Chapter 7: A Changed Man
Despite the doctor's warnings, Min-ho left the hospital and climbed into the car driven by Lawyer Choi, heading home. Though he gripped the steering wheel, Choi's nerves were entirely focused on Min-ho, whose changes were almost too profound. His polite and gentle speech, his demeanor, even the way he addressed him—everything was different. It was the same in the car. Instead of crossing his legs and chain-smoking, he sat quietly so as not to distract the driver.
Is something wrong with his head, maybe? When the car hit a red light, Choi cautiously broached the subject.
"Young master, if anything feels off..."
"No need to worry. I'll tell you right away if even the slightest thing seems wrong."
"Understood."
He'd barely raised the topic, and Min-ho gave the exact reassurance he wanted. It was too perfect to be acting, yet too unbelievable to be genuine change. Min-ho spoke to the tilting-headed Choi.
"What else did you talk about with Father?"
"The president mentioned work matters."
"That took quite a while for just that. Father's not one to drag out conversations."
Choi glanced at the side mirror, changed lanes, and replied.
"Actually, I'll be living with you at your place for the time being."
"What about your legal team duties?"
"Nothing urgent there, so it's fine."
"Perfect. Just think of it as a vacation and relax."
"Understood."
From a few words, Min-ho gleaned Kang Du-seong's intentions and gazed out the window with a faint smile. Kang Du-seong had sensed Min-ho's changes but couldn't be sure. He'd assigned Choi to confirm it. If it was an act, it wouldn't last days; if real, even the smallest habits would shift. Now, Min-ho was royalty. He'd set foot at the base of the colossal mountain called JK and had to climb relentlessly to the summit.
The biggest issue was the time gap. He knew the royal family's assets, slush funds, and dirty secrets inside out, but had no precise knowledge of what was under Kang Min-ho's name in the 1990s. Opportunities to make money lay endless ahead, but without seed capital, they'd be mere mirages.
"You've been handling me all this time, so you must know all the financial details too."
"Yes. Since I report directly to the president on matters concerning you, I'm fully up to speed on every detail."
"How much property is in my name?"
The unexpected question made Choi slam on the brakes.
"Young master, are you alright?"
Choi had good reason to be shocked. Min-ho had zero financial sense. Spend when you have money, spend when you don't—that was his philosophy. For such a Min-ho to ask about money was monumental.
"Is that so surprising?"
"No, sir. Do you not remember this either?"
"Not at all."
"To put it simply, you're effectively legally incompetent."
It was the answer he'd expected. Min-ho continued matter-of-factly.
"If it's just 'effectively,' then no court ruling yet—Father must have ordered it."
"Yes. The president sends only the bare minimum for living expenses each month."
"And all my money's been reclaimed."
"All of it: land in Yangsan, Daejeon, Daegu, plus stocks and cash."
"That wasn't really mine anyway, so whatever. What's my bank balance?"
"95,600 won."
Kang Du-seong had seized everything, doling out fixed allowances monthly. It was worse than expected, but Min-ho didn't mind much. Once he joined JK Credit Info, he could leverage his abilities to build seed money easily.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived in Seocho-dong.
"Thanks for your hard work."
"You drove safely. But my pockets are empty. Got the keys, by any chance?"
"I always carry spares."
Choi opened the gate. For a delinquent son's home, it was impressively spacious. A place he'd visited occasionally as a servant. Now, it was his. Emotions swirling, he slowly scanned every corner. Strolling leisurely through the yard, Min-ho asked Choi,
"How much do you know about Credit Info?"
"Our work overlaps, so quite a bit in detail."
"If I join Credit Info, which department would I get?"
"I can't predict that. But no department's easy. Any preference?"
"You know I'm in no position to be picky. We'll talk details tomorrow."
The next day, 5 a.m. Though he'd become Kang Min-ho overnight, old habits died hard. He rose at dawn for his usual jog. Quietly dressing and stepping out the front door, Min-ho was followed moments later by the light-sleeping Choi, alerted by the heavy door thud.
"Young master, off somewhere at this hour?"
"For a run."
"Pardon? Now?"
"Why'd you get up? Sleep more."
"I'll join you."
Min-ho's body desperately needed exercise. Even a twenty-something who could chew asphalt wasn't normal after years of booze and smokes. Within minutes, he knew how wrecked it was. Just 300 meters in, his heart pounded like it would burst, legs trembling.
"Young master, first day—good to stop here."
"No. The body grows through pain. Go ahead if it's too much."
"No, sir. I'll run with you."
An opportunity not to repeat. Min-ho gritted his eyes and legs, sprinting full tilt.
***
A week later, in the JK Mutual Savings Bank president's office. Kang Du-seong sat reviewing reports when his secretaries knocked and entered.
"President, Legal Team's Lawyer Choi Jong-hoon is here."
Glancing at his watch, Kang Du-seong replied.
"Already that time? Send him in. Bring some tea."
"Yes, sir."
Choi entered cautiously, bowing 90 degrees.
"Good work this past week! Sit."
"Yes, President."
What caught Kang Du-seong's eye first was Choi's gaunt face after just a week.
"Something wrong?"
"No, sir. Nothing concerning at all."
"What happened? You look like you haven't eaten properly."
"Nothing else. He just started jogging."
"Good for him... Fresh air and all."
"I didn't jog alone. Rose at 5 a.m. with the young master."
5 a.m.—when Min-ho usually staggered home drunk. Kang Du-seong doubted his ears.
"You're saying Min-ho got up at dawn for a jog?"
"Yes. I just followed."
Unable to process the jogging news from a Min-ho long estranged from exercise, Kang Du-seong set down his teacup.
"Not just jogging—steady strength training too."
"Every day without fail this week?"
"Yes."
"Booze or smokes?"
"Clean break."
"Not a drop?"
"None. With me by his side 24/7, sneaking's impossible."
No matter how he thought, he couldn't grasp this perfectly changed Min-ho. And there was more jaw-dropping news.
"Lifestyle's transformed too. Cleaning house, diet, studying, exercise—all on a strict daily routine."
"Studying? What's that mean?"
"Humanities, philosophy, even law books—every day."
Kang Du-seong's mind was chaos. Grasping at one possibility for the incomprehensible changes,
"After the head injury... Any chance of post-accident syndrome?"
"I worried too, so we saw the doctor again."
"Need more tests?"
"No. Perfectly healthy, they said."
"Good it's positive, but too changed. After a week together, your take? Your opinion matters most."
Choi carefully voiced his thoughts.
"I judge him fully capable."
"Just a week—can't relax completely."
"He's a completely different person. Habits, speech, everything."
"Bottom line."
"Fit to join JK Credit Info."
Choi's answer held no hesitation. Decision time for Kang Du-seong. After a moment's thought, he spoke.
"Credit Info's new hire schedule?"
"Last week's hires finalized. Training starts tomorrow."
"I'll put in a word—have him start tomorrow."
"Yes, sir. Paperwork?"
One practical issue: If revealed as the president's son, everyone from staff to execs would grovel.
"Fudge the personal details, change name to family name only."
"Staff don't know his face but know the name."
"Min-ho's common enough. It'll be fine."
"Understood. I'll prep papers as instructed and slot him into Credit Info."
"You commute there too, keep watching."
"Yes, President."
"Good work. Dismissed."
Choi bowed and left. Seated, Kang Du-seong pondered deeply, then picked up the receiver and dialed.