Lee Sun-myeong turned her head and glared at Park Jin-hyuk.
It felt as if all her resentment was pouring onto Park Jin-hyuk.
‘What did I do wrong? Why are you trying to eat me alive? I haven’t done anything wrong.’
Park Jin-hyuk felt unfairly blamed, thinking that Lee Jong-mu’s scolding was being pinned on him.
However, that feeling didn’t last long.
‘Well, seeing how her value is trash, maybe it doesn’t matter. She must be someone unnecessary anyway.’
Park Jin-hyuk shifted his mindset.
Back when he couldn’t see people’s values as numbers, he constantly worried about how others would turn out in the future, or what they might think of him.
He tried his best to build good relationships with as many people as possible, and even forced himself to smile at those who started off on bad terms, hoping to make a better impression.
But now, he didn’t have to waste his emotions like that.
Because he could see people’s values, he thought there was no need to make an effort for someone with no value.
The value of Lee Sun-myeong, standing before him, was only 370,000.
From what he had observed so far, 370,000 was far below the average for ordinary people.
Even strangers he barely knew showed values in the tens of millions or hundreds of millions, so someone with a mere 370,000 was as good as useless.
Park Jin-hyuk decided there was no need to fret or force a smile for her.
Besides, it wasn’t just anyone—Lee Jong-mu had said that he had a share in Dongjeong Industries, so there was no need for Park Jin-hyuk to refuse.
Though DS alone was already overwhelming at the moment, he thought that perhaps, with time, he might need Dongjeong Industries to reach greater heights.
Unable to contain her frustration, Lee Sun-myeong left her seat, her son following close behind.
Lee Jong-mu, unconcerned, drank the scorched rice tea the housekeeper had brought and spoke up.
“Don’t expect Dongjeong Industries to help DS. It won’t happen, so don’t get your hopes up.”
“Yes. As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t come here expecting that.”
“Tell everyone else the same. Dongjeong Industries will never help DS…”
Park Jin-hyuk gazed calmly at Lee Jong-mu, who repeated himself again and again.
In the construction world, such words might carry weight, but looking at the bigger picture, it was clear that Dongjeong Industries would need help from DS, not the other way around.
Still, Park Jin-hyuk tried to discern why Lee Jong-mu was speaking so forcefully, but Lee Jong-mu didn’t even glance at him. He finished his tea and got up from his seat.
He turned and left without even acknowledging Park Jin-hyuk’s farewell.
Now, only Park Jin-hyuk and his maternal grandmother, who was sitting beside him, gently stroking his back, remained at the table.
His grandmother, perhaps feeling sorry for him, took his hand and stroked the back of it as she spoke.
“Don’t worry. You have this old granny. Until now, I held back, thinking DS would take good care of you, but I won’t do that anymore. I know how that woman treats you. I’ve heard she talks badly about you at women’s gatherings. I used to avoid such gatherings because I disliked them, but from now on, I’ll attend. So steel your heart and live as you wish, doing what you want. Oh, my poor child. How hard it must have been to grow up in others’ care without your mother.”
Park Jin-hyuk’s grandmother hugged him and gently stroked his hair.
*****
Park Jin-hyuk looked at the mountain of documents piled before him and let out a hollow laugh.
Boxes of paperwork were stacked high, forming a literal mountain on one side of the house.
“Hwang, don’t I still have some time left? Why are you doing this already? I’ll wither away at this rate.”
“Still, it will help if you familiarize yourself with some of the work before you go.”
“I get it. But did the Chairman order all this?”
“No. I prepared it myself, thinking it might be of some help.”
“You prepared all this yourself?”
Looking at the mountain of documents, Park Jin-hyuk thought this was a bit excessive.
“Sir, I was honestly surprised that you chose DS Construction.”
“I know. Even now, I’m constantly surprised myself.”
He had thought any DS subsidiary would be fine.
After all, DS Construction was a proud member of the DS Group—not some third- or fourth-level affiliate you’d only know about if you studied the shareholding structure.
But after hearing a few things in Pyeongchang-dong and Seongbuk-dong, he’d looked into DS Construction and had been troubled ever since.
“So, I’ve prepared a few things to help you.”
“You want me to go through all this before I start? You’ll be the death of me.”
“Sir, DS Construction isn’t in a good situation right now. One wrong move and you might bear all the blame and responsibility.”
“I know. That’s exactly why I’m so worried.”
Park Jin-hyuk sat cross-legged on the sofa and put a cigarette in his mouth.
Hwang, standing before him, looked shocked and shouted at him.
“Sir! Since when do you smoke?”
“Since when? Didn’t I always smoke?”
“You need to quit.”
As if it were poison, Hwang rushed over and snatched the cigarette from Park Jin-hyuk’s mouth.
“What are you doing?”
“Sir, have you forgotten? There’s a hereditary disease in the DS family. If you’re not careful now, you’ll end up like the Chairman.”
“The Chairman? Does he have some problem?”
Park Jin-hyuk recalled Park Jun-man, who smoked whenever they met.
Like other men, he would light up a cigarette when troubled and smoked more enjoyably than anyone else.
But Hwang was talking about a hereditary disease.
Hwang, looking flustered, began tidying up Park Jin-hyuk’s cigarettes as he spoke.
“Don’t you remember the Chairman goes somewhere warm every winter… Oh, right. Your memory hasn’t fully returned yet.”
“So the Chairman goes away every winter for convalescence? Does he have lung problems?”
“Yes, both the Chairman and the former Chairman, as well as other elders in the family, all had lung issues. You’re at risk, too, so please be careful.”
“I see.”
Nodding, Park Jin-hyuk reached out, took back a cigarette, and put it in his mouth.
“But I’ll be fine.”
“Sir.”
“I’m someone blessed by the gods, you know.”
He lit the cigarette, raised his right hand to the sky, left hand to his chest, and closed his eyes.
Hwang, knowing Park Jin-hyuk’s bullheadedness since childhood, gave up on trying to stop him.
Park Jin-hyuk took a long drag on his cigarette.
He’d already promised the Grim Reaper to live well and healthy until eighty.
That was why he didn’t want to let go of his beloved cigarettes.
After a few more puffs, he flicked the ashes into the tray and spoke.
“Anyway, what’s the Chairman’s real intention? Has he decided to give up on DS Construction? I don’t want to go dig ditches at a place that’s already doomed.”
“Sir, in a group like ours, giving up the construction company is no different from quitting business altogether.”
“What? Giving up the construction company is the same as giving up on business?”
Hwang sat down across from Park Jin-hyuk.
When Park Jin-hyuk had said he wanted to prove himself and chose DS Construction as his stage, Hwang had doubted his own ears.
Until now, Park Jin-hyuk, who only showed up at the holding company once or twice a month, suddenly wanting to work was shocking enough.
But on top of that, he’d chosen the group’s most troubled company, so Hwang had come running, determined to help Park Jin-hyuk in every possible way.
If there was any way he could assist Park Jin-hyuk, Hwang was ready to support him wholeheartedly.
“Sir, the real estate our group owns is valued at over 8 trillion won on the books.”
“8 trillion? That’s a lot. But what’s that got to do with the construction company?”
“You might not understand yet, but you’ll see. All the affiliates buy land for various reasons—building new factories, setting up new logistics bases, and so on. The book value alone is 8 trillion, and the real value is well over 10 trillion. But if we didn’t own a construction company, most of it would be taxed. If the construction company is used to make the purchases, we can classify it as development or investment, and that brings tax benefits. That’s why most large conglomerates have their own construction companies.”
“So as long as we own all this land, we can’t give up the construction company.”
“Exactly. We can’t give up the construction business.”
Park Jin-hyuk nodded as he smoked.
He had been wondering about Park Jun-man’s true intentions, but it seemed clear now, from Hwang’s explanation, that the Chairman had no intention of abandoning construction.
‘Then what was that I heard in Seongbuk-dong?’
Park Jun-man had made a proposal to Lee Jong-mu about DS Construction, and Lee Jong-mu had refused.
At the time, Park Jin-hyuk had thought it was just an acquisition offer, but now he wasn’t so sure.
As Park Jin-hyuk mulled over these complications, Hwang spoke up.
“Sir, in fact, there was someone already designated as the head of restructuring. But with your sudden appointment, he’ll be demoted to deputy and assist you.”
“He must be upset, since I showed up out of nowhere and took his spot.”
“Not at all. He’s not that kind of person, so don’t worry. He’s young, capable, and has an impeccable reputation. The Chairman has been watching him closely.”
“Really? Then he must be a treasure for our group.”
“If you use him wisely, he’ll be a great help to you later.”
“Then bring him to me tomorrow. I want to get familiar with his face, and with the key people who’ll be going with me. It’ll be easier to work if I know who I’m dealing with before we go in.”
“Yes, that’s a good idea. Meeting them beforehand will help you a lot. I’ll get it ready right away.”
Hwang was delighted at Park Jin-hyuk’s newfound boldness.
It was enough that he wasn’t avoiding people as before, but now he was even requesting meetings himself, which filled Hwang with joy beyond words.
Full of excitement, Hwang started making phone calls left and right.
Watching this, Park Jin-hyuk thought to himself.
‘Perfect. There was already someone designated for the position before me—what a relief. He must have plans on how to handle things. I’ll just piggyback off his work. Whew. Thank goodness.’
Park Jin-hyuk, who knew nothing about restructuring, felt a weight lift from his chest.
*****
From early morning, the atmosphere near Dosan-daero, where DS Construction’s headquarters stood, was different from usual.
People passed in front of the building, but no one was seen entering or leaving.
Men in black suits with radios stood out front, scanning passersby with sunglasses, making the mood downright intimidating.
It wasn’t just the outside that felt strange.
Normally, after clocking in, the DS Construction staff would be bustling in and out of the lobby, but today, aside from the guards at the front desk, no one was in sight.
A few employees with urgent errands left the building only to be so stifled by the atmosphere that they circled wide around.
After about an hour, black cars began arriving in front of DS Construction’s headquarters.
Eight black sedans appeared at once, followed by a van, and people poured out all at once.
Men, women, those whose resignation dates weren’t far off, and newcomers who had only been with the company for a few years—all sorts of people got out and stood before the DS Construction headquarters.
They lined up in a row, waiting for someone.
This scene was enough to make everyone inside and outside the building tense up.
Inside, DS Construction staff watched the spectacle through the windows, whispering to each other.
“What’s going on? Why is it so intense out there?”
“Of course it’s intense. The Grim Reaper is coming, isn’t he?”
“The Grim Reaper?”
“Yeah, the guy holding our fates. The new restructuring director.”
“Wasn’t the restructuring director already here for a while? He’s been snooping around with his team.”
“Those were the advance team, prepping things. The real restructuring boss is arriving now.”
“Really? Who is it?”
“Who else? The famous Executive Director Park Jin-hyuk. The Chairman’s eldest son is coming, with the director’s badge on his chest.”
“The Chairman’s eldest son? That infamous playboy?”
“Yeah. That playboy.”
The last car to arrive among the fleet of vehicles came to a stop, and as its door opened, Park Jin-hyuk stepped out.
Those who had arrived earlier bowed in unison to greet him, creating quite a spectacle at DS Construction’s main entrance.
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