Chapter 165: Chapter 165: The Beginning of a New Millennium
I knew how outrageous my demands sounded.
But it was something that only Wen Jiabao could handle.
— Boss Kim, you realize how ridiculous this sounds, right?
"I know it's a tough request. However, if the Vice Premier is determined, I believe it can be done. Don't you think?"
Wen Jiabao maintained a rather close relationship with the North Korean regime.
He had visited North Korea several times already.
He was one of the few Chinese officials who could reach out directly to the highest powers in North Korea.
— This is a politically risky matter for me as well. Yes, but if it brings enough value, I should help.
"It's unavoidable if I want to expand my influence in Korea. I didn't intend to make such a request so soon, but circumstances have pushed me into this. I apologize."
— Hmm, I'll give it a try, but I can't guarantee 100% success. Keep that in mind.
"Yes, still, I'd appreciate your help. I'm okay with any amount of money. These lives are in limbo. Please look into that first."
To alleviate his burden of giving an uncertain answer, I hinted further.
"If it's too difficult to bring them to South Korea immediately, perhaps at least to China?"
— I will do my best. Please wait a little longer.
"Thank you, Vice Premier."
— I should help if it's within my ability.
After wrapping up the call with Wen Jiabao, Manager Ma, who was standing in front of me, asked.
"What did he say?"
"He said he would try. It might take some time, but it should be possible—especially with Wen Jiabao involved."
"I hope for good results."
"We'll wait and see."
"Yes, boss."
Now, all that was left was to wait for news regarding Zhang Dai-ho's family.
If his family was alive and it was possible to bring them to China, Zhang Dai-ho would have no choice but to comply with my request.
While waiting, I decided to think about other matters I could manage.
"What's the atmosphere like at the Prosecutor's Office?"
"It's like the calm before the storm."
"I heard there's intense pressure on Myeong-su."
"With him being the son of the highest leader in this regime, and the fact that Prosecutor Lee Myeong-su acted unilaterally without reports to the higher-ups made it even more complicated."
It was a somewhat absurd situation for the Prosecutors' Office.
Although Lee Myeong-su was known to be part of Yoon Chang-ho's circle, the higher-ups could never have predicted he would trigger such backfire during this sensitive period.
Then, as if on cue, the exclusive report from Goryeo Daily broke.
It was beyond what the Prosecutors' Office could cover up.
Now the Blue House had no choice but to take the case away from Lee Myeong-su and hand it over to a prosecutor who could investigate in the direction they wanted.
"Keep an eye on the actions of the Prosecutors' Office and the Blue House."
"Yes."
"What about Cheon Su-man?"
"I contacted Noh Ik-seon and Kim Ho-sik. Theey mentioned wanting to catch up over drinks after a long time."
"I see?"
"Yes."
"Tell the bosses in Myeong-dong to meet with Cheon Su-man. I'm curious about what tricks he's pulling this time."
"Understood."
The two active bosses were now completely on my side.
Yet, I was curious as to why Cheon Su-man was intent on meeting them.
"Don't make any plans for the end of the year. I'm thinking of being by my grandfather's side in Busan."
"Yes, boss."
I gazed ruefully at the setting sun outside the window.
While people were buzzing about the start of a new millennium, I couldn't help but wait for an aching finale, hoping it wouldn't come.
Even while I was in Busan, Seoul was bustling with activity.
Various news outlets, including Goryeo Daily, criticized Kim Hak-gwon's government day after day.
Il-sung was trying to keep the aggressive group incident alive through Aseong Daily, but the public's attention was focused solely on the President's relatives being embroiled in a scandal.
After spending a few days organizing my cluttered mind at home in Busan, I returned to Seoul.
"Welcome back, boss."
I was greeted by Chief Ha as I entered the ward.
"How's Grandpa?"
"He's resting."
"How's his condition?"
"It's the same."
"Any changes in his memory?"
"······."
Seeing Chief Ha unable to answer struck me hard.
It seemed my grandfather's condition had worsened.
"······I'll go in now."
"Yes."
I opened the door to the ward after receiving a softly spoken affirmative from Chief Ha.
The spacious hospital room was filled only with the sounds of machines.
My grandfather, lying on the bed, turned his head at the sound of the door opening.
"Grandpa, I'm here."
There was no response.
I sat beside my grandfather and took his dry hand. Seeing his emaciated arm stirred something in my heart.
"Grandpa, just one day more and the new year will dawn."
It wasn't particularly important, but I purposely filled the silence with chatter.
"A new millennium is beginning. You should shake off your fatigue and watch it with us."
Though my grandfather didn't reply, I felt a faint grip in his hand.
It was both a little joyful and a bit sorrowful, but I forced a smile to hide my feelings.
"I'm turning twenty-seven now. Time flies, doesn't it?"
Continuing the one-sided conversation for ten minutes without a word of return.
"I'll come back again tonight."
I released my grandfather's hand and stood up.
His empty gaze followed me as I walked away.
I gave my grandfather a smile before stepping out of the ward.
Outside the ward, Chief Ha and Manager Ma were engaged in conversation.
"Has anyone been visiting lately?"
"Miss Ji-young comes almost every day. Miss Ji-soo has visited a few times."
"What about Cheon Su-man and Cheon Ji-won?"
"They haven't come since then."
The expression I wore in front of my grandfather felt fake, just like my blank face now.
"I'll come back tonight. I'm staying here for the night."
"Understood."
Leaving the hospital, I headed straight back to the office in Myeong-dong.
I called Han Gyeong-yeong and Eva to check on the progress of our dealings.
"How's the negotiation going, bro?"
— I could've snagged it for double the share value at first. But now that there are rumors circulating about me accumulating Il-sung stocks, these peoplle are getting bold.
"Wall Street is quick. Secure as much as you can, no matter the cost."
A sigh came through the receiver.
— I'll get on it. They'll call me a fool sometimes, you know.
"What about the stocks?"
— Most of it has been sorted out.
"Thanks for your hard work. Happy New Year, brother."
— You too, Mu-hyeok. Happy New Year.
Han Gyeong-yeong was now handling his tasks efficiently without me needing to issue every instruction.
Eva was doing the same.
"Eva, how's it going?"
— I'm slowly gathering them up.
"Buy slowly and quietly until the public acquisition timing arrives."
— Okay, boss.
"Have a great end of the year, and Happy New Year."
— You too, boss.
Eva was also giving her utmost to fulfill her role.
In addition to those two, I spent several hours on the phone with people related to me, exchanging New Year's greetings.
Finally, I called Yoon Chang-ho.
— Long time no see, junior.
"Yes, President."
— I hear things are hectic these days.
Is there smoke without fire?
He probably knew the situation but still cautiously inquired about it.
"A bit. Grandpa's illness is being used by Chairman Seo and Cheon Su-man to annoy me."
— I'm sorry for not being able to help before the election.
"It's fine. I'm also refraining from getting too personally involved at the moment. You should be careful too, President."
— I would appreciate your understanding.
Setting aside the laughter coming through the receiver, I got to the main agenda.
"In a few days, Myeong-su will hold a revealing press conference at Goryeo Hotel. I'll need your outer support then."
— Hmm… I hope there won't be backlash.
"No. If things go as planned, both the Progressive Party and Conservative Party will take hits."
— Understood.
"Have a good end of the year, and work hard next year. I'm looking forward to the results of this general election."
— Ha ha, so am I. You have a great end of the year too, and send my regards to Chairman Cheon.
"Yes, President."
With that, I had made all the necessary calls.
"Huh, social life is tough."
A natural sigh escaped my lips.
I had held onto my phone for so long that the battery had overheated.
Now that all tasks were done, I only had to return to the hospital and prepare for the New Year.
As I opened the office door, Manager Ma stood up.
"Manager, let's head to the hospital."
Outside the window, this year's last sun was setting.
2000.
A new century was dawning, but for me, it felt just like another day.
After waking up early, I showered in the hospital's shower room and found a familiar face waiting for me.
"Oppa."
Cheon Ji-young, who was holding my grandfather's hand, greeted me as she sat up.
"When did you arrive?"
"Just now. Did you sleep here?"
"Yeah. Have you eaten?"
"Not yet."
"Do you have any plans for today?"
"Nope. I already took care of everything beforehand. I just want to be with Grandpa today."
"Alright then. Let's grab a bite together first."
I glanced back at my sleeping grandfather before stepping outside with Cheon Ji-young.
"What do you want to eat?"
"Anything's fine."
"Manager, just take us to any open restaurant nearby."
"Understood."
As the car carrying us began to move slowly, I broke the silence first.
Feeling guilty for not being able to pay enough attention to her previously, I stole a glance at Cheon Ji-young.
"Got any plans for this year?"
"I'm working on a new album."
"Oh really?"
"The agency suggested I do a drama too, but I'm not confident in my acting, so I'm focusing on the album first."
"Is it fun?"
At my question, Cheon Ji-young broke into a bright smile.
"Yeah."
Her cheerful laugh made me smile involuntarily.
There was no hint of deceit in her radiant face.
We quickly grabbed a simple breakfast at a seolleongtang restaurant near the hospital before returning.
"Miss Ji-soo visited earlier."
Chief Ha reported as we entered.
"Did she come alone?"
"Yes."
I nodded in response to Chief Ha's words instead of replying.
As I opened the ward's door with Cheon Ji-young, Ji-soo was sitting next to my grandfather.
At the sound of the door opening, Ji-soo turned her head to look at us. I spoke first.
"It's been a while."
"Yes, it has. Ji-young saw you a few days ago, right?"
"Yeah, unnie."
An awkward atmosphere loomed inside the ward, but Cheon Ji-young paid it no mind as she walked over to my grandfather.
"Grandpa, are you awake?"
Ji-soo's lively voice drew my grandfather's gaze toward her.
It seemed like a smile touched his lips.
Ji-soo offered her seat to Ji-young and came closer to me.
"Do you have time to talk?"
"Did we have anything to discuss?"
My cold reply yielded no change in her expression.
"Don't put feelings first; there must be something beneficial for both of us, right?"
"Let's step outside."
Taking Ji-soo, who spoke so bluntly, I led her to the lounge attached to the ward.
"Speak."
"You're still just as cold, aren't you?"
"Just get to the point."
"Like we promised before, help me push myself forward."
Her casual suggestion took me aback. I furrowed my brow and asked again.
"What?"
"We promised back then."
"Ha ha ha, are you out of your mind? Are you seriously talking to me like this right now?"
"As I said last time, it's about my father and aunt's issues. I can't involve myself in this at all."
"······Speak properly."
"I absolutely want to hold onto Il-sung. I don't understandd why being a woman means I should be inferior to you. As soon as my father arrived in Korea, he only called you to talk."
"That's your issue. It has nothing to do with me."
When I coldly cut her off, Ji-soo's expression turned icy.
"My mom said she'd help me."
"So? Why should I help you? It's one thing before, but now you have no use to me at all."
Unmoved by my unchanging response, Ji-soo bit her lip.
"Whether it'll be of help or not is uncertain."
"Well, I don't believe you'd be any help. So, what will you do?"
She should have been indignant, yet the way she bit her lip intrigued me a little.
Not having seen this side of her in my past life was somewhat satisfying.
"Just take the hotel side and inherit that. Do what you're good at."
"······No."
"Then you need to bring something useful to negotiate. Don't just complain like this. Let's do business with a proper deal."
I could clearly see Ji-soo's mind churning to figure out what she could bring me to gain my assistance.
"Instead of dragging up ridiculous past promises, it's better to think of what possibilities there are. You're not dumb; you can see how much things have changed since then."
"······."
"But you're still a decent person. You still visit my grandfather, at least."
Seeing her hesitate to reply, I turned away.
At that moment, I heard a sharp voice call from behind.
"If you bring something that could help me, then you really will help me, right?"
I answered without turning back.
"Yeah. If you bring what I want."
When I returned to the ward, Cheon Ji-young was still holding my grandfather's hand, chatting away.
"Grandpa, are you having fun these days? Back in the day, I couldn't do anything I wanted… Now, I'm doing what I want, so it's fun."
No matter how much I spoke to him, there was no answer.
Ji-young's voice wavered slightly.
"So… Grandpa, get up. I want you to see me get married, okay?"
My grandfather's lifeless gaze remained fixed on Cheon Ji-young.
The next day, I received a call from Myeong-su.
— Mu-hyeok, it seems they're slowly starting to target me.
"Okay. Let's hold the press conference."
— Is the location still set for Goryeo Hotel?
"Yes. I'm leaving right now with the materials. Make sure not to leave behind a single document."
— Understood.
"Get everything sorted out in three hours and arrive at Goryeo Hotel. I'll have everything ready beforehand."
I instructed Manager Ma, who had been waiting beside me for the end of the call.
"Call up media outlets like Goryeo Daily and gather them at Goryeo Hotel."
"Understood."
Finally, all preparations were set for Myeong-su's political debut.
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