I'm giving you a chance
After talking with Yeshaotong for about 30 more minutes, I said goodbye and left the room.
When we went down to the hotel lobby, Woo Young-sik was waiting.
"President Kim."
Woo Young-sik stopped me as I was trying to pass him and go outside.
"Chief. Are you still gone?"
"Let's talk for a moment."
I had a rough idea of what he was going to say.
No matter what, he must have been really upset to catch me like this.
"It might be a bit awkward to do it here, but would you like to have a drink?"
Woo Young-sik nodded, and I took him to the bar in the hotel.
After being assigned a quiet room, I sat down face to face with Woo Young-sik.
"Why did you do that?"
As soon as Woo Young-sik sat down, he asked me a question.
"It was out of respect for your daughter that I made your presence known to me."
"How is that respect! You must have intended to shake Xiaotong."
Woo Young-sik raised his voice without hiding his emotions.
"Why are you judging your daughter's thoughts as you please?"
"what?"
"After learning of the existence of the Chief, whatever choice is made is entirely up to Ye Xiaotong."
Woo Young-sik opened his mouth wide as if he had been hit by a bullet.
Of course, I intended to shake her up, but I had no intention of telling Woo Young-sik that.
"Yeshaotong is a grown-up. She can think and decide for herself. You can't force her to do whatever she wants. Even if you are her parents."
"······."
Woo Young-sik seemed to be thinking deeply after hearing what I had to say.
The conversation was interrupted for a moment when a staff member brought in a table of drinks.
After the waiter left, I opened the bottle of whiskey and poured it into two small glasses.
Then he pushed a glass towards Woo Young-sik and said.
"Let's have a drink first."
I took a sip of whiskey in one go. The strong taste of the alcohol running down my throat brought me to my senses.
Woo Young-sik followed suit and drank his drink before putting his glass down. The alcohol must have been strong, because his eyebrows furrowed.
"It's pretty strong, isn't it? But it's still a good drink. I think you should drink this much while talking to the chief."
Even though I was whining, Woo Young-sik didn't say anything and just stared at the empty glass.
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I asked as I filled the glass full of ice with alcohol.
"Is it true that the only reason you waited for me was to let Ye Xiaotong know about your presence? If that's the case, I think you'll be quite disappointed."
First, he pushed the filled glass in front of him and looked at Woo Young-sik while pouring whiskey into a new glass.
"Aren't you curious about what I talked about with Ye Xiaotong?"
Woo Young-sik looked at me blankly.
Looking at him like that, she smiled slightly and shook her glass to melt the ice.
The sound of ice hitting the glass rang out refreshingly.
"Could the appearance of Ye Xiaotong that you know be her real face?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"The Ye Xiaotong that you know is just a fragment of her. I value her more than you do."
After experiencing this, my thoughts about Ye Xiaotong completely changed.
Not only was he outstanding as a lobbyist, but he also showed great ambition as a kingmaker.
Even though the Shanghai faction was determined to kill me, I presented them with irrefutable evidence and completely stopped their movements.
That ability alone was enough to raise her ratings even higher.
"I had no intention of joining hands with her because of the chief's request. But now I don't think I can do that."
"President Kim!"
"As I said before, the person who came to me first was Ye Xiaotong. It must be because she thought that joining hands with me would help her in her work. You have no reason or authority to stop her from doing so. If you really want to stop her, you should persuade Ye Xiaotong, not me."
Perhaps because I was pushing the truth, Woo Young-sik bit his lip and glared at me.
"I seem easy to persuade, but you don't seem confident in persuading your daughter?"
"······I told that kid to forget about me."
I burst out laughing at those words without realizing it.
"Are you laughing?"
Woo Young-sik narrowed his eyebrows and glared at me. I waved my hand and held back my laughter.
"No. I just laughed because I thought you were so old-fashioned, sir."
"Hey, President Kim!"
"Did it seem easy for her to come here? She found out about her father, whom she had never known existed. She must have been worried about everything before coming here. Even after arriving, she must have worried about contacting the chief."
Woo Young-sik didn't answer.
"Just as it was difficult for the chief to visit his daughter, it would have been difficult for her to visit him as well."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Please accept her sincerity."
"That can't be. My existence wouldn't be of any help to Xiaotong."
"I don't understand why you're so assertive. Don't you think that your words will hurt your daughter? Telling her to forget about what happened when she came all the way here? That's not right."
Woo Young-sik and Ye Xiaotong should become closer.
Because Yeshaotong's weakness must become Wooyoungshik.
"······I'll take care of it."
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Woo Young-sik did not give up his stubbornness easily.
I felt that provoking her any further would only provoke a backlash. I shrugged my shoulders, tilted my glass, and took a sip.
Continued pressure would only backfire. He would keep mulling over what I said, so it would be enough to stop here.
That was also the reason why I deliberately created this atmosphere and had a drink with Woo Young-sik alone.
"You take care of your daughter's problem······. Have you thought about what I suggested earlier?"
I had advised Woo Young-sik to go into politics. He shook his head without a shred of regret.
"I don't think so at all."
"Well, I won't force you. But, wouldn't it be a shame to back out like this?"
"I am a sinful person. The fact that I am involved in politics······."
As expected of an old-fashioned person, I cut him off because I thought he would go on and on.
"I am asking you to wash away that sin."
"······."
"Will the sins I committed disappear if I step down? It's like telling me to work for the country while carrying those sins on my back."
"What do you want from me?"
"well."
The original plan was to change the political system to a cabinet system.
However, no matter how much public opinion was swayed and Yoon Chang-ho's approval rating increased, there was considerable opposition to the cabinet system.
If things continued as they were, constitutional revision during Yoon Chang-ho's term was all but out of the question, so it was necessary to prepare for Yoon Chang-ho's successor in advance.
However, Myeongsu was too young to run for president, and there was no one among the influential veterans who could be sent forward.
In the end, I made a decision. Just as I made Yoon Chang-ho president, I just need to put a new person in place.
Woo Young-sik, whose weaknesses are clear, is the right person for the job, but I still can't be sure about him.
"Let's start with the Jongno by-election that is three months away."
"······."
"If you are chosen by the people, then go into politics. If you are not chosen by the people, then give up."
Woo Young-sik still didn't answer.
"I'm giving you a chance. And that's the best apology you can give to President Yoon Chang-ho."
When Yoon Chang-ho's story came up, Woo Young-sik's face darkened.
I checked my watch and then downed the rest of the alcohol in my glass.
"I'll get up now. I hope you'll think seriously about what we talked about today. Your daughter's problems, and your future plans. When you've sorted out your thoughts, please contact me."
I left Woo Young-sik alone and left the room.
* * *
A few days passed after meeting Yeshaotong and Wu Yingshik.
"Ye Xiaotong has returned?"
"Yes. I flew back to China this morning."
"What about Woo Young-sik?"
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"They said they came to the airport to see you off."
I nodded with a satisfied expression. It seemed like we had decided not to cut ties after all. Then I will contact you soon.
"Contact the Black Bear Intelligence Team in China and assign all remaining personnel to Ye Xiaotong. Tell them to continue digging and report any new information as soon as it becomes available."
"All right."
It was as if Yeshaotong had developed a major weakness.
If her influence is greater than I expect, then I'll just use her.
"Are there any candidates for the Jongno by-election yet?"
"Yes. They say it's quite noisy."
When he said it was noisy, all I could do was laugh.
With the president's approval rating nearing 60%, the ruling party was bound to win no matter which candidate they nominated.
So, people who haven't been able to wear the gold badge are all trying to run in the Jongno by-election.
I immediately took out my cell phone and called Myeongsu.
- Oh, Muhyuk.
"Are you busy? If not, let's meet at the Myeongdong office."
Myeongsu grumbled something and then hung up the phone.
I'll be there in a bit.
"Why do you have to make people come and go!"
As expected, Myeongsu arrived a short while later and came into my office, saying rudely.
"I called you so I could see your face. So sit down for now."
"If you call someone, at least buy them a meal."
"What do you want to eat? Let's order delivery."
"Delivery? Then the weather is cold. Should I eat some Jjamppong? I'm craving some hot soup."
"Okay. Now that you say it, I feel drawn to it too."
"Eat Jjajang. Let's share."
When Myeongsu asked to order tangsuyuk as well, he laughed and called Director Ma.
While I was ordering food for the employees, I asked the Chinese restaurant at Myeongdong Hotel to bring me some food.
"So why did you call?"
"Because of the Jongno by-election."
"under······."
As soon as the story of Jongno came up, Myeongsu sighed.
"Why? What's going on?"
"I'm going crazy. Do you know how much even dogs and cows peck at me and say they'll go out?"
"But you must have narrowed down the list of candidates?"
Myeongsu nodded, frowning.
"We've narrowed it down to three. The problem is that neither of us wants to compromise."
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"Three people?"
"One from the Conservative Party, one of my close associates, and one who was a secretary at the Blue House."
"Secretary at the Blue House? Did you receive an order from the Blue House?"
Myeongsu shrugged.
"Don't say anything. But what would happen if you resigned during the by-election season? You're asking to be put in a position."
"Have you discussed anything with me?"
"The President told me to take care of it."
"Tell me the names of those three."
Myeongsu mentioned the names of three candidates. I only knew one of them.
"Is that guy Park Seok saying he'll come back to politics?"
"If there was a primary, that guy would probably win?"
Park Seok was a veteran who had served four terms in Jongno.
After the Conservative Party was dissolved, he announced his retirement from politics and has since disappeared from people's memories.
"I think he's aiming for the next presidency."
As Myeongsu said, he was not the type of person who would return just to become a member of the National Assembly.
"No matter how much I kill it, it keeps popping out."
Myungsoo sighed and nodded at my words. I had no intention of pushing Park Seok.
"Park Seok is absolutely not allowed."
"I know. But it's burdensome to just do it on my own. It would be better if the Blue House gave the order."
"Hmm. Let's just pick someone else."
"What? If you do that, there will be chaos."
As I was about to say something, the staff came in with Chinese food.
Jjajangmyeon, jjambbong, and tangsuyuk were prepared on the table.
"Oh, Myeongdong Hotel also offers delivery?"
"Which delivery guy came back? Let's eat first. Let's talk after we eat."
I poured some jjajang into an empty bowl and handed it to Myeongsu.
"Thank you! Can I get some Jjamppong too?"
"Okay. Eat a lot."
Myungsoo smiled and nodded while eating the sweet and sour pork.
After finishing our meal quickly, we continued our conversation while drinking coffee mix.
"Ah, I'm full."
Myeongsu leaned back on the sofa and smiled lazily, as if he was in a good mood.
I laughed along with Myeongsu's laughter.
"So, should we put someone else in?"
"Uh. Let's just push in a new person."
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"Is there anyone who can silence all the sects?"
"How about Chief Woo Young-sik?"
"What? That guy won't do!"
To Myeongsu's surprise, coffee overflowed from the paper cup he was holding and soaked his pants.
I took out a tissue and handed it to him and scolded him.
"It's not that I can't do it."
"Hey, are pants important right now? You know better than me what that guy Woo Young-sik did!"
"But if it's Woo Young-sik, wouldn't everyone keep their mouths shut?"
"That's true. But that doesn't mean it's not true. Even if people don't know, I know, you know, and the President knows."
Myeongsu shook his head firmly. Myeongsu's opposition was stronger than I thought.
"A person who betrayed you once will betray you again. You want to bring that person back to life? I'm against it."
If it were anyone else, I would have given the order without saying much, but I didn't want to do that to Myeongsu.
"Listen to my story."
I opened my mouth to convince Myeongsu.
< I'm giving you a chance > End
< I'm doing this because I need to >