Episode 153
Come to think of it, it wasn’t a bad proposition.
I had avoided strategic marriages with powerful families because I didn’t want them interfering in Chunha Group’s affairs. But as Wang Jin-hee had said, I could use this marriage to gain control of Haixin Group.
If she could eliminate her siblings, Haixin Group would be hers.
And as the husband of Haixin Group’s chairman, I would be untouchable in China.
It was tempting.
“How many siblings do you have?”
“Two older brothers and an older sister. I’m the youngest.”
The youngest’s rebellion.
It was the perfect scenario, but there were also risks.
My business in China was thriving because of my connection with Haixin Group. If Wang Jin-hee lost the succession battle, the next chairman might retaliate against Chunha Group.
“Are you confident you can win?”
She straightened her back. “Of course.”
I studied her carefully.
Now that I knew she was 21, I could see the youthful face hidden beneath the heavy makeup.
She was clearly ambitious, but did she have the skills to take over Haixin Group?
‘It doesn’t matter.’
Even without the skills, her bloodline was enough.
I could compensate for her lack of skills.
I softened my expression. “You’re impressive. Such ambition at such a young age.”
“It’s nothing.”
“But this proposal is so sudden… I don’t know what to say…”
“Don’t overthink it. Just think of it as a new business partnership.”
I liked her pragmatism.
They weren’t marrying for love, but for mutual benefit, to fulfill their ambitions. The bond might be weaker, but it would last as long as they were useful to each other.
“Do you want children?”
“Of course. I need an heir.”
She was ruthless.
“I’m getting married to someone I just met 30 minutes ago.”
She smiled, thinking I had agreed. “So you’ve made up your mind?”
I stroked my chin. “I’m considering it favorably.”
“Why are you taking so long? It’s a simple yes or no.”
“But it’s marriage. We can’t just rush into it. We have to consider what others will think.”
She looked puzzled. “Why should we care about others? People get married after seeing each other’s photos. It’s our decision.”
“But marriage is a big event. It’s a shame to waste it like this.”
“Waste it?”
“Yes. It would be a better story if we added some spice. Arranged marriages aren’t as appealing as love marriages.”
Chairman Wang would also prefer his daughter to marry someone she loved, not someone he chose for her.
And if I changed my mind after investigating her and Haixin Group during the one-year engagement period, it would be easier to break it off.
“A love marriage?”
“Not a real one, of course. We’ll just pretend.”
She smiled. “That would make my father happier. And I’ll be graduating next year, so the timing is perfect.”
Graduating?
She was 21, so she must be in college. But graduating next year?
“You said you’re 21. And you’re graduating next year?”
“Yes, I’m studying abroad at Harvard. I’m graduating early because I skipped a grade.”
She skipped a grade at Harvard?
She was more capable than I thought.
“You’re impressive.”
“It’s nothing. I have to graduate quickly to join the company and gain influence. I’ve studied hard.”
I seemed to have found a more formidable partner than I expected.
I smiled. “That’s good. A long-distance relationship is a good excuse for not seeing each other too often. So let’s summarize. We’re starting a fake relationship today and getting married in a year. Correct?”
“Yes. And we won’t interfere in each other’s personal lives. But I’ll only acknowledge children born between us. You can see other women, but I won’t tolerate any illegitimate children.”
Perfect.
She was saying everything I wanted to hear.
“Alright. I look forward to working with you.”
“Likewise.”
And so began my unexpected “relationship.”
My life didn’t change much.
I was busy managing Daehoo, and she was studying in the US.
But Chairman Wang’s changed attitude showed that he believed our “relationship” was real.
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Hahaha, so you and Jin-hee talk often?
The fake relationship was working.
He was pleased that his daughter was dating someone he approved of.
“Yes, we try to talk every day.”
-
I knew Jin-hee was clever, but I didn’t expect her to approach you directly after seeing my list. I was planning to arrange a meeting, but she went on her own.
“I was surprised too, but she seems like a good woman, so I decided to give it a try.”
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That’s good. A natural relationship is always better. If you have any problems with your business, let me know. I’ll help you.
I smiled at his fatherly tone. “Thank you, Chairman.”
I ended the call and smiled.
“It’s working perfectly.”
Chunha Group’s operations in China were now secure.
Park Jong-bum looked at me with admiration. “You’re amazing, sir. Even your relationships are strategic.”
“What can I do? A normal relationship is impossible for me. It’s a good deal.”
“A… deal?”
“Yes, a transaction. We’re exchanging what we need.”
She gained points with her father by dating someone he approved of and also gained an ally, and I gained a powerful backer in China.
It was a win-win situation.
“We might be secondhand dealers, but I never imagined you would treat even relationships as transactions.”
“We do everything for profit. That’s our motto.”
“Wow.”
“By the way,” I said, “can you handle the workload without Maru?”
I had given Maru a two-month honeymoon vacation. He was probably traveling around Europe with his new wife.
“We’re not a small company anymore, sir. We can handle it.”
“Good. Daehoo Electronics is stable, and Daehoo Energy is also getting on track.”
The integration of Daehoo’s subsidiaries was going smoother than I expected.
“It’s all thanks to your leadership, sir. Absolutely.”
I chuckled at his flattery. “Anyway, I’ll be away for a while, so I’m counting on you.”
“Don’t worry, sir. I, Park Jong-bum…” He stopped mid-sentence. “You’re… leaving?”
“Yes, now that the urgent matters are resolved, I’m going to China.”
I had learned a lot about Haixin Group from Wang Jin-hee, but I needed to conduct my own investigation.
Park Jong-bum said with a worried expression, “Vice President Kim is also on vacation. What if you’re both gone…?”
I patted his shoulder. “I trust you, Director Park. Fighting!”
I arrived in China and immediately launched an investigation into Haixin Group.
“Hmm, the eldest son is Wang Hao, the second son is Wang Chen, and the daughter is Wang Jin-jin.”
It was a brief investigation, so I didn’t have much information, but I had the general picture.
“The two sons are the most likely candidates, I guess.”
Wang Jin-jin, who had dreamed of a romantic relationship with an ordinary person, was out of the running, so it was down to the two sons.
They had joined the company two and one year ago, respectively, as low-level employees, as Chairman Wang believed in starting from the bottom.
But everyone knew they were the chairman’s sons, so they were treated differently.
“Knowing Chairman Wang, he wouldn’t have advertised their identities, so they must have been bragging about it themselves.”
I smirked. “This might be easier than I thought.”
They were fools, unaware of their father’s intentions.
I had assumed the succession battle would take a long time, as Chairman Wang was still relatively young, but these idiots had made it easier.
To become the successor, you had to achieve results, but avoiding mistakes was even more important.
And these two sons, flaunting their identities as the chairman’s sons, had already lost points.
“Hmm, it’s too early to be sure, but we can try to induce them into making mistakes and disappoint their father.”
Two incompetent sons and a brilliant daughter who had skipped a grade at Harvard.
“This will work.”
I would gather more information, find their weaknesses, and then expose them when Wang Jin-hee joined the company after our marriage, eliminating them from the succession race.
“Li Yang.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“How’s the investigation going?”
He said cautiously, “It hasn’t been easy, sir. There’s not much information available, and we have to be discreet…”
“Really?”
“Yes, the information I’ve gathered so far is mostly based on rumors within Haixin Group.”
Well, we weren’t a professional intelligence agency.
I thought for a moment and then said in a low voice, my eyes gleaming, “How many men do we have working for Baek In-hwi?”
He answered immediately, referring to the heihaizi whose identities had been thoroughly laundered. “200, sir.”
“Good. Choose five who are around Wang Hao and Wang Chen’s age and bring them to me.”
He didn’t ask why.
He just followed orders.
“Yes, sir.”
A moment later, five burly heihaizi entered the room, bowed deeply, and said, “You called for us, Chairman!”
“Yes, come in and have a seat.”
I looked at them and said, “You’ve been working hard, haven’t you?”
“It’s nothing, sir!”
“I have a job for you.”
“Just tell us what to do, sir! We’ll do anything!”
I smiled at their enthusiastic response. “I need you to get jobs at Haixin Group.”