Chapter 152 – Higher, Even Higher – Part 5

Chapter 152 – Higher, Even Higher – Part 5

Woojin was talking to Minjae, but he was actually talking to his mother.

As Minjae just stared blankly at the candy, a faint smile formed on Woojin’s lips.

“It’s sweet.”

The traffic light turned green, and his mother grabbed Minjae’s hand and crossed the street.

“Let’s go, Minjae. What a strange person to encounter.”

Woojin briefly watched the backs of the two as they followed the hat across the street.

Then, Minjae, who was crossing the street with his mother, looked up at Woojin.

As Woojin waved, Minjae looked up at his mother and asked,

“Mom, what is a camel that remembers the night?”

At her son’s words, his mother, who had just finished crossing the street, paused.

There’s a saying that a camel tied up all night won’t run away even if its rope is untied in the morning.

It means it remembers the previous night and thinks it’s still tied, so it can’t move from that spot.

‘Am I tying my son down?’

Annoyance surged as if she had just heard some crazy person’s nonsense.

“Let’s go.”

She, who had been leading her son, suddenly looked down at Minjae.

Her son’s downcast face.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her.

She couldn’t quite remember when she last saw her son smile.

“Minjae, Mom is only saying these things for your own good, Minjae.

When you grow up, Minjae, you’ll understand what Mom means.”

“Yes…”

He doesn’t smile.

“Minjae, what do you want to eat?

Today, Mom will make whatever Minjae wants to eat delicious.

Spicy rice cakes…

At her son’s voice, as small as a mosquito, Mom, who was walking, flinched and stopped.

It wasn’t because she remembered scolding him not to eat such things, but because the words of the person who had looked like a madman just moments ago flashed through her mind.

‘Parental coercion is a deficit for what they themselves failed to achieve.’

She often enjoyed street food when Minjae wasn’t around.

What suddenly occurred to her here was why Minjae had mentioned spicy rice cakes, of all foods.

Because every time he said he wanted spicy rice cakes, she told him no.

It was a truly sudden question.

“It’s highly likely that tastes are also inherited.”

At the voice suddenly heard from behind, Mom turned around.

It was that madman.

“It may not be now, but when Minjae was young, he would have often seen Mom eating spicy rice cakes.

And they probably ate it together.

He was already accustomed to Mom’s taste from a young age, and it’s continuing even now.

On top of that, the Caligula Effect is at play.

The Caligula Effect refers to the rebellious sentiment that arises when free will is forcibly prohibited.

This is called psychological resistance (reactance), where the desire to do something grows stronger when told not to.

If you’re told not to do this, not to do that, or prohibited from something you hadn’t even thought of, a kind of curiosity about what it is can sometimes grow.

The original unconscious dislikes being arrested or having its free will infringed upon.

It means it always has a desire for freedom.

The Caligula Effect of psychological reactance starts from here.

At Mom’s surprised expression, Woojin shook the plastic bag containing fruit and ice cream and brushed past her.

No, he added one more thing.

“If you wish for Minjae’s life to be successful, it might be good to study what your son wants to do.”

Go, Minjae!

Woojin walked away with his hat backward, muttering.

It’s a crime to meddle in someone’s business by following them around.

Having experienced meddling, Woojin’s face seemed strangely satisfied.

He then walked slowly, looking around as if sightseeing.

Eighty percent of the people he saw were looking at their cellphones.

Woojin observed each of their expressions and nodded.

The reason they were looking at their cellphones was to satisfy their desires.

Woojin also looked at his cellphone, as if he couldn’t fall behind.

If he wanted to react to the environment and blend in with his surroundings.

I can’t fall behind either.

Woojin swiped through his cellphone and muttered again.

Ran-chin-shil-an, Lu-bing-ppong, Wan-nae-seu~

Woojin recited new slang words one after another, nodding his head.

Indeed, you should never stop studying.

If you want to become ordinary.

LBB, LBB…

–

Three days later.

The luxury foreign car Woojin was driving was gliding along the road.

Lee Hyerim, dressed calmly, sat in the passenger seat, but her face showed clear tension, unlike usual.

Imagine relaxing the muscles of a clown.

As Lee Hyerim thought about it according to Woojin’s words, she felt much more relaxed.

It was the moment she realized that not only her mind but also her facial muscles were very stiff.

Even so, I can’t help but feel a little nervous.

Woojin, who had stepped on the brake at the red light, looked at her.

“How about thinking of your family as if they were NPCs?”

“NPCs?”

“Yeah, like characters in a game.

Like a character who is naturally irritable, a character who is naturally scary, or a character who is greedy.

The important thing here is that the overpowered character is on your side.”

“Overpowered character?”

“It means that Chairman Lee Jeongmun, the owner of the Shinhwa Group, thinks positively of you, Hyerim.”

Lee Hyerim couldn’t help but smile in disbelief again.

She was being told to compare people to game characters.

And not just any people, but her family, whom others either envied or feared.

In this way, the car Woojin was driving arrived at Chairman Lee Jeongmun’s residence.

Having arrived an hour early, it seemed no one else had gotten there yet.

Lee Hyerim spoke as she got out of the car, as before.

No, her actions had changed a little.

She called Woojin on her cellphone and put it in her bag.

So that Woojin could hear her family’s conversation.

“See you later.”

As Woojin nodded, Lee Hyerim entered the house.

Woojin, left alone, opened the glove box and took out a few photos.

They were pictures of Chairman Lee Jeongmun’s children, two sons and two daughters.

The eldest was Lee Jeongho, the second was Lee Hyerim’s father, Lee Jeongcheol, the third’s name was Lee Jeongmi, and the fourth’s name was Lee Jeonghye.

Today, they would contradict and pressure Lee Hyerim.

Woojin put the photos back into the glove compartment and plugged his earphones into his cellphone.

And he turned the volume down as low as it could go.

For Woojin, who had more sensitive hearing than others, it was enough sound.

With the earphones in his ears, Woojin finished preparing to figure out how these people were designed.

–

“What brings you here?”

The eldest aunt, who had just entered, asked as Lee Hyerim got up from the sofa.

“Grandfather asked me to attend.”

Aunt’s expression turned puzzled but she quickly composed herself.

“Didn’t you take over the GH construction site?

It’s a good thing it worked out; what would you have done if it hadn’t?”

Her son was interested in construction.

Of course, he also held a small share.

“I’m glad the result was good, I suppose.”

At Lee Hyerim’s calm tone, Aunt let out a hollow laugh.

“It was just luck that it worked out.

You’re getting too arrogant, aren’t you? Anyway…”

She was about to mention Lee Hyerim’s mother, who was no longer in this world, but stopped herself.

Because she didn’t even feel it was worth it.

“Where’s Grandfather?”

“He’s in his study.”

Hearing that, Aunt sat on the sofa and crossed her legs.

One by one, Lee Jeongmun’s children entered and spoke to Lee Hyerim.

They all spoke as if asking why she was there.

Father Lee Jeongcheol, who usually didn’t speak much, barely spoke to Hyerim.

Woojin heard all their voices without missing a single one, and the image of Lee Hyerim sitting on the sofa formed in his mind.

Amidst the sounds of laughter and chatter, not a single sound came from Lee Hyerim.

This must have been what family gatherings were like for Lee Hyerim all this time.

Woojin, thinking of Hyerim, muttered.

“You’ve held up well until now.”

Then, Chairman Lee Jeongmun’s voice was heard.

“Are you all eating your meals on time?”

The charming voice of the second aunt, Lee Jeonghye, was heard.

“I was so eager to see Dad that I didn’t even get to eat.

I was hungry a moment ago, but seeing Dad’s face makes me not hungry anymore?”

“You, how is it? Isn’t it easy since there’s not much to do at the golf course?”

“Yes. Even if I had a few more…”

“Jeonghye, the one in Cheongpyeong belongs to your older sister. Don’t covet it.”

“But older sister has several department stores, doesn’t she?”

The voice of the eldest son, Lee Jeongho, was also heard.

“Jeongmi, Jeonghye, we haven’t gathered in a while, and you’re already talking about department stores and golf courses again?”

And so, greetings and various stories were exchanged.

As before, Lee Hyerim’s voice did not come out.

Instead, a faint sound of leather creasing was heard.

Woojin knew.

That Lee Hyerim was clutching her bag, as if trying to calm her racing heart.

“The reason I called this meeting today is simple.”

At Chairman Lee Jeongmun’s voice, the surroundings fell silent.

However, that silence quickly vanished with Chairman Lee’s next words.

“I plan to offer major shareholder rights for SH Construction.”

“Excuse me?”

Father. What are you suddenly talking about?

A rights offering?

Everyone’s tone was surprised.

As you all know, Hyerim worked very hard this time.

As a gift, I intend to give her 7% of SH Construction’s friendly stake. No one is to interfere.

Another moment of silence passed.

Everyone’s eyes must have been fixed on Lee Hyerim like arrows.

A gaze she had never received before.

Chairman Lee Jeongmun must have been the same.

He must have been observing Hyerim.

As if asking if she could overcome this pressure.

It was a kind of test for Lee Hyerim from her Grandfather.

Lee Jeonghye raised her voice.

Dad! She’s a child! That’s absurd!

Father. Even so, giving her shares is a bit much, isn’t it?

That’s right, Father. Please reconsider.

If a friendly stake goes to a child like that, the company will…

Just then, Lee Hyerim’s father, Lee Jeongcheol, blurted out.

What kind of child is my daughter? Tell me.

Brother. That’s not what I meant…

Just take care of Jeongwoo. I hear he’s hanging out with entertainers a lot while studying abroad.

Did you see that, brother? How can you say such a thing? Then what about Yohwan?

Enough.

Dad! Reconsider transferring the shares! Something big will happen if you do!

Hyerim has already accomplished something big. It’s something she deserves praise for. There’s nothing more to discuss.

Chairman Lee’s voice turned as cold as ice.

“Don’t get involved. If you insist on participating in the Rights Offering… this father will not stand by idly.”

“Dad…”

Sighs emanated from various places.

Woojin, who had his eyes closed, slowly opened his eyelids.

“Hyerim, you can do it.”

At that moment.

Lee Hyerim, who had been looking down at the table, raised her head.

Her stiff movements disappeared, and her body slightly relaxed as if her muscles were loosening.

Her gaze and posture also changed.

Chairman Lee’s gaze, which had been watching Lee Hyerim, changed as if he was quite pleased, and Hyerim continued speaking as if to make sure everyone heard her clearly.

“Thank you, Grandfather. I’ll accept it well.”

Her voice was even, and her eyes were unwavering.

“A while ago, I bought a 4% stake, meeting the Major Shareholder requirement.

If I get the remaining 7%, that’s 11%. I’m thinking of working harder to secure that 7% stake as well.

Once I become the Largest Shareholder of SH Construction, then…”

Lee Hyerim’s head slowly turned to her Eldest Aunt.

“I’ll make sure to tell Jeonghoon-oppa to definitely take care of the dividends.

So, Aunt, don’t worry too much.”