Free Web Novel"Oppa!"
Song Hyeonji ran toward me, calling out from afar.
Even in the middle of bustling Myeongdong, she didn’t care at all.
"Am I late? I don’t think so—I came right on time."
"You’re not late. I just came early."
Because of her studying for the college entrance exam and my own hectic schedule, we hadn’t been able to meet properly for a while.
But now that the exam was over, she’d basically threatened me into making time for Christmas Eve. So I didn’t schedule anything else today.
"You got your score report, right?"
"Oppa, do you really have to bring that up on a day like this? You’re such an old man." freewёbnoνel.com
"Ha ha."
I tried to laugh it off awkwardly, but Song Hyeonji seized the moment and kept firing.
"I told you before, but you overthink things too much. Stop acting like you’re some old guy."
Well, I actually was older.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Myeongdong became packed with couples and families.
"I know a really good place! Do you like Thai food?"
"Whatever... Just pick what you want to eat."
"Let’s go!"
Song Hyeonji casually linked arms with me and started walking, pulling me along.
"This place is seriously good. Have you ever been to Thailand?"
"Hmm... Once or twice?"
"Was it nice? I haven’t been abroad even once. But you go to the U.S. all the time."
"Once you’re in college next year, let’s go together. Is there somewhere you want to visit?"
"Really? Will Grandpa even allow it?"
Even while waiting for our food after ordering, the conversation didn’t stop.
"Which university are you thinking of going to?"
"I don’t think I’ll make it into Korea National... Grandpa says if I’m not going there, I should study abroad."
"Chairman Song said that?"
Chairman Song was the kind of man who didn’t send his kids overseas to study.
He’d let them graduate from any university in Seoul and then throw them right into the field.
Maybe it was because he believed that real experience came from working, not school.
Though times had changed and now the third generation were all studying abroad, it usually happened after graduating from university in Korea.
"But I want to experience college life in Korea."
"You’ll get into Korea National. Don’t worry."
"Yeah, yeah. ‘Studying was always easy for me!’"
"..."
Why did I say that.
Not long after, the food Hyeonji had ordered arrived.
"Oppa, try it. It’s really good."
Her eyes were still fixed on the food as she spoke and started eating with her chopsticks.
"You’re not eating?"
When she noticed I was just watching her eat, she finally looked at me.
"I will. You eat a lot too."
"Okay."
After finishing our meal, we went to a nearby café. On Christmas Eve, it was almost impossible to find an empty seat in Myeongdong, but thankfully one opened up.
"Let’s get a parfait!"
I nodded at Hyeonji’s suggestion.
"I’m twenty now."
"Do you like it?"
"Yeah. Now I can do what I want."
A small laugh escaped me.
"Why are you laughing?"
"No... You sound like you’re expecting college life to be like a drama."
"Huh?"
"Hate to break it to you, but it’s not like that. Studying, and more studying! It’s just an extension of high school."
"Please don’t say that."
"At least in my experience, that’s what it’s like."
"That’s just you being boring. There’s mixers, group trips, rock cafes, clubs... So much to enjoy. How can you only study?"
"Most students live like that. Though I guess you won’t have to worry as much."
"What does that even mean? Don’t talk like an old man."
Hyeonji pouted her lips.
"Wait... are you planning to go on mixers?"
I asked without thinking—it bothered me.
Hyeonji grinned playfully.
"Why, what? You never give me a clear answer. Don’t like it?"
"..."
"See? Can’t even say anything."
Maybe I was keeping my distance because of the scars from my past life.
"It does bother me."
"What the heck. Have you even dated before?"
She was teasing me, but she looked oddly pleased.
"Anyway, I’m against mixers."
"You’re ridiculous. At least be clear! You’re no fun."
Though she said that, her face was glowing with a smile, already used to my tone.
"It’s time to head home now, right? You're staying at Chairman Song’s tonight, right?"
"Yeah. Until the end of the year."
"I’ll take you there."
The café that was so noisy when we first came in had now quieted down quite a bit.
When I got up, Hyeonji packed her bag and stood up too.
Outside, though it was late, Myeongdong still felt lively. As we stepped out onto the main road, Chief Ma, who had been standing by nearby, pulled the car up for us.
"This was fun. When I’m with you, I don’t have to watch my back. That’s what I like."
Even though she grew up with her maternal family, a chaebol heiress’s life was anything but free.
After saying that, Hyeonji closed her eyes and leaned on my shoulder. She dozed off for a bit.
I didn’t want to wake her, so I just kept staring out the window.
Or rather, at her reflection in the window.
Without realizing it, a smile crept onto my face.
When we arrived in front of Chairman Song’s home, snow had begun to fall.
It was a white Christmas.
"Hyeonji, time to wake up. We’re here."
"Mmm..."
She rubbed her eyes and sat up.
I chuckled.
"Sorry, I dozed off."
"You must’ve been tired."
"I got to chat and laugh a lot today for the first time in a while."
She stretched, wide awake now, and opened the car door in one motion.
"It’s snowing!"
She stepped out into the falling snow, gazing up at the sky.
I got out as well.
"It’s cold. Go inside now."
While looking at the sky, Hyeonji shot me a glare.
"Oppa, are you emotionally dead? It’s not just snow. It’s a white Christmas!"
"Snow’s just snow. What else would it be."
"You’ve got no feelings. None. Ugh..."
Hyeonji stared at me.
"What? Do I have something on my face?"
"No, you’re good-looking, but... your face is clearly in your twenties, and yet you talk like some middle-aged man. It’s kind of surreal."
"Hahaha."
Her expression was so serious, I couldn’t help laughing.
And then it happened.
She stepped forward suddenly, rose up on tiptoe, and kissed me lightly on the lips.
"That’s all for today! Bye, oppa!"
Then she scampered into the house.
I touched my lips as I watched her disappear inside.
I was flustered... but also happy.
It was the first emotion I’d truly felt since returning.
And it wasn’t a bad feeling at all.
* * *
1996 had passed, and time kept moving.
People were in shock from the sudden disbandment of Seo Taiji and Boys at the start of the year.
In April, the ruling party suffered a crushing defeat in the general elections. The president started scrambling to shore up his base.
A weakened presidency meant the Cheongpunghoe now had more space to exert political influence again.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party regained power, signaling a shift toward conservatism. That meant more funds would flow into Cheongpunghoe.
Though noisy, the effort to unify all the gangs in Seoul under Park Dongsu eventually succeeded—through my financial support and relentless suppression of opposition, everything came together as one.
A complete unification of Seoul’s underworld, something no one had ever achieved before.
Park Dongsu became Chairman, and the elders were seated as board members, giving the group the appearance of a proper company.
"Chairman Park."
"Ha ha. Chiara."
"Are you feeling good?"
"Wouldn’t you? No one else pulled this off."
It was true. Korea’s underworld had always been a constant power struggle.
Even gangsters protected by politicians never managed to unify all of Seoul.
But times had changed.
Loyalty? Romance? All crap.
In the end, it was money.
You could tell just by looking at how much I invested in this plan.
"What about the regional gangs?"
"Need to start wrapping them up gently. They either join us or get cleaned up."
"It’d be best to bring them in if possible."
"I’d like that too. But it’s easier said than done."
"Use the board members wisely."
Park Dongsu gave a small nod.
"What about the Chinese and Southeast Asian groups?"
"Not much activity. They don’t clash with us much. They control the drug trade. At the last general assembly, a lot of them were grumbling."
Drugs could never truly be eradicated.
"For now, just keep them appeased."
"Got it."
I didn’t need to come forward directly. Controlling the underworld through Park Dongsu was the best strategy.
"Let me pour you a drink. Congratulations, truly."
"Thanks. It’s all thanks to you. No—because you built this foundation for me."
"You’re exaggerating. Focus on construction and security services. Avoid violence as much as possible. There’s plenty to earn just from construction."
No redevelopment ever happened without hired security.
Even major corporations had to use such companies to get the job done.
"So, tell me. What do you want me to do next?"
He handed me the glass after taking a sip.
"The Yakuza are going to enter Korea. I’m guessing they’ll come through Busan, but we’ll need time to confirm."
"Hmm... There are plenty of guys in Busan with ties to the Yakuza."
"Some will likely join forces. Keep a close eye on Busan at all times."
"Understood."
No matter how tightly you locked it down, dissenters would always emerge.
Some would fall for money, some to violence, and some out of discontent toward Dongsu.
"Your next task is to align all gangs nationwide on our side. Use money, force, whatever it takes. That comes first."
"Got it."
He sipped his drink, lost in thought.
‘Cheongpunghoe is too quiet...’
They’d lost all their watchdogs in {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Gangnam. Yet they hadn’t lifted a finger while Dongsu unified the underworld.
‘I guess it’s not a bad thing.’
I decided to take it as a positive.
Our drinking session continued deep into the night.
Seeing this major pillar of power solidifying as planned put me in a good mood.
* * *
"Grandfather, it’s Muhyuk."
"Come in."
As I entered the study, Grandfather turned from where he’d been looking out the window.
Outside, autumn had deepened, and the foliage burned red and orange.
Over the past year, his face had noticeably aged.
"Shall I call in Manager Ha too?"
Though he looked puzzled, Grandfather nodded and summoned Ha Myeonghun.
"I’d like to convert all your liquid assets into dollars."
I had already recovered all the corporate bonds. By my calculations, Grandfather had about 3 trillion won in cash, not counting the stocks, real estate, and other assets already in my control.
"Hmm..."
People knowledgeable in finance were already wary of short-term foreign debt risk.
And thanks to my repeated urging, Grandfather had picked up on it faster than others.
"Next year, the dollar exchange rate will rise, and it’ll become harder to obtain dollars. I believe now is the time to stop lending money and begin converting everything to USD."
"Myeonghun, what do you think?"
"There’s logic in the young master’s reasoning. But converting all of the Chairman’s cash holdings into dollars won’t be easy."
"I’m aware. But if we start now, we can make the transition slowly."
By next year, with the government focused on defending the won, it would become even harder. The sooner we started, the smoother it would go.
"A time will come when dollars equal power. Please trust me one more time, Grandfather."
Just like in his prime during the 1970s, the day would come when conglomerate chairmen came crawling to Pyeongchang-dong begging to borrow money again.
Not in won—but in dollars.
< That’s all for today! > End.
