Chapter 6: I Don’t Want to Break the Principle in My Generation

Park Jinhyeok looked back at Park Sanghyuk.

He sent a glance that said, “Did you know too?” but Park Sanghyuk seemed utterly taken aback, unable to hide his shock at such a situation unfolding.

His restless demeanor made him appear even more anxious than Park Jinhyeok, who was about to be scolded.

Park Jinhyeok turned his head and alternately looked at Oh Seoyoung and Park Junman, then spoke.

“So, are you saying that I got addicted to drugs, collapsed, and was hospitalized for a whole month, and then the moment I got out, I went straight to a bar to get high?”

“It’s okay, Jinhyeok. People always make mistakes. Chairman, please hold back your anger since it hasn’t been long since he was discharged. And as long as he gets treatment for his illness, there’s no need to worry too much. Everything will turn out fine.”

Seeing Oh Seoyoung’s insincere expression, Housekeeper Onsandae finally understood why she said Oh Seoyoung wore a mask.

To an outsider, it looked like she was protecting Park Jinhyeok.

However, if you look at Oh Seoyoung from a distance, you can see that she is protecting Jin-hyeok, but is reporting Park Jin-hyeok to Park Juman.

It was unbelievable that the very person who gave him a card just yesterday, telling him to have fun, now showed this kind of attitude.

A hollow laugh escaped him.

“How long are you going to keep covering for Jinhyeok? Enough. Stop it. It’s too noisy. Secretary Hwang, have you found a place for rehabilitation treatment?”

“Well…”

The one called Secretary Hwang stammered for a moment and looked at Park Jinhyeok.

There was a worried glint in his eyes directed at Park Jinhyeok.

‘No wonder the number floating above his head is so high.’

Above Secretary Hwang’s head floated the number 10 billion won.

Apart from his father, Park Junman, this was the highest number Park Jinhyeok had ever seen above anyone’s head.

Since the number was so high, Park Jinhyeok had been watching him carefully, and the look in his eyes confirmed that the high number wasn’t without reason.

With his gaze, Secretary Hwang made it clear he was on Park Jinhyeok’s side.

Then he cautiously responded to Park Junman’s question.

“We haven’t found a suitable place yet. It will take more time.”

“Find one quickly. If necessary, have him enter and receive treatment. Our family can never have a drug addict.”

“Chairman, Jinhyeok is still the eldest grandson of the family. He’s the one who will inherit and lead the company. Sending him to a treatment center hastily might be risky.”

“That’s exactly why it can’t be allowed. The eldest grandson of DS Group being a drug addict—how can that be spoken of as if it’s acceptable?”

“Chairman, DS Group follows the Firstborn Succession Principle. If it becomes known that Young Master Jinhyeok entered a rehabilitation center, it could cast a shadow over the Succession Procedure.”

At Secretary Hwang’s words, Oh Seoyoung suddenly twisted around like having a seizure and looked up at Secretary Hwang, saying,

“Is that what matters now? We should think about Jinhyeok. If we just leave him like this, it could lead to even bigger trouble.”

“Madam, that may be true, but…”

“Can’t we keep it to ourselves and make sure no one else finds out? If he goes abroad, who would know? There are many ways. Don’t get caught up in all the details. Otherwise, he’ll miss the proper time for treatment.”

“Madam, no matter how quietly we try to handle this, it will eventually become known. Before looking for a rehabilitation center, I think we should have him re-examined at the hospital first.”

“We already did all the tests when he was hospitalized. Why do it again?”

“At that time, it was acute addiction, so we need to give it more time…”

“Both of you, stop it.”

Park Junman interrupted Oh Seoyoung and Secretary Hwang.

Park Jinhyeok quietly watched the three bickering over him.

‘What are these people doing?’

No one knew his body better than himself.

While hospitalized, worried that something might be wrong with his body, he had carefully examined himself throughout the entire month.

Not only that, when no one was around, he grilled the nurses and took every possible test he could.

Since the only visitors were his occasionally coming family members as guardians, he was able to conduct the tests without others knowing.

‘If there was anything wrong with my body, I would’ve known first. What drug addiction? If I did drugs, there should be needle marks, right?’

Though Park Jinhyeok’s knowledge of drugs was limited to what he saw on TV, he knew that drugs were usually injected intravenously.

Of course, he had seen scenes in movies where drugs were neatly ground and snorted through the nose with a card, but he thought that only happened in places like the U.S.

In a country like ours, where drugs are hard to come by, they said that intravenous injection was necessary for even a small amount to have a sure effect.

But after thoroughly checking his body for a whole month, Park Jinhyeok had no needle marks.

If he were truly addicted, he should have multiple injection marks with bruises, but there was none.

“Let’s put aside the rehabilitation talk for now… How long do you plan to live like this?”

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t even go to the office, do you?”

Before Park Jinhyeok could answer, Oh Seoyoung jumped in.

“Don’t stress Jinhyeok out with work. He might have acted worse because of stress. Sanghyuk is here; leave the work to him. Sanghyuk, can you handle it well?”

“Huh? Me?”

Park Sanghyuk, who had been stepping back and observing, was caught off guard by the sudden question and couldn’t answer properly.

Oh Seoyoung frowned, displeased with Sanghyuk’s inability to respond, and pressed him with her expression.

Only after seeing that did Park Sanghyuk manage to answer.

“Ah? Yes. Yes, I can handle it well.”

“Good. For now, since Jinhyeok was discharged recently, have him rest. He can gradually get back to work while monitoring his condition.”

“Ugh. Useless guy. Get out. I don’t want to see your face.”

Park Jinhyeok felt like he had just watched a farce.

They were discussing and deciding things about him right in front of him, which was ridiculous.

Oh Seoyoung’s behavior looked detestable, and Park Junman’s failure to notice made him look like a fool.

It was incomprehensible that someone who was the head of a conglomerate couldn’t see through such childish games.

Park Jinhyeok turned to leave but stopped.

He didn’t feel quite right just walking away like this.

Tilting his body slightly, he turned to face Park Junman squarely and said,

“That painting hanging back there looks nice, but why do you have a fake painting displayed so blatantly?”

“What?”

After covering his eyes with his hand when Park Jinhyeok called him annoying, Park Junman removed his hand and stared at him.

“That painting. You seem to treasure it, so you hung it by your study bed. I don’t know when it’s been there, but I’m just asking why you proudly display a fake painting like that. If you’re going to hang it, even if you like it, hang the original. If someone who doesn’t know sees it, they might insult our ‘proud family’ for hanging a fake in the best spot.”

“What are you talking about? That painting is fake? Has he eaten something wrong? That’s a painting our gallery painstakingly acquired. What nonsense are you spouting?”

Oh Seoyoung spoke up, then slyly glanced at Park Junman.

But Park Junman ignored her and looked only at Park Jinhyeok.

“How do you know whether it’s genuine or fake?”

“No matter how much I’ve just been wandering around, I can tell the difference between an original and a fake painting. Even I know. If you didn’t know, you wouldn’t have…”

He smiled brightly at Park Junman.

Park Junman stared at that smile as if trying to read his thoughts.

But Park Jinhyeok just smiled, showing no other expression.

“Enough. Go now.”

“Yes, this son I don’t want to see will be going home now.”

Park Jinhyeok bowed his head in greeting and opened the door to leave.

Oh Seoyoung looked restless at Park Jinhyeok’s sudden remark before leaving.

Once he was gone, she hurriedly turned and sat facing Park Junman, saying,

“Chairman, you know our gallery has never brought in fakes. He must have seen it wrong and said that. How could he have an eye for paintings? This painting was hard-won at Sotheby’s auction for two million dollars.”

“Enough. You and Sanghyuk should leave now.”

“Chairman.”

“I told you to go, didn’t I?”

Oh Seoyoung couldn’t hide her discomfort.

Restless like a dog needing to go out, she finally moved with heavy steps after Park Junman’s sharp command.

Once everyone had left, Secretary Hwang picked up the ashtray that was placed far away and brought it to Park Junman.

“Did you put it so far away because you thought I might throw the ashtray?”

“No, but just in case…”

“No, good thinking. Even if he’s a useless son, I can’t let my own hands hurt him.”

Secretary Hwang took a cigarette from his pocket, handed it to Park Junman, who placed it in his mouth.

Lighting the cigarette, Secretary Hwang spoke,

“There’s something strange.”

“That’s why I sent them all out. Tell me.”

“Young Master’s addiction was acute. I confirmed with Professor Kim several times. If it were chronic, the results wouldn’t be like this.”

“Acute means… it’s not really an addiction?”

“Yes. There are many doubts about it being addiction.”

“But didn’t you say that even from his hair, there was evidence of drug use from a year ago?”

Park Junman gestured to Secretary Hwang, who was standing behind him, to sit on the sofa.

Secretary Hwang carefully perched on the edge and began,

“If the same situation appeared a year ago, it could have been extracted.”

“Don’t beat around the bush. So you’re saying someone gave him drugs? Both a year ago and now?”

Secretary Hwang lowered his head.

“It’s still just a theory.”

Park Junman deeply inhaled his cigarette.

He held the smoke deep in his lungs for a long while, then slowly exhaled.

“When Jinhyeok collapsed, he met the second son, the third son, and Director Oh, right?”

“Yes.”

“Phew.”

Park Junman watched the smoke he exhaled.

The smoke lingered briefly in the air before dispersing throughout the study.

“It’s about time I start preparing my successor, huh?”

“Chairman, what are you saying? You’re still vigorous. It’s too early to talk about succession.”

“You know, we have family history. My father, my grandfather… once you pass sixty, your lungs deteriorate. I always go somewhere warm during winter.”

“That was due to the previous chairman’s era and insufficient medical technology. Now it’s far advanced, so it’s not a problem. You still smoke, and there’s nothing wrong, right?”

“No. It’s not like that.”

Park Junman stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.

“I wonder if I should’ve let him stay longer in the U.S., let him study what he wanted. I can’t help but wonder if I’m the reason he’s like this.”

“No, Chairman. Young Master Jinhyeok is just going through a rough patch now. One day, he’ll understand your feelings.”

“I hope so. I don’t want to break the Firstborn Succession Principle in my generation.”

Park Junman turned to look at the painting behind him again.

Secretary Hwang, noticing that Park Junman couldn’t take his eyes off the painting, cautiously spoke.

“Chairman, should I look into it carefully?”

Park Junman finally looked away from the painting and glanced at Secretary Hwang with a thin smile.

“Don’t investigate too harshly. Director Oh will be upset if he finds out. That woman—if she’s going to do something, she should do it well. How could she hang a painting that could get us caught?”

“Yes, I will look into it quietly and discreetly.”

“Good. It’d be troublesome if Director Oh gets mad and runs home to tell his father-in-law. But honestly, I wish that painting were a fake.”

“Huh?”

“No, just talking to myself. Don’t mind me.”

Park Junman turned back and gazed at the large landscape painting, which depicted the Chok Region of China, wearing an unreadable smile.