» The Youngest Son of Sunyang
The Youngest Son of the Chaebol Family - 231
[231] Unpredictable Vortex 1
Dozens of eyes were fixed directly, and hundreds of ears were keenly sensitive to rumors.
Just as it became increasingly difficult to conceal that Grandfather was confined to the hospital, he collapsed once more.
The first news of the New Year struck like a bolt from the blue, yet I found myself unable to rush to the hospital.
"Director. I've confirmed who's gathered in the hospital room: only the Vice Chairmen, Madam, and Director Jin Yoonki. None of your cousins are there, so perhaps it would be best if you waited?"
It was Deputy Kim Yoonseok, holding me back in my hurried tracks. He continued, carefully gauging my mood.
"At a time like this, if you, Director, appear alone in the hospital room, wouldn't you just invite unnecessary scrutiny? In any case, Chairman Jin will surely look for you once he wakes up. It would probably be better for the two of you to meet alone then."
Up until now, he had only followed my directives, but this was the first time he ventured an opinion.
And he did so when I was flustered, taking a moment to calm himself and point out something I needed to be wary of. Had he learned this by observing Chief of Staff Lee Hakjae's conduct?
"Is there a way to maintain close contact with the hospital?"
"Director, you'll naturally receive updates from your father, Director Jin Yoonki, or the hospital president, won't you? And I've already pulled some strings."
"Pulled what strings?"
"The men assigned to guard the hospital room right now are all Chief of Staff Lee Hakjae's loyal subordinates. I've worked under him for several years and built up personal connections with the security staff. These are the guys I've shared grilled samgyeopsal and soju with. I've asked them to keep me updated regularly, so we won't miss any crucial moments."
He manages people in advance? Is this a previously unknown strength of his?
"Alright. Let's wait for now. But you mustn't miss a single moment. Ensure there's nothing happening in that room that I don't know about, nothing that could lead to a setback for me."
"Understood. I will provide frequent updates."
Kim Yoonseok's expression exuded confidence.
* * *
Four sons, four daughters-in-law, and one daughter — with nine people gathered, even the most spacious room in the special ward seemed cramped.
"Please, let's not raise our voices. Let's step outside to talk. Father is trying to recover, after all."
From his overly dramatic sister, to the eldest brother hounding the hospital president, to the second brother relentlessly bombarding the doctors with questions... Jin Yoonki wanted to get them out of the room as quickly as possible, practically pushing them out.
"Chief Lee! You too, come with us. We need to talk!"
Vice Chairman Jin Younggi shouted at Chief of Staff Lee Hakjae, who was standing awkwardly, and then stormed out of the hospital room. Chief Lee's cheek twitched as he glared at Jin Younggi's retreating back.
Anger flared at Jin Younggi's tone, which now completely treated him as a subordinate, but Chief Lee's expression softened as he saw Jin Yoonki take his hand.
"When he gets excited, he loses all sense of respect, doesn't he? Please, brother, try to bear with it."
"Yes, he is my superior, isn't he? That man is the closest to the Sunyang Group Chairman's office, and all that's left for me is to be cast out, after all."
"Brother! What are you talking about?"
"Enough. Let's go quickly. It seems everyone has a lot to say to me, doesn't it? Heh heh."
Lee Hakjae patted the worried Jin Yoonki on the shoulder and moved on.
The hospital president, sweating profusely, explained Chairman Jin's condition. As the conclusion that his future could not be guaranteed left the doctor's lips, low exclamations of dismay rippled through his children.
"How much time does he have left? You're not talking about a couple of months, or half a year, are you?"
Vice Chairman Jin Younggi snapped at the hospital president.
"It is not a predictable illness. As it is due to aging, gauging the remaining lifespan is beyond a doctor's capability."
Jin Sanggi, the third son, also scowled and raised his voice.
"What?! Is that something a doctor should say? This is truly absurd..."
Finally, Vice Chairman Jin Younggi exploded.
"I've been patient, but have you all gone mad? Just because we call you 'doctor,' 'doctor,' you've forgotten your place! You bastards. We hired you and paid those enormous salaries to save lives! If this were a company, any useless idiot spouting such nonsense would have been fired long ago, you bastards!"
"Brother!"
As Jin Yoonki tried to stop his elder brother from spewing harsh words, Jin Younggi glared even at his younger brother and roared.
"You're just the same as them! If something like this happened, you should have informed us first. And you should have fired all these incompetent doctors and called in proper physicians from America or Japan!"
Perhaps unable to endure Jin Younggi's finger-pointing, the hospital president bowed his head and left, followed by the remaining doctors.
As the doctors disappeared, Vice Chairman Jin Donggi let out a snicker. It was clearly a scoff.
"Let's be honest. It's not about their incompetence in failing to save him, is it? Aren't you more infuriated because you don't know how much time is left? After all, there's a lot to prepare if you want to take the chairman's seat."
"This bastard, really..."
As the two men's gazes clashed, Jin Seoyoon jumped up and spoke.
"What a fine display you're putting on. Aren't you ashamed, approaching your sixties? You're all desperate to tear each other apart."
"What?"
"Hey!"
Ignoring her two older brothers, she picked up her discarded coat and handbag.
"You all carry on. I'll stay by Father's side and at least massage his limbs."
Jin Seoyoon left without a backward glance.
She was no longer a player on the field, nor a substitute warming the bench. She was merely a staff member, so no one tried to stop their younger sister.
Taking the sound of Jin Seoyoon closing the door as a signal, no one spoke, and only an awkward silence lingered.
The one who broke the silence was Chief of Staff Lee Hakjae.
"Vice Chairmen. I have nothing to say separately, but if you have something to say, please speak your mind."
Jin Younggi's eyebrow twitched at the somewhat provocative tone.
"Why on earth did you hide the fact that Father was ill? What was the reason you and Yoonki kept it quiet between just the two of you?"
"Brother, that's a misunderstanding."
"You shut your mouth. I asked Chief Lee. I have something to confront you about too, so wait your turn."
As Jin Yoonki stepped forward, Jin Younggi roared.
"That, too, is a misunderstanding. Director Jin Yoonki is in a position where hospital personnel are compelled to report to him. When an ultra-VIP is brought to the hospital, how could its director not be aware? He didn't coordinate with me, nor was there any reason to."
"Fine. Then why was it hidden from me, the eldest son? Is there a reason I shouldn't have known about Father's collapse?"
"Well. It was simply Chairman Jin's directive. I cannot claim to know the Chairman's heart."
"What?"
"He told me to remain silent even if his health showed red flags. He said he didn't want to see his children's faces when he opened his eyes in the hospital. As he stated he would tell his children himself, I merely followed his wishes."
Chief of Staff Lee Hakjae spoke with an expressionless face and a dry, detached voice.
Since it was Chairman Jin's directive, they could no longer argue.
Even seeing the awkward expressions of the second-generation heirs, Lee Hakjae's impassive demeanor remained unchanged. A business-like voice flowed from him once more.
"Just in case, I called Madam, who is in Switzerland, but she merely replied that she understood and hung up. I think it might be good for you to contact her once."
Lee Hakjae said, addressing Jin Younggi.
Though Madam detested her husband, her affection for her eldest son was second to none. This was because she believed she should be present for Chairman Jin's final moments, whenever that might be.
Jin Younggi nodded his head.
"I'll call her. And... Chief Lee, could I see you for a moment? I'd like to talk to you quietly."
At that moment, Jin Donggi and Jin Sanggi's eyes gleamed.
Lee Hakjae, who didn't miss these glares, smiled subtly.
"Vice Chairman Jin Younggi. Unnecessary misunderstandings are now out of the question. Let's discuss this in front of everyone."
Seeing the sharp gazes of his two younger brothers, Jin Younggi let out a short sigh.
"Send the sisters-in-law home, won't you? The doctors said he's past the critical stage, so they can come back when Father wakes up. You, too, go home."
As the daughters-in-law hesitated, gauging their husbands' reactions, the husbands nodded their heads.
Once all the daughters-in-law had left, Jin Yoonki also stood up.
"I'm not curious about what you brothers have to say, so I'll make way for you. Do as you please. Oh, and if the hospital contacts you, rush back quickly. The notification will go out to everyone just the same, so don't you dare say anything to me about it now."
After Jin Yoonki also left, only the three brothers and Lee Hakjae remained. As Jin Younggi glared at Lee Hakjae with a sour expression, Jin Donggi spoke first.
"I'll ask what you, Elder Brother, are curious about. I'm extremely curious myself."
Jin Donggi's gaze turned to Chief of Staff Lee Hakjae.
"Chief Lee. Are there any unusual provisions in Father's will? Like the distribution of remaining shares, or a specific individual considered as successor..."
Lee Hakjae smiled and looked around at the three brothers as he spoke.
"Since you all seem curious, I will only tell you what I know. First, I have never seen the Chairman's will, so I have nothing to say on that. Second, there are no group controlling shares owned by the Chairman. The succession process has concluded."
At the words that there were no more remaining shares, joy and sorrow were intertwined among them.
Jin Younggi's expression brightened instantly, while Jin Sanggi's face turned the color of dirt.
He was the third son of Sunyang by name, but all he held in his hands were a few powerless foundations. And it would be that way forever.
Jin Donggi's expression wasn't good either.
If things continued like this, he would have no choice but to concede the chairman's seat to Jin Younggi.
"Are, are you sure? There are no more shares?"
Jin Sanggi found it difficult to accept such a desperate situation easily. It was hard to admit that his last thread of hope had vanished.
"Shares that could influence group control cannot be left as an 'inheritance.' How would the inheritance tax be handled then? There might be some leftover affiliate shares, but those are also managed by the Chairman's personal lawyer."
Without realizing it, Jin Sanggi let out a long sigh, 'Hoo—,' and kicked an innocent chair.
"So, all that's left are Father's personal assets, is that what you're saying?"
"Yes. But don't expect much. Didn't he always say, as a habit, that he owed many people favors throughout his life and would distribute it among them?"
Lee Hakjae shook his head at Jin Younggi's greed.
He had already inherited the core affiliates, an enormous inheritance impossible to calculate. Yet that greed seemed to eye even the personal assets, which were but a drop in the ocean...
"If there are no further questions, I will take my leave."
"Just a moment."
It was Jin Donggi who called Lee Hakjae, who was about to leave, to a halt.
"Chief Lee, what will you do?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm asking what you plan to do within Sunyang Group, now that Chairman Jin is no longer here."
Lee Hakjae had never considered that he would be asked such a question. And he had not yet concretely thought about what would happen after Chairman Jin's death.
"New wine should be put into new wineskins, as they say. Since both Vice Chairmen have their own staff, I will quietly disappear. However..."
Lee Hakjae spoke to the two men in a respectful tone.
"Please take good care of the employees who worked under me. They are highly capable talents, difficult to find. If they were to move elsewhere, it would be a loss for the Group."
"Chief Lee, wouldn't it be a loss for the Group if *you* were to move elsewhere? Why not continue to stay for Sunyang?"
This offer from Jin Donggi was also unexpected.
What exactly was his true intention?
Lee Hakjae recalled the phrase, "move elsewhere."
Did they think that he, who knew Sunyang inside and out, would go to another company and blurt out its dark secrets? If that was the intention behind the words, it was an insult.
It was a company he had dedicated his entire life to, where he had reigned with the best treatment. He did not, at least, take Chairman Jin's trust lightly.
"Relocating one's nest also requires a fitting position. I might consider it if it were for the chairman's seat at Sunyang, but I will not consider any other place. As I mentioned, I will quietly retire from my professional career. Then..."
Lee Hakjae bowed his head slightly and left.
A smile naturally appeared on his face as he imagined how confused they must be.