Negotiations with the government regarding the 'disclosure of On Ijo' proceeded sluggishly.
“You understand, there are many factors to consider. There are quite a few departments involved, aren’t there?”
National Security Advisor Choe Cheonho smiled without offering the exact reason.
Inside the spacious VIP hospital room, On Ijo, seated on the bed, and On Suhyeong, in a chair beside him, were looking at him.
“Please bear with us a little longer, even if it is frustrating.”
National Security Advisor Choe Cheonho spoke arrogantly while gauging On Suhyeong’s mood.
With Doan Group’s stock price fluctuating amid health rumors, it could not have been easy to remain calm, yet he was quite composed.
As if knowing Choe Cheonho was watching his reaction, On Suhyeong turned the page of the newspaper and replied.
“Well, matters of state are never easy.”
On the front page of the newspaper, in large letters, were the headlines: ‘On Suhyeong of Doan Empties All VIP Hospital Rooms for Examinations,’ and ‘Health Concerns Regarding Chairman On Suhyeong.’
“As long as it is not delayed to an excessive degree, we are more than willing to compromise.”
So this was still within tolerable limits.
Choe Cheonho twisted his lips in displeasure.
The reason for delaying the disclosure of On Ijo was entirely due to orders from the VIP.
Because the card called On Ijo was indeed a significant one.
If push came to shove, they must be planning to reveal that On Ijo was on their side before the election.
He let out a deliberately hearty laugh and spoke exaggeratedly.
“Truly magnanimous, Chairman On.”
Having said that, Choe Cheonho glanced at On Ijo.
Despite it being his own affair, On Ijo appeared largely indifferent.
‘Does maintaining silence here mean tacit agreement?’
He looked at On Ijo curiously and thought.
Doan leaned favorably toward the government, and there had been no resistance from On Ijo, who had been the greatest concern.
If the person himself said it was fine, no matter how much On Jurim might want to, he would not step in easily.
Furthermore, On Jurim must currently be frantically busy with dungeon-related affairs.
Thus, if he kept these two in the palm of his hand, his assigned task would be complete.
*This matter will end smoothly.* It was the moment Choe Cheonho became certain of this.
Suddenly, a pattering sound was heard from outside.
It was the sound of a child running.
It appeared to be On Jurim’s adopted daughter.
Recalling the child who had cutely worn a thigh-length uniform, saying she was going to the baseball stadium with her older brothers, a smile naturally came to his lips.
They had sent the child out for a moment so the adults could talk.
Bang!
The door burst open with a loud noise.
As expected, it was the child.
However, she was holding a newspaper in her hand, and large tears were welling in her big eyes.
“Geuru?”
“What is it?”
While Choe Cheonho flinched in surprise, On Suhyeong and On Ijo, who had widened their eyes upon seeing Geuru, stood up simultaneously.
“G-grandfather….”
Her lips puckered as if she would burst into sobs at any moment, and Geuru ran straight into On Suhyeong’s arms.
On Suhyeong lifted Geuru up and comforted her.
“What is the matter?”
Geuru, who had buried her face in On Suhyeong’s embrace, spoke while sniffling.
“Grandfather… don’t be sick.”
“Ah….”
So she had seen the article. On Suhyeong did his best to hide his troubled expression.
Recently, the outside world had been abuzz with talk of Doan, so he had deliberately kept her from watching the news.
Where on earth had she gotten a newspaper?
On Suhyeong asked in a low voice, gentle yet as if suppressing his anger.
“Who showed you this?”
“Outside… sniff! My sister and brothers were reading it….”
On Suhyeong’s face hardened grimly.
Choe Cheonho, realizing that those Geuru pointed to were his aides, furrowed his brows.
Geuru burrowed back into On Suhyeong’s embrace.
Her short arms wrapped around her grandfather’s neck.
“Our baby cried because she was worried about her grandfather. These are all nothing but absurd articles. The reason grandfather comes to the hospital is to see Geuru’s face, not because I’m sick.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Would grandfather lie to Geuru?”
Geuru shook her head.
“Then what about this?”
Geuru pointed directly at the article.
On Suhyeong stroked Geuru’s head.
“If they say grandfather is sick, there will be people who are fooled like Geuru, won’t there?”
“Yes.”
“That’s what they want. They want to make people think the company is shaken because grandfather is sick.”
“Gasp!”
Geuru gasped.
“Because that becomes money for the adults.”
Geuru’s face turned sulky.
“That’s mean.”
“So there’s no need to overreact to every little thing.”
On Suhyeong comforted Geuru and folded the newspaper with his face plastered across the front page.
One short article caught his eye.
Because Geuru’s name was in it.
[Doan’s On Geuru, From Orphan to Chaebol Third Generation]
Below it was even a trashy subheading: ‘Just How Much of an Inheritance Will On Suhyeong Give His Adopted Child?’
Throb.
Instantly, veins bulged in the hand holding the newspaper.
On Suhyeong patted Geuru as he quickly scanned the article.
The content was exactly as the title and subheading suggested.
It was an article so absurd it drew a hollow laugh, stating ‘how great a fortune Geuru had grasped by being adopted into Doan. But most of the inheritance would go to the family Jurim would have in the future, and what Geuru would hold would not amount to much.’
“It seems there are still people who don’t know how much grandfather loves Geuru.”
His words to Geuru were tender and warm, but the face hidden from her had gone ice-cold.
He immediately contacted his secretary and ordered him to begin by pulling all advertisements from that newspaper.
Meanwhile, On Ijo received the newspaper and quickly read through the article containing Geuru’s story.
As even On Ijo’s expression slowly hardened, Choe Cheonho, sensing the unusual atmosphere, opened his mouth.
“I apologize, Chairman. I should have managed my people better….”
At that moment, On Ijo smiled and spoke.
“Director, I believe it would be best for you to return home for today. As you can see, the child seems to have been greatly startled.”
Choe Cheonho was well aware of it.
That the On family had taken in an adopted child and raised her like precious gold and jade.
But he had never imagined they would display such blatant displeasure before him, the National Security Advisor, over a mere child.
From the moment the child entered crying, the atmosphere had turned chillingly cold, leaving Choe Cheonho utterly perplexed.
Cursing the aides who had carelessly shown the newspaper to the child inwardly, he spoke.
“No, for today’s mistake, I must make amends to set my mind at ease—”
Holding Geuru, who still had traces of tears, On Suhyeong glared at him with terrifying eyes.
“I believe I said today’s discussion ends here.”
It was an attitude clearly different from before.
In the end, Choe Cheonho had no choice but to leave the hospital room as if being chased out.
This was serious. The course of the matter had changed because of that small child.
To offend them after coming this far!
“Are you all senseless? Huh?!”
He burst into a rage at his aides and left the hospital.
The aides, having grasped the situation, bowed deeply.
“What should we do now?”
“It’ll resolve itself with time, so for now we have to cater to their moods. Tch!”
Choe Cheonho had yet to gauge how far On Suhyeong would go for his granddaughter.