A Genius Speaks with Money

Chapter 7

I, Lim Hyunjun, walked to a quiet place and made a call somewhere.

“Secretary Choi, I have a favor to ask. Let’s do a job with me. Of course, it’s a secret from my parents.”

A short silence flowed over the phone.

Soon, a calm yet cautious voice was heard.

“What is it?”

I caught my breath for a moment and continued my words.

“There is a student named Jang Wooseok at the school I attend. He was framed and received disciplinary action. The perpetrator is Lim Hyun-woo.”

After a short silence, a low voice flowed from the phone.

“Do you know what it means to say this?”

“I know. If it becomes known that I did it, things will surely get noisy. That’s why I want to handle it quietly. And I believe that much is possible at your level, Secretary. Could it be that you can’t even solve this much?”“Sigh. It will be possible as long as there is evidence.”

I answered with an unwavering voice.

“Then please show your skills properly and to say one more thing, I also want to know if you are a trustworthy person through this matter.”

“......”

“It means it’s not a simple favor. Since you are a wise person, I believe you know what my words mean.”

I ended the call after saying those words.

Secretary Choi Seo-jun agonized.

He felt more keenly than anyone else how the power struggle within the Taeseong family would flow.

Until now, President Lim Do-hyun had been prominent, but as the figure of Lim Hyunjun emerged, Chairman Lim Man-seok began to slowly give strength to his eldest son.

Perhaps this could be an opportunity for him.

I knew what choice Choi Seo-jun would make.

He was a person who was greedy for power.

A while ago, when I handed him the exam paper and told him to meet Chairman Lim Man-seok directly, I was certain seeing the look in his eyes.

Having a private meeting with the group'

s chairman as a mere employee was not something that could be done with average courage.

It was certain that he would not be satisfied as a simple office worker and would want a higher position.

He was a person who looked calm on the outside but would be tapping a calculator on the inside.

However, he wasn'

t an opportunist who would unconditionally stick to and parasite on the strong.

Choi Seo-jun had the wisdom to know how to invest in a place with a chance of winning while keeping the right path.

So he would not miss this opportunity.

He would surely try to become my person through perfect work processing somehow.

I went to find Jang Wooseok, who was about to leave the school with his bag, and comforted him.

“Someone will help you soon. So take it easy.”

“What does that mean?”

“Hey, don'

t you trust me?”

Jang Wooseok gave a faint smile at the out-of-the-blue words.

“I know he'

s your cousin and there'

s nothing you can do. Thank you for just the words. I'

ll be going now.”

“Well. A cousin is a cousin, and anyone who did something wrong should be punished. And since you did nothing wrong this time, what are you worried about. Just wait a little.”

I tapped the shoulder of my friend, who was completely discouraged.

It was a cheer to stay strong.

***

A few days later, the atmosphere within the school changed drastically.

A sudden disciplinary re-evaluation was held by the school side.

As a result, Jang Wooseok'

s discipline was revoked, and instead, Lim Hyun-woo was designated as the perpetrator and received a suspension.

During this process, rumors circulated that Shin Seo-yoon exercised all sorts of influence to somehow prevent the discipline but ultimately failed.

She pressured by promising a huge donation to the school, but this time it didn'

t work.

There was a bigger ripple separately.

The principal and the homeroom teacher who gave the wrong discipline took responsibility and were punished.

Eventually, it even led to the principal being replaced.

The newly appointed principal was a famous principled person in the educational world who was not shaken by any power or money.

He declared as soon as he took office.

“A school is a place to teach students. It is not a place that represents the interests of a specific family.”

When this news became known, Shin Seo-yoon exploded.

“How dare you ignore my words!”

On that day, Shin Seo-yoon went to the school to pressure the new principal but was flatly rejected.

Enraged, Shin Seo-yoon even dragged in her husband, Lim Do-hyun.

Somehow, that fact also became known within Taeseong Group.

Accordingly, Chairman Lim Man-seok got angry and called Lim Do-hyun out to give a thunderous scolding.

“Why are you making the company name go up and down in kids'

problems. You can'

t even solve one school problem and bring shame to the family!”

Lim Do-hyun tried to make an excuse, but Lim Man-seok was firm.

“If you can'

t even settle this much work, don'

t even think about putting forward the name of Taeseong.”

Everything was settled with that one word.

Shin Seo-yoon also no longer appeared at school.

I watched all these situations from afar and smiled quietly.

I recalled the work processing shown by Choi Seo-jun once more.

The ability to process work cleanly and quickly without wavering.

It was beyond expectations.

With this, Choi Seo-jun had shown his ability to me to his heart'

s content.

Jang Wooseok, whose discipline was lifted, returned to school.

Usually active, he entered the classroom quietly, unlike his usual self.

Then he walked straight to me and spoke.

“Thanks. I'

ll never forget this matter.”

I knew everything but acted as if I didn'

t and shrugged my shoulders.

“Maybe a Long-Legged Daddy helped you. Who said it was me?”

Jang Wooseok chuckled and said nothing.

He didn'

t forget the words I said on the day he was disciplined.

If it weren'

t for me, who would have stepped forward to help like this.

Through this incident, the look in Jang Wooseok'

s eyes when looking at me changed.

***

The day the National Union Achievement Evaluation results were announced.

The school was turned upside down as unexpected news spread.

Only three people in the whole country received a perfect score, and one of them came from Hwasan International High School.

Naturally, it could only become a hot topic among students.

“No way....”

“Since when did he become so good at studying?”

“This is totally amazing.”

The rumors spread quickly, and even a short article appeared.

[Lim Hyunjun, the grandson of Taeseong Group Chairman Lim Man-seok. Perfect score in all subjects of the achievement evaluation.]

This news was soon transmitted within Taeseong Group as well.

Chairman Lim Man-seok was out of his mind receiving congratulatory calls all day long.

However, even if he was tired, a satisfied smile showed no signs of leaving his face.

“Haha, thank you. Our Hyunjun has been special since he was young. Since the child takes after me, he'

s so smart...”

Especially when a call came from Chairman Lee Jin-cheol of Hanmyeong Group, he felt as if an old congestion had been cleared.

Usually, he used to brag about his son being good at studying, and there were several times when his internal organs were twisted from holding back while watching that sight.

However, no matter how well he did, where could it be compared to a perfect score.

If he continued to study like this, Hyunjun was guaranteed a spot at the best university in South Korea.

Moreover, he might even enter as the first perfect scorer.

Lim Man-seok felt very good lately whenever he thought about his grandson.

If only his father would work as much as Hyunjun.

Although it was a pity, he couldn'

t just stay still as a grandfather.

Lim Man-seok called Kang Cheol-woo in.

Soon, Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo entered the chairman'

s office.

“Cheol-woo, let’s give some strength to the business Do-kyung is working on.”

Kang Cheol-woo nodded and asked in a low voice.

“Are you talking about the company acquisition case?”

“Yes. The company Do-kyung is agonizing over. If we help him a bit, he will do well. Push him definitely.”

“Yes, I understand.”

When Kang Cheol-woo went out, Lim Man-seok spoke with a firm expression.

“Now it'

s time for Do-kyung to properly settle in.”

***

Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung was ahead of an important presentation in the Taeseong Group strategy meeting room.

He tried to acquire a company to serve as the core of the service platform business he was leading, but capital and support within the group were lacking.

Someone came to find the nervous Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung.

It was Kang Cheol-woo, the chief secretary of Chairman Lim Man-seok.

“Vice Chairman, the Chairman has decided to give strength to the business you are pursuing.”

Lim Do-kyung asked in surprise.

“Did Father really say that?”

Instead of an answer, Kang Cheol-woo handed over a document.

“Additional funds will be injected at the Taeseong Group level. And you no longer have to hesitate about the acquisition of the company you had in mind.”

No sooner had his words ended than Lim Do-kyung examined the documents in his hand one by one.

It was a document that included a signature confirming that official support from Taeseong Group was fixed, as well as securing additional funds.

With this, there was no need to beg the board of directors as if pleading for support.

Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung immediately proceeded with the acquisition process of the relevant company.

Negotiations proceeded smoothly, and thanks to the backing of financial power, competitors had no choice but to back off.

An official announcement came out a few days later.

[Taeseong Electronics. Officially acquires next-generation service platform company D Company.]

This news also became a big topic in the business world.

Many experts paid attention to Taeseong Group'

s new business expansion.

Lim Do-kyung announced confidently in front of reporters.

“Through this acquisition, Taeseong Electronics'

digital platform business will take a leap forward.”

And just as he said, Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung'

s position within the group changed.

Meanwhile, Chairman Lim Man-seok, who quietly watched all this process, smiled contentedly.

“Finally, Do-kyung is settling in.”

He called Kang Cheol-woo again and gave instructions.

“Report directly to me what Do-kyung is doing and push him entirely for most matters.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Chairman Lim Man-seok asked Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo.

“And how is Hyunjun doing these days?”

“The young master is spending his time just studying hard.”

“Is that so? Was there anything he needed?”

“......”

Kang Cheol-woo spoke after agonizing for a moment.

“I think it would be good to call Master Hyunjun and ask him once.”

“That would be good. Call Hyunjun separately in the evening.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I, who had finished school, headed to a restaurant inside Taeseong Hotel upon receiving my grandfather'

s call.

As soon as I arrived, Lim Man-seok greeted me warmly with a gesture.

“My puppy, have you come. I heard you'

re working hard studying these days. Come, sit down.”

“Working hard? It'

s only natural for a student to study. I'

m doing well thanks to Grandfather always sending things that are good for my body.”

“Our eldest grandson even speaks so prettily. Hahaha.”

With a hearty laugh, the door opened and food came in succession.

The food placed in front of me was a handmade burger, pizza, steak, salad, and a milkshake.

In front of Chairman Lim Man-seok, a full-course Korean meal he enjoyed eating was set.

He said with a beaming smile.

“I heard high schoolers these days like burgers? Eat a lot.”

I smiled while awkwardly holding the burger.

Inside, I was more attracted to the food Chairman Lim Man-seok was eating.

However, how could I refuse the heart of my grandfather who prepared it specifically for his grandson to eat?

I quietly enjoyed the food with a grateful heart.

After the meal had proceeded to some extent, Chairman Lim Man-seok said the main point.

“If my eldest grandson needs anything, just tell Grandfather. I'

ll do anything for you.”

I answered immediately without even thinking.

“Then please give me just 1 billion won as pocket money.”