Blueprint
***
Kang Myeong-seon's residence. Cornered on all sides, Myeong-seon clung desperately to the lifeline her brother had thrown her just to survive. She'd pulled every dirty trick in the book to drag Min-ho down, but he was no opponent she could beat with cheap schemes like that. If she wasn't clever, she should at least have had some street smarts—but she didn't. Convinced beyond doubt that Chairman Kang knew nothing, Myeong-seon slept soundly through the night and woke up refreshed.
Scratching her matted bedhead, she shuffled toward the entrance. She slipped on her slippers to grab the newspaper from the yard. At that moment, she startled like a cat, hunching her body and staring wide-eyed at the outside. Sturdy men stood beyond the front gate.
Myeong-seon peered at them before cautiously asking, “Who are you... Oh! Manager Park?”
The men outside were secretarial staff dispatched on Chairman Kang's orders. They bowed ninety degrees and replied, “We didn't mean to startle you. Our apologies.”
“It's fine. But what's this about, showing up first thing in the morning?”
“If you could just open the gate for a moment, we'll explain.”
A foreboding chill wrapped around her, but opening the gate was her only option. Desperately hiding her trembling nerves, she changed the subject. “Do you need the bathroom urgently? Or are you hungry?”
No sane employee would act like this without reason. After a pause, Manager Park spoke gravely. “It's regrettable to bring such unpleasant news when we haven't seen you in so long.”
“Unpleasant news? What the hell are you talking about first thing in the morning?”
“From today onward, you won't be able to step foot outside this house.”
It was unbelievable. Stunned as if struck by lightning from a clear sky, she asked blankly, “What? Say that again. I can't go out?”
“The Chairman has ordered house arrest.”
“Dad? Out of nowhere? There has to be a reason!”
“We're sorry. We weren't given any specific details.”
Panicking, Myeong-seon dropped the newspaper in her hand. Clutching her head with both hands, she shook it in denial of reality. “No way, right? You must have gotten something wrong, Park?”
“Family members may go out only for essential reasons, but you'll have to submit to a search of your belongings.”
It was Chairman Kang's way of reining in his wildly flailing daughter. 'No way... Does Dad know about this too? Even so, this is too much...'
Sighing deeply, Myeong-seon said firmly, “Step aside, Manager Park.”
“I'm sorry. I can't do that.”
“You wanna try me by force? Think I can't handle you?”
She shoved with all her might to get out, but she couldn't break through the burly secretarial staff. “Move! I said move!”
“We're sorry.”
“You're really doing this?”
“It's the Chairman's orders.”
After struggling futilely for a while, she realized there was no dealing with these immovable staff. Myeong-seon dashed back inside in a frenzy. “This is ridiculous. I need to call Dad and talk to him myself.”
She picked up the receiver and punched the buttons, but no dial tone came. “They cut the phone too?”
They'd severed her outside contact to enforce the endless house arrest. She screamed in frustration and hurled the receiver. “It's all because of that brother of mine! Everything's ruined—completely ruined!”
Trapped in her home, there was nothing left for Myeong-seon to do.
***
Soseonjae.
“We've arrived.”
After parking, Lawyer Choi set the parking brake. His tone was subtly different from usual. The quick-witted Min-ho picked up on it immediately. “What's worrying you this time?”
“How did you know?”
“Grandpa hasn't arrived yet. We've got time—spill it.”
Fidgeting unnecessarily with the steering wheel, Lawyer Choi finally voiced his question. “We got past the last suspicion, but I can't shake the feeling it could happen again anytime.”
“You think I haven't prepared for that?”
“Do you know how President Kang Du-seong will react?”
“I can't be certain, but I have a rough idea. Don't worry too much.”
“Understood. I shouldn't have brought up such troubling talk.”
“We always knew it'd be a mudslinging fight anyway.”
Just then, Eun-chae—wearing a flowing dress—tapped the window with a playful smile in her eyes. Their gazes met, and Min-ho promptly opened the door and stepped out. “Grandpa's not here yet, right?”
“Is that all you have to say to your girlfriend after days apart?”
“I've told you a dozen times: it was the only way to dispel the suspicions.”
“I never said I didn't like it.”
“One verse of teasing is plenty.”
“If our rhythms don't match, my lips stay sealed.”
“Our deal's already done. Adding terms unilaterally is a breach of contract.”
Flashing a smile that could melt eternal snow, she lightly swatted Min-ho's arm. “What now? I know what you're thinking...”
“This isn't some twisty doughnut joint in the market. Get to the point.”
“They brought up the financial real-name system in Hyoja-dong. With crisis rumors swirling, stocks are tanking, Myeong-dong's gloomy, and companies are all scrambling over what to do with their black money.”
“That's basic info anyone could know. If that's all you've got, maybe we renegotiate the deal?”
The info broker Eun-chae wasn't one to be outdone. After careful thought on Min-ho's angle, she'd prepared one key piece. “It's me, Gu Eun-chae. You think I'd brag over this little?”
She dangled the document envelope in her hand. “You've been fidgeting with that—what's inside?”
“Marriage registration forms.”
“I said no more jokes...”
Cutting him off swiftly, she replied, “Info on the Seoul mayor race. The one surefire way right now to kneecap President Kim Dong-il's soaring approval ratings. What do you think? Not bad, right?”
“Not bad at all.”
“No tongue blister from a compliment? You're no miser—how are you so stingy with praise?”
“I already have plenty on it, but no reason to turn down help like this.”
As Min-ho reached for it, Chairman Kang's car pulled in. “We'll see about handing over this envelope.”
With a coy smile, Eun-chae headed straight for Chairman Kang. “Oh, Grandpa—you're here!”
Min-ho's eyes widened at the “Grandpa” instead of “Chairman.” Even more shocking was Chairman Kang's response. “My grandson's bride looks even prettier after just a few days.”
“Really? You look way younger too, Grandpa. Did you sneak some wild ginseng without telling me?”
“How do you make even one word sound so sweet? Next time word comes from Gangwon, I'll have them send a few roots for our Eun-chae too.”
“That's a promise, right?”
“Of course it is.”
“Let me show you in. I prepared fresh yukhoe—you love it.”
Stunned by the pair's perfect rapport, the flustered Lawyer Choi and Min-ho could only stare. “Young master, things seem to have spiraled out of control.”
“First time I'm regretting those words.”
Spotting his grandson, Grandpa's face lit up even brighter. “You see your grandpa and don't come running barefoot?”
With a beaming smile, he spread his arms and hugged his grandson tight. Patting his back, he said with eyes full of affection, “Did you think your grandpa wouldn't know?”
“You were just pretending not to, right?”
“No need for twice-told tales—that's nagging. You've been through a lot.”
“I wasn't trying to deceive you on purpose.”
“I know everything. Anyway, if you've got a hidden bride, you should've tipped off your grandpa first.”
“Grandpa, I think there's a misunderstanding—actually...”
“Eun-chae's got a sweet personality, and her beauty's second to none. Grandpa's already given his blessing.”
Smiling at the flustered Min-ho, Chairman Kang strode into Soseonjae.
***
Unlike other companies thrown into chaos by the financial real-name system's fallout, JK Group's preparation kept the impact minimal. Even the mighty Chairman Kang let out a sigh at the government's sudden, iron-fisted policy—proof of how perfectly timed Min-ho's advice had been.
Downing a shot with relish, Chairman Kang let out a hearty laugh. “Thanks to my fine grandson, we've reaped these benefits. How did you know things even this old grandpa was clueless about?”
“Considering President Kim's temperament, I figured he'd thrash around to slip the noose somehow.”
“Spot on. He's had that tenacious gambler's spirit since his youth—famous for it.”
“With ample justification and rising polls, I predicted it'd be his best card to choke JK Group.”
Chairman Kang's lips were already curling skyward. Beaming, he asked, “And that card was the financial real-name system?”
“In Hyoja-dong, it's all gain and no loss—a perfect deal.”
Chairman Kang couldn't stop admiring Min-ho's brilliance. “Am I drunk on liquor or on my grandson's smarts? Either way, I'll count this as one I owe you, Grandpa to grandson.”
“What are you saying? Without you, I wouldn't be here.”
“A fox with ruby lips, wagging its tail like that—how's a man to keep his wits?”
He refilled Min-ho's glass and continued. “Speaking of, do you know the story behind that last mess?”
Min-ho drained his glass in one go and replied, “Dad used Aunt Myeong-seon. She had a staffer leak info to the press.”
“Sharp as a newsroom boss. But why stay quiet this time?”
“No grandpa in the world sits idle after his grandson takes a beating. I stayed quiet on purpose.”
Chuckling breathlessly at his grandson piercing his thoughts, Chairman Kang stroked his head repeatedly. “Exactly. That's the truth.”
“Aunt's under house arrest, and Myeongjin Ilbo—the first to report—is as good as shuttered.”
“If Grandpa had his old hothead days, I'd have grabbed the tongs and buried them. But times change—you adapt...”
Min-ho had one thing he wanted to ask. Taking a deep breath, he spoke gravely. “Grandpa has one question. I want to know your goal, Min-ho.”
Without hesitation, he answered, “Make JK the top group.”
“Meaning... you want to succeed me?”
“Management blends ideals and reality. The best successor is the one with top skills—that's the answer.”
“You have someone in mind?”
“No. Not yet—they're still a step below me.”
Unlike his power-hungry kids, Min-ho clearly put the group first. Smiles bloomed across Chairman Kang's face. “The problem's your dad. He'll come at you tooth and nail—how's Grandpa to stand by?”
Min-ho shook his head firmly. “We've reached the mountainside now. Leaning on your help would bury all I've achieved in your shadow as Chairman Kang Jin-gwang's grandson.”
“You'll handle it, come hell or high water?”
“Yes. Losing a family fight means I wasn't qualified from the start.”
“I get it fully. No matter what, I won't interfere—promise.”
With the firm assurance, Min-ho pulled out his prepared documents and placed them on the table. “My next plan's in here.”
“Gotta see what grand scheme my grandson's cooking up.”
Casually opening the files, Chairman Kang's eyes bulged. He couldn't hide his shock at the unimaginable plan. Adjusting his glasses, he double-checked the unbelievable blueprint. No matter how many times he looked, it was a grand vision too vast to credit easily. Amazed by Min-ho's boundless ambition, Chairman Kang asked, “Your uncle... Beom... Beom-seong as Seoul mayor?”
“Yes. I'll make it happen.”