RR 08
[008] Active Appeal 2.
There was no way the group would move based solely on a college student’s prediction. However, what Chairman Jin wanted to see was poise that didn’t betray inner turmoil.
Seeing the eldest grandson’s expression, which immediately revealed anxiety, tension, and nervousness, he was instantly compared to the youngest grandson.
Despite a ten-year age difference, the gap between an elementary school student and a university student, he couldn’t shake the feeling that their capacities were different.
“That’s enough. You may leave.”
“Ah, yes.”
Jin Young-jun bowed his head deeply and left the study. He must have instinctively known that his answer sheet hadn’t received a good score.
Today, Chairman Jin Yang-cheol was both pleased and a little regretful, feeling that his greatest birthday gift was nothing other than the rediscovery of his youngest grandson.
Why did it have to be the youngest?
If that boy had been the eldest grandson, it couldn’t have been better…
After a long period of deep thought, Chairman Jin Yang-cheol made up his mind.
There was still plenty of time.
He wanted to properly nurture the youngest grandson who had shown such good potential.
He quietly called for his youngest son, Jin Yoon-gi, the owner of that good potential.
The youngest son, who had barely set foot in this study, showed a tense expression at his father’s sudden summons, but also a hint of displeasure.
His father, Chairman Jin, couldn’t help but frown the moment he saw his youngest son’s face.
“How have you been?”
“I’ve just been passing the time with various odd jobs.”
At his son’s curt reply, Chairman Jin’s stomach began to burn.
“Are you truly going to live like that?”
“Why the sudden interest now…?”
Jin Yoon-gi reacted even more curtly when his father, with whom he hadn’t had a proper conversation in years, suddenly showed interest.
Looking at this pathetic son, a surge of anger rose, but he suppressed it, recalling his clever grandson.
“If there’s anything you wish to do, tell me.”
“Weren’t you the one who prevented me from doing what I wanted?”
“I stopped you because you wanted to be an entertainer! Are you calling that a proper thing to say now?!”
“What can I do? Being an entertainer is all I want…”
“You want to make movies that undress vulgar women? That’s all? You pathetic fool.”
“I never said I wanted to make erotic films. I…”
“Enough. I didn’t call you here to talk about that anyway.”
Chairman Jin, having silenced his son, let out a long sigh before continuing.
“How are the children’s studies?”
“Yes?”
“I mean Sang-jun and Do-jun. I’m asking if they’re doing well in school.”
“Well, I don’t check their grades. Growing up healthy is most important.”
His youngest son didn’t please him at all.
Wasn’t he saying he was completely neglecting such a bright grandchild? No, that he hadn’t even discovered his brilliance yet! It was utterly pathetic.
“Starting tomorrow, I will send two private tutors. An English teacher and a teacher for other subjects. Be aware of that and prepare.”
“Father. They are only elementary school students. When they go to high school, I…”
“Just do as you’re told.”
Chairman Jin was displeased with his son, who argued about every little thing, but he stepped back, thinking this might also be an opportunity for a test.
“Alright. Then at least ask the children. If they don’t want it, we’ll pretend it never happened.”
Chairman Jin was only thinking of his youngest grandson.
Given the impression he made today, he shouldn’t refuse private tutors.
Hadn’t he confidently promised to get top grades all year?
Jin Yoon-gi felt unfamiliar with his father, who was suddenly showing interest in his children.
He knew better than anyone that his father wasn’t the type to suddenly feel pity just because Do-jun caused a big incident today.
Also, it was unexpected that he would back down, even though he wasn’t someone who would ever retract his words.
He had made a great concession. It would be impossible to disregard such a concession.
“Understood. I will ask the children, and if they want it, I will follow your wishes.”
“Alright. Oh, and if the children want anything more, tell me. If they’re willing to work for their development, shouldn’t I help them?”
Jin Yoon-gi’s lips moved, but no words came out. He was cuhttps://orangenuna.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/woman-traveling-in-france-2023-11-27-05-16-47-utc_Easy-Resize.com_.jpgus why the sudden interest had begun, but he didn’t want a long conversation.
“If you have nothing further to say, I will take my leave.”
Jin Yoon-gi bowed slightly and exited the study.
On the Drive Home
In the car on the way home, my father said nothing.
My mother wanted to ask something, but watching my father, she too remained silent.
As soon as we arrived home, my father called my brother and me to sit down.
“Do-jun.”
“Yes.”
“I’m not going to scold you for what happened at your grandfather’s house today. You’ve already been punished.”
“I apologize.”
As I bowed my head, my father’s expression changed.
He still seemed uncomfortable with his son’s sudden maturity.
“That’s enough. It’s enough that you understand your mistake. Lift your head.”
As I lifted my head, my father’s penetrating gaze felt burdensome.
“Your grandfather said he’ll be paying attention to your studies. He’s going to send private tutors… What do you want to do?”
As soon as the word “tutors” came up, my brother frowned.
He must have seen enough of how hard our cousins, who already had tutoring, struggled. The thought of sitting at a desk all day, even at an age where they should be freely playing, would surely fill him with irritation.
“Sang-jun doesn’t seem to like it. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to do it. It’s alright.”
At the word “alright,” his scowling face brightened considerably.
“Do-jun?”
I didn’t need private tutors. At best, they’d be students from prestigious universities… I’d probably have more to teach them.
But this was Chairman Jin’s directive.
I had to follow it unconditionally.
“I’ll do it. Because it’s a promise.”
“A promise?”
“Yes. I have to get top marks in all subjects for a year. I promised Grandfather.”
At the word “promise,” my father’s surprised expression appeared and vanished.
He seemed to think it was a promise made while I was kept in the study for a long time.
“Do-jun. Dad just told you. If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to.”
“It’s fine. For now, I need to be a good grandson who listens well.”
“W-What did you say?”
Oh, snap, what useless words!
“Ah, I really did promise Grandfather to be a good grandson. That I’d study hard and not fight with my cousins…”
I tried to muddle through, but my father’s eyes still held a suspicious glint.
Fortunately, he didn’t press the matter further.
Perhaps this was my father’s personality. Indifferent to everything, no, rather, a listless attitude.
He was still young, but I wondered why he had become like this.
“Alright. Got it. Since you want it, I’ll make the arrangements.”
I stood up first, bowed slightly, and walked out, and Sang-jun quickly followed me.
On the stairs leading to the second floor, Sang-jun looked at me and said, “Do-jun.”
“Huh?”
“You did well today.”
“What?”
“Making that bastard Kang-jun cry.”
Perhaps too embarrassed to voice his praise, he only left those words and quickly ran up the stairs.
That guy must have had a lot bottled up too. If a childish kid was like that, how much worse must it have been for our parents?
My objective was elsewhere, but it wasn’t bad to have given the young punk some satisfaction.
A slight laugh escaped me as I watched my brother’s light steps ascending the stairs.
“You don’t need to waste time like that.”
“What?”
“I mean… let’s be more efficient.”
The two young private tutors looked bewildered at the word “efficient.”
They probably never expected such a word to come from the mouth of a ten-year-old child.
“Efficient, you say?”
“It won’t be easy for you to just sit idly while I study. Just give me the studies I need to do each day as homework. And then you can just check it the next day, right?”
“B-But, shouldn’t you ask questions if you don’t understand something while studying?”
Despite my boldness, she spoke as gently as possible. This was the attitude of ordinary people dealing with the bloodline of a chaebol family. It was a little bitter.
“I’m saying I’ll do it all at once. Check homework, give assignments… Thirty minutes a day is enough, so both teachers will be comfortable too.”
“That’s true, but still…”
They were receiving too much money to teach for only thirty minutes a day. Moreover, as the compensation was large, they had to produce definite results, and if the grades didn’t improve, they could suffer a major setback.
They had gotten their foot in the door of this household through connections. If word got out that they weren’t capable, they wouldn’t be able to face the person who introduced them.
Looking at the troubled expressions of the two teachers, I could roughly tell what they were thinking.
“First, try it my way, and if you don’t think it works, tell me. I’ll do as you wish then.”
When I conceded a step, the two teachers’ expressions brightened.
“Alright. We’ll trust you for now. But if you’re even a little lacking, you’ll have to study for two hours, then four hours without moving. Understand?”
“Yes.”
How could I be lacking?
I would control the pace of my studies. Even if I wasn’t called a genius, I would make sure praise like “an incredibly bright child” was heard.
And of course, for it to reach my grandfather’s ears.
Since it was the first day, I asked the two teachers, who felt that just getting acquainted was enough, to give me assignments.
What do old people like most, if not diligence?
A desirable attitude of diligently studying from the very first day of tutoring would surely impress my grandfather.
The first assignments were to memorize all the English alphabets and solve math and Korean language problems.
For now… just perfectly doing the homework.
“…”
The two teachers stared blankly at each other, unable to open their mouths.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Oh, no. Excellent. Well done. But… have you studied English before?”
“No.”
“Really? For a first-timer, your handwriting is quite… too skilled?”
This comment came because my handwriting after the alphabet test was no different from an adult’s.
“It just came out that way after writing all day yesterday.”
I quickly changed the subject.
“Teachers. Are all the problems I solved correct?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. Perfect score. Well done.”
The teacher responsible for the other subjects also had a hesitant expression but didn’t skimp on the praise.
“Then please give me my homework for tomorrow.”
I wanted to get the two teachers out quickly.
I still desperately needed time alone.
I needed time to record important memories from the past—events, people, and historical facts related to Sunyang Group—before they disappeared.
If I did nothing, memories would be erased day by day, but by trying to revive and record them, even facts I had completely forgotten would resurface.
In the past three months, I had filled over two notebooks with meticulous records, and this would become my secret weapon in the future.
Anyway, the two teachers left, shaking their heads, and I eagerly awaited the end of the day.
Because tomorrow was an important day that would bring immense change to this country. And, of course, a big change for me too.
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