Chairman Jang vs Chairman Choi (1)
While the Five Girls were each lost in their own thoughts, Young-hoon and President Lee Jae-man arrived at the Sinabro Production office.
The moment they opened the door and stepped inside, everyone greeted Young-hoon warmly. Screenwriter Lee Na-yeon in particular fussed over him with conspicuous enthusiasm.
"Welcome, Mr. Kim!"
"Hello, Screenwriter Lee. I'm so sorry—I was in such a rush yesterday that I left without even saying goodbye."
"Oh, don't mention it. What shocked me yesterday was finding out that you and Chairman Jang already knew each other so well."
"You've got the wrong idea, Screenwriter. Yesterday was only my second time meeting Chairman Jang. In other words, we're not close at all, so please don't read anything into it."
At that, President Joo Young-ki slipped into the conversation as well.
"Welcome, Mr. Kim Young-hoon. Did you get home all right yesterday?"
"Yes, sir. Thank you for your concern. It seems the pre-production press conference wrapped up in great success yesterday. 'Love After Separation' is sitting near the top of the real-time search rankings online, so I'm feeling quite good about it myself."
Young-hoon spoke with characteristic modesty, but President Joo Young-ki could no longer afford to underestimate him in the slightest. He had seen the extent of Young-hoon's power with his own eyes the night before, and even now a commotion was raging on account of him. The songs Young-hoon had written were sweeping up every digital chart, with "A Loving Heart" claiming the number one spot in real-time searches. Second place was "After Farewell," which hadn't even been officially released yet, and third was "Love After Separation" itself.
If the buzz was this intense a full month before broadcast, the ratings would clear twenty percent without breaking a sweat, no matter how badly things went. A screenwriter, director, and cast of genuine talent had poured their hearts into crafting a masterpiece on a shoestring budget—and now Chairman Jang, the drama's largest investor, had injected an additional ten billion won on top of it. There was now so much money sloshing around that they had run out of places to spend it.
Under the circumstances, Joo Young-ki was dying of curiosity about the true nature of the relationship between Chairman Jang and Young-hoon, but asking outright somehow felt like an overstep. He could only squirm restlessly like a puppy needing to do its business. One thing, however, was certain: the Chairman and Young-hoon were uncommonly close, which meant he would have to tread carefully around Young-hoon from now on. If he ended up on Chairman Jang's bad side, he could be finished with a single stroke.
Shin Hye-yoon, standing beside him, chimed in with a knowing glance.
"You're aware that you're the one who created this absurd situation, Mr. Kim?"
"I'm sorry—what did I do? I haven't done anything special."
"The OST you wrote and composed caused such a sensation that 'Love After Separation' is riding the wave of publicity along with it. And Chairman Jang decided to invest the additional funds after hearing just two of your songs. All of this is thanks to you, Mr. Kim Young-hoon."
The moment the connection to Chairman Jang threatened to become the center of attention, President Joo Young-ki cleared his throat and changed the subject—preemptively defusing things, lest the unwanted scrutiny make Young-hoon uncomfortable.
"All right, enough of that. Lawyer Cha has finished revising the contract, so President Lee Jae-man and I will step into the small conference room and get it stamped. Mr. Kim, feel free to chat with everyone until I return."
Once the two men had gone, Screenwriter Lee Na-yeon came sidling back with a question.
"So what exactly is your relationship with Chairman Jang, Mr. Kim? Watching him yesterday, he was circling you like a mother hen—it didn't seem ordinary at all."
"It's truly nothing. My brother-in-law works at a securities firm and, as it happens, manages Chairman Jang's assets. I met the Chairman for the first time two days ago through my brother-in-law's introduction—shared one meal with him, and yesterday was our second meeting. That's the whole depth of it."
"Really? Because that's not the impression I got from the Chairman at all. He treated you like his own son..."
"Oh dear, that really is a misunderstanding. My parents back in the countryside would be hurt to hear it."
Meanwhile, PD Lee Hyo-young's mind was in turmoil. On this production of 'Love After Separation,' his own MBS had been the top investor at five billion won, and by exercising the exclusive rights that came with it, they had secured the domestic copyright. But with Chairman Jang's sudden additional investment of ten billion won, the position of lead investor had changed hands. The worry over how the aftershocks might hit weighed on him like a mountain. By his own reckoning, they would likely have to cough up every claim to overseas distribution rights. In truth, that issue was the single biggest reason everyone had gathered here today. He could never let it show, of course, but his leverage had undeniably weakened.
Keeping his composure as best he could, PD Lee Hyo-young turned to Young-hoon.
"Mr. Kim, you gave me quite a shock yesterday, too."
"It was nothing, really—I'm sorry I put you on edge. Oh, that reminds me, PD Lee. Is there any problem with the Five Girls appearing on 'Pleasant 2 PM'?"
"As it happens, I just got a call from PD Jang. If the schedule allows, he'd like them on the radio as soon as possible—within a day, even."
"PD Lee, that's something we should think through. This overheated buzz online is going to die down within a day or two. From our standpoint, it would be better to wait until things have cooled a little, then have the broadcast reignite the fire."
Even to Young-hoon's ears, Shin Hye-yoon's reasoning made sense. The dramatic effect would be far greater that way.
"I fully agree with PD Shin. Would it be possible to arrange the appearance with PD Jang for a set date instead?"
"Of course, no problem at all. I'll pass that along."
Somehow, without anyone quite noticing when it happened, everyone's manner toward Young-hoon had grown markedly more careful.
Chairman Jang woke late at Ji-hye's house. From nine o'clock the night before until the small hours of the morning, he had played a match lasting a good six or seven hours—first half, second half, extra time, all the way through penalty kicks. His opponent now lay sprawled senseless on one side of the bed.
But Chairman Jang was as vigorous as ever. He had barely slept a few hours, yet his stamina was already restored to full. Even his little general stood stiffly at attention, head raised proudly toward the heavens. Part of him wanted to run one more match, but with his opponent knocked out cold, he decided moderation was in order for today.
After fixing himself a late breakfast-cum-lunch, Ji-hye had crawled back into bed and collapsed. Chairman Jang called for his driver and headed home to the Pyeongchang-dong estate. In the car, he phoned Chairman Choi to rub in the salt one more time. Even his silent driver couldn't help but crack a smile at the sight of the Chairman, brimming with life again after so long. He had been driving Chairman Jang's car for over thirty years, and the two had grown old together like old friends.
After teasing Chairman Choi for a good long while, Chairman Jang dialed Ki-jin next. Ki-jin had begged him to stop provoking Chairman Choi—the man kept coming after him to vent his fury. But Chairman Jang wanted to savor the sweet taste of victory a little longer. He ordered Ki-jin to keep Young-hoon's existence hidden from Chairman Choi for at least a fortnight. Ki-jin bargained him down to five days, but even so, the next ten days of tormenting Chairman Choi promised to be great fun.
Chairman Jang's house stood in Pyeongchang-dong, the enclave where Korea's wealthiest gathered to live. The estate was divided into a main house and a detached annex; the Chairman lived alone in the main house. Of course, the housekeeper and butler resided there with him, while the driver and his wife lived separately in the annex.
Butler Kang froze in astonishment at the sight of Chairman Jang entering the house. He was simply too different from the man who had walked out of it two days earlier. He looked positively radiant—as if he'd swallowed a five-hundred-year-old wild ginseng from some mountain somewhere.
"Chairman, did you enjoy something wonderful out there? Your complexion looks marvelous. You seem to have grown twenty years younger—like a man in his early fifties."
Chairman Jang dropped onto the drawing room sofa and answered in a voice brimming with good humor.
"So even in your eyes, Butler Kang, I look young?"
"Less young than overflowing with vitality, sir. Your voice, too—it has taken years off."
"Hehehe, is that so? Go fetch the housekeeper for me, would you?"
A moment later, when the housekeeper approached, Chairman Jang asked in a voice quivering with excitement.
"And how do I look to you, madam?"
"Your appearance hasn't changed much, but your voice is full of strength. And you look so full of life, sir. It's as if you've been drinking some kind of miraculous elixir."
"Hehehehe... See? You get it. Bring a pot of tea to the study."
"Yes, Chairman."
Rising from the sofa with a look of deep satisfaction, Chairman Jang issued one more instruction.
"Butler Kang, find out where Secretary Byun is and tell him to come to the study."
Having given his orders, Chairman Jang strode into the study and stretched out with a long yawn. He was halfway through the tea the housekeeper had brought when Secretary Byun knocked and entered.
"You called for me, Chairman."
"Ah, yes. Did you take care of everything I asked yesterday?"
"Yes, Chairman. The ten billion won was wired immediately, and this morning I visited Sinabro Production to execute the revised investment agreement before returning."
"Good work. By the way, Secretary Byun—how do I look to you?"
"Not to tell a single lie, sir, your appearance seems largely unchanged—but your voice booms like thunder. And you look remarkably full of vigor."
"Then book me a full medical checkup at Director Park's hospital for Monday."
"Yes, sir."
Chairman Jang seemed lost in thought for a moment, then spoke again.
"And that officetel I asked you to look into—any progress?"
"Yes, I checked again this morning. The moment Mr. Kim Young-hoon gives the word, he could move in tomorrow."
"No, no. I've given it some thought, and an officetel won't do."
"Then what shall I look for instead?"
"There's a villa village in Gangnam where the rich all live, isn't there? Look there. Something in the range of two hundred thirty to two hundred sixty square meters. What would that run us?"
"It would cost at least thirty to forty billion won, sir."
"Only that much? Then make it three hundred thirty square meters. Handle the title transfer, too."
"Chairman, that would incur a hefty gift tax, among other things—"
"Man alive, this is the man who gave me back a new life, and you quibble over that? Sort out the taxes yourself and make arrangements so Young-hoon can move in by next week. Wait—no, actually. Should I just take this boy straight into my own house?"
"I wouldn't recommend that, Chairman. I doubt a young man would give up his privacy to move into your estate."
"I suppose you're right? The truth is I'd hate for that Choi bastard to catch wind of it and snatch him away."
Just then, Butler Kang knocked and entered the study.
"Chairman, Chairman Choi is here. What shall we do?"
"Hm? Why on earth would that man come here?"
"Back when Chairman Choi provoked you, sir, you went to his house and threw your tantrum, if you recall. It seems he's come to return the favor."
"Is that so? Then show him in."
A short while later, the front door opened and Chairman Choi strode into the room.
"Choi, what brings you all the way out here?"
"I came to see your ugly face, you rotten old coot!"
"What was that! A man younger than me, how dare you speak to me that way!"
"Oh really? You're my elder because you beat me to a birthday by two days?"
"Enough—the housekeeper's watching, and I won't have her think less of us. Let's take this to the study."
With two of Korea's Three Great Cash Kings gathered under one roof, an ominous electricity filled the air, as if war might break out at any moment.
"Setting all that aside—why exactly are you here?" Chairman Jang asked brusquely.
"You've provoked me past all endurance, so I came to raise hell, you old fool!"
"Ha, listen to this man. Enough of this back and forth—I'll pour you some tea, so drink it nicely and go on home. Whew, after that seven-hour match yesterday, I'm simply worn out."
"Seven hours?! Don't make me laugh—how long was it really?"
"Has this man been deceiving people all his life? I played the first half, the second half, extra time, and penalty kicks, I tell you. Ji-hye's still lying unconscious at the house, even now."
"Is that so? Then tell me where you got your hands on that elixir! Why won't you tell me?"
"I told you yesterday, you fool! I said I bought it from Executive Director Lee for three hundred billion won."
"Then why does Executive Director Lee keep telling me to ask you? Come on, friend to friend—just this once. I'm begging you!"
"Tsk. When you put it that way, you soften an old man's heart. Very well—kneel down and call me 'elder brother' first. Then maybe, just maybe, I'll consider teaching you."
"Bah! You're too filthy to bother with, you stingy old devil!"