Episode 179
Time flew by, and the day I never thought would come, my wedding day, arrived.
The marriage of Park Sol, the man who had built Chunha Group from scratch, and Wang Jin-hee, the youngest daughter of Haixin Group, China’s second-largest electronics company, was a major news story in both Korea and China.
“Hahaha, I can’t believe my youngest is getting married,” Chairman Wang said, as I visited his mansion the day before the wedding. “So, Jin-hee, how does it feel to be a bride?”
She blushed. “I don’t know, stop asking. It’s embarrassing.”
Embarrassing?
I shuddered, seeing her act coy and flirtatious with her father. This was the same woman who had confidently declared her intention to become the chairman of Haixin Group.
“And our son-in-law, how are you feeling?” he asked me.
“Haha, I’m overjoyed to be marrying such a beautiful woman.”
“Is that so? You’re a good couple.” He looked at us with a satisfied smile. “Now that all my children are married, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Let’s have a drink!”
We raised our glasses.
“To a bright future for both of you, and to the eternal prosperity of Chunha Group and Haixin Group! Ganbei!”
“Ganbei!”
He and I emptied our glasses, but Wang Jin-hee just took a small sip and stood up.
“I’ll leave you two to your drinks. I’m not a heavy drinker, and I’m feeling a bit tipsy. I’ll go and rest.”
“Yes, you should get some rest before the wedding. Go ahead.”
She left the room, and he said to the staff, “You’re all dismissed. I want to have a private conversation with my son-in-law.”
The butler bowed and led the others out of the room, leaving the two of us alone.
“So you’re planning to have houses in Beijing, Shenzhen, and Korea?”
“Yes, I travel frequently between Korea and China for business, so it’s more convenient. And Jin-hee wants to work at Haixin Group, and their headquarters is in Beijing.”
He said with a slightly displeased tone, “Does she have to work? She can be a housewife or work at your company.”
Of course, she had to work at Haixin Group. That was the whole point of this marriage. “Haha, she wants to contribute to Haixin Group, the company you built. She’s always admired you, Chairman.”
“Tsk, it’s not like she’ll make a big difference.” He said it dismissively, but he seemed pleased by her desire to join the company and contribute. “By the way, I never imagined you would become so successful when I first met you. You’re a remarkable man.”
I had been just a used goods dealer and department store owner when we first met, but now I was the chairman of Chunha Group, having acquired Daehoo Electronics, Daehoo Energy, and even entered the used car market. “It’s nothing compared to Haixin Group, Chairman.”
“Nothing? What was Chunha Group’s revenue this year?”
“We exceeded 10 trillion won in the first half of the year, thanks to the strong performance of the used car division. We should exceed 20 trillion won for the year.”
“That’s impressive. Our revenue last year was 45 trillion won, so you’ve almost caught up! Remarkable!”
I said with a modest smile, “It’s mostly high volume, low margin. Our net profit is much lower.”
“Don’t be so humble. Countless companies are losing money, and you’re making trillions. That’s impressive.” He raised his glass. “Chunha Group and Haixin Group are family now. You in Korea, and us in China, we’ll be a formidable force. I look forward to working with you.”
“I’m also planning to expand into China, so I look forward to your support, Chairman.”
“Of course, let me know if you need anything. I’ll take care of it. And…” He suddenly said with a serious expression, “I shouldn’t be saying this to my son-in-law, but I have to ask. Do you have another girlfriend?”
“Pfft!” I spat out my drink and said, flustered, “Another girlfriend? No, I don’t.”
“Is that so? That’s good. I didn’t think you were that kind of person, but men in our position face many temptations. It’s inevitable.”
I remembered the countless women who had tried to seduce me. “Well…”
“You won’t be thinking about other women now, as you’re newlyweds, but who knows what the future holds. Just remember one thing. There’s only one wife, and that’s Jin-hee.”
I hastily waved my hands, seeing his suspicion. “Absolutely not! I would never cheat on her!”
He said calmly, “Ten years from now, twenty years from now, Jin-hee will get old. A withered flower at home versus a blooming flower outside… You know what I mean?”
His words revealed his typical chaebol mindset.
“What I’m saying is, you can give her your body, but not your heart. Understand?”
Should I even answer that?
Agreeing would be like saying I would cheat on her eventually.
He chuckled, seeing my hesitation. “Just some fatherly advice, don’t take it too seriously.”
I said awkwardly, “Ah… yes, sir.”
“Anyway, congratulations on your wedding. Make Jin-hee happy.”
Was that how chaebol chairmen expressed their concerns about their daughters’ marriages?
Give her your body, but not your heart. It was something he could say, having faced countless temptations himself.
But I felt a pang of guilt.
I hadn’t given my heart to anyone, not even Wang Jin-hee.
Our wedding was a grand spectacle.
Countless reporters from Korea and China, thousands of guests from Haixin Group and Chunha Group, and other VIPs…
We had rented out the entire five-star hotel in Beijing, the first hotel in the city to receive a five-star rating. It was a lavish and extravagant affair.
“Chairman, congratulations on your wedding!”
“Congratulations!”
The Chunha Group executives lined up to congratulate me. “Thank you. Enjoy the meal, and stay for the party tonight.”
“Thank you, Chairman! I’ve never seen such a grand wedding! You’re the best!”
“The best!”
“Haha, thank you.”
After they left, I adjusted my tie and muttered,
“A show has to be grand. It was worth the expense.”
The hotel rental, the gifts for the guests, the lavish meal… The wedding was costing me 20 billion won for a single day.
And the highlight was Wang Jin-hee’s 5 billion won wedding dress.
“We’re here.”
“Maru, Director Park.”
“Congratulations on your wedding, hyung.”
I said curtly, receiving their congratulations, “Congratulations? Do you even know why I’m getting married?”
They both knew the real reason behind this marriage.
“How are the reporters?” I asked.
“It’s not every day you see such an extravagant wedding. They’re interested.”
“We have to be careful. We could be criticized for wasting money.”
Maru said with a slightly embarrassed expression,
“Those articles are already appearing in Korea. ‘Extravagant wedding of a Korean chaebol, estimated cost over 10 billion won. Public expresses concern.’ That kind of thing.”
I frowned. “Those busybodies…”
“Why are you making such a big deal out of this? You know those articles will appear.”
“First, this isn’t just a wedding, it’s a merger between Chunha Group and Haixin Group. We have to publicize it. And second, this is the most important reason.” I smirked. “Chairman Wang’s pride.”
It was the wedding of a prominent Chinese family.
They couldn’t have an ordinary wedding.
China’s elite, from politicians to chaebol chairmen, would be attending, so it had to be a grand affair.
“Chairman Wang’s guests are all influential figures in China. And the Chinese love to show off their wealth and status. This is the kind of wedding they expect. And they’ll all become my connections.”
Just then, Chairman Wang approached me with someone. “Son-in-law, come over here.”
The man standing next to him was someone I recognized from photos. “Li Ruihuan, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. A member of the Politburo Standing Committee. One of the most powerful men in China.”
I straightened my tie and approached them, muttering,
“Let’s make a good impression.”
I shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with China’s elite, from Politburo Standing Committee members to chaebol chairmen.
In China, where guanxi (connections) was everything, these connections were incredibly valuable.
This marriage was more than just a personal union, it was a foundation for building my own network in China, independent of Chairman Wang.
And then, the main event.
Wang Jin-hee, wearing her 5 billion won wedding dress, walked towards me, arm in arm with her father. He placed her hand in mine and said, “Be happy.”
“Yes, sir.”
I escorted her towards the officiant, and she whispered,
“How does it feel to finally be married?”
Our voices were barely audible above the wedding march and the murmur of the crowd.
“It feels… normal.”
“You should at least pretend to be happy.”
I chuckled softly. “Why would I be happy now? The real battle starts after this.”
She smiled brightly. “That’s true.”
“It’s war once this ceremony is over. Are you ready?”
She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. “Of course, I’ve been preparing for this for over a decade. What about you?”
“I’m ready.”
We reached the officiant.
“Do you, Park Sol, take Wang Jin-hee to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do.”
“Do you, Wang Jin-hee, take Park Sol to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
She smiled shyly. “I do.”
“Then I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Amidst the cheers and applause, we had formed an official alliance for the battle to control Haixin Group.