Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Chairman Gu Yong-nam
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Hanmyeong Construction.
One of the top three construction firms in the country, it was certainly large enough to qualify as a major corporation. For a mere war veteran building a single house, getting involved with a company of that scale felt a bit excessive.
Lee Do-wook had resolved that issue.
"The president here is slated to become chairman someday. He'll need a proper headquarters for the family head to reside in, won't he?"
"!"
"Ilseong and Daeyoung aren't going to build DJ Group's headquarters. They'd have to be insane to lure capital from the land of opportunity back home. No sane person would make that choice."
Only then did I grasp his intentions.
In short, he was saying we should strike first to keep them from joining forces.
"No eternal enemies... no eternal allies, huh."
"Bingo!"
Hanmyeong Group was to be drawn in to check Ilseong and Daeyoung.
Come to think of it, I'd read in some article that they didn't get along. We were to slip in, scratch that itch, and reap the benefits in return.
"Chairman Hanmyeong's personal life is notoriously filthy, but his abilities are trustworthy. Without real talent, he couldn't have climbed to third in the business world."
"You're talking about Chairman Gu Yong-nam of Hanmyeong Group?"
"Yes. Chairman Gu Yong-nam sees Ilseong and Daeyoung as lifelong enemies."
In 1974, a historic event unfolded.
Ilseong and Hanmyeong had fought tooth and nail over a semiconductor contract. It was during President Park's era, and in the end, Ilseong won the president's favor.
Hanmyeong had no choice but to shelve semiconductors afterward.
They attempted re-entry several times later, but they couldn't surmount Ilseong's wall.
Hold on!
Something felt off.
"Mr. Lee Do-wook."
"Yes?"
"Didn't Hanmyeong want a political marriage with Ilseong? From what I heard, it was with Ilseong's youngest daughter..."
"Of course it fell through. It was just Chairman Gu Yong-nam's personal ambition from the start."
"!"
"Linking with Hanmyeong is less strategic than allying with LD Group, the fourth-ranked firm hot on their heels."
A razor-sharp analysis.
As a former reporter, he knew how to read and manipulate people's hearts at will.
That's probably how he lasted over ten years in politics.
As I reviewed the materials he'd handed me, I felt a slight sense of dissonance.
It was something trivial, but... what was it?
"Do-wook, when we first met, you were using a dialect, but not anymore?"
Hearing that, Lee Do-wook touched his mouth.
Was he recalling some past misdeed?
He scratched his head with an awkward expression.
"Ahem, dialects don't suit formal settings..."
This guy...
Despite his appearance, he had a surprisingly cute side.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Jin-seong, the president of Internet Broadcasting streams.
Today was the day he ended his long hiatus and went live after ages.
'Whew, I'm nervous.'
Jin-seong trembled violently, as if surrounded by ice. Today was the day he had to announce his marriage to the viewers.
Next to him, Pip was unusually dressed in casual business attire instead of cosplay.
"Hahaha, bros, long time no see. I've finally ended my long break."
No sooner had he spoken than the chat exploded.
Most of it was abuse.
💬 Stream Chat — Viewer WTF? What happened that you took 2 weeks off? — Viewer Girlfriend? — Viewer Where would Jin-seong get a girlfriend? Look at that busted face lol. — Viewer Title said important announcement, is this finally JNU disbandment? — Viewer Why disband Star University when it's doing great? That's Jin-seong's cash cow... — Viewer You never know. Maybe he's got other plans? To calm the viewers, Jin-seong immediately approached the wall, stood on his hands, and shouted energetically.
"Bros, I'm sorry! If you're still mad, I'll live like this forever!"
— Viewer Yeah, stay like that. — Viewer For real? Forever? — Viewer His whole body's shaking lololol But even after 10 minutes, Jin-seong didn't give up the handstand. By now, viewers had no choice but to think differently.
— Viewer Uh... dude's face is beet red? — Viewer He gonna pass out like that? — Viewer Fuck, other streamers take breaks too, why pick on Jin-seong? With hearts softened, viewers showered him with Bubble Gifts as consolation.
🎁 Bubble Gifts Incoming! 🎁 [Middle East Oil King gifted 100 Bubble Gifts.] [Pebble Jin-seong♡ gifted 1,200 Bubble Gifts.] [LovesHomeCooking gifted 1,000 Bubble Gifts.] [#Caledfwlch gifted 500 Bubble Gifts.] [Jin-seong♡Hyeji gifted 15,000 Bubble Gifts.] Finally able to sit, Jin-seong steadied his breathing and spoke slowly. After this moment, he had to reveal the decision of a lifetime to his viewers.
"Bros, when a person is born, they eventually meet a lifelong partner. So, I have someone to introduce."
Another face appeared on screen.
Viewers' eyes widened at the unexpected guest.
It was none other than streamer Pip.
— Viewer Huh? Why's Pip here...? — Viewer And not in chick cosplay, normal clothes lol — Viewer No way... — Viewer Nah, no way... — Viewer Jin-seong getting married...? Once, Jin-seong's fans were called the "Ten Million Furious Jin-seong Army."
Viewership had already hit 170,000.
It was natural for the return stream to draw aggro.
The problem was that it drew too much aggro.
"Bros, love doesn't go as you plan. I'm at marriageable age, and living with Pip made me realize she's the one."
The atmosphere was different from usual.
The prankster Jin-seong would have said, "Ta-da, it was all a joke!" but his expression was sincere. Viewers weren't fools. Among them were hardcore fans who'd watched Internet Broadcasting for over 10 years.
— Viewer Ah, he's really doing it... — Viewer C-congrats... ⭐ Top Comment — Viewer Guess I gotta chip in for wedding cash. — Viewer When's the wedding? — Viewer Never thought Jin-seong and Pip would marry lmaoooo — Viewer Live happily. — Viewer How many motel visits so far? [Jin-seong892♡ has been kicked.] — Viewer Read the room on a happy day. Fortunately, with his thick fanbase, congratulations and questions about future plans flooded in. Jin-seong was moved. These were the same viewers who usually tore him apart online, plotting how to make him unhappy.
"Sniff, thanks bros. We've already done the family meetings, wedding's next April."
— Viewer Ooh, April bride? — Viewer Nice timing when weather warms up~ — Viewer Book quick. Lots of delayed weddings piling up from corona. The stream turned into a festival.
Rumor-spreaders flocked in, pushing peak viewers to 300,000. Jin-seong reacted wildly to the new record.
"What is this? 300k today?!"
Bubble Gifts burst one after another.
Everyone gathered to celebrate.
🎁 Massive Gifts! 🎁 [Canary Juice Milk gifted 1,004 Bubble Gifts.] [Spicy Bear Soup gifted 10,009 Bubble Gifts.] [MarriageCongratsCongrats gifted 5,000 Bubble Gifts.] [Jin-seongMarriage gifted 7,777 Bubble Gifts.] [Divorce1YearAgo gifted 10 Bubble Gifts.] [Divorce1YearAgo has been kicked.] — Viewer Look at that nick wtf;; — Viewer Just curse him out lol — Viewer Wanderers bring all the weirdos. — Viewer Whoa, 400k incoming. As records shattered daily,
the big whale everyone awaited appeared.
That big spender was...
🌟 WHALE ALERT! 🌟 [Bukppudeupppu gifted 300,000 Bubble Gifts.]
30 million won in one click!
— Viewer BUKPPUDEUPPPU!!! — Viewer WHOA! 300k right off the bat. — Viewer Whales are on another level. — Viewer What does Bukppudeupppu even do? Money to burn... Fans rejoice when their favorite streamer rakes in cash, as if it were their own.
Viewers cheered like it was personal.
However,
Bukppudeupppu's Bubble barrage didn't stop there.
🎁 Non-Stop Gifts! 🎁 [Bukppudeupppu gifted 300,000 Bubble Gifts.] x5 1.8 million bubbles total! Over 200 million won with fees!!
— Viewer UWAAAAAH! — Viewer Insane, what did I just witness? Before 400,000 eyes, Bukppudeupppu asserted his dominance.
With a simple "Congrats on the marriage," he vanished quietly.
"BROOOOOOS!"
"KYAAA, OPPAaaa!"
Jin-seong and Pip bowed to the god-like Bukppudeupppu. Meeting such a benefactor was immense luck.
"Bro, I owe you big time!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Is this the place?"
"Yes. President, this is Hanmyeong Group's headquarters."
I looked up at the skyscraper piercing the heavens.
Jin Seol-hwa's eyes widened in shock at the immense scale, beyond expectations.
In Jongno-gu, Seoul.
The 45-story building drew a gasp.
As expected from the third-largest conglomerate.
A former shut-in loser from the countryside, heading to meet not just any top 100 exec, but the third-ranked group chairman.
"Let's go in."
"Yes."
No need to feel intimidated.
I was the owner of a 120 trillion market cap empire too.
Not superior meeting subordinate, but equals as partners.
"Are you Kim Do-jun?"
Hanmyeong Group's current chairman, Gu Yong-nam.
He exuded unmistakable charisma. His soft curly hair was meticulously groomed to perfection. A light smile inspired trust, and his sharp features showed how he captivated countless gazes.
I faced him with confident steps.
"I'm Kim Do-jun."