Chapter 487: I Am the Owner After All

Several days passed since my return to Korea.

Due to the extended China schedule I spent my time at Pyeongchang-dong handling the backlog of work.

Manager Ma knocked and entered with coffee in hand.

I looked up from reviewing documents. Finally a break.

I smiled as I stretched.

“Ah finally I can take a breather. Strange how coming home made me even busier.”

After a quick stretch I asked Manager Ma.

“Since you brought the coffee yourself Manager Ma I assume you have something to report?”

Usually the housekeeper brought my coffee but today Manager Ma delivered it himself.

This meant he had something urgent to discuss.

“Yes Boss. Seo Jae-hoon has requested a meeting.”

I raised an eyebrow while lifting my coffee cup.

“Seo Jae-hoon made the request? Who informed us?”

“The director of Il-sung Hospital contacted us directly.”

“At least he has loyalty. Didn’t most switch sides to Seo Hee-kyung?”

“Yes most of the executives switched to Director Seo Hee-kyung’s side. They seem to have concluded Seo Jae-hoon won’t be leaving prison.”

That’s right. I nodded while sipping my coffee.

“I wonder why Seo Jae-hoon wants to meet me. Seems it wasn’t suicide but an attempted murder.”

“We’re still investigating but the assigned guard’s movements are suspicious.”

If Manager Ma says something’s suspicious it must be quite serious.

I set down my cup and looked at Manager Ma.

“Why? Did something specific come up?”

“We can’t be certain yet we’ll need to look into it more. However we discovered he recently bought a foreign car paying the full amount in cash.”

“Prison guards taking bribes isn’t anything new. Aren’t we paying him monthly too?”

Since he was Seo Jae-hoon’s dedicated guard we paid him monthly management fees.

But Manager Ma seemed to be getting at something else.

“No Boss. He isn’t taking money from anyone else besides us. The amount we give wouldn’t be enough for a full cash payment on a foreign car.”

I rested my chin on my hand lost in thought for a moment.

Did the guard try to kill Seo Jae-hoon or inflict comparable suffering?

Either way we needed to investigate the guard further.

“Find out who bribed the guard. The money we give isn’t small so whoever paid him must have offered quite a sum to make him act behind our backs.”

Valtiche? Or Seo Hee-kyung? Or someone else entirely?

I was curious who was involved regardless.

“I’ll meet Seo Jae-hoon tomorrow let’s hear what nonsense he has to say. Is he still hospitalized at Il-sung Hospital?”

“Yes the prosecutors accepted the hospital director’s opinion that psychiatric counseling and rest would be beneficial. Prosecutor Jeong Tae-hoon informed us it was a decision from higher up that couldn’t be helped.”

It was an understandable measure. If Seo Jae-hoon committed suicide or died in custody it would be troublesome for the prosecution.

Disappointing but nothing can be done. I clicked my tongue and nodded.

“Alright prepare for the visit.”

“I’ll arrange the schedule.”

Manager Ma bowed and left. Alone again I returned to steadily working through the mountain of documents.

* * *

The Ministry of Public Security headquarters in Dongcheng District Beijing China.

In the deepest interrogation room there was just one desk and two chairs.

Wang Jianlin sat nervously biting his thumbnail in one of the only two chairs.

Suddenly arrested by public security officers who took his phone and everything else he could hardly believe his current situation.

When foreign media ran special coverage on allegations about Wanda Group and himself he tried his best to stop it.

But News Corporation gave no response whatsoever.

After mobilizing all his connections to threaten and persuade News Corporation finally took down all articles.

He thought that was the end of it.

“What’s going on. Why isn’t Bo Xilai answering…”

Wang Jianlin immediately contacted Bo Xilai when public security raided the headquarters.

But there was no answer.

He contacted Xi Jinping and other Princelings members but not a single one responded.

That’s how Wang Jianlin was arrested and brought to the public security headquarters interrogation room.

Shortly after.

The door opened and Zhou Yongkang entered.

“Minister Zhou Yongkang.”

Wang Jianlin jumped to his feet.

“No need to get up Wang Jianlin. Stay seated.”

The Minister of Public Security coming to the interrogation room personally.

Though Zhou Yongkang’s tone was polite Wang Jianlin sensed something was very wrong.

Zhou Yongkang tossed a stack of papers on the table.

Then he pulled out a chair and sat across from Wang Jianlin.

“Wang Jianlin do you know why you were brought in?”

“Minister surely not because of those foreign media articles? Didn’t you see the news outlets took down all articles? They’re all lies I can explain everything.”

“Explain? What explanation? Don’t tell me you think the articles were taken down because of your efforts? No the government requested their removal not because your allegations were false. Because of you alone both Chairman Jiang Zemin and Chairman Hu Jintao faced embarrassment.”

The polite tone vanished instantly replaced by clear displeasure in Zhou Yongkang’s voice.

“What do you… How could such a minor issue cause embarrassment to Chairman Jiang and Chairman Hu? Please let me contact them.”

“What are you saying. Still haven’t come to your senses? Wang Jianlin do you still think you’re the Wanda Group chairman?”

“Minister your words are too harsh. I am Wang Jianlin. Have you forgotten who my father is?”

Zhou Yongkang twisted one corner of his mouth upward.

“Of course I know. How could I not? You’re nothing without your father’s name.”

“What? Has becoming Minister of Public Security made you blind? I am Wang Jianlin Wang Jianlin!”

Wang Jianlin rose furiously his face flushed red as he struggled to contain his anger.

Sneering at his reaction Zhou Yongkang spoke coldly.

“Hey Wang Jianlin. Sit down.”

“Minister I demand a proper investigation following legal procedures. Return my phone so I can call my lawyer. Otherwise I won’t say anything.”

Zhou Yongkang let out a hollow laugh before shouting.

“You still don’t understand the situation?! The fact that you a Princelings member were brought here means you’re finished. What? Lawyer? Don’t be ridiculous. Will you sit down while I’m asking nicely? Or do you need to be hit to come to your senses?”

“Minister. To the very end…”

“You bastard sit when I tell you to! You stupid fool always making me curse. No wonder you’re being discarded when you can’t even read the situation. Is your brain not working?”

Wang Jianlin’s eyes widened. Such treatment was a first.

He never expected the Minister of Public Security Zhou Yongkang to use such vulgar language.

“This is my final warning. Sit down. This is the last time I’m using words.”

Under that chilling gaze Wang Jianlin hesitated before sitting down.

“I’ll tell you just one thing. You will never leave this place again. Even if your father rose from his grave it wouldn’t help. Pointless resistance will only hurt you so think carefully before answering. Understand?”

“Why are you doing this to me? What grave crime have I committed? Isn’t everyone doing it? Currency outflow? How is that a capital offense? You do it too Minister.”

Zhou Yongkang shrugged. It was true.

It was a minor transgression everyone in the upper echelons committed.

But just because everyone did it didn’t make it legal.

Especially in China where straying from the Party’s sight meant losing one’s head the law held little meaning.

“Still should have watched where you lay down before stretching your legs. How foolish.”

Instead of continuing Zhou Yongkang clicked his tongue. Wang Jianlin closed his eyes with a dumbfounded expression as the other man stared at him with contempt.

* * *

I arrived at the upscale Korean restaurant in Gangnam our meeting spot.

When I opened the door Hyeon-seong who arrived first smiled.

“You look good that’s a new expression for you.”

“You’ll be the same after marriage. It gives you a sanctuary.”

No need to mention his previous failure. I smirked and entered the private room.

As soon as I sat down Hyeon-seong poured me tea.

“How are the investments going?”

“Good reading and organizing investment proposals is my daily routine. They keep flooding in.”

“That means there are many entrepreneurs waiting for your investment.”

We continued chatting while drinking tea.

The food arrived as we talked.

“Let’s eat while we talk. I’m hungry. The food here is good try it Hyeon-seong.”

I picked up chopsticks and put some japchae in my mouth.

Hyeon-seong nodded after trying a piece of beef.

“You’re right. This would be a good place for quiet discussions in the future.”

We exchanged updates as we ate. Meeting after so long we had much to discuss.

I rubbed my stomach after finishing the sujeonggwa served as dessert.

This was something I’d never do in front of others.

“Ah I’m full. It’s been a while since I overate.”

I noticed Hyeon-seong’s lips curling upward.

Marriage really has made him warmer. The change was nice to see.

“You’ve really changed. You smile more now. Does Mi-jin treat you that well?”

“Stop the nonsense let’s talk business.”

I nodded while setting down my sujeonggwa bowl.

“How did it go?”

Now that we’d blocked Jiang Zemin’s interference we needed to support Tencent.

After briefly moving his lips Hyeon-seong spoke.

“Let me start by saying the response wasn’t good. Both gaming companies were agitated asking why Tencent which isn’t even properly established yet.”

Both gaming companies eh. Well Tencent might not seem appealing now.

Though Korean gaming companies would later beg Tencent for distribution rights right now it was just a messenger company.

Understandable but this deal had to happen.

Tencent wouldn’t make its mark in gaming until after 2007.

The sooner we could advance that timeline the better for me.

“So? Did you convince them?”

Hyeon-seong nodded.

“Pushed through with shares. Got word that next week Tencent’s executives and Zhang Zidong himself are coming to Korea. The MOU should be signed then. We’ll have to negotiate the specific contract terms but they’ll likely end up signing with Tencent.”

“Zhang Zidong is coming personally? These people must be serious.”

Didn’t expect Zhang Zidong to come himself. Hyeon-seong asked curiously at my reaction.

“Is he important?”

“Tencent’s second-in-command. They must be desperate to move him. When he’s willing to come personally it shows their earlier talk about betting the company’s fate on this deal wasn’t just empty words.”

Unlike what most people knew Zhang Zidong was more aggressive about the gaming business than Ma Huateng.

If what I saw was true perhaps Tencent’s growth was driven more by Zhang Zidong than Ma Huateng.

“Really? You’re their largest shareholder right?”

“China doesn’t allow foreign ownership over 50%. Even pushing it the limit is 49.9%. Well the remaining shares are split here and there but effectively I’m the owner.”

Hyeon-seong whistled and exclaimed. I raised an eyebrow at his unusual reaction.

“After starting my own company and investing I realized this isn’t easy at all. How do you succeed with every investment? You’re really something else.”

“I take losses too. And I’m not doing this alone. It’s possible because Gyeong-yeong hyung and Eva do their jobs well.”

This was true. Even knowing the future there were things I couldn’t achieve alone.

By myself I couldn’t have accomplished everything I wanted.

Not just Gyeong-yeong and Eva.

Hyeon-seong sitting before me and Myeong-su who entered politics all worked hard in their positions for me that’s why I could sit here now.

“Stop talking nonsense. I’ll be attending that negotiation too. I have to side with the Korean gaming companies you understand right?”

“You worry too much. I told Tencent to give the best terms in China. It’s a deal that nearly fell through plus they’re taking a risk choosing Tencent. So try to get as much as you can.”

This should be interesting. It would be fun watching how Hyeon-seong handles the negotiations.

I continued our conversation with a bright smile.

“Let’s make this work.”

* * *