Free Web NovelI spent quite a while explaining to Myungsoo why I wanted to push Woo Youngsik into becoming a National Assembly member.
“Ha... Even so, it still doesn’t sit right with me. Do you know how much the President trusted that man? How do you think I’d feel if I betrayed you?”
“Are you laying the groundwork to betray me?”
“No, you bastard! I’m asking what you’d do if that actually happened.”
Myungsoo’s betrayal... That was a question I had already thought through long ago. I had a clear answer.
“Well. I think I’d forgive you once.”
Perhaps my answer was unexpected—Myungsoo’s lips moved, but it took him a long time to actually respond.
“...Yeah, right.”
In the past, I had abandoned Myungsoo once.
So in this life, no matter what he did, I intended to forgive him once.
But seeing that kind of reaction made ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) me want to tease him instead.
“Why do you think that? Do I look like that much of a bad guy?”
When I asked seriously, Myungsoo, embarrassed, changed the subject.
“Forget it, man. What’s the point of talking. If the President allows it, I’ll accept it too.”
“Good. I was planning to convince you first anyway before meeting the President.”
“Well, if the President forgives him, I’m not going to make a scene over it... Still doesn’t feel right.”
Even to the end, Myungsoo spoke with dissatisfaction.
“Then are you going to push out Park Seok?”
“That’s not happening!”
Myungsoo shouted, recoiling. Well, then there was no choice.
“There’s no better alternative. There’s no politician with enough weight to push Park Seok aside.”
There was no justification strong enough to suppress someone like Park Seok.
For that, the President himself would have to step in and sort things out.
“Well, that’s reality. At this rate, Park Seok will get nominated without any issues. He’s already a multi-term lawmaker from Jongno.”
Jongno was called the number one political district in the country.
Being repeatedly elected there meant receiving immense public attention and support.
After avoiding the fallout when the Conservative Party collapsed by declaring non-candidacy and political retirement, there was no way Park Seok would return to politics just to serve one more term.
If Park Seok entered the National Assembly again, it was obvious he would immediately rise as a leading presidential contender.
Perhaps thinking the same, Myungsoo crushed a paper cup in his hand and asked,
“But does Chief Woo Youngsik even intend to run?”
“Not yet.”
“What? Then what’s the point of us talking like this? There’s no conclusion.”
“He’ll contact us soon. It’s just more comfortable to have everything ready beforehand.”
Myungsoo looked puzzled for a moment, then nodded.
“If it’s Chief Woo Youngsik, no one in the party would dare oppose him. No matter what, he was President Yoon Changho’s closest friend and confidant. And no one in the party even knows why he stepped down.”
Myungsoo flicked the crumpled paper cup toward the trash can like a basketball.
“Nice!”
It went in perfectly.
Seeing him clench his fist and shout, I let out a small laugh.
“What are you doing?”
“You didn’t see that? One shot, straight in. My skills haven’t rusted.”
“Grow up.”
“What are you talking about? You should stop being so serious.”
Grumbling, Myungsoo stood up.
“I’ll drop a hint to the party leadership for now. Let’s talk again after you convince the President.”
“Alright. I’ll head to the Blue House tonight.”
“Then let’s talk tomorrow. I’m leaving.”
Myungsoo waved as he left the office, and I immediately picked up my phone to contact the Blue House and arrange a meeting.
* * *
Late at night, the car carrying me entered the Blue House without drawing any attention.
“Mr. President.”
“President Kim. Come in.”
At the residence, the President welcomed me warmly. Beside him, the First Lady greeted me as well.
“President Kim Muhyuk, welcome.”
“Yes. First Lady.”
After exchanging greetings, I handed her the flowers I had brought.
“Oh my, what is this?”
“I thought of you on the way here, so I bought them.”
“Hoho. You’re more thoughtful than my husband.”
“Oh, come on. Go inside and rest.”
The First Lady shot Yoon Changho a glare, then turned to me with a warm smile.
“Then I’ll go rest now.”
“Yes. I apologize for coming so late.”
“It’s alright. It’s been difficult watching him drink alone lately anyway.”
“Have you been drinking often?”
“Lately, he’s been drinking alone a lot. Even when I ask what’s wrong, he won’t tell me.”
Unable to refute her words, Yoon Changho simply smiled bitterly.
After glancing at him once, I spoke politely to the First Lady.
“Then I should keep him company tonight so he won’t feel lonely.”
“I’ll leave him in your care, President Kim. I’ll go rest.”
She lowered her head, took in the scent of the flowers, and headed toward the bedroom.
“Let’s go inside.”
I moved with Yoon Changho to the dining room. The table was already filled with food and drinks.
“My wife went all out since you were coming.”
“Good thing I brought flowers.”
“You should’ve told me in advance. Now what do I look like?”
I laughed at his gruff tone.
“Then you should treat the First Lady better.”
“Alright, alright. Sit.”
Shaking a bottle of rice wine like he was used to, Yoon Changho asked,
“Rice wine is fine, right?”
“Yes. Anything is fine.”
He poured two bottles of rice wine into a jug, then added a bottle of soda.
Rice wine with soda. His taste hadn’t changed.
After a moment, he poured the drink into bowls and handed one to me first.
“Let’s start with a drink.”
We lightly clinked bowls and emptied them.
Yoon Changho picked up a piece of jeon and put it in his mouth.
His expression looked bitter, so I asked without thinking,
“Have you been drinking alone often these days?”
“They say life is full of ups and downs. These days, I feel that more than ever.”
“...”
There was nothing more mentally exhausting than being betrayed by someone you trusted. I could fully understand how he felt.
Yoon Changho drank another bowl by himself.
“I heard something happened in China?”
I thought the Chinese government had blocked the information, but the President already knew.
“You knew?”
“Of course I would. I’m the President, after all.”
“There’s no point talking about something that’s already passed. I came back safely—that’s what matters.”
Yoon Changho nodded and lifted the jug.
I raised my bowl with both hands and held it out to him.
“Always take care of yourself, President Kim.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
After receiving the drink, I took the jug and poured for him.
Without a word, we clinked bowls again and emptied them.
“Woo Youngsik... He contacted me.”
As I was lowering my bowl, I paused and looked at him.
His eyes were filled with a mixture of emotions.
“He said his daughter came to Korea. We talked about many things.”
“I see.”
“It gave me a lot to think about. I was angry... but at the same time, I understood why he had to betray me—for his daughter.”
“Do you want to forgive him?”
At my question, Yoon Changho shook his head firmly.
“How can I forgive a traitor?”
He said it decisively, but it was obvious his heart had already softened.
I poured him another drink and asked,
“Did Chief Woo Youngsik say anything else?”
“Anything else? We only talked about his daughter.”
Has he not made a decision yet? Or is he unable to say it to the President?
For Woo Youngsik to become a candidate, the President’s approval was essential.
“Hmm. That’s unexpected. I thought he would ask for your opinion.”
“My opinion? About what?”
“I advised him to run in Jongno.”
“What?”
Caught completely off guard, Yoon Changho dropped his bowl.
It rolled across the floor with a loud noise, but his gaze remained fixed on me.
“You told him to become a National Assembly member? Him?”
“Yes. I told him to enter politics before as well. He refused back then. This time, I proposed it again. I told him to win a seat in Jongno.”
“...”
“Does it make you uncomfortable?”
Instead of answering, Yoon Changho poured himself another drink.
Then he downed two bowls in a row before speaking.
“...What’s the reason?”
“There isn’t any special reason.”
“That can’t be true. If you made that kind of proposal, there must be a reason. The President Kim I know doesn’t offer that kind of favor without a reason.”
He really did know me well. I shrugged and met his eyes.
“You probably won’t feel very good after hearing it. Do you still want to hear it?”
“I do.”
His voice was firm. I emptied my bowl and spoke.
“It will be difficult to amend the constitution to a parliamentary system within your term.”
Yoon Changho nodded, as if he had already expected that.
“In that case, I needed the next president to be someone I wanted.”
“...And that’s Woo Youngsik?”
“Yes.” ƒгeewebnovёl.com
“Why?”
“Because he already has a weakness. His daughter in China, Ye Xiaotong... Ah, Ye Xiaotong is Chief Woo Youngsik’s daughter.”
“I know. I’ve already heard.”
So they had spoken more deeply than just a phone call.
“Because he has a weakness, he will move the way I want.”
“...You’re saying you’ll make him a puppet?”
“Do you think you are my puppet, Mr. President?”
Yoon Changho said nothing and glared at me.
“I have never once thought of you as my puppet. If you think that, I would be quite disappointed.”
His answer came after a long silence.
“I don’t think that either. We were partners.”
“That’s right. As long as my work isn’t interfered with, that’s enough for me. That’s why I joined hands with you, and why I made sure you became President. Chief Woo Youngsik is the same. I need him, so I intend to make him President.”
“There will be strong opposition within the party.”
“Myungsoo will handle that. As you know, in politics, approval ratings are everything. As long as your approval rating doesn’t fall, no one will be able to oppose you.”
Letting out a deep sigh, Yoon Changho asked,
“Does it have to be him?”
“Of course, we could put forward someone else. But do we need to? Leaving the easy path and choosing the difficult one... having just you do that is enough.”
“...”
“If you oppose it, I will scrap the plan.”
Because we’re partners.
When I added that, Yoon Changho’s expression darkened further.
He continued drinking in silence.
I didn’t add anything, giving him time to think.
By the time he finally spoke, the jug of rice wine was empty.
“Let’s do it. He may have made a mistake once, but he’s not that kind of person. Giving him another chance isn’t a bad thing... No, thank you.”
“This is something I need to do anyway. Then please persuade Chief Woo Youngsik. I’ve already given a hint to the Secretary General.”
President Yoon Changho nodded. His complicated expression showed how much he was thinking.
“It seems you need some time alone. I’ll take my leave for today. I’ll visit again with better news next time.”
I stood up, bowed to him, and left the dining room.
He did not follow me out. When I stepped outside, the First Lady was waiting.
“Did you finish talking?”
“Yes, First Lady.”
“And him?”
“He seems to have a lot on his mind.”
“Thank you. He was actually looking forward to your visit today. Please come by more often.”
Not knowing what had been discussed inside, she simply asked me to visit more frequently.
“Yes. I’ll make time to visit often.”
I left the residence under her escort.
A few days passed after my meeting with President Yoon Changho.
Woo Youngsik came to the Myeongdong office in person.
After exchanging greetings, we went straight to the point.
“What should I do?”
“You’ve finished speaking with the President, right?”
Woo Youngsik nodded.
“Submit your party membership application immediately and declare your candidacy in Jongno. After that, the Secretary General will handle the rest.”
“Do you think I can do well?”
“Are you afraid?”
He hesitated before answering.
“...If I said I wasn’t, I’d be lying.”
“President Yoon Changho has already walked this path once. You watched how he walked it from up close, didn’t you? Just do the same. Stay on the ship quietly—the one holding the helm will be the Secretary General.”
After that, Woo Youngsik and I talked at length.
When he finished, he left me with one last remark.
“Leave my daughter alone. If you harm her, then I...”
“You’re making me repeat myself. That kind of threat doesn’t work on me.”
“It’s not a threat. It’s a request. If you agree to that, I don’t mind becoming your puppet.”
Woo Youngsik’s weak point was his daughter—Ye Xiaotong.
