Chapter 150 – Higher, Even Higher – Part 3

Chapter 150 – Higher, Even Higher – Part 3

Woojin brought the cellphone to his ear.

He was calling Cha Juhyeok at SH Strategy.

– Yes. Just a moment.

Was Cha Juhyeok in a difficult situation to answer Woojin’s call?

He whispered that and then spoke again.

– Yes. Go ahead.

“I’m sorry to call when you seem busy.”

– Oh, no. Go ahead.

“I’d like to know the current status of SH Construction’s shares.”

– Oh, first, the shares held by the trading company are…

“I want to know about the borrowed-name accounts, not just the visible shares.”

– Unconfirmed matters are…

“These days, even when I’m sleeping, money is being generated like a planarian, so I have nowhere to spend it…”

– I’ll look into it! I’ll dig into it!

“Have you had a meal?

You seem to like army stew, and I heard there’s a really delicious place in Pyeongtaek.”

Cha Juhyeok flinched and looked around, even though Woojin was not visible to him.

He wondered how Woojin knew he liked army stew, feeling as if he was being watched.

Thus, Woojin’s keen observation skills were causing him many misunderstandings.

“Then, please contact me.”

– Please go in.

Meanwhile, Chairman Lee looked at Lee Hyerim, his surprised expression slowly turning into one of pride.

“Is that enough?”

“Yes. 7% stake in SH Construction, 280 billion won.”

“Hahaha! You must have gained a lot by bringing the GH Construction Site to our SH Construction, didn’t you?”

Lee Hyerim calmly nodded her head.

As expected, her Grandfather immediately grasped the overall context.

However, she had also gained a little more from other sources.

Chairman Lee continued speaking.

“It’s good that you created the justification with your own strength.

But to receive the priority of friendly stake in the Rights Offering as a gift from your grandfather, you must meet the Major Shareholder requirements…”

Chairman Lee stopped speaking and looked at Lee Hyerim.

Chairman Lee Jeongmun was regularly informed by SH Strategy if anyone was detected becoming a Major Shareholder of any Shinhwa Group affiliate.

Lee Hyerim’s name was not among them.

She spoke demurely.

“If I meet the qualifications, will you immediately give me the gift?”

Chairman Lee spoke clearly, as if to say, ‘Go on, try it!’

“Good.”

“I’ll make a call for a moment.”

Lee Hyerim called someone, and as soon as the other person answered, she spoke.

“It’s me.”

– Yes. Please speak.

It was the CEO of the private equity fund Lee Hyerim had created.

“Buy 2% of SH Construction stock under my name.”

– Then we’ll have to liquidate three-fifths of the nominee account. Should we proceed?

Three-fifths.

Chairman Lee was watching Lee Hyerim talk on the phone in front of him, but he couldn’t understand.

“Yes.”

– I will process it quickly and contact you.

After the call, Lee Hyerim politely spoke to Chairman Lee, who was fixated on her.

“Grandfather, I will soon be a major shareholder with 4% of SH Construction.”

Now, all she had to do was secure the priority right as a major shareholder through the rights offering.

Lee Hyerim had met all the conditions Chairman Lee had set.

“I think I was seven years old… Thank you for giving me a gift after such a long time since I received a watch from you, Grandfather.”

“Hahahaha! You’re really tying me down so this old man can’t run away without keeping his promise, like someone heartless!”

Chairman Lee, who had been laughing heartily, whatever was amusing him, calmed his expression.

“Good. I’ll make it known, that no one should interfere.

But you know what.

Before that, I should inform the family that we will be holding a rights offering. You should be present at that meeting too.”

You’ll have to sit there, too.

It was to see if Lee Hyerim could endure the pressure of that position.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Chairman Lee took a sip of tea and then spoke.

“And that Shin Woojin fellow. Bring him over sometimes.”

He seemed like he could be the best friend when he was bored and needed to clear his head.

The image of the boy playing Go with his eyes closed still lingered in his mind, it was the righteous path.

“Yes. I think he’d like it if you asked him to play Gambling Go.”

Chairman Lee smiled and nodded his head.

He has more money than he knows what to do with.

Even if he lost a bet, it was nothing to Chairman Lee.

To Chairman Lee, Shin Woojin was almost a game.

“Alright, go take care of business.”

“Then I’ll get going.”

Lee Hyerim bowed her head in greeting, then went outside and got into the passenger seat of Woojin’s car.

Lee Hyerim swept her long hair back and let out a big breath she’d been holding, relieved.

Then she smiled and looked at Woojin.

“It seems Grandfather likes you.”

“So, the conversation went well?”

Lee Hyerim’s expression said it all.

She strayed from Woojin’s point and spoke in a playful voice.

“Should I say the conversation went well? Hmm…

Grandfather said to raise you, Woojin, and then devour you?”

Lee Hyerim, who said that,

“Oh my…”

At that moment, Woojin’s eyes showed surprise.

It was because he heard the sound of the Unconscious after a very long time.

It was a sound only he could hear, like someone whispering in his ear.

‘Grrrr’

The low growl of a beast.

It was like a warning sound before a roar, as if it was about to charge and prove that it was not livestock.

As Woojin gave a faint smile, the Subconscious Entity completely disappeared.

He confirmed that it hadn’t vanished yet, and that he had the control to suppress it so quickly.

Woojin muttered to himself, as if soothing the Unconscious.

It’s natural.

Is this how it feels to say goodbye to an old friend you’ve developed a love-hate relationship with?

Still, I’ll call you sometime.

But more than that.

What are you thinking about?

I was thinking about something important.

You’re not upset because Grandfather said that, are you?

I have no such intention whatsoever. I haven’t even imagined it.

Just as Lee Hyerim was thinking she had said something unnecessary, Woojin spoke.

That’s not it, do you know we haven’t had lunch?

Huh?

At times like these, we should eat something hearty, and I’m seriously considering the menu.

I thought he would ask if we had eaten, but he’s so heartless.

Lee Hyerim swept her hair back and laughed.

He plays Go with his eyes closed in front of the Shinhwa Group Chairman as if he knows no tension, and now he says he’s heartless because he didn’t get fed.

Hyerim, shall we go eat some hot and hearty Gukbap? They say there’s a place many drivers go to.

Deal.

As Lee Hyerim fastened her seatbelt, the car glided forward.

The luxurious imported sedan, which had departed from Chairman Lee Jeongmun’s Residence, sped towards the Gukbap Restaurant.

Woojin’s thoughts were racing faster than the tires, calculating how to get involved with the Shinhwa Group from this point on.

–

The next day.

Woojin was heading to his cousin Mansu’s store, or rather, the now relocated headquarters of Brain Food.

It was to discuss the merger with J&R Future.

They had now opened 27 branches and were reviewing 17 more.

The headquarters was on the 5th floor of a 7-story building.

On the fifth floor, a green sign with a candle design read “Brain Food,” with a small sprout accent at the bottom right.

Woojin, who had been looking up at the building from outside, soon moved.

No, he spoke to the two women who had just passed him.

“Excuse me!”

The two women turned to Woojin.

They looked like university students in their mid-twenties. After quickly scanning Woojin’s face and attire, they both answered at once.

“Yes?”

“Yes?”

Woojin approached them and began to speak.

“Excuse me, by any chance…”

They exchanged glances as if they had been caught off guard.

And they prepared to unlock their cellphones at any moment.

Woojin continued.

“Is it true that the cafeteria food at K University is better than at S University?”

Their eyes blinked.

“Huh?”

“You just said that K University’s cafeteria food is better than S University’s, and I was curious if that’s really true.”

“Oh… yes… I’ve tried it. K University was tastier.”

“Thank you for sharing that valuable information.”

Woojin bowed slightly, turned around, and trudged away.

“What was that?”

“Is that a new way to get a number? Relying on his looks?”

“Should I pretend to go along with it and then ask him myself?”

“Hey. You have a boyfriend!”

While they were talking, Woojin had disappeared.

As Woojin entered Brain Food’s main office, he saw the staff members.

There were eleven staff members, including Mansu’s older cousin and Mansu.

Just then, a staff member carrying documents asked Woojin,

“How may I help you?”

“Woojin!”

Mansu, who was wearing a tie, appeared as if by teleportation.

“Hey! Why is it so hard to see your face these days?

I think this is the first time since you got discharged? Are you very busy these days?”

“I have a few places to go. Where’s CEO Kim?”

He was referring to Mansu’s older cousin.

“Someone wants to move in, so he went out to do some market analysis.”

Woojin slowly nodded his head.

He could have sent a staff member, but he’s a hard worker regardless of his position.

“I have some good news for Brain Food.”

“Oh? What news? Don’t just stand there, let’s sit and talk.”

As Woojin walked to the break room with Mansu, the staff members exchanged quiet whispers.

“Is that Woojin?”

“He’s the same age as the director?”

“I think he said they were friends. But he’s really handsome.”

Because Mansu and his older cousin always used phrases like ‘because of Woojin’ or ‘thanks to Woojin’, the staff members were well aware of Woojin’s existence.

As Woojin entered the conference room, he received a fatigue reliever from Mansu.

Woojin spoke up.

“Brain Food, let’s merge with another company.”

Mansu tilted his head, surprised by the unexpected suggestion.

“Merge?”

“It’s a company called J&R Future that Hyerim created.”

You might not know, but it’s the company that’s getting the Yongsan New City Development contract as the top priority.”

“Hyerim created a company? J&R Future?”

“Yes. If Brain Food merges with J&R Future, it will have strong backing.”

Simply put, Shinhwa Group can support it.”

Of course, if Brain Food grows, they will try to shake it with sweet whispers, like candy coating, to devour it.

But Woojin had no intention of letting that happen.

One very simple method to remain unshaken was not to carelessly accept the money they offered.

A very simple and straightforward idea.

However, Woojin planned to approach it from a microeconomic perspective and make Brain Food even stronger within that framework.

“Are you saying our Brain Food can be directly connected to Shinhwa Group?”

Woojin nodded.

“Yes.”

“Woojin, can you stand up for a moment?”

“Stand up?”

“Just for a moment.”

As soon as Woojin stood up, Mansu shouted loudly.

“Hey! Why are you doing this to me! Huh! Why are you doing this!”

And with that, he hugged Woojin tightly.

“Why are you so good to us! Huh!”

Mansu felt like he just wanted to jump around.

Woojin pushed Mansu, who was hugging him, away and held his shoulders with both hands.

Woojin’s expression was serious as he slowly shook his head.

“Mansu, that’s not what’s important.”

“Huh? Is there something else?”

Mansu’s eyes were blazing.

If it was for Woojin, he was ready to laugh through a thorny path and even do a tumble, regardless of hardship and adversity.

“What is it? Just say the word. Even if I have to grind my body…”

“Mansu.”

Mansu’s face also became serious, following Woojin.

“Yes. Tell me.”

“They say K University’s cafeteria food is tastier than our school’s.”

“…”

Silence instantly fell.

Mansu’s eyes were still wide open as before, but his mouth wouldn’t open as if glued shut.