» The Youngest Son of Sunyang
Reborn Rich - Chapter 232
[232] Unpredictable Vortex 2
Chairman Jin woke up again after almost 48 hours.
Upon receiving the hospital's call, his children rushed over, only to find Chairman Jin dressed not in a hospital gown, but in dress pants and a shirt.
"Don't make a fuss, and behave yourselves. I'm not dead yet."
These were his first words, uttered the moment he saw the faces of his children pouring through the open door.
"Father!"
"I'm not deaf. If you're going to raise your voice, get out. Maintain your dignity."
Despite his weakened state, a clear voice filled the hospital room. His children found his defiant attitude surprisingly reassuring.
"Younggi."
"Yes, Father."
"I heard you uttered disrespectful words while I was unconscious. Our hospital director might be a bit of a quack, but he's not someone to be spoken to like that by you. Apologize."
"Ch-Chairman."
"Ah, Father."
Both men were flustered, but neither could evade Chairman Jin's sharp gaze.
"Director. Please forgive my rudeness the other day. I was so distraught that I spoke words I shouldn't have."
The hospital director waved his hand dismissively at Jin Younggi, who was bowing respectfully.
"P-Please, stop. I've heard far worse. Such things are a common occurrence in a hospital. When a parent is critically ill, what words can a child not say? Please don't take it to heart."
Chairman Jin smiled as he watched the two men, then spoke.
"Yes, even if infuriating and resentful things overflow, you must hide your true feelings and smile at each other. That's what it means to be an adult. Ha ha."
Chairman Jin gestured to the medical staff, and they quietly left the room.
"You all understand, right? If I collapse again, no one can guarantee whether I'll cross the Yellow Springs or just wake up after a good nap."
"Father, don't say such things..."
"Shut your mouth. Where did you learn such rudeness, interrupting your father when he speaks?"
Vice Chairman Jin Younggi flinched under Chairman Jin's stern gaze and fell silent.
"Sanggi."
"Yes, Father."
Jin Sanggi approached Chairman Jin with a hardened expression.
"I know you're the most resentful. But look at your sister Seoyoon. If you can't protect what you're given, it'll be taken from you, just like that. You're even softer than Seoyoon."
"Ah, Father, I also..."
"Didn't I tell you? I won't tolerate such impudence!"
"Ah, yes..."
"Lift your head. Lacking business acumen is not a sin."
Chairman Jin took his bowed son's hand.
"I have some money stashed away. I'll entrust it to the foundation, so you can hold onto it and use it when needed. It's fine if you lose the money. But you must not lose the company."
Jin Sanggi merely bit his lip. He had a mountain of things to say, but he couldn't throw a tantrum in front of his weakened father.
"Younggi."
"Yes."
"You're the eldest son, so take Sanggi under your wing and teach him. Then, once his resolve has somewhat firmed up, spin off a couple of worthwhile affiliates and hand them over to him."
Chairman Jin then turned to his third son again.
"You, keep the private fund I gave you safe, and when your brother hands over the affiliates, pay a generous price for them. It's human nature to treat what's free with little regard. Buy them for a good price and nurture them well until you recoup your investment."
Though they harbored different intentions, both brothers nodded their heads.
The elder brother wondered how much that private fund his father mentioned would amount to, while the younger brother thought that his greedy elder brother would never willingly hand over a couple of worthwhile affiliates.
Chairman Jin paid no mind to the thoughts of his two sons. He merely smiled contentedly at their nodding figures.
"And Yoonki."
"Yes."
"Thanks to having a good son, you've acquired enough, haven't you? Is there anything else you need?"
"Just one more thing."
"What? There's more? Look at this fellow. A brilliant son, a beautiful wife... And isn't your company a flower garden where all the prettiest women from across the provinces are gathered? And yet you still want more? Bah, you thief!"
Jin Yoonki found it heartwarming to see his father joke and laugh. There was no trace of an old man facing death. He looked at his father, imagining him as the Chairman of Sunyang, and spoke.
"The Sunyang Financial Group that Dojun manages. Please fully spin it off. As an independent company, free from entangled controlling shares."
Everyone's eyes changed. They were holding back screams that it was an outrageous proposal.
If his son had been present, he would have looked the same. Jin Yoonki knew well that Dojun himself didn't want a spin-off.
His son, who aimed to take over Sunyang Group entirely, would never want to sever the ties between affiliates.
Chairman Jin felt the same way. A complete spin-off was not what his beloved grandson desired.
"Hmm... It seems your greed isn't ordinary either. You, who know that the financial subsidiaries act as Sunyang Group's strongbox, dare to say such a thing?"
"Ah, Father, it's not that..."
"Be quiet. You want to carve up the group? The moment it's split, it ceases to be Sunyang. You must know it would become nothing more than a dime-a-dozen company, wouldn't you?"
Chairman Jin hastily cut off Jin Yoonki.
He wasn't unaware of why his son was making such a request. It was out of a desire for his son, Dojun, not to have to fight a harsh battle.
"Yoonki, don't be so greedy anymore. Your share has all been given to your son, so you should have no complaints."
Chairman Jin flatly refused his youngest son's request, then looked at the two vice chairmen and spoke.
"I've given everything to both of you. Whether you fight tooth and nail until one takes it all, or manage it jointly in harmony, that is your choice. But remember one thing."
The two vice chairmen listened intently to Chairman Jin's final words.
"No matter who wins, don't cast them out. Secure a position that won't bring shame in the eyes of others and guarantee that position for life. That is your father's final request."
These were Chairman Jin's words, like a dying wish, but whether his two sons would uphold them was unknown. After all, wouldn't he close his eyes before seeing the outcome?
All a departing person can do is leave a will.
Whether that will is honored or not, the departing person should not cling to regrets.
"Now, I've said all I need to say, so shall we talk about something else? Like ordinary people do. Ah, tell me about my grandchildren. How are those rascals doing these days?"
The children relaxed their rigid expressions and began to smile, just like Chairman Jin. To match the mood of their father, who had little time left, they had to recount the recent activities of their children, even if they didn't know much themselves.
* * *
Chairman Jin, having sent away all his children who insisted on taking turns guarding his room, fell asleep again.
Waking up in the dead of a dark night, Chairman Jin called for his doctor.
"I'm thinking of going out for some fresh air for an hour or two. Would that be alright?"
"It would be fine, as long as it's not a long journey like last time... May I ask where you plan to go?"
"Nothing special, I'm just feeling hungry."
"Ah, I'll prepare a meal right away..."
"No. If I wanted hospital food, would I have said I was going out? I suddenly feel like having sushi. And, eating sushi isn't bad, is it?"
"Are you perhaps thinking of having some alcohol?"
The doctor said, carefully watching Chairman Jin's expression.
"I'm not thinking of alcohol, so don't worry. I'll just have a few pieces of sushi and come back."
"It might be better to send someone. There are plenty of people who can run errands."
Even for a short period, the doctor seemed continuously bothered by the idea of a top-tier VIP leaving his room, so he added various complaints.
"Oh, come on. Well, if you're so worried, why don't you come along? Do you like sushi?"
Though his expression clearly said he did, Chairman Jin's intention was obvious, so he couldn't speak his mind.
"Ah, no. Please go. But it would be difficult if you're away for too long, Chairman."
"Understood. A couple of hours will be enough."
Once the doctor bowed and left, Chairman Jin pulled out his cell phone with a satisfied expression.
"Oh dear, Manager Kim. I hope I didn't wake you?"
The first call was to a bank manager.
"I have a difficult favor to ask. You know my safety box, don't you? Could you bring it to me? I'm sorry to ask outside business hours. No, you don't need to come yourself, just send someone from your staff."
The second call was to the owner of a sushi restaurant.
"Master? It's me. I suddenly thought of the sushi you make. Yes, it doesn't have to be anything fancy. Just make a few pieces with whatever you have left. I'll be there within an hour."
The third call was...
"Dojun? Come quickly to the place this grandpa tells you."
After finishing all his calls, Chairman Jin gathered all the bodyguards outside his room.
"Listen carefully, all of you. I'm going to be away for a while, but as far as you're concerned, I never left the room. Understand?"
"Yes, Chairman."
It meant to keep it a secret and to keep their mouths shut.
"Don't tell Chief Lee Hakjae either. Remember that."
"Yes, sir!"
They all answered with vigor, standing at attention. They, too, knew well who their employer was.
* * *
A sushi restaurant in the middle of the night?
Without time to think, I quickly got dressed and headed out. Deputy Kim Yoonseok had informed me that Grandpa had given several instructions to my uncles in the hospital room today.
He must be calling me to tell me something. It couldn't just be to ask for a meal companion because he wanted a few pieces of sushi.
I hurried to the sushi restaurant, where someone was busy preparing.
"Excuse me. We're closed."
To the chef's curt reply, I quickly responded.
"I have an appointment with Chairman Jin Yangcheol."
"Oh, is that so? My apologies. Please, come this way."
It was a small sushi restaurant, with no private rooms, just a counter and half a dozen chairs.
First, as I was warming myself with a cup of hot green tea, the door opened and Grandpa entered.
"You're here already? You should be careful on snowy roads, you rascal."
"How are you feeling? Is it alright for you to be out like this?"
"Of course it's alright, that's why I came out. Stop fussing and sit down."
As I sat, the chef bowed.
"I apologize that the ingredients aren't very fresh, given it's been a while since you visited."
"It's fine. Next time, I'll call ahead. Make sure to take good care of me then."
"Is there anything special you'd like to eat, Chairman?"
"No. Actually, I need to borrow this space for a serious talk with this fellow. Three or four pieces will suffice."
"Ah, understood. I'll prepare them."
At the mention of a serious talk, my heart began to pound. This place, tonight, might be where Grandpa would leave his last words to me. Though it was a very modest place.
Just then, the door opened again, and an unfamiliar middle-aged man entered.
The moment he saw Grandpa, he bowed deeply from the waist.
"Chairman. Manager Kim sent me."
"Yes, you've gone through a lot of trouble at this late hour. Bring it over."
The middle-aged man took out a long metal box wrapped in cloth.
"Hold on, the key..."
Grandpa took out his key case from his pocket and began searching for the safety box key. The middle-aged man watched him intently, then carefully approached and spoke.
"Chairman. The small one, that seems to be the box key."
"Really? This one?"
"Yes."
Grandpa handed the key case to the middle-aged man.
"My eyes are dim, so could you open it for me?"
"Yes."
He quickly took the key and opened the box.
Inside were two envelopes, which Grandpa took out and placed beside him.
"That's enough. You may go now. Thank you for your trouble in the cold. Tell Manager Kim that I'll drop by sometime."
"Yes, Chairman. Then..."
My gaze was fixed not on the middle-aged man leaving through the door, but on the envelopes. What on earth could be inside that would be entrusted to a bank's personal safety box?