Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Father's Investment
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Lee Dae-hyuk's thoughts were simple and clear.
Even if he clawed his way to the chairmanship of Daehan Group through a string of misdeeds, it would only create more enemies.
If the Daehan Group chairmanship was his goal, he’d stoop to any dirty trick.
But in truth, he had no particular greed for the chairmanship of Daehan Group or Seojin Group.
The Daehan Group chairmanship was merely a "means" to get revenge on Yoo Jae-man, no different from the 100 billion won.
Still, if he became chairman of Daehan Group, he planned to use it to build a slightly better world.
‘If you have power, that’s what you do.’
If only to avoid turning into a monster like Yoo Jae-man.
“…….”
Lee Myung-guk watched his son for a long while, his face set with firm resolve.
There was no shadow of greed in his son’s eyes as he claimed he could reach this position while upholding principles.
Just pure fighting spirit and determination.
It was admirable, yet heartbreaking on another level… enough to stir guilt.
‘As a father, I’ve done nothing for him….’
He felt sorry.
“You mean it.”
“Thank you for believing me.”
Lee Myung-guk’s gaze trembled at Lee Dae-hyuk’s response.
Gazing at his youngest son, who had overcome that vicious depression.
In the end, he let slip the words he’d swallowed moments before.
“As a father, I’ve done nothing for you.”
“You’re already doing it.”
Lee Dae-hyuk shook his head.
His father’s warm gaze was enough.
But that was the son’s heart.
A father’s heart was something else.
“I’ll cheer you on. But I can’t offer more help than that.”
“I understand.”
Lee Myung-guk had stepped back, but Lee Dae-hyuk felt no disappointment.
His half-brothers were enemies to him, but precious children to Lee Myung-guk.
He couldn’t pick sides among his children right now.
Even so, Lee Myung-guk intended to keep the one promise he’d already made.
“Instead, as promised, I’ll invest 100 billion won in your company.”
Lee Myung-guk remembered that day’s promise.
“I’ll have to sell off some of my company stocks and land, so it’ll take time. But it’ll be in within a month—use it wisely.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. This isn’t pocket money for my son; it’s an investment.”
Lee Myung-guk drew a line.
Public funds would be used, taxes reported, and then 100 billion won deposited into Lee Dae-hyuk’s corporation.
From that point, it would be public money.
A formal business relationship.
A smile spread across Lee Myung-guk’s lips.
Not as a father, but as a conglomerate chairman and investor, his instincts told him.
This investment would succeed.
But instead of empty flattery, he kept a slight distance.
“Report any changes.”
Lee Myung-guk looked at Lee Dae-hyuk with a playful smile.
“Make this father rich with the investment funds.”
“Yes. I’ll make you the richest man in Korea. But I have one other request.”
As Lee Dae-hyuk cautiously brought it up, Lee Myung-guk nodded.
“Speak freely. I have to grant such an outstanding son’s request.”
“Take care of Daehan Group’s parachutes.”
Lee Myung-guk had laid the groundwork, and Lee Dae-hyuk answered without hesitation.
Watching his son, a smile curved Lee Myung-guk’s lips.
“That’s your big request?”
“It’s not small. To completely change Daehan Construction, we have to deal with the parachutes first.”
Lee Myung-guk nodded at Lee Dae-hyuk’s words.
“You’re right. But there’s a reason parachutes are needed.”
“A reason… for parachutes?”
“Yes. Find that reason, and meet Chief Secretary Kim Dae-min. He’ll listen to you.”
As chairman, Lee Myung-guk was giving his son a test question.
The answer was simple.
But he wanted to see how his son solved it.
And.
‘Yes. I’ll step back for now.’
Lee Dae-hyuk could read his father’s intent.
“Understood, Father. I’ll pass that test with flying colors.”
Was he satisfied with his son’s bold declaration?
Grinning broadly, Lee Myung-guk nodded vigorously.
“Good. I look forward to it.”
***
A few days later.
Lee Myung-guk’s three children were sipping wine in the VIP lounge of Daehan Hotel.
It had been months since they last met.
“What’s with the sudden summons? What wind blew through our busy big brother?”
Her eyes narrowed in a mix of jest and mockery.
Third sister Lee Sun-ah eyed eldest brother Lee Dae-hwan.
At that, Lee Dae-cheol, listening beside her, glared.
“What’s with that tone toward your brother? You’re not a kid anymore—fix that habit.”
“The ones who need fixing are you brothers, not me. Especially big brother here calls us whenever something doesn’t go his way. Right? This time it’s just a casual family gathering because I wanted to see you.”
Lee Dae-hwan’s scowl deepened at Lee Sun-ah’s words.
“Cut it out.”
“I am cutting it out.”
“…No wonder you’re still single, snapping at people like that.”
“It’s not that I can’t like you—it’s that I won’t. I’m waiting for someone worth my time.”
“You….”
“Quiet.”
As Lee Dae-cheol raised his voice.
Lee Dae-hwan raised a hand to stop him.
“Brother.”
“I didn’t call you here to fight.”
“Knew it.”
Lee Sun-ah snorted.
Lee Dae-cheol glared at his sister but said no more.
He was curious about why Lee Dae-hwan had called them too.
“Father’s heart is tilting toward that guy.”
“Who?”
Sudden mention of “that guy.”
Lee Dae-cheol tilted his head.
“Pet.”
Lee Dae-hwan set down his wine glass after a sip.
Thud-!
“Our pet did something amusing.”
Lee Dae-cheol and Lee Sun-ah fell silent for a moment.
Lee Dae-hwan’s eyes calling Lee Dae-hyuk a pet were chillingly cold.
Along with that.
“…….”
“…….”
A pang of guilt stirred in both their hearts.
They too had abused Lee Dae-hyuk, who monopolized Father’s love.
But that was in their childhood.
Now older, they harbored a shred of guilt.
Not having seen his face in ages had softened their hatred, it was true.
But Lee Dae-hwan was different.
He still clutched hatred for Lee Dae-hyuk in his heart.
“You’ve heard about the Seojin Construction Jesong-dong Gate, right?”
At Lee Dae-hwan’s question, Lee Sun-ah spoke first.
“Saw it in the papers. The president cozying up to subcontractors for kickbacks?”
“That’s all I know too.”
Hearing them, Lee Dae-hwan smirked bitterly.
“You two really just read the newspapers, huh.”
Lee Dae-cheol and Lee Sun-ah hadn’t built their own intel networks.
So they only knew the general “news.”
To them, Lee Dae-hwan revealed the truth.
.
.
.
“Dae-hyuk extorted 100 billion won?”
Lee Sun-ah raised her voice unwittingly.
How the hell did that weakling squeeze 100 billion out of Seojin?
Lee Dae-cheol was equally shocked, unable to speak properly.
Watching them, Lee Dae-hwan continued.
“And today, Father gave orders to the finance management team.”
“What orders?”
When Lee Sun-ah asked back, Lee Dae-cheol answered instead.
“Investment… probably.”
“Yeah. Exactly.”
Lee Dae-hwan nodded.
The finance management team had received Lee Myung-guk’s orders to liquidate stocks and other assets.
“An order to invest about 100 billion in the pet’s company. Official from the chairman.”
Hearing this, Lee Sun-ah and Lee Dae-cheol bit their lips in unison.
They knew Lee Dae-hwan had his lines planted throughout the group, so it wasn’t surprising.
He’d shared necessary intel, still not seeing them as rivals.
What enraged them was Father investing 100 billion in Lee Dae-hyuk.
Investment? It was a gift.
Crunch-!
Gripping his fist, Lee Dae-cheol muttered.
“…It’s too early to judge rashly.”
“Yeah. Not judge—stop it.”
Lee Sun-ah cut off her second brother.
Father’s heart was indeed shifting toward Lee Dae-hyuk.
Didn’t that mean one more competitor?
Of course, she didn’t think she’d lose to a suicidal depressive.
Still, nip dangerous buds early.
“So? What’s the plan?”
Lee Sun-ah asked Lee Dae-hwan.
Lee Dae-cheol watched his brother silently too.
As his siblings’ gazes turned to him, Lee Dae-hwan wet his lips with wine instead of answering.
Thud-!
“We need to sway public opinion.”
“Public opinion?”
Lee Sun-ah’s eyes sparkled.
With her stunning looks and rigorous self-care, she maintained a model’s figure.
She’d even modeled for their cosmetics and appeared on variety shows, living the celebrity life.
“Sounds fun. I get the vibe already.”
“Yeah. Let’s turn our pet into an ordinary chaebol third-gen.”
In the meantime, Lee Dae-hwan had investigated Lee Dae-hyuk somewhat.
And uncovered a few facts.
People linked to Lee Dae-hyuk.
Loan shark boss Jeong Hee-joo.
Mid-level boss Kim Min-gyu of the Park Cheon-ho faction that ruled Seoul.
Use that info to shake public opinion.
Spread rumors that ‘Lee Dae-hyuk teamed up with these thugs for land hoarding and made 100 billion.’
To ordinary folks, Lee Dae-hyuk would seem like ‘the axis of evil.’
“…I’ll hear just this much.”
Lee Dae-cheol, who’d been listening, stood up.
“Dae-cheol.”
Lee Dae-hwan called, but Lee Dae-cheol shook his head with indifferent eyes.
“Let’s compete fair and square, brother. You’ll win anyway, right? No need to get messy.”
“It’s not messy—it’s smart.”
“Yeah, you smart ones conspire away. This dummy’s out.”
Lee Dae-cheol waved and left.
Watching her brother’s retreating back, Lee Sun-ah pouted.
“Must’ve bulked his brain with all that gym time. Can’t think straight.”
Lee Dae-cheol was one of the most unique figures in Daehan Group—no, among the top ten chaebol families.
For over a decade, he’d trained in boxing and judo, hitting weights whenever free.
Any suit he wore made his chest strain the shirt.
Even Lee Sun-ah found it gross.
But what irked her most was his occasional holier-than-thou act, pretending to be the nice one.
“Yeah, better off without the dumb second brother. Big brother, got a plan?”
At his sister’s question, Lee Dae-hwan smiled contentedly and spoke.
“I’ve got a surefire move.”
***
Lee Dae-hyuk was enjoying a rare peaceful, quiet daily life.
Just recently, he’d been fighting gangsters and killers.
Now? Waking up, eating breakfast, heading to the office.
A leisurely routine.
Greeting office colleagues without guns or knives—quiet and serene.
But come afternoon, a storm hit the peaceful office.
Thanks to Jin Soo-young’s outrageous demand.
It was about the CF she was starring in.
Her mere appearance already guaranteed success for the new apartment ad.
The problem was.
“Cast a husband that fits the concept too? But no extras? Haha. What the hell!!”
Groaning, Park Min-chan clutched his forehead.
With filming in three days, Jin Soo-young had suddenly made this outlandish demand.