I can't just give up on my own
After returning to China, Ye Xiaotong went to see Ye Xianping and declared that she would continue her relationship with Wu Yingshik.
"······Do you really have to do that?"
"Yes. Even if I were to continue my relationship with my father, I am a Ye person. I have no intention of going to Korea to live. I have absolutely no intention of abandoning my grandfather. However, I do not want to live pretending not to know my father, whom I have only just met."
As Ye Xiaotong spoke softly, Ye Xianping could only nod.
"But be careful. Your father could be a weakness for you. This is China."
"Yes, I already know."
"You're a smart kid, so you'll do well. I trust you, baby. You mean everything to me. You know that, don't you?"
Ye Xiaotong was greatly disappointed in Ye Xianping, but she did not deny the affection and trust he showed her.
"Yes. I love you too, Grandpa."
After meeting with Ye Xianping, Ye Xiaotong left Beijing to meet Xi Jinping.
"Xiaotong."
"Jinping!"
The two called each other affectionately. After a long hug, the two separated.
"It's late, but congratulations on being appointed party secretary."
When Bo Xilai was appointed Shanghai Party Secretary, Xi Jinping was appointed Zhejiang Provincial Party Secretary.
But the weight of Shanghai and Zhejiang Province was as different as heaven and earth.
"Is this something to celebrate?"
Ye Xiaotong patted Xi Jinping's arm as he spoke bluntly.
"The opportunity will come again. So for now, you just have to humble yourself and wait."
Xi Jinping nodded at the sight of Ye Xiaotong's adorable appearance.
But he never completely erased his expression of discontent.
"I don't understand why that guy, Boshilai, was chosen. I can't accept it. If it were someone else, I would try to understand, but Boshilai, that's just not the case."
"i think so too."
Ye Xiaotong also nodded quietly, as he shared the same thoughts as Xi Jinping.
"Xiaotong. Have you met President Kim Moo-hyuk?"
Ye Xiaotong nodded in response to Xi Jinping's question.
"He was a scary person."
"It was a good opportunity to blame him for Wei Zhengsheng's death, but it's too bad. I heard that President Hu Jintao was protecting him. Do you know anything about it?"
"I don't know about that. Because of that idiot Wijeongseong, one of Boshirai's weaknesses was blown away."
Xi Jinping and Ye Xiaotong knew that Wei Zhengcheng was providing political funds to Bo Xilai.
When the time came, he intended to use it to attack Boshirai.
But now that the authority was dead, that card could no longer be used.
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Xi Jinping, unaware that Ye Xiaotong had killed him, asked in frustration.
"Do you know about the organization that killed the government?"
"No. I just realized it this time."
The organization responsible for this incident was one that had deep ties to Ye Xiaotong himself.
But she didn't tell Xi Jinping that.
"Why did that well-fed pig do something so helpful to me? It's a shame that he's dead."
Xi Jinping sincerely regretted that the assassination of Kim Moo-hyuk had failed.
"Let's forget what has already happened and prepare slowly. I will work hard to meet people in Beijing and prepare. Jinping, you grow in Zhejiang Province. And······."
Ye Xiaotong continued speaking, looking straight into Xi Jinping's eyes.
"Erase any weaknesses that could cause problems later. And stop accepting political funds."
Xi Jinping did not hide his discomfort at those words.
"If you don't have money, you can't do anything."
"If you want to play in the big waters, don't be greedy for small money. I told you all along."
"······."
"Jinping. I want to make you the master of China. That's why I'm doing everything I can to help you. Listen to me."
Xi Jinping did not answer right away. When Ye Xiaotong's face hardened, he nodded and said.
"Okay. I won't accept any more political funds."
Only then did Ye Xiaotong's stiff face relax and a bright smile appeared.
"Thank you. For listening to my request."
After that, Ye Xiaotong left several requests for Xi Jinping.
When the political talk was more or less over, Xi Jinping asked something he had been curious about.
"Xiaotong, why did you suddenly go to Korea?"
Ye Xiaotong, who had been speaking smoothly, stopped.
She couldn't decide whether to tell Xi Jinping that her father was Korean.
When Ye Xiaotong did not answer easily, Xi Jinping asked with a puzzled look.
"Why? Is there something you can't tell me?"
"······No. I just went there myself to find Kim Mu-hyeok's weakness."
Xi Jinping's face brightened.
"Oh? So what did you find?"
"I've just set up a bridgehead for now. It won't be easy since it's not China. But don't worry. I'll definitely find that person's weakness."
In the end, Ye Xiaotong decided to hide her father's existence from Xi Jinping.
"Okay. I'll only trust you."
Xi Jinping hugged her again.
Ye Xiaotong felt the warmth as she completely surrendered herself to Xi Jinping's large arms.
But the look in Xi Jinping's eyes as he held her was different.
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The affectionate gaze that was seen in front of her had changed into a sharp gaze.
'How dare you deceive me?'
Xi Jinping already knew Ye Xiaotong's father.
'You don't trust me, Xiaotong?'
Xi Jinping swallowed his anger and ended his hug with her.
Suddenly, the sharp expression disappeared, and only gentle eyes filled the room, as if looking at a woman he loved.
* * *
Time passed quickly.
Woo Young-sik submitted an application to join the Centrist Party and at the same time held a press conference to announce that he would run for the Jongno National Assembly seat.
With the help of other members of the National Assembly, he rented the National Assembly press room and began holding press conferences.
"Hello, this is Woo Young-sik."
Woo Young-sik, who had been standing in front of the press for the first time in a long time, bowed his head to the reporters.
The press room was filled with reporters to cover the press conference of Woo Young-sik, one of President Yoon Chang-ho's closest associates.
"I stand here today with a heavy heart. The people are giving a lot of support to the Yoon Chang-ho government and the centrist party."
Woo Young-sik began reading the statement he had prepared.
"This by-election will be a midterm test for the Yoon Chang-ho government. However, the centrist parties that must work together with the government are vying to nominate each other as candidates."
In a heavy voice, he fiercely criticized the centrist party.
"So I eventually gave up my decision to return to the wild and came back. I don't know if I'll be good at politics after working as a prosecutor for decades. But what if I'm a little clumsy? Even if it's the ruling party, if the government goes down the wrong path, you have to be able to whip it. I plan to run in the primary for the Jongno by-election to create such a ruling party."
Woo Young-sik's declaration of candidacy was lengthy.
However, what is unusual is that he did not highlight his friendship with President Yoon Chang-ho.
On the contrary, he showed a more hardline stance, saying that he would step forward and take the lead if President Yoon Chang-ho and the government went down the wrong path.
After finishing the press conference, Woo Young-sik left the communication room and had a Q&A session with reporters in the hallway.
At that time, Woo Young-sik was receiving the media spotlight in the National Assembly.
Several people were gathered at a Japanese restaurant in Yeouido.
Park Seok, who declared his return to politics to run for Jongno this time, was sitting at the top.
They were watching Woo Young-sik's press conference, which was being broadcast on all channels.
Park Seok, who had been watching in silence for a while, picked up the remote control and turned off the TV.
"Representative Park. What do we do now? If Woo Young-sik is coming out, doesn't that mean the discussion with the Blue House has already been concluded?"
They were people who gathered to raise Park Seok as a presidential candidate.
There were many people who came together for Park Seok, including current members of the National Assembly, former members of the National Assembly, and even officials of the centrist party.
"What can I do? The President said he would send Yoo Young-sik away."
As Park Seok spoke as if giving up, the man sitting to his left exploded in anger.
"You can't just step down like this. If you step down this time without doing anything, you'll be the only one who looks ridiculous."
Park Seok opened his mouth, looking at the man who spoke with sharp eyes.
"What kind of appearance?"
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"A person who retired from politics has declared his return. But if he were to step down without even participating in the primary, what could be more embarrassing? Furthermore, Jongno was originally the assemblyman's place of employment. He cannot be pushed out of such a place. This is something that must be fought for."
Park Seok asked him, who was showing a strong will.
"So what are we going to do? Congressman Kim. Don't just oppose unconditionally, but talk about a method. The president's approval rating is over 60%. How can I win over someone who was chosen by the president?"
"······Please accept the support of the Conservative Party again."
"Speak sense, Rep. Kim!"
Park Seok raised his voice. But Rep. Kim continued to speak firmly.
"I understand why you want to distance yourself from the Conservative Party. You think that if you join them, you won't be able to dream of the presidency. But if you step down now, you won't have the presidency or anything. Even if you don't like it, you have to join hands with the Conservatives."
"······That can't be."
"Congressman."
Although Rep. Kim called earnestly, Park Seok shook his head firmly.
"The Conservative Party is a failed force. A party that has lasted for decades has disappeared without a trace. Does that mean that the Center Party is the true successor to the Conservative Party? No. It was simply absorbed into the Center Party without a trace. I have no intention of going with those who have failed."
"Who doesn't know that? I hate those people myself. But there are many members of the centrist party who miss the Conservative Party. If you get their help and use your name recognition, you have a good chance of winning the primary."
Rep. Kim clashed head-on with Park Seok's opinion.
"I have staked my entire political career on you, Congressman. No, everyone here has staked their political careers on you. How can these people give up?"
At those words, Park Seok slowly looked at the faces of the people gathered there.
"······Does everyone else think so too?"
"Yes, that's right! I agree with Rep. Kim. We must not step down."
Perhaps because the floodgates had opened, everyone spoke in one voice telling them not to give up.
Park Seok sighed at that reaction. His head was spinning because he had so many thoughts.
'I can't just give up. Huh······.'
When Woo Young-sik's application for party membership came in, Park Seok urgently contacted the Blue House.
Although I was unable to contact the President, I was able to contact the Secretary.
He drew a line, saying that Woo Young-sik's candidacy and the Blue House have nothing to do with each other.
So, just in case, I watched Woo Young-sik's press conference on TV today.
But I was convinced when I saw in his declaration of candidacy that he would stand up to the government.
Cheong Wa Dae and Woo Young-sik were on the same side.
With the president's approval rating over 60%, it would be tantamount to suicide to clash with the Blue House.
Talking about it so confidently meant that you had already made peace with the Blue House.
"Is there anyone among the people gathered here who knows why Woo Young-sik stepped down from his position as senior secretary and left the Blue House?"
Woo Young-sik's resignation as Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs was a sudden event.
There was no reason for him, a former prosecutor and friend of the president, to step down.
There were various stories circulating in political circles regarding the sudden resignation.
But they were all just empty rumors, and no one knew the truth.
"Could it be that President Yoon Chang-ho resigned in advance for the Jongno by-election?"
"Then there is no way at all."
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"No. The application for membership has been submitted and we have conducted an internal poll of party members. The results show that you are ahead by about 5%. You have a good chance of winning. If you get support from Conservative MPs, your chances will increase even more."
Park Seok opened his eyes wide and asked back.
"Really? Is that true?"
"Yes, that's right. Unless the president explicitly declares that he's supporting it, you have the advantage."
"But a president who is supposed to remain politically neutral can never do that."
"Yes. So if we tie up the Blue House and work with the conservatives, it is a fight we can win."
Park Seok tapped the table with his index finger and sat deep in thought.
While he gathered his thoughts, the others waited in silence.
But the silence didn't last long, because in the end there was only one answer.
If I step down here, my dream of power will become even more distant.
"Okay. Once······."
As Park Seok was licking his lips, the door suddenly opened wide.
Everyone's eyes turned to the open door.
"What kind of conspiracy are you plotting here?"
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the man who came in whining.
"Chief Lee! What the hell is this!"
The person who opened the door and came in was Lee Myeong-su. Contrary to his calm tone of speech, there was not a hint of a smile on Lee Myeong-su's face.
"Everyone else, please leave, except Candidate Park Seok."
"What? Are you crazy? Do you know where this is?"
All the incumbent lawmakers stood up and pointed their fingers at Lee Myung-soo.
"President Lee! When I say yes, what do you think I know? Do you really want to die?!"
There was a lot of noise and shouting here and there, but Lee Myeong-su just ignored it as if he was used to it.
Instead, he looked down at Park Seok with cold eyes and said.
"Candidate Park Seok. I would like to have a conversation with you two."
"······This president. What kind of rudeness is this?"
"I came here in a hurry. Should I go back? Aren't you curious as to why I came?"
"Everyone get out."
"Congressman!"
"Stay out! I'll call you again."
People closed their mouths and hesitated at Park Seok's shout.
"Get out! Are you planning to ignore me too!?"
Let's shout again, and only then do they start leaving the room one by one.
As they left, they hurled harsh abuse at Lee Myeong-su.
After a while, everyone left and the door closed.
"Sit down. I need to hear what you were trying to say that made you behave so rudely."
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"Oh, it's not me, it's someone else who wants to meet you."
"What? What is that······."
Before Park Seok could finish speaking, the door connected to the next room opened.
A man was sitting in a spacious room.
He was tall and clean-cut, but he had a cold air about him that I couldn't help but notice, and he raised the corners of his mouth.
"Congressman Park Seok. This is my first time seeing you like this. This is Kim Moo-hyuk."
< I can't give up at will > End
< Give up your candidacy >