#132. Inclusion. 3
Woojin nodded slowly.
The fact that I couldn't feel the taste for a moment meant that I was focusing on my left and right brain rather than my sensory nerves.
To put it bluntly, Woojin used his left brain for analysis and mathematical manipulation.
The right brain is used for thinking, space, perception, and creativity.
Just a few seconds ago, in a situation that had been like this for a very long time.
Woojin recognized himself like this and finished off the steak cleanly.
I didn't forget to take a sip of fine wine as a palate cleanser.
“It’s sweet.”
Woojin wiped his mouth and turned his head towards her.
Hye-rim Lee, who had been smiling without realizing it while resting her chin on her hand, opened her mouth hurriedly with a surprised expression.
“Are you telling me to meet a professional manager?”
“Yeah. Aren’t you nervous since there’s only one year left on your contract?”
Lee Hye-rim nodded slightly and answered.
“You must be anxious. Lee Yo-hwan caused an accident. The executives must be feeling the same.”
Although the controversy and sin were committed by Lee Yo-hwan, he would be criticized for not supporting the bloodline of Shinwha Group well.
It was a complete case of passing the buck.
Lee Hye-rim chuckled at this thought.
Common sense does not apply in this world. Not only Shinwha Group, but all of the bloodlines of the owner family are like that.
“What if we made four people professional managers?”
“Will that person grab my hand?”
“It is possible if you become a person who can give fear and hope.”
People tend to go up rather than down.
That is the inevitable nature of human beings.
“And Hye-rim, you already promised yourself to become that kind of person.”
Lee Hye-rim suddenly thought of Manager Cha Ju-hyeok.
I spoke to him while holding a shot glass at the bar.
'Follow me.'
Although he said it in a commanding tone, he was worried inside.
Woojin said.
“I wish you were that kind of person. That way you’ll be more comfortable.”
Not only can you satisfy your need for recognition, you can also avoid being looked down on by your brothers as a lowly girl.
“I don’t want you to be treated like that, Hye-rim.”
Hye-rim Lee brushed her hair back and fixed her gaze on the seats where her older sister and brother were sitting.
She took a deep breath, smiled broadly, and turned her head to Woojin.
Lee Hye-rim spoke as if confirming her promise once more.
“If you’re going to do it, why don’t you do it right? Who’s pushing you from behind?”
Woojin answered.
“You have to lose to win.”
“I’m used to being ignored.”
“There’s nowhere to fall.”
“There is nowhere to return to.”
“Better than doing nothing.”
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea to try heading it once.”
“Hye-rim.”
"huh?"
“How about meeting Master Lee Yo-Hwan first?”
* * *
Lee Hye-rim, who broke up with Woo-jin, was sitting across from Lee Yo-hwan.
The first one to speak was Lee Yo-hwan.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Is it unnatural for a younger sibling to come visit an older sibling?”
Lee Yo-hwan laughed heartily.
“Oh no! I made a mistake! I didn’t tell you that you were the first family member to come to visit. This… I should at least take a picture to commemorate the visit. Should I take one? Okay?”
Lee Hye-rim spoke briefly.
“Do you feel victimized?”
At those words, Lee Yo-hwan's expression, which had been smiling, hardened.
"you……."
“It doesn’t matter what you think of me. But I was the one who found the original scandal article and blocked the media because you were my brother.”
Woojin pretended to block the article on purpose.
That way, there will be an opportunity for father to see Lee Hye-rim differently.
At the same time as creating a position for Lee Hye-rim, he threw Lee Yo-hwan, who could be her rival, to the police.
But that's it, I haven't used it yet.
Lee Yo-hwan snickered.
“Did you come here because you wanted to hear me say thank you? I told you in front of my father, didn’t I? I said thank you. But the result was… .”
Lee Yo-hwan lightly raised both hands up to his shoulders.
“This is what it looks like.”
“It’s a different matter that my brother was caught because he was weak.”
Lee Yo-hwan crossed his arms and leaned deep into his back.
“So why did you come here? Did you come here to receive a handover?”
“I hope you don’t think too much about it. Aren’t you the one who brought this situation on?”
“Let’s say that’s true.”
“What matters is why you are here, oppa.”
Lee Yo-hwan uncrossed his arms, leaned back from his chair, and leaned his upper body toward Lee Hye-rim.
“Are you saying there is a place that catches the eye?”
Lee Hye-rim almost burst into laughter.
The bloodlines of Shinwha Group are like this.
Even if they make a mistake, they think it is not their fault. They think it is someone else's scheme and ulterior motive.
It seemed like the idea that if they lost to that scheme, they would fall apart was ingrained in their DNA.
Of course, he also has Shinwha Group blood flowing through his veins.
So he decided to do the same.
“I know that my brother has been saving up hotel shares little by little under someone else’s name.”
Lee Yo-hwan's expression suddenly became frowning.
“Director Choi, is that so!?”
This was what Cha Joo-hyuk from SH Strategy told me.
“I don’t think it matters who leaked it. What matters is who is as interested in the hotel as my brother.”
At that moment, Lee Yo-hwan ground his teeth.
“Lee Si-young… … .”
Lee Si-young would always sing “Hotel, Hotel” in front of her grandfather, the chairman of Shinwha Group.
It's so disgusting to see someone acting cute…
Of course, he also had a small stake in the hotel.
This is why the relationship between Lee Yo-hwan and Lee Si-young could not have been good.
They were looking at each other and smiling, but there was always an invisible blade cold in their eyes.
“I thought about it. If my brother is arrested, will the shares in that name still be safe? I don’t know whose name it is, but I know that my brother used a false name. Do you think other people don’t know? I think they would know, especially if they’re someone who’s interested in hotels.”
Lee Yo-hwan closed his eyes tightly and muttered a curse.
“Fuck… … .”
If it really goes to Oksal, there is no telling what will happen to the shares held under another person's name during that time.
While locked up like that, they will either sweetly persuade you or threaten you by shaking you out of your shell.
It was a stake that was purchased step by step, without any warning, while walking a tightrope that was truly embezzlement.
I thought it might evaporate, so I wanted to run out of there right away, grab Lee Si-young by the collar, and scream.
Is this your own work?
At that moment, Lee Hye-rim stood up from her seat.
“I think it’s better for you to know than not to know. Since I’m done talking, I’ll be going now. Even if you don’t have an appetite, eat well.”
Lee Hye-rim turned around just like that.
At that moment, Lee Yo-hwan's voice caught her feet.
“Hye-rim, I think you need to help me.”
The lawyers' comments became more serious as the father apologized to the press.
'There is evidence, and there are too many statements and witnesses. Also, there is a very high possibility that the prosecutor in charge will link it to assault resulting in death… … .'
The sentence may be reduced, but after listening to the story, I thought he might really end up in prison.
If it weren't for my father's influence, that could really have been the case.
And my father was a person who would let go of his hand for the sake of his own position.
At that moment, Lee Hye-rim turned around again and looked at Lee Yo-hwan.
"I?"
Her face seemed to have the word 'Why?' written on it.
“Hye-rim, this is the first and last time I ask you to do me a favor.”
“What do you want?”
“You give me some money so I can breathe easy. I’ll choke on it and not be able to make a sound.”
“Brother, I looked into it, and there’s a rumor going around that the prosecutor in charge is a total idiot who doesn’t care about anything. He’s very greedy for politics, so he’ll probably use the media to keep you from getting lost.”
bang!
Lee Yo-hwan, who had slammed the table, shouted.
“So, put pressure on that kid! Meet with that guy above and try to recruit him! Those guys who are trying to get our group to cooperate… .”
When Lee Hye-rim's brow furrowed slightly, Lee Yo-hwan changed his expression by brushing back his hair.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Hye-rim. It’s not something I should be mad at you about.”
Until now, not a single human being has come to visit me.
To Lee Yo-hwan, Lee Hye-rim was a rag. No, she was someone who could have been a lifeline.
“That could be possible. I understand.”
“Hye-rim, if you help me just once… … .”
“What power do I have… … .”
“You’re better off than me stuck here.”
“Brother, I don’t have any shares or anything. What can I do?”
Lee Yo-hwan frowned as if he had a headache.
He then opened his mouth, frowning.
“30%! I’ll give you 30% of the hotel shares I own! You’re the only one who can help me right now. You’re my family! We have to help each other and live together!”
It would be better than Lee Si-young using her hand and having it evaporate like a mirage. Also, even if she gave a little of her share to Lee Hye-rim, who has nothing, it wouldn't do anything.
More importantly, if she has a decent stake, the higher-ups in the prosecution will also meet with Lee Hye-rim.
Lee Hye-rim took a deep breath and opened her mouth.
“Brother, father… .”
“40%! I’ll save you. Of the 2 million shares I own, 40% is over 50 billion won. 50 billion won! Hye-rim. Don’t you know that it’s not easy to own shares even if you have money? You have to watch what other people think, huh? Even if you act against your father’s will, you can close your eyes and get scolded once and it’ll be over. Don’t you trust me, oppa? Huh?”
When Lee Hye-rim showed her concern, Lee Yo-hwan spoke as if driving a nail into her.
“I’ll give you 50% right now. Let me borrow your cell phone.”
Lee Yo-hwan snatched the cell phone that Lee Hye-rim was holding.
And then I made a phone call somewhere.
“It’s me, Director Kim. Right now, the hotel shares… … .”
Lee Yo-hwan shouted and delivered his message, then hung up the phone.
“Do you know SH Construction’s Managing Director Kim? I already told him, so just meet him tomorrow morning. Then Managing Director Kim will take care of it.”
Lee Hye-rim sighed, running her hands through her hair.
“I don’t know if this is okay, really… … .”
“Hye-rim, it’s something that is exchanged between family members. Right?”
“Ha… … . Okay. I’ll try my best.”
Only then did Lee Yo-hwan's expression brighten.
“Okay. Thank you. Hahaha! I’m a little hungry now. Hye-rim, I’m counting on you. Got it?”
“I’m going to be busy.”
“People should live busy lives.”
“I’ll go.”
“Oh, okay! Hye-rim, please!”
“Eat well. You’ve lost weight.”
Lee Hye-rim, who had come out like that, looked at the door she had just come out of.
Suddenly, Woojin's words came to mind.
'That's what will happen.'
There really wasn't even an inch of error.
It was like watching a rat moving around in poison.
My attitude towards myself has also changed completely.
As Hye-rim Lee walked, the sound of her high heels echoed faintly through the hallway.
After checking the number that Lee Yo-hwan had entered on his cell phone, she made a call.
“I am Lee Hye-rim.”
Again, click. Again, click. Again, click.
* * *
Woojin, who was in Vice-Chief Kim Chul-woong's office, was looking through the case records as usual.
Prosecutor Kim Chul-woong was away, and there was an investigator, but he did nothing to stop Woo-jin from acting like that.
It was something that Kim Cheol-woong had also permitted, and the investigator was also familiar with Woo-jin’s behavior.
And what, it seemed like he wasn't even looking at the documents properly as he was flipping through them.
The investigator suddenly asked.
“I guess you’ve been to some nice places?”
The appearance has changed from before.
He came dressed casually and looked very classy.
“I just ate.”
“I guess you ate at a nice place.”
“Steak.”
“Steak jo~ocho.”
“Can I have a piece of candy?”
"sure."
“It doesn’t taste like red ginseng?”
Woojin picked up one of the candies in the basket.
At that time, Kim Cheol-woong entered the office.
Woojin said, rolling the candy in his mouth once.
“Your Majesty, the game has begun.”
