Chapter 112: An Awkward Silence

The awkward silence was broken by Jin Young-jun.

“Oh, right, what about Sang-joon? Is he doing well with his music studies in the US?”

“Since it’s something he enjoys, I’m sure he’s managing. But, hyung-nim.”

“Yeah?”

“Is there something you wanted to say to me? If there is, just say it. All this beating around the bush is making me uncomfortable.”

Having had some drinks, I feigned being drunk and asked a little more boldly.

“Huh? Haha. You really are sharp.”

He let out an awkward laugh, then lowered his voice and spoke suggestively.

“Have you ever thought about working with me?”

“Excuse me? With you, hyung-nim?”

Just as I expected. Before becoming the successor, he’s trying to win me over.

“Yeah. After getting my director title and working, it’s hard to find someone as capable as you.”

“What about me?”

“Huh?”

Jin Young-jun’s eyes wavered. He’d never seen what kind of person I am, yet he suddenly showered me with praise, so he must be at a loss for words.

At the company, if you tell an employee, ‘There’s no one like you,’ they’re usually overjoyed and practically worship you. Did he think it would work on me too?

Company employees have no choice but to like what the owner family says. Anyone would be moved by the praise of a likely future chairman.

“W-well… You know. Does there have to be something specific? It’s a feeling. The guys working under me have good educations and great specs. But, while it’s hard to pinpoint, they’re still lacking something.”

“I’m probably the same. Where can you find subordinates who are perfect? They might look good on the surface, but once you unwrap them, they’re always a bit disappointing.”

I played along with a bit of false modesty.

“You little rascal. You don’t want to work with me, do you?”

His tone was laced with laughter, but his eyes weren’t. He glared sharply.

“It’s not exactly that; we just don’t mesh well together.”

“What? I don’t mesh well with you?”

“Ah, no, not that. It’s just that I feel awkward working with people. I prefer doing things alone. Studying alone, working alone.”

“Is that why you’re gaining experience at an investment firm?”

“Yes. That’s how investing is, isn’t it? Looking at data, gathering information, and making decisions alone. It’s not about working with others. I guess this suits my aptitude.”

“Hmm… Investing, huh.”

I hinted that I wasn’t interested in the group. How would he react?

He wasn’t naive enough to believe my words at face value. He would try to sound me out a few more times.

“Hey. Now that I hear it, I want you even more.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I’m weak in those areas. Planning, analysis. I’m comfortable and good at managing people, but I’m weak with numbers.”

Is that what you call it!

If you’re weak with numbers, can’t plan, and your analysis is a mess, doesn’t that just mean you’re incompetent?

Managing people is easy? As the eldest grandson of the chairman, everyone will bow and scrape, listening to your every word. What a load of nonsense!

I concealed my about-to-crumple expression and offered a smile.

“Hehe. Why are you like this? You have all the smart people in the country at your beck and call.”

“No, really! Most of them are all show and no substance.”

Watching Jin Young-jun put on a serious face for no reason, I subtly cast my first bait. If he takes this, I’ll cast the second, real bait.

“Young-joon hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“If—and this is a big if.”

“Yeah, tell me.”

Jin Young-jun’s eyes began to sparkle.

“If I try my hand at investing and it doesn’t work out… eventually, the only option left would be working for the group, right?”

“That’s right.”

“What exactly do you mean by wanting me to work with you?”

“You’d be my Lee Hak-jae.”

“You mean taking on the group’s overall affairs?”

“Exactly. In fact, you’d have more power than Lee Hak-jae. He’s just an outsider, a glorified salaryman, if you want the blunt truth. But you’re family, my cousin. The presidents of the subsidiaries wouldn’t dare to show any dissatisfaction, jealousy, or opposition, right?”

Lee Hak-jae is constantly at odds with key executives of the subsidiaries. Some of them are older than Chief of Staff Lee and had a connection with Grandfather much earlier, even though they hold the same president-level position.

They also have a sense of pride as the key figures who grew Soonyang into a group.

There’s no way their relationship would be good when Lee Hak-jae, who joined later, nitpicks everything.

“When our third generation takes over the group, you’ll be the true second-in-command. You were Grandfather’s favorite grandson among us, so who would complain about you? Right?”

“Hmm….”

I picked up my drink and pretended to ponder. Jin Young-jun, growing impatient, began to pour out even sweeter words.

“I’ll stand firm and centered, concentrating power on you. Honestly, investing is just playing with money. Wouldn’t it be more interesting to grow Soonyang into a global company? The scale is different.”

“But even then, wouldn’t I just be a salaryman?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Even if you and I share blood, what does it mean? I don’t own a single share of Soonyang Group stock.”

“……”

He shut his mouth abruptly at the mention of group shares. It was a sensitive topic and something he couldn’t easily comment on.

After all, isn’t securing shares what ultimately decides the successor of Soonyang Group?

“Hyung-nim, I’m learning about investing. I’m not a real estate speculator; I focus solely on investing in company stocks… Learning about this, the first thing you realize is the importance of shares. Shares are the symbol of the owner and the owner’s ID.”

Jin Young-jun remained silent, seemingly considering his response.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? A little while ago, you called me family. Or was I wrong?”

“Huh? Ah, no. Of course, you’re family.”

“Does that mean you won’t share any group shares since we’re just cousins?”

I slammed my drink down on the table, feigning anger.

“What’s the deal? You’re asking me to join you, to work together, but in the end, your intention is just to use me as a salaryman?”

“Hey! You little… Why are you talking like that, huh!”

“Isn’t it the truth? You call me family, but how is that different from being an employee?”

“Do you think I’m some kind of lowlife? Huh?”

He suddenly raised his voice; he must have finally thought of something to say.

“Listen, right now, I don’t have any shares like you, so I don’t have the leverage to say anything definite. What we’re talking about is something for the distant future. For Grandfather to pass the group on to our father, and then for me to receive it, it’ll take at least 10 years, maybe 15. How can I guarantee something that far off? Don’t you think?”

I shouldn’t let this guy think I’m some naive fool with no desire for group shares, even though I don’t fully trust him. I need to show a moderate amount of ambition for him to believe me more.

“So, you’re saying I should wait for shares that might come into my hands in 15 years? And work under you based on that? That doesn’t make any sense….”

“Hey! Under? What do you mean under? You’d be my right-hand man, not someone beneath me! And if you’re serious about this, I promise you. Of course, I’ll share the shares. You need to have a full pocket to have strength, right?”

He latched onto my words and raised his voice in return. Using the opportunity, he tried to gauge my thoughts again.

“Alright, let’s be frank. How much do you want?”

I needed to answer this carefully.

I needed to name an amount that would make him believe I wasn’t aiming for control of the group.

What’s the right number for this guy?

I pretended to think, deliberately pausing before answering.

“25% of the Soonyang Group shares that you will eventually have.”

He had a subtle expression. It was probably ambiguous for him. Not too much, not too little.

But it was pathetic.

Isn’t this all about the distant future anyway? He’s just testing me and doesn’t even intend to give anything. In situations like this, you have to call his bluff without hesitation.

Hesitating and failing to answer would only reveal a narrow-mindedness and greedy intentions.

Suddenly, an old memory flashed through my mind, and I almost burst out laughing.

“If you win the lottery, how much will you give me?”

My wife asked me when I was agonizing over lottery numbers.

Since it was a guaranteed loss anyway, I should have immediately said I’d give her everything, just to make her feel good. Even if I miraculously won, I could just hide the fact.

That was exactly how I was back then.

Hesitant.

The price I paid was a marital spat and having to face my wife’s cold expression for a week.

To assure this guy that I wasn’t eyeing the group, I said,

“The 25% I’d receive would be for the purpose of protecting your management rights, a permanent friendly share. And when you step down from management and your son, my nephew, succeeds you, I’ll pass it on at a low price. Haha.”

If he still hesitated after I went this far to please him and pretended to concede, he’d be an idiot not worth dealing with.

“Why are you talking about a kid who isn’t even born yet…? Give that 25% to your son, my nephew. Haha.”

If Grandfather saw this, he might be so dumbfounded he’d collapse.

Two young grandsons calling each other ‘hyung-nim’ and ‘little brother’ while bartering shares – how absurd would that look?

“I’m a little embarrassed. I haven’t even decided what I’m going to do yet….”

“It’s alright. This will be your Plan B in life. If what you’re trying to do doesn’t work out, remember this promise today. I won’t forget it either.”

You need to play along with his mood in situations like this. That’s how you can naturally drop the second bait.

“Thank you, hyung-nim. Honestly, I didn’t know you thought of me this highly.”

“Hey, hey. Cut it out. What is this between us…!”

Jin Young-jun emptied his glass with a hearty expression and held it out to me.

“It’s still far off, but the important thing is that you and I are on the same page. Let’s push and pull each other to make Soonyang Group incredible.”

“Yes, hyung-nim. If I ever work for the group, I’ll always be on your side.”

I also emptied my full glass cleanly.

Shall I cast the bait now?

“Hyung-nim, do you have some money on you?”

“Money? Why? Do you need some?”

“Ah, no. What would I need money for?”

“Then why?”

“I just wanted to show you that I’m genuinely on your side.”

His eyes lit up with curiosity. Jin Young-jun leaned closer.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but Representative Oh Se-hyun provided a lot of funding for our uncle’s mayoral campaign.”

“What? Really?”

“Yes. Initially, my aunt came to me asking for some campaign funds, but all my money is tied up in Miracle, you know? So, I introduced her to Representative Oh.”

“So, Aunt made a deal with Oh Se-hyun. Do you know what she promised him?”

“That’s the key, hehe.”

At my laughter, Jin Young-jun clapped his hands.

“Why don’t you go inside and rest for a bit? I’ll call you if I need you again.”

As the people helping with our drinks went upstairs to the second floor, Jin Young-jun showed his true interest.

“What is it? Don’t tell me it’s about Media City? The one that was part of Uncle’s campaign promise? Is that why Dae-ah Construction was acquired?”

“Yes.”

Has he gotten sharper after eating at construction site cafeterias? He figured it out right away. But he’ll be shocked when he learns the scale is different.

“Executives from Soonyang Construction have moved to Dae-ah en masse, haven’t they? Grandfather and Representative Oh are cooperating. But the two of them have kept the information tightly under wraps.”

“What information?”

“The location. The location of where Media City will be built hasn’t been announced yet. Well… considering the scale, I understand the need for secrecy….”

Glancing at his expression, his mouth was agape, his eyes blinking.

A large-scale project amidst an economic crisis.

It was obvious the government would actively support it. So, what about the hidden information for such a project?

“You know the location!”

I nodded with a grin.