Korea – JH Real Estate, Mapo Construction Site
At the Mapo district construction site, Jaehyun—Jihoon's most loyal right-hand man—was meticulously inspecting the progress of JH Real Estate's newest development.
The project was massive, covering nearly eighty thousand square meters of prime land.
This wasn't just another office tower; it was designed as a multi-use complex that would reshape the skyline of Mapo.
The development would include luxury office spaces, a modern apartment complex, a high-end hotel, and even a shopping mall complete with a cinema.
In short, it was an empire-in-the-making, one that would stand as a testament to Jihoon's growing influence across industries.
But the truth was, Jihoon couldn't have pulled this off on his own.
Behind the scenes, his aunt played a crucial role.
With years of experience handling large-scale real estate projects, she understand better than Jihoon on how this industry works.
In fact, the project had been her idea from the very beginning.
Jihoon's original plan for the land in Mapo was modest.
He intended to build a single office tower for JH and then sell off the remaining plots when the market price peaked.
It was a safe, straightforward strategy.
But when his aunt caught wind of his purchase, she saw things differently.
When she first learned that Jihoon had acquired a vast plot of land in Mapo, she didn't quite understand what his intentions were.
But as the price of Mapo land steadily climbed, she realized exactly what Jihoon was planning.
Seeing the potential, she immediately seized the opportunity to get involved.
After all, the businesses she had been managing so far only left her with a small fraction of shares—the real control remained firmly in the hands of the wider family.
By contrast, Jihoon's companies were entirely his own, 100% owned and controlled by him.
She understood well enough: in Korea, money meant power, and to free herself from the grip of family influence, she needed to amass more of both.
Still, she also knew her nephew's character.
Jihoon was not the type to hand over ownership to anyone, especially to the family.
Even Jaehyun, his most trusted subordinate, had only been given profit-sharing benefits, never actual equity.
With that in mind, she accepted Jihoon's terms: she would come in as an investor, able to share the clientele network, but without any direct control over operations.
For her, the chance to secure future capital growth was enough.
Meanwhile, back at the site, Jaehyun was speaking with the foreman overseeing construction.
They were deep in discussion about structural details when a young staff member approached hesitantly.
"Kwajang-nim (Manager)," the staffer said politely, "sorry to interrupt, but there's a group of reporters outside. They're requesting an interview with you, sir."
At first, Jaehyun bristled at the interruption. He hated it when people cut into his conversations—especially when he was in the middle of serious business.
His face darkened, and for a moment, it looked like he might explode in anger.
But then, the words sank in. Reporters? Here?
His expression shifted, confusion mixing a mutiple question mark logo floating around his head.
Slowly, he turned his gaze to the foreman beside him. To his surprise, the foreman was already staring back with an equally strange look—like both of them had just realized something unusual was unfolding.
After wrapping up his discussion with the foreman, Jaehyun made his way toward the site entrance, where the reporters were waiting.
The moment he stepped into view, a storm of camera flashes exploded around him, blinding him in bursts of white light.
Before he could even regain his composure, a wall of voices crashed down on him, each reporter shouting louder than the next.
"Jaehyun-ssi! As the manager of JH, do you know where Jihoon-ssi is right now?"
"Jaehyun-ssi, is it true that Jihoon-ssi is planning to migrate to America? Is he betraying the country of his birth?"
"Jaehyun-ssi, Jihoon-ssi is the first Korean film director to win an Oscar, and he's achieved a massive breakthrough in Hollywood. Can we say he's abandoning the Korean film industry? Will he no longer be making movies here at home?"
"Jaehyun-ssi, there are photos of Jihoon-ssi visiting SM Entertainment several times. Is he dating one of their artists?"
"Jaehyun-ssi, JH has recently acquired a massive plot of land in Mapo. Is the company shifting away from filmmaking and focusing instead on real estate development?"
The barrage came fast and relentless.
Jaehyun, a man more accustomed to boardrooms and contracts, froze in shock.
He had spent his career negotiating deals, balancing spreadsheets, and attending high-level meetings—not being mobbed like a celebrity.
For the first time, he felt what it must be like to stand in the shoes of someone famous, and it left him momentarily dumbfounded.
But he quickly forced himself back to reality.
Straightening his back and raising his hand firmly, he signaled for calm.
Surprisingly, the reporters responded, lowering their microphones and preparing their recorders as though they sensed an official statement was coming.
Taking a steadying breath, Jaehyun addressed the crowd.
"Thank you for taking the time to be here," he began, his voice formal but measured. "I know you're all eager for answers."
"However, I must clarify—I am only the manager of JH."
"I do not have authority over Sajang-nim Jihoon-ssi's personal decisions, nor am I fully informed of everything he does."
"That being said, I will answer three of the questions you've raised, to the best of my knowledge."
He raised one finger. "First, regarding the whereabouts of our President Jihoon-ssi—he is currently in Hollywood, collaborating with 21st Century Fox on a film project."
A second finger. "Second, as for the rumors about him migrating to America, that is not true."
"As far as I know, our Sajang still holds a Korean passport and has no immediate plans to change that."
"Of course, such matters depend entirely on his own decisions, so I cannot guarantee anything beyond what I've seen personally."
And finally, a third finger. "Lastly, regarding the reports of our expansion into real estate—yes, it is true."
"JH is collaborating with Mrs. Lee Boojin of Shilla Group to diversify into real estate development."
"This does not mean we are abandoning the film industry, but rather that we are broadening our portfolio."
With that, Jaehyun gave a polite bow. "That is all I can say for now. Thank you for your understanding."
He signaled discreetly to the JH staff standing nearby.
Immediately, the JH staff moved into action, forming a human barrier to carve a path through the restless crowd of reporters.
The air buzzed with the constant click of camera shutters and the sharp calls of journalists trying to squeeze in one last question.
Despite the chaos, Jaehyun maintained his composure, his posture firm and his expression calm.
With measured steps, he headed toward the sleek black sedan waiting at the curb, its engine already humming in anticipation of his escape.
Just as he reached for the car door handle, a reporter—who had been pushing and shoving his way to the very front—suddenly thrust a recording pen out into the narrow space between Jaehyun and the staff.
His voice rang out loud and clear, cutting through the commotion.
"Jaehyun-ssi! You mentioned earlier that JH is partnering with Lee Boojin the
Sajang of Shilla. Can I ask—what exactly is their relationship?"
"And why did JH choose Shilla over other potential partners?"
The question froze Jaehyun in his tracks. His heart gave a heavy thump, and for a brief moment, his mind went completely blank.
He immediately recognized the weight of that inquiry.
It wasn't just about business.
Jaehyun remembered clearly how it had been through Lee Boojin that he was first introduced to JH, and through that connection, he discovered the deeper, hidden truth: Jihoon was part of the Samseong Lee family.
Yet Jihoon himself had never once leaned on that name.
For years, Jaehyun had witnessed Jihoon deliberately distance himself from family politics, refusing to be caught in the ruthless power struggles that defined Korea's most influential clan.
And there was more.
Jaehyun knew that Jihoon's late mother had lived under a cloud of disgrace.
If the public were to dig into that past, the revelations could ignite a storm of controversy and scandal, one that could damage Jihoon and the entire JH brand.
Which meant this was not just a question—it was a trap.
If he misspoke, tomorrow's headlines would spin it into something explosive.
Taking a steadying breath, Jaehyun forced his expression to remain neutral, hiding the turmoil racing in his thoughts.
After a brief pause to compose himself, he turned to the reporter and gave his answer in a measured tone.
"We chose to partner with Shilla because of their extensive clientele and their proven experience in this field."
"Compared to us, they bring valuable expertise that complements our vision. This is not just a partnership for profit—it's also a collaboration for learning and growth."
"As for the relationship between JH and President Lee, it is purely a business partnership. Nothing more, nothing less."
With those words, Jaehyun bowed slightly, signaling the end of his statement.
Without waiting for follow-up questions, he immediately turned, stepped into the car, and shut the door behind him.
The vehicle pulled away just as the reporters surged forward again, shouting after him.
Inside the car, Jaehyun allowed himself a small exhale of relief. He knew exactly what he had done—he had chosen his words with surgical precision.
He had spoken of 'JH' as the entity in partnership with Shilla, never Jihoon personally.
That distinction was subtle but critical.
By framing it as a company-to-company matter, he had created a loophole, one that left no room for the media to twist his words into a personal link between Jihoon and the Samseong Lee family.
It was a delicate dance, and Jaehyun knew the reporters would still try to spin the story however they could.
But at least for today, he had shielded Jihoon—and the company—from unnecessary scandal.