Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Welcome
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[Good evening, everyone. Yesterday, Jaewoo Thales signed the largest arms export deal with the United States since the founding of our nation. The total value reaches 1.4 trillion won...]
The next day, news of the arms deal with the United States dominated the front page of every newspaper.
The reporter, Han Ji-yeon, who had received the scoop first, called me several times to express her gratitude. She also informed me that, thanks to this, she had firmly secured the title of Jaewoo Group's dedicated reporter within her company.
-I’ll have to treat you to a meal sometime, Department Head.
“I should be the one treating you. In any case, congratulations.”
In truth, having her on my side was no bad thing.
After all, a corporation and the media are inextricably linked.
Keeping a few friendly reporters close would reduce the likelihood of facing trouble from unfair articles in the future.
Though, of course, it might cost some money at times.
“Good morning, Department Head.”
A few days after the contract was signed, the personnel changes were implemented.
Thanks to the 1.4 trillion won jackpot, no executive opposed my promotion. In fact, some were even starting to line up to curry favor.
“Good morning.”
The position of Head of the Policy Department carried a different weight than that of a development team leader.
Putting everything else aside, the office alone was more than twice the size.
But the truly important difference was the scope of work itself. Now, I could determine the company's major policies and business direction with my own hands.
“Please compile a list of all the contacts in the procurement headquarters for each business division.”
“Yes, sir. But Department Head, the Senior Managing Director just left a message for you.”
“What did he say?”
“He said there’s a family gathering at the main house today and that you must attend.”
My prediction that Jin Hyun-cheol would become a thorn in my side had not yet come to pass.
For whatever reason, he had been so consistently amicable that I even began to wonder if Hyun-seung’s memories of him were flawed.
“Well, now…”
In the end, I decided to raise my guard against him.
It was proof that he wasn't a simple fool blinded by jealousy and greed.
Even so, if I continued to influence the company like this, his patience would soon wear thin.
'No, maybe it’s already run out. By the way, whose idea was this sudden family gathering?'
It was probably meant to celebrate the successful contract.
It was highly unlikely that Jin Hyun-cheol would have created a situation uncomfortable for himself.
Perhaps Chairman Jin, having tasted the reformation of his wayward son, was now attempting to foster family harmony as well.
'It’s even more immense in person.'
The fact that the meeting place was Chairman Jin's mansion only strengthened my prediction.
For my part, I wouldn't have minded if things just stayed as they were.
The next few hours I would have to spend inside already felt like a burden.
“It’s been so long.”
The first person to greet me was Chairman Jin’s wife, Kim Hye-won.
To me—no, to Hyun-seung—she was the most uncomfortable person of all.
But what was with that smile?
I had expected a glare full of venom, but instead, her face bloomed like a flower upon seeing me.
“…”
“Congratulations, I heard you pulled off something big. But you, are you skipping meals again? Why have you lost so much weight?”
She treated me as if I were her own son returning from a long journey.
As confusion set in, memories related to her suddenly unlocked, and a few bewildering scenes flashed through my mind.
The woman before me, who had been endlessly kind to Hyun-seung from their very first meeting.
In contrast, his biological mother, who had always regarded Hyun-seung as a burden in her life.
And Hyun-seung, who had always lived with the internal conflict between the two.
He had been particularly tight-lipped about his family affairs, so I had never anticipated something like this.
Damn it all. Of all the plot twists, this was the biggest.
“Work is important, but you need to take care of your health. I heard from your father. He was so happy, saying you’ve given him a new lease on life these days.”
No matter how I looked at it, it wasn't an act.
If it had been, a sharp guy like Hyun-seung would never have been fooled.
Then how could she be like this?
When you thought about it, she was the true victim in this family.
Frankly, she was the one who had to endure her husband's infidelity, and she was the one who had to accept a child that shared none of her blood.
For her to welcome the "stone that rolled in" as if he were her own child was something my common sense simply couldn't comprehend.
“I’m sorry, but may I wash my hands first?”
“Of course, go ahead. I made steamed sea bream today, especially for you.”
She gave me another radiant smile and headed straight for the kitchen.
Watching her, my mind was in such a tangle that I felt like pulling out my brain to wash it, not just my hands.
“You’re late.”
When I reached the dining room, Chairman Jin and Jin Hyun-cheol had already started their meal.
Of course, the steamed sea bream was untouched.
It seemed like an effort to be considerate of me, but unfortunately, I wasn't particularly fond of steamed sea bream.
“No appetite? You’re barely eating today. Here, try some of this.”
Mrs. Kim Hye-won stayed by my side, constantly putting different things on my plate.
Anyone watching would have thought I was the child she had borne herself.
It was so much that even Chairman Jin, who was watching, chimed in.
“Don’t you think you’re overdoing it a little? Hyun-seung isn’t a child.”
“When else will I get the chance? I have to feed him as much as I can while I can.”
Sincerity was evident on Kim Hye-won's face as she chided the Chairman.
Damn, I just can't get used to this.
My throat felt tight, and as I reached for a glass of water, my eyes met Jin Hyun-cheol’s.
“Ahem, good work.”
He seemed to seize the opportunity to speak.
Feeling awkward, I simply nodded in response, but his words came again.
“By the way, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff called me this morning.”
“…”
In an instant, an awkward tension enveloped the room.
It was a topic of conversation ill-suited for this occasion.
Sure enough, Chairman Jin's expression had already hardened, and a shadow fell over Kim Hye-won's face.
“What did he say?”
“He said a few things, but his main purpose was probably to let us know he was disappointed. I looked into it just in case, and it seems talk is spreading among the JCS Chairman's faction. It seems you made a mistake this time.”
He wasn't entirely wrong.
A defense company making an enemy of one of the military's top brass was certainly not a matter to be taken lightly.
But that was only an issue if the JCS Chairman remained a powerful figure in the military, and since I already knew his future, I had nothing to fear.
“Still, we can’t just accept a loss.”
“You must not know, but that’s how business is. You have to take a few losses for people who can exert absolute influence over us…”
“That’s enough of that. Must you bring that up on a pleasant day like today?”
Just as his lecture was getting long-winded, Chairman Jin put down his spoon and spoke.
Startled by the unexpected turn, Jin Hyun-cheol looked momentarily dazed but didn't stop talking.
“But I’m not wrong, am I, Father? Han Dong-hoon is the strongest candidate for the next Minister of Defense…”
“I told you to stop!”
Chairman Jin roared at Hyun-cheol for ignoring his warning.
Perhaps it was because of his stern expression, but Hyun-cheol flinched and glanced at me.
“You still don’t seem to grasp the situation, brother. JCS Chairman Han Dong-hoon will never be appointed Minister of Defense.”
Since our eyes had met, I tossed the words out casually.
It must have been quite a shock.
With wide eyes, he turned to Chairman Jin and challenged him.
“Do you believe what he’s saying, Father?”
“Whether I believe it or not is irrelevant. It’s already a fact that Han Dong-hoon won't become the minister.”
Jin Hyun-cheol froze.
To be honest, I was just as surprised.
I was confident because I knew history, but I was suddenly curious as to how he knew that fact.
“Why?”
A bewildered Jin Hyun-cheol demanded an explanation.
Having lost his appetite due to the persistent argument, Chairman Jin pushed his dishes away and lit a cigarette.
“His excessive greed brought about his downfall.”
“…”
“Actually, a few days ago, the Army's top command sent a petition to the Blue House. Since the petition came from the Army's most powerful figures, not some other channel, it naturally threw the Blue House into an uproar. In the end, the President has concluded that Han Dong-hoon has completely lost the trust of the Army. It’s absurd for a man who has lost the Army’s trust to become the Minister of Defense.”
Jin Hyun-cheol blinked and stared at me.
His eyes seemed to ask, *how did you know that?*
I gave a slight twist of my lips, and his brow furrowed as he turned back to Chairman Jin.
“So you just stood by and watched as Hyun-seung threw the JCS Chairman under the bus?”
“Even if Hyun-seung hadn't, I would have done it myself.”
At those words, Jin Hyun-cheol clenched his fist.
I swear, today was the first time I had ever seen a human being display so many different expressions at once.
“Hyun-seung, how on earth did you know…”
“What does that matter now!”
His words were cut off again by Chairman Jin.
This time, he pouted as if he had to get his word in, but Chairman Jin hammered the final nail in the coffin.
“Tsk, tsk. For someone who runs the strategy department, what’s there to be proud of about not even knowing something like that? Aren’t you ashamed in front of Hyun-seung?”
He seemed so shocked that he remained silent for the rest of the meal.
Even after the meal was finished and coffee cups were placed on the table.
Then, unable to bear it any longer, he cautiously glanced around and rose from his seat.
“Excuse me, but I think I’ll be heading up now.”
Chairman Jin didn't try to stop him, merely sipping his tea.
With a hardened expression, he left the room. A little later, Chairman Jin also rose from his chair.
“I need some air, too.”
“Haa…”
A sigh of regret escaped from Kim Hye-won as she watched the empty seats.
How could she be so composed?
From her perspective, she had just witnessed the stone that rolled in kick out the one that was already there.
No matter how I thought about it, this woman… was not the type of person I had expected.
“I’m sorry. The atmosphere is ruined again because of me.”
“Why would it be your fault? It’s because they’re all so stubborn.”
“Why do you go this far? Don’t you hate me?”
My casually spoken words made her flinch.
Why?
Looking at me with sorrowful eyes, she slowly reached out her hand.
“I have never once hated you. That goes for Hyun-cheol, too.”
“…”
The words carried a strange nuance.
That she had never hated me. Or Jin Hyun-cheol.
Thinking a step ahead, it could be taken to mean that both of them were thorns in her side. That might be true for me, but what reason would she have to see Jin Hyun-cheol as a thorn?
“Why would you have any reason to hate my brother?”
*Heh.*
I prodded gently, but all I got was an awkward smile.
“Ah!”
She quickly rose from her seat as if fleeing, then hurriedly took something out of the refrigerator and pressed it into my hand.
“I packed some side dishes, so don’t skip your meals. Would you like to go to the department store with me sometime? I saw a lot of suits that you’d like, and I couldn't get them out of my mind.”
It was probably always like this in the past.
That must be why Hyun-seung had suffered such hellish conflict between her and his biological mother.
I finally felt like I understood the real reason for Hyun-seung’s struggles.
“Let’s do that. You can call me anytime you’re free.”
“Really?”
She smiled like a young girl.
Just as I was wondering if I had done something foolish, my eyes met Chairman Jin's as he re-entered the kitchen.
“Ahem, are you leaving?”
“Yes, I have a lot of work piled up.”
“Alright. It’s not a long journey, but be careful on your way.”
A brief, awkward smile passed between Chairman Jin and me.
Different from the one with his wife.
The wall of reality that exists only in a father-son relationship.
In truth, that was a proposition not easily resolved, no matter how much the relationship had thawed.
“Did you hear what Hyun-seung just said?”
From behind me, I heard Kim Hye-won’s excited voice.
Just as I thought, it was a foolish thing to do.
As I was about to leave the house, blaming myself for being swayed by a moment of pity and readily agreeing to her request, I heard Chairman Jin's voice, now also in a higher tone.
“I heard. At least your wish was granted, so tonight wasn't a complete waste.”
Listening to them, I felt as if I had played right into Chairman Jin’s hands.
Well, it’s not like I would lose anything from it.
Unlike Hyun-seung, I wasn't in a position to feel conflicted just by getting closer to Kim Hye-won.
Still, this feels unsettling.
Her words about never having hated Jin Hyun-cheol.
What on earth did she mean?