As Park Jinhyuk wished, Joongheon Oh was drawn in naturally.
“You say it’s embarrassing? Biologics is going to fall into our hands anyway. If we take the supply out for a while and put it back in after regaining control, no one will complain. You’re still young and lack experience, so you wouldn’t know, but this is what business is. It’s a profound world children know nothing about.”
“So you’ve finished talking with my father.”
“Finished or not, does it matter? The decision is already made. Even if the supplies are withdrawn from Biologics, Park will have nothing to say. I make the decisions.”
After finishing his words, Joongheon Oh glanced toward the man known as President Han.
Seeing Joongheon Oh’s and President Han’s gazes cross, Park Jinhyuk realized who the man was.
‘So he must be Junhwan Han of Cheongwoo Group.’
It was understandable that Junhwan Han, the head of Cheongwoo Group, would have such a large number above his head.
And Cheongwoo, DS, Hansung, and Daegwang.
Now Park Jinhyuk confirmed his suspicions weren’t unfounded, seeing how Biologics and West Air were all intertwined.
‘Then I should break them apart.’
Park Jinhyuk felt things would get interesting.
For now, he was trying to break the deal with Hansung because he didn’t want to hand over Biologics, but it might cause a chain reaction and shatter all four deals.
And when he considered the gains and losses involved, he couldn’t yet tell who would benefit or suffer.
‘But I must not be the one to suffer.’
He wasn’t about to take a loss while breaking the deal.
No matter what, Park Jinhyuk wanted to be the one smiling when all the calculations were done.
When Park Jinhyuk smiled without realizing it, Joongheon Oh, who had been watching, showed a displeased expression, apparently not liking what he saw.
He spoke, his voice loaded with anger.
“Fine. I’ll pull out the supplies right away. Let’s see if Rohashu and Pfizer will want to continue the deal when supplies are pulled out after a successful transaction. Oh! Maybe that’s not enough? I should contact Pfizer and tell them to break the deal as well. Pfizer wanted to see results, right? But what can you do? Even the results you had will be gone.”
He was trying to pressure Park Jinhyuk, but inside, Park Jinhyuk wanted to prostrate himself in gratitude before Joongheon Oh.
‘Can he read my mind? How does he know exactly what I want him to do and do it all?’
Of course, he couldn’t show this on the outside.
But he also couldn’t show any hint of fluster.
Instead, he kept a nonchalant expression.
That much was just right for Park Jinhyuk at this moment.
Joongheon Oh looked irritated to see Park Jinhyuk, whom he’d expected to be flustered, instead keeping his cool.
“You think I can’t do it?”
“No. I believe you can.”
“You don’t trust your maternal grandfather’s ability, do you?”
“Who says you’re Jinhyuk’s grandfather?”
A sharp voice cut toward Joongheon Oh, who called himself the maternal grandfather.
Dressed in elegant hanbok, Park Jinhyuk’s maternal grandmother pushed through the crowd, holding her skirt.
“When did I ever become your wife, Chairman Oh?”
“Sister-in-law, that’s not it.”
Seeing Park Jinhyuk’s grandmother, Joongheon Oh was visibly flustered.
Calling her “sister-in-law” revealed that Joongheon Oh and Lee Jongmu, Park Jinhyuk’s grandfather, were closer than mere business partners.
She glared at Joongheon Oh and shouted again in a sharp tone.
“Jinhyuk’s maternal family is Dongjeong Industries. I don’t think anyone here is unaware of that. Or am I wrong?”
In terms of ranking among groups, Dongjeong Industries couldn’t compare to the others, but considering age and the years spent as a businessperson, the others were mere juniors to Dongjeong Industries.
Moreover, Park Jinhyuk’s grandmother, the mistress of Dongjeong Industries, was known to be even more stern than Lee Jongmu himself.
As she appeared, her white hair fluttering, not a soul dared meet her eyes.
With a single glare, she subdued the entire room, then slipped her hand under Park Jinhyuk’s arm and pulled him up.
“You’re the eldest grandson of Dongjeong Industries. Don’t lose heart. Hansung Group? Hansung has never been your family. Let’s go.”
Park Jinhyuk’s grandmother gave him a warm smile and then glanced at Oh Seoyoung, who was standing to the side.
Feeling it wasn’t quite enough to just leave, she addressed Oh Seoyoung.
“Stop wandering around and spreading stories about Jinhyuk everywhere. Just worry about your own son. I’ll be the one to look after Jinhyuk from now on.”
“Auntie, I only praised Jinhyuk.”
“Who’s your aunt? If I hear even once more that you’re talking about Jinhyuk… Hmph. Chairman Oh, you know my husband’s temper, right? The two of you might have a falling out someday.”
“Sister-in-law, why are you like this? What did my daughter do wrong to you?”
The discomfort on Joongheon Oh’s face wasn’t because Oh Seoyoung had done anything wrong.
It was more annoyance at the old woman’s intrusion.
Park Jinhyuk, reading Joongheon Oh’s face, tossed out a line to bring things to a close.
“Chairman, I will not give up Biologics. I know nothing about the sales negotiations. No matter what my father approves, I intend to block the board approval at DS Pharmaceuticals. And I’ll show the bondholders Biologics’ factory operation rate to make them vote against it. So I’d like you to stop your interest in Biologics. Grandmother, let’s go.”
Without waiting for Joongheon Oh’s response, Park Jinhyuk turned and left, hand in hand with his grandmother.
Joongheon Oh, who had tried so hard to appear composed, lost his patience after the sudden entrance of Park Jinhyuk’s grandmother and his final words.
He waved his hand, calling over his secretary who had been waiting nearby.
“Order them to pull all the supplies we commissioned from DS Biologics.”
“Right away?”
“Yes. Pull them all out now. Contact them immediately. Understood? Since it’s come to this, let’s see how they respond. Let’s see how far that brat can last.”
Joongheon Oh raised his voice so others could hear.
Perhaps seeing his grandson’s grandson stubbornly defy him up close unsettled him more than he’d thought.
The people present watched the scene unfold with interest.
As if remembering something, Joongheon Oh turned to Junhwan Han beside him.
“President Han, can we put the ongoing plans on hold for a while?”
“Is this because of DS Biologics?”
“Biologics, yes, but also because of that brat. Since it’s come to this, don’t you think we should take him down a notch? He’s still so stiff—must be because he’s never had a taste of trouble. I figured the family elder should teach him before he faces real hardship later. I heard Jiyeon doesn’t like him much either. That’s fine, isn’t it?”
“Jiyeon? I just saw her talking to Executive Director Park Jinhyuk a moment ago. Girls say they hate someone, but who knows what they’re really thinking? I don’t think she hates him all that much.”
Joongheon Oh glanced anxiously at Junhwan Han, worried he might oppose making things difficult for Park Jinhyuk.
He had already made a scene with so many people watching, and just letting it pass felt wrong.
Besides, Park Jinhyuk was a competitor to Park Sanghyuk, so it was good to weaken him when the opportunity arose.
But it all depended on Junhwan Han’s agreement.
Daegwang was already half tied by marriage, so persuasion wasn’t hard.
The issue was whether Cheongwoo, expected to be linked with Park Jinhyuk by marriage, would allow weakening him.
Joongheon Oh watched Junhwan Han with an uneasy expression.
Junhwan Han, watching Park Jinhyuk talk to his grandmother from a distance, turned to Joongheon Oh and smiled.
“Still, he’s quite unyielding for someone so young. I suppose he does need to be taken down a peg. But will Chairman Park agree?”
“That’s nothing to worry about, right?”
Joongheon Oh turned and asked Oh Seoyoung, who had been observing from a distance.
Oh Seoyoung smiled and nodded at his words.
It was something Oh Seoyoung had requested from Joongheon Oh before the engagement ceremony.
Now, with things going as she wished, Oh Seoyoung felt even happier about the situation than about Park Sanghyuk’s engagement to Daegwang.
That was why she stayed here, continuing to watch the events unfold.
Inside, she hoped Park Jinhyuk wouldn’t bow his head, and just as she wished, he stood his ground, making her feel as if she were dreaming.
‘With so many people seeing Jinhyuk’s stance, no one can object if Hansung Pharmaceutical pulls out their products. This is good. Really good.’
Her face brightened at the unexpected outcome.
Junhwan Han, noticing Oh Seoyoung’s expression, chuckled.
Joongheon Oh also found assurance in Junhwan Han’s smile and laughed along.
*****
Park Junman was speaking with visiting guests.
Secretary Hwang approached him, whispering Joongheon Oh’s order in his ear.
She then quietly waited for Park Junman’s instructions.
“Chairman, what should we do?”
Park Junman sighed deeply and sought a place where there were no people.
Secretary Hwang silently followed, waiting for his thoughts to settle.
After walking for a while in the spacious garden of the Korean Hotel, Park Junman finally turned to Secretary Hwang.
“Bring me the Minister of Health and Welfare.”
“The Minister of Health and Welfare, sir?”
“Yes.”
“Shouldn’t you meet Chairman Oh first?”
“Who? You mean my father-in-law? No, there’s no point trying to persuade that man not to pull the supplies. He’s not just impatient—he’s stubborn. He’ll never reverse his own words.”
“Then…”
Secretary Hwang looked at him, filled with concern.
“Hey, anyone would think Jinhyuk is your own son. Don’t worry. It’s because of what he told me.”
“Master Jinhyuk?”
“Yes. He said right to my face that he would never hand over Biologics. And today, knowing it’s a special day with many eyes watching, he even went so far as to provoke my father-in-law. Why would he do that?”
“That is odd. Master Jinhyuk isn’t known for hotheadedness, is he?”
“No. He’s calmer than most people his age. Sometimes it feels like he’s an old man in a young man’s skin. For him to act so recklessly now? There’s no way it was impulsive.”
Secretary Hwang agreed with Park Junman.
Park Jinhyuk was not the type to forget what day it was or who was watching.
So if he did this, he must have had a reason.
Park Junman smiled at Secretary Hwang.
“Let’s see how he handles things. And since we’re at it, let’s play along. I’m curious to see how he’ll react.”
“That’s why you asked for the Minister of Health and Welfare.”
“Yes. He’s just been appointed, so I should greet him anyway. If I bring Jinhyuk there, it’ll be an interesting show.”
“Understood. I’ll fetch him right away.”
“No, don’t bring him here. Take him to where Jinhyuk is. I’ll go there too.”
Park Junman looked around with eyes full of anticipation.
For him, today was less about Park Sanghyuk’s engagement and more about watching Park Jinhyuk’s mysterious dance.
Park Jinhyuk was in a good mood, glad that things had gone smoothly with his grandmother’s appearance.
What would have taken more bickering with Joongheon Oh was resolved at once by her arrival.
So he linked arms with his grandmother and laughed.
His grandmother accepted her grown grandson’s display of affection with delight.
“Jinhyuk, don’t worry, all right? Do whatever you want. I’ll support you from behind. You have your grandfather, your grandmother, and Dongjeong Industries behind you. Hansung? Hmph. They’re only bold now because they’ve been lucky, riding the current. But it’s nothing. In this business world where Dongjeong Industries has deep roots, Hansung is merely a newly blossomed petal. A storm may topple Hansung, but Dongjeong Industries won’t fall.”
It was said that his grandmother took no part in management.
But seeing her now, she seemed to have even more leadership than her niece, who sat as chairwoman.
Park Jinhyuk smiled, trying to soothe his grandmother’s rising anger.
“Grandma, if you frown like that you’ll get wrinkles. Why do you worry so much?”
“How could I not worry? That sly fox is sitting in Hannam-dong, always scheming after you… I can’t sleep at night, thinking about you.”
Just moments ago she had been fierce, but now that seemed to have vanished.
The grandmother before him was just an old woman worrying about her grandson.
“Thank you. But did Grandpa not come?”
“Why would he come here? It’s not your engagement. I only came because I was worried you’d get caught by the fox’s pack she brought along. And just as I thought, I found you getting harassed…”
Park Jinhyuk’s grandmother wiped her eyes with her sleeve, on the verge of tears.
He hugged her arm tighter and smiled.
“Grandma, don’t worry. Did it look like I was being bullied? Not a chance. Do I look like someone who’d get pushed around by people like that? Soon you’ll see who really got the short end of the stick.”
At his confident smile, his grandmother finally relaxed, stroking his hand with a gentle laugh.
Park Jinhyuk started to guide her to a quiet spot to help her calm down.
But when he saw Park Junman approaching from afar with someone in tow, he changed his mind.
“Grandma, it looks like I’ll have to meet someone else. Will you be all right alone?”
“Yes. On a day like this, it’s good for you to meet as many people as you can. Don’t worry about me—go do what you need to.”
Park Jinhyuk squeezed her hand, gave her a warm smile, and turned.
He began walking toward Park Junman, who was coming his way.