Chapter 105: Truth

“Chairman, haven’t you heard the test results?”

“Huh? I did. They just left.”

“But…?”

I couldn’t ask why he was smiling when he was about to have brain tumor surgery, so I just trailed off.

“They said it’s a simple surgery, so there’s no need to worry, right? Thankfully, it was caught early, so we should be celebrating.”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“Chief of staff Lee, you don’t need to look so grim. Now, let’s figure out our next steps.”

My grandfather beckoned the still bewildered Lee Hak-jae closer.

“The doctor here recommended Professor Jang Joon-hyuk from Myungin University Hospital. Let’s meet him and set a date for the surgery.”

“Yes, I will meet him personally.”

“And tell the others outside that it’s going to be additional surgery.”

“If we say it’s additional surgery, they’ll be very surprised.”

“People make mistakes when they’re surprised and flustered.”

I wasn’t exactly sure what kind of mistakes my grandfather was talking about, but it seemed like he was hoping someone would rush to buy up company shares.

“Do-jun, you should stay here a bit longer. Shouldn’t we at least see our benefactor, Kim Yoon-suk, wake up?”

“Of course. I understand.”

When Grandfather goes back to Seoul, my uncles will go with him, so I’ll be able to see my father. I need to come up with a good excuse for being perfectly fine.

* * *

The 27th floor of the Soonyang Hotel in Gangnam was a space where Jin Seo-yoon slept more often than at her own home. Oh Se-hyun felt the plushness of the thick carpet, different from anything under his own shoes, as he followed the staff’s guidance to the suite.

He wasn’t sure why she wanted to meet so late, but he had things he needed to tell her anyway, so he willingly came to the hotel.

Opening the door, he was surprised by the interior, which was completely different from the royal suites that had always made him gasp.

It wasn’t that it was more extravagant than the usual royal suite. At first glance, it even looked simple and understated, but upon closer inspection, it was filled with furniture and decor worth hundreds of millions of won, each piece a work of art.

An Alighiero Boetti piece worth a billion won hung on the main wall, and a Maria Pergay table worth two hundred million won served as a nightstand.

Furthermore, the small mobile hanging from the ceiling was an Alexander Calder artwork worth three billion won. The value of the art alone in this suite would easily be tens of billions.

As Oh Se-hyun stood there, speechless, Jin Seo-yoon emerged from the bedroom in a one-piece dress and gave a light bow.

“You’ve arrived? It’s quite late… I hope it wasn’t an imposition.”

“Not at all. It’s not even midnight yet. But where is Mayor Choi? I should offer my congratulations on his election…”

“He’s in meetings with the party, organizing the Seoul City personnel. We are well aware of your efforts, Representative Oh. I’ll thank you on his behalf.”

Oh Se-hyun hesitated as he was about to sit on the living room sofa that Jin Seo-yoon offered. The thought of placing his backside on a leather sofa worth hundreds of millions of won made him feel uneasy.

“Are you going out somewhere, considering the late hour?”

She was wearing makeup, and her one-piece dress was not something she would casually wear at home.

“I just received a call. My father was in an accident. A car accident…”

He was speechless. It was sudden news, but Jin Seo-yoon’s expression as she delivered the news made it seem like a minor fender-bender.

“Is the Chairman alright?”

“They said he was moved to the intensive care unit after surgery. Even if I rushed there now, I wouldn’t be able to see him anyway.”

Good heavens.

He didn’t say it aloud, but that was all he could think. How could she remain so composed after hearing that her father was in a coma?

“Should I be making a fuss?”

Jin Seo-yoon, as if reading his mind from his expression, said with a slight smile.

“Ah, no. Making a fuss won’t improve the Chairman’s condition.”

“This is how we live. When Father passes away, worry comes before grief. I haven’t secured much Soonyang stock yet.”

“Being born into the Jin family means having to erase ordinary life and emotions. I understand.”

“Indeed, you understand me well.”

Jin Seo-yoon took a sip of wine, and then Oh Se-hyun spoke.

“Chairman Jin seems keen on the DMC project in Mapo. He told Do-jun to concede it to him.”

“Father did?”

Jin Seo-yoon showed no sign of surprise.

“Yes. He conveyed that intention to Do-jun.”

“Heh heh.”

Jin Seo-yoon struggled to contain her laughter, but it burst through her lips.

“Why are you laughing? Did you already expect this?”

“Ah, no. Sorry. Heh heh.”

She finally lost the battle against her laughter and started giggling for a while.

“I’m sorry. It’s funny to think you were worrying about something so pointless.”

“Pointless worry?”

“Father has no intention of doing that. He’s even considering making his grandson his successor, why would he take something from his hands? Don’t worry.”

He was surprised by the extravagant artwork throughout the suite and by the daughter who showed no concern for her comatose father, but neither of those shocks compared to the revelation that Do-jun was being considered as a successor.

Oh Se-hyun could only sit there, dumbfounded.

“The place where Father had the car accident is Gongju in South Chungcheong Province. And of course, Do-jun was with him.”

“What? Do-jun? Then is Do-jun badly hurt too?”

Startled, Oh Se-hyun jumped up, causing Jin Seo-yoon to frown.

“Representative Oh. Save your displays of humanity for later. We don’t have much time to talk right now.”

She didn’t wait for Oh Se-hyun to calm down.

“What would you do if Father and Do-jun couldn’t wake up at all?”

“What are you talking about? What would I do? Seriously…”

“Don’t get agitated. I’m trying to make you an offer.”

“How can you even talk about that right now?”

Do-jun wasn’t related to him by blood, but he was worried about him being badly hurt. Isn’t that human nature?

Her father was injured, yet his daughter was talking nonsense about offers and whatnot. He couldn’t contain his rising irritation.

“If we’re talking about sharing the position of captain for the Soonyang ship, a massive vessel that has lost its helmsman, shouldn’t we be able to discuss it in any situation?”

But Jin Seo-yoon seemed uninterested in Oh Se-hyun’s human reaction and remained calm.

“If Father passes away without any work done on inheriting the group’s shares, Yoon-ki and I will each inherit 11% of the shares. That’s 22% combined. Of course, if you calculate the overall controlling stake, it’s maybe 15%? Maybe even less. My two older brothers already hold some shares.”

Talking about share calculations at a time like this. It reaffirmed what Do-jun had said – this woman was the substance, and her husband was just the shell.

“But Soonyang Automobile, now HW Automobile, holds a 17% controlling stake. If you add it all up, it’s at least 30%. With 30%, you should have a sufficient foundation to become the group’s chairman.”

“And? Keep going.”

It wasn’t that he was interested in the shares. He just wanted to see how far this woman would go.

“Help me, and when I become the captain of the Soonyang ship, I’ll give you over ten good subsidiaries. If you attach those companies to HW Group, you’ll become the CEO of a major conglomerate, ranking within the top 20 in our country’s business circles.”

“Let me correct you. Your calculations are wrong.”

“What? What do you mean?”

Jin Seo-yoon’s eyes widened at Oh Se-hyun’s sudden change in demeanor.

“Yoon-ki is my friend. He’s closer to me than to his sister, with whom he shares little affection. If the two of us join hands, President Jin’s shares will be insignificant. It should be the other way around. You help me or Yoon-ki become the captain of the Soonyang ship. I’ll give you ten, no, fifteen good subsidiaries. That’s the accurate calculation.”

The flustered Jin Seo-yoon was speechless. Based on the shares they currently held, Oh Se-hyun’s calculation was correct.

But she couldn’t bring herself to agree!

“You’re indeed extraordinary. Since you’re playing it that way, I’ll have to reveal my hidden card. If Father passes away, our mother will also inherit a considerable number of shares. There’s no way she’ll add those to Yoon-ki’s. She can’t even stand to look at him.”

She knew that Chairman Jin’s attitude towards his youngest son had changed. She also knew the reason was Jin Do-jun.

Chairman Jin’s position was so immense that she had forgotten about it.

‘Has Mother still not accepted her son?’

Oh Se-hyun shook his head.

It was time to end this unrealistic talk about someone else’s family and talk about Jin Do-jun.

“Continue what you were saying earlier. Do-jun as the successor?”

“Something like that. The ridiculous ceremony probably won’t proceed due to the car accident, but Father undoubtedly recognizes Do-jun as at least one of his successors, if not the sole one.”

Jin Seo-yoon raised her eyebrows. She even seemed contemptuous.

“If Do-jun becomes one of the successors, it’s even more powerful. Do-jun will also secure at least 10% of the shares. So, Do-jun, you, and I can join forces and take over Soonyang. We can figure out how to divide the spoils later.”

“If Do-jun becomes one of the successors, there’s even less reason to join hands with President Jin, isn’t there? You don’t have any shares.”

“Do you think Do-jun, who’s barely in his twenties, can inherit Soonyang? Even if he does, he won’t be able to protect it. Because he won’t possess the true power of Soonyang.”

True power. Oh Se-hyun knew what that was. It was the driving force that controlled the nation.

“You’re talking about Soonyang’s vast network of connections.”

“You’re quick-witted. That’s right. If Father makes a phone call, the prime minister will come running. Would the prime minister come running if a twenty-year-old makes that call?”

“Unless the Chairman makes an official announcement or acknowledgment, I doubt the prime minister would come running for President Jin either.”

Oh Se-hyun gestured towards her. No matter how much the world changed, it was still rare for women to be bowed down to in this country.

No longer wanting to waste time, Oh Se-hyun lightly tapped the table and stood up.

“Our interests are different, so we can’t talk any further. I’m more worried about Do-jun, so I need to leave quickly.”

“I’m heading down anyway, so let’s go together. We can continue talking in the car, right?”

“No. I’ll go separately. Continuing a conversation about things I’m not interested in is tedious.”

As Oh Se-hyun firmly refused, Jin Seo-yoon’s expression twisted slightly in anger when someone approached and whispered in her ear.

“What? Seoul?”

“Yes.”

Jin Seo-yoon’s eyes widened, and she bit her lip.

“It seems you’ll have to go alone after all. They’re moving Father to Seoul. Ah, Do-jun is at Gongju Medical Center, so you should hurry there.”

It was difficult to grasp what it meant that Chairman Jin was coming to Seoul.

Was his condition worsening? Or was he recovering?

“Representative Oh, I hope we can meet again soon. The Mapo DMC is no longer a major issue. The Soonyang Group is now in the middle of a typhoon. I hope you understand what I mean.”

Chairman Jin was in critical condition.

Oh Se-hyun could only hope that Do-jun was safe. And he solidified his resolve to persuade him to forge his own path rather than struggle among these people.

Jin Do-jun had the potential to be the captain of a ship even bigger than the Soonyang Group.