The Genius Grandson of the Loan King - Chapter 68 (68/840)
< Didn't you say you didn't want to meet me? >
#68
Didn't you say you didn't want to meet me?
Seeing that my contemplation was taking too long, Ma Manager gave me some space.
Stepping out of the president's office, I found myself back in the plain, ordinary office with not a single decent potted plant.
Sigh... This structure is really hard to get used to.
I could feel the employees who were working glancing at me.
Maintaining a composed expression, I spoke to Ma Manager in a low voice.
"Once this matter is resolved, we'll start building a skyscraper on the Daeji-dong land. We'll give the construction to DaeHyun Construction, and Geumseong Construction will take the subcontract. Please contact Geumseong Construction separately. I'll visit Chairman Song of DaeHyun Construction to set up a meeting."
"Understood."
While organizing the tasks to be done next, the CFO, who looked like he was about to die, came out.
"Please go in. I'll prepare the documents and come back. Do we need a lawyer?"
"I'll call one now."
The CFO hurriedly disappeared somewhere.
I called the father of Yun Jae-ha, whom I had kept on speed dial. It was a direct line that not just anyone could reach.
- This is Yun Hyung-min.
"Father, it's Kim Mu-hyuk. It's been a while. How are you?"
- Mu-hyuk? What's up? You didn't call just to say hello, did you?
"I'm at Hyunbo Group's headquarters right now, and I need a lawyer. Someone who knows corporate transactions well."
- I thought Chairman Cheon had his own lawyers.
"How can I do business with someone else while you're still around? Grandfather and I are separate. Please, I need your help. We'll be working together often, so I'd appreciate it if you could send someone capable."
- Hahaha. I've noticed this since last time, but you're quite an interesting guy. My son has made a good friend. Alright, I'll send you Ace.
Yun Hyung-min, the co-CEO of Yun & Jang Law Firm.
It was a law firm, not a legal corporation.
But it was the best in the legal field.
They were called the best and worst in Korea because they would take on any case if the price was right.
'But they come at a high cost.'
Other legal corporations avoided fighting them in court.
They did anything to ensure their client's victory. Evidence tampering, witness buying, lobbying, bribery... They were relentless and ruthless, using any means necessary to secure victory.
This was a time when such practices were not yet widely known to the public, only within the industry.
But I was satisfied with the help of a lawyer who could handle things effectively.
I returned to the president's office and sat down. Chairman Jang, who looked exhausted, didn't even glance at me.
An uncomfortable silence lingered for a while.
"Everyone said you pushed out your uncles and took their seats, and you're just like Chairman Cheon."
I thought Chairman Jang might have something to say. Just then, a sharp voice cut through the silence.
"I'll take it as a compliment."
It was a sarcastic remark, but it didn't affect me at all.
Seeing that I wasn't fazed, Chairman Jang added, as if trying to curse me, "Don't get too cocky. You never know when it might come back to haunt you."
I suppressed a hollow laugh.
Anyone else, but to hear such words from Chairman Jang...
The Korean economy will face a foreign exchange crisis due to your management.
The ultimate figure in the collusion between business and politics will ultimately fall.
I'm not a good person.
I have no intention of stopping this person.
But I won't let him escape to a foreign country like last time.
Hiding my true feelings, I smiled and said, "I'll keep that in mind."
Perhaps because my response was dry, Chairman Jang soon gave up and fell silent.
Just as the silence became unbearable, the lawyer arrived.
"Hello, I'm Lee Byung-ju."
A man in his late 30s entered and greeted me. He looked rather ordinary and unassuming, not at all like the relentless and ruthless lawyers of Yun & Jang.
"Are you the lawyer Father sent?"
"Yes, I work at Yun & Jang."
"Please take care. We'll be working together often, so let's introduce ourselves properly later."
"Understood."
Lee Byung-ju sat down next to me.
True to Yun & Jang's reputation, he didn't bow to anyone except the client, not even to Chairman Jang.
"Hmm."
Perhaps feeling awkward, Chairman Jang cleared his throat, but Lee Byung-ju remained unmoved.
"What do you need me to do?"
"We'll be transferring bonds and stocks in exchange for land. One is an unregistered plot, so the process of transferring ownership will be a bit complicated. The other is a 1,000-pyeong plot in Daeji-dong. It's owned by Hyunbo Construction, but it should be easier than the other."
It was a simple explanation, but Lee Byung-ju spoke with confidence.
"That sounds straightforward."
It seemed Yun Hyung-min had sent a capable person.
A short while later, the CFO returned with another man.
The CFO introduced him.
"He's our group's legal manager."
They exchanged brief introductions and began the paperwork.
It was incredibly boring, but I had to wait and sign the documents.
After more than two hours, the contract was completed and signed, finalizing the transaction.
"I'll handle the implementation of the transaction."
Lee Byung-ju, who would handle the transfer of stocks and ownership, nodded and stood up.
"Thank you, Lawyer Lee Byung-ju."
"Yes, Mr. Kim."
I left the shabby commercial building with Ma Manager.
Opening the car door and getting in, I said, "Let's go to Chairman Song's place."
I wanted to finish everything today so we could start construction immediately.
When we arrived at Chairman Song's house, a familiar secretary came out and guided Ma Manager inside.
Chairman Song, whom I hadn't seen in a while, looked much worse.
Perhaps because he had retired from active management due to government pressure rather than his own will, he seemed to be suffering mentally.
"Chairman, it's been a while. I've been busy lately. I'm sorry."
"Hehe, it's been a while. Come in, sit down."
Though he smiled, the shadows on his face, which had been hardened by decades of work, were deeper.
"You look much worse. Are you taking care of your health?"
"Hehe, I'm still fine, don't worry. What brings you here today?"
"Indeed, your insight is sharp."
"Don't flatter me. Do you think I don't know you? I told you to meet my granddaughter, but you kept avoiding it. You must have a reason for coming here suddenly."
At first, I often met Chairman Song to seek advice. Or rather, to listen to his life stories.
"Hahaha..."
I tried to laugh it off, but Chairman Song narrowed his eyes and glared at me.
"You're 19 now. You're grown up. Don't call yourself young. Since you're here, at least meet her."
Well... It ended up like this.
"I'll just see her face."
"You're as stubborn as your grandfather... Ah."
Though he scolded me, the shadows on his face seemed to lift a bit.
"Alright. Now, what's your business?"
"You know I've taken over Geumseong Construction, right?"
Chairman Song nodded without a word.
"During the recent Hyunbo Group bond settlement, I received land in Daeji-dong in exchange for money. I want to build a skyscraper there, but it's too big a project for Geumseong to handle alone."
"Ha, Daeji-dong? Did Chairman Jang give that up?"
I recounted the negotiation and coercion process with Hyunbo Group.
Chairman Song laughed heartily, saying, "Hahaha! I should have seen Chairman Jang's face. To lose to his own grandson? Hahaha!"
Chairman Song, amused, asked, "So you want DaeHyun to do the construction?"
"Yes, even if Geumseong Construction does the actual work, I want DaeHyun to handle the construction. The land is quite complex for a skyscraper."
"Are you asking us to handle the land use change?"
I could have lobbied to change the land use myself, but DaeHyun Construction would be faster.
I needed to speed up the construction.
All work had to be completed by early 1998 at the latest, which was too tight a schedule for Geumseong Construction alone.
"I'm in a bit of a hurry. I also want to shorten the construction period. Please, I'm asking for your help."
"I'm retired now. What can I do? You need to talk to the CEO of DaeHyun Construction."
Chairman Song tried to brush me off.
"He's too rigid."
"What? Am I soft, then?"
"You're not rigid. But I've known you for a long time..."
I smiled and shrugged off Chairman Song's disapproving gaze.
"Naive. In exchange, you'll meet my granddaughter today. Will you do it?"
"Understood."
Chairman Song called his secretary and had the CEO of DaeHyun Construction brought to his house.
While talking with Chairman Song, I saw the CEO of DaeHyun Construction arrive and went outside.
I sat on the bench in the garden, where I had sat the first time I came.
'How did DaeHyun fare during the IMF crisis...?'
While recalling my memories with my eyes closed, I felt the sunlight on my face being blocked.
Looking up, I saw a young woman I had never met before standing there.
"Hello."
She looked about the same age as Ji-yeong.
"Hello. Are you Chairman Song's granddaughter?"
"Yes, I'm Song Hye-ji."
I stood up from the chair.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Kim Mu-hyuk."
I had never seen her before.
Was there a woman named Song Hye-ji in the Song family?
"You said you didn't want to meet me, right? I've never been treated like this before."
Her blunt comment left me speechless.
"Grandfather kept insisting I meet you, but you kept saying no, right?"
"Hahaha..."
Chairman Song, how could you tell her that directly...
"I refused because you seemed too young."
"Anyone who hears that would think you're over 30. You're 22, right? I was in middle school when you were in high school."
Her straightforward and unpretentious manner, typical of a top chaebol family, made me laugh.
She laughed along with me.
Her smile was beautiful.
"If I offended you, I'm sorry. I thought meeting a minor and an adult were different, even if the age gap isn't that big."
"Wow, you're so old-fashioned. In my family, we've been told since we were young that we have to get married. It's not surprising, but you're different, aren't you? Why do you keep using formal language?"
"It's our first meeting..."
"Do you, by any chance, have no dating experience?"
I've been married before.
"No, I haven't."
"You keep using formal language. I'll use informal language."
This was a first for me.
"Alright, use informal language. I will too."
"You seem more like a 20-something now. You're a bit outdated, you know?"
"I've never heard that from anyone before."
Song Hye-ji chattered non-stop.
She was no different from a typical teenager.
I played along and continued the conversation.
"What did you hear about me from Chairman Song?"
"About you?"
"Yeah. What did he say?"
"Just that you're the richest person in Korea?"
I burst out laughing.
"Why? Isn't that a compliment?"
Song Hye-ji, tilting her head, looked cute.
"No... Don't you put on airs?"
"Put on airs? Why would I put on airs when we both know each other? We're not ordinary people. Pretending to be ordinary would be fake, wouldn't it?"
I nodded unconsciously.
"Anyway, now that we've met, it's done, right?"
"Wow, that's funny. I've never been treated like this before."
"Hahaha."
It was a rather enjoyable conversation.
No matter how I thought about it, there was no Song Hye-ji in my memory of the DaeHyun family.
Whatever secrets she might have, she was a likable person.
"What exactly did Chairman Song say?"
"Ah, really! I didn't want to tell you this."
Song Hye-ji leaned in, as if sharing a secret.
My heart started beating rapidly.
"Actually..."
< Didn't you say you didn't want to meet me? > End