A Genius Speaks with Money

Chapter 117

A middle-aged man in traditional Indian clothing stood up from his seat and shouted while expressing anger.

“Arjun!”

The thunderous voice was enough to make the restaurant full of tension.

“Do you even know what you have done just now!”

The owner of the voice was Ravindra Rajan.

He glared at the youth who had pushed the chair away as if kicking it with a somewhat agitated expression.

The youth flinched and lowered his head deeply.

With a face flushed red, he only moved his lips while being suppressed by his father’s momentum.

“Where do you think this is! You still have not come to your senses even after causing trouble to a guest!”

As Ravindra rebuked him harshly, the gazes of the surrounding guests focused on them all at once.In an instant, Arjun became more intimidated, his breathing became short, and his two eyes shook.

Ravindra soon forced himself to catch his breath, then immediately turned toward me.

On his face, a deep displeasure and at the same time a look of having to maintain his face were revealed intact.

He bowed his head politely.

“I am sincerely sorry. My immature son was thoughtless. I hope you will please forgive him.”

Then he turned back to his son and said heavily in a commanding tone.

“Apologize quickly, Arjun.”

Arjun forced his head up with a face drenched in sweat.

His eyes were already mixed with dissatisfaction and suppressed anger, but he could not overcome his father’s pressure.

He barely spat out words in a trembling voice while muttering smallly.

“…I, I am sorry.”

I looked at the two of them alternately for a moment.

The fact that the son’s momentum was broken by the father’s authoritative appearance was strangely contrasted.

However, I did not show it and wore a composed smile.

“It is alright. As you can see, I am not hurt either, so do not mind it.”

Perhaps thanks to my composed reaction, a sign of relief briefly brushed past the face of Ravindra, who had been standing with a stiff expression.

I was about to turn and move my steps, but something suddenly occurred to me.

‘Arjun. Iranian person. Ah!’

One family occurred to my mind.

It was the Rajan family, who were the protagonists of the name that used to decorate the Indian economic newspapers.

Rajan is a top wealthy family even in India.

It was a giant group that could be called an empire to the point that there was no field they had not touched, from steel, shipbuilding, finance, to energy.

They were extending enormous capital not only to their influence within India but also to the Middle East and various Asian countries.

‘I did not know I would run into the Rajan family here….’

I wore a smile.

It was an opportunity too wasteful to pass over as a simple happening.

Since such a connection had approached like a coincidence, I must surely grab it.

I stopped my steps and slowly turned my body.

Giving a look to the face of Ravindra, who was still standing with a stiff expression, I opened my mouth softly.

“Might you be Chairman Ravindra Rajan?”

Ravindra’s two eyes flashed wide instantly.

At the unexpected title, the air in the surroundings changed once again.

I said while holding back the urge for one corner of my mouth to rise.

“To see such a famous person here.”

A look of surprise briefly brushed past Ravindra’s face, but he merely nodded his head lightly as if he valued his face.

“This makes me feel even more ashamed.”

As Ravindra’s words trailed off, I took a step closer and said composedly.

“I am Lim Hyunjun from Korea. I am running a company called HJ Partners. It is very meaningful to meet the Chairman on a day like this.”

“Wait, did you say HJ Partners?”

“That is right. I am the representative of HJ Partners.”

As I nodded and answered, Ravindra’s stiffened expression changed noticeably at once.

He wore a smile while surprise and curiosity were significantly revealed.

“I too have heard much. Is it not the place receiving the most attention these days?”

Unlike a moment ago, he approached me and grabbed my hand firmly.

The authoritative appearance seen until just now was nowhere to be found, and he was like a person who had met an old friend.

“To meet you on a day like this. Please generously forgive my son’s mistake.”

The family nearby wore dazed expressions for a moment at their father’s suddenly changed attitude.

However, Ravindra did not care.

Rather, he requested a seat for me and said,“Since meeting like this is also a connection, let us have a cup of tea.”

Ravindra’s attitude had become quite different from the beginning.

He was the type to always value his face due to his strong pride.

However, at the same time, like a businessman, he approached me as the head of a group trying to seize a network.

The two of us exchanged business cards with each other.

Ravindra called a staff member with a hand gesture to have the table organized, then personally led me to his seat.

Just looking at that appearance, it felt like he was trying to treat a precious guest.

“Representative Lim is at a young age yet truly amazing. Do you know that your name is mentioned even in our India?”

“You flatter me.”

At Ravindra’s words, the surrounding air became one step softer.

Right now, he was respecting me as an equal businessman, not an authoritative father.

At that time, the eldest son Arav Rajan revealed interest.

“Father’s words are correct. I too have heard many stories about HJ Partners recently.”

It was completely different from when we ran into each other in the restroom a moment ago.

His appearance of smiling broadly looked calm yet serious.

Ishani Rajan, who is twins with Arav, playfully wore a smile and brightened the atmosphere.

“You are like a K-pop star. It is to the point of being unbelievable that such a young and handsome person is leading a company. You are much cooler in person.”

At Ishani’s honest admiration, Ravindra let out a dry cough, but he could not block the laughter of the surroundings.

I lightly brushed it off.

“I do not know what to do with myself since you are building me up like this.”

At that moment, my gaze naturally flowed to the side.

Unlike the other family members showing bright appearances, the youngest son Arjun was still sitting silently with his shoulders slumped.

He had kept his lips firmly closed after giving a forced apology.

I examined him for a moment.

Behind the face flushed red, the appearance of having pressed something down looked like he was struggling to hide his inner feelings.

‘That child… it seems he is not simply discouraged….’

Curiosity brushed past my eyes.

The premonition that today’s meeting might not end as a simple happening brushed past me.

“Representative, you were here!”

It was a familiar, gravelly voice.

In the place where the gazes of the Rajan family headed at the same time, General Hong was walking while roughly slinging Choi Seo-jun over his shoulder as if they were in a shoulder-to-shoulder embrace.

Choi Seo-jun, whose legs had given out due to the influence of alcohol, leaned his body on General Hong while staggering as he could not keep his balance.

Ravindra raised his eyebrows as if surprised, and Arav and Ishani instantly opened their eyes wide and wore expressions as if they had met an interesting spectacle.

General Hong continued speaking while smiling awkwardly.

“Aigo, I am sorry. It seems I have disturbed you somehow. I shall be going now. As you can see, this person overdid it a bit.”

At those words, I stood up from my seat.

“It is a shame, but I must stop here for today.”

I looked at Ravindra and the family members one by one and bowed my head politely.

“Thank you for providing an unexpected seat. I hope to meet you again.”

Ravindra had a look of regret that was evident, but he held out his hand resolutely.

“Representative Lim, I shall remember today’s meeting for a long time. When we meet again, let's have a meal together.”

Arav was only regretful on the surface, and Ishani could not take her eyes off me as if she had not fully satisfied her curiosity.

In the midst of that, Arjun sat at the table without saying anything.

After glancing at him once more, I moved my steps while taking General Hong and Choi Seo-jun.

The restaurant was still full of the sounds of music celebrating Christmas.

The three of us who came out of the restaurant faced the cold winter night air.

Still, Choi Seo-jun’s steps staggered due to the influence of alcohol.

General Hong grumbled while grabbing his shoulder firmly.

“Director, you are making things truly difficult. You should have kept your face a bit before the Representative.”

Choi Seo-jun retorted while muttering something with a reddened face.

“Today… my mood was… just a bit… good.”

I chuckled while looking at the two of them.

“That kind of thing is alright. Rather, thanks to Director Choi, it is as good as having planted an impressive memory in the people of the Rajan family.”

At those words, General Hong looked at me with a peculiar expression.

“Rajan family? That famous Rajan?!”

I answered while smiling brightly.

“That is right. That famous Rajan.”

General Hong wore a somewhat absurd expression.

Even if it is a luxury hotel, it seems he finds it very marvelous to meet someone who has risen to the wealthy rankings.

“Well, the Representative who is next to me is a more marvelous matter.”

“Pardon?”

“It is nothing.”

After returning to the hotel room and staying for one night, we headed to the airport early the next morning.

The streets where the lingering feelings of Christmas remained were still quiet, but the inside of the airport was quite bustling.

On the way to the gate after finishing check-in, I briefly looked at the runway outside the window.

The early morning sunlight was raising its head.

After a while, boarding began and the three of us got onto the plane.

Choi Seo-jun suffered due to a hangover, but after eating a bowl of ramen, he fell asleep quickly.

On the other hand, I leaned my body comfortably against the chair and placed my gaze on the window.

I recalled the events of the past few days.

The magnificent building of the Synapse Tech headquarters I first faced after arriving in America and the amazing technology Kevin showed.

And the meeting with the giants that was concluded unexpectedly.

The White House banquet seat and the bet with the President.

Over and above that, even the connection with the Rajan family.

It was a short period, but each of the incidents contained within it felt as if they were foretelling something.

I quietly closed my eyes.

‘There really was not a moment to let my guard down even for an instant.’

The connections with them were surely valuable things, but it felt as if they were weighing me down with a much greater weight.

‘What kind of things will be waiting from now on?’

Tension rose constantly within my chest.

A new connection can become a strength, but at the same time, it can lead to danger.

Since I was the one who knew that better than anyone, an unknown fear wriggled together.

However, I soon let out a long breath and opened my eyes that I had closed calmly.

The sunlight spreading beyond the airplane window was shining over the clouds.

As if it were telling me that the path ahead embraces both light and shadow.

‘I will not be able to stop just because I am afraid. Since I have already stepped out. Now there is no choice but to go until the end….’

My gaze grew sharp once again.

Fear and tension were mixed, but that very thing was the reason and driving force to move forward.

Around the time I was lost in thought while looking out the window, Korea was already fluctuating for a different reason.

In the lobby of the Taeseong Group headquarters, reporters were camping out.

Along with the camera shutter sounds, sharp questions were poured toward someone.

“President Lim Hye-seon, there are words that you were involved together in the corruption of President Jeong Tae-jun; is that the truth?”

“Reports have come out that there are circumstances where funds flowed into your account, President; please explain!”

Rumors without substance were spreading like established facts in an instant.