Chapter 36
The words Chairman Lim Man-seok spat out on my birthday moved President Lim Do-hyun.
He spat out a single word to his wife and son with a cold expression.
“…Let’s go.”
Shin Seo-yoon stood up and Lim Hyun-woo followed with a bewildered expression.
Just like that, my younger uncle’s family left the restaurant without even a word of greeting.
The wooden door characteristic of a Hanok made a rattling noise with a clack.
The remaining people were silent for a while.
Chairman Lim Man-seok quietly took a sip of quince tea as if nothing had happened.
Only a fragrant scent spread calmly.
I could guess how he felt. Even though he spat out harsh words, how much must his heart have been torn as a father?
I felt deeply sorry for both my grandfather and my younger uncle.
***
Monday morning after the weekend.
The autumn sky was high and it was a day with very clear air.
Mrs. Kang Ji-yeon was personally preparing food in the kitchen with the ladies, and in the living room, Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung was quietly unfolding and looking at a newspaper.
Seeing me as I offered a morning greeting, Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung opened his mouth.
“Son, sit down for a moment.”
I sat quietly next to my father.
Lim do-kyung held out the newspaper he was reading to me.
[Taeseong Electronics, Chairman Lim Man-seok bestows portion of stakes to grandson. Full-scale start of next succession?]
At the bottom of the article, my name, Lim Hyunjun, was printed along with a photo.
“It would be better to go by car starting today.”
My mother also approached before I knew it and helped.
“Because reporters might come. You could get hurt in an accident or something, so listen to your father.”
Only then did I understand what they were worried about since morning, and I scratched my head while grinning.
“It’s okay. Rather, it won’t even stand out if I take the bus.”
“Hyunjun, that’s not what’s important. Don’t be stubborn and listen to your dad.”
I straightened my posture and looked at my father.
“I’m still a student. It would be weirder if my daily life changed just because I received some stocks.”
Lim Do-kyung let out a sigh full of worry while looking at his stubborn son.
How could he win when I was speaking while looking at him with such bold eyes?
“Understood. I will respect your wish. Still, you must be careful. If anything happens, contact me immediately.”
“Yes, don’t worry.”
I nodded and then rubbed my stomach slightly as I stood up.
“I’m hungry, Mom.”
“Just a moment, it’ll be ready soon, so let’s eat.”
After eating a hearty breakfast, I slung my bag over my shoulder as usual and stepped out of the front door.
Mrs. Kang Ji-yeon followed me out and said.
“Hyunjun, will you really be okay? Shall Mom drop you off even now?”
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll go and come back well.”
I walked through the neighborhood alleys familiarly and stood at the bus stop.
Neighbors passing by glanced at me and stared.
Some people whispered while looking at an article on their cell phones.
However, I didn’t care.
I boarded the bus and sat in a window seat, looking out the window.
When I opened the window slightly, the sunlight shone down warmly and the autumn breeze made my mood refreshing.
Today was still a regular Monday morning to me.
The moment the bus stopped at the stop in front of the school.
I could immediately feel a sense of heterogeneity in the air.
Dozens of reporters gathered in front of the school gate were camping out with cameras and microphones.
Their gazes focused on me all at once.
“It’s that student!”
“You are Hyunjun, right?”
“How do you feel about receiving a stake gift from Taeseong Electronics?”
“For what reason did Chairman Lim Man-seok bestow the gift?”
Among the swarming reporters, students also buzzed.
The kids who were on their way to school stopped and started filming the scene with their cell phones.
My name flowed out from here and there.
In the midst of the complication, I walked boldly toward the school gate with a face that didn’t waver in the slightest.
“I’m sorry. I have to go to class now.”
I left only a short and firm word, bowed calmly, and then entered inside the school gate.
Fortunately, school officials came out and prevented the chaos.
Thanks to that, I was able to go inside more easily than expected.
It was a step without any shaking whatsoever, no matter who looked.
After that day, I became the most noticed person among high school students nationwide.
The portal real-time search terms were plastered with one person from 1st place down.
[Lim Hyunjun]
[Taeseong Electronics grandson]
[Student rich man]
⦙
I thought people would forget quickly after just a day.
However, I started to feel flustered as I watched it unfold contrary to expectations.
On SNS, hundreds of posts with the hashtag Lim Hyunjun poured out.
It continued even inside the school.
Even kids who didn’t know me started to visit my class to look at me like a celebrity after seeing my handsome appearance.
My friends also laughed and chattered while looking at me.
“Hey, I thought you were a celebrity. My mom captured your article and sent it to me via Tok.”
I barely laughed off the words my friends said as a joke, but inside, I was feeling troubled.
I thought that fame was unavoidable to live in the Taeseong family, but I didn’t know the public’s gaze would pour down like this.
I sat at my desk, rested my chin on my hand, and thought while looking out the window.
‘It has been so until now, but I’ll have to be even more careful in the future.’
After that day, my friends kept calling me ‘Lim Star’.
***
Weekend morning.
After eating a hearty breakfast, I came out to the living room and stood by the window to enjoy the scenery.
Warm autumn sunlight permeated through the glass window and the scent of freshly brewed coffee was lingering in the quiet interior.
Mrs. Kang Ji-yeon asked as she carefully poured bean coffee into her husband’s cup.
“Honey, aren’t you tired?”
“I’m okay.”
Meanwhile, I quietly went to the kitchen, took out some coffee mix, and brewed it.
A familiar scent lingered at the tip of my nose.
I came out to the living room holding the coffee cup and sat by my parents.
Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung said while looking at the economic newspaper he was holding.
“Your taste seems to be increasingly resembling your grandfather’s.”
I shook my head playfully.
“You have no idea how delicious this is. Once you taste it, you end up looking only for this.”
“Is that so? Haha.”
Mrs. Kang Ji-yeon smiled while looking at the two of us.
She picked up the remote and turned on the TV.
Coincidentally, international news was flowing out on the screen.
[As heavy rain has continued for several days in the northern Kashmir region of India and the Punjab area of Pakistan, large-scale flood damage is occurring. It is understood that hundreds of deaths and hundreds of thousands of displaced people have occurred so far, and it is reported that the Jhelum River water level exceeded its peak last night local time.]
On the screen in the news, images of streets submerged up to the waist and people waving their hands toward a rescue helicopter were reflected alternately.
Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung’s complexion turned dark.
“I’m worried because the floods are serious these days. I don’t know if the India factory side will be okay.”
I asked slightly.
“Won’t there be an impact on the local factory and logistics?”
“Even if there is no direct blow, there will be an aftermath on the logistics network or supply in the long run. On top of that, quite a lot of Korean companies have advanced there, so there can’t be no blow at all.”
Mrs. Kang Ji-yeon said while looking at the TV screen with a pitiable expression.
“These days, once it rains anywhere, it really pours down terrifyingly. How scared must those people be.”
The living room became quiet for a moment at her words.
I put down the coffee cup I was holding and looked at the screen.
It felt as if a smell of a world completely different from the warm coffee scent was quietly pushing in from beyond the glass window.
Disaster was not a problem of only that country.
The aftermath was connected like an invisible thread, eventually reaching people and companies, everyone.
I looked at my parents quietly and said.
“I hope our company can also provide meaningful help.”
Lim Do-kyung quietly chewed on my words and put down his coffee cup.
That single word kept lingering in his head.
It felt as if someone had placed a hand on his back.
After a moment, he quietly stood up and headed toward the study.
Kang Ji-yeon looked at him and asked.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to make a phone call for a second.”
Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung, who entered the study, closed the door and sat at the desk.
When he pressed the speed dial and pressed the call button, Chief Secretary Lee Kyung-min’s voice was soon heard.
“Yes, Vice Chairman. This is Lee Kyung-min.”
“Chief Lee, please put a call through to the overseas business team and the international cooperation office. I’d like you to grasp the flood damage situation that occurred in the India and Pakistan regions and the overall impact on local business activities and organize it into a report.”
“Yes, I will prepare it immediately. Is there a specific part you would like to check?”
At Chief Secretary Lee’s question, Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung told him exactly what he was thinking.
“First, have them check whether there is damage on our side that has advanced locally and how much our partner companies and collaborators are affected. If there is a way we can practically help, whether it’s humanitarian support or donation, review it regardless and let me know.”
“Understood. I will submit it as an emergency report.”
Lastly, he spoke while feeling sorry.
“I’m sorry for asking on a day off. But for them, every minute will be urgent right now. I’m thinking of heading out to the company now too.”
Lim Do-kyung maintained a short silence and then added quietly.
“I hope we can show that we are a company that can reach out a hand at times like this. Since it’s the weekend, make sure not to burden the working-level staff, but please move quickly.”
“I will keep that in mind, Vice Chairman.”
After hanging up the phone, Lim Do-kyung stood up while letting out a deep breath.
On a day like this, it was also an eyesore for a superior to be resting alone.
He muttered like a monologue while quietly changing clothes.
“It’s also good to plant a good image at times like this.”
Seeing Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung come down to the living room, I asked.
“Where are you going?”
Lim Do-kyung said as if it were no big deal while tying his tie.
“I should stop by the company for a moment.”
Kang Ji-yeon asked with a surprised face.
“Did something happen?”
“It seems like our company in India shouldn’t just stay still either. It’s nothing big, so don’t worry. I’ll contact you if I’m late.”
I looked at my father and nodded quietly.
I could know what he was trying to do without asking.
I saw Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung off, went into my room, opened my laptop, and entered keywords in the search bar.
[Taeseong Medical Foundation Chairperson Lim Young-ok]
After a moment, the foundation’s official homepage appeared on the screen.
At the bottom of the introduction, there was the chairperson’s biography and a quote containing her thoughts.
There was information about my great-aunt in my memory as well, but because I have a personality that taps on even a stone bridge before crossing, I scrolled down calmly.
It was written like this on the homepage.
“As much as medical care faces life, it starts from sincerity toward people. Taeseong Medical Foundation Chairperson Lim Young-ok.”
I stared at the screen for a long time and then picked up my cell phone.
And I immediately found the number and pressed the call button.
After the dial tone rang several times, a middle-aged woman’s neat voice was heard.
“…Is that you, Hyunjun?”
I harbored a smile on my lips and greeted politely.
“Great-aunt, have you been well? It’s been a long time.”