Chapter 3: The Ripple Effect
“That look in your eyes is unsettling. Drop the suspicion.”
I chuckled at his incredulous gaze. I was being sincere.
“The second chairman of Sunyang Group will be you, Director Lee Hak-jae, and the third will be me. How does that sound?”
He still didn’t respond, just stared at me with even more intensity.
“You’re too young to retire and too capable to do anything else. I promise, you can stay in the chairman’s office of Sunyang Group for as long as you wish.”
He knew I wasn’t just spouting nonsense. My sudden proposal had clearly thrown him off. He remained silent, and I quietly sipped my drink.
When a new bottle arrived, Director Lee finally spoke.
“You’re clever. And a wicked little devil.”
“Me? Wicked?”
“Yes. More so than the chairman. You try to stir up hidden desires to move people. That’s not a good method. When hidden desires surface, you end up discarding what you tried to protect, and then you start to despise yourself.”
“What’s so shameful about revealing desires? It’s only embarrassing if you can’t fulfill them and end up exposed.”
“Brazen. To say such things so casually.”
“But… may I ask what it is you want to protect?”
“Loyalty.”
“Loyalty? To the chairman?”
“Yes. The chairman wants to pass his legacy to his bloodline. I thought my role was to ensure that, and I did it well.”
Is that true?
Was there never a moment of doubt?
No, he just admitted it. He had hidden desires.
“So, was your hidden desire the chairman’s seat at Sunyang?”
“Who knows? There was something, but it wasn’t clear. You just painted a clearer picture.”
Was he accepting my proposal, or was he just indulging in idle chatter over drinks?
Regardless, sharing his true feelings made me feel closer to him.
“The picture is quite appealing, isn’t it? I take out the two vice-chairmen, sit in the chairman’s seat, and in a few years, you take over. After all, you need to be in your forties to have the gravitas of a chairman. Let’s see… that’s over a decade away.”
“You misunderstand. I don’t intend to use you as my weapon. Rather, I see myself as your sword.”
His expression gave nothing away.
Was he really going to dismiss this as mere drunken talk?
“I called you clever because you chose me to fill that gap. The adults around you aren’t interested in the Sunyang Group chairman’s seat, are they? Your father found his own path, and Oh Se-hyun isn’t related by blood nor connected to Sunyang.”
He wasn’t listening anymore, just rambling like a drunkard.
“Everyone would nod in agreement since I’ve been running the group. It’s no different from when Yi Bang-won put Yi Bang-gwa, the second son of Yi Seong-gye, on the throne. The only difference is that you’d leave it to me until you’re ready.”
“You see me as quite the villain, but I’m not that bad. If you wish, I’ll ensure your children hold key positions in Sunyang. They could even manage a major subsidiary as vice-chairmen.”
Mentioning his children changed Lee Hak-jae’s expression.
“You fool. Is Sunyang North Korea? Passing down loyalty through generations?”
“That sounds forced. You know I advocate for a professional management system.”
“Wicked. You know my sons are engrossed in other pursuits. Ha, really.”
Director Lee laughed heartily and refilled my glass.
“Drink up and get going. I think I’ve heard enough of your talk. Anything else?”
I’ll have to wait to hear his genuine answer.
At least I confirmed he doesn’t view me unfavorably.
He knows about my connection with Miracle and hasn’t told anyone. He just watched as I slowly chipped away at my uncles’ shares.
He’s not entirely on my side, but at least he doesn’t plan to oppose me.
“Thank you for listening to the end. I’ll take my leave now. And please, stop drinking. You’ve had enough.”
“Don’t be cheeky. Get out.”
I bowed to Lee Hak-jae, who waved me off, and stood up.
Maybe it was the rush of drinking, but I felt a bit unsteady.
“And he hasn’t said anything since?”
“No. It’s been days, and he acts like nothing happened. Even when I ran into him at Grandfather’s house, he wouldn’t meet my eyes.”
“He’s probably thinking it over carefully. Honestly, I don’t know. If it were me, I’d just serve the chairman for a few more years and retire when he passes. But it seems he’s different from me.”
Oh Se-hyun listened intently to my recount of the recent events but refrained from judging my actions.
“But it’s impressive. He dug up your secret all the way from America.”
“The fact that he’s kept quiet so far is a sign he’s friendly towards me, right?”
“From Director Lee’s perspective, it’s only natural. A kid like you is easier to deal with than sons who find him disagreeable.”
Oh Se-hyun nodded.
“Anyway, I hope he accepts your proposal. That’s the only way to secure your shares.”
“Yes. Changing the holding company isn’t that difficult. It’s just a matter of restructuring the shares and instructing the subsidiary presidents accordingly.”
“While your grandfather is alive, the presidents will look to him for approval, but once he’s gone, they’ll have to follow the princes’ orders.”
“Director Lee can prevent that, right?”
“He’s the one who designed the current cross-shareholding structure, isn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“Then he can stop it. He could even threaten to blow a hole in the structure if necessary.”
Trying to shake off my anxiety, I kept focusing on the positive.
But there’s always the opposite possibility.
What if Director Lee sides with my uncles and demands immediate compensation?
If he partners with me, the reward is in the future, but with my uncles, he could get it now.
As I was mulling over these scenarios, a knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.
“Sir, you have a visitor…”
Before the secretary could finish, Director Lee Hak-jae walked in.
“Director Lee!”
“I hope I’m not intruding by dropping by unannounced.”
“Not at all.”
Oh Se-hyun stood up and bowed slightly.
“It’s been a while, Director.”
“Yes, it has. Quite some time.”
The two shook hands and sat down.
“You look well, Mr. Oh. Are you comfortable?”
“Thanks to this guy, I’ve been living the good life. These days, I just laze around, so my belly’s growing.”
Oh Se-hyun joked, grabbing his stomach.
“Seems like you’re not greedy anymore. Is this the end for you?”
Director Lee’s perceptiveness was sharp. He immediately grasped the meaning behind Oh Se-hyun’s jest.
Oh Se-hyun’s smile faded as he spoke slowly.
“I’m just waiting for the right time to leave. I’m pondering how to spend the money I made thanks to Do-jun.”
“I didn’t expect that. I must have misjudged you. Is it because you’re friends with Yoon-gi? You seem to lack greed.”
“Who said I’m not greedy? You’d think differently if you knew how much I have.”
“You know that’s not what I meant… but let’s leave it at that.”
The pleasantries were over.
Now it was just a matter of who would bring up the main topic first.
“Director, please help our Do-jun. Honestly, you know he’s far superior to the two vice-chairmen, don’t you? Make him the chairman of Sunyang Group and retire. I’ll find you a place with a great view, one you won’t regret.”
It was like watching an old man with a drink in hand, full of bravado.
Oh Se-hyun managed to keep the atmosphere light and natural.
“Even for the future of Sunyang Group, Do-jun is the right choice. He’s on a different level from other chaebol brats. He won’t siphon off company funds like they’re his personal stash, and he applies the professional management system precisely.”
“Not siphoning company funds is probably because he has so much money already, right?”
Director Lee glanced at me as he spoke, and Oh Se-hyun answered for me.
“Even after taxes, his clean money is in the trillions. Company funds are just pocket change.”
The mention of trillions made Director Lee’s eyes widen.
He might have understood Miracle’s structure, but he hadn’t grasped the extent of my wealth, so it was a surprise.
“Do-jun.”
“Yes.”
I straightened up instinctively, determined not to reveal my thoughts no matter what he said next.
“I’ll protect your shares.”
That’s it. At least I won’t end up like a dog chasing chickens, staring at the roof.
“I have boxes of documents in my possession. They contain the entire history of share management, including all the dust.”
Evidence of illegal activities, in other words.
Had he been planning this all along?
“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t keep them to betray the chairman. I did it to avoid being discarded like a hunting dog after the hunt. I’ve dedicated my life to Sunyang. I deserve an honorable end.”
“Of course. That’s why I—”
Director Lee raised his hand to stop me.
“I can’t help you oust Vice Chairman Do. That’s a matter of loyalty between the chairman and me. But I’ll also make sure Vice Chairman Do doesn’t play any tricks to get rid of you.”
Director Lee Hak-jae downed the tea in front of him in one swift motion.
“Does that answer your question?”
Huh? That’s it? Is he not going to share his thoughts on anything else?
“Alcohol is something to be careful with. It’s tough to take responsibility for things you blurt out when you’re drunk.”
Director Lee chuckled as he stood up.
“Leaving already? Why not stay for a meal and chat a bit more?”
I tried to stop him, but it was no use.
“Is there more to discuss? You’ve got the answer you wanted, haven’t you?”
“There are other matters, aren’t there?”
“What? Oh, you mean making me the second chairman of Sunyang Group?”
My face flushed with embarrassment.
“That’s a conversation for when you have that kind of power. You’ve got a long way to go. It’s foolish to expect results before the work is done.”
People’s hearts are never constant.
Director Lee was hinting that he didn’t know how my feelings might change once I had the power to appoint a chairman.
“I’ll be watching. Seeing how you handle your two uncles should be quite entertaining. Heh heh.”
Director Lee turned to leave but paused at the door.
“Oh, about Kim Yoon-seok.”
“Yes?”
“Take him with you. I’ve taught him enough, and he should be useful by your side.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed my head, and he chuckled again.
“Don’t expect too much. He’s decent, but not more than that. He’s not ready for anything too important.”
“That’s more than enough, Director.”
Lee Hak-jae gave a casual wave and left.
“Wow! That man is something else.”
As soon as the door closed, Oh Se-hyun collapsed onto the sofa.
“So, he’s just going to set the stage fairly and let the players fight it out themselves?”
This is more than enough. Now, it’s going to be tough for the two vice chairmen to join forces and push me out.
Maintaining this triangular balance is a relief in itself.