Three-Way Split
"Yes, I know."
"If you'd handed that over to just anyone else, you'd probably be dead by now—or at best, blackmailed into selling it for chump change. You get that, right? Stuff like this happens all the time in this country."
"Yes. I heard someone tried to sell a meteorite worth five billion for just fifty million."
"Exactly. Overseas, folks would pay five billion for it, but here they try to snatch it for fifty million. Government crooks, big corp fat cats—they all pull the same crap. 'For the good of the nation!' they say, while pocketing everything worthwhile. If you'd taken that gem to a big company or the government, Yaseong, it would've been game over. They'd scoop it up for peanuts, maybe throw in some threats to keep you quiet. You follow me?"
"Yes. That's why I told Senior Yujin, someone I can trust. She's reliable."
"Good. My daughter's trustworthy, so you can trust her dad, Choi Seong-cheol, too. Got it?"
"Yes, I understand."
Han Yaseong answered meekly and obediently. After all, this was Senior Yujin's dad—he deserved respect. Choi Seong-cheol had raised his precious daughter with care, and Yaseong could overlook a lot for the chance to call her over anytime and bury his face between her legs. Hell, he'd even considered just handing over the gems if it meant having Choi Yujin.
But Choi Seong-cheol wasn't that unscrupulous.
"Alright, then leave everything to me. I'll handle disposing of that gem. Understood?"
Choi Seong-cheol figured this naive kid saw it as a walk in the park. No need for negotiations—he'd manage the whole gem operation solo.
But interference came from an unexpected quarter.
"What are you talking about, Dad? The gems belong to Yaseong. Not you."
What an idiot. Starting a fight here, of all places. Choi Seong-cheol scowled at his meddling daughter.
"This is grown-up business. You kids are students—focus on your studies."
Bubbly Choi Yujin didn't back down.
"Remember this, Dad: those gems are all Yaseong's. You're just the agent. Looks like you're trying to lowball the naive guy right now, and if you do, I'll feel so bad for him I'll have to date him. So go ahead if you want."
"What? Why would you date him? What about Taeha?"
"We already broke up."
"Why again? Did you fight?"
"No, it's over for good."
"Why? What happened?"
Choi Seong-cheol paused, something clicking as he frowned.
"Heegyung again?"
"Yeah."
"That girl..."
He sliced into his meat with the knife, popped a piece in his mouth, chewed thoughtfully, then warned her.
"Still, don't make enemies of them. You can't win against that family. You know her uncle just got a spot in the Prime Minister's office? Don't rock the boat, or it could splash back on our hotel. Just put up with it—for me."
"I've been putting up with it because of you. You said audits or tax investigations would be a nightmare."
"No company in this country survives that scrutiny. Everyone's got dirt."
Listening to Choi Seong-cheol, even this Seoul Hotel seemed shady as hell. An investigation would probably unearth a mountain of skeletons. He sure looked the type to skirt the law—fists and loopholes over rules any day. No wonder he wanted full control of the gems.
"Anyway, he's Yujin's junior, so I'll take good care of him. Real talk: where's he gonna sell those gems? Government? Big corps? They won't give him a tenth of what I'll offer. What do you think, Yaseong?"
Han Yaseong felt a twinge of disappointment but accepted it. He had no power right now—selling them himself was impossible. Miners sold cheap at the source; middlemen hauled them to Seoul and flipped for big bucks. Even if he tried, he doubted he'd get ten billion. Worse, corps or government might just seize them. He knew nothing about laws, had no backing.
But he was Choi Yujin's dad—surely better treatment than strangers.
"I trusted Senior Yujin and left it to her, so President, do as you see fit."
It was the best option. Entrusting it to Senior Yujin's father was smartest.
Choi Seong-cheol grinned, pleased with the answer he wanted.
"You really like Yujin, huh? She's a handful, that one. But for her sake, I'll make sure you're taken care of. Bring those gems quietly—no one can know. Actually, want me to send someone?"
"No need. The mountain's deserted. I can fetch them alone in secret."
"Still, it's risky solo. Someone should go with you to—"
Choi Seong-cheol, uneasy, tried assigning muscle, but Choi Yujin shut it down.
"Dad, no worries. Yaseong's crazy fast. Extra people might just spread rumors."
"My guys are—"
"You always say never trust anyone in business."
"Hm."
Choi Seong-cheol nodded slightly—he couldn't fully trust his own crew.
"True. Nothing's certain. People flip in an instant."
"Just leave it to Yaseong. You handle the sale. And we've talked enough—split the net profits three ways. Got it?"
"What? Three ways?"
"My share, your share, Yaseong's share."
"Hey, that's—"
He protested the generous cut, but Choi Yujin blocked him.
"He trusted me with the gems. Can't lowball him. He'll hand everything to you, but profits split three ways. That way, if he finds more, he'll bring 'em to me."
"Like there's more?"
Choi Seong-cheol tsked, as if golden geese were one-offs.
Han Yaseong answered.
"There will be."
"More?"
"Yes. If I look right, I'll find more. Maybe even bigger ones."
Choi Seong-cheol stared at Han Yaseong. It sounded confident—not just possible, but inevitable.
"This isn't the end, then."
"No. I might keep finding them."
Multiple golden geese. That's how Choi Seong-cheol read it. Trust needed building. No lowballing if he wanted future deliveries. He'd planned modest billions for the daughter's junior, but now he adjusted.
"Fine. If you'll keep bringing more, we'll be business partners. But Yujin, why take a third? What're you doing for it?"
"I introduced him. Broker's fee."
"A third for that...? You okay with it?"
"I'm fine."
He'd considered splitting half with Senior Yujin—or giving her all. A third was nothing.
Choi Yujin beamed; Choi Seong-cheol smacked his lips.
The kid's head over heels.
Obvious he was smitten, brain off. And yeah, daughter or not, Yujin was stunning. If unrelated, he'd have claimed her by any means. Sometimes Choi Seong-cheol resented being her real dad.
Still, not impossible.
The boy looked scrawny—not Yujin's type. Compared to ex Seo Taeha, night and day. First sight of Taeha had even Choi Seong-cheol impressed—manly perfection. This Han Yaseong? Meh. Just a junior, no threat.
"Alright, no choice. Profits three ways."
Yujin took a third anyway—no loss. And more incoming? Better build trust. Slight him, and he might shop elsewhere.
"But how'll you sell 'em? Meteorites need permits, right?"
Choi Yujin seemed curious. Meal was done.
Choi Seong-cheol sipped more wine.
"Talk to that diamond company chairman first. Legal or black market? A trillion-won gem haul would shake the world—gotta factor the fallout. Mix legal and shady, balance the risks."
"No big trouble, right? Like investigations?"
"We'll avoid that. Legal for cover, illegal for profit. Taxes too, so more brokers. Pull in European investors for safety. Even at full trillion value, our cut's tops two or three hundred billion."