Chapter 187 – Boom! 7

Chapter 187 – Boom! 7

Lee Hyerim spoke in a calm, businesslike tone, completely devoid of emotion.

It was a very business-oriented way of speaking.

“Currently, SH Construction is uniquely dominating the construction industry. The fact that Representative Lee Jeongho has arranged a meeting with Assemblyman Lee suggests he plans to target SH Construction, and I think he will try to hinder us with issues like Development Restriction Zones, Building Zone Standard Restrictions, and Land Use Changes.”

“Why do you think so?”

“I believe he intends to shake SH Construction to expose my incompetence, and he also plans to turn SH Construction’s shares into worthless paper and rebrand it under a different name.”

Chairman Lee chuckled and shifted his gaze to Lee Jeongcheol.

“What do you think? Is she the daughter you’ve always imagined?”

Lee Jeongcheol looked at Lee Hyerim with a fresh perspective.

This was the daughter who had not only outmaneuvered SH Construction’s competitors but also secured the redevelopment contract.

He had praised her for doing such a commendable job.

At that time, she had also received shares as a gift from his father.

But he thought that was as far as it went.

It was merely about raising one of the many affiliates of Shinhwa Group.

However.

Now that I look at her, she’s not the daughter I knew.

I thought she was just a kid who would only whine for attention.

Father’s words from a moment ago suddenly come to mind.

‘Jeongcheol, don’t think of her as your child, just look at Hyerim. Don’t think of her as your child, and reconsider Hyerim’s actions.’

The look in his daughter’s eyes right now seemed to encompass a grand vision that couldn’t be fully grasped at a glance.

When did she change so much?

Does this mean it’s no coincidence that SH Construction became so prominent in the construction industry?

Then, Chairman Lee spoke again.

“Forget about age. Why are you, Jeongcheol, more old-fashioned than your father?”

“Father, it’s not that…”

Chairman Lee cut off his son’s words and shifted his gaze to Lee Hyerim.

“There’s no need to beat around the bush. Show me with your actions. Whether this grandfather… no. Whether the Chairman of Shinhwa Group made the right choice.”

Lee Hyerim bowed slightly. Then she raised her head and replied.

“I will prove that the Chairman’s choice is always correct.”

“Hahaha!”

Chairman Lee’s laughter was hearty, and he seemed to be in a very good mood.

“You have a mountain of work to do starting now, do you have time to just stand there?”

“Please watch over me.”

Lee Hyerim bowed again and shifted her gaze to Lee Jeongcheol.

“Father, I don’t think I’ll be able to have meals with my older siblings for a while.”

Lee Jeongcheol used to force his children to have meals together to strengthen their sibling bond.

“Do as you wish.”

“Then.”

Lee Hyerim bowed again and then left.

Chairman Lee opened his mouth, looking at the spot where she had disappeared.

“Jeongcheol, pay close attention. See what kind of child Hyerim is, and whether your father’s thoughts are right or wrong. Now that it’s quiet around here… let’s play a game of Go for old times’ sake.”

***

Lee Hyerim got into the passenger seat and swept her hair back.

Then she looked at Woojin in the driver’s seat.

“How do I look?”

“You look pretty.”

Her eyes blinked.

And she doubted her ears.

Had she ever heard such a direct compliment about her appearance from Woojin before?

If she had heard it from anyone else, she would have dismissed it, but

Lee Hyerim avoided Woojin’s gaze and stared straight ahead.

“You just realized that? You’re stating the obvious.”

Woojin started the car and said,

“Let’s go eat Jjamppong!”

Lee Hyerim smiled faintly.

“I’m hungry.”

The car glided away, and Woojin turned the wheel, saying,

“Someone else is coming too.”

“Who?”

“Assemblyman Kim Cheolung.”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

Woojin nodded slightly.

Representative Lee Jeongho meets with the Assemblyman.

It’s an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

However, the quality and level of interest of the two people are different.

The influence of Assemblyman Kim Cheolung, nicknamed ‘Spicy Chicken’ in ‘Star Prosecutor’, would be enough to consume the media and then some.

Assemblyman Kim Cheolung had been building up his reputation for a very long time.

Those anecdotes settled perfectly, as if etched into people’s minds.

The essence of politics is incitement, and the one who took up that banner was Assemblyman Kim Cheolung.

It wasn’t for nothing that both the Ruling Party and the opposition party coveted Assemblyman Kim Cheolung.

The car drove on and was able to arrive at the place Woojin had mentioned.

It was dinner time, so there were a lot of people. Or rather, considering that Woojin had called it a popular restaurant, it might have been a natural sight.

It was a relief that there was no waiting.

As Woojin and she sat down after being guided by the waiter, a call came in from Assemblyman Kim Cheolung.

“I’ve arrived, where…”

Woojin raised a hand when he saw Assemblyman Kim Cheolung entering through the doorway.

“Over here.”

Kim Cheolung, confirming Woojin, approached the table and greeted Lee Hyerim.

“Long time no see?”

She also smiled and welcomed Kim Cheolung.

“Hello. How have you been?”

“Well, I’m doing well. You’ve gotten even prettier, haven’t you?”

“Assemblyman Kim, you look good too.”

Kim Cheolung turned his gaze to Woojin and said,

“I think I’m losing my hair, but it doesn’t show, does it?”

“Hair loss is the enemy of the world… You should start managing it consistently from now on.”

“My executive assistant actually gave me hair loss shampoo as a gift. Hahahaha.”

Woojin spoke to a passing waiter.

“We’ll have three Jjamppong and a large sweet and sour pork, please.”

And so, they began to have their meal, chatting casually.

The Jjamppong was spicy and clean-tasting.

The glutinous rice sweet and sour pork was chewy and crispy, and it was exquisite to dip it in soy sauce mixed with 식Candle and chili powder.

“Wow… this is delicious. I’ll have to bring my family here sometime.”

After finishing his meal, Kim Cheolung wiped his mouth and rubbed his belly.

Woojin also put down his chopsticks and said,

“Assemblyman Kim. I have a favor to ask.”

Kim Cheolung nodded.

“Right? You didn’t just want to eat, did you?”

“A little bit of both.”

Kim Cheolung said playfully,

“Woojin, every time you say something like this, it scares me. It’s something I can do, right?”

“Of course.”

“What is it? Tell me.”

Woojin began to tell Lee Jeongho’s story.

Kim Cheolung, who had been listening silently with his arms crossed, watched his expression change by the minute.

“I think you just need to take one action.”

Woojin said that, but he knew very well that Assemblyman Kim Cheolung was not the type to do that.

Assemblyman Kim, who had the temperament of a prosecutor to his bones, would tenaciously dig into it.

Kim Cheolung raised his hand and spoke to the waiter.

“Could I get a beer here, please?”

Kim Cheolung, who had opened the beer bottle, asked,

“You drove here, right? Just a toast.”

Kim Cheolung filled Woojin’s glass with beer, then filled his own glass and drank it down.

Then he wiped the foam from his mouth with his hand and said,

“Speaking of Team KillIra…”

Kim Cheolung hated nothing more than people who sat in chairs and profited from schemes while others worked their hearts out.

Also, fame and honor are additional options that come with exposing machinations and corruption.

“I can’t stand for that.”

“I’ll give you the evidence.”

At Woojin’s words, Kim Cheolung looked at Lee Hyerim.

“Are you sure? She’s still family, and I think there might be other legal avenues.”

Lee Hyerim picked up a beer bottle and offered it to Kim Cheolung.

And with a faint smile, she filled his glass with beer.

“I don’t think of her as a human being.”

Just then, Woojin received a call.

It was Chief Cha Juhyeok.

“Yes, I’ve answered the call.”

-It seems Representative Lee Jeongho is going to meet Assemblyman Lee right away.

“What about the share transfer?”

-He said they’d discuss it tomorrow. It seems like he’s trying to buy time.

Woojin nodded and spoke.

“Where are they meeting?”

After hearing Cha Juhyeok’s story, Woojin ended the call.

The reason for asking about the location was simple.

It was to see Assemblyman Lee in person, not just on TV.

There was also an intention to expose himself to Representative Lee Jeongho to maximize his anger.

So that he, having boarded the ship of anger, could also row the oars.

“Shall we get going?”

After parting ways with the two, Woojin took a taxi.

* * *

It was a place on a different level from a public bathhouse.

The water in the bath was very clean, and whatever ingredients were added made the skin smooth.

It also resembled a waterfall pouring from the shape of a large lion’s head.

Lee Jeongho, who was in the bath, brushed his wet hair back and said,

“I’m worried there might be too much talk.”

Assemblyman Lee, in his mid-50s, nodded, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Since SH Construction is practically monopolizing the building, there’s bound to be a lot of talk.”

“Yes, that’s why I’d appreciate it if Assemblyman Lee could lend us some support. Shinhwa Group also doesn’t want too much talk. Shouldn’t other companies also coexist?”

Assemblyman Lee ran his hand over his thinning hair and nodded.

He talked about sanctioning SH Construction and the coexistence of other companies.

It was a very good way to boost his image.

Naturally, if he granted Lee Jeongho’s request, wealth would follow.

“The flesh was very soft.”

“Hey, yours is so small, you probably didn’t even feel it.”

“Hahaha!”

Three men noisily entered the bath.

Their bodies were covered in tattoos, but not on their forearms.

As they splashed into the bath, Assemblyman Lee frowned.

“Since when have they been letting tattooed thugs in here?”

They absolutely could not enter.

This was where the first son of Shinhwa Group and a National Assembly Member were present.

It was a place that strictly adhered to rules, even having resident staff members.

Had something gone wrong?

“How are they managing this?”

The colorful tattooed man seemed to have heard him, and his eyes flashed.

“Hey, old man, what did you just say?”

Assemblyman Lee let out a scoff.

“Do you know who I am to be so sarcastic?”

He smiled in disbelief. No, he stood up and laughed out loud.

“Hahaha! This is crazy. So, I just met him today, but I feel like I know him well. The old man whose hair is falling out?”

Assemblyman Lee’s brows twitched.

Just then, Lee Jeongho looked at him as if he were an insect and spoke.

“He’s an Assemblyman. Shut up if you don’t want to experience a fierce scene.”

The Thug’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Oh, he was an Assemblyman…”

Assemblyman Lee said briefly.

“If you understand, get out.”

The Thug bowed subserviently.

“Oh… I apologize for not recognizing the Assemblyman. I’m truly sorry… Did you think I’d say that, you old bastard? If you’re an Assemblyman, then I’m the President! Where do you get off with such a pathetic lie…”

Suddenly, the Thug, who had turned his head at a sound, fell silent.

Because a man with terrible wounds all over his body was walking towards them.

It was something they had never seen before, and it gave the Thugs a feeling that was on a different level from tattoos.

The sudden silence allowed only the sound of water to be heard, and soon the main character with terrible wounds etched on his body entered the bath.

It was none other than Woojin.

Woojin sat in the bath, placing himself between the Thugs, Lee Jeongho, and Assemblyman Lee.

And he massaged one shoulder and said,

“Oh, wow… that feels good.”

At that moment, Lee Jeongho’s eyes widened slightly.

He thought he’d seen him somewhere before…

Wasn’t he the guy who was Father’s Go Teacher?