Chapter 178: Is Ms. Mi-jin Okay?

As soon as I returned to Korea, I headed straight to the hospital where my grandfather was.

“You’ve arrived?”

Chief Ha greeted me in front of the hospital room. He looked significantly more haggard than the last time I saw him.

“You look worn out, Chief Ha.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“Is my grandfather’s condition still the same?”

“…Yes.”

I walked down the hallway while chatting with Chief Ha. I could have gone straight into the room to check on my grandfather, but I wanted to talk to Chief Ha a bit longer.

“Why not hand over the hospital duties to someone else and take up the position of chairman at Taesan Financial? You need to take care of your health too, you know.”

“I’d like to keep serving the chairman for a while longer.”

I felt both grateful and heartbroken to hear him say that.

“I’ve heard there’s no sign of improvement in my grandfather’s condition, Chief Ha. Maybe it’s time to hand off the hospital and start focusing on other activities little by little.”

“But…”

Chief Ha hesitated, his words trailing off.

“It wouldn’t be good to leave the chairman’s seat at Taesan Financial empty for too long. Eva is trying her best to look after things, but even she has her limits.”

Seeing Chief Ha still wearing a troubled expression, I lightly patted his shoulder.

“Then let’s at least hold the inauguration ceremony and take our time with the actual work afterward.”

I had promised to appoint a domestic individual as chairman instead of a foreigner when Taesan Financial received its launch permission.

No matter how much Eva cared, there were limits to covering an empty position.

Taesan Financial was my weapon for aggressive expansion, starting from Korea and reaching out to the worldwide market.

“I’ll schedule the inauguration ceremony after the National Assembly elections, so be prepared.”

“…Understood.”

Although Chief Ha seemed to want to say more, he nodded quietly when I spoke firmly.

“I have very few people I can trust, Chief. Dealing with Cheon Su-man and Il-seong Group is already troublessome, and if Taesan Financial starts to shake, things will become even more complicated.”

Now that I had realized there was a larger organization out there than I expected, I had no time to relax.

I needed to eliminate all the enemies in Korea and swiftly identify their members.

“But even if I take over the role, please ensure I can stay by the chairman’s side. I can manage it even if it’s at night if time is tight.”

Before opening the hospital door, I quietly observed Chief Ha as he spoke in a firm voice.

He was a solid and earnest man. I smiled tenderly at Chief Ha, who was always present, safeguarding my grandfather.

They say having at least one person by your side in your final moments signifies a successful life.

I couldn’t help but think that my grandfather’s greatest success was making Chief Ha a part of his life.

“Yes, do that.”

Nodding lightly, I opened the hospital door.

Inside the room was my grandfather, lying with his mouth open, staring blankly at the ceiling.

I carefully closed the door and walked over to him. Even as I approached, his eyes remained unfocused and hazy.

Seeing my grandfather after so long, he seemed even smaller now.

After visiting my grandfather, I headed to the Myeong-dong office.

While I had managed most matters over the phone, there were still some things that needed to be handled in person.

Even though it was the election period when public opinion polls couldn’t be announced, all parties were still conducting surveys.

I checked the public opinion results that Manager Ma had brought over from each party.

I laid out the results from not only the Moderate Party but also the Progressive and Conservative Parties, examining them with my finger.

“It looks like we’ll be safe in securing the first party in the assembly.”

“Yes, Boss. The collected results suggest we will indeed secure the first party’s position without issue.”

While the results varied between parties, it seemed that the Moderate Party was poised to secure between 120 and 150 seats when including proportional representation.

Following that, the Progressive Party was projected to gain between 80 and 100 seats, with the Conservatives taking the remaining positions.

Although the Moderate Party was performing better than expected, the Progressive Party was also garnering surprisingly strong support despite the corruption scandals surrounding Kim Hak-gwon’s government.

I was worried that the Moderate Party’s voter sentiment wasn’t significantly different from that of the Progressive Party.

It seemed that the alliance between Kim Hak-gwon and Chairman Seo of Il-seong Group had some impact..

While we held the advantage, I couldn’t relax; election outcomes don’t always align with polls.

Public sentiment can change right up until the eve of the election.

“Keep an eye on the movements of Myeong-su and Yoon Chung-ho’s candidates in their constituencies.”

Above all, Myeong-su and Yoon Chang-ho’s victories were my priority.

If Myeong-su lost, his influence in the party would dwindle, and if Yoon Chang-ho fell short, I couldn’t guarantee a win in the presidential election.

I pushed the document with the poll results aside and leaned back against the sofa’s backrest.

Staring at the documents for too long made my eyes burn. I felt tired; perhaps it was because I started working before adjusting to the time difference.

As I suppressed a yawn, Manager Ma finally spoke up.

“Boss, it’s probably best if you go in and get some rest.”

“But I have dinner plans with Hyeon-seong. I’ll just rest my eyes a bit here; otherwise, I might not wake up once I go home.”

I heard the soft sound of Manager Ma closing the door as he left. That was the cue for me to drift off to sleep.

“Boss, it’s time to leave now.”

I opened my eyes at the sound of Manager Ma’s quiet call.

“…Has it really gotten that late already?”

“You seem quite tired.”

I checked the time while stretching. It didn’t feel like much time had passed, yet two hours had slipped away. Even in such a short time, I felt so refreshed that my throat felt dry and my voice cracked.

“Could I get some water, please, Manager?”

After drinking a glass of cool water, I felt my mind start to clear.

“Let’s go.”

When I arrived at the restaurant where I had a reservation, there was no sign of Hyeon-seong. I took off my coat and sat down to wait for him.

Not long after, the door opened, and Hyeon-seong walked in, not alone but accompanied by Kang Mi-jin.

“Hello, I’m Kang Mi-jin.”

I was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected guest, but I quickly stood up to greet her.

“I’m Kim Mu-hyeok. Nice to meet you, s. Kang.”

I’d only seen her once at the interview, so it felt slightly awkward since we hadn’t met in a more personal context.

Perhaps feeling the same way, Hyeon-seong cleared his throat.

“When did you arrive, Mu-hyeok?”

“Not long ago. About ten minutes?”

I answered, but I was more curious about why they had come together.

I subtly glanced over to Hyeon-seong, who instead of answering, took a seat with Kang Mi-jin. His natural gesture of pulling out a chair for her made me wonder if this was the same Hyeon-seong I knew.

“Just a moment.”

After placing an order for another meal for Manager Ma who was waiting outside, I took my seat.

“You could have at least said you were bringing someone with you.”

“Just happened to work out that way.”

At my light jab, Hyeon-seong and Kang Mi-jin exchanged glances.

Oh? Is there something going on between them? Before I could ask more, the bombshell was dropped.

“I wanted to make a proper introduction, so I came along.”

Hyeon-seong, after the silent exchange with Kang Mi-jin, casually addressed me first.

“I’m planning to marry Mi-jin.”

“…Introduce? Marriage?”

I blinked, dumbfounded by his unexpected announcement.

Seeing my shocked expression, Hyeon-seong chuckled before continuing.

“Yeah, I’m going to take her to meet my parents next week. I intended to introduce you both properly before things got too busy with the election, but it’s been hard to coordinate schedules. It’s been a while since I saw you and Myeong-su, too, because of the election.”

I never expected Hyeon-seong to get married before any of us. He had never shown interest in girls, so this was truly surprising.

Instead of pressing further with him, I shifted my gaze to Kang Mi-jin. She seemed a bit shy, her cheeks slightly flushed as she offered a bashful smile.

“Congratulations, Hyeon-seong. I can’t believe you’re the first one of us to get married. It’s a surprise, really. Congratulations to you too, Ms. Mi-jin.”

“Thank you. Mu-hyeok.”

While their marriage was indeed something to celebrate, I couldn’t help but worry about Hyeon-seong’s parents’ approval. Would they accept Kang Mi-jin?

It seemed Hyeon-seong sensed my thoughts, as he slowly blinked in response.

Then, even with Kang Mi-jin at his side, he unexpectedly broached the sensitive topic. His expression remained serious, but his voice was steady.

“Mi-jin’s father is her father, and Mi-jin is Mi-jin. They are two different people. Even if my parents oppose it, I won’t back down.”

Kang Mi-jin appeared unfazed, as if she anticipated her father’s possible disapproval, maintaining a neutral expression.

Only Kang Mi-jin herself truly knew how many prejudiced gazes she had faced throughout her life.

For someone like Kang Mi-jin, who had endured all that scrutiny, it’s possible that those opinions no longer hurt her.

“Is Ms. Mi-jin okay?”

“Yes, I plan to follow whatever Hyeon-seong decides. It’s only natural for our parents to oppose it.”

“Hmm…”

Speaking with such composure about her own situation, Kang Mi-jin then took Hyeon-seong’s hand. It was clear she truly trusted and cared for him.

It was a lovely sight. Wanting to shift the mood, I asked her a question.

“What on earth made you think of marrying this dense guy? If I were a girl, I think I’d lose my mind!”

“I’ve never felt frustrated at all. In fact, it was Hyeon-seong who took the initiative in approaching me, and he was the one who stopped me from running away from the company!”

Kang Mi-jin’s face lit up as she spoke about Hyeon-seong.

Is this the same Hyeon-seong I know?

I looked at him with disbelief, prompting him to shrug his shoulders.

What a slick act he was putting on.

“Really? I can hardly believe that, considering he’s so tight-lipped and doesn’t express his feelings—he must have been rather frustrating to deal with.”

“Not once has he been like that with me. He tells me I’m beautiful and that he loves me every day!”

“Oh…”

Hyeon-seong seemed embarrassed by Kang Mi-jin’s praise, turning his face away, leaving me at a loss for words.

Just then, the door opened, and the ordered food started to arrive.

“Let’s eat first. We can talk more while we eat.”

As we ate, I nearly dropped my utensils watching Hyeon-seong put fish fillets on Mi-jin’s rice.

They say love changes a person, but this was a side of Hyeon-seong I hadn’t seen before. I couldn’t even imagine what he was like when they were alone together.

Still, I didn’t want to ruin the mood, so I buried myself in my food.

“So you’re going to meet your father next week?”

“Yeah, I mentioned I’d bring the woman I want to marry.”

“What did he say?”

“I don’t think he cares. He doesn’t show any concern. My mom seems to approve, though.”

“He’s probably just not expressing himself but deep down, I bet your father is supportive too.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Was he speaking more than usual today?

Despite that, I found his state quite pleasing, and I couldn’t help but smile.

As we enjoyed our dessert of fruits and sujeonggwa, we resumed our conversation.

“When do you plan to have the wedding?”

“If my parents approve, I’m thinking of holding it sometime this year.”

“Really?”

Since it was already May, it seemed like a good idea to have the wedding this autumn if they got permission.

I felt all warm inside even without any approval yet.

“I’ll take charge of Hyeon-seong’s wedding. I’ll make sure it’s the best one ever!”

“That’s enough. It’s up to Chiara and Ma to handle all that.”

With a calm smile, Hyeon-seong subtly offered fruit to Kang Mi-jin.

This made me laugh, breaking the tension, and refreshing the conversation.

“What the heck? I was going to take care of the wedding for you and Myeong-su! So, you two should be preparing the wedding jewelry while I handle the rest. I can’t possibly cover everything!”

It wasn’t that Hyeon-seong lacked money.

As the companies he invested in registered on the KOSDAQ, H HS Venture’s capital had skyrocketed. Naturally, his wealth had increased along with his status as the largest shareholder.

Still, I wanted to contribute something.

“Ms. Mi-jin, that’s okay with you, right? I hope you don’t take offense. I feel like it’s not too much for me to do for this guy and me to help out.”

“Of course. I’ve heard many things about you, Mu-hyeok.”

“Really? What did he say about Myeong-su and me?”

I was curious about what this usually stoic and emotionally reserved Hyeon-seong had shared about us.

With a playful smile, Kang Mi-jin looked at Hyeon-seong before turning back to me.

“He said you were the person he cherishes the most next to his parents. The friend he wouldn’t hesitate to give everything to.”

Hearing that Hyeon-seong had said such a thing made me laugh.

“Really? I can’t picture that coming from Hyeon-seong.”

“Hahaha.”

Kang Mi-jin and I burst into laughter. It was so unlike the reserved Hyeon-seong I had always known.

Before I knew it, it was nearly time to leave. Although I felt a bit sad about the short encounter, I had so much to do.

“After meeting your parents, let’s all get together with Myeong-su. The election should be over by then.”

“Okay, got it.”

“See you later, Ms. Mi-jin.”

“Yes, Mu-hyeok.”

I made sure to see Hyeon-seong and Kang Mi-jin off together before getting into the car.

As I watched them walk away together for a long time, my feelings were a bit mixed.

A friend’s wedding, huh?

I suddenly became curious and turned to Manager Ma, who was sitting in the passenger seat.

“Manager, are you planning to get married?”

“…Are you asking about marriage?”

It seemed this question had caught Manager Ma off guard, as he took a moment to respond.

“Yes, marriage.”

“Boss, why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?”

“I just wondered out of the blue.”

“Not at this point in time, no.”

“I heard Hyeon-seong is getting married. I can’t help but feel envious.”

Manager Ma didn’t respond, but as I gazed out at the streetlights blurring by in a fiery streak, I spoke candidly.

“Someday, I hope to find a woman I want to marry too…”

The sound of my own voice felt miserable, and without realizing it, I let out a soft laugh.

Like in my past life, I didn’t want a loveless marriage. I wished to meet a woman I wouldn’t mind giving my all to.

It was a day that felt particularly lonely.

Time flew by, and soon it was election day. Fortunately, nothing happened that could flip the tides of the election.

I woke up early to cast my vote and decided to spend the day at my home in Pyeongchang-dong without scheduling any other activities.

I was exhausted from running around while preparing for the election.

“How’s it going, Myeong-su?”

— Well, I’ve done all I could. Honestly, I feel a bit relieved.

I could hear Myeong-su’s voice on the line after a long time.

“Aren’t you regretting anything?”

— Regret? Why would I?

“If you had run for proportional representation or in Busan, you would have definitely secured a win. You’re not upset with me, are you?”

I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt for steering him towards the tougher path instead of the easier one.

As if sensing my thoughts, Myeong-su answered rather nonchalantly.