Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Fair Competition
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Daehan Group's chairman's office.
Lee Myung-guk was listening to a report from Chief Secretary Kim Dae-min.
"So... Dae-hyuk became friends with Steven Gibson and Bill Gates? And he caught a terrorist?"
"Yes. The news mentioned Young Master's full name explicitly. Once through Kim Mi-jin from Young Master's company, and once through a local guide named Kim Sung-hee. We've confirmed it thoroughly."
"Huh... A terrorist? What is this kid thinking, the one who said he wanted to do business...."
Lee Myung-guk was utterly dumbfounded.
The tale of the young Asian man—no, his son—who started in Silicon Valley was beyond common sense.
And for good reason.
- The man drawing attention from Steven Gibson and Bill Gates.
- The man who subdued a serial bomber after a fierce fight.
The fact that these two were the same person was astonishing enough.
No wonder it was making headlines across America.
"...With Manager Yoon Tae-ho by his side, nothing should happen, right?"
"Manager Yoon Tae-ho is the type who would save Young Master even if it cost him his life. You don't need to worry."
Kim Dae-min spoke firmly.
Even so, Lee Myung-guk felt a twinge of unease.
But what could he do?
His son was on distant American soil, no matter how much he fretted.
'For now, all I can do is trust and wait....'
A father had to be the fence his child returned to.
For now, the best course was to make that fence even sturdier.
And to give his striving son a modest gift.
"After I die... Daehan Group will belong to my children."
"You don't need to worry about that yet."
"You're a father too. A father has to prepare properly for the children he'll leave behind. That's why I want our kids to compete on a fair playing field."
Lee Myung-guk calmly shared his innermost thoughts.
Daehan Group, its executives and employees, and even their families—they were like his other children.
For them to live securely going forward, the chairman's seat had to go to someone qualified.
"The other kids each have their own affiliates already. For it to be a fair competition, we should hand one over to Dae-hyuk too."
Kim Dae-min hesitated to respond to Lee Myung-guk's words.
Giving an affiliate to the unripe Lee Dae-hyuk could even be dangerous.
Park Ji-sook and Lee Dae-hwan were the types who could stir up trouble in some way.
'And they have the power too. Maybe, even now....'
They might have already sent someone to deal with Lee Dae-hyuk.
"......"
But Kim Dae-min held his tongue.
Instead, fulfilling his duty came first.
Protecting Lee Dae-hyuk and ensuring Lee Myung-guk suffered no more heartbreak.
"I'll prepare a report on each affiliate's sales status and market share. Please use it to decide which one suits the youngest Young Master."
Lee Myung-guk smiled contentedly at Kim Dae-min's wise response.
"Good. I'll be waiting."
***
While his stepmother plotted against his life and his father prepared a gift.
Lee Dae-hyuk was listening intently to Steven Gibson.
"Sorting out my emotions and thoughts... wasn't easy, honestly. There were just too many things beyond common sense."
"......"
"But I've reached a conclusion about Mr. Lee. Whatever your intentions, however you learned about them. In the end, it did me no harm. My mother was the same."
Apple's VIP reception room.
In this space reserved for Apple's top brass, Lee Dae-hyuk was hearing Steven Gibson's true feelings.
"Honestly, I'd love to hear everything related to me.... But before that, just one question first."
"Go ahead."
"What exactly do you want, that you'd protect me and my mother even opposing that organization? If it's as powerful as you say, Mr. Lee could be in danger too."
Steven Gibson's doubt was natural.
What Lee Dae-hyuk wanted...
He'd taken risks to help, so he must want something in return.
'......'
For a moment, Lee Dae-hyuk was lost in thought.
Saying 'to become your business partner' felt too obvious, too calculating.
But to solidify his relationship with Steven Gibson going forward.
Excluding the Psycho Metry part, he had to be honest.
"At first, it was business. Building a friendly relationship with you and advancing together with Apple would benefit me greatly."
"You risked your life for money?"
Lee Dae-hyuk shook his head at Steven Gibson's follow-up.
"At first it was money, but honestly, after that it was empathy."
"......"
"Steven, you and I. Setting aside the heartbreaking, unspeakable blood ties... we actually have a lot in common."
Lives of being used by others, never meeting a living mother.
It felt like looking at himself.
"So I went a bit overboard."
Steven Gibson rubbed his chin at Lee Dae-hyuk's joke.
Lee Dae-hyuk hadn't said anything concrete.
But he too 'empathized' with Lee Dae-hyuk's gaze, his tone. The melancholy aura he gave off.
This man before him seemed to have endured trials like his own, or even greater, and survived.
If so... what need was there for more questions?
"Whew... Alright. That's answer enough."
Steven Gibson's single remark.
That one remark stirred Lee Dae-hyuk's heart.
It felt like his sincerity had reached him.
"Thank you."
Instead, it was Lee Dae-hyuk expressing gratitude.
Steven Gibson burst into laughter at the thanks.
"I should be the one thanking you. Thanks to Mr. Lee, I got to meet my mother, have deep talks, and spend joyful time."
Steven Gibson smiled brightly.
Talking with Martha, he had shed tears.
And she had too.
After so many years apart, mother and son shared their unfinished stories amid tears.
In the midst of it, Steven Gibson realized something.
The reason for the fear he'd harbored all this time.
"Mr. Lee. Do you know why I avoided surgery and sought other ways to erase the pain? Ah, of course you wouldn't. I've never told anyone."
"......"
Lee Dae-hyuk quietly waited for Steven Gibson's next words.
His Psycho Metry wasn't perfect.
It sometimes missed deeply buried anxieties, fears, or crucial unconscious info.
Like not seeing the Ichensrian in Lou Wilson's memories.
But now, that reason was coming from Steven Gibson's own mouth.
"Among my acquaintances... several never woke up from surgery. It's unavoidable. No surgery is 100% perfect and safe."
Was it because he was sharing his true heart?
Steven Gibson's voice trembled slightly.
"So... this is really absurd and embarrassing, but...."
"......"
"I was afraid... afraid I'd end up the same. Afraid I'd die without seeing the mother who gave birth to me."
"Ah...."
A soft exclamation escaped Lee Dae-hyuk.
He understood now why Steven Gibson had avoided surgery so stubbornly.
"Ah, not that I don't love my adoptive parents, wife, or daughter. Though hearing this, they'd probably feel hurt."
Steven Gibson cracked a joke to lighten the heavy mood.
Lee Dae-hyuk smiled too.
'Right. Even this genius is human in the end....'
Sad, scared, ashamed, craving love.
That man had mustered his courage.
"Re-surgery. I've decided to do it. Planning to take a leave from the company."
Hearing Steven Gibson's firm decision, Lee Dae-hyuk let out a sigh of relief.
Whew—!
"I'm so glad. Really glad."
"You're acting like it's your own relief. It's embarrassing me."
"Was it that big a deal?"
"Well, some fear remains.... But if there's work for me to do, God will help, right."
From Steven Gibson's words, Lee Dae-hyuk was convinced.
After this surgery, he'd live at least another decade.
"I'll visit you in the hospital for sure."
"No need. What hospital visit."
Steven Gibson waved it off with a laugh.
Instead, he emphasized something else.
"Besides family, only COO Tim Cook and Mr. Lee know about the re-surgery. Keep it secret, please."
Steven Gibson was thorough.
Even hiding it from his friend and rival, Bill Gates.
Reading his intent, Lee Dae-hyuk nodded.
"My lips are sealed."
"Oh, and just in case, I'm telling you ahead. Don't sell any Apple stock for the next six months. Even if I die, the iPhone lives on."
Steven Gibson was certain.
If he died, Apple's stock might dip momentarily.
But the iPhone's power would endure.
Given time, Apple's stock would rise again.
And Lee Dae-hyuk, who knew the future.
'No way that'll happen.'
He had no intention of selling Apple stock.
"Not a single share. I'll hold and wait, Steven."
"Good. See you after discharge."
"Yes. I'm heading to Korea now... but call me, and I'll come running anytime."
Steven Gibson felt a slight pang at Lee Dae-hyuk's words.
"Ah... right, you have to go now."
"Yes. I have things to do in Korea too."
"Yeah. Business talk... let's do it later. Or better, I'll visit Korea myself...."
Steven Gibson swallowed the rest.
He knew this connection with Lee Dae-hyuk was just beginning.
Business aside...
'I need to prepare countermeasures against that secret organization, The Company.'
But as he said, even this genius was human.
With tasks piling up to prepare for his absence, and time needed with family to care for his birth mother.
Amid all that, he avoided mentioning other headaches.
"Ah! Time already."
Rustle—!!
Steven Gibson rose and extended his hand.
His eyes, seeking a farewell handshake, brimmed with trust toward Lee Dae-hyuk.
"We'll do a lot together from now on."
Grip—!
"Of course."
Lee Dae-hyuk clasped his hand and smiled brightly.
***
After meeting Steven Gibson.
Lee Dae-hyuk boarded a flight to LA with Yoon Tae-ho.
Tomorrow at 4 PM.
A meeting with Marvel Studios was finally set.
"The schedule's piling up suddenly. Tomorrow Marvel Studios, day after Peet's Coffee.... Whew! Aren't you tired?"
After arriving in LA, they'd take an evening flight back to Silicon Valley tomorrow.
A grueling itinerary.
Yet Lee Dae-hyuk showed no sign of fatigue.
"Isn't this easier than fighting killers and bombers?"
"The analogy's a bit off... but yeah, better than that."
Yoon Tae-ho let out a hollow chuckle at Lee Dae-hyuk's comparison.
Comparing business meetings to life-or-death fights with killers and terrorists.
Who does that?
"I didn't realize... I'm serving someone truly remarkable?"
A mix of exasperation and amusement.
"I'll take that as sincere."
Yoon Tae-ho's head throbbed at Lee Dae-hyuk's reply.
"Just let me live as ordered."
"Gulp! Cough!"
Lee Dae-hyuk chuckled oddly at Yoon Tae-ho's desperate plea.
He pulled out a small gift he'd prepared for Yoon Tae-ho.
"U.S. schedule's done now. After Marvel Studios and Peet's Coffee meetings, we head to Korea."
"R-Really?"
Yoon Tae-ho's voice rose.
Seeing his brightened expression, Lee Dae-hyuk asked back.
"That happy?"
"Yes. Family waiting... you know."
Yoon Tae-ho lowered his voice.
Talking family in front of Lee Dae-hyuk felt a bit guilty.
Reading his heart, Lee Dae-hyuk said,
"No need to be so cautious around me. It makes me uncomfortable. Besides, to me, you're family—Manager Yoon, Mi-jin noona too."
Yoon Tae-ho's eyes trembled at Lee Dae-hyuk's words.
Through the harrowing, death-defying schedule.
His slightly waning loyalty surged back with emotion.
"Young Master...."
"We're in America. People will misunderstand. Don't overdo it."
"...Yes."
Yoon Tae-ho, eyes reddening, started to grab Lee Dae-hyuk's hand.
He quickly turned away.
But.
'Finally... finally! Going home! Wait for me, honey!'
Tremble tremble—!!!
He desperately composed himself, but his shoulders shook.
Lee Dae-hyuk found Yoon Tae-ho's back endearing, and on another note...
'Thanks.'
In his past life, betrayed by Yoo Jae-man, Oh Tae-gyu, and abused by family.
Lee Dae-hyuk had scars from humans that wouldn't heal.
Without Yoon Tae-ho or Kim Mi-jin, he might have become a blind vengeful ghost.
Thanks to this couple, he could retain this much humanity.
'Right. Don't become a monster.'
Like Yoo Jae-man.
Or The Company's executives.
Gazing at the night sky outside the window, Lee Dae-hyuk reaffirmed his resolve.