By Zephyria “No, Chairman Jo. What is all this? Did you send this?”
“Huh? Let me see… I received the same thing too?”
“Chairman, Vice Minister. I… I can explain everything!”
“When did this person prepare all this?”
“……”
Park Yong-hoon, looking down at his phone screen, turned to Jo Seong-hyeon and laughed heartily. Jo Seong-hyeon, who had been about to rush towards them, stopped his steps and observed their reactions. He thought they had received the exact same video as him, but looking at Chairman Park Yong-hoon’s face, it didn’t seem so.
“I did say winter rounds have their charm, but after all, golf skills are best displayed in warmer climates.”
“Yes, Chairman Park. Our Chairman Jo is quite the man. You understand that the North African project isn’t something that can be decided by a few visits to domestic golf courses, right? And not Southeast Asia, but Hawaii. Chairman Jo, you’re really something.”
The First Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport chimed in, and Chairman Park Yong-hoon nodded with a pleased expression.
“Exactly. I have to admit Chairman Jo’s sales sense.”
What the message sent to Park Yong-hoon’s entourage contained. Jo Seong-hyeon was beginning to grasp it. It seemed to be related to a golf trip to Hawaii.
“Of course. Chairman. If you and the Vice Minister can match the dates, I’ll arrange it right away.”
Jo Seong-hyeon forced his stiff facial muscles, which hadn’t fully relaxed, into a smile. He had passed the immediate crisis, but the fact that he was in a fucked-up situation remained unchanged. Lee Hae-sung must have gotten his hands on the video. Sending the message about the Hawaii golf trip to the old men was a warning. It was a notice that he could release the video at any time.
He hadn’t properly checked the video, but the source of the video wasn’t important right now. One of the pets he had been playing with had become a stray and decided to bite its former owner out of spite. Instead of repaying the kindness of allowing it to enjoy comfort in a warm indoor environment, which was beyond its station for a time…
He wanted to go back immediately and devise a plan to prevent this unexpected accident, but he couldn’t abandon this hospitality. As he smiled a forced, half-rotten smile towards the old men, who were excitedly getting into the carts, chattering about the Hawaii golf trip, Jo Seong-hyeon’s hands trembled with rage.
“Chairman Jo?”
As he was about to get into the cart last, behind the old men, someone called his name from behind. The tone implied he was checking if it was indeed Jo Seong-hyeon.
Damn it.
He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. That bastard has really gone all out. He’s not even going to give me a chance to breathe, is he?
The old men who had first gotten into the carts were peering around, trying to see who was approaching Jo Seong-hyeon. Seeing the wonder dawn on their well-oiled faces, Jo Seong-hyeon could only become more certain of his guess about the person behind him.
“No… who is this… Vice President. To see you here at this hour…”
As Jo Seong-hyeon turned around, feigning delight, his voice trailed off into nothingness. He knew the voice belonged to Lee Hae-sung, but he hadn’t expected Lee Hae-sung to be accompanied so brazenly, so conspicuously, by Yoon Hye-an.
“Indeed. I saw a familiar back and wondered, but it turned out to be Chairman Jo.”
Hearing that characteristic husky voice speaking calmly, Jo Seong-hyeon felt his insides twist. A face that, despite having come here intentionally, showed no hint of emotion, acting so composedly like a fox. If only once, he wanted to see that face contort with humiliation. This was not going to be easy.
“To recognize me just from my back, I’m honored? Haha…”
“You’re not alone? I suppose I’ve intruded since you’re here for business.”
“No, no!”
Park Yong-hoon and his gang, as if waiting for the cue, chimed into the conversation, waving their hands enthusiastically. Park Yong-hoon, in particular, poked Jo Seong-hyeon’s back repeatedly with a stern expression.
“Chairman Jo, what are you doing? It’s customary to introduce your companions at a time like this.”
“Ah, yes… As you well know, this is Vice President Lee Hae-sung of ARA. And this is…”
Under Park Yong-hoon’s pressure, it seemed impossible to skip the introduction. Jo Seong-hyeon, having already gotten off his cart, introduced the old men one by one to Lee Hae-sung.
“Hello. I am Lee Hae-sung.”
“Oh my, my dreams last night were so good, perhaps it was to meet someone as distinguished as you. I am Park Yong-hoon, CEO of GX. I’m out for a round of golf, so I don’t have a business card, which is quite a lapse.”
“I don’t have a business card either.”
“Not at all. A Vice President like yourself doesn’t need a business card in Korea.”
Of course, of course. And not just in Korea! ARA is now a global company! The others chimed in, enthusiastically agreeing with Park Yong-hoon. Someone even added more.
Just moments ago, it was Jo Seong-hyeon who was flattering and trying to curry favor, but now Park Yong-hoon and his entourage were wagging their tails at Lee Hae-sung. They looked ready to roll over and show their bellies, begging for attention. Jo Seong-hyeon scoffed inwardly but maintained a forced smile outwardly, stepping back from their conversation.
“We’ve always heard you were handsome, but you truly are a great beauty. My Grandfather was also quite handsome, and I don’t know if I should say this… but seeing you in person, Vice President, you seem even more remarkable?”
Park Yong-hoon’s compliment, laced with a joke, made the others burst into laughter. Lee Hae-sung offered an awkward smile and subtly changed the subject.
“When President Park served as Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the then-Minister, former Minister Nam Gyeong-ik, was a close friend of my Grandfather. Thanks to that, I met former Minister Nam a few times in private settings, but I never had the chance to meet you, President.”
“That’s right, that’s right. When I was serving Minister Nam, Chairman helped me a lot. I’m deeply moved that Vice President remembers that someone like me was once Vice Minister.”
CEO Park Yong-hoon looked as if he might shed tears of emotion. The thought of forging a connection with ARA’s Lee Hae-sung seemed to make golf entirely irrelevant.
To think he was so stiff and arrogant in front of me just a moment ago. And now, in front of Lee Hae-sung, who is young enough to be his son, he’s bowing as if receiving a great favor. What spineless worms. Yes, even if the rulers of power change many times, the status of Hanseo Group and ARA Group will remain the same. That power, after all, runs on ARA’s money.
Watching the faces of Park Yong-hoon and his gang, looking as if they were dreaming of meeting their favorite idol, Jo Seong-hyeon clicked his tongue, careful not to be noticed. For now, the priority was to separate them as quickly as possible.
“Well, since you’ve all roughly introduced yourselves… I’ll let the Vice President be on his way…”
“Ah, as we were introducing ourselves, I forgot to introduce my companion. This is my companion, actor Yoon Hye-an.”
Jo Seong-hyeon’s attempt was thwarted. Lee Hae-sung gently pushed Yoon Hye-an, who stood beside him, forward, formally introducing him to the old men.
“Ah… yes…”
The old men’s minds raced, trying to figure out how to accept and treat this young man, whose lips and eyes bore faint blue marks of youth.
Simply put, they were calculating whether to treat him with utmost respect as ARA’s unofficial mistress of the house, or to maintain a moderate level of courtesy, like that shown to a concubine, without showing too much interest. Jo Seong-hyeon could clearly see them holding back, unwilling to react rashly until they were sure.
“I dabble in film investment as a hobby. We met through a new film I’m investing in and have become close. Given the significant age difference, I wonder if our association might seem unusual.”
“Oh my, Vice President, what are you saying! It’s wonderful to see you mingle so freely with young people who are so much younger!”
“Thank you for saying so. He is a very talented actor. I ask for your continued support.”
“What influence do people like us have, but if the Vice President supports an actor, we must naturally lend our meager strength.”
CEO Park Yong-hoon and Vice Minister Kang Min-wook looked ready to shield Lee Hae-sung and Yoon Hye-an with their own bodies if even the slightest problem arose.
“Hearing the Vice Minister’s words is reassuring. Now, Hye-an, please introduce yourself.”
“Hello, I am actor Yoon Hye-an. It’s nice to meet you for the first time.”
Yoon Hye-an, dressed in neat golf wear, bowed his head in greeting.
He was completely different from the Yoon Hye-an who had broken out in a cold sweat, terrified, in the Nox Hotel restaurant that day. He was also different from the Yoon Hye-an of the past, whom Jo Seong-hyeon knew well, the one who had looked fierce with a sharp glint in his eyes.
So, now that he has the video, he’s not worried about my blackmail anymore?
Lee Hae-sung appearing here with Yoon Hye-an and introducing him so openly to these old men, who essentially held Jo Seong-hyeon’s leash, meant a great deal.
It meant he wouldn’t hide Yoon Hye-an away, and it was a warning that if things went wrong, power would shield Yoon Hye-an. Now, the hand Jo Seong-hyeon held was utterly pathetic compared to Yoon Hye-an’s.
He brings around a young gay lover, introduces him openly, and then goes all out to cover for the boy he’s playing with? After his grandfather died and his father died, Lee Hae-sung has nothing to lose. ARA is on the decline now. Damn it, I’ll sell all my ARA stock.
Wangjang: A term used to respectfully refer to someone else’s grandfather.