Chapter 108: Returning the Smile

I returned his wide smile. Isn’t responding to a smile with a smile the natural thing to do? Besides, Assistant Manager Kim Yoon-suk was no longer just my subordinate. He had become a legitimate business partner.

“What do you want? A lump sum payment? Or would you prefer installments for the rest of your life?”

Did he understand the implications behind my words?

“Huh? Ah, my apologies… Ehehehe.”

It was hard to tell if Assistant Manager Kim was smiling or grimacing because of the bandages wrapped tightly around his face, but his eyes gave it away.

“I’ll take the installments. I can get my savings from the Chairman.”

Ah, right, there was also Grandfather.

I smacked my forehead.

Kim Yoon-suk not only understood my intentions but also factored in something I had completely forgotten.

What was it? Did his brainpower increase after the accident?

“Think carefully. If I were to give you a lump sum, it would be a sum large enough to change Assistant Manager Kim’s fate several times over.”

“No. I’ve already decided. I’ll take the installments.”

He didn’t hesitate or even contemplate it.

What was it? Had he transformed into someone with unwavering convictions?

“Are you serious?”

“Of course. I haven’t yet experienced the joy of spending lavishly. But I know that kind of fun fades quickly. If I’m with you, Chief of Staff, I think there will be greater joys than just spending money.”

While his words were appreciated, they weren’t enough to make him truly one of my people.

“Assistant Manager Kim, I don’t know if you remember, but what I said before still stands.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t keep anyone by my side who isn’t capable. I understand that I can never repay you enough for saving my life. Merely having money allows me to express my gratitude in monetary terms. But walking together is a different matter entirely.”

Kim quickly replied as if he understood my point.

“I will develop the skills and abilities to be worthy of being by your side, Chief of Staff. Please tell me whenever you feel I am lacking. I will step down.”

I held up three fingers.

“I’ll overlook things up to three times. No matter how big the mistake or how badly you mess things up, I’ll give you three chances. But if you commit a fourth major mistake, our connection ends there.”

“I will ensure those three chances are never needed.”

He displayed firm resolve and unwavering determination.

This man seemed to have good hardware.

He armed himself with the software of his education, but I had seen countless empty shells whose performance didn’t match their credentials.

How many guys crumble and give up when faced with difficult tasks that are hard to overcome with just knowledge?

Although his academic background and qualifications might be lacking, I like people who show a natural tenacity and a never-give-up attitude. It reminds me of myself.

“Alright, let’s go up to Seoul. Soonyang Medical Center, no, I suppose we should go to Myungin University Hospital. Soonyang Medical Center will probably have too many leeches… Anyway, let’s get treatment and rehabilitation until you’re back in perfect condition.”

* * *

Grandfather stroked the bandaged part of my head as soon as he saw me.

“Chairman Joo of Daehyun Group envied my thick hair more than his group’s revenue or stock price. Now he’ll laugh at me when he sees me.”

“Hair is said to grow back thicker than before. Don’t meet him until then.”

Grandfather examined my hands intently before his mouth stretched into a wide grin.

“Did you bring it?”

“No alcohol allowed. So I only bought chicken.”

“Hurry up and put it down. Why do I keep thinking about that soy sauce seasoning…?”

A whole chicken vanished in an instant, leaving only bones. He kept grumbling about how he missed having a glass of beer.

“You clean up these bones. Why are there so many people who nag? Tch.”

“I only bought it because you kept pestering me, but this is the last of it until you’re discharged.”

“Are you nagging too? Fine.”

Grandfather let out a refreshing burp and then gulped down some water.

“That friend of yours woke up too?”

“Yes. He’s past the critical stage, and now he just needs rehabilitation.”

“He’s young, so he’ll manage, right?”

“He will.”

“Did… anything special happen?”

His gaze as he glanced at me was unusual, but I pretended not to notice. He was the type who wouldn’t drop his suspicions no matter what others said, so adding a few more scoops of my own wouldn’t change anything.

“We didn’t talk for long. He wasn’t in good enough condition for that.”

“Why? Is his speech still slurred?”

“No. His mind is clear, and he has no speech impediments.”

Either way, you’ll meet him in person, won’t you? Assistant Manager Kim will convey exactly what he told me, and if there’s someone behind the scenes, Grandfather will definitely catch them.

“Then that’s good. Shouldn’t I meet him to express my gratitude? He is the benefactor who saved our lives, after all.”

Will he just offer thanks? Or will he try to confirm something?

“You should.”

“By the way, what about you? Are you thinking of being discharged?”

“I’ve already met Father. Since he knows I wasn’t seriously injured, it’s strange to keep lazing around in the hospital. I should be discharged.”

“Hmm…. Yoon-ki isn’t the type to lie, so it would be odd for you to be lying in the hospital. Alright then.”

“Yes. I’ll visit often.”

“It doesn’t seem right for you to be coming and going while I’m pretending to be a seriously ill patient. Let’s just talk on the phone.”

“Yes.”

I was a little disappointed.

I had hoped he would mention the reason he took me to Gunsan, even now….

Surely his mind hasn’t changed?

* * *

Chairman Jin checked that Kim Yoon-suk’s hospital room was empty before slowly moving his feet.

He had already received and quickly reviewed his profile.

A third-rate lackey picked to run errands for his children. Guys who willingly became servants because of the Soonyang name and the thickness of their paychecks.

Moreover, considering he started by cleaning the Yeongbin Gwan, he was among the lowest of the third-rate.

“This guy, he managed to pull off a huge gamble.”

Someone who graduated from Seoul National University and rose through the ranks to become the president of a subsidiary wouldn’t amass as much wealth in their entire career as this man was about to gain from a single gamble.

What kind of person was he?

Filled with curiosity, he opened the door to Kim Yoon-suk’s hospital room.

“Ch, Chairman.”

Surprised, Kim Yoon-suk tried to jump up, but he could only struggle because of his casts.

“Ah, just stay lying down. In the hospital, the seriously injured patient is the most important. No need to bother on account of this old man.”

Chairman Jin approached Kim Yoon-suk and took his hand.

“It’s not easy to sacrifice a young life to save an old one… Thank you.”

“Ah, no, Chairman. Wasn’t there an even more outstanding young man? You don’t need to trouble yourself too much over it.”

“Is that so? Did you do it because of our Do-jun? Haha.”

“W, well, it’s not exactly that….”

Chairman Jin tossed it out as a joke, but it was uncomfortable and difficult for a low-level employee. Kim’s face flushed red.

“No, I’m just grateful. I’m more thankful that you saved my grandson than that you saved my life.”

Chairman Jin patted the hand he was holding, putting on a benevolent expression to make Kim feel more at ease.

He needed to create a comfortable atmosphere to hear his true feelings.

“Now, this old man wants to greatly repay you… Tell me, what would you like? I’ll grant you anything.”

He wanted to see the scale and capacity of this man who risked his own life.

The wealthiest man in the nation was asking what he wanted. A man with the power to grant anything he asked.

When Kim hesitated and couldn’t answer, Chairman Jin preemptively mentioned the basics.

“No need to mention things like a house or your children’s tuition. You’ve already moved into an apartment in Gangnam, and I’ll take full responsibility for your children’s education. I’ll cover tuition and all extracurricular expenses, so you can ensure your children have all the opportunities they need to study.”

He made it impossible to bring up the stability of his family, which anyone would mention first. Now that the issues of housing and children were resolved, he wanted to see the greed of a man with a limited future.

“Thank you, Chairman.”

“It’s nothing. I should naturally do this much.”

He was a little surprised.

His expression remained calm.

Chairman Jin pressed for an answer.

“I’m ashamed to only talk about money to my benefactor. But what else can I give you but money?”

“I don’t particularly need money. For someone like me, worrying about housing and my children’s education is everything, isn’t it? You’ve relieved those worries, Chairman, so I have nothing more to ask for.”

Chairman Jin was a little surprised and taken aback by the unexpected answer.

He would have given him billions, even hundreds of billions of won. Kim Yoon-suk, who was staring intently at him from the bed, also knew this.

But he didn’t want anything?

This was the moment to turn his life around, a golden opportunity, and he was turning it down?

At that moment, he didn’t miss the sparkle in Kim Yoon-suk’s eyes.

“Haha, my goodness…. The world is full of greedy bastards.”

It was clear that Chairman Jin had read Kim’s mind. His face flushed crimson, and a small smile even appeared on his lips.

“An old man with only money, and you don’t like money? That’s difficult.”

“Chairman. To be honest, I don’t exactly know what I want either.”

“This fellow! How can you not know what you want when even I know?”

“It’s the truth.”

Chairman Jin stared down at Kim for a while before finally sitting on the chair beside the bed. It seemed like the conversation would be quite long.

“You’ve probably heard that a person has three opportunities in their lifetime, haven’t you?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve already missed two of them.”

Kim thought this was his first opportunity. But he had already missed two? Not understanding the meaning, he just stared at Chairman Jin’s lips.

“The first is being born to good parents. If you’re born into a wealthy family, you’ve already achieved half of your dreams. You just need to do well yourself. Are your parents wealthy?”

“No, they are not.”

“Then you’ve missed one. Do you know what the second one is?”

“Could it be… university?”

At his careful question, Chairman Jin nodded.

“Yes. The world is very different from the old days. In this era, that worthless university is the opportunity. Connections in this country are made at university. Not your hometown? High school? It’s not that. University is the best place to mingle with your own kind, and it gives you the perfect opportunity to completely turn your background around.”

Kim, a graduate of a third-rate university, gritted his teeth.

The first opportunity is luck, but the second opportunity is self-effort. He hadn’t put in that effort himself.

“Do you think someone who failed to get into Seoul National University wouldn’t be able to graduate if they were placed there? Do you think studying at Seoul National University is so difficult that students from provincial national universities can’t keep up?”

Chairman Jin shook his head.

“You just need to get in. Then, even if you don’t succeed, at least you won’t fall to the bottom of your life.”

“Does that mean I only have one chance left?”

“No. That one chance is right now. What do you say? I’ll give you so much money that even someone born to good parents or someone with a bright future from Seoul National University couldn’t match it. Is this enough to satisfy you?”

Kim, who had been clenching his teeth, regained his composure when the talk turned to money. Seeing that he didn’t waver even after such a significant offer, Chairman Jin finally burst into laughter.

“Haha. Look at this fellow. So it was true.”

“Pardon?”

“The fact that you jumped in to save our Do-jun, not me. That was genuine.”

“I am someone who serves Chief of Staff Jin Do-jun.”

Kim, his face flushed, finally nodded.