The Genius Grandson Of The Cash King Becomes A Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 2

#002

The bell at Bosingak Pavilion rang out, heralding the new millennium, the year 2000.

The hopeful 21st century dawned, leaving the doomsayers’ predictions unfulfilled.

Y2K, which had fueled fears of planes crashing worldwide, electronic devices malfunctioning, and nuclear missiles automatically launching to destroy the Earth, did not come to pass.

‘What’s new is me.’

I returned to the first day of the 21st century, revisiting a past life I had once lived.

At first, Jeong-hoon thought it was a dream.

It would be strange to believe that returning to the past was reality.

He thought it was a dream he was having in a coma caused by the explosion.

It was the morning of the third day, after a day passed and then two more.

He opened his eyes in the still dark, early dawn and thought.

‘I have returned.’

In the end, he had no choice but to accept this unbelievable reality.

From that moment on, Yoon Jeong-hoon began to seriously recall his past memories.

And he meticulously wrote down things that would be helpful in the future.

Although his memory was naturally strong, it would fade over time.

He began to record everything that needed to be recorded without missing anything.

Major incidents, stock price fluctuations, financial crises, soaring housing prices, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and so on. He recorded everything from trivial matters to important events that shook the world, without missing a single one.

But the lottery, which he had never bought in his past life…

No matter how hard he tried to remember the numbers, they didn’t come to mind.

Even with his extraordinary memory, he couldn’t remember things he wasn’t interested in.

Finally, Jeong-hoon wrote down the most important number.

The account number and password for the Macau Pig Bank that Attorney Go Hyun-min had given him before the explosion.

[19611963198304261155 pw : 1984 ]

He thought there would be a considerable amount of money in it.

It was an account created when Yoon Jeong-hoon was born, so there must still be money in it.

Although he didn’t know how much.

Jeong-hoon began to wonder why he had to be murdered in an explosion.

He pieced together fragmented memories to complete the puzzle.

The boss’s last words and the organization Attorney Go Hyun-min had written down, ‘Cheonjihoe’ [likely a secret society or criminal organization].

As Attorney Go Hyun-min had warned, the guys who caused the explosion were definitely Cheonjihoe.

Those behind the explosion were targeting him.

Also, CEO Lee Hyung-joong, who was there, must be in a fairly important position in Cheonjihoe.

Are they still after me now?

When his thoughts reached this point, Jeong-hoon had to make a choice.

Would he live quietly like in his past life?

Or would he become Hyun Jeong-ok’s heir, who could have more money than the American super lottery?

There was no need to think deeply.

The answer is always determined in front of money.

Having a lot of money is the truth.

Jeong-hoon resolved to take his share of the winnings.

Fortunately, this time, he found out about winning first prize quickly.

Now all that’s left is to collect the prize money.

But collecting the prize money could be quite difficult.

Maybe very difficult…….

Yoon Jeong-hoon had a sharp mind and a strong body.

His memory was comparable to a photographic memory, though others didn’t know it.

Moreover, since he knew the future accurately, he could use it to his advantage.

It was worth challenging.

But he had nothing in his hands. The 10,000 won [approximately $8-9 USD] in his bank account was all he had.

So he had to be careful and not approach rashly.

He thought he should approach it carefully.

Cheonjihoe was an organization that casually blew up a law firm in Seocho-dong [a district in Seoul].

Just how powerful an organization could they be…….

They must have had the media, police, and prosecutors in their grasp.

What they were after was ultimately money, right?

His grandmother had passed away, and if he died too, their intention was to take the money that had nowhere to go.

He was seriously considering how to approach his grandmother, Hyun Jeong-ok, the Empress of Myeongdong [a famous shopping district in Seoul, implying she’s a powerful businesswoman].

“Jeong-hoon, did you sleep well?”

Eun-soo smiled at Jeong-hoon, uttering a cheesy comment in a greasy voice.

“Want a smoke?”

He took out a cigarette from inside his school uniform and waved it in front of Jeong-hoon’s eyes.

“Hey, I told you I quit, stop it. Hooo.”

Eun-soo had been persistently trying to get him to smoke for a month.

He had quit smoking three years before he died, so this was when he wanted to smoke the most.

That devilish guy tempted him sweetly several times a day.

Fortunately, he wasn’t showing any severe withdrawal symptoms.

The young body easily broke free from addiction.

“I’ll see how long it lasts, heh.”

His tone didn’t suit him…….

Eun-soo was the second best fighter after Jeong-hoon.

He wasn’t much to look at, but women often followed him.

His advantage was speed, but his disadvantage was weak power.

He himself was an all-around fighter with speed and power.

Eun-soo was a child born with a natural talent for sports.

In the end, he would use that power in the wrong direction.

He was originally a sensitive and tender friend, but how did he end up like that?

Jeong-hoon had been trying to influence Eun-soo lately.

“Eun-soo, we’re already in the second grade… We have to leave in two years… What are you going to do after graduation?”

“Well, there are many organizations that want me to join… Should I go that way?”

Jeong-hoon and Eun-soo had received many scout offers. Their fighting skills were rumored, and they were orphans without parents. They had the perfect conditions for *geumsujeo* [literally “gold spoon,” meaning someone born into wealth and privilege] in that world, perfect for using and throwing away.

“Hey, you have to get a decent job. If you go there, you’ll be expendable.”

He sincerely told Eun-soo about the *saengni* [the harsh realities] of that world, but he was not easily persuaded.

Orphanage students, who were more familiar with despair than hope, were used to choosing desperate situations.

“Just kidding.”

He watched the white smoke scattering meaninglessly.

Eun-soo’s bitter face as he exhaled cigarette smoke and the cigarette smoke disappearing into the distance.

Looking at it, he sincerely wanted to take a puff.

The pleasure of *huu* [the sound of exhaling]… hitting the brain.

Forget it, it’s easier to forget.

“Hey, aren’t you two getting ready for school, you two orphans?”

The director’s son, with his large build, was sneering, having appeared unnoticed.

‘A young punk is looking at his hyung [older brother or senior]… Ah, he’s one year older than me.’

Jeong-hoon still hadn’t fully adapted to being a high school student.

Director’s son, Kim Hyun-soo.

A self-important pig one year older than them.

Because of his background and large size, the children couldn’t say a word.

Jeong-hoon and Eun-soo avoided him because they didn’t want to cause trouble.

‘Yeah, that pig ruined the atmosphere.’

Jeong-hoon regretted having tolerated such insults and stood idly by in his past life.

That pig frequently crushed the children’s motivation and self-esteem with *paedeurip* [a derogatory term, often involving insults about someone’s parents] and swearing, calling them orphan punks and parents-abandoned punks.

He had endured it then because he didn’t want to cause trouble, but he couldn’t stand it a second time.

He was 18 years old, but his mind was 36.

He could never let the 19-year-old pig’s insults go.

‘And if I leave that pig alone, the orphanage children will be even more intimidated.’

Jeong-hoon was on the verge of going crazy because of this gloomy and listless atmosphere that he was experiencing for the second time.

He decided that he couldn’t leave alone the guy who was crushing them, who should be creating even non-existent hope and living hard.

Jeong-hoon glared at Kim Hyun-soo and opened his mouth.

“Hey, a crazy pig is talking.”

He provoked him for the first time.

“What? Is this guy crazy?”

Kim Hyun-soo was briefly taken aback by the first rebellion. But soon regaining his senses, he twitched his eyebrows and distorted his face.

Kim Hyun-soo was originally no match for Jeong-hoon.

However, he had not used his hands because of his powerful authority as the director’s son.

He nodded his head and stood in front of Jeong-hoon.

His height and build were definitely bigger than Jeong-hoon’s.

But fighting is not done with the body.

Fighting is about momentum, and especially high school fights are *mujogeon seonppang* [always about the first strike].

If you land a proper first hit, it’s over.

He was looking for an empty spot on the pig’s wide head, thinking of landing a proper *seonppang* [first strike].

“Thwack.”

Someone slapped the back of Jeong-hoon’s head with their palm. It burned.

“What the f….”

Before him was orphanage director Kim Hyun-chul.

A man who was neither good nor evil.

A person who only thoroughly took care of his own interests.

He didn’t touch them unless they caused harm.

In his previous life, he had come out like a dead mouse without harming him, so it had not been a bad relationship so far.

The director’s roar exploded.

“These guys aren’t even getting ready for school, what are you doing?”

His son was at fault, but only Jeong-hoon and Eun-soo were punished.

“Thwack.”

He slapped the back of Eun-soo’s head with the same intensity as before.

Eun-soo closed his eyes tightly. It was so strong that his eyeballs would have popped out if he hadn’t.

‘Damn it, he’s disgustingly protecting his son…’

It was not just once or twice, but every time, so Kim Hyun-soo was acting like a king in the orphanage.

Jeong-hoon decided.

‘Wait. I’ll make you kneel down and beg soon.’

Jeong-hoon thought.

‘I am Hyun Jeong-ok’s grandson and sole heir.’

***

The hills of Seongbuk-dong [an affluent neighborhood in Seoul], where only rich people live.

A strange neighborhood where land prices increase the further you go inside.

A place where privacy is the most important factor in determining land prices.

At the end of that neighborhood, there is a house that has been occupying a spot like a *teojutdaegam* [a long-standing, respected resident] for a long time.

Most of the land, slightly over 500 *pyeong* [approximately 1650 square meters or 0.4 acres], was a large garden.

Only two small and cozy red brick buildings were modestly located.

“Elder, it’s Man-ho.”

“Hmm…come in.”

Hyun Jeong-ok, who had been dozing off in the afternoon sun, came to her senses.

Was it because she was 60? She had been dozing off a lot lately.

She was feeling the passage of time on her skin.

Her physical strength was declining day by day.

But she had no intention of exercising hard.

A life without purpose or motivation, she was just hoping that each day would pass.

Kim Man-ho, her closest aide, had a stiff expression.

He couldn’t open his mouth easily.

“Hmm…”

“Why do you have that expression? Why wasn’t it him? Well, it could be. I’m fine. Don’t worry too much.”

Her only interest, finding her lost grandson.

A child who had disappeared without a trace, as if he had never existed.

It was the purpose she had to live.

“That’s…Elder…”

“You’re frustrating me, *i sarama* [this person, a term of address]. What’s wrong?”

Hyun Jeong-ok received the newspaper, and her white eyebrows twitched as she read the marked area for a long time.

“Is, is this student that child?”

“Yes. Elder.”

“He took his own life in despair over his academic performance? Is that the official result of the police investigation?”

He nodded.

Already the third one. Another child presumed to be her grandson had died.

The causes of death were all suicide due to family discord or despair over grades, or traffic accidents.

“How did they know? Are you sure the security was thorough?”

“Yes, Elder. I only gave instructions by phone, and even then, only by public phone. But even so…to interfere so easily.”

“Cheonjihoe…must be behind it, right?”

Kim Man-ho nodded at Hyun Jeong-ok’s sigh-like murmur.

“The power to tap public phones and easily conclude police investigations. There’s no one in this land with that kind of power other than Cheonjihoe. Unless we destroy Cheonjihoe…Hoo-hoo-hoo.”

Hyun Jeong-ok realized her vain delusion and gave a bitter smile.

It was possible 20 years ago.

She had the spirit and her son, who had been her strength.

But now, only useless money remained.

“I can’t even fathom their hidden power. Elder.”

“*Kkeuheum* [a Korean onomatopoeia for a short groan]….”

Hyun Jeong-ok’s short groan flowed out.

“Go to the child’s house and offer condolences. Put it in as condolence money….”

“Yes, I’ll put in 100 million won [approximately $80,000-$90,000 USD] anonymously, like last time.”

“The heart of losing a child…will money catch their eye?”

Hyun Jeong-ok, who had lost her own child and that child’s child, could fully fathom their sorrow.

“…And let’s stop now. I can’t sacrifice any more futile lives for my own good.”

Hyun Jeong-ok murmured in a weak voice.

The aura of the Empress who had dominated Myeongdong with charisma was nowhere to be seen.

“…Yes.”

Kim Man-ho also reluctantly agreed.

If they kept searching, even the Elder could be in danger.

“Okay, you’ve worked hard. Go out now.”

“Ah, and the Shinsegi Telecommunications acquisition war and the recent investment requests from rapidly growing venture companies that I mentioned….”

“Hooo, that’s enough. What am I going to do with more money at this age? I’m just going to rest comfortably and go. Don’t overdo it either, take it easy.”

“…Yes, Elder. Then I’ll be going.”

Kim Man-bae wiped away tears of pity and went outside.

Hyun Jeong-ok no longer shed tears.

‘I have to stop now. Too many children have been sacrificed. Our Jeong-hoon must have become a star too. Well, they wouldn’t have left any embers alive.’

With unfocused eyes, she was only looking at the warm afternoon sunlight, which was so different from her own.

***

“Da-hye, let’s go get dinner. How about *tteok-twisun-gim* [a popular street food combination of tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), fried foods, sundae (Korean sausage), and gimbap (seaweed rice rolls)] in front of us?”

Park Da-hye, whose pupils were shaking as if an earthquake had struck, soon regained her composure.

She bit her lip tightly and shook her head.

“No. I feel like I’ve become a pig lately….”

“Pfft, if you’re a pig, we’re bears. *Eheuheung* [a playful growling sound]….”

“No. I’ll skip dinner tonight.”

“Okay. You little bitch. But if you do that, you’ll end up eating ramen at home later and going to bed.”

She flared up for a moment at her friends’ teasing.

“Get lost, you guys.”

“Hehe. I’ll be back.”

Park Da-hye, who felt increasingly heavy, sent her friends away.

From today, she decided to eat very simply for dinner.

Studying only enough to be in the top 3 in the school.

She had been maintaining 2nd place, so now the important thing was her figure.

She had gained too much weight from just sitting and studying.

She was buying milk from the school store to replace dinner and was returning to the classroom.

A group of delinquent 2nd-year boys called her.

“Hey, Park Da-hye. Someone wants to see you….”

She turned her head at the voice behind her.

Kim Hyun-soo’s lackeys and the *iljin yangachi* [school bullies/delinquents] of this school.

Kim Hyun-soo, the same-year *iljin yangachi* [school bully/delinquent] who constantly harassed Park Da-hye.

One head taller and bigger than his peers.

The son of the Hope Orphanage director, he was lawless.

She had ignored him, who had been constantly showing interest in her.

But recently, he had been pushing even more openly.

‘Annoying bastard, ugh, if Dad finds out….’

If Dad found out, it would be over right away, but she didn’t know what Dad would do.

The reason why the Park Da-hye family was here was all because of Dad.

It had been three years since Dad was demoted for abuse of power.

Until now, the whole family had been living quietly, and now they were finally going back to Seoul.

She thought she should not cause trouble and endure a little longer.

Then she wouldn’t have to see that annoying pig anymore.

Thinking that if she got through today without any problems, she followed him.

She walked along the side of the darkening school main building and headed to the gymnasium.

The door to the storage room next to the gymnasium’s main entrance was open.

Several children were gathered in a space filled with acrid cigarette smoke.

At the center, the king of the children, Kim Hyun-soo, was sitting on the sofa with his legs wide open.

“Yo. Hello, Park Da-hye.”

A filthy voice reached Park Da-hye’s ears.

“Our goddess Park Da-hye. You have to greet *oppa* [older brother, used by females].”

“What *oppa*, shut up with the bullshit.”

She ignored the bully group’s taunts.

A space filled with disgusting cigarette smell.

Kim Hyun-soo smiled creepily at Park Da-hye.

‘Hoo, as expected, she’s perfect as my girlfriend.’

Park Da-hye felt like she was going to throw up at Kim Hyun-soo’s dirty smile, but she endured it.

This guy was sticking closer to her than usual today.

“Da-hye, *oppa* will treat you well. Huh? How about we start dating from today?”

Today, this guy was sticking his body closer than usual.

“What *oppa*, hey Kim Hyun-soo, stop it. How many times do I have to tell you that I hate you. I’m transferring schools now.”

The dirty pig smell was clouding Park Da-hye’s mind.

“And I’m saying this now, but if your Dad finds out….”

“If your Dad finds out… How about we greet him this time and officially date?”

A blood vessel began to pop out on Park Da-hye’s forehead.

The steam of anger filling her head blurred her eyes.

She was trembling like a pressure cooker about to explode.

The foolish *jeo palgye* [pig, referring to a character from Journey to the West] did not notice at all and put his hand on her shoulder, subtly touching her chest with his fingertips.

In the end, his short fingertips fueled her explosion.

‘I can go to Seoul if I endure a little longer now… Damn it. I can’t anymore….’

Unimaginable curses poured out of her small face, which was full of anger and red.

“You *ssibal* [a very strong curse word], you pig bastard, I was enduring to live quietly.

You son of a bitch, today… If my Dad finds out, he’ll cut the pig’s throat.

You’re dead today. *Jeo palgye* [pig], my Dad….”

Park Da-hye couldn’t say anymore.

A strong shock was felt on one side of her small face.

A man’s hand striking Park Da-hye’s cheek.

And then, he strongly hit her abdomen.

“What? *Jeo palgye* [pig]? Pig bastard? Is this bitch crazy?”

Park Da-hye lost consciousness and collapsed.

Kim Hyun-soo, who was creepily looking at her white thighs that were clearly revealed as she fell, looked around.

The group was all swallowing saliva while looking at Park Da-hye.

“You… These guys are drooling over *hyungsu-nim* [older brother’s wife, a term of respect]. Lower your eyes, you bastards.”

The group was giving bitter smiles.

Kim Hyun-soo gave them a short command.

“Hey, everyone get out.”

Everyone went outside.

The last guy closed the door tightly as he left.

He opened the door again and checked outside.

His friends were heading to the classroom. Now, no one would come here.

His time alone with Park Da-hye had begun.

He quickly entered the storage room and locked the door.

Confirming that there was no one in the darkening early evening, he bent down.

His tense hands reached out like a demon towards her limp body.

“Aaaaaah!”

A sharp scream filled the narrow storage room.