A Genius Speaks with Money

Chapter 126: A Heart That Cannot Be Deceived

I am Lim Hyunjun, the grandson of Chairman Lim Man-seok and the main character. I’ll continue narrating the events.

The hospital room door closed, and unlike at first, the air became much heavier.

Only the sound of music flowing softly was filling the space.

Kang Cheol-woo and I sat in the chairs next to the bed.

The two of us were looking at Chairman Lim Man-seok.

The expression of Lim Man-seok, who placed the book he was reading on his lap, was difficult to guess how he was feeling.

Despite being well over seventy years old, his gaze was still sharp.

Where would the charisma of leading a corporation for decades go?

A mysterious smile played around Lim Man-seok’s mouth.

He spoke as if he had already expected it.“As expected, it was you.”

I answered calmly.

“Of course I had to help.”

“Yes, you should. That is how a family should be. But I do not know why Do-hyun does not know that.”

I did not answer.

I tried to change the subject on purpose.

“Your complexion has improved a lot lately. As expected, rest seems to be the best.”

“I do not know when was the last time I rested like this after working all my life.”

With those words, I recalled a memory from not long ago.

The day the general meeting of shareholders was held.

Chairman Lim Man-seok collapsed due to the shock.

The notification that he was unconscious that day truly felt like the sky was falling.

In a way, despite him not being my biological grandfather, the words that the affection built up over time is scary were felt clearly.

Although it was not a relationship bound by blood, the time spent together until now felt thicker than blood.

Before being the head and manager of a corporation, he was an elder who always watched over me silently.

I let out a quiet breath and spoke.

“I am glad you woke up quickly.”

At those words, Lim Man-seok gave a bitter smile.

How good would it be if his son understood his heart as much as his grandson.

“Hyunjun, how did you find out so quickly? I would not have informed anyone that I regained consciousness. Did Cheol-woo tell you by any chance?”

At those words, Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo stayed still.

The answer was given by me instead.

“Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo did not say anything. However….”

“However?”

While I scratched my head, agonizing over how to explain this.

“Because he is a person. Since he is a person, it is only natural for a person to be shaken when their boss is hovering between life and death. Even just a little. But the Chief Secretary was different. He was too calm.”

At those words, Kang Cheol-woo looked at me as if he were rather surprised.

Rather, because of his calm appearance, he was quickly caught by me.

“So I was certain. Fortunately, you were safe, Grandfather.”

Lim Man-seok looked at me and slowly burst into laughter.

“Haha, as expected of my grandson. As expected, I could not deceive you, fellow.”

“Grandfather, why did you do that?”

The sound of Chairman Lim Man-seok’s deep sigh filled the hospital room.

“Hyunjun, if I died… no, if I were really in a state of having collapsed after losing consciousness, what do you think would have happened to Taeseong Group?”

I agonized at the sudden question.

But I did not think he would know even if I spoke in a roundabout way.

I spoke honestly.

“It would have probably been divided. They would have fought each other for their own interests.”

“Yes, that is exactly it.”

Lim Man-seok nodded and continued speaking.

“That was what I was always worried about. That is why I intended to watch and see how they would act this time with determination. But it seems that did not work on you.”

I answered with a playful smirk on purpose to break the heavy atmosphere.

“I failed to fathom your deep intentions, Grandfather.”

Lim Man-seok thought such a grandson was cute.

“No. It is not like that. I rather thought it was fortunate.”

To be honest, Lim Man-seok might have been disappointed on one hand if I had not noticed.

However, didn’t the clever child easily figure it out and even help his aunt?

That was why he felt more relieved.

However, he did not want to tell his grandson even such things.

Because sometimes it is better not to say things.

“Hyunjun, I am glad you are here. No matter what storms Taeseong meets in the future, you will definitely find the way.”

I silently lowered my head.

“Thank you for believing in me, Grandfather.”

For a moment, only the sound of music flowed inside the hospital room.

However, soon a heavy shadow was cast on Lim Man-seok’s face.

“Hye-seon must be suffering a lot because of Do-hyun even now.”

In his voice, suppressed anger and regret were embedded.

Even without seeing it, it was obvious what kind of things Do-hyun would have committed at the executive meeting.

He would have been frantic about cunningly trampling on others, evading responsibility, and belittling others.

“How can he only pick and do such pathetic things… Even though he is my child, I am ashamed.”

He said while unconsciously clutching the book held in his hand.

“If it were not for you, Hyunjun, Hye-seon would have suffered a great humiliation this time. When I think of that, my blood still flows backward.”

The veins on the back of his hand stood out.

However, an unavoidable bitterness followed behind the anger.

“Still, he is my child, so I feel sorry even while hating him. Is it that blood cannot be deceived.”

Lim Man-seok’s gaze wavered again.

A sigh flowed out from deep within his chest.

I could read the agony and loneliness he felt as a father of a person, not as the chairman of Taeseong, from that appearance.

My heart felt heavy.

On the shoulders of the giant who bore the weight of Taeseong, there was not only authority and honor.

Unknowingly, heart-wrenching sadness, anxiety, and endless love and hatred for his family were together.

I lowered my head for a moment and said to myself, ‘If only I could relieve even a little bit of Grandfather’s burden….’

However, there was a memory that came to my mind.

The things that would happen after Chairman Lim Man-seok’s death.

And even when he would pass away.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

The cold truth was caught at the tip of my throat, but I did not dare to bring it out and speak.

‘I only hope that now flows more slowly….’

I desperately wished.

A person’s life is something that cannot be defied according to human will.

Life and death are determined by heaven.

The only thing a human can do is to live the given time well.

It is just that living well is difficult.

***

Instead of appearing in person in the media, President Lim Do-hyun revealed a short position through his lawyer.

He drew a line saying that he knew nothing about this matter at all and that everything was something Executive Director Lee Tae-jun did arbitrarily.

It was a typical method of evading responsibility and pushing all the blame onto a close associate.

However, the eyes of the inside of the group and public opinion were not favorable.

Meanwhile, Acting Chairman Lim Hye-seon made a decision after several days of deliberation.

Taeseong Group officially announced that it would immediately commence an internal audit and proceed with legal measures if charges were revealed.

Her announcement was reported heavily in the media and caused a great stir.

In some quarters, they even attached a provocative title called ‘Crack inside the owner family’.

The group stock price showed an appearance of fluctuating for a while before gradually finding stability.

After that, President Lim Do-hyun stayed quiet for a while.

Since it was quiet in the media and even inside the company.

It was like the calm before the storm.

In the meantime, time flowed and eventually welcomed the New Year.

I, who was eighteen, finally became nineteen years old.

An age where I would become an adult after only one year.

It was a leisurely period that came after a long time, even if only for a while.

I tried to take a brief rest while spending time quietly with my family.

But the world did not let go of me easily.

The President held a briefing session at Cheongwadae inviting political figures to mark the New Year.

And the next day, a New Year’s briefing session inviting major figures from the economic world was held.

Lim Hye-seon and I also received a formal invitation to that spot.

That meant that Lim Hye-seon was recognized as the representative of Taeseong and it was evidence that I was also receiving attention as a next-generation entrepreneur responsible for the Korean economy.

As I stood in front of the Cheongwadae Yeongbingwan, the cold early winter air brushed against my cheeks.

A unique sense of tension that could not be known until going inside was felt.

Unlike the outside, once I went inside, the atmosphere completely changed.

Perhaps thanks to the warm air, it was because there were many familiar faces inside the grand hall.

I felt as if I had entered another world.

I stopped my steps for a moment and scanned the surroundings.

Business figures representing Korea were gathered in groups of threes and fives and shared conversations.

Acting Chairman Lim Hye-seon was also there.

The fact that I was standing in such a spot was realized anew.

It was not the first time, but it felt unique perhaps because it was the New Year.

Even so, I was not one to hesitate.

Now, such a stage was not a place that was completely unfamiliar to me.

Since it was a place where media coverage was allowed, camera flashes went off continuously while flickering.

As the appearances of major figures were seen one after another, reporters were out of their minds filming.

I also felt the gazes.

Although I had become so accustomed to this that it was like second nature.

I already had many experiences of receiving attention as the representative of HJ Partners.

How many things had happened in the meantime.

A spot where key figures of the political and business worlds gathered.

Rather, at a time like this, it is not bad for interest to gather.

“Over there, it is Representative Lim Hyunjun!”

At someone’s shout, the gazes of the reporters gathered on me all at once.

It was to the point of being dazzling, but I did not furrow my brows.

I just looked straight ahead calmly and acted as the representative of a company.

If a person who did not know my age saw me, they would even mistake me for an entrepreneur with decades of experience.

The gazes of the people sharing conversations moved subtly following me.

I was no longer Lim Hyunjun of Taeseong Group, but already the representative of HJ Partners and a famous person.

Hearing a familiar voice, I turned my head and Acting Chairman Lim Hye-seon was looking at me with a soft smile.

“You came, Hyunjun.”

“Aunt, you came early.”

I greeted her while lightly lowering my head.

Lim Hye-seon was elegantly dressed and was making a much brighter expression than usual.

However, I noticed that she was somewhat nervous.

I had been here several times at least, but this was the first time for Lim Hye-seon.

In addition, it would be thanks to the sense of responsibility of representing Taeseong acting on her.

I deliberately approached closely and whispered.

“Aunt, it is not much of a big deal compared to what you think. Please relax.”

“I tried to make an effort not to make it obvious….”

“Actually, it is not very obvious. You are just elegant.”

“What? Hahaha. Thank you.”

There was no woman who would dislike being called beautiful.

Anyway, perhaps thanks to my effort, as time passed, Lim Hye-seon blended in well like a person who was used to such spots.

Except for only when she occasionally asked about Chairman Lim Man-seok’s well-being, she wore a smile.

The moderator held the microphone as if the event was starting.

“The President is entering.”

With those words, the giants stood up from their seats one by one.

The President along with the Economic Deputy Prime Minister, the Chief Secretary, and the Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs came inside.

The President offered New Year’s greetings while making a bright expression after a long time.

And he met each person face to face and held their hands.

Especially when facing me, he asked while wearing a warm smile.

“Representative Lim Hyunjun, it is nice to see you again like this. I was very surprised after receiving the news of the accident in Iraq last time, but how is your health now?”

“Thank you for your concern, Mr. President. Thanks to you, I have completely recovered now.”

“That is quite fortunate. Fortunate. There is nothing as regrettable as a young friend like you leaving the world early.”

It was a short conversation, but the reporters’ cameras did not miss that moment.

The next day, their appearance was conveyed like this.

[President, directly mentions Representative Lim Hyunjun]

In addition, since I even received the President’s help in Iraq, the incident at that time was talked about again.

The citizens are always bound to like moving stories.

Due to that incident, the President’s falling approval rating had also eased.