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Chapter 32




The Genius Grandson of the Loan King - Chapter 32 (32/840)
< Chairman Song Young-ju and Song Hyun-su >
#32
Chairman Song Young-ju and Song Hyun-su
“Do you know where it is?”
“Yes.”
I looked around the area once again.
The residence of Dae-hyun's honorary chairman, ranked first among the conglomerates, was similar in size to my grandfather's house.
At that moment, a man who looked like a secretary opened the door and greeted me.
“He is waiting for you. Please come in.”
My grandfather nodded lightly and followed him. I followed my grandfather as well.
When we entered, Chairman Song was already waiting at the entrance.
“Oh, Chairman Cheon! How long has it been?”
“Chairman Song, it's been a while.”
“Hahaha, you old rascal. You're still as stubborn as ever. How many times do I have to tell you I'm your senior?”
I first met the chairman of Dae-hyun at his funeral.
My grandfather's health had deteriorated, so I visited the funeral on his behalf.
“Is the well-built kid next to you the grandson you were so proud of? He looks quite a bit like Chairman Cheon.”
At his words, I bowed deeply.
“Hello, Chairman. My name is Kim Mu-hyuk. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Indeed, indeed.”
Chairman Song nodded and led us to the living room.
After a hearty laugh, Chairman Song finally began to speak once seated.
“Huh. So, what made you move your heavy behind?”
At this, my grandfather glanced at me and then shrugged at Chairman Song.
“What reason could there be? I just wanted to thank you for your help and introduce my grandson. I thought I’d do both at once.”
“Huh, the great Chairman Cheon introducing his grandson personally? You must be getting old. Weren’t you the one without a drop of blood or tears?”
I couldn’t help but glance at my grandfather’s expression.
But even with Chairman Song’s blunt words, my grandfather showed no change in emotion.
“Without a drop of blood or tears? Chairman Song, you’re no different. Do you remember the first time we met? I thought you were either the president of a construction company or a local thug.”
“Huhuhu.”
The two of them seemed to have no intention of stopping their reminiscing.
I found myself listening intently to their vivid stories.
“Why do you keep getting involved in politics? You should just do what you’ve always done...”
The atmosphere grew somber.
As my grandfather chided Chairman Song with a sigh, Chairman Song responded with a bitter, weak voice.
“It’s because it’s dirty. They always ask for money, and every time the government changes, they catch us tycoons like rats. So, I thought I’d give it a try. Sigh...”
“So, are you going to stay holed up at home, watching the government’s every move?”
Chairman Song shook his head.
“My kids need to figure it out on their own now. You and I are both at the age where we should step down. Well, you can sit there until you die since it’s all about money for you. I envy you...”
At this, my grandfather put on a mock serious face and joked.
“Do you not need my money anymore?”
“Huhuhu. Are you trying to threaten me with money again? You’re joking, right? So, what’s the real reason you’re here?”
My grandfather turned to look at me.
“Mu-hyuk, wait outside for a moment. I’ll call you back in.”
With that, I got up without a word and left the room.
Outside the living room, Manager Ha, who had been talking to Chairman Song’s secretary, bowed deeply when he saw me.
“Are you done, young master?”
“Yes. He said to wait outside for a moment. By the way, can I go out to the yard?”
Chairman Song’s secretary, who had been watching me, stepped forward.
“I’ll show you the way. Please follow me this way.”
I followed the secretary to the yard.
The summer sun was scorching, but it was quite cool under the shade of the trees.
I looked up at the sky through the branches of the garden trees.
“You can freely look around. Would you like someone to accompany you?”
“No, I just want to think. I’ll call if I need anything.”
The secretary stepped aside.
I slowly walked around the yard. The pines and shrubs surrounding Chairman Song’s house were lush.
I sat down on a bench in a corner and lost myself in thought.
‘What are Grandfather and Chairman Song talking about?’
Chairman Song Young-ju of Dae-hyun.
A few years later, when he died, Dae-hyun, which was ranked first in the business world, was torn apart and split into several groups.
After that, until the day I died, Il-sung Group reigned in that position.
The stocks my grandfather owns and the stocks I will gather from now on.
‘Whose side will I take?’
My decision will drastically change the future.
As I was lost in thought, I sensed someone approaching.
I looked up to see a young man looking at me.
“Who are you?”
That was his first question to me.
I recognized him at first glance.
Song Hyun-su, the grandson of Chairman Song of Dae-hyun.
I stood up and extended my hand.
“Hello, I’m Kim Mu-hyuk.”
“Oh, I’m Song Hyun-su.”
Song Hyun-su, who had been tilting his head, seemed to realize his mistake and shook my hand.
I smiled and introduced myself first.
“My grandfather and I came to meet Chairman Song. They are talking, so I came out here to clear my head.”
“Oh... I came out because I saw someone I didn’t recognize. Your face looks familiar... Have we met before?”
Ah, that’s why...
I felt a bit embarrassed as I replied.
“...You probably saw me during the college entrance interview.”
“Oh! The one who said studying was the easiest?”
“Yes...”
“Haha, I laughed so much watching that interview. Was it really sincere? I wanted to ask you if I ever met you.”
“Haha... Forget about it.”
“Aha-ha!”
While I was giving an awkward laugh, he laughed heartily.
His expression seemed genuinely friendly.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help but laugh. I hope you’re not offended.”
He laughed sadly and waved his hand.
“No, I must have been a bit crazy back then. It’s a dark past I’ll carry with me...”
“No, I think it will be funny when you’re older. You were in the law department at Korea University, right? Your dream was to be a prosecutor or a judge?”
“No, it just happened... I plan to take the bar exam once. I’ll decide later whether to take the second stage after the first.”
“I see. I’m in business administration. I didn’t have the skills to go to Korea University, but I’m lucky to be at a prestigious university. I’ll probably go abroad for further studies soon. Hahaha.”
Previously, our paths had only crossed briefly at a funeral, but talking to him for a while, I found he was more talkative than I expected.
He was completely different from his charismatic future self.
Song Hyun-su and I continued our conversation, losing track of time.
* * *
The living room door closed. Chairman Cheon, who had been watching Kim Mu-hyuk’s back, turned to Chairman Song again.
“Chairman Song, I came here to ask for a favor.”
“A favor?”
“Yes, a favor.”
“Huh~ I’ve lived long enough to see this. To hear the word ‘favor’ from your mouth. What is it?”
Chairman Cheon carefully picked up the teacup in front of him.
“I plan to transfer most of my stocks to my grandson soon. He will also inherit a significant amount of Dae-hyun’s subsidiary stocks.”
“Ho, you’re really planning to groom him. So?”
Chairman Song looked at Chairman Cheon with interest.
“Could you meet him once a week and give him some advice? Even once a month would be fine.”
“...”
Chairman Song stared at Chairman Cheon for a long time without answering.
When Chairman Cheon finally put down the cold teacup, Chairman Song gave a hollow laugh.
“It seems you’ve made up your mind to groom him as your successor. Will it be okay? Without going through the next generation... Transferring directly to a grandson could cause a bloodbath in the family. And he’s not even a direct grandson, but a grandnephew. Will your sons understand? It’s not a proper business, but an underground economy.”
Chairman Song asked worriedly, but Chairman Cheon seemed resolute.
“Not yet... As long as I’m alive, I’m not worried. I don’t want him to live the same life as me. He needs to come out into the light. I plan to pass on the illegal activities to my sons and teach him how to live in the light.”
“Do you really like him? He’s only twenty, after all. I think it’s too early.”
“Take some time to meet him. He’s not an ordinary kid.”
Chairman Cheon’s eyes became distant.
Chairman Song, guessing who he was thinking of, looked at him silently.
“...I see things you can’t. He’s smart and decisive, and he can get what he wants. How could he not stand out among my sons?”
“Huh... I never imagined you’d be like this. I’ll take some time to talk to him. Will that be enough?”
“Thank you.”
“If you’re grateful, call me ‘senior’.”
Chairman Song said jokingly, and a faint smile appeared on Chairman Cheon’s face.
* * *
While I was talking to Song Hyun-su in the garden, Chairman Song’s secretary came to find us.
“The chairmen are calling you.”
At the secretary’s words, we ended our conversation.
“Alright, Mu-hyuk. Let’s have a drink next time.”
“Yes, senior. I hope we can have such a time again.”
We exchanged greetings, and I followed the secretary back to the living room.
“Did you call for me?”
When I entered the room, Chairman Song pointed to the sofa next to my grandfather.
“Sit down.”
“Yes.”
When I sat down, Chairman Song just stared at me for a while.
It was an awkward silence.
After a long time, Chairman Song finally spoke.
“Come to my house every Saturday starting next week.”
“Pardon?”
“Chairman Cheon asked me to. He wants me to give you some advice.”
I looked at my grandfather in surprise.
But his expression didn’t change at all.
Chairman Song continued in a matter-of-fact tone.
“We’ll decide if we should continue meeting after our first conversation. Even if Chairman Cheon asks, I won’t meet a young kid like you unless it benefits me.”
I listened silently, trying to guess my grandfather’s intentions.
“Book smarts and real-world smarts are different. I didn’t even finish elementary school. But is there anyone in this country who doesn’t know my name? Don’t think the world is easy just because you’re smart.”
“Yes, I understand.”
I nodded without a word.
Chairman Song, as if receiving a pledge, added.
“That’s good. Since Chairman Cheon came all the way here to ask, I’ll meet you a few times. Try to impress me. If you do, you’ll gain a lot.”
“Yes.”
Chairman Song, who had been listening silently, looked at Chairman Cheon.
“Chairman Cheon, is this okay?”
“Thank you.”
Chairman Song, with a slightly softer tone, said to me.
“I’ll introduce my grandson to you next time. He’s about your age, a fourth-year university student.”
“Oh? You’re already calling each other ‘senior’ and ‘junior’? You’re quite savvy for your age. Chairman Cheon doesn’t know what you know.”
Chairman Song glanced at Chairman Cheon.
I was surprised to see this side of him.
Still, my grandfather, who didn’t change his expression, was impressive.
My grandfather then got up from his seat.
“I’ll take my leave now. From next time, I’ll just send my grandson.”
“Alright. And take care of the loan we agreed on. You know how things are these days...”
Ah...
I suddenly remembered that Chairman Song, who received 16.8% of the votes in the presidential election, made the current president quite anxious.
‘They pressured the banks not to give loans and conducted intense tax investigations...’
I left Chairman Song’s house with my grandfather and headed to Pyeongchang-dong.
My grandfather didn’t say a word until we arrived home.
Only when we got home did he say to me.
“Learn a lot.”
Then he went into his study.
I entered my room with a confused feeling.
‘Do I really know my grandfather well?’
His actions were completely different from what I was used to, leaving me feeling uneasy.
That evening.
The 9 o'clock news anchor reported.
– This morning, the gang leader, Mr. Lee, who had influence nationwide from his base in Busan, was found in the prison where he was being held...
‘It seems he’s made up his mind. Good. I don’t have to be abandoned...’
< Chairman Song Young-ju and Song Hyun-su > End