Chapter 520: I Have No Emotions

As I opened the door and stepped inside, I saw Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, and a man engaged in conversation.

Upon my entrance, they paused their discussion.

"Oh! Kim Mu-hyeok, welcome!"

Seemingly a bit tipsy, Hu Jintao broke into a hearty laugh and greeted me warmly.

Wen Jiabao also acknowledged me with a nod.

Finally, the man approached and extended his hand.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Bo Xilai."

He was Bo Xilai, someone I had never had positive dealings with. I smiled as I shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kim Mu-hyeok."

"I've heard a lot about you. Thanks to you, one of my close associates is impossible to revive now."

"Well… that person got what he deserved, didn't he? It wasn't my choice; he brought it upon himself."

Bo Xilai and I exchanged soft smiles, but the conversation had sharp edges.

"Come now, let's put past grievances behind us and take a seat," Hu Jintao suggested, easing the atmosphere.

Only then did we release the handshake.

Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao sat across from each other, while Bo Xilai and I faced one another.

"I heard you had a run-in with Bo Xilai before, which is why I summoned you here today. I hope to clear the air and foster a friendship between you two."

"…"

I remained silent, and so did Bo Xilai.

We stared at each other intensely, our lips sealed tight.

Keeping my eyes on Bo Xilai, I spoke to Hu Jintao.

"Chairman Hu,"

"Speak freely, Kim Mu-hyeok."

"If I'm not mistaken, Bo Xilai here has close ties with Chairman Jiang Zemin. I've heard that the connection between Bo Yibo and Chairman Jiang extends even to Bo Xilai."

Originally, Bo Xilai stood against Hu Jintao.

From what I knew of the future, he was bold enough to challenge Hu Jintao openly.

The Chinese Communist Party is a highly structured organization that prioritizes unity.

Challenging the authority of the highest leader was a universal taboo.

However, Bo Xilai publicly criticized not only Hu Jintao but also Xi Jinping, the successor chosen to lead.

If that wasn't enough, he even directly mentioned conflicts among the Politburo members.

Everyone knew that Jiang Zemin was backing him.

As a result, Bo Xilai eventually faced purging and was sentenced to life imprisonment at the hands of Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping.

Now, Bo Xilai was sitting with Hu Jintao.

'Is Bo Xilai implying he wishes to switch sides?'

So many things had changed from the future I knew.

My mind was in disarray, but outwardly, I maintained a smile as I continued speaking.

"Chairman, should I interpret Bo Xilai's presence here today as an indication he intends to align with you politically?"

Hu Jintao nodded at my question.

"That's right. Bo Xilai has decided to stand with me. He asked me to lead him."

One eyebrow raised at Hu Jintao's statement. The fact that Bo Xilai reached out for guidance was noteworthy.

The reason Bo Xilai distanced himself from Jiang Zemin was likely due to me.

I had maneuvered Zhou Yongkang into eliminating Wang Jianlin, who was like a cash cow for him.

Jiang Zemin not only tolerated this but wanted to bring Wanda Group under his control.

That alone was enough reason for Bo Xilai to cut ties with Jiang Zemin.

It was evident that Jiang Zemin demonstrated he could betray him at any moment.

For now, Jiang Zemin couldn't abandon Bo Xilai as long as his father, Bo Yibo, was alive.

But once Bo Yibo passed away, no one knew what would happen.

Except for me.

Jiang Zemin would quietly keep his mouth shut when Bo Xilai was eventually removed.

Of course, Bo Xilai probably remained unaware of this.

Yet, the natural suspicion lingered.

Was Bo Xilai genuine, or was he simply a spy sent by Jiang Zemin?

"It seems Chairman Hu is open to accepting Bo Xilai. Is that why you want to mediate the grievances between us?"

"Indeed. While there wasn't a direct grievance between you and Kim Mu-hyeok, it's true there's an awkwardness. Surely you brought it up during your conversation with Bo Yibo?"

I had no feelings whatsoever toward Bo Xilai.

I had forgotten the incident altogether after Wang Jianlin was purged.

It wasn't even worth my interest, and I was too preoccupied with other matters to dwell on it.

"I've already forgotten. I was merely angry at Wang Jianlin, not Bo Xilai."

"Haha! Is that so? Then I'm relieved to hear it."

Hu Jintao let out a hearty laugh, clearly pleased with my response.

But the one who struck never remembers, while the one who was struck holds onto it for a long time. I gazed steadily at Bo Xilai.

Perhaps sensing my gaze, Hu Jintao turned to Bo Xilai.

"Bo Xilai, what about you? Do you still hold any resentment?"

"No, not at all. I didn't suffer any direct harm, did I? It's all fine."

Bo Xilai responded calmly. It was hard to tell if his words were sincere or merely an act for Hu Jintao.

"Good. Now we are comrades sharing the same boat."

In contrast to my heavy skepticism, Hu Jintao seemed quite fond of him.

After pouring liquor into four glasses, Hu Jintao distributed them.

"Let's drink up and then continue our discussion."

I sipped the drink Hu Jintao handed me, piecing my thoughts together.

Hu Jintao's Communist Youth League teaming up with Bo Xilai's Princelings to keep the Shanghai faction in check…

It was hard to predict how the political landscape in China would unfold.

Jiang Zemin's authority ultimately stemmed from the elders. And the descendants of those elders gathered in the Princelings.

Surely their opinions would be conveyed to the elders.

"By the way, with Chairman Wang Jianlin under arrest, Wanda Group has fallen into Jiang Zemin's grasp. What are your thoughts on that, Kim Mu-hyeok?"

"I didn't see that coming. It seems Zhou Yongkang orchestrated it. I wanted Wang Jianlin arrested, and I know Zhou Yongkang agreed to it."

Of course, there were various schemes behind the scenes, but I had no interest in the Wanda Group without Wang Jianlin.

However, it appeared this was a completely different matter for Hu Jintao and Bo Xilai.

"Wanda Group's real estate and businesses are fairly significant in China. If they fall under Jiang Zemin's control, it'll significantly boost their financial power. We need to discuss a solution quickly. After all, this was all triggered by your request, Kim Mu-hyeok, wasn't it?"

The old man was being slick like a fox. Yet, I maintained a neutral tone in my response.

"Will the Wanda Group retain any strength without Wang Jianlin? It was Wang Jianlin who allowed it to grow in the first place."

"But if Jiang Zemin sets his mind to it and offers his support, it could grow even larger than before. That's how things work in China."

"That's for you, Chairman, to prevent."

Or you could just tell me what you want. Reading between the lines of what Hu Jintao said, he brought up a request.

"Kim, what are your thoughts on the entertainment venture Wang Jianlin was planning before?"

Around this time, Wanda Group, focused on real estate development, was beginning to branch out into entertainment.

Ultimately, this led to a confrontation with me, making the entertainment venture a double-edged sword for them.

Had I not approached Cheon Ji-young, they might have become the frontrunners in China's entertainment industry, according to the original history…

"The entertainment industry indeed shows promise for the future."

"Really?"

"Yes. Just look at Hollywood in the U.S. Gradually, China is beginning to turn its eyes toward culture. Once people's basic needs are met, they'll begin to show interest in movies and dramas. It will naturally turn into a lucrative industry. On top of that… There's no better business for laundering money."

"Oh… Please elaborate further."

Hu Jintao expressed great interest at the mention of money laundering.

Both Bo Xilai and Wen Jiabao turned their attention to me, eager for more details.

Everyone has their own greedy intentions, it seems. I clucked my tongue as I continued.

"In the entertainment business, it's hard to determine the exact costs involved. For instance, let's say a film costs 100 million dollars to produce. Depending on how it's executed, expenses can fluctuate between 50 million and 200 million dollars. It's possible to inflate costs in such a way to launder money…"

I elaborated for a while on the pitfalls of the entertainment industry.

Since these were typical operations for Wanda Group, I could explain easily.

"In the end, the money cycles through and gets cleanly laundered into your accounts."

"Oh…"

Hu Jintao gasped softly and fell into contemplation, his eyes sparkling just as brightly as Wen Jiabao's.

However, unlike the others, Bo Xilai posed a question.

"Ultimately, the person managing this would be crucial, then. We need someone who can execute our orders diligently and has substantial knowledge about this field, right? After all, the success of the business will determine whether this operation can proceed at all."

Indeed, his keen sense for lucrative opportunities was impressive.

"Exactly. As the business grows, so too does the potential to launder larger sums. In light of the current lack of interest among Chinese firms in the entertainment sector, entering it early, coupled with the various incentives you provide, shouldn't pose any issues for growth. And there's one more crucial factor."

"And what would that be?"

"By controlling the media, you can wield significant influence over public opinion. Ultimately, people get their information from the media. Though there's the internet, the Chinese government won't just let it run wild. Thus, the information you gather through media is vital."

"That may be the case."

Bo Xilai certainly struck me as a reformer.

He continued to ask perceptive questions, and I responded earnestly.

Despite the lengthy conversation, it showed no signs of conclusion. In the end, Hu Jintao interrupted us.

"Kim Mu-hyeok, if you can't reclaim Wanda Group… how would you feel about us pursuing the entertainment venture?"

"That's a good idea. The entertainment industry is one that can't afford to overlook first-mover advantages. But it's going to require quite a bit of money. The initial investment is substantial, and it would take a good amount of time to recoup those costs."

"Money can be made, but the issue is whether we can find someone trustworthy enough to handle it…"

Though Hu Jintao trailed off, I had zero intention of involving myself in the entertainment business.

He seemed to hint that he wanted me to take part, but I flatly rejected it.

"I'm not interested."

"Is that so? What a pity…"

"However, I can send over capable individuals from the Korean entertainment industry to China. You should collaborate with them on your projects."

Hu Jintao's eyes lit up as he responded.

"Oh, can you really do that?"

"Absolutely. If Korea and China collaborate as joint ventures, it would work out splendidly for both sides. The Korean Wave has only just begun to sweep through China, and the potential for synergy is tremendous."

I could link up substantial ventures with the JC Group, and for managing the entertainers, we could collaborate with the Heavenly Group that handles Cheon Ji-young.

"There's a character perfectly suited for this. Of course, they'll be Chinese."

"Who would that be?"

"Have you perhaps heard of a person named Hao Xun, Chairman Hu?"

"Hao Xun? Are you referring to Wen Jiabao's adopted son?"

Upon mentioning Hao Xun's name, Wen Jiabao looked startled and glanced at Hu Jintao.

"Yes. Vice Chairman Hao Xun. Although he's a member of the Triad, his business acumen is exceptional."

"Hmm…"

Hu Jintao stroked his chin while inspecting Wen Jiabao's expression.

"Plus, there's likely no one better suited for collaboration with Korea than him. What do you think about appointing him as your delegate for the entertainment venture?"

The more weight I lent to Hao Xun, the better it would be for me.