Chapter Index

    “Must you really do this?”

    “Yes. Even if I acknowledge my father, I am still a member of the Ye family. I have no intention of living in Korea, let alone abandoning my grandfather. But I don’t want to pretend I don’t know my own father, whom I’ve only just met.”

    Ye Xiaotong spoke softly, and Ye Xianping could only nod in the end.

    “But be careful. Your father could become your weakness. This is China, after all.”

    “Of course. I’m already aware of that.”

    “You’re a smart child, you’ll do well. I trust you, my dear. You are my everything. You know that, right?”

    Ye Xiaotong was greatly disappointed in Ye Xianping. However, she didn’t deny the affection and trust he showed.

    “Of course. I love you too, Grandfather.”

    After her meeting with Ye Xianping, Ye Xiaotong left Beijing to meet with Xi Jinping.

    “Xiaotong.”

    “Jinping!”

    The two called out to each other affectionately. After a long embrace, they finally separated.

    “It’s late, but congratulations on your appointment as Party Secretary.”

    When Bo Xilai was appointed as the Shanghai Party Secretary, Xi Jinping was appointed as the Zhejiang Party Secretary.

    But the weight of Shanghai and Zhejiang—the difference between those two places was like heaven and earth.

    “Is it really something to celebrate?”

    At Xi Jinping’s blunt tone, Ye Xiaotong stroked his arm.

    “The opportunity will come again. So for now, you need to lie low and wait.”

    At the endearing sight of Ye Xiaotong, Xi Jinping nodded.

    But he couldn’t completely erase his discontent.

    “I don’t understand why that friend Bo Xilai was chosen. I can’t accept it. If it were anyone else, I would try to understand, but Bo Xilai, really, no.”

    “I think so too.”

    Ye Xiaotong quietly nodded, as she shared the same thoughts as Xi Jinping.

    “Xiaotong, have you met Boss Kim Mu-hyeok?”

    At Xi Jinping’s question, Ye Xiaotong nodded.

    “He’s a scary person.”

    “It was a good opportunity to pin Wei Zhengxing’s death on him, but it’s a shame. I heard Chairman Hu Jintao is protecting him. Do you know anything?”

    “I don’t know anything about that either. Because of that idiot Wei Zhengxing, one of Bo Xilai’s weaknesses has vanished.”

    Xi Jinping and Ye Xiaotong knew that Wei Zhengxing was giving political funds to Bo Xilai.

    They were planning to use that to attack Bo Xilai when the time came.

    But now that Wei Zhengxing was dead, that card could no longer be used.

    Not knowing that Ye Xiaotong was the one who killed him, Xi Jinping asked in frustration.

    “Do you know about the organization that killed Wei Zhengxing?”

    “No. I only found out about it this time.”

    The organization responsible for this incident was deeply connected to Ye Xiaotong herself.

    But she didn’t tell Xi Jinping that.

    “That well-fed pig Wei Zhengxing actually did something helpful for me for once. It’s a shame he’s dead.”

    Xi Jinping was genuinely disappointed that Kim Mu-hyeok’s assassination failed.

    “Forget about what’s already happened and let’s prepare slowly. I’ll meet people in Beijing and make preparations. Jinping, you build up your influence in Zhejiang. And…”

    Ye Xiaotong looked straight into Xi Jinping’s eyes and continued.

    “Erase any weaknesses that could be a problem later on. And don’t accept any more political funds.”

    Xi Jinping didn’t hide his discomfort at those words.

    “Without money, you can’t do anything.”

    “If you’re aiming for the big leagues, don’t be concerned about small change. I’ve told you this before.”

    “…”

    “Jinping. I want to make you the leader of China. That’s why I’m helping you with everything I have. Please listen to me.”

    Xi Jinping didn’t answer right away. As Ye Xiaotong’s face hardened, he nodded and said.

    “Alright. I won’t accept any more political funds.”

    Only then did Ye Xiaotong’s stern face relax into a bright smile.

    “Thank you. For listening to my request.”

    After that, Ye Xiaotong left several more instructions for Xi Jinping.

    Once their political discussion was মোটামুটি over, Xi Jinping asked what he was curious about.

    “Xiaotong, by the way, why did you suddenly go to Korea?”

    Ye Xiaotong, who had been speaking so fluently, suddenly hesitated.

    She hadn’t decided whether to tell Xi Jinping that her father was Korean.

    When Ye Xiaotong didn’t answer readily, Xi Jinping asked with a puzzled look.

    “Why? Is it something you can’t tell me?”

    “…No. It’s just, I went to find Kim Mu-hyeok’s weakness.”

    Xi Jinping’s face brightened.

    “Really? So did you find anything?”

    “For now, I’ve only established a foothold. It’s not easy since it’s not China after all. But don’t worry. I’ll definitely find that man’s weakness.”

    In the end, Ye Xiaotong decided to hide her father’s existence from Xi Jinping.

    “Alright. I’ll trust only you.”

    Xi Jinping embraced her once more.

    Ye Xiaotong fully entrusted her body to Xi Jinping’s large embrace, feeling his warmth.

    But the look in Xi Jinping’s eyes as he held her was different.

    The gentle gaze he showed her earlier had turned sharp.

    ‘You dare to deceive me?’

    Xi Jinping already knew about Ye Xiaotong’s father.

    ‘You don’t trust me, Xiaotong?’

    Xi Jinping swallowed his anger and ended their embrace.

    By now, the sharp glint was gone, replaced by a gentle gaze full of affection, as if looking at a beloved.

    * * *

    Time flew by quickly.

    Woo Young-shik submitted his application to join the Moderate Party and simultaneously held a press conference announcing his candidacy for the Jongno National Assembly by-election.

    With the help of another National Assembly member, he rented the National Assembly Communication Room and began the press conference.

    “Hello, I’m Woo Young-shik.”

    Woo Young-shik, standing before the media for the first time in a while, bowed his head to the reporters.

    Reporters filled the Communication Room, eager to cover Woo Young-shik’s conference, as he was President Yoon Chang-ho’s closest confidant.

    “I stand here today with a heavy heart. The people have shown great support for the Yoon Chang-ho administration and the Moderate Party.”

    Woo Young-shik began to read the statement he had prepared.

    “This by-election will be a mid-term test for the Yoon Chang-ho administration. However, the Moderate Party, which should be working with the administration, is fighting amongst themselves over who will be the candidate.”

    With a weighty voice, he strongly criticized the Moderate Party.

    “That’s why I decided to put aside my decision to return to being a private citizen and come back. I don’t know if I, who has been a prosecutor for decades, will do well in politics. But does it matter if I’m a little clumsy? Even if it’s the ruling party, if the administration takes the wrong path, someone must be able to crack the whip. I intend to jump into the Jongno by-election to create such a ruling party.”

    Woo Young-shik’s declaration of candidacy was lengthy.

    The only unusual thing was that he didn’t emphasize his close relationship with President Yoon Chang-ho.

    Rather, he took a more hardline stance, saying that if President Yoon Chang-ho and the administration went down the wrong path, he would step up and crack the whip.

    After the press conference, Woo Young-shik left the Communication Room and held a Q&A session with reporters in the hallway.

    While Woo Young-shik was receiving the media spotlight in the National Assembly.

    Several people were gathered at a Japanese restaurant in Yeouido.

    At the head of the table sat Park Seok, who had declared his return to the political scene to run for the Jongno seat.

    They were watching Woo Young-shik’s press conference, which was being broadcast on every channel.

    Park Seok, who had been watching silently, picked up the remote and turned off the TV.

    “Assemblyman Park. What do we do now? Doesn’t Woo Young-shik’s appearance mean that things are already settled with the Blue House?”

    They were people gathered to raise Park Seok as a presidential candidate.

    There were current and former National Assembly members, and even Moderate Party officials—quite a few people had gathered for Park Seok.

    “What can I do? The President wants to send out Yoo Young-shik.”

    As Park Seok spoke as if giving up, the man sitting to his left burst out in anger.

    “We can’t back down like this. If we back down now without doing anything, you’ll be the only one who looks ridiculous.”

    Park Seok glared at the man who spoke and opened his mouth.

    “What do you mean, what ‘ridiculous’?”

    “You’ve announced your return after retiring from politics. But if you can’t even compete in the primaries and just back down, where’s the dignity in that? Besides, Jongno was originally your stomping ground. You can’t be pushed out of a place like this. This is a fight you must take on.”

    Park Seok asked, addressing the man who expressed his strong intentions.

    “So what do you propose we do, Assemblyman Kim? Don’t just object, offer a solution. The President’s approval rating is over 60%. How am I supposed to beat someone handpicked by such a president?”

    “…Let’s get support from the Conservative Party again.”

    “Say something that makes sense, Assemblyman Kim!”

    Park Seok raised his voice. But Assemblyman Kim continued speaking firmly.

    “I know why you’re trying to distance yourself from the Conservative Party. You also think that if you join hands with them, you can’t dream of the presidency. But if you back down now, there’s no presidency or anything else. Even if you don’t like it, you need to join hands with those from the Conservative Party.”

    “…I can’t do that.”

    “Assemblyman.”

    Assemblyman Kim called out earnestly, but Park Seok shook his head firmly.

    “The Conservative Party is a failed force. A party that lasted for decades vanished without a trace. And can we say that the Moderate Party is the legitimate successor to the Conservative Party? No. They were just absorbed into the Moderate Party without a trace. I have no intention of going with the failed ones.”

    “Who doesn’t know that? I hate those guys too. But even within the Moderate Party, there are many party members who long for the Conservative Party. If we use their help and your recognition, there’s a good chance of winning the primaries.”

    Assemblyman Kim clashed head-on with Park Seok’s opinion.

    “I’ve staked my entire political career on you. No, everyone here has gathered, staking their political careers on you. How can you give up on these people?”

    At those words, Park Seok slowly examined the faces of the people gathered.

    “…Do all of you think the same?”

    “Yes, we do! We agree with Assemblyman Kim. We can’t back down.”

    Perhaps because the floodgates had opened, everyone spoke with one voice, saying not to give up.

    At that reaction, Park Seok groaned. He was deep in thought, his head throbbing with the complexity.

    ‘I can’t even give up as I please. Sigh…’

    When Woo Young-shik’s application was submitted, Park Seok urgently contacted the Blue House.

    He couldn’t connect with the President, but he did reach a secretary.

    The secretary drew a line, saying that Woo Young-shik’s candidacy had nothing to do with the Blue House.

    So, just in case, he watched Woo Young-shik’s press conference on TV today.

    But the statement included a message about keeping the administration in check, and he was certain.

    The Blue House and Woo Young-shik were on the same side.

    With the President’s approval rating exceeding 60%, going against the Blue House was practically suicidal.

    To confidently say that meant they had already agreed on it with the Blue House.

    “Among those gathered here, does anyone know why Woo Young-shik stepped down from his Senior Secretary position and left the Blue House?”

    Woo Young-shik’s resignation from the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs position was sudden.

    There was no reason for him, a prosecutor and friend of the President, to step down.

    Various stories circulated in the political sphere about his sudden resignation.

    But they were all just baseless rumors; no one knew the truth.

    “Didn’t President Yoon Chang-ho make him resign in advance for the Jongno by-election?”

    “Then there’s no way at all.”

    “No. After the application was submitted, internal polling was conducted among party members. You were ahead by about 5%. There’s a good chance. If we get support from former Conservative Party assemblymen, it’ll be even higher.”

    Park Seok’s eyes widened and he asked back.

    “Really? Is that true?”

    “Yes. Unless the President openly declares his support for Woo Young-shik, you’re more likely to win.”

    “But a president, who must maintain political neutrality, can never do that.”

    “Yes. So if we tie up the Blue House and join forces with those from the Conservative Party, it’s a winnable fight.”

    Park Seok tapped the table with his index finger, lost in thought.

    While he was organizing his thoughts, the others waited in silence.

    But the silence didn’t last long. In the end, there was only one answer.

    If he backed down here, his dream of the presidency would drift even further away.

    “Alright. Let’s try it…”

    Just as Park Seok moved his lips, the door suddenly burst open.

    Everyone’s attention turned to the open door.

    “What are you plotting here?”

    Everyone’s eyes fixed on the man who entered, speaking in a bantering tone.

    “Chief Lee! What is the meaning of this!”

    The person who opened the door was Lee Myeong-su. Unlike his smooth-talking, Lee Myeong-su’s face was devoid of any smile.

    “Only Candidate Park Seok should remain, everyone else please leave.”

    “What? Are you crazy? Who do you think you are!”

    The current assemblymen all stood up and pointed fingers at Lee Myeong-su.

    “Chief Lee! You’re acting like this because we’ve been lenient, do you think your seniors are pushovers! Do you really want to die?!”

    They shouted from all sides, but Lee Myeong-su brushed it off as if he was used to it.

    Instead, he looked down at Park Seok with cold eyes and said.

    “Candidate Park Seok. I’d like to have a conversation between just the two of us.”

    “…Chief Lee. What is this rudeness?”

    “I’m here because it’s urgent. Should I leave? Aren’t you curious why I came?”

    “Everyone, leave.”

    “Assemblyman!”

    “I said leave! I’ll call you back.”

    At Park Seok’s roar, the people shut their mouths and hesitated.

    “I told you to leave! Do you plan to ignore me too!?”

    When he shouted once more, they finally started to leave the room one by one.

    As they left, they hurled fierce curses at Lee Myeong-su.

    A while later. Everyone left, and the door closed.

    “Take a seat. I need to hear what you have to say for such rude behavior.”

    “Ah, it’s not me, but someone else who wants to meet you, Candidate.”

    “What? What are you…”

    Before Park Seok could finish, the door connecting to the next room opened.

    Inside the spacious room sat a man.

    Tall and neat, but with a somehow chilly aura, he raised the corner of his mouth.

    “Assemblyman Park Seok. Nice to meet you for the first time. I’m Kim Mu-hyeok.”

    Chapter Summary

    Ye Xiaotong, despite loving her grandfather Ye Xianping, disappoints him by acknowledging her Korean father. She travels to meet Xi Jinping and they discuss political strategies, including dealing with Bo Xilai and the deceased Wei Zhengxing. Xi Jinping is frustrated by his inability to accept Bo Xilai's appointment and the loss of Wei Zhengxing as a potential tool against him. Meanwhile, Woo Young-shik enters politics, causing a stir in the Moderate Party. Park Seok, supported by Assemblyman Kim and others, faces a dilemma on whether to ally with the waning Conservative Party to secure his political ambitions.

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