Chapter 68: Unexpected Encounter

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to meet me?”

Sensing her hesitation, I stepped away to give her some space.

As I left the chairman’s office, I found myself back in the plain, spacious office devoid of even a single decent potted plant.

Ugh… I really can’t get used to this layout.

I could feel the employees stealing glances at me as they worked.

Maintaining a composed expression, I spoke quietly with Manager Ma.

“Once this deal is wrapped up, we’ll start constructing a building on the Daechi-dong site. We’ll give Daehyeon Construction the main contract, with Geukseong Construction as a subcontractor. Manager Ma, please contact Geukseong Construction separately. I’ll meet with Chairman Song from Daehyeon myself. Please set up an appointment.”

“Understood.”

While I was organizing my next steps, the CFO emerged looking like death warmed over.

“Go on in. I’ll return after drafting the documents. Will we need a lawyer?”

“I’ll call one now.”

The CFO hurried off somewhere.

I dialed Yoon Jae-ha’s father using the direct line I’d recently acquired. It was a number not just anyone could reach.

― This is Yoon Hyung-min.

“Father, this is Kim Mu-hyeok. It’s been a while.I hope you’re doing well?”

― Mu-hyeok? What’s the matter? I doubt this is just a courtesy call.

“I’m at Hyeonbo Group’s headquarters and need a lawyer. Someone well-versed in corporate transactions.”

― I thought Chairman Cheon had his own lawyers for that.

“Father, how could I work with others behind your back? Grandfather and I are separate entities. I’d like to ask for your help. We’ll likely be seeing each other often, so please send someone capable.”

― Hahaha! I’ve thought this before, but you’re quite an interesting fellow. My son has made at least one good friend. Alright, I’ll send you our ace.

Yoon & Jang Joint Law Office, where Yoon Jae-ha’s father, Yoon Hyung-min, was co-representative.

It wasn’t a law firm, but a law office.

However, it was the top dog in the legal world.

Known as both the best and worst company in Korea, they’d take on any case for the right price.

But they’re worth every penny.

Even other law firms were reluctant to face them in court.

They’d do anything for their client’s victory. Evidence tampering, witness bribing, lobbying, bribery… They’d use any means necessary to win, relentlessly and tenaciously.

At this point in time, their reputation wasn’t public knowledge, only whispered about within the industry.

But for now, I was content with having a lawyer who could handle things efficiently.

I re-entered the chairman’s office and took a seat. Chairman Jang, looking weary, didn’t even glance my way.

An uncomfortable silence stretched on for a while.

“I heard you ousted your uncles and took their place, but your actions are just like Chairman Cheon’s.”

Just as I thought Chairman Jang might be at a loss for words, his sharp voice cut through the air.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

His attempt at mockery fell flat.

Seeing that I was unfazed, Chairman Jang added, as if trying to curse me:

“Don’t get too cocky. You never know when it might come back to bite you.”

Hearing such words from Chairman Jang of all people…

I had to stifle a laugh.

You have no idea that your management will lead to a financial crisis in Korea.

The ultimate fate of the king of political-business collusion was downfall.

I’m not a good person.

I had no intention of stopping this man.

But I wasn’t going to let him flee abroad like last time.

Hiding my true thoughts, I replied with a smile:

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Perhaps frustrated by my dry responses to his provocations, Chairman Jang soon gave up and fell silent.

Just as the silence was becoming unbearable, the lawyer arrived.

“Hello, I’m Lee Byung-joo.”

A man who looked to be in his late 30s entered and greeted me. With his rather ordinary and even humble appearance, he didn’t seem like the ruthless lawyer from Yoon & Jang that I’d expected.

“You’re the lawyer Father sent?”

“Yes, I work at Yoon & Jang.”

“I look forward to working with you. We’ll be seeing a lot of each other, so let’s properly introduce ourselves later.”

“Understood.”

Lee Byung-joo took a seat next to me.

True to Yoon & Jang’s reputation of bowing to no one except their clients, he didn’t even greet Chairman Jang sitting across from us.

“Ahem.”

Chairman Jang cleared his throat awkwardly, but Lee Byung-joo remained unmoved.

“What do you need me to do?”

“We’ll be receiving land in exchange for bonds and stocks. One plot is unregistered, so transferring ownership will be complicated. The other is about 1000 pyeong in Daechi-dong. It’s owned by Hyeonbo Construction, but should be easier to handle than the first one.”

Despite my brief explanation, Lee Byung-joo replied confidently:

“Sounds straightforward enough.”

It seemed Yoon Hyung-min had indeed sent a capable person.

A moment later, the CFO who had left earlier returned with another man.

The CFO introduced him:

“This is our group’s legal director.”

The two exchanged brief introductions and began working on the documents.

It was truly boring, but I had to wait since I needed to sign the papers.

After more than two hours, the contract was finally complete, and with my signature, the entire transaction was concluded.

“I’ll handle the execution of the deal on your behalf.”

I nodded at Lee Byung-joo’s offer to handle the stock transfer and property registration.

“Then I’ll leave it in your hands, Attorney Lee Byung-joo.”

“Yes, sir.”

I left the shabby commercial building with Manager Ma.

As I opened the car door and got in, I said:

“Let’s go see Chairman Song.”

I intended to wrap everything up today so we could start construction immediately.

Upon arriving at Chairman Song’s house, a familiar secretary came out to guide Manager Ma and me inside.

Chairman Song’s face, which I hadn’t seen in a while, looked much worse for wear.

He seemed to be struggling emotionally, perhaps because he had retired from management not by choice, but under pressure from the government.

“Chairman, it’s been a while. I apologize for not visiting more often lately.”

“Ho ho, yes, come in, have a seat.”

Though he smiled, the shadows on his face, weathered by decades in the field, seemed even deeper.

“You look unwell. Have you been taking care of your health?”

“Ho ho ho, I’m still in one piece, don’t worry. More importantly, what brings you here today?”

“As expected of your insight, Chairman.”

“Don’t flatter me. Don’t I know you by now? I kept telling you to meet our granddaughter, but you kept dodging it. Now you suddenly show up, so you must have some business.”

Initially, I met with Chairman Song frequently to seek advice. Or rather, to listen to his life stories.

“Hahaha…”

I tried to brush it off with an awkward laugh, but Chairman Song narrowed his eyes and gave me a sidelong glance.

“She’s 19 now, all grown up. Don’t say she’s too young. I called her here today, so at least say hello before you go.”

Sigh… So it ends up like this after all.

“I’ll just greet her briefly.”

“That stubborn streak of yours is just like that Cheon fellow… Aish.”

Though he sounded reproachful, the shadow on his face seemed to lift a little.

“Alright, now tell me what your business is.”

“You know I acquired Geukseong Construction, right?”

Chairman Song nodded silently.

“While settling Hyeonbo Group’s debts, I received land in Daechi-dong instead of money. I’d like to build there, but it’s too big a project for Geukseong to handle alone right now.”

“Ha, Daechi-dong? Jang gave that up?”

I told him about the negotiation process and how I pressured Hyeonbo Group.

Chairman Song burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! I wish I could’ve seen Jang’s face! To think he’d be outmaneuvered by Cheon Taessan’s grandson, not Cheon himself! Hahahahaha!”

With an amused expression, Chairman Song asked:

“So you want Daehyeon to handle the construction?”

“Yes. While Geukseong Construction will be involved in the actual work, I’d like Daehyeon to be the main contractor. It’s quite a complex site for building.”

“You sly fox. You want us to handle the zoning changes too, right?”

I could lobby directly to change the land use myself. But it would definitely be faster if Daehyeon Construction did it.

I needed to complete the construction quickly.

All work had to be finished by early 1998 at the latest, which was too tight a schedule for Geukseong Construction alone.

“I’m in a bit of a hurry. I’d like to shorten the construction period too. Please, I’m asking for your help.”

“Listen, kid. I’ve stepped down from the company now. What power do I have? You should go see Daehyeon Construction’s president.”

Chairman Song played hard to get.

“That person is too rigid.”

“What? Are you saying I’m soft?”

“I’m saying you’re not rigid. After all, I’ve known you for more than a day or two…”

I smiled sheepishly as Chairman Song gave me a reproachful look.

“You cheeky brat. Fine, I’ll do it. But in return, you’re meeting my granddaughter today.”

“Understood.”

Chairman Song called his secretary and summoned Daehyeon Construction’s president to his home.

As I chatted with Chairman Song, I saw Daehyeon Construction’s president arriving and stepped outside.

I sat on the garden bench where I had sat the first time I came here, lost in thought.

What happened to Daehyeon during the IMF crisis again…

As I closed my eyes, trying to recall, I felt the sunlight on my face being blocked.

I looked up to see an unfamiliar young woman standing before me.

“Hello.”

She looked about Ji-young’s age.

“Hello. Are you Chairman Song’s granddaughter?”

“Yes, I’m Song Hyun-ji.”

I stood up from the bench.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Mu-hyeok.”

I had never seen her before in my previous life.

Was there a Song Hyun-ji in the Daehyeon family?

“I heard you didn’t want to meet me? This is the first time I’ve been treated like this.”

Her blunt statement caught me off guard, and I was at a loss for words.

“Grandpa kept insisting we meet, and when I finally agreed, he said you kept refusing.”

“Hahaha…”

Chairman Song, how could you tell her that so directly…

“I declined because you seemed too young.”

“Anyone listening would think you’re over 30. I heard you’re only 22? I was in 9th grade when you were a high school senior.”

Her carefree and uninhibited attitude, unusual for someone from Korea’s top chaebol family, made me laugh.

She laughed along with me.

Her smile was pretty.

“I’m sorry if I offended you. There’s not much age difference, but I think it’s different for a minor to meet another minor versus an adult meeting a minor.”

“Wow! How old-fashioned. In our family, they often pair up kids from a young age saying, ‘You two should marry when you grow up.’ So this isn’t anything new to me. But you’re different, huh? Why do you keep using formal speech?”

“Because we just met…”

“Oppa, don’t tell me this is your first time dating?”

I’ve even been married before.

“That’s not it.”

“You’re still being formal. I’m going to use informal speech.”

This was a first for me.

“Okay, go ahead. I’ll do the same.”

“Now you sound more like someone in their 20s. You know you’re a bit behind the times, right?”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard that from you.”

Song Hyun-ji chattered on without pause.

She was no different from any other girl her age.

I kept the conversation going, responding to her comments.

“What did Chairman Song tell you?”

“About you?”

“Yeah, what did he say?”

“Just that you’re the richest person in Korea?”

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“Why? Isn’t that a compliment?”

Song Hyun-ji tilting her head in confusion was cute.

“No… Don’t you have any pretenses?”

“Pretenses? Why put on an act when we both know who we are? We’re not ordinary people, right? Wouldn’t it be fake to pretend otherwise?”

I found myself nodding unconsciously.

“Anyway, now that we’ve met, is that enough?”

“Wow, you’re funny, oppa. I’m not the type to be treated like this anywhere.”

“Hahaha.”

It was quite an enjoyable conversation.

No matter how much I thought about it, there was no Song Hyun-ji in the Daehyeon family in my memories.

I didn’t know what secret might exist, but I liked her.

“What exactly did the Chairman say?”

“Oh, really! I wasn’t going to mention this, but…”

Song Hyun-ji leaned in close, as if about to share a secret.

My heart suddenly started racing.

“Actually…”