Park Jin-hyuk looked up at Kim Jun-woo, who wasn’t leaving even though the conversation was over.
Kim Jun-woo seemed like he had something to say, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to speak.
Park Jin-hyuk pushed aside the documents he’d been reviewing, clasped his hands, and addressed Kim Jun-woo.
“What is it?”
“Sorry?”
“You have something to say, don’t you? It’s fine, go ahead and speak.”
“…I apologize.”
Suddenly, Kim Jun-woo bowed his head and apologized, making Park Jin-hyuk let out a brief chuckle.
“What’s wrong? Did you do something wrong? Why are you suddenly apologizing?”
At Park Jin-hyuk’s words, Kim Jun-woo tried to force a smile, but it seemed he couldn’t manage it. Only his lips curved into a strange, awkward expression.
“Don’t make that face. It’s weird. Just say what you have to quickly.”
Perhaps encouraged by Park Jin-hyuk’s words, Kim Jun-woo closed his eyes briefly before managing to speak, albeit with difficulty.
“It seems they’ve figured out the details of the asset liquidation in Pyeongchang-dong.”
“We all knew I was preparing cash to invest if forfeited shares were issued anyway, right? In the end, the rights issue succeeded and there were no forfeited shares, so the funds weren’t deployed. There’s nothing particularly suspicious about what we were trying to do.”
“That’s correct. But… the problem seems to be that someone noticed the ongoing disposal of your assets, Executive Director.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. After the rights issue subscription closed and almost no forfeited shares were left, questions arose from the Pyeongchang-dong side as to why your assets were still being liquidated.”
“Hmm… This sounds more serious than what we discussed earlier. How much do you think they’ve figured out?”
Park Jin-hyuk’s face hardened, and he pulled out a cigarette.
The matter Kim Jun-woo had just raised pierced deeper into his chest than anything about Dongjeong Industries.
“It seems even Director Oh knows now.”
“If that person knows… what about the Chairman? Has it reached the Chairman too?”
“From what I’ve gathered, it hasn’t reached the Chairman yet. But it seems like only a matter of time. After all, while the assets are under your name, Executive Director, overall management is handled at the headquarters.”
“That’s true. They wouldn’t just overlook the sudden liquidation of real estate in my name. Well, it’s still within the range of what I expected… But if Director Oh has caught on and the Chairman hasn’t been told, why is that? Are you saying Director Oh in Pyeongchang-dong learned of it but didn’t report it to the Chairman?”
“Yes. In fact, I heard he actually issued a gag order.”
“Really? A gag order?”
Park Jin-hyuk was securing funds in preparation for moving to DS Pharmaceuticals.
But hiding his intentions while gathering funds was only possible for a while.
He knew he couldn’t keep pulling the wool over Park Jun-man’s eyes forever.
He’d even predicted to some extent how she and Park Jun-man would act when they caught on.
But apparently, she was pretending not to know, and had even blocked the flow of information to Park Jun-man.
‘Is that so? So that’s how it is.’
Instead of trying to figure out what she was thinking, Park Jin-hyuk decided to turn this into an opportunity.
“This is good. Let’s throw everything in at once.”
“If we do that, Executive Director, the amount will be far greater than what we originally intended. Is that alright?”
“Let’s settle everything at once. Besides, if you put in just the exact amount, it looks suspicious later. Even if we only need 50 billion won, if we end up with 100 billion, put in all 100 billion; if it’s 70 billion, put in all 70 billion. Give the impression that we’re pushing everything in with nothing left over—it’ll make people confused. They’ll wonder why, search for the reason, and start looking around. Then we’ll have something in our hands that’s worth more than money—time. Oh, and while you’re at it, look into secured loans as well.”
“Secured loans? But you’re liquidating assets right now… What would you use as collateral? Are you thinking of using your current residence? At most, that’d get you maybe two to three billion won, which isn’t enough to make a difference.”
Park Jin-hyuk smiled as he looked at Kim Jun-woo.
“Come on. I have a much bigger asset, don’t I?”
“You don’t mean…?”
“That’s right. Line up a few places where I can get cash using my shares as collateral. It wouldn’t look good to use a DS Group financial company, so let’s go with another firm.”
“How much are you planning to bring in?”
“Don’t worry. I’m not planning to play games with my shares. I just want to create the impression that I’m even leveraging my shares to raise cash. People don’t really care how much you actually put up. The fact that I’m using even my shares as collateral is what matters. Let’s keep the total around 100 billion won. Dispose of the assets, and cover any remaining difference with secured loans.”
Every time Park Jin-hyuk spoke, Kim Jun-woo blinked at him in surprise.
Whenever Hyun Yi-soo suggested 10, Park Jin-hyuk would counter with 100.
This time too, Hyun Yi-soo had said to prepare 50 billion won, but Park Jin-hyuk was thinking of 100 billion—twice as much.
Kim Jun-woo had watched Hyun Yi-soo over and over as he calculated and prepared to say even 50 billion.
Hyun Yi-soo had even asked Kim Jun-woo several times whether Park Jin-hyuk was someone greedy for wealth.
A wealthy man’s obsession with money was hard to put into words.
Hyun Yi-soo worried whether Park Jin-hyuk would really follow his suggestion, knowing that even someone with a hundred billion fears losing one billion, and begrudges even 100,000 won.
No matter how sure the method was, it wasn’t easy to invest on someone else’s judgment, not your own.
What’s more, this was about liquidating almost all assets under Park Jin-hyuk’s name.
To recommend what looked like a dead-end investment made Hyun Yi-soo feel pressured.
But Park Jin-hyuk was going even further—now, even considering leveraging his shares.
Kim Jun-woo looked at Park Jin-hyuk, who was suggesting something that would make Hyun Yi-soo faint if he heard about it, and he was doing it without a second thought.
He just sat there, smiling as if it was nothing.
“We were already preparing cash to invest in case forfeited shares were issued. Just say we were liquidating assets for that. Sure, since the rights issue succeeded and there weren’t any forfeited shares, the capital wasn’t used, but say you’re still looking to invest if a good opportunity comes up. That way, there’ll be no odd rumors when the funds are finally deployed.”
“What about using your DS shares as collateral?”
“We’re not doing it immediately—just be ready. Right, to cover up this side, we need to make the asset disposal even more conspicuous. Don’t hide the liquidations—make them public. Let the media know that the funds Park Jin-hyuk set aside to buy forfeited shares are now floating around with nowhere to go. That’ll draw attention that way, and no one will notice if I’m moving to use my shares as collateral.”
Kim Jun-woo looked at Park Jin-hyuk, eyes full of worry.
“Will you be alright? If we do this, the Chairman will find out.”
“You know as well as I do—this can’t just be hidden. And if they find out, it’s actually better to stir things up and get noticed.”
“Why is that?”
“You said Director Oh is blocking it, right? But if the sound carries over the wall he’s built, what do you think happens? Wouldn’t people start wondering why the wall is there, more than about the sound itself? That’s human nature. People get more upset about someone trying to block their eyes and ears than about what’s actually being said.”
At Park Jin-hyuk’s words, Kim Jun-woo couldn’t help but be impressed.
He realized that Hyun Yi-soo’s remark—how Park Jin-hyuk was new and surprising every time—wasn’t just talk.
He recalled what Hyun Yi-soo had said to the team leaders, including Kim Jun-woo, when Park Jin-hyuk wasn’t around.
[He’s like a seasoned old man in his sixties wearing the shell of a man in his twenties.]
At first, Kim Jun-woo thought it was only a reference to skill, but as time went on, he realized it wasn’t just about experience.
He realized Park Jin-hyuk had an uncanny grasp of people’s underlying psychology.
“Alright, let’s wrap up and head in. The day after tomorrow is Christmas—we can’t stay here until night.”
Kim Jun-woo snapped out of his thoughts at Park Jin-hyuk’s words.
“Do you have plans?”
“Me? No. But you do, don’t you? You’re still young, after all.”
Hearing someone younger than him call him “young,” Kim Jun-woo couldn’t help but laugh.
“I heard you had a good meeting recently, Executive Director. Haven’t you arranged to meet her again?”
“A good meeting?”
Park Jin-hyuk tilted his head, then seemed to remember something and burst out laughing.
“Haha. What are you talking about? A good meeting, my foot. It was nothing. But how did you know? Secretary Hwang must have asked you, huh? Honestly, sometimes I feel like Secretary Kim is a spy, not my secretary.”
“How could I? I’m your loyal servant, Executive Director. I just pay attention in case your personal circumstances change, so I can respond accordingly. Please don’t be offended.”
“Offended? Come on… Don’t talk like an old man.”
Knowing they’d be curious about the outcome of his matchmaking meeting, Park Jin-hyuk just waved his hand as if it was nothing.
“So you really haven’t arranged to meet her again?”
“I don’t even know the woman’s name. Wait, while we’re at it—let me ask you something. Does Cheong-woo only have one daughter?”
“You really weren’t interested. You could find that out instantly online, but you’re asking me directly.”
“I told you, I’m not interested.”
“Cheong-woo’s family is a bit complicated.”
“Complicated?”
“The Chairman of Cheong-woo has, officially, two wives on the family register, and two unofficial wives who aren’t registered.”
“Whew. That’s complicated all right.”
“Yes. The first wife gave birth to a daughter but passed away from postnatal complications. He then married his second wife… but the real issue is the unofficial wives. Chairman Cheong-woo brought all the children born from the unofficial wives into the household and registered them under the second wife’s name.”
“He’s got some stamina. What about the unofficial wives? Don’t tell me he still keeps them around?”
“Not only are they still with him, they all live together.”
“What? In the same house?”
“Yes, all under one roof…”
Kim Jun-woo’s face reddened, perhaps embarrassed to be talking so deeply about another family’s affairs.
Even in the Joseon Dynasty, concubines usually lived separately, yet Chairman Cheong-woo had three wives living together under one roof.
It was something a reasonable person simply couldn’t understand.
“How many children does he have?”
“Three sons and one daughter. The daughter is from his first wife, and all three sons are from the unofficial wives.”
“So the second wife—she couldn’t have children?”
“That’s right. Apparently, that’s why she requested that the unofficial wives’ children be registered under her name for influence in the family… There are various complicated circumstances.”
“Just listening to this is giving me a headache. Imagine how much worse it is if you dig deeper. I thought my own family was complicated, but compared to Cheong-woo’s, we’re practically normal. Don’t you think so?”
Kim Jun-woo gave an awkward smile at Park Jin-hyuk’s words.
Maybe Cheong-woo’s was more complex by the numbers, but from what he’d seen of people at DS baring their teeth and snarling, it wasn’t simple here either.
“Let’s wrap up. Take tomorrow off—spend Christmas Eve with your family. There shouldn’t be any special issues. Drop by after Christmas. I’ll be resting at home for the first time in a while too.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Kim Jun-woo gave his thanks and left Park Jin-hyuk’s office.
Park Jin-hyuk also tidied up the documents he’d been reviewing and got up from his seat.
“Time just flies by. I thought being reborn in my twenties would mean time would pass at the pace it did back then… Why is it flowing at the same speed it did when I was in my forties? Sigh. Maybe it’s because I haven’t been enjoying life enough.”
Ever since he “returned” as Park Jin-hyuk, he’d been running non-stop for months.
Already, the year was coming to a close.
*****
Having taken care of all his duties at DS Construction right up to the year’s end, Park Jin-hyuk shifted his daily commute to DS Pharmaceuticals as the new year began.
Located near Mongcheon Earthen Fortress, DS Pharmaceuticals boasted an imposing presence along Wirye-seong Avenue.
It was bigger than DS Construction and nearly rivaled the DS Group headquarters, and the building was bustling with activity from early in the morning.
“He’s coming today, right?”
“Headquarters notified us he’d be working here from today.”
“Well, at my age, standing around in front of a building waiting like this… I wonder if he even knows.”
“If you’re uncomfortable, you should go inside. I don’t think anyone would mind.”
“Just because I say I’m cold, you’re telling me to go in? You go in, Director Kang.”
“I have no complaints. I’m actually enjoying this.”
“You… really…”
Despite the biting cold that seemed to sting their skin, the people standing in front of the building in thin business suits kept up their chatter to ward off the chill.
“Quiet, everyone. He should be here any moment.”
“But he’s already late for work—why isn’t he here yet?”
“He always came in after normal staff hours at Construction, so he’ll probably be a little late.”
“Ugh, it’s cold. Why is it especially cold today?”
About twenty executives and their secretaries—roughly fifty people—were gathered at the front of the building, shuffling their feet to stay warm.
“He’s coming.”
One of the executives who’d met Park Jin-hyuk before called out as he spotted a car approaching from afar.
At the sound, everyone straightened up, fixed their posture, and turned to look at the incoming car.
As it stopped, Kim Jun-woo got out from the front passenger seat, opened the back door, and Park Jin-hyuk stepped out of the car.
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