Chapter 992. Crank Up 9
“Journalist Choi. I may not be directly involved in this, but someone related to me has committed something terrible to you, and I’m very sorry that you have received physical and mental damage because of that. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to give you some compensation.”
“I cannot accept that. I don’t even want to.”
“I understand you. I’m sure you don’t .”
The chairman retracted his hand. Journalist Choi stared at him with her mouth shut for a while before saying goodbye to lawyer Park and leaving.
“It looks like I have bought her ire. Do you think I look like trash too?”
“What kind of answer do you want?”
“Forget it. How does it even matter? It’s not like being cursed will lengthen my lifespan or shorten it. Rather than that, she’ll need a lot of money to live by herself as a woman. She doesn’t know how the world works.”
“I’m sure that’s the way she lives in the world.”
“It’s a hard way for sure. It should be about the time that she realizes that people like me are all over the world. I want her to realize that the only thing left at the end is your name and money.”
The chairman put his hand against his mouth and coughed lightly. He was supposed to be at home at this hour but had come to the hospital in this cold weather, so it was about time for his reward.
“Well, then. I’ve listened to your request, lawyer Park. Are you satisfied?”
“Yes. It’s enough to tell my client that things have wrapped up cleanly. I’m sure journalist Choi must be relieved a little.”
“Well, it’s not my business what happens to journalists Kim and Choi. The old Lee Miyoon in that ward is none of my business either. My sole interest is in you, lawyer Park. I hope you can answer me clearly now. Are you going to take up my job?”
“TEC is a picky company. People who had any fun facing them over international patent lawsuits are rare.”
The chairman’s nose twitched. One of those ‘rare’ people was lawyer Park. The fact that he came all the way here following a ‘wronged woman’, someone that could be found everywhere, and took the side of a ‘pathetic journalist’ to oust Lee Miyoon was all to get lawyer Park. Lawyer Park was one of the most important people in this era, where the logic of money reigned supreme. If he could bring this man to his boat, then this much effort was nothing. He only took a few hours off to fawn over someone. It didn’t take any of his money, nor did he have to spend any resources, so it was a profitable exchange.
“So, are you going to do it?”
“If I pull out now, I don’t think I’ll be able to open an office in South Korea, so I should. Please take care of me from now on, chairman.”
“Likewise. As for the legal team, you can create one as you see fit. You can cut people you want to and bring people you want to bring. Just one thing. Bring me results. I don’t care about the process.”
“Understood.”
It felt like an aching tooth had fallen out. Now, he felt like he could sleep at ease. He made his son inherit the company using roundabout stocks, and with this, he would be able to resolve the frustrating patent dispute. It was finally time to retire and enjoy the remainder of his life. He had lawyer Park ride in his car. He was planning to enjoy a drink in a restaurant he went to on important occasions.
“It’s not that I don’t have fortune with people, but when I look at that fellow president Lee, it makes me feel shameful.”
“Please don’t say that. What does that make me?”
“Since we’re at it, doesn’t president Lee have something like a weakness? Once I retreat from my position, my son will be the one facing him, but I’m not feeling good about that. It’s not that my son is a bad one, but he’s totally lacking compared to president Lee.”
“President Lee has a lot of weaknesses.”
“Why is it that I do not see any when he has a lot?”
“Well, I’m not sure.”
“How about Jung Haejoo?”
“If I were you, I will absolutely never mention that name in front of him.”
Lawyer Park had a smile on his face when he responded. To the chairman, it did not look like a smile. That was when he removed Jung Haejoo’s name from the list. He wanted to play a moderate power game, not play with swords at each other’s throats.
“Fine, fine. My son will figure something out by himself.”
“To my eyes, it looks like you’ll never be able to truly step down from your position in your life, chairman.”
“Do I look like I’m that greedy?”
“Yes. Also, you have the competence that befits your big desire. To your eyes, I’m sure everything doesn’t look right. That goes for president Lee as well. To my eyes, you and he are truly similar.”
“d.a.m.n sonny. Don’t say something so terrible.”
“You don’t sound persuasive when you say it with a smile like that.”
The chairman did not erase his smile off his face. In his life, the only person he had acknowledged was president Lee. Leaving aside background, ideals, education, wealth, and everything else, he wanted to face him as a pure human personality. Though, they didn’t really get along since they ended up clas.h.i.+ng with each other in most situations.
“From what I heard from my secretary Kim, there was a youth called Han Maru at the center of this. I have heard that president Lee looks after that boy a lot. Thanks to that, I almost had to kneel to president Lee.”
“He’s getting a lot of attention.”
“I looked into him a little, and he seems a little special compared to others under his wings. It’s to the point that president Lee can toss hundreds of millions as contract deposit.”
“He’s been doing strange things like that for a long time. Lately, that boy was the last one.”
“Do you know about him as well?”
“Yes. No, well, it makes me cautious to say that I know him well. We can talk to each other well, but if you ask if we completely shared what is inside us, then I can answer no without a doubt.”
“Is he like a viper?”
“A viper is a bit too small. Let’s go with a lesser dragon.”
“Not worthy to become a true one?”
“That, I’m not so sure. But I can say for sure that he’s interesting to watch.”
“How interesting. You got my interest.”
“If you are interested, then you should see him. He’s in Seoul right now.”
“Really?”
The chairman took out his phone.
“What’s his number?”
* * *
“Are you not going in?”
“I hate stuff like this. It’s all good since things went well.”
“You’re saying that, so why did you buy that?”
Maru looked at the roll cake on the back seat. Dongwook smiled bitterly before waving his hand in the air, saying that he was going to eat it himself.
“Don’t say that and come. You should explain with your own mouth what happened. I’m sure she must be feeling complex right now.”
Maru looked at the flower shop across the road. Right now, Choi Miyeon should have arrived at the hospital where Lee Miyoon was hospitalized following lawyer Park. Perhaps they had met already. He could imagine what kind of conversation would take place. She took the vase with a stiff expression after all. He could see a glimpse of her determination to put an end to this long incident.
“She came earlier than I expected. Well, it’s true that she wouldn’t want to see that woman for a long time.”
Miyeon got out of a taxi. Dongwook fidgeted while putting a cigarette in his mouth.
“I’m leaving first. Don’t make things awkward and hop over quickly.”
“Hey! Take the cake with you!”
“You bring it.”
January 13th. Today was Miyeon’s birthday. While finding a suitable date within lawyer Park’s schedule, the date ended up coinciding. This afternoon, Lee Miyoon would be arrested. Is Miyeon seeing her before that woman wore prisoner clothes the greatest birthday gift? Or did it leave behind a vain satisfaction instead?
He stood behind Miyeon, who was opening the door. Miyeon sighed softly and smiled.
“I heard you were busy with the shoot.”
“I’m taking the day off. I’ll be sick if I shoot all week.”
Miyeon’s eyes headed to the car on the other side of the road.
“Is that man going to keep standing there?”
“Looks like he’s embarra.s.sed that he brought a birthday present.”
“Tell him to do that in moderation and come in. It’s cold.”
“He’ll come soon.”
They entered the store. The inside was warm, as though the heater was on. Miyeon took off her coat and sat down before covering her face with both of her hands. Maru stood still until her sobbing ended.
“It’s nothing to cry about, too. I’m so emotional, aren’t I?”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m okay. No, I’m not just okay. I feel refreshed. Lee Miyoon was a human after all that, you know? I never thought she’d be like that.”
“Anyone would be grasping at straws if they’re pushed to the edge of a cliff.”
“When I first heard it, I was angry. I told him so many times to not get involved in it because it’s dangerous, but he ended up doing all this without telling me a word about it, didn’t he?”
“Gifts are better when they’re surprises,” Maru said with a smile, but he lowered his gaze when Miyeon glared at him.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s good that you know. I’m also glad that nothing happened.”
“Someone with a great background helped us out this time.”
“I’ve thanked lawyer Park several times over.”
“He’s a good man.”
“A good man, huh,” Miyeon echoed his words, her expression slightly stiff.
“The YM chairman came too.”
“The chairman?”
“The bigshot whose face I could barely see when I was a journalist was apologizing to me. I could tell it was just a formality. I could feel it. He made some sort of deal with lawyer Park. Lawyer Park is definitely a person I’m grateful to. However, I don’t think he’s a good person like you say. Well, that depends on the perspective, but at least from mine, it’s like that.”
“That sounds plausible.”
“It’s all over now, so I guess I don’t need to dwell on it. I will never get involved with those people after all. There’s no way the head of a colossal company and a top-cla.s.s lawyer will come to a small flower shop like this, is there?”
“Of course. You should be doing business with ordinary folk like me.”
“Strictly speaking, you don’t belong to the ordinary. You fooled me like a fiddle. In some aspects, you’re more hateful than senior Kim. Everything had already begun when Lee Miyoon visited that day, didn’t it?”
“I guess that’s how it is.”
Miyeon placed her hand on the table and looked around the store slowly. Joy and resentment were reflected in her eyes as she scanned from floor to ceiling.
“Thanks.”
It was a small voice that he could barely hear. Maru just shrugged.
“Tell that to hyung-nim once he comes over. I didn’t do anything.”
“Forget it. I won’t say it twice. You tell him.”
“Don’t say that.”
Just then, Miyeon’s eyes widened. Maru turned around. He saw Dongwook with an awkward smile standing outside the store. In one hand was a roll cake. He quickly stood up and opened the door.
“Come inside quickly. It’s cold.”
“I’m going to leave right after I give her this.”
“You aren’t kids.”
He pushed Dongwook’s back and brought him in front of Miyeon. Miyeon glared at him. She signaled him to say whatever he needed to say. Maru walked to the side and watched the two. It was about time for the conversation to begin with Dongwook’s awkward greeting.
“Please have a talk. I just got a call.”
It was a number he didn’t know, but it was great timing. Maru went outside and closed the door before picking up his phone.
“h.e.l.lo?”
A hoa.r.s.e voice could be heard from the other side of the phone.