Hyunji's Resolve
“……I’ll only lie today. I’m sorry, Oppa.”
Hyunji had been watching, warm and still, as Lee Shinwoo’s back slipped away into the mouth of the alley. The murmur left her, and her eyes dropped. She looked at her handbag for a moment, then her face set, and she drew out her smartphone. She placed a call. A heartbeat later, Han Gyeo-wool’s voice came down the line.
“Morning, Hyunji.”
“Morning to you too, Unni.”
“Mm. Sleep well?”
“Yes. Better than I have in a long time. You?”
“Work. You’re on your way to school?”
“Could you give me a ride today?”
“Where are you?”
“The bus stop. As if you don’t already know.”
“What—you knew there was a security team?”
“Of course. How many years has it been? Don’t scold the unnis on the detail. You know Mom’s sloppier than she looks.”
“True. But I’m not the one covering you right now.”
“Huh? You’re not?”
“No. You’re not the type to get into trouble. I’m nearby, so I’ll come. Just need a minute to hand things off.”
“How long?”
“Now.”
At that instant a black sedan pulled up in front of the bus stop, hazards blinking. Hyunji ended the call and climbed into the back seat.
“Aigoo.”
The cute little sound of discomfort she made, rubbing her lower belly, tugged a smile to the corner of Gyeo-wool’s mouth. She watched in the rearview as Hyunji buckled her belt, then pulled away from the curb.
“So what’s going on? In all your years at university, this is a first.”
“I wanted to ask you a few things.”
“About what?”
“Unni, you have a handle on most of Mom’s businesses, don’t you?”
“Pretty much. Anything old, I’d have to check the tablet.”
“Then I have a feeling you already know what I’m about to ask.”
“Sorry. I came straight from something else.”
“Didn’t we used to have a business tied to a silver town?”
“……A silver town? We did. Ah. Is this about Mr. Shinwoo’s suggestion?”
“Yes. I distinctly remember hearing it, back when I was in middle school or so, as one of the businesses Mom ran into the ground.”
“You would’ve been a first-year in high school. And it wasn’t a loss. Land prices jumped a lot last year.”
“See? I said I’d heard it somewhere, and I was right. So there’s still some of it left?”
“Two sites. But if we so much as sell off what’s remaining, there’d actually be quite a lot left over.”
“That was years ago. You really think it’ll sell?”
“……That’s the problem.”
Gyeo-wool met Hyunji’s eyes in the rearview and went on, her voice level.
“I’ve run the numbers myself, and I don’t think Mr. Shinwoo’s idea is a bad one. The security’s as good as a decent apartment complex. On our end it’s as good as dead inventory, and if the Chairwoman hears you’re close by, she’ll be able to rest easy.”
“If it still hasn’t sold, it’s toxic inventory.”
“No. It isn’t that. It’s the location.”
“Where?”
“Mount Cheonggye.”
“……I’m not very good with mountains.”
“It’s the one behind Mount Gwanak.”
“They built it that close to Seoul?”
“Yeah. We thought being near Seocho District made the vision a good one, but we never grasped that anyone headed for Seocho would simply go to Seocho—there was no reason to come out there. And the people who’d already made up their minds to go as far as Gyeonggi weren’t about to climb up into a mountain. Iseon Construction missed that.”
“How much is the loan?”
“Thirty billion won? That’s just sitting there. The interest is low. And thank God we went in with our own capital—build first, sell after—without project financing, so the risk is entirely ours. A hair the other way and Mother really would have smashed Iseon Construction to pieces. There’s a new apartment complex right next door with a fine view, and the price is no different. The apartments have better access, too.”
“Even I can see that.”
“And no matter how much margin we strip out, that place is still too expensive. Take out every bit of the construction cost and price the land at what it was before it rose, and you still need at least sixty billion won in cash. You’d be assuming the construction loan, and you have to think about taxes. It’s a site that will never get another development permit, so there’s a premium on it now.”
“……I suppose so. What about the other one?”
“Too far. It’s in Sokcho.”
“The East Sea is nice, but……”
“I can’t call that one cheap either. The price per pyeong is low, but the lot is enormous, so the total is high. It’s over ten thousand pyeong—more than eight acres.”
“Hard to split up?”
“Yeah. There was a contract with Sokcho City when it was built. That was back when the city was nervous the builder would change the story and throw up apartments.”
“I see.”
“Taken as a whole, it’s over a hundred billion won. Something like that—you couldn’t even dream of support unless two or three multimales went in on it together. If it were a matter of renting, maybe. But Mother couldn’t stand to watch you live as a tenant.”
“……She wouldn’t.”
Hyunji sank into thought. Gyeo-wool was quiet for a moment herself, then spoke.
“I think there might be a way. Nothing certain.”
“That’s all right. What is it?”
“I was thinking we might make use of the fact that it’s in Gyeonggi.”
Hyunji tipped her head, puzzled, and a soft smile settled over Gyeo-wool’s cold face.
“It sits on the border of Gwacheon and Uiwang. If we pulled support out of both cities, added Gyeonggi Province on top of that, and used a loan, we might cover about half. And if he were even to move as far as Anyang, the cities could end up competing to land him, which would make the bargaining easier.”
“……This is getting awfully big.”
“It is. And if we covered the remaining half as support from our company, we could make it work somehow. There is a downside, though.”
“……Oppa.”
“Right. There has to be a paper trail. You know how it is once a multimale signs a support contract with a company.”
“He gets dragged to ads, events, all over the place.”
“Exactly. And if it’s us, the Ministry of Maternity and Childcare will be a nuisance about it too. Being close to them is a disadvantage at a time like this. There’s one more thing.”
“What?”
“You.”
“……I suppose so.”
“If it comes out that way—that you’re Mr. Shinwoo’s live-in partner—then even the fact that our company supported him could turn into a problem. There’s no telling which way public opinion runs. You’re ready for that kind of thing whenever it comes. He isn’t. You’re not hurt, are you?”
“You’re right, Unni.”
And under her breath, too low for Gyeo-wool to catch, Hyunji added, “If I keep hiding, then yes.”
“Sorry. I didn’t hear that.”
“It’s nothing.”
“From the company’s side, though, it’s pure gain. The image boost from social contribution and multimale support is beside the point—the owner’s daughter being involved with a multimale is good news. The third generation is locked in, so the succession is perfect. And that puts the Chairwoman’s dream a little closer.”
Color rose in Hyunji’s face. She looked out the window and murmured.
“Does she want to list that badly?”
“She’ll want the market’s valuation, I imagine. According to our think-tank report, a ranking around thirtieth is as good as certain. It’s everything she’s built in a lifetime. I’d want to see it too, in her place. If you’d only had any interest in the business, she might not feel that way.”
Gyeo-wool had been about to go on. She glanced at Hyunji’s face and closed her mouth.
“……I know. Not listing is more advantageous for inheritance. But does it already have to be that way……? I’m so happy just like this.”
“Adults tend to think more about what comes next.”
“……I’m an adult too.”
“From where I sit, you’re still my cute little sister with the runny nose.”
“……That’s a cheap shot, and you know it.”
Hyunji pouted and shot her a glare, and Gyeo-wool took it with a gentle laugh. Hyunji didn’t seem to dislike it after all; she looked at Gyeo-wool with her face burning, and soon a smile found its way there. Then she fell back into thought, and at last her eyes hardened and she gave a small nod.
“……And I think there’s one more way. It’s only my idea, but……”
“What is it?”
Hyunji hesitated, then quietly began to speak. Gyeo-wool listened without a word, and when the story had run its course her eyes went round and she nodded.
“That would be the best of all. The whole snag right now is ownership, and that resolves every bit of it.”
“……Does it actually hold up?”
“Yes. No problem at all. We’d just have to sort the taxes, and that’s only a matter of paying them. No—wait. Then the way it looks from the outside gets even better. Iseon Construction’s capital takes a hit, but the books get sounder. The business gets tidied up, and we can look for government support on top of it. This is very good.”
“All right. If that’s what you think, Unni.”
“……Blood really will tell. You thought of the Chairwoman, didn’t you.”
“I—I’m worried about exactly that, so…… Don’t scare me too much, Unni.”
Hyunji dug through her handbag and came up with her smartphone. Gyeo-wool watched her, worry plain in her eyes.
“But if you do this—what about you?”
“I’m all right. I don’t have any lingering attachment left.”
“……Are you really sure? You said you wanted to study abroad.”
“Yes. I thought about it, over and over. I can’t go. No—I won’t. The moment I imagine leaving Oppa, my chest hurts too much…… And I’ve made my decision, so I’m not looking back.”
Their eyes met in the mirror. There was no waver in Hyunji’s. Gyeo-wool gave a quiet nod.
“……All right.”
“Is Mom busy right now?”
“No. She’s probably still asleep.”
“……How is she freer than a daughter in her twenties. Honestly.”
Hyunji grumbled, rummaging in the handbag again, and Gyeo-wool answered her warmly.
“She’s been frantically busy for days. Because of the Hanseong Medical Center acquisition.”
“So she’s really going through with it? Isn’t she growing this too fast? There are already six affiliates. And didn’t that place blow up over the construction corruption at the infertility center? Even girls like us know about it.”
“There was no choice. Hmm.”
Gyeo-wool hesitated, put her thoughts in order, and went on.
“……It was practically dumped on us by the Ministry of Maternity and Childcare. Look only at retained earnings and the asset picture, and you can count us among a small handful at the top of the country. Our base is still a financial company, after all. From Hanseong’s side, handing it to us—someone who doesn’t compete with them—was the best option, so they wanted to pass it over. Want me to send you the report, if you’d like the details?”
“No. I suppose it can’t be helped. The whole country knows the foundation is private moneylending. That doesn’t mean the image gets any better. We rode the internet-bank craze, that’s all. Even I know that if we aren’t careful, the law separating finance and industry could put us at risk.”
“Don’t talk like that. You know as well as I do that we’ve never sold an illegal product. And now we’re a proper primary financial institution. Do you have any idea what kind of company this is—how hard Mother worked in her younger years, growing it while she actually kept the law? You think there was never a single temptation along the way? You know that isn’t easy. And we cooperate with the government, the way we are with the medical center, precisely so we won’t be in danger. In fact, thanks to us, they’re about to start talking again about easing the separation of finance and industry.”
“They call it the primary sector, but we aren’t the main player. No matter how close we are, right now we’re no different from the Ministry’s pocket money.”
“That’ll get better in time. The approval was on the condition of ten years of cooperation. We just have to work harder in the meantime.”
“……That’s true, but.”
Hyunji nodded at the firmness in Gyeo-wool’s voice, quietly unlocked her phone, and placed the call. The Bluetooth connection rang through the cabin, and she and Gyeo-wool waited for it as if that were only natural. On the navigation screen the contact read Mommy. Gyeo-wool glanced at it and smiled.
“……Oh my, is this really our daughter calling? It’s been so long since I heard my girl’s voice first thing in the morning.”
“You’re up? I heard you’ve been tired lately.”
“Don’t even start. At this rate your mother’s going to collect more wrinkles. It’s time you were heading to school. For a bus, it’s awfully quiet.”
“Yes. I asked Gyeo-wool unni for a ride today.”
“See? You should have been doing that all along. Why put yourself through the bus?”
“……If rumors start at school, nothing good comes of it.”
“Aigoo. Let’s not. We’ll only end up fighting again. Anyway. Why? Oh—want to go shopping? Shall we have a date, mother and daughter, for the first time in ages? Let’s get massages too, just the two of us. Your lower back still hurts, doesn’t it?”
“No. Today my condition is honestly great. It isn’t that. There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Mm. What is it?”
“……Mom.”
“What is this, why are you suddenly like that. You think if you put on a serious face, Mom’s going to flinch? I’m Lee Hyesun, the Myeongdong Witch. Your mother.”
At Hyunji’s words, the sound of a sharp indrawn breath came through the phone. A very brief silence followed—and then a bright voice burst from the speaker.
“Oh my, really? You’ve actually decided?”
“Yes. I won’t be much help. But I want to help with your work, too.”
“Oh my goodness. What is this. Really, our girl?”
“Yes. I thought about it again and again before I decided.”
“Really, what a thing this is. Thank you so much, my girl.”
“So—there’s something I’d like to ask.”
“Yes, yes, what is it? Even if you ask me to split off a company, I’ll do it for you. Of course, after you’ve learned the work—but the employees do the work anyway. We only have to make the decisions. That’s why we hire the smart ones. Don’t worry too much.”
At Lee Hyesun’s voice, bubbling over with unguarded delight, Gyeo-wool smiled softly. Hyunji only listened, quiet, and then she answered.
“Please set up a corporation for me.”
“A corporation? To do what?”
“A Multi-male Support Corporation. One beneficiary, and I want it set as exclusive.”
“……You know that once you establish that, there’s no taking it back?”
“Yes.”
“Even if that man leaves you, you have to support him for the rest of your life. And his name will be attached in front of yours forever. Didn’t you see your mother? All the years I was raising you, didn’t you see me playing that man’s wallet? You saw that I only became free after he died—and knowing that, you still want to do it? You like him that much?”
“Yes. And the silver town at Mount Cheonggye. I want to put that in as the capital.”
“……Ah. That. That’s still unsold? I really ought to just sell Iseon Construction off and be done with it.”
“You understand what I mean, don’t you?”
“Yes. You and Shinwoo are trying to move in there?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm…… If it’s that, it’s a little better, at least. It’s close, too. So then—you making your mother this happy today, that was because of Shinwoo? Not because of what I asked you?”
“……That’s right. I want to live looking only at Shinwoo now.”
“Is that so? You like that man that much? Mom’s a little hurt.”
“……I’m sorry. Oppa hates lying, so I don’t want to lie about anything that has to do with him, either. I already did it once today…… I really don’t think I can live without him anymore, Mom.”
“All right. If anything, I’m glad. But does he think the same way?”
“Yes, Mom. I’m sure.”
“Being too sure isn’t good either, daughter. People change.”
“I don’t care if he changes. Even if he pushes me away, I won’t leave his side. And seeing him struggle like that, it feels as if my chest is completely stopped up. I want to help that lovable person from right beside him. And I want to become someone who belongs there, too.”
“You do?”
“Yes. It’s because I want to be some kind of help to Oppa. He never once acts as if it’s a bother, and every single day he gently shows me that I can be happy because I’m a woman—that a day can be this happy.”
Hyunji’s voice was already wet, and as she went on it began to tremble. Even after she had finished, the speaker gave back nothing at all for a moment.
“……Yes. If anything, I ought to be the one who’s grateful. For him cherishing our girl that much.”
“……Yes. Even thinking about it, my heart races……”
“I can hear it. Our girl’s voice is so cute, even Mom’s heart raced.”
“Th-then, since I don’t really know how, I’ll ask Unni to handle it.”
“All right. Let’s hang up for now, then. We’ll sort the rest out on our side and talk to you.”
“Yes. Just…… as long as nothing happens to Shinwoo Oppa……”
“Don’t worry. He’s become no different from a benefactor to me, too. Then tell your Gyeo-wool unni.”
“She’s listening right now.”
“Chairwoman, I’m sorry. Mother—I’ll proceed with it that way.”
“Good. Hearing both your voices together is so lovely. Come by the house, all of you, sometime soon. We’ll drink tea with Mom and have a proper talk. You’ll have to tell me about Shinwoo, too.”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll take it that you’re attending school through this year.”
“Yes. I’ll graduate. And I’ll speak to my professor myself.”
“Good. ……It really was right, asking you.”
“Sorry?”
“It’s nothing. I’ll see you later, then, my girls. Have a good day.”
“Yes. You too, Mom.”
“Please get some more rest, Mother.”
“Mm~”
Lee Hyesun’s pleased voice drew the last of itself out long, and the call ended. In the same moment a sigh slipped from Hyunji.
“You can feel exactly how happy she is. Can’t you?”
“You really can. So how long do you think it’ll take, Unni?”
“A month at the latest, probably. It’s very simple. Leave it with me, and I’ll take care of it.”
“Okay. Thank you, Unni. It must be a nuisance for you every time.”
“What are you saying. Don’t talk like that.”
“Still.”
“Set your mind at ease and go to school. See Mr. Shinwoo properly. So don’t take the stress on. Understood?”
“Yes. Unni, and…… you know I love you, right?”
“……You’re finally speaking casually to me?”
“Well, I’m getting older too.”
“……In front of me, you’ll be my cute little sister for the rest of my life.”
“Unni.”
“I love our Hyunji, too.”
“Yeah.”
Hyunji settled back against the seat, and the face she turned toward the window looked grave. There was no regret in it—only resolve. And a small thread of expectation. She might have been a child hoping to be praised, but the expression itself belonged to an adult. Gyeo-wool watched her in the rearview, smiled, and murmured, “All grown up,” as she drove quietly on.