Chapter 94

#94 <A Fate Woven by Coincidence (3)>

Not long after entering the forest of the fortress, the car finally slowed down.

“We’re here. They’re waiting outside.”

A middle-aged man with a sharp and stubborn appearance stood in front of the mansion, a smile on his lips.

“Oppa, is that him? He looks so young!”

“Haha, no. That’s Mr. Kwon. I used to see him occasionally in college.”

Following the guidance, the car was parked in the garage, and the family of five got out.

Mr. Kwon, the butler with horn-rimmed glasses, extended his hand to Son Kwang-yeon.

“Long time no see, Mr. Kwang-yeon.”

“I’m sorry for visiting so late.”

“Not at all. Since you’re here, please come in.”

They stepped inside the gate. The first thing that greeted them was a spacious garden that resembled a forest. A sparse lawn with scattered landscaping trees and wide stones paved the way.

Jin Hyuk, true to his country boy nature, admired the garden and even touched the stones.

It was the kind of stone he had only seen in textbooks, full of holes.

‘Is this basalt?’

Yoo Jin, who seemed to like the garden, ran around with Jang Gun-i. Jang Gun-i suddenly marked his territory on a fairly large tree in the center of the garden, but thankfully, the adults were too busy talking to notice.

“Hahaha! Did Jang Gun-i do his business?”

The sky was still bright as the day was long.

The beautifully landscaped trees reached the sky, each one lush like a canopy.

The family’s outing to Seoul was as peaceful as that scenery.

As they walked along the volcanic rocks, admiring the garden, a booming voice was heard.

“Forgive me, sir!”

Wondering what he was being asked to forgive, Jin Hyuk turned his head toward the source of the voice.

But the surprises didn’t end there.

His father bowed deeply to an elderly man who had stepped out to greet them.

Jin Hyuk wondered if he should bow too. He hesitated, then caught his mother’s eye as she stood awkwardly with her hands clasped. The mother and son, sharing the same dilemma, exchanged an awkward smile when Chairman Yoo Myung-sun quickly approached.

“Hoho! Stand up, stand up. What’s there to forgive? Let me get a good look at your face.”

The old man, who had helped Son Kwang-yeon up, scrutinized his face and patted him. It was a gesture of affection, as if meeting a long-lost child.

“Hoho, you’ve become a country man. The young master who used to be so refined has turned into a country man.”

“It’s good to see you looking well.”

It seemed like an ordinary reunion scene. But Jin Hyuk, looking at the two men’s eyes, thought it might be more special than anything else. The old chairman’s eyes were red.

‘I don’t know much about the life I haven’t lived.’

He had only heard that this man had helped his father in difficult times. But could that alone explain the overwhelming emotions they were showing? Jin Hyuk rarely heard his father talk about the past, so it was all the more intriguing.

“Oh-ho, nice to meet you.”

Yoo Myung-sun also shook hands with Han Yu-young. The old man’s eyes flickered for a moment.

He even extended his hand to Jin Hyuk, who had been staring at him.

“Hohoho, you’ve inherited the best from your parents. You look taller than your father?”

Yoo Myung-sun, with wide eyes, alternated his gaze between Son Kwang-yeon and Jin Hyuk.

“Kids these days, I guess. Haha!”

Son Kwang-yeon laughed happily.

No parent would be unhappy to hear their child had grown tall.

“Let me see-. This princess, who looks just like her mother, is five years old?”

Yoo Myung-sun picked up Yoo Jin and looked into her eyes.

Yoo Jin placed her hands on the chairman’s cheeks with a loud smack.

“How old is Habiji then?”

“Hohohohohoho! Old enough to eat.”

Yoo Myung-sun, whose cheeks must have stung, made a face and chuckled.

The innocent laughter of the little girl brought a pleasant ache to his chest.

“You must be hungry. Let’s go inside.”

With Yoo Jin in his arms, Yoo Myung-sun strode toward the mansion.

Jin Hyuk, who had been observing intently, lit up.

‘But that grandfather seems to glance at Mom more than Dad.’

At times like these, the child usually becomes the main character.

Though he was carrying Yoo Jin, Jin Hyuk noticed the chairman kept glancing at his mother.

‘That chairman must know our grandmother.’

Jin Hyuk had recently seen a photo of his grandparents that his father had taken out of the safe. The handsome couple, dressed in military uniforms and Western attire, were holding hands and smiling in the faded photo. His grandmother’s smile, which resembled his mother’s, was particularly striking. Still reeling from the shock of that day, Jin Hyuk could guess why Yoo Myung-sun was reacting that way.

‘Maybe he knows something.’

There was a hope that someone who had existed in the past might have some connection to it.

At the dinner table, Jin Hyuk took care of Yoo Jin so the adults could talk comfortably. But he kept his ears perked up, though there was no need to be tense as they were just sharing stories about life.

“I heard from Mr. Hong. Your advice has been a great help in managing the business.”

Jin Hyuk looked at his father with a knowing gaze.

Whether it was humility or acting, Son Kwang-yeon tilted his head with a surprised expression.

“What do I know? He must be exaggerating.”

Jin Hyuk exhaled a hot breath through his nose at his father’s shamelessness.

‘That sly fox.’

Yoo Myung-sun, who had been watching Jin Hyuk take care of his sister with satisfaction, glanced at Han Yu-young before turning back to Son Kwang-yeon.

“Ki-jun wants to build something in that neighborhood. He mentioned something, but I can’t keep up with his words these days.”

“There’s talk of a training center and a security personnel academy. We’ll discuss what to do when we meet. We need to gather expert opinions before deciding. I’m thinking of a lease format.”

“Hmm, a lease, huh.”

“It’s not a large area. A 50-year lease would be beneficial for both sides.”

“Right, right. Other old men might try to buy it, but I like that idea.”

Yoo Myung-sun didn’t push for further explanation or persuasion. It was enough to show that he respected Son Kwang-yeon’s opinion, whatever his usual demeanor might be.

Jin Hyuk also picked up some information he hadn’t known before.

A 50-year lease… If it goes through, there’ll be quite a bit of cash.

“So, you’re good at running?”

The question came out of nowhere.

Jin Hyuk hesitated, then reluctantly nodded.

“…A little.”

Receiving praise and attention was something he could never get used to. It had been the same in the past. That’s why Jin Hyuk had never wanted to be famous. But now, because of his promise with Hong Soo-jung, he had a reason to become famous.

“So, is being an athlete your dream?”

“Not yet-.”

Seeing Jin Hyuk falter, his father stepped in.

“He’s good at other things too, so we’re just letting him figure it out.”

“What a strange kid. You’re all grown up, but you’re so shy. You’re so different from when you were little.”

No, no, that’s not it. I just don’t have much to say. Who can talk comfortably in front of a famous chairman?

Jin Hyuk swallowed his words and cut some beef for Yoo Jin’s bowl. Yoo Jin, how could she be so fearless and unbothered? Look at her eating now, so carefree, as if she were at home.

“When he was little, he was such a troublemaker, I can’t even describe it.”

“Then he must have matured early. Or maybe it’s puberty.”

Oh, no, that’s not it. Grandpa, how old do you think I am?

Other kids probably hear this from adults every holiday. Then they might snap back and get scolded for being rude, and that’s how they develop a rebellious streak. That’s how they distance themselves from adults.

It was Jin Hyuk’s indirect experience of puberty.

Jin Hyuk also felt the effects of hormones, but he could control them well enough. Thanks to that control, he thought he was getting through the stormy period without any major issues. Sports probably played a part in that.

‘I should understand, being all grown up.’

Still, the new daily life was incredibly welcome.

The whole family had gone on an outing to Seoul and even visited the famous chairman’s house. What a normal and happy daily life it was. The host’s house even had a garden, so they could bring the dog.

‘What’s Jang Gun-i doing?’

Worried, Jin Hyuk leaned forward and scanned the garden.

Jang Gun-i was devouring a mix of meat and rice that someone from the house had prepared. He was eating so eagerly, he was practically standing on his head.

‘What an amazing Jang Gun-i.’

Oh, he just fell over.

***

After dinner, they moved to the living room.

Han Yu-young offered to help with the dishes but was chased out by the housekeeper, who made a fuss, so she ended up in the living room. She looked embarrassed, her expression a bit comical. As someone who had managed a household, Han Yu-young found the lifestyle of Seoul’s wealthy families hard to understand.

That’s when it started.

Whenever the conversation lulled, the sound of crunching cookies dominated the living room. Unlike the men sipping tea, Han Yu-young, enchanted by the cookies, was inhaling them. Even Yoo Jin looked up at her mother in surprise.

“Hoho, are they that good?”

Han Yu-young, who had been chewing with wide eyes, seemed to snap out of a trance and was startled by Yoo Myung-sun’s question.

“Ah, I didn’t realize…”

If there was such a thing as a fateful encounter, it must have been over these cookies, Han Yu-young thought as she regained her composure.

A kind smile, reminiscent of Cheon Gil-ryong’s, crossed Yoo Myung-sun’s face.

“If you like them, I’ll send some to your house every month.”

“Really?”

Seeing Han Yu-young’s rabbit-like eyes, Yoo Myung-sun laughed loudly. Then he coughed, and it was hard to tell if the tears in his eyes were from the cough or from some hidden sadness.

Yoo Myung-sun leaned forward as if about to reveal a great secret, and Han Yu-young leaned in too.

“I’ll go straight to your house from Hong Kong. But keep it a secret from Se-ra.”

Han Yu-young nodded seriously in response.

Yoo Myung-sun gestured to Son Kwang-yeon.

Son Kwang-yeon, who had been led by Yoo Se-ra to play here as a child, used to only look at the books in the study. Remembering that, Yoo Myung-sun said wistfully,

“It’s been a while since you’ve been here. Aren’t you going to visit the study?”

“Shall I go smell the books then?”

Son Kwang-yeon couldn’t miss Yoo Myung-sun’s intention to let Han Yu-young eat comfortably. He patted his son’s thigh and stood up.

Finally, it’s starting. Jin Hyuk followed his father.

Leaving Han Yu-young and Yoo Jin, who were more interested in cookies than books, the three men headed to the study.

Jin Hyuk, who prided himself on maintaining composure, was greatly surprised by the size of Yoo Myung-sun’s study.

‘Wow, it’s huge.’

It was more like a library than a study. Exaggerating a bit, it seemed like the mansion could collapse, but the house was incredibly sturdy. Jin Hyuk’s mouth hung open.

Passing his father and the old chairman, who were chatting amiably, Jin Hyuk moved to the window. He ran his fingers along the long wooden table as if skating, eventually reaching the end where several morning newspapers were neatly folded and a stack of reports lay.

‘I’ve already read the newspapers.’

He glanced at the reports. They were handwritten drafts, scribbled but legible, with a familiar handwriting.

‘It’s Mr. Hong Ki-jun’s handwriting.’

Chairman Hong Ki-jun sent New Year’s cards to executives and some employees every year. Jin Hyuk had received one every year without fail, mostly with messages like “Take care of my daughter.”

Yoo Myung-sun was too busy laughing with his father to notice.

‘Why would he leave important reports here?’

Ah, the chairman’s residence must be the most secure place.

As if entranced, Jin Hyuk flipped through the reports one by one. The speed increased, and so did his pulse. His blood pressure might have risen too, as his father and Yoo Myung-sun’s conversation faded like the wind.

〈Strategy for Acquiring Dawoo Communications〉

〈Plan to Acquire 〇〇 Construction〉

〈Strategy for Global Market Expansion in 2nd Generation Mobile Communications〉

〈Plan for Leadership in 3rd Generation Mobile Communications…〉

〈Plan for Internet Network Expansion through Dedicated Lines〉

〈Plan to Establish Sain Motors Research Institute〉

〈Research Report for Selecting Sain Machinery’s Core Business〉

〈Plan for Gas Turbine… for Overseas Plant Market Entry〉

〈Sain’s 20-Year Growth Plan〉

〈Preliminary Report for Establishing Sain Aerospace〉

〈Plan for Sain Technica’s Entry into the Defense Industry…〉

〈Plan to Establish SSS〉

〈Plan for Satellite Launch Vehicle Research and Development〉

〈Outline of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with Microcomputer-Equipped Radio Communication〉

Jin Hyuk’s eyes widened in shock.

‘This is…’

It was a world domination scenario.