhaha, you have spirit. Be careful, you have to be careful.”

The chairman slowly turned his body and entered the building.

‘Hmph, the old man is big. I was scared.’

Jeong-hoon’s eyes sparkled again as he watched the chairman leading his huge body inside.

‘Don’t let your guard down either, Chairman. I’ll come back as Hyeon Jeong-ok’s grandson and chew you up bit by bit.’

Jeong-hoon thought it was admirable of himself for not being pushed back by the chairman’s momentum and entered the classroom.

***

The next day, an article about the chairman’s scholarship award was published on the social affairs page of Joongboo Daily.

The article was mostly about the chairman of Joongboo High School, Choi Jae-won’s good deeds. He worked hard for the development of Joongboo City as a businessman. He ran the school to foster talent, and so on.

It was full of praise to the point where it was embarrassing to read.

Class President Kang Do-hyun, who was reading the newspaper, was dumbfounded.

That thug made a fortune by luck with apartment sales and is in that position…

Fostering talent…

There are already several pieces of intelligence that he embezzled money while running the school and laundered money through the school. An investigation will begin soon.

Kang, whose expression hardened as he looked at the chairman’s picture, thought, ‘Yoon Jeong-hoon?’

Looking at the article again in detail, the student receiving the scholarship was Yoon Jeong-hoon.

Kang Do-hyun, who threw the newspaper on the desk, leaned back in his chair. He closed his eyes and turned the chair around.

After thinking for a moment, he sent a text message.

[Yoon Jeong-hoon’s picture is in Joongboo Daily. It’s a picture of him receiving a scholarship from Choi Jae-won, the chairman of Joongboo High School. It’s not important, but I’m letting you know. I will report again.]

He pressed the send button.

It wasn’t important information, he just wanted to show that he was doing his best in surveillance.

A moment later, the phone rang. It was Prosecutor Park Hyeon-cheol.

Kang Do-hyun’s lips stretched into a smile. Thinking about the prosecutor’s praise, he brought the phone to his ear.

“Yes, Prosecutor.”

“You, you son of a bitch, what are you doing?”

A thunderous shout echoed through the receiver.

Cash King’s Genius Grandson, Becoming a Tycoon.