Chapter 181: Did the Story End Well?

“Did the story end well?”

“I can’t help but think we might have just thrown away two billion won. That kid is frustratingly dense.”

Oh Se-hyun’s pouty lips clearly showed his displeasure.

“Let’s just consider it an expensive tuition fee.”

“Some tuition fee. So? What’s the plan now?”

“My assistance ends here. If it still doesn’t work out, I won’t care what Sang-joon does.”

Two billion won for independence support was more than enough. Oh Se-hyun seemed relieved. He likely thought it was foolish to pour money into a hopeless cause just because of blood ties.

Just then, the secretary burst through the door without knocking.

“D-Director,”

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

Something serious must have happened for him to disregard protocol.

The secretary didn’t say anything but grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.

Breaking news flashed across the screen.

『Chairman Joo Young-il of Daehyun Group passed away last night at 10 PM at Daehyun Hospital in Seoul due to a chronic illness. The direct cause of death was ‘acute respiratory failure due to pneumonia,’ and it is reported that he remained conscious until the very end.

Former Chairman Joo Young-il had stepped down from management in May of last year and had been receiving treatment while going back and forth between his home and Daehyun Hospital in Seoul. It is reported that since August, he primarily stayed at the hospital due to severe arthritis making it difficult for him to move around.』

We both stared blankly at the TV, our mouths agape.

『The funeral for former Chairman Joo Young-il will be a private family affair for five days, but with the participation of all five major economic organizations, including the Federation of Korean Industries, it is practically considered a business leaders’ funeral.

The Federation of Korean Industries stated, ‘It could have been a business leaders’ funeral, but considering Daehyun’s circumstances, we agreed on a family funeral.’ They added, ‘However, considering the deceased served as the chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries for ten years and his contributions to the Korean economy, all business leaders are expected to attend the funeral.’

Memorial altars will be set up at Daehyun Group business locations both domestically and internationally. It is reported that Chairman Joo Tae-shik of Daehyun Automobile, the eldest son, will oversee all funeral costs and procedures.』

TV broadcasting stations began showing documentaries about Chairman Joo Young-il’s eventful life.

Snapping out of it, Oh Se-hyun immediately picked up the receiver.

“Check Daehyun Group’s stock price in real-time and report every ten minutes.”

Daehyun Group’s stock price would inevitably fall, but it would likely recover to normal in a month or two.

Major Korean companies had already moved past the point where the chairman single-handedly ran everything. The chairman focused solely on succession, and the company ran smoothly thanks to the executives.

“Wow, things are about to get interesting.”

“I don’t think it’ll be that dynamic. Isn’t the division of subsidiaries already complete?”

I knew about the impending inheritance battle that would be as fierce as a war between princes, but I subtly probed him.

“Where does the fight for money ever end? The sons who kept their mouths shut because of their father will now come forward in full force. And there are quite a few children, aren’t there? Eight sons. And then there are Chairman Joo’s siblings. They’re practically co-founders; they won’t stay quiet. They’ll be desperate to give their own children a piece of the pie.”

Daehyun Group, which had been preparing for the separation of its affiliates for several years, had been divided into five core business areas after the automobile group was separated: heavy industries, finance including securities, electronics, and construction.

However, due to the circular cross-shareholding structure, a complete separation was impossible, and like our Soonyang Group, they held knives that could be used to injure each other at any time.

“What are your plans, Uncle? Are you going to pay your respects?”

“I’ll just send a condolence wreath. I didn’t have any personal connection with the deceased while he was alive.”

“Weren’t you the one who fiercely fought over Ajin Automobile? You can’t say there was no connection.”

“I’m fine. Chairman Song Hyun-chang will represent HW Group anyway… That’s enough courtesy. What about you? Chairman Jin will definitely go. Aren’t you going with him?”

“I don’t know. If Grandfather asks me to go with him, I’ll go, but otherwise, I’ll have to pass. I don’t have enough seniority to be there.”

I wished I could go with him.

Their family also has many third-generation members. Some are already involved in management, and others are preparing to be. We could collaborate on joint investments or compete in business ventures.

It wouldn’t be bad to get acquainted with the Daehyun Group at a time like this.

However, three days passed, but I didn’t hear from my grandfather.

* * *

“Have all the people who are going gone?”

“Yes. The Blue House secretaries and cabinet ministers visited on the first day. Most of the group CEOs have also paid their respects.”

“What about our kids?”

“Vice-chairmen Jin Young-ki and Jin Dong-ki visited on the first day, but Chairman Jin Sang-ki is still keeping to himself.”

Chairman Jin kept sighing.

“When are you planning to visit?”

Chief of staff Lee Hak-jae cautiously asked, and Chairman Jin stopped sighing.

“Let’s go the day before the Funeral. By then, those bastards’ tears will be dry, won’t they? It’ll be interesting to see their expressions.”

“Is that really necessary…?”

Lee Hak-jae, unsure of Chairman Jin’s intentions, tentatively brought it up.

“Once they die, you can’t see them. When I die, I won’t know what kind of expressions my sons are making, what they’re doing, or what they’re plotting.”

“So you want to see that?”

“Yes. Those bastards and my own sons are no different. They’re all the same. They’ve never earned a penny with their own hands, but they’ve never lacked money either. Sights you can’t see once you die are fun to see while alive.”

“How can they be the same? Daehyun has to be split into many small pieces, so the second generation’s dissatisfaction is on the verge of erupting, but Soonyang has been largely divided into two. It’ll be different.”

“Enough, man. What are you trying to comfort me for? Big or small, it’s all the same. Is there an end to people’s greed? Oh, and tell me stories when you visit my grave later.”

“Yes?”

“Once I close my eyes, it’s over for me, but you’ll be watching our children fight. Tell me in detail how fun it was, don’t leave anything out. Heh.”

Lee Hak-jae couldn’t say anything. Though he spoke jokingly, Lee Hak-jae could glimpse his true feelings.

“What would you like me to do?”

It might have been a slightly rude question, but Lee Hak-jae was curious about Chairman Jin’s true intentions.

Chairman Jin stared at Lee Hak-jae in silence for a moment. And when he opened his mouth, unexpected words poured out.

“That’s up to you. How can I tell you what to do? But if I could ask one thing… don’t be too greedy.”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing. You’ll know automatically once I die and am no longer in this world.”

Lee Hak-jae wanted to hear more about Chairman Jin’s thoughts, but he couldn’t press further, so he kept his mouth shut.

“Oh, and I’ll take Do-jun with me, so be aware of that.”

“Yes. Are you perhaps considering attending the Funeral as well?”

“Of course. The old man I hated the most in the world has died, so how difficult could it be to spend one night together? I need to see with my own eyes when he leaves to be buried in the ground.”

“Understood. I will inform Daehyun in advance.”

* * *

In the car heading to the temple in Seongbuk-dong, my grandfather was unusually quiet.

He used to say that when people get old, their energy rises to their mouths, making them constantly chatty, but today he was different.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, I spoke first.

“Chairman Joo’s residence must be huge, so why did they choose a temple for the funeral hall?”

“It’s following the wishes of the living. It’s Chairman Joo’s old hag of a wife finally resolving her resentment.”

“Yes?”

“He was a husband she wanted to kick out of the house her entire life. That old man Joo Young-il was always out and about. He loved women too much. There’s even a rumor that three of the eight children registered in the family registry have different mothers.”

“Is that true?”

My eyes widened as I asked.

“I don’t know. I asked him several times when we met for meals, but he always flatly denied it. It’s a secret only their family knows.”

My grandfather’s stiff expression softened slightly.

“There are probably quite a few children who aren’t registered. Whenever a woman had his child, he’d give her a significant amount of money and send her abroad, and it wasn’t just once or twice.”

Those women and children would know by now that Chairman Joo had passed away and would be busy booking plane tickets to Korea.

Inheritance lawsuits and paternity suits would follow, and Daehyun Group would spend money on the media to cover up the scandal.

Of course, not a single child born out of wedlock would gain a foothold in Daehyun Group, but they would all receive hefty settlements and disappear back overseas.

I chuckled at the thought but held it in and listened to my grandfather.

“So, she’s resolving her resentment. She’s making sure he can’t even set foot in the house for the last five days.”

I heard Chairman Joo’s wife was nearing eighty. A woman is still a woman even when she’s old. She was resolving her lifelong resentment in such a cruel way.

When I glanced sideways, wondering about something, my grandfather’s gaze changed.

“You rascal! What are you thinking about?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Nothing, my foot! It’s written all over your face. Are you comparing me to that old man Joo Young-il?”

“I’m not. It’s just….”

“Just what?”

My grandfather wiped the last hint of a smile from his face and spoke somewhat seriously.

“As far as I know, I don’t have any children from other women. I’ve always been careful about the three things a man needs to be careful about. You know what they are, right?”

I nodded. Isn’t it the mouth, the fist, and the… you know?

“But why ‘as far as you know’? Does that mean there might be something you don’t know?”

“I can’t guarantee that no woman who had my child kept it a secret from me, can I?”

Suddenly, my grandfather burst into laughter.

“Oh, my… I never thought I’d be having this kind of conversation with my grandson, something I haven’t even shared with my own children. Hahaha.”

“Well, you know I have a certain connection with you, Grandfather. Hehe.”

My grandfather flicked my forehead and said in a low voice.

“Do-jun.”

“Yes.”

“If, after I die, someone shows up claiming to be my child, make sure to get a thorough paternity test done.”

“And then?”

“Your uncles will try to get rid of them no matter what. And they should. Such a child shouldn’t get a foothold in Soonyang. But if they’re living in poverty, you should take care of them appropriately. Help them live like a human being.”

“Yes, I will make sure they have everything they need.”

“Good. Thank you.”

My grandfather held my hand tightly.

“You’re washing away this lingering feeling of unease I’ve always had. Heh.”

While we were talking, we arrived at the temple.

At the entrance of the temple, it seemed like every reporter in South Korea had gathered, and they started snapping photos of every car that passed through the entrance.

Daehyun Group employees were blocking the entrance and strictly controlling access, so all the reporters could do was take pictures of the license plates. By checking the vehicle registration, they could find out who had visited.

“Do-jun.”

“Yes.”

“Roll down the window.”

“Yes?”

“Hurry.”

“Grandfather, the reporters will shove their cameras in.”

“That’s why I’m telling you to open the window. Hurry.”

Even the driver gasped, swallowing hard in surprise.

And as my grandfather instructed, I rolled down the window. Since my grandfather’s window was already fully open, I couldn’t hesitate any longer.

Sure enough, cameras came right into the car, relentlessly snapping photos.

It wasn’t until we passed through the temple entrance that I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“Grandfather, why did you suddenly do that?”

“Hehe. Tomorrow, your face will be plastered all over the newspapers.”