“You recognize where we are?”
“Yes.”
I looked around once again.
The residence of the honorary chairman of Daehyeon Group—the number one chaebol in Korea.
It was a house roughly the size of my grandfather’s.
Just then, the door opened, and a man who appeared to be a secretary stepped out to greet us.
“He’s expecting you. Please co in.”
My grandfather gave a brief nod and followed him. I followed behind.
As we stepped inside, Chairman Song ca all the way to the entrance to greet us.
“Ah, Chairman Cheon! How long has it been?”
“It’s been a while, Chairman Song.”
“Hahaha, damn you. Still so cold as ever. How many tis have I told you to call ‘hyung’?”
The first ti I t Chairman Song of Daehyeon was at his funeral.
My grandfather had been in poor health, so I had attended in his stead.
“And this smart-looking kid next to you—this the grandson you kept bragging about? Looks a fair bit like you, Chairman Cheon.”
At that, I bowed deeply.
“Nice to et you, sir. My na is Kim Muhyuk. It’s an honor.”
“Yes, yes.”
Nodding, Chairman Song led us to the reception room.
With his usual hearty laugh, he didn’t speak seriously until we were all seated.
“Heh. So, what made you move that heavy ass of yours?”
My grandfather glanced at , then shrugged toward Chairman Song.
“No big reason. Just ca to express gratitude for the help, and introduce my grandson while I’m at it.”
“Heh, for the great Cheon Taesan to personally introduce his grandson? You must really be getting old. Aren’t you the guy with no blood or tears?”
I instinctively glanced at my grandfather’s face.
But even at such blunt words, his expression didn’t budge.
“Blood and tears? You’re no different, Chairman Song. Don’t tell you forgot our first eting. I honestly thought you were just so thug pretending to be a construction company CEO.”
“Hahaha.”
The two got deep into old stories and didn’t seem inclined to stop.
Their vivid recollections naturally drew in, and I found myself listening attentively.
“Why the hell did you jump into politics? Should’ve just stuck to what you were good at...”
The mood turned somber.
With a sigh, my grandfather scolded Chairman Song, who replied with a bitter tone.
“It was disgusting, that’s why. Every ti sothing ca up, they demanded money. And then when the regi changed, it’s us chaebols who got dragged out and crucified. So I thought—fine, I’ll give it a go. Sigh...”
“So now what? You planning to sit at ho forever, watching the regi’s mood swings?”
Chairman Song shook his head.
“Ti for the kids to handle things. You and I—we’re past our pri. Then again, with your kind of money gas, I suppose you could sit till death and still make a killing. Must be nice...”
At that, my grandfather made a mock scowl and teased:
“What, don’t need my money anymore?”
“Ha! Don’t try to blackmail with money now. I’m just playing around. So? Enough chit-chat. What’s the real reason you’re here?”
My grandfather turned toward .
“Muhyuk, step out for a bit. I’ll call for you later.”
Without question, I stood and exited the room.
Outside the reception room, I saw Chief Ha talking to Chairman Song’s secretary. Upon seeing , he gave a respectful bow.
“You’re out, young master.”
“Yes. They asked to wait outside. Would it be alright if I stepped into the garden?”
Chairman Song’s secretary caught my glance and stepped forward.
“I’ll guide you. This way, please.”
I followed him alone into the garden.
The sumr sunlight was harsh, but the shade beneath the trees was pleasantly cool.
I looked up at the sky through the thick branches.
“Feel free to look around. Shall I have soone stay with you?”
“No, I’d prefer to think alone. I’ll call if I need anything.”
The secretary nodded and withdrew.
I strolled slowly through the garden. The thick greenery of pine trees and shrubs wrapped around the house.
I sat on a bench tucked in a corner and sank into thought.
What’s Grandpa talking about with Chairman Song right now?
Song Youngjoo, chairman of Daehyeon.
A few years from now, he would die, and Daehyeon—then Korea’s #1 conglorate—would splinter into several smaller groups.
After that, until the day I died, Ilseong Group took its place at the top.
Between my grandfather’s stock and the shares I planned to collect...
The question is—whose side will I choose?
That decision alone could shape the future.
I was deep in thought when I sensed soone approaching.
Looking up, I saw a young man watching .
“Who are you?”
That was the first thing he said.
I recognized him instantly.
It was Song Hyunsoo—Chairman Song’s grandson.
I stood and extended my hand.
“Hello. I’m Kim Muhyuk.”
“Oh, I’m Song Hyunsoo.”
He tilted his head slightly, then realizing his slip, shook my hand.
I smiled and introduced myself first.
“My grandfather ca to see Chairman Song, and I ca along. They’re talking, so I ca out here for so air.”
“Ah... I see. I noticed soone unfamiliar and got curious. But you look familiar... have we t before?”
Ah, of course...
I scratched my head, slightly embarrassed.
“...You might’ve seen during the college entrance interview.”
“Ah! You’re the ‘Studying is the easiest thing for ’ guy?”
“Yes...”
“Haha! I laughed so hard at that. I always wanted to ask—were you serious?”
“Haha... Please forget about that.”
“Ahahaha!”
Unlike my awkward laugh, his was full and hearty.
From the look on his face, he seed genuinely friendly.
“Sorry, I just burst out laughing... Hope I didn’t offend you.”
He waved his hands apologetically with a sheepish grin.
“Not at all. I must’ve been out of my mind back then. A dark piece of history I’ll carry forever...”
“Oh, co on. I bet it’ll be funny to look back on when we’re older. You’re studying law at Korea National University, right? Planning to be a prosecutor? Or a judge?”
“Not exactly. I’m planning to take the bar exam—at least the first round. I’ll decide about the second later.”
“I see. I’m in business administration. Didn’t have the grades for KNU, but I still got into a decent university. I’m graduating soon—probably going abroad for grad school.”
At the funeral, we’d only brushed past each other, but now I saw he was much more talkative than I’d imagined.
Nothing like the charismatic figure I rembered from the future.
We talked without realizing how quickly ti was passing.
* * *
As the door to the reception room closed behind Kim Muhyuk, Chairman Cheon turned back to Chairman Song.
“Chairman Song, I ca here to ask a favor.”
“A favor?”
“Yes, a favor.”
“Heh... I’ve lived long enough to see the day you ask soone for a favor. What is it?”
Chairman Cheon picked up his teacup, face serious.
“I’m planning to transfer most of my shares to my grandson soon. That includes a sizable portion of Daehyeon-related stocks.”
“Oh? Sounds like you’re seriously raising him up. So?”
Chairman Song looked intrigued.
“I’d like you to et with him regularly. Even once a week. Even once a month is fine.”
“...”
Chairman Song said nothing for a while, just staring.
When Chairman Cheon finally set his cold teacup down, Chairman Song gave a faint chuckle.
“Sounds like you’ve made up your mind to make him your successor. You sure about this? Skipping a generation like that... giving it directly to a grandson—not even a bloodline grandson, but a maternal one. You think your sons will accept that? This isn’t so legit corporation, either. It’s underground finance.”
He spoke with concern, but Chairman Cheon’s tone held firm resolve.
“I’m still alive. I’m not worried. I don’t want him to live the kind of life I did. I want him to co into the light. I’ll pass the dirty parts to my sons. I want to teach him how to live cleanly.”
“You like him that much? Still, he’s only twenty. Isn’t this too early?”
“Take a little ti to see him for yourself. He’s no ordinary kid.”
A wistful glint flickered in Chairman Cheon’s eyes.
Chairman Song, sensing who he was thinking of, simply stared silently.
“He sees what others don’t. Smart and resolute—he follows through when he sets his mind. With that, how could my sons ever compare?”
“Huh... Never thought I’d hear this from you. Fine. I’ll take so ti to speak with him. Will that do?”
“Thank you.”
“If you’re thankful, how about calling ‘hyung’ just once?”
Chairman Song teased, and a faint smile crept across Chairman Cheon’s lips.
* * *
As I chatted with Song Hyunsoo in the garden, Chairman Song’s secretary ca looking for .
“The chairn are asking for you.”
At his words, we wrapped up our conversation.
“Alright, Muhyuk. Let’s grab a drink soti.”
“Yes, hyung-nim. I’d love to talk more like this again.”
After parting with Hyunsoo, I followed «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» the secretary back to the reception room.
“You called for ?”
As I entered, Chairman Song gestured to the sofa beside my grandfather.
“Yes, have a seat.”
“Thank you.”
Once seated, Chairman Song simply stared at for a while without saying a word.
The silence was awkward.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
“Starting next week, co to my house every Saturday.”
“Sir?”
“Chairman Cheon asked to give you so guidance.”
I turned to my grandfather, surprised.
His expression was unreadable as ever.
Chairman Song continued in a flat voice:
“We’ll see how it goes. Even if it’s at Chairman Cheon’s request, I’m not about to waste my ti on so kid if it isn’t worth my while.”
I nodded silently, working to figure out my grandfather’s true intention.
“Book smarts and life smarts are different. I didn’t even finish elentary school. But is there anyone in this country who doesn’t know the na Song Youngjoo? Don’t think you can coast through life just because you’re smart.”
“Yes, sir. I understand.”
Seeing my calm response, he added as if sealing a deal:
“Good. Since Chairman Cheon actually ca all the way here in person, I’ll see you a few tis. Impress . You’ll gain a lot in return.”
“Yes.”
Chairman Song turned to my grandfather.
“Chairman Cheon, will that suffice?”
“Thank you.”
Chairman Song, now a little warr, looked back at .
“Next ti, I’ll introduce you to my grandson. You’re about the sa age—should get along well. He’s a senior in college, I think.”
“If you an Hyunsoo-hyung, we already t. He ca up to in the garden while I was looking at the trees.”
“Oh? You’re already calling each other ‘hyung’? You’ve got the knack for navigating life at a young age. Chairman Cheon doesn’t know half of what you know.”
He shot a quick glance at my grandfather mid-sentence.
So this was another side of Chairman Song.
But even with that, my grandfather’s expression didn’t change one bit.
Eventually, he stood from his seat.
“We’ll get going now. From now on, I’ll just send my grandson.”
“Alright. And about that loan we discussed—please look into it. You know how things are these days...”
Ah...
I suddenly rembered how the current president had been quite nervous about Chairman Song, who had earned 16.8% of the vote in the last election.
Didn’t they say the governnt pressured banks to stop loans and launched harsh tax probes?
With my grandfather, I left Chairman Song’s ho and headed back to Pyeongchang-dong.
He didn’t say a single word until we arrived.
Only once we were ho did he speak, almost casually.
“Learn all you can.”
Then he went into his study.
I entered my room, feeling emotionally rattled.
Have I... ever really known my grandfather?
His recent actions were so unlike anything I’d seen before.
That evening—
The 9 PM news anchor’s voice ca on:
– Early this morning, a gang boss known as Mr. Lee, who operated nationwide from his base in Busan, was found dead in his prison cell...
Looks like the old man really made up his mind. That’s a relief. I don’t have to throw him away now...
< Chairman Song Youngjoo and Song Hyunsoo > End
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