CH40

Two trillion won.

Even if there was a chance to earn more money through an auction,

'It wouldn't make a significant difference anyway.'

There's no need to risk clashing with Chairman Park just to earn a bit more.

Moreover, if the painting became part of Hyungang Museum's collection?

'It would be a great gift for Song Soo-hee as well.'

This would also allow me to see the Da Vinci painting frequently, which would be the icing on the cake.

'But is it really okay for family members to conduct a 2 trillion won transaction?'

No, more importantly,

I can't even fully grasp how much 2 trillion won is.

"Why, do you think you should get more?"

At Chairman Park's question, I quickly shook my head.

"That's not it."

"Then why aren't you giving me an answer?"

"When making a deal this large… I've always consulted with Professor Jo Soo-deok before making a decision."

"That's probably true."

"Pardon?"

"You made the decisions and just asked him to draw up the contract, right?"

There's no way Professor Jo Soo-deok would have told him that.

Chairman Park is quite skilled at making educated guesses, hmm.

"Do you need some time?"

"If I delay, I think the terms might get worse."

"Of course."

"Grandpa, just one thing then."

"…?"

"If we sign the contract today, that painting will belong to you, right?"

Nod, nod.

"Then the responsibility of getting it appraised will also fall to you, correct?"

"What? Are you asking me to pay the appraisal team's wages?"

"Yes."

"A kid who's about to get 2 trillion won is worried about how much those wages are?"

"No, it's not that I'm stingy about their wages."

"Then what is it?"

"Why do we sign a contract even when we're dealing within the family? Isn't it to make sure everything is clear and definite?"

"So, since you put the appraisal team together, I should be the one to pay them?"

"If you're against it, we can wait until the appraisal is complete before you purchase it…"

"Fine. What's a little salary when we're talking about spending 2 trillion won?"

"You'd have to pay each of them at least 10 million won a month…"

If his gaze earlier was that of a doting grandfather, now it was like he was staring down an armed robber.

"How many are there?"

"There are only four of them."

"I'm not going to end up paying Professor Jo Soo-deok's salary too, am I?"

"No way."

When I spoke as if I were doing him a favor, Chairman Park let out a wry laugh.

Our conversation finally came to an end.

Chairman Park started walking toward the yard, and I slowly followed him.

We had only walked a few steps when Chairman Park turned around as if he had forgotten something.

"You've already bought Yoo-geon a gift, and I'm taking the painting. It'll be nice to display it in the museum, but don't you think your father might feel left out?"

"Yeah, that's true."

"Shouldn't you prepare a gift for him now?"

"Right now?"

In response to my question, Chairman Park simply gave me a mysterious smile instead of an answer.

***

As soon as I entered the house, I got scolded.

It was only natural since I hadn't contacted anyone.

Song Soo-hee's face was more filled with worry than anger, which made me feel slightly guilty.

I had no choice but to act like a thoughtless child.

She must have been worried the whole time.

Sigh.

Even if the people at Hyungang reported to her, it couldn't compare to actually hearing from me.

I approached her with a downcast expression.

"I'm sorry."

Once her anger had subsided, I quietly added,

"Actually, the reason I went to the States was because of something you said, Mom."

The conversation about how Korea and the U.S. handle belongings left behind after someone passes away.

After I explained that to her,

"I remember everything you say, Mom. I didn't know this time, but… I'll call you next time. Since you taught me, I'll make sure to listen."

Song Soo-hee pulled me into a quiet embrace.

Perhaps because she felt guilty for scolding me the moment I walked in, she gently stroked my back for a long time.

"Shall we eat?"

"Let me greet Dad first."

Fortunately, Park Jong-in didn't say much.

He must have heard from Song Soo-hee that I'd already been scolded.

But still,

Was the semiconductor business not going as planned?

When I finally saw him after so long, Park Jong-in's face looked even more worn out than before.

"You've worked hard."

"No, Dad. I'm sorry I didn't call. I'll make sure to do so from now on."

"Have you eaten?"

"I need to."

"Alright. Unpack, wash up, and come down."

"Yes, Dad."

As I was heading upstairs,

"Ji-hoon!"

A familiar voice called out.

It was my brother, Yoo-geon.

As soon as he saw me, he eagerly grabbed both of my hands.

I had just returned from a trip, yet he was greeting me so warmly.

These are things I could never have imagined in my previous life.

"Was the flight tiring?"

"I slept the whole way, so I'm fine."

"Sleeping the whole time is tiring too, you know?"

"Hehe."

Yoo-geon took my bag from me.

It was just a small crossbody bag, but he still insisted on carrying it for me.

"Ji-hoon, but…"

"…?"

"That… that speaker. Are you really giving it to me?"

"So it really arrived?"

"Yeah, the delivery guys came and set it up."

Siiigh.

"But Ji-hoon, since it's a gift from you… I wanted to wait until you were here to listen to it. That was really my intention, but… I'm sorry."

Sorry for what?

"What do you mean, sorry? Of course you should have tried it out if it arrived. And yet, you tried to hold off until I got back?"

Moreover, he failed to wait and felt the need to apologize for it!

Pfft.

Can my brother really be this adorable?

"Since it's from you, I wanted us to start it together. But, ah, I was just dying to hear it."

"You were?"

When I asked, trying to suppress my laughter, Park Yoo-geon started to explain.

"I could have resisted anything else, but come on, a McIntosh amp! That radiant blue light… I just couldn't help myself; I was drawn to it like someone possessed."

"Really?"

"Yeah, if it was just the McIntosh, I might have been able to keep my cool. But of all the speakers you could've picked, how did you choose the Paragon? Ji-hoon…"

"Hm?"

"You didn't sneak into my head, did you?"

Hehehe.

"So how was the sound?"

"I was blown away."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's like being in a concert hall. Although… I've never actually been to a concert."

Yoo-geon's face flushed with embarrassment.

"Speakers actually sound better after they're aged a bit. If they sound this good now, it'll be even more amazing once they're broken in."

Could he be any happier?

"But Ji-hoon."

"Yeah?"

"Where did you get the money? Both of those must have been really expensive."

I didn't have the confidence to explain it to a thirteen-year-old, so I just smiled.

Yoo-geon quietly muttered to himself.

Ji-hoon is so smart, he must have figured out a way.

Anyway, thanks, really.

That's more or less what he said.

Oh, and there was one more thing.

"I'll study really hard too. That way, I'll earn a lot of money and give it all to you."

You don't need to give me any money.

But please, do study hard… Ahem.

Anyway,

This is one moment where I don't regret the money spent!

I walked down the long hallway with Yoo-geon.

It would take about 30 minutes to prepare the meal.

'That's just enough time to wash up.'

Finally, I'd get to enjoy a warm meal prepared by Song Soo-hee…!

I was so excited that I found myself walking faster.

***

Meanwhile, in Park Yong-hak's study,

Chairman Park made a call to the chief secretary.

The message was to print out the profiles of the Da Vinci appraisal team.

Exactly ten minutes later, a fax came through.

The team leader was Martin.

Graduated top of his class from MIT, currently studying art history at Oxford University.

The team members were as follows:

1. Kevin: Graduated from Stanford, Computer Science.

2. Luke: Graduated from Princeton, Mathematics.

3. Tyrese: Graduated from Cambridge, Materials Engineering.

This was supposed to be an art appraisal team, yet aside from the team leader, all the members were from the sciences.

Plus, they graduated from some pretty prestigious schools.

Someone could easily mistake them for a promising startup in Silicon Valley.

'At least I won't feel like I'm wasting money on their salaries.'

He was about to dismiss the thought when the term 'Silicon Valley' lingered in Chairman Park's mind.

Thinking back, his grandson mentioned acquiring a building in Silicon Valley.

It seemed a bit too calculated to be just a simple real estate investment, considering how science-heavy the appraisal team was.

'Hmm.'

Chairman Park began to reflect on how Ji-hoon handled things.

Not just one move ahead, but always thinking two or three steps ahead.

For such a child to secure a building in Silicon Valley and then assemble a team of top scientific minds?

They might be focused on appraisals now, but if need be, they could easily shift to launching a new business in Silicon Valley.

It was a very plausible scenario.

Knowing his grandson, it was entirely possible.

But for some reason,

Just thinking about this possibility made Chairman Park feel a warmth spreading through his chest.

Even if it was just a misunderstanding, it didn't matter.

Even if it was a mistake, so what?

All he needed to do was guide things so that it all became reality.

As a pleased smile crept across Chairman Park's face,

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock echoed from a distance.

"Father, dinner is ready."

It was his daughter-in-law's voice.

Instead of standing up, Chairman Park responded in a commanding tone.

"Tell Jong-in to come in."

***

"What? The investment is 60 billion won?"

"Why are you so surprised?"

"It's just… so sudden…"

"Did you really think I told you to wait without a backup plan?"

Park Jong-in's Adam's apple bobbed visibly.

"I didn't expect you to provide this much support…"

"It's not my money."

"…?"

"It's Ji-hoon's money."

For a moment, Park Jong-in couldn't believe his ears.

At first, he thought it was a joke, but realizing that Chairman Park would never joke about money, he quickly adjusted his mindset.

"The 10 billion from selling the Dürer piece, plus 50 billion from the contract for the undisclosed Da Vinci work. A total of 60 billion won will be invested in semiconductors."

"What do you mean by that…?"

"Do you think Ji-hoon would have gone all the way to the U.S. just for sightseeing?"

"Are you saying Ji-hoon really earned that money? In just ten days?"

"…"

"How could such a young child…"

"Is now the time to be wondering how he made that money?"

"Pardon?"

"Daekwang Electronics is foolishly challenging us with a knife to our throats. Shouldn't we be focusing on how to crush them?"

"I'm sorry."

As Park Jong-in lowered his head, Chairman Park asked,

"Which would be better—to call a prosecutor or a journalist?"

Daekwang's second-generation heir was notorious for his misbehavior.

Call the prosecutor for embezzling company funds.

Call the journalist for lining up famous female celebrities.

If even one scandal broke, he wouldn't be able to show his face for a while. If both hit at once, he'd be facing criminal charges.

But then,

"I'll handle it my way."

"What? Your way?"

"I've spent years holed up in a room, completely focused on semiconductors. I can compete with them fair and square with our technology."

"You're trying to turn this into some kind of movie. What's with bringing romance into business?"

"It's not romance."

"…?"

"Now that I know my son's money is involved, I want to fight in a way that won't bring us shame."

A soft answer.

But Chairman Park knew better than anyone that this was Park Jong-in's style.

"Are you confident?"

"I will succeed."

At his son's firm reply,

"Let's eat."

Chairman Park reluctantly rose to his feet.

TL/n - 

You can read up to chapter 58 in advance at p@treon.com/inkbound