A Genius Speaks with Money

Chapter 118

The provocative content heated up online communities, and speculative comments poured in.

“They are a couple, so would they not be in cahoots?”

“Is there any way she would not know what her husband is doing?”

“Taeseong Department Store is finished now too.”

Anonymous comments ridiculed and condemned Hye-seon regardless of the facts.

Those words flew in like arrows and nibbled away at a person's honor little by little.

Hye-seon closed her eyes for a moment and pulled herself together from her suppressed emotions.

Anger and a sense of unfairness welled up in her chest, but she did not want to crumble here by any means.

This situation was not just a simple crisis for her.

Hye-seon intuitively felt that she had climbed onto a real test stage for the first time.She knew that if she could not eventually overcome this matter, she would have no qualification to lead Taeseong.

And she might not be able to obtain that opportunity again in the future.

In addition, because she knew that if she, who shouldered the name of the Taeseong family, were to shake, the entire group could soon falter, she burned with even more enthusiasm.

“Jeong Tae-jun….”

She shuddered even just calling that name.

An incorrect connection from the past was still grabbing her ankles.

Even though it was a rumor without basis, in the eyes of the people, it already appeared like an established fact.

The reality of even Hye-seon, the wife, being treated as if she were contaminated due to her husband's corruption was disgraceful.

The secretary entered urgently and reported.

“President, it seems reporters will swarm this afternoon as well. The agitation among the employees is also great.”

Hye-seon closed her eyes, caught her breath slowly, and said resolutely.

“It seems I should not just stay still somehow.”

However, before she could even make a decision, other movements were already starting within the Taeseong Group.

Movements to pull her down, who had taken the interim chairperson position, appeared.

Some of the board of directors used the rumors as a pretext to mention the damage to Taeseong Group's image and precariously shook Hye-seon's position.

It was their intention to make her their prey for a power struggle before she could even reveal the truth.

***

Incheon International Airport arrival hall.

As the gate opened, people's gazes focused toward one side all at once.

The moment I made my appearance, the waiting reporters swarmed all at once.

Camera shutter sounds and microphones filled the space in front of me.

“Representative Lim! Please give us one word!”

“How did you receive an invitation to the White House this time in America?”

Flashes went off to the point where it was dizzying before my eyes.

I was still not used to this kind of noisy commotion.

Indeed, who would get used to this kind of thing.

I did not stop my steps.

However, the voices of the reporters grew gradually stronger, and one of them threw a sharp question with an exceptionally loud voice.

“Suspicions are coming out that President Lim Hye-seon participated in President Jeong Tae-jun's corruption. Did you know?”

My steps stopped.

My gaze turned toward the reporter who threw the question.

“What you just said is not true.”

A short but weighty answer.

However, the reporters did not stop even a little.

“Then are you saying that President Lim is unrelated to this matter?”

“There is also news that there are movements within to pull down President Lim Hye-seon!”

Sharp questions followed and drove at me as if surrounding me.

As the cameras and microphones drew gradually closer, the guards urgently blocked the front and secured a passage.

I caught my breath deeply, stopped my steps, and said resolutely.

“It is merely a rumor that someone spread maliciously. Attempts to defile the name of Taeseong will surely be held responsible.”

In an unwavering way of speaking, the buzzing among the reporters also ceased for a moment at that moment.

I did not answer any further and moved my steps.

The shouts of the reporters continued again, but I coldly showed my back and moved toward the exit.

As soon as I got into the waiting vehicle, the car door closed and it finally became quiet.

Inside the car was quiet, but even that silence was full of tension.

Choi Seo-jun opened his mouth cautiously.

“Representative, malicious articles regarding President Lim Hye-seon are spreading from the media side.”

I looked at the scenery brushing past out the window and opened my mouth coldly.

“Has the source been confirmed?”

Choi Seo-jun hesitated for a moment then answered.

“There are no specific circumstances that have come out yet.”

The tip of my finger slowly tapped the armrest.

It was a habit that came out whenever I was lost in thought.

“That there are no circumstances would mean someone is skillfully shaking things from behind.”

As my gaze shone coldly, the air in the car became even heavier.

Choi Seo-jun caught his breath for a moment and continued speaking.

“Rumors are spreading simultaneously in internet communities and around the stock market circles. To see it as simple rumors, the movement is too organized. In addition, there is also a story that Jeong Tae-jun's side contacted some reporters.”

I nodded and turned my gaze out the window.

A short sigh followed, and then I continued speaking in a somewhat clear tone.

“People are swayed even by unconfirmed words. We must find accurate evidence. Otherwise, this matter will not end.”

My eyes narrowed thinly.

“Please thoroughly track the movements of the media and the fund flow. Who is moving in what way. You must reveal it without missing a single thing.”

“Yes, Representative, I shall proceed right away.”

While Choi Seo-jun was on the phone, I continued speaking in my heart while looking at the scenery out the window.

'Aunt must overcome this herself. If I step to the front, it will quiet down somehow, but if she is the head of Taeseong, she must pass this kind of storm head-on.'

I composed my mind.

If my aunt could not break through this matter herself, it would lead to a fatal result for Taeseong, for her, and for me as well.

I leaned my back deep and closed my eyes.

***

Today as well, Manager Bae Jeong-su came out of Executive Director Lee Tae-jun's office with a stiff face.

Strength was put in so much that the meeting materials held in his hand were crumpled.

The steps passing through the corridor and heading toward his own department were exceptionally heavy.

When he opened the office door of the Overseas Subsidiary Management Team, the employees were gathered in one place sharing small talk.

Seeing that appearance, his anger flared up and he raised his voice out of the blue.

“Is this place a playground!”

Even when he briefly spat out words, the employees knew his personality well.

Since he had been to see Executive Director Lee Tae-jun, naturally his mood would not be good.

Even so, perhaps because his anger had not settled, Bae Jeong-su did not stop there.

“It seems you all have it easy! Do you have that much time left over? Shall I put more work on you?”

At the sharp voice, the employees who were laughing had their expressions stiffen at once.

Everyone scattered quickly to their own seats.

Bae Jeong-su let out a long sigh and loosely pulled open his necktie that was suffocatingly tightening his neck.

While doing so, he shook his head.

'Just whether they have their wits about them or not.'

At that moment, a sly voice was heard from behind.

“Manager Bae Jeong-su! Were you called by the Executive Director again?”

As he turned his head, Manager Jo Tae-ho of the Financial Management Team was already standing there wearing a relaxed smile.

“Why ask.”

“Actually, it is all written on your face. Right now, to anyone looking, it is the expression of someone who just came out after hearing a piece of his mind.”

Bae Jeong-su frowned even more and retorted bluntly.

“What do you know to say such a thing? I merely went to report for a meeting.”

“Aha, is that so? Then why are your fists trembling so much?”

As Jo Tae-ho spoke playfully while intentionally tilting his head, Bae Jeong-su set down the materials in his hand with a 'thud' on the desk.

Only then, seeing that the paper was crumpled all over, did his face stiffen.

He let out a heavy breath.

“Sigh….”

At the long sigh, the eyes of the Overseas Subsidiary Management Team were directed toward him.

Only then did he stand up from the seat.

“Manager Jo, let us go eat lunch. Well, everyone eats on your own.”

Jo Tae-ho smiled broadly as if he had been waiting and walked while following him.

“Wow, what is this about? For Manager Bae to even say the words to eat lunch first? You are buying today.”

Bae Jeong-su moved his steps with a bitter face.

While doing so, he opened his mouth quietly.

“This punk acts like a cheapskate. If I do not go out, those guys will not even be able to eat while watching my mood, will they!”

“Haha, that is right. Once you throw a fit, everyone gets indigestion even while eating.”

Jo Tae-ho laughed out loud, tapped his shoulder, then turned back, opened the office door, and said in an intentionally loud voice.

“Well, everyone eats lunch without worrying. Since I shall be responsible for Manager Bae.”

The air inside the office became light in an instant.

The employees who were tense laughed as if relieved and slowly stood up from their seats.

If Jo Tae-ho had not appeared, it would have been a situation where they had to have lunch together with a boss who was in a bad mood.

There was nothing as uncomfortable as that.

The two of them stepped out of the company side by side and walked along a familiar street.

Silence continued for a moment, and then Jo Tae-ho slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

“Speak honestly. The Executive Director picked on every little thing today again, right?”

Bae Jeong-su did not make any particular retort.

He merely let out a sigh.

Then Jo Tae-ho shook his head and said.

“Still, you held out the longest. Even if everyone disappears, how many years have you held out until now. That is why the Executive Director cannot treat you easily either.”

Bae Jeong-su crushed his lips at those words.

“It is not that he cannot do it because I am not easy, but he probably uses me because I am necessary. I am nothing more and nothing less than that.”

Jo Tae-ho muttered while shoving both hands into his pants pockets.

“Still, you held out because it is you. If it were me, I would have run out several times already.”

Bae Jeong-su turned his head with an expressionless face and looked at Jo Tae-ho.

“If that is also an ability, it would be an ability, but….”

It was a feeling as if he had stopped before saying something.

He moved his steps again.

His shoulders slumped down one step heavier.

Seeing that appearance, Jo Tae-ho acted slyly.

“Hey, Jeong-su. You are not originally the style to trail off the ends of your words like this. Speaking decisively is your trademark.”

At those words, Bae Jeong-su snorted.

“Does anything change just because I speak? For us, if the higher-ups tell us to do it, we do it.”

“Still, one must live while speaking. If you are not saying anything, who will recognize it?”

Jo Tae-ho tried to intentionally laugh it off lightly, but it was not easy today of all days.

The two of them entered a shabby restaurant they frequently visited.

Familiar with it, they ordered kimchi stew and each shoveled down two bowls of rice.

Jo Tae-ho put down his spoon first and said.

“Jeong-su, if you are frowning your face like that, even the kimchi stew becomes tasteless.”

Bae Jeong-su muttered while putting a spoonful in his mouth with an expressionless face.

“What would you know? Let us just eat quietly today. I do not even have the strength to speak.”

In fact, Vice President Yoon Jae-hyuk, whom Jo Tae-ho served, was not as easy as Jeong Seong-pil.

Jo Tae-ho wore an awkward smile and picked up a water cup.

“Hey, I am not saying this because I do not know. As much as you suffer under the Executive Director, I am also being squeezed every day under the Vice President.”

Bae Jeong-su raised his head and looked at him.

It was an indifferent expression, but interest was harbored in it.

“Vice President Yoon? Even though you act so friendly like that? And how come you do not show signs of it being hard? That is why everyone thinks you are living comfortably.”

Jo Tae-ho let out a bitter smile and shook his head.

“As you know, how meticulous a person is the Vice President. If even one dot is marked wrong, it is a mess that day. Do not even talk about it.”

Bae Jeong-su shoved a big scoop of rice into his mouth, then muttered.

“Everyone's life is the same. The kids below us probably do not know that we live like this, right?”

“If we show signs of that, we should take off our manager tags.”

Bae Jeong-su pulled off his loosened necktie altogether and shoved it roughly into his pocket.

Since he had met Executive Director Lee Tae-jun in the morning, he probably would not call him again today.

He looked at Jo Tae-ho with a bitter expression.

'Still, you are better than me.'