Capítulo 60: Chapter 60: A New Chapter Unfolds
The moment Ji-young saw my face, she burst into tears.
Thinking it'd be best for her to compose herself before meeting Grandfather, I took Ji-young outside.
"I'm so sorry, Oppa…"
Her sudden tears caught me off guard.
Seeing how much thinner Ji-young had become, I struggled to find the right words.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry."
As she kept apologizing through her tears, any lingering discomfort I felt vanished.
I placed my hand on her head, feeling her trembling beneath my touch.
I looked directly into her tear-filled eyes as she raised her head.
"This happened before you were even born. I'd be lying if I said meeting you again wasn't uncomfortable at first. But I know it's not your fault. Don't apologize. Let it all out now, then forget about it. I'd like it if you treated me just like when we first met."
Before I could finish, Ji-young broke into uncontrollable sobs.
What fault could this child possibly have?
I swallowed the bitter smile that threatened to surface.
"Right now, Grandfather is probably having a harder time than me. Visit often. Don't worry about how I might feel."
It took quite a while for Ji-young to calm down.
Once she stopped crying, Ji-young kept avoiding my gaze.
"Your eyes are all puffy. You look like a panda."
Even my attempt at a joke got no response.
Seems like she'll need some time.
Well, she's 17, a first-year in high school. Probably still in the midst of adolescence.
If I were in Ji-young's position, would I have had the courage to come and apologize like this?
"Not feeling the jokes, huh? Dry those tears and let's head inside. Grandfather's waiting."
I led Ji-young back into the house.
When Grandfather saw Ji-young's face, he stood up from where he was sitting.
"Grandfather."
Ji-young's voice quivered with emotion.
Worried that Grandfather might feel awkward around me, I headed up to my room on the second floor, leaving Ji-young behind.
Perched on the edge of my bed, I asked Manager Ma who had followed me in:
"How's Su-man doing? You're keeping an eye on him, right?"
"Reports say he's holed up at home. No changes so far."
"He's not the type to sit idle. Let me know immediately if you spot even the slightest movement."
"Understood."
I glanced towards the door.
Wonder what they're talking about.
While I didn't blame Ji-young, her father was a different story.
"You're managing Su-han properly, right?"
"I've heard President Park is handling it thoroughly."
I had no intention of forgiving Su-han, even for Ji-young's sake.
I'm not sure what he's discussing with Grandfather, but I planned to completely break Su-han's spirit.
Even if he was just Su-man's puppet, he still turned a blind eye to my parents' deaths.
"Set up a dinner appointment with Dong-su. Somewhere quiet where we can talk over drinks."
A moment later, Manager Ma, who had stepped out, knocked on the door saying Grandfather was calling for me.
Entering the study, I found Grandfather looking relieved, as if he'd had a good talk with Ji-young. His slightly reddened eyes suggested he might have shed a tear or two.
Ji-young's face was even puffier than before.
Even after eating ramen and sleeping, it wouldn't be this bad.
"Mu-hyeok, thank you."
Grandfather's words hit me hard.
"What's there to thank me for? She's my sister too."
Grandfather's changed attitude, along with Ji-young's actions towards me, all contributed to this decision.
Of course, Ji-soo and Ji-soo weren't included in this circle.
That evening,
Grandfather seemed to have found his smile again after a long time.
Warmth returned to the once-cold house.
After dinner, I left to meet Dong-su.
By the time I entered the shabby pojangmacha in Yeongdeungpo, it was quite late. There were no other customers; only Dong-su and Sang-geun were waiting for me.
"How'd you find a place like this?" I asked as I entered.
Dong-su stood up.
"Hey! Little bro!"
Dong-su greeted me cheerfully with a raised hand, while Sang-geun, in stark contrast, bowed at a 90-degree angle.
Their unchanged manners made me smile.
"It's been a while."
Manager Ma remained standing behind me, not taking a seat.
"Took us long enough to have a proper drink together, eh, Dong-su hyung?"
Dong-su's lips twitched, clearly pleased by the 'hyung' title.
He was so easy to read.
"You've got Yeongdeungpo under control, right?"
"Of course. It was a breeze. No big fights. Just a bit of pressure and they all fell in line. Almost too easy, makes me wonder."
I nodded slightly.
"Taking down Geukseong Construction and outmaneuvering Jo Hyun-gu must have been the key. Gangsters are quick to spot who's got the real power backing them. For now, don't even look south of the river. Focus on absorbing the smaller factions in the west. And steer clear of the Chinese in Garibong-dong for now."
"Got it."
"Mr. Lee, how's the company business going?"
"I'm starting to wonder if I'm a lawyer or a company employee. Haha!"
Just because the company's owner was a gangster didn't mean all the employees could be thugs.
Since we were masquerading as a legitimate company, Sang-geun with his lawyer credentials was indispensable.
"Keep recruiting trustworthy people. Don't worry about salaries or bonuses. Be aggressive in your hiring."
"Understood. But I think it's about time we start bidding for some construction projects."
"I'll talk with Daehyeon Construction and get back to you. Just hang in there a bit longer. And don't push yourself too hard for results."
"Alright. We can't rely solely on Daehyeon, so our employees are trying to secure projects here and there."
The previous administration had announced major plans for new city developments and redevelopment areas, so the current government was somewhat lukewarm towards new city developments.
"There probably won't be any big new city development plans for now. Come to think of it, isn't Bongcheon-dong near Yeongdeungpo undergoing redevelopment?"
Sang-geun responded to my question:
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. Another organization is currently involved there. I was wondering if we should make a move. What do you think?"
I looked at Dong-su, who shrugged.
"He asked me about it, and I told him we'd discuss it with you first. Personally, I'm all for it."
"Then go for it. Think you can handle it?"
"Little bro! Don't you trust me, Park Dong-su?"
Impressed by Dong-su's confidence, I poured soju into his glass.
"Let's drink to that."
Their initiative to try something on their own, without explicit instructions, pleased me.
After a few rounds of drinks, the conversation shifted to Su-han.
"How's the prison situation going?"
"We've got him completely isolated. Besides our guys, I've reached out to others, promising favors. He's probably wishing he was dead. I've told his cellmate to prevent any suicide attempts at all costs."
A cold smile played on my lips at Dong-su's words.
"Good. Make sure he doesn't die or get hurt. I want his mind thoroughly broken. He shouldn't even have the freedom to take his own life."
"Scary guy. You sure your bro hasn't messed up somewhere? If he has, just let me know anytime."
"Not yet."
Dong-su shook his head, looking a bit unnerved.
"No issues in Busan, right?"
"Yeah, Suhyeong's handling things well down there. We talk daily. That kid knows what he's doing. He's under me, so he knows I could take over his territory anytime if I wanted."
"Still, don't trust him too much. Keep a close eye."
"Got it."
Busan was a crucial area.
Japanese Yakuza influence starts from Busan and reaches up to Seoul, so if I could bring Busan under my control, it would make my plans much smoother.
"So, are we done with business talk? It's killing the mood. Come on, have another drink."
"Haha, alright."
The drinking session continued late into the night, with stories from our Busan days.
When I returned home late that night, Ji-young was waiting for me in the dimly lit living room, with only the table lamp on.
"You're still up?"
"I was waiting for you, Oppa."
"We could've talked tomorrow. You didn't know when I'd be back."
"Have you been drinking?"
I must have looked tipsy, having had just enough to feel it.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Does it smell?"
"No, it's just written all over your face."
"Let's sit. Where's Grandfather?"
As we sat facing each other, Ji-young lowered her head.
"He went to bed earlier, said he was turning in."
"You waited because you had something to say, right?"
"Yeah."
"Go ahead. But I'll get mad if you apologize again."
Ji-young flinched a bit at that.
Seeing her just sitting there with her head down, I spoke up:
"It's okay. You've done more than enough. But don't ask me to forgive your dad. I don't want to end up hating you too."
"Okay…"
"… Is there anything you want to do? You're in high school now."
It was a random question to change the subject, but as soon as I asked, a memory surfaced.
Ji-young had once told me she wanted to pursue music.
Back then, Grandfather and Su-han's opposition had crushed that dream.
"For now… I just vaguely think I'd like to do something music-related. Is it too late already?"
"Oh? But doesn't that field require talent? Did you have that kind of talent?"
"Hey! I'll have you know, I've been told I'm a great singer!"
After blurting that out, Ji-young quickly clamped her mouth shut, realizing what she'd done.
A little prod to her pride, and her old self came right out.
Ji-young was at her best when confident and positive about everything.
"Is that so? Well, then you should give it a shot. What's the problem if you want to do it?"
"But…"
"Because of Grandfather? You should still do what you want. At least try it out. If you keep worrying about Grandfather's disapproval, you'll never do anything."
Ji-young didn't answer, just kept fiddling with the ends of her long hair, seemingly lost in thought.
"I'll take your side later. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. You're still a student, you should try everything you want to."
"You're only 21, Oppa… Stop talking like you've lived a long life. It's funny."
I responded to that with just a smile.
That night, Ji-young and I talked until dawn.
I deliberately avoided any talk of our parents, but including my previous life, this was the first time we'd had such a long, one-on-one conversation.
The next day, Ji-young left for home early after breakfast.
Grandfather's face, which had been lined with worry, seemed to have relaxed a bit, probably because of Ji-young.
While chatting with Grandfather in the living room, breaking news flashed on the TV.
It was the sudden announcement of Kim Il-sung's death..
This unexpected news came while preparations for inter-Korean talks were underway.
Time passed, and as the exceptionally hot summer drew to a close, September brought the day of the second bar exam results.
I went to Myeong-su's place to wait for the announcement together.
When the call came through with news of his passing, Myeong-su jumped up, throwing his hands in the air and shouting,
"Holy shit! I passed! I actually did it! Lee Myeong-su, you legend!"
Then he grabbed me in a bear hug.
"Mu-hyeok! My friend! Life's full of surprises. Who'd have thought a slacker like me could become a prosecutor? It's all thanks to you, man. I owe you."
Calls came in confirming that the other three had passed as well.
The university called too. They said it was unprecedented for four second-year law students to pass the second bar exam simultaneously.
All I did was create a study group and nudge them towards a small change, yet their judicial apprenticeship had been fast-tracked.
Even I couldn't predict what butterfly effect this small change might create in the future.
"Man, talk about a game-changer!"
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