Chapter93: < What Happened in Busan (2) >
It was just as he’d expected.
It wasn't long after she began scanning the hospital rooms that she stopped right in front of the Chairman's.
When the Hyunjin Heavy Industries security guard blocked her, Chief Hong approached.
“It will only take a moment. I just want to talk to him.”
“You can't.”
“I'm not an outsider. I have a relationship with Senior Managing Director Kim Tae-min.”
“Then please come with the Senior Managing Director. You can't go in alone.”
As they argued, Chief Hong approached and spoke.
“What's going on?”
“This young lady is insisting she wants to speak with the Chairman.”
At the security guard's words, Chief Hong tried to placate her.
“The Chairman cannot see anyone right now, so please leave.”
“Is the Chairman very ill right now? Is he unable to speak or recognize people?”
Who was this woman that he would tell her about Chairman Im Chang-ho’s condition?
Chief Hong spoke firmly.
“That’s none of your business, so please leave. If you have a relationship with the Senior Managing Director, then come with him. If you keep this up, we’ll have no choice but to call the police.”
Yeonghun watched her from behind with an interested expression.
And he wondered what expressions the mother and son would have on their faces when they eventually appeared and saw this scene.
*
At that moment, President Im Ji-eun was speaking with her son in a quiet place where people didn't come and go.
“You, what on earth was Yeon-hee talking about earlier? Did you get someone pregnant?”
“No, that's ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous? Then why did Yeon-hee say it with such conviction? Tell me straight. What's the situation? I need to know so I can pay her off to get an abortion!”
Senior Managing Director Kim Tae-min turned his head with an annoyed expression before reluctantly confessing.
“She’s a woman I saw for a little while. She’s not a bar girl.”
“Didn't she say she was from a high-end hostess bar?”
“That’s not it... She’s just a woman I met. At a club.”
“Is she pregnant?”
Tae-min couldn't answer, just mumbled.
Seeing her son's behavior, President Im sensed the situation and pressed him further.
“She is pregnant, isn't she? No. Did she already have it? Did she already have the baby?”
“I don't know if it's my kid. It's probably not. That's impossible.”
“You crazy...”
President Im trembled, her anger rising to the top of her head.
Not just pregnant, but she’d actually given birth...
“It’s probably not my kid. That’s why I told her to get a test. She’s talking nonsense.”
“When do the test results come out?”
“They should be out soon. I had Chief Yun handle it, so he’ll take care of it.”
Hearing that a paternity test had been initiated, President Im Ji-eun suppressed her anger.
“Really? You’re sure it’s not your kid?”
“I told you it’s not. Don't you trust me?”
President Im Ji-eun bit her lip and warned him with a venomous expression.
“You, be careful. If you get tied down by some woman and a kid, you'll lose this golden opportunity. I was just on the phone with that woman from GK Group yesterday. You can't afford to lose that girl. You know that, right?”
“I know, I know~”
Tae-min’s expression was that of a son annoyed by his mother's nagging.
“Clean up your act with the women around you. I heard that girl, Ju-yeon or whatever her name is, is no pushover.”
“I get it. By the way, are you absolutely sure about the contents of Grandpa’s will?”
President Im shrugged.
“If what I saw back then was correct, then yes. I have the lawyer wrapped around my finger, so if it had been changed, there’s no way I wouldn’t know. All the shares Grandpa holds are yours, so you don't need to worry.”
“Hoo...”
As Tae-min let out a long, frustrated sigh, President Im stroked his shoulder and said, “Your grandfather has lived a long life. He’s enjoyed everything he could, and he ran around with all sorts of women, causing our mother to die before her time. If he passes away now, it would be a peaceful death. So don't worry about it too much.”
“Okay.”
“Let’s go.”
As President Im Ji-eun turned to leave, Tae-min followed, only to see a commotion unfolding nearby.
“I told you I’m here to see the Chairman. I’ll just greet him and leave. Why won’t you let me in?”
A young, beautiful woman was arguing with Chief Hong Seung-dae of Hyunjin Corporation.
And behind them, the sight of Manager Choi Yeong-hun watching silently entered Tae-min’s eyes. In that moment, he felt his knees go weak.
“I’m telling you to just leave. Who do you think you are to demand a private meeting with the Chairman?”
When Chief Hong Seung-dae finally lost his patience, Tae-min hurried over.
“What do you think you’re doing here? Let’s go.”
Startled, Tae-min grabbed her wrist and led her away.
President Im Ji-eun also scrambled after Tae-min, and Chief Hong could only stare at the scene with a dumbfounded expression.
Just then, perhaps because of the noise, Yeon-hee’s voice came from the hospital room.
“What was that? Who was that woman?”
“She seems to be an acquaintance of Senior Managing Director Kim Tae-min.”
As if she understood from Yeonghun’s answer, Yeon-hee’s eyes sparkled.
“Do you think she’s the kind of woman I was talking about earlier? I didn't get a good look.”
“Let’s talk about that later.”
Yeonghun didn't want to bring it up in a place with so many people around.
“Right. We’re meeting the hospital director in an hour, so let’s go for now. All this stress is making me hungry. I need to get something to eat.”
As President Song Eun-chae walked out with a tired expression, everyone stopped talking and followed her.
When they entered the sashimi restaurant Chief Hong had hastily arranged, there wasn't a single customer inside.
It didn't seem like they had rented out the place; it just happened to be empty.
“This place is a bit plain, isn't it?”
Yeon-hee’s question implied that the restaurant looked a little shabby.
Chief Hong smiled warmly and said, “The fish here is excellent. It’s a place the Chairman often visits. The former president also made sure to have a rock bream here whenever he came to Busan.”
“Oh... is that so?”
“The sashimi is good, and the side dishes are quite decent.”
President Song gave Chief Hong a warm smile before turning her gaze to Yeonghun.
“What was the situation back there?”
“She seems to be Senior Managing Director Kim Tae-min's hidden mistress. It looks like she rushed here after hearing the Chairman collapsed. I believe there's likely an illegitimate child.”
“And not just pregnant?”
“I can't be sure. But she didn't seem like a thoughtless woman.”
President Song understood what Yeonghun meant.
“My brother-in-law is in for a headache. Tae-min always did like to play around. Manager Choi, you must find this all pathetic, right?”
“Well, a little...”
“You’ll see a lot of this while you’re here. When you look at chaebols, there are some aspects that are surprisingly different from what you see in dramas or movies, but when it comes to their nightlife, the reality is often worse. That’s why very few of them live with any real affection as married couples. U-Myeong Group asked to set Yeon-hee up with their son, but I didn't force the issue for that very reason.”
This was the first time Yeonghun was hearing this, and he glanced at Yeon-hee for a moment.
She gave a little smile and turned her head away.
“I’ve seen it so many times that Tae-min’s behavior doesn't even seem that special. To be honest, my father-in-law was the same... Anyway, most of the people here have always been like that, so maybe I’ve just gotten too used to it.”
Yeonghun thought he knew why President Song Eun-chae had trailed off.
She was probably implying that Yeon-hee’s own father had been no different.
“I see.”
“I trust that our Manager Choi won't be like that.”
The person most surprised by that comment was Chief Hong Seung-dae.
He had his suspicions, but to hear her openly acknowledge Manager Choi like this made it clear that Choi Yeong-hun was the next in line to lead Hyunjin Corporation.
If the man who had displayed such mysterious connections and abilities were to become President Song Eun-chae's son-in-law...
Chief Hong felt a shiver run down his spine.
For some time now, he had been thinking that listening to Manager Min Hong-gi and siding with Manager Choi was one of the few good decisions he had made in his life.
If he hadn't listened to Manager Min Hong-gi back then and had instead followed former Executive Director Yang Cheol-gi's line, wouldn't he be in a similar situation to Yang Cheol-gi, who was now in and out of the prosecutor's office?
But if what he heard here today was what he thought it was, then the lifeline he had grabbed was indeed a golden rope.
“That will never happen.”
“I know. More importantly, what should we do now? Even if my father-in-law wrote a will in advance, he probably didn't leave much to us. Honestly, I don't even want more. I just wish we could have a clean separation, just as I’ve always thought...”
“I think that will be difficult.”
“You think so?”
“They are not the type of people to easily give up what has come into their hands. Moreover, having already lost what they once had, they will be determined to get it back. Once the Chairman passes away and they seize full control of the group, it’s clear that things will continue to be exhausting... From their perspective, an unwelcome guest has appeared, so I'm curious to see how they'll react.”
“You’re talking about Tae-min’s child, right?”
“Yes. It would be simple if they officially acknowledge the child, but will they really do that?”
“No, they absolutely can't. They’re trying to connect Tae-min with the GK Group’s granddaughter right now. This was something my father-in-law was personally handling. He coveted the duty-free shops and distribution network that GK Group possesses. To be more precise, he coveted GK Group's ability to mobilize cash. They're so rich in cash that they didn't even flinch during the IMF crisis.”
GK Duty Free was a major duty-free brand, one of the top three in the country, a fact even Yeonghun knew.
“Don't they have a son?”
“They do. But there were widespread rumors that he would give at least the duty-free business to his brilliant granddaughter. And she is brilliant.”
“Ah...”
“After experiencing one recession, my father-in-law felt he desperately needed a partner who could help him when a crisis hit. That conviction grew stronger after receiving a lot of help from my brother-in-law who runs a private equity fund. My own family couldn't be of any help.”
“So he’s trying to form a marriage alliance with a cash-rich family.”
“Exactly. But now Tae-min’s child has suddenly appeared. I don't know how they'll handle it, but even if it gives them a bit of a headache, it won't be easy to beat my sister-in-law.”
“I see.”
Yeonghun nodded, but he didn't fully agree with President Song's words.
Because when he'd seen her features, however briefly, she hadn't seemed like an easy woman.
Yeon-hee looked like she was dying of curiosity, but given the situation, she couldn't bring herself to ask.
She would surely bombard him with questions about the woman when they were alone.
After finishing their meal, the group returned to the hospital and had a private meeting with the hospital director.
With a full head of white hair, he greeted President Song Eun-chae and her party with a benevolent face.
“Welcome. I am Hospital Director No Seok-chun.”
The moment Yeonghun saw his face, he felt a strong sense of familiarity.
While he was trying to figure out where he'd seen the man before, the director greeted President Song Eun-chae and gestured for the others to sit.
“How is my father’s condition?”
He shook his head, his expression grim.
“I’m sorry, but he may not wake up. Our medical team will do their best, but…”
“I see.”
President Song Eun-chae had expected as much, so she wasn't overly discouraged.
Her visit to the hospital director today wasn't to beg him to save her father, but simply to ask that he be well cared for.
If she had her way, she would have transferred him to a larger hospital in Seoul, but she knew President Im Ji-eun's side would object, so she didn't even bring it up.
They would surely make a big deal out of just having moved him here from Geoje Baek Hospital, which was only slightly better.
After the formal conversation ended and President Song's party was leaving, Yeonghun spoke to her.
“May I have a moment to speak with the hospital director?”
“Hm? Why?”
“It’s nothing major. I just realized he’s someone I have a connection with from the past. I have something personal to discuss.”
He remembered.
He had only seen him twice, more than ten years ago, but it was definitely him.
“Oh, alright.”
Leaving Yeon-hee's curiosity-filled gaze behind him, Yeonghun re-entered the director's office. No Seok-chun looked at him, his eyes asking why he had returned.
“Hello. By any chance, are you the one who used to come to Yunjusa Temple to offer prayers…”
Before he could finish, No Seok-chun slapped his knee and exclaimed.
“That’s it! I knew I’d seen you somewhere. You’re that child monk from back then, aren’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right. I see you were a doctor.”
“Haha… Please, have a seat.”
Director No offered Yeonghun a seat and continued.
“My wife still regularly gives alms to the temple. We were so grateful to you back then.”
“Not at all. What did I really do? Is your daughter doing well?”
“We sent her to study abroad as you advised, and she’s now a successful cellist. But what are you doing here? To think that gifted child monk is now working at a company.”
“I keep telling you I’m not a child monk, but you insist on calling me one. Is there any monk who doesn't shave his head?”
“If you're at a temple wearing Monk's Robes, aren't you a monk? Well, let's put that aside. Have you become a company man now?”
“Yes. I've now come out into the Secular World and become a respectable company employee.”
“You seem like a completely different person. It’s good to see.”
Director No Seok-chun smiled brightly, asking how the Secular World was and if company life was manageable, before cautiously speaking again.
“By the way, do you still…”
“Yes?”
“Do you still read the four pillars of destiny?”
“I’m sorry. I no longer read them.”
“Haha… I see…”
“Is something troubling you? I can't read your four pillars, but if there's anything I can help you with in my capacity as a company employee…”
Yeonghun already knew the man was in a difficult situation.
He had known from the moment he first read his four pillars.
< What Happened in Busan (2) > End
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