Chapter 67: The Fostering Group’s Interest

The Fostering Group...? Why would the Fostering Group be after me...?

Questions swirled in my mind. Confusion and an unfamiliar tension crashed over me at once.

‘Huh?! Wait, come to think of it.....’

Then suddenly.

A memory surfaced.

Fostering Town!

The recollection sparked through my mind like a jolt of electricity. It had been so long that I'd nearly forgotten about that real estate asset I owned.

It was nothing other than this: The plan to build a business complex in Dogok-dong was scrapped, and instead, they decided to split it—constructing a high-rise apartment in Dogok-dong and building the headquarters in Seocho-dong.

Groundbreaking in 2004, completed by the spring of 2008.

I couldn’t believe I’d only just remembered this. How stupid of me.

Hiding my startled expression, I stood up from my seat.

“I already bought the land in Seocho-dong. I think they’re probably here to buy that.”

I explained to my family, all eyes on me, why the Fostering Group had come to visit.

“Fostering wants your land, you mean?”

“Yes, I happened to hear something—a rumor that they wanted to build their headquarters there.”

I hid the truth and spun a falsehood into the real reason they’d come looking for me.

If I didn’t explain it like this, it would be hard to give any other reason, so I just said what came to mind.

“Huh... If that happens, the land price will skyrocket, won’t it?”

Dad knew, too.

He understood exactly what sort of influence having the Fostering Group’s headquarters built there would bring to the area.

“Yeah, if you buy up buildings or whatever else in that area, you’ll make a killing.”

Even if not that, real estate in Gangnam or Seocho-dong is always guaranteed to turn a profit as long as you hold it for life. Anyone with enough cash knows buying property is always a good move.

“People in the know probably already bought some.”

“Even so, if we’re holding it, we can always sell it at a premium.”

I had plenty of cash on hand.

I owned all my real estate outright with no debt, and if I really needed it, I could always take out loans and buy even more.

Even if I couldn’t get a loan, my cash reserves were absurdly high, so I could just support Dad if necessary.

A plan was forming rapidly in my head.

“Dahye, open the door.”

I slowly walked toward the front entrance.

“Hello. I’m Song Jin-ho, Director of Planning at the Fostering Group. Sorry for dropping by unannounced.”

As soon as the door opened, two men in black suits bowed politely.

The man who introduced himself as Director Song Jin-ho apologized for coming without prior notice.

“What brings you here today?”

Dad came out to the living room and asked the purpose of their visit. Dahye glanced at the two men, curious, then slipped into the kitchen.

“We’re here regarding the land in Seocho-dong. Our side is interested in acquiring it.”

He took out some documents and spread a few sheets in front of us.

“That land, you mean.”

I replied calmly and shifted my gaze to Dad, who was sitting beside me.

Dad looked at my face as well, but without speaking, nodded—signaling he’d leave the decision to me.

“So it’s that property. Lots of people seem interested in land these days.”

It would be foolish to sell that land so easily.

“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of selling.”

I delivered my decision flatly, though I put my firm resolve into my words.

“These days, demand in that area is decreasing. If you’re being realistic, I’d say now’s the right time to let it go.”

Director Song Jin-ho tried to downplay the value of the land.

It felt as though they were looking down on us.

They must know that just having that land puts us above the ordinary.

“If demand is dropping, why does the Fostering Group want to buy it? That doesn’t quite add up.”

I smiled slightly and continued.

“I have special plans for that site, so selling isn’t something I’m considering right now.”

I explained why I couldn’t sell.

“Given the uncertain development plans for the area and lack of infrastructure, you’d be better off selling now than holding long-term.”

I snorted.

What a load of nonsense.

How could someone like this be a group director? I started to wonder.

“So what you’re saying is, the price might drop even more, so I should hurry and sell?”

“I’m merely making a suggestion based on current market trends.”

Director Song dodged a direct answer, trying to steer the conversation.

“Even if I don’t have immediate plans for the land, selling a property I know will appreciate is a huge loss for me. If I just hold onto it, it’ll be worth a fortune later.”

I raised my hand, cutting him off.

It was rude, perhaps, but the mere fact he’d tried to fool me and push a deal soured my mood.

“Seocho-dong’s value won’t waver, now or ever. I have no reason to sell at this point—unless you’re offering one billion won per square meter.”

I casually named the price at which I’d make the greatest profit.

The officially posted value is between 7 and 8 million won per square meter.

This should make my intentions clear.

“......”

Was my offer that shocking?

A heavy silence fell.

Dad and the Fostering Group people stared at me, surprised.

“Do you still want the property at that price?”

“......”

No response—no one answered my question.

Honestly, there isn’t a single lunatic right now who would demand a billion won per square meter for that land.

Yet here I was, that lunatic—no wonder they were speechless.

‘Once Fostering Town is complete, the asset value will soar to several trillion won, so by my standards, it’s not even an unreasonable demand.’

Of course, only I know this, so let’s move on.

“Judging from your reactions, you still want the land. Looks like you’re hiding something from me.”

I flashed a knowing smile, curling my lips to the side.

“Perhaps... are you planning to build Fostering’s headquarters there?”

“......”

In the renewed silence, Director Song’s eyes widened unmistakably. Seeing his trembling eyelids, I smiled even more broadly.

---

Director Song Jin-ho silently got into the car. The subordinate who accompanied him carefully closed the door, sat in the front, and started the engine. The car was quiet for a long time.

“Damn it, who leaked the information...?”

Director Song muttered under his breath, wondering about the source of the leak. His stiff expression alone showed how serious the issue was. Wrinkles creased his brow in layers.

His fingertips trembled faintly on his knees, revealing a side of him rarely seen.

“......”

The outrageous price demand, the spot-on guess, and above all—the unflinching gaze that said he knew everything—lingered in his memory.

It was a look no ordinary person could possess.

It was the gaze of a seasoned corporate veteran who’d dedicated his life to business.

“I underestimated this situation.”

The car slowly pulled out of the alley onto the main road. Director Song stared out the rear window for a moment, saying nothing as the shadows of passing buildings and traffic lights swept across his face.

【I think it’s best to leave today’s discussion here. Next time, please come with a more tempting offer.】

The voice was calm, but bold and unyielding. That remark, refusing to leave even the smallest opening, still echoed in his ears.

Maybe it was bravado, but to him, it didn’t feel that way.

His instincts told him clearly.

It was definitely not bravado.

‘He says he has plans for the land and won’t sell, but then tells me to bring him an offer? That’s a hint—he wants something specific.’

His insight exceeded the norm.

His negotiating ability was far beyond his own subordinates.

He stroked his chin, continuing his thoughts.

“What could the terms be? Money doesn’t seem to be the goal—with that attitude, he must have another purpose. He’s not just an ordinary student.”

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t figure out what those terms might be.

“I’ll have to put someone on this.”

He drew out an old contact card from the business card case hidden inside his jacket.

The company name and a representative’s name were printed on the card.

‘If I dig around, I’ll find something.’

Director Song Jin-ho decided to have Yu Seunghyun and his family investigated. If he investigated, he might figure out how they learned confidential information and what they wanted.

“Yeah, it’s me. Get in touch with the place I mentioned......”

He immediately contacted the planning team.

He ordered them to look into everything: how they built their wealth, the family’s total assets, educational backgrounds, whether there were any connections to the Group, and more.

He also instructed them to thoroughly check for possible internal leaks and tighten security so nothing would get out.

If there’s a hole in an organization where trust should be the foundation, no strategy will work.

“It’d be nice to find some weakness of theirs.”

The cleanest outcome would not be giving them what they wanted.

It would be discovering a critical weakness to exploit.

There was no easier way to close a deal than that.

Before he knew it, the car was entering Samseong-dong. Red traffic lights lined up between the forest of Gangnam buildings, and the car cruised through the gray city without stopping. Song Ji-ho lifted his head and looked out the window.

Neon signs flickered on the buildings, each with its own name, but to him, they all flashed by as meaningless information.

His mind was entirely consumed by Yu Seunghyun—what kind of background the boy had, who was supporting him, and so on.

His thoughts were tangled and complicated.

‘I hope there aren’t any variables. How am I supposed to report this to the President......’

Staring out the window, he eventually turned his eyes forward and closed them slowly.

He spent a moment thinking about how to report to the group president, silently wishing that no further variables would arise.