The Crown Prince of the New Military Regime (2)
Choi Cheol-gyu stood at a crossroads of a final decision. It was whether or not to tell Choi Cheol-min the truth about why he had come here. However, Choi Cheol-gyu did not hesitate for a second and stuck to his original choice. "Come on, brother. What’s the big deal about a son coming to see his father?"
"Ah, w-well, I suppose that’s true." Even as he thought he had asked a stupid question, Choi Cheol-min continued to cast anxious glances at his younger brother. He wanted to be the only one to curry favor with their father, so his brother's sudden appearance made him uneasy.
"Brother, do you really think I came here for no reason?" At Choi Cheol-gyu’s words, which pierced through his psychological state, Choi Cheol-min reacted immediately. "R-right. You wouldn't have come for nothing, would you?"
Choi Cheol-gyu leaned in toward Choi Cheol-min’s ear and whispered quietly. "I’ve been praising you to Father, and more importantly... I’ve been painting that brat Yoon-gi in a bad light. If this keeps up, the way Father looks at Yoon-gi will gradually change."
In an instant, Choi Cheol-min’s expression melted into a wide, foolish grin. "Kuh... as expected, it was a good idea to talk to you. I’ll be counting on you often from now on."
"Don't worry about it. You know my personality, don't you?"
"I know it very well. Alright, get home safely!" Watching his brother wave, Choi Cheol-gyu maintained his poker face as he climbed into his car. 'Sigh. Using him to go up against Yoon-gi is definitely the right choice.' Hearing the sound of the front door opening through the car window, Choi Cheol-gyu shook his head in disbelief.
"It’s late in the evening, what brings you here?" At his father’s words, Choi Cheol-min gave an awkward smile. "Hey, a son can visit his father’s house, can’t he?"
"This isn't my house. It’s your older brother’s house."
"Still, Father is here."
"Don't come by too often; it’s a nuisance to your brother and sister-in-law." Even while being openly rebuked by his father, Choi Cheol-min had no choice but to force a laugh. If there was any consolation, it was that his younger brother was bad-mouthing Yoon-gi to their father. But Choi Cheol-min didn't dream that it was all a lie, nor could he ever find out. He couldn't ask his father directly, and he hadn't managed to plant any spies in his brother's house.
"So, what else did you come here to say?"
"No, it’s not for Father. I have business with Yoon-gi."
"With Yoon-gi?" Choi Ki-hyun tilted his head, looking extremely puzzled. He had never seen his grandson act affectionately toward his first uncle.
"Yes. Yoon-gi is entering the 4th grade this year. Since he’s becoming an upper-grade elementary student, I brought him a gift."
"A gift...?"
"Yes. Is he in his room?"
"He is in his room, but..." Hearing his father’s words, Choi Cheol-min knocked on Yoon-gi’s door. "Yoon-gi, are you inside?"
"...Yes, I am." The door opened, and Yoon-gi bowed his head. "You’ve arrived. What is the matter?"
His demeanor was strictly professional. Choi Cheol-min handed the bag he was holding to Yoon-gi.
"What is this?"
"A gift. You’ve never received a gift from me before, have you?"
"Ah, yes... Thank you." Yoon-gi accepted the gift with an openly displeased expression and didn't even think about opening it.
"Aren't you going to open it?"
"It’s not polite to open it in front of you."
"Open it."
"I’ll open it later. Thank you."
"Uhh..."
"Do you have any other business?"
"No, not really, but..."
"Then, I have some work to attend to, so please excuse me." With a sharp click, the door closed, and Choi Cheol-min’s fist trembled slightly. His current goal was to show Yoon-gi that he wasn't hostile toward him. He had thought that if he just gave him a gift, a child would naturally follow him, but it was a miscalculation of the highest order.
"Are you not leaving?" At the words of Choi Ki-hyun, who had been watching the whole situation, Choi Cheol-min bowed to his father. "Yes, Father. I’ll be going."
Choi Cheol-min left his brother’s house with a stiff expression, and as soon as the front door closed, Yoon-gi opened his door and came out into the living room—still holding the gift his first uncle had given him. It was a rectangular box, still wrapped.
"Grandfather, would it be alright if I threw this away?" Yoon-gi was taking a bit of a gamble. If he could get permission for this action now, he would have no qualms about dealing with his first uncle in the future. 'Knowing Grandfather’s personality, he won't oppose it.'
As expected, Choi Ki-hyun didn't get angry. "Have you decided?"
"Yes. If it makes you uncomfortable, Grandfather, should I not do it?"
"No, it’s fine." Choi Ki-hyun was surprised by his own reaction, feeling both pity and a sense of relief. If Yoon-gi had a soft heart, it would only be a disadvantage. This action of his grandson was no different than reporting to him: [Grandfather, I am going to completely sever ties with my first uncle.]
'I don't think Yoon-gi knows what happened at the maternity clinic...' Thinking back to what his second daughter-in-law, Park Gyeong-ja, had tried to do, Choi Ki-hyun consoled himself that Yoon-gi’s behavior was not a problem at all.
"May I ask you one thing?"
"Yes, please go ahead." Yoon-gi politely turned his body toward his grandfather and braced himself.
"Why are you trying to create such an obvious rift?"
"If my first uncle were a proper adversary, I would hide my feelings. But there is no need for that, and I don't want to leave any room for him."
At his grandson’s terrifyingly thorough behavior, Choi Ki-hyun asked with the last bit of paternal affection he had left. "If, by any chance, Cheol-min comes to you and bows his head, what will you do?"
"I can guarantee that won't happen."
"But, what if, just in case, such a thing happens?"
Yoon-gi knew what his grandfather was feeling, so he left the smallest of openings. "If that were the case... you would be able to rest a little easier, Grandfather."
"Yes, go back inside now."
"Yes, have a good night, Grandfather."
Watching his grandson’s door close, Choi Ki-hyun made a bitter face and thought about buying a bonsai tree. 'If he can't understand even this, I’ll have to give up. You can't cut off your hand just because of one finger.'
Choi Cheol-gyu no longer aroused any suspicion from his older brother, even when he visited his father’s house frequently. In fact, when they met in the yard of his brother’s house yesterday, he had even received a hug. 'Yesterday was truly something.' Just as he was about to leave the main gate, his brother’s shouting erupted from inside, and Choi Cheol-gyu quietly observed the situation through the outer window. His brother was holding a crushed gift box and fuming. Seeing that it had been in the trash when he visited earlier, it was clear that his brother had recently given a gift to Yoon-gi. However, through the window, Yoon-gi appeared calm, talking back and reaching out his hand as if asking for another gift.
And now, a day later, when he passed through the living room earlier, he could see the gift box in the trash again, even more crumpled than before.
"Yoon-gi, can I ask you one thing?"
"Of course." Seeing his nephew nod readily, Choi Cheol-gyu asked, "What excuse... no, what answer did you give my brother yesterday?"
"I told him that one of the housekeepers must have thrown it away by mistake."
Choi Cheol-gyu nodded, thinking, 'He’s incredible.' By shifting the blame to the housekeepers while using the plural form, he ensured the housekeepers wouldn't be scolded by Choi Cheol-min. Furthermore, it was a way to further widen the rift with his opponent. 'Unless my brother is a complete idiot, he must clearly know what kind of signal his nephew is sending. No, considering he forced the gift on him again, it seems he still hasn't come to his senses.'
Perhaps, even if he didn't expect it, unless he was a total moron, he would eventually realize what would happen to that gift again. 'Whether he expected it or not, there will be more shouting soon.' Suddenly, Choi Cheol-gyu became curious about what was inside the box. "Did you check what was inside?"
"No." Yoon-gi shook his head and continued. "Whatever is inside, it wouldn't have any meaning anyway."
"I’ve felt this for a while now, but I wonder if you’re really 11 years old. Is this how the parents of Gauss or von Neumann felt?"
"I am not a genius like that."
It might have sounded like a denial of being a genius, but to Choi Cheol-gyu’s ears, it sounded like he wasn't a genius *in those fields*. 'Well, there’s no reason to dig deeper here.' Since he had already decided to abandon his brother’s side, Choi Cheol-gyu brought up the reason he had come today. "By any chance, is what I asked for last time ready?"
"Yes, of course." Yoon-gi pulled out the documents regarding JSD from a brown envelope.
"Have you read it?"
"Yes." Watching his nephew nod, Choi Cheol-gyu judged that he might be being tested. 'I have to come up with a plan that is at least similar to or better than what Yoon-gi thought of.' Since he had requested additional materials to figure out how to naturally make contact with JSD, who was over 10 years his senior, Choi Cheol-gyu began to read the documents carefully. 'There is definitely room to make contact. The problem is that I have to talk to my wife about it.'
Since he couldn't give Yoon-gi an answer right away, Choi Cheol-gyu needed time.
"Yoon-gi..."
"Uncle, I’m sorry, but may I speak first?"
"Huh? Ah, yes. Of course." As he nodded, Yoon-gi continued. His voice was very low, but it was a tone that was clearly conveyed within the room. "I am planning to open a premium department store in Cheonggyecheon targeting American soldiers."
"Ah, so that was the construction my brother was talking about. I didn't even know what he was planning to build."
"Of course. Only I, Secretary Ryu, and my uncle know about this plan."
Choi Cheol-gyu felt his heart warm slightly at the fact that he was receiving such special treatment. "Are you making contact with JSD to get the permit for that? But I don't think JSD has that much power. Are you considering asking JSD to make a request to JD?"
Yoon-gi shook his head. "No. JSD is an investment for the future. What I am telling you now is to create an 'opportunity' for you, Uncle."
"An opportunity?"
"Yes. Once the department store opens, I intend to entrust the store management side to my aunt."
"My aunt... you mean my wife?" A sense of 'anticipation' began to rise in Choi Cheol-gyu’s heart, and that emotion was soon confirmed by Yoon-gi’s nod.
"Yes. For a while, it will have to be operated directly, but later it will change from direct management to a contract system. At that time, I will give my aunt the management of all the stores within the department store... that is, a rank from the lowest manager to the highest vice president."
Gulp! Choi Cheol-gyu swallowed without realizing it. 'This child, he’s truly insane.' Even though his wife’s family were local notables, his wife was not an only child; she had three brothers. Therefore, her share of the inheritance wouldn't be very high, but Yoon-gi had just presented her with an opportunity for financial independence. 'If it changes to a contract store later, the profit to be gained through the lobbying of stores hoping for a contract...'
Choi Cheol-gyu, who knew all too well that his nephew wouldn't make such a proposal without knowing this, swallowed hard once more. If it weren't the case, there would be no reason to clearly use the word 'store management'.
"Do you dislike it?"
"Ah, no. Why would I dislike it? I am truly grateful."
Toward Choi Cheol-gyu, whose poker face had cracked slightly, Yoon-gi asked once more. "So... have you thought of a good idea?"
Choi Cheol-gyu no longer needed time to think.