Genius Grandson Of The Loan Shark King

After returning to China, Ye Xiaotong went to see Ye Xianping and declared that she would continue her ties with Woo Youngsik.

“······Do you really have to do this?”

“Yes. Even if I acknowledge my father, I am still a member of the Ye family. I have no intention of going to Korea to live. I would never abandon you and leave, Grandfather. But I also don’t want to pretend I don’t know the father I’ve only just met.”

As Ye Xiaotong spoke calmly, Ye Xianping had no choice but to nod in the end.

“But be careful. Your father could become your weakness. This is China, after all.”

“Of course. I already know.”

“You’re a smart child, so you’ll handle it well. I trust you, my dear. You are everything to me. You know that, don’t you?”

Ye Xiaotong felt deeply disappointed in Ye Xianping. But she did not deny the affection and trust he showed her.

“Of course. I love you too, Grandfather.”

After finishing her meeting with Ye Xianping, Ye Xiaotong left Beijing to meet Xi Jinping.

“Xiaotong.”

“Jinping!”

They called out to each other affectionately. After a long embrace, they finally pulled apart.

“It’s late, but congratulations on being appointed Party Secretary.”

When Bo Xilai was appointed Party Secretary of Shanghai, Xi Jinping had been appointed Party Secretary of Zhejiang.

But Shanghai and Zhejiang—the weight of those two positions was like heaven and earth.

“Is ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) that something to be congratulated?”

At Xi Jinping’s curt tone, Ye Xiaotong gently stroked his arm.

“Another opportunity will come. So for now, you have to lower yourself and wait.”

At her affectionate manner, Xi Jinping nodded.

But he couldn’t completely hide his dissatisfaction.

“I don’t understand why Bo Xilai was chosen. I can’t accept it. If it were someone else, I might at least try to understand—but Bo Xilai? Absolutely not.”

“I feel the same way.”

Ye Xiaotong nodded quietly, sharing his thoughts.

“Xiaotong. Did you meet President Kim Muhyuk?”

At the question, Ye Xiaotong nodded.

“He’s a frightening man.”

“It would’ve been a perfect chance to pin Wei Zhengcheng’s death on him. What a pity. I heard Chairman Hu Jintao stepped in to protect him. Do you know anything about it?”

“I don’t. Because of that idiot Wei Zhengcheng, one of Bo Xilai’s weaknesses just disappeared.”

Both Xi Jinping and Ye Xiaotong knew that Wei Zhengcheng had been providing political funds to Bo Xilai.

They had planned to use that against him when the time came.

But now that Wei Zhengcheng was dead, that card was gone.

Unaware that Ye Xiaotong herself had killed him, Xi Jinping asked in frustration,

“Do you know anything about the organization that killed Wei Zhengcheng?”

“No. I only learned about them this time as well.”

The organization behind the incident was deeply connected to Ye Xiaotong herself.

But she did not tell Xi Jinping that.

“That fat pig Wei Zhengcheng actually did something useful for once. It’s a shame he died.”

Xi Jinping sincerely regretted that Kim Muhyuk’s assassination had failed.

“What’s done is done. Let’s prepare slowly now. I’ll meet people in Beijing and make arrangements. Jinping, you build your strength in Zhejiang. And······.”

Looking straight into his eyes, Ye Xiaotong continued,

“Eliminate any weaknesses that could become a problem later. And stop taking political funds.”

At her words, Xi Jinping couldn’t hide his discomfort.

“You can’t do anything without money.”

“If you want to play in the big leagues, don’t cling to small change. I’ve told you that before.”

“······.”

“Jinping. I want to make you the master of China. That’s why I’m using everything I have to help you. Please listen to me.”

Xi Jinping didn’t answer immediately. As Ye Xiaotong’s expression hardened, he finally nodded.

“Alright. I won’t take political funds anymore.”

Only then did Ye Xiaotong’s expression soften into a bright smile.

“Thank you. For listening to me.”

After that, Ye Xiaotong continued to give him various pieces of advice.

Once their political discussion was more or less finished, Xi Jinping asked something he had been curious about.

“Xiaotong, by the way, why did you suddenly go to Korea?”

Ye Xiaotong, who had been speaking smoothly, hesitated. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

She couldn’t decide whether or not to tell him that her father was Korean.

When she didn’t answer easily, Xi Jinping asked with a puzzled look,

“Why? Is it something you can’t tell me?”

“······No. I just went myself to find Kim Muhyuk’s weakness.”

Xi Jinping’s face brightened.

“Really? So what did you find?”

“For now, I’ve only secured a foothold. It’s not easy since it’s not China. But don’t worry. I’ll definitely find his weakness.”

In the end, Ye Xiaotong decided to hide the existence of her father from Xi Jinping.

“Alright. I’ll trust you.”

Xi Jinping embraced her once more.

Wrapped in his broad arms, Ye Xiaotong relaxed completely, feeling his warmth.

But the look in Xi Jinping’s eyes was different.

It was no longer the gentle gaze he showed her—it had turned sharp.

‘How dare you deceive me?’

Xi Jinping already knew about Ye Xiaotong’s father.

‘You don’t trust me, Xiaotong?’

Suppressing his anger, he ended the embrace.

By then, the sharpness had disappeared, replaced once more with a warm gaze, as if looking at the woman he loved.

Time passed quickly.

Woo Youngsik submitted his application to join the Centrist Party and, at the same time, held a press conference announcing his candidacy in the Jongno National Assembly by-election.

With help from another lawmaker, he rented the National Assembly press briefing room and began his conference.

“Hello, I am Woo Youngsik.”

Standing before reporters for the first time in a long while, Woo Youngsik bowed his head.

The room was filled with reporters covering the press conference of Woo Youngsik, a close aide to President Yoon Changho.

“I stand here today with a heavy heart. The people have given great support to the Yoon Changho administration and the Centrist Party.”

Woo Youngsik began reading his prepared statement.

“This by-election will serve as a midterm test for the Yoon Changho administration. However, within the Centrist Party, which should be moving alongside the government, they are instead fighting among themselves over candidacies.”

With a weighty voice, he harshly criticized the Centrist Party.

“So in the end, I have decided to abandon my return to private life and come back. I don’t know if someone like me, who has spent decades as a prosecutor, can do politics well. But what if I’m a bit clumsy? Even if it’s the ruling party, it must be able to raise a whip if the government goes down the wrong path. I intend to enter the primary for the Jongno by-election to create such a ruling party.”

His declaration was lengthy.

But one notable point was that he did not emphasize his close ties with President Yoon Changho.

Rather, he took an even tougher stance, saying that he would step in and discipline the government if it went astray.

After finishing the press conference, Woo Youngsik left the briefing room and held a Q&A session with reporters in the hallway.

At that very moment, while Woo Youngsik was under the media spotlight at the National Assembly— ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

In a Japanese restaurant in Yeouido, several people had gathered.

Seated at the head was Park Seok, who had declared his return to politics for this Jongno race.

They were watching Woo Youngsik’s press conference broadcast on every channel.

After watching in silence for a long time, Park Seok picked up the remote and turned off the TV.

“Assemblyman Park, what do we do now? If Woo Youngsik is running, doesn’t that mean everything has already been settled with the Blue House?”

They were people gathered to raise Park Seok as a presidential contender.

There were sitting lawmakers, former lawmakers, and even Centrist Party officials—quite a large group united for him.

“What can I do? If the President wants to send out Woo Youngsik.”

As Park Seok spoke as if giving up, the man sitting to his left burst out in frustration.

“We can’t back down like this. If we retreat without doing anything, you’ll become a laughingstock.”

Park Seok fixed him with a sharp gaze.

“A laughingstock?”

“You already announced your return after retiring from politics. But if you withdraw without even entering the primary, what could be more humiliating? Jongno has always been your base. You can’t be pushed out of a place like that. We have to fight.”

Looking at the man who spoke firmly, Park Seok asked,

“So what do you propose? Assemblyman Kim, don’t just oppose—tell me a method. The President’s approval rating is over 60%. How am I supposed to beat someone chosen by a President like that?”

“······Let’s seek support from the Conservative Party again.”

“Don’t talk nonsense, Assemblyman Kim!”

Park Seok raised his voice, but Assemblyman Kim continued firmly.

“I understand why you’ve been keeping your distance from them. And I know you think you can’t aim for the presidency if you align with them. But if you step back now, there will be no presidency at all. Even if you don’t like it, you must join hands with those from the Conservative Party.”

“······I can’t do that.”

“Assemblyman.”

Though Assemblyman Kim called out earnestly, Park Seok shook his head firmly.

“The Conservative Party is a failed force. A party that lasted decades vanished without a trace. Can we say the Centrist Party inherited their legitimacy? No. They were simply absorbed and erased. I have no intention of walking with failures.”

“Who doesn’t know that? I hate them too. But there are many within the Centrist Party who still long for the Conservative Party. If we gain their support and use your recognition, we have a strong chance in the primary.”

Assemblyman Kim directly confronted Park Seok’s stance.

“I’ve staked my entire political career on you. No—all of us here have gathered, staking our political lives on you. How can you just give up on these people?”

At those words, Park Seok slowly looked over the faces gathered.

“······Do all of you think the same?”

“Yes, we do! We agree with Assemblyman Kim. You must not step down.”

Perhaps because the floodgates had opened, everyone spoke with one voice, urging him not to give up.

At that response, Park Seok let out a low groan. His head spun from the weight of his thoughts.

‘I can’t even give up as I please. Ha······.’

When Woo Youngsik’s application was submitted, Park Seok urgently contacted the Blue House.

He couldn’t reach the President, but he did reach a secretary.

The secretary drew a line, saying the Blue House had nothing to do with Woo Youngsik’s candidacy.

So he had watched today’s press conference on TV just in case.

But after hearing Woo Youngsik say he would stand against the government, he became certain.

The Blue House and Woo Youngsik were on the same side.

With the President’s approval rating above 60%, opposing the Blue House was no different from suicide.

The fact that he said it so boldly meant he had already coordinated with them.

“Does anyone here know why Woo Youngsik stepped down as Senior Secretary and left the Blue House?”

Woo Youngsik’s resignation had been sudden.

There had been no reason for a former prosecutor and the President’s friend to step down.

Various rumors had circulated, but no one knew the truth.

“Perhaps President Yoon Changho had him resign in advance for the Jongno by-election?”

“Then there’s no way at all.”

“No. After his party application was submitted, we conducted an internal poll among party members. The results show you ahead by about 5%. We have a real chance. If we gain support from those of Conservative Party origin, it will increase further.”

Park Seok widened his eyes.

“Really? Is that true?”

“Yes. Unless the President openly declares support, you have the advantage.”

“And a President who must maintain political neutrality could never do that.”

“Exactly. So if we tie down the Blue House and align with those from the Conservative Party, this becomes a winning fight.”

Park Seok tapped the table with his finger as he sank into thought.

The others waited in silence.

But the silence didn’t last long. There was only one answer.

If he retreated here, his dream of the presidency would grow even more distant.

“Alright. Let’s try—”

Just as Park Seok began to speak, the door suddenly swung open.

All eyes turned toward it.

“What kind of scheming is going on here?”

The man who entered spoke lightly, but every gaze locked onto him.

“Director Lee! What is the meaning of this?!”

The one who had entered was Lee Myungsoo. Despite his easygoing tone, there wasn’t a hint of a smile on his face.

“Everyone except Candidate Park Seok, please leave.”

“What? Are you insane?! Do you even know where you are?!”

The sitting lawmakers all stood up, pointing at Lee Myungsoo.

“Director Lee! Just because we’ve been lenient, you think you can treat your seniors like trash?! Do you have a death wish?!”

Voices rose from all sides, but Lee Myungsoo brushed them off as if he were used to it.

Instead, he looked down at Park Seok with cold eyes.

“Candidate Park Seok. I’d like to speak with you alone.”

“······Director Lee. What is this rudeness?”

“I came because it’s urgent. Shall I leave? Aren’t you curious why I came?”

“Everyone, leave.”

“Assemblyman!”

“Get out! I’ll call you back.”

At Park Seok’s shout, they fell silent, hesitating.

“I said get out! Are you planning to ignore me too?!”

Only then did they begin to file out one by one.

As they left, they hurled fierce curses at Lee Myungsoo.

A moment later, everyone was gone, and the door closed.

“Sit. You’d better explain why you acted so rudely.”

“Ah, it’s not me. Someone else wants to meet you.”

“What? What do you—”

Before Park Seok could finish, the connecting door to the next room opened.

Inside the spacious room sat a man.

Tall and neatly composed, yet carrying an inexplicably chilling presence, he slowly curled his lips into a smile.

“Assemblyman Park Seok. This is our first meeting, isn’t it? I’m Kim Muhyuk.”