Five-Day Funeral 2
While Jindong-gi was lost in his tangled thoughts, someone else was feeling equally uneasy.
“This is worse than I expected… So this is what it means to be completely ignored.”
Director Lee Hak-jae was taken aback by how few of the mourners at the funeral treated him with the same respect they once did.
Just days ago, people who would bow deeply to him were now scrambling to catch the eye of Baek Jun-hyuk, Vice Chairman Jin Yeong-gi’s right-hand man.
It was almost as if he was watching a replay of his own past.
Baek Jun-hyuk had announced the death of Chairman Jin on behalf of the group. As his image spread across the media, those familiar with Sunyang assumed he had inherited Lee Hak-jae’s role entirely.
The closest confidant to the group chairman.
From the first day of the funeral, Lee Hak-jae was coming to terms with the fact that this position was no longer his.
“When a prime minister’s dog dies, the courtyard is bustling, but when the prime minister himself dies, the mourners vanish, right?”
“But since the prime minister’s son inherits the position, the courtyard remains busy, doesn’t it?”
“Meanwhile, the dog the deceased prime minister raised is now ignored.”
“Your tongue is still sharp. When did you arrive?”
“Just now, straight from the airport.”
“Unless you flew a fighter jet, that’s quite fast.”
“Yoon-gi called a few days ago. He said the chairman wouldn’t hold on much longer and that I should come.”
“Was President Oh that close to the chairman? Close enough to witness his final moments?”
“Not particularly, but I do have a bit of respect for him. Of course, I didn’t come to witness his passing.”
“Do-joon?”
“Yes. With the chairman gone, the vice chairmen will make their moves, and our Miracle, which holds a controlling stake in Sunyang Group, needs to keep a close watch. We’re major shareholders, after all. We can’t just let anyone take the chairman’s seat.”
Oh Se-hyun stood beside Lee Hak-jae, watching the endless stream of luxury cars arriving.
“You must be tired. Why not take a nap? It doesn’t seem like there’s much for you to do here.”
“I slept comfortably in first class, even if it wasn’t a private jet. I’m wide awake. I plan to see Yoon-gi and Do-joon, and pay my respects.”
Oh Se-hyun nudged Lee Hak-jae’s side.
“Shouldn’t all the mourners bow when I arrive? The major shareholder is here, after all…”
“To the sons of this family, you’re probably seen as a thief and a swindler. You took away their precious shares.”
“Then how do they see you, Director Lee?”
“Didn’t you say it yourself? The dog of the deceased prime minister. Or worse, since no one pays attention to me, I’m like an orphaned egg on the Nakdong River. Haha.”
“Then stop lamenting and accept Do-joon’s proposal.”
“Proposal? Oh, the HW Group?”
“Yes. You might not become a prime minister, but you could at least be a minister.”
Watching Oh Se-hyun chuckle, Lee Hak-jae shook his head. It was baffling how this sly man became friends with the serious Yoon-gi.
“Let’s see… A prime minister is rank 1, and a minister is rank 2, right?”
“Wow, you know a lot.”
“This is basic knowledge. You’re the ignorant one.”
“Well, I studied abroad in England, so I’m not well-versed in Korean history. Enough with the jokes, will you consider it seriously?”
“If Sunyang is rank 1, HW isn’t even close to rank 2… It’s just barely passed the state exam. The comparison doesn’t fit.”
“But the position is different. It’s the chairman’s seat. Not the tail of a dragon, but the head of a snake, right?”
“Know when to stop. Jokes get tiresome if they drag on. Why don’t you take the position yourself? Drop the ‘President’ and take ‘Chairman.’”
Oh Se-hyun gestured to his face.
“Look at my complexion. Don’t I look like a native of Southeast Asia?”
Though not quite a native, his face was as tanned as a professional athlete’s. It showed what his lifestyle had been like in just a couple of months.
“Living the good life, huh?”
“Wake up leisurely, enjoy a hotel breakfast, play a round of golf, swim in the pool, sit by the beach admiring bikini-clad beauties, and end the day with a lavish dinner and wine. That’s my daily routine. I can’t work anymore, living in paradise. Haha.”
“Didn’t you go with your wife? Bikini beauties?”
“That’s why I said ‘admire.’ It’s a bit of a shame.”
“President Oh, you’re peculiar. Gamblers can’t live away from the gambling table… Did I misjudge you?”
“Knowing when to fold is what makes a true gambler, don’t you think?”
Director Lee Hak-jae glanced at Oh Se-hyun with a smile.
“You’ve lost your touch after a break. You picked the wrong card this time. I’m not interested, so just leave a chrysanthemum at the funeral. Oh, and contact me before you head back to paradise. Let’s have dinner.”
Lee Hak-jae patted Oh Se-hyun’s shoulder and walked away.
“He’s not someone who’ll retire quietly…”
Watching Lee Hak-jae’s retreating figure, Oh Se-hyun tilted his head.
I waited until Director Lee disappeared before approaching Oh Se-hyun.
“What did he say?”
“I don’t know. From what he said, it’s clear he’s not happy with his situation, but he showed no interest.”
“Did you say something off the mark again when you should’ve been scratching where it itches?”
Oh Se-hyun tapped my head.
“Hey! I even compared him to a dog in the prime minister’s yard, and he just laughed. I can’t figure him out.”
“That’s a shame.”
“Provoking his pride won’t work. Change the strategy.”
Oh Se-hyun began to eye me skeptically.
“Anyway, I’ll just leave an incense stick and head out.”
“You’ll be at the hotel, right?”
“Yeah. Have a good funeral. We’ll catch up later.”
“Sure. Since you’re here, meet some people.”
“Yeah. I’ll see some friends and kill time with a drink. Take care.”
He patted my back lightly and went inside.
As soon as Oh Se-hyun entered, he felt the stares.
A major shareholder of Sunyang Group, not to be taken lightly.
But as Director Lee Hak-jae had said, their gazes were filled with hostility.
The only warm look came from his friend, Jin Yoon-gi.
Oh Se-hyun bowed respectfully and offered his condolences.
“I’m at a loss for words in the face of such a tragedy.”
His respectful tone softened Jin Yeong-gi’s expression.
“Thank you for your condolences.”
But then, Jin Yeong-gi whispered quietly in Oh Se-hyun’s ear.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
Oh Se-hyun nodded slightly and stepped back, with Jin Yeong-gi following and gesturing for him to follow.
Jin Yoon-gi saw this and tried to follow, but Jin Dong-gi held his hand.
“This is a conversation between a shareholder and a manager. It’s not your place.”
“You said you weren’t feeling well, but it seems like an exaggeration. Judging by your tan… Golf?”
“It’s not an exaggeration. I’m healing my mind and soul. Let’s call it a sabbatical.”
As the two sat across from each other in the second-floor living room, Director Baek Jun-hyuk rushed over.
“Shall I prepare something to drink?”
“No. This won’t take long. Oh, and make sure no one comes up.”
“Yes, Vice Chairman.”
Once they were alone, Oh Se-hyun spoke first.
“Is it okay for the chief mourner to leave his post?”
“Enough with the nonsense. I’m busy, so get to the point. The general meeting will be held soon.”
“Of course. You can’t leave the position vacant.”
“I’m not asking you to give up your shares, just your voting rights. Go back and play golf in Southeast Asia. I’ll send you a nice set of golf clubs.”
Oh Se-hyun shrugged and smiled.
“I can’t do that. A major shareholder can’t skip the general meeting. I must exercise my rights diligently and properly.”
“I’m not joking.”
“Neither am I.”
Their eyes locked in a tense stare, but it was Oh Se-hyun who first looked away.
“Isn’t it a bit much to threaten a major shareholder who’s come to pay respects?”
“If you were an ordinary major shareholder, I’d carry you on my back. But you’re practically a corporate raider, so I won’t even offer you a glass of water. Haha.”
Seeing Jin Yeong-gi’s relaxed demeanor, Oh Se-hyun chuckled.
“You’re mistaken. I’m not interested in M&A. Swallowing Sunyang Group would be a death sentence. I’m only interested in selecting the best manager. And in terms of managerial skills, I believe Vice Chairman Jin Dong-gi is more competent than you, Vice Chairman Jin Yeong-gi.”
“What?”
“Don’t shout. Reflect on the past. Who has more failed business ventures? And with Miracle’s and Vice Chairman Jin Dong-gi’s shares combined, it’s entirely feasible, isn’t it?”
Oh Se-hyun rose from the sofa.
“Let me know when the general meeting is scheduled. And… my condolences to the deceased.”
Leaving Jin Yeong-gi gritting his teeth, Oh Se-hyun bowed slightly and descended the stairs.
Catching Jin Dong-gi’s eye, Oh Se-hyun approached with a smile.
He leaned in to whisper in Jin Dong-gi’s ear.
“Let’s have a drink sometime.”
“Are you working with Oh Se-hyun?”
“What are you talking about out of the blue?”
“Are you sure? If you’re planning to stab me in the back, stop. That’s crossing a line you can’t return from.”
“Why are you suddenly picking a fight?”
Jin Yeong-gi had called him upstairs for a private talk, but his first words were accusatory, which instantly irritated Jin Dong-gi.
Jin Yeong-gi relayed Oh Se-hyun’s earlier words, neither adding nor omitting anything.
“Sigh… Brother, let’s not get caught up in his schemes. That guy thrives when we’re divided. His only weapon is the casting vote. How can you be swayed by such a shallow tactic?”
Jin Young-gi glared at his younger brother, taking a deep breath.
“Alright. I overreacted. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I get it. You’re just on edge.”
“Hyung, I can’t take this anymore. Living like this is too nerve-wracking. We need to expedite the holding company.”
Though it left a bitter taste, Jin Dong-gi couldn’t argue. Oh Se-hyun’s casting vote might come in handy for Jin Young-gi at any moment.
To eliminate these uncertainties, it was best to clear the surroundings and leave only the brothers.
“Yeah. Right after the funeral, we’ll…”
“No. Starting today!”
“What?”
Seeing Jin Young-gi’s determined expression, it was clear he wasn’t just speaking off the cuff.
“We need to deal with Lee Hak-jae first. We have to make him work for us. That’ll speed up the transition to a holding company.”
“I know, but… why today?”
“We got a call earlier, remember? Some Ministry of Justice officials are coming to pay their respects. I need to have a quiet word with them.”
He understood what that meant.
If they’re from the Ministry of Justice, most of them are former prosecutors.
Especially in key positions, those who lead the prosecutors’ office hold sway. If they step in, pressuring Lee Hak-jae would be a piece of cake.
Jin Young-gi planned to ask for their help today.
“If we crush him and then let him off the hook, he’ll fall in line.”
Jin Dong-gi, watching his excited brother, spoke up.
“That’s all well and good, but don’t go it alone anymore. Until we establish the holding company and divide the shares clearly, we’re in this together.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why meet important visitors alone? From now on, no more solo meetings. Let’s meet them together. That way, we won’t have misunderstandings like we did with Oh Se-hyun earlier. Right?”
Jin Young-gi looked at his serious brother and smiled gently.
“They say it takes a death to bring the living together. Seems like Father made us join hands.”
For the first time in a long while, the two brothers shook hands sincerely.