Chapter 2: The Grandson of a Securities Tycoon (2)

Looking only at the name Jaehoon, I didn’t respond, and I heard the worried gazes and deep sighs of the unfamiliar people around me.

I had woken up but couldn’t answer or react.

I was also very confused.

The doctors told Chairman Lim Byungdal:

"Chairman, it seems the patient has short-term memory loss due to the accident. As a result, he has developed aphasia and cannot remember who he is. However, there are no other cognitive impairments."

'Aphasia? Short-term memory loss?'

Although the diagnosis was absurd, Jangjin, surrounded by unfamiliar people, deliberately showed no reaction.

He decided that staying quiet would be the best way to observe his situation.

Gradually regaining his composure, he realized that he had woken up as Jaehoon, the grandson of Chairman Lim of Current Securities, and now had to live as Jaehoon.

I was happy to pass the Current Securities interview, but now I’m the chairman’s grandson.

Should I be happy or not?

But there was a problem.

It’s 1996.

Regression? Possession? Rebirth?

I don’t know what to call it, but when Jaehoon died in a car accident, Jangjin’s soul entered Jaehoon’s body.

Now I have to live as Jaehoon.

Using short-term memory loss as an excuse, I bombarded the butler with questions about Jaehoon, and gradually learned more about him.

"You just fainted from shock, but you weren’t seriously injured. It was a miracle. And the police issue…"

This Jaehoon was driving without a license.

And it was all sorted out.

Is it the person who’s wrong or the society?

Even if it’s an era where money can solve everything, people are trash.

'He shamelessly fled. Driving without a license should have led to arrest…'

Jangjin organized the basic information and history of Jaehoon, the person he had to live as.

Age: 26

Name: Jaehoon

Background: Studied in Australia to avoid legal issues after high school

Military: Exempted due to illness

He didn’t study well and didn’t serve in the military.

A typical rich kid’s life full of shortcuts.

And he’s unemployed.

Worse, he’s a wasteful unemployed person, squandering his grandfather’s money.

"Hmm…"

The grandson of a wealthy financier.

Being rich.

If my heart didn’t race at the word "rich," it would be a lie.

Rich.

How exhilarating and intoxicating a word it is.

And the only grandson.

No need for sibling rivalry or power plays.

Just enjoy a happy life without worrying about money.

A golden spoon.

Endless parties and drinking, a new girlfriend every week…

Owning one of the few cars in the world, private jets, and yachts.

Born with a silver spoon, capable of even more.

A future filled with unimaginable possibilities.

Having never lived as a tycoon, it was naturally an impossible dream.

With such a bright future ahead.

But, unfortunately, I woke up at the worst possible time.

"It’s March 5, 1996… About two years left."

Current Securities will go bankrupt on December 24, 1997, Christmas Eve.

In other words, a financial restructuring.

More simply, it means bankruptcy.

After that, only the name Current Securities will remain, and everyone will be replaced.

'What bad luck.'

Should I be grateful?

Jangjin knew Current Securities well.

In his previous life, he didn’t mention it during the interview, but Current Securities was the top securities firm that a tycoon heir had utterly ruined.

Jaehoon, why you?

The name sounded familiar.

It was Jaehoon of Current Securities.

However,

If I’m going to live as Jaehoon, I can’t let Current Securities go bankrupt.

I need to take over Current Securities and save it from ruin.

In my previous life, whenever I thought about Current Securities:

'If I were a third-generation tycoon, I would turn the company into a global enterprise.'

I could become a true tycoon.

A person with significant influence on the world economy.

Someone listed in Forbes.

Someone worth paying over 10 million won just to have a meal with.

But the reality is far from my aspirations.

"Manager Jung, as soon as this guy is discharged, send him abroad immediately. Take away his cards and accounts. Make sure he doesn’t return to Korea until he’s back on track!"

The sound of the curtain rising.

The icy command of Chairman Lim Byungdal, shouting in the hospital room.

First, I need to persuade my grandfather, Lim Byungdal.

If things continue like this, I won’t even become a new employee, let alone a CEO, and will be sent abroad.

"I need to change Grandfather’s decision."

A ritual of purification.

"Let’s start with a shower."

After showering, I opened the door connecting to the bathroom, and a large dressing room appeared.

The spacious room, about 30 pyeong, was filled with various accessories, luxury items, and custom-made clothes.

Among the many clothes, I chose a style that would look most appropriate to the chairman.

A white shirt, a neat navy suit, a blue tie, and a silver metal watch.

"You’re not Jangjin anymore. You’re not the wasteful Jaehoon anymore."

Jaehoon, looking in the mirror, straightened his clothes and hair, and muttered.

"I’m the determined Jaehoon."

And then,

A loud voice came from below.

"Jaehoon! Come down immediately!"

It was Grandfather, Chairman Lim Byungdal.

As the head of a major securities firm, his voice was like that of a victorious general.

Even the resonance carried a sense of anger, as if facing an enemy.

Of course, the enemy was Jaehoon.

Jaehoon, determined, firmly opened the door and started to descend the stairs.

The eyes of the people lined up from the kitchen to the living room, centered around Grandfather, grew wider.

Jaehoon’s sophisticated and well-dressed suit.

People couldn’t close their mouths for a moment and were busy criticizing his changed appearance.

"Hey, did you not wash the young master’s clothes? What’s with the suit?"

"Are you poisoned by the food? You don’t look well."

"Did you take the wrong medicine when you were discharged from the hospital?"

"Did you get it from the pharmacy?"

'Their reactions are too extreme.'

Seeing their shocked faces as if they had never seen him before, it seemed Jaehoon had never dressed this neatly.

I was curious about what he usually wore.

Jaehoon stood straight in front of Grandfather.

"Did you call for me?"

Chairman Lim Byungdal of Current Securities.

Standing in the center of the living room on the first floor, he exuded authority.

Anger radiated from the chairman, and the room was filled with a suffocating tension.

He looked more like a detective rushing to handle an urgent case than someone returning from a business trip.

Jaehoon met Grandfather’s eyes, as if to argue, "I’m a different Jaehoon now."

"…I told you to reflect, not to protest. Did you think I would calm down if you stayed in your room?"

"No."

"Then why did you do this?"

"I was organizing my thoughts."

"What thoughts?"

"I was thinking about how to live properly and not disappoint you, Grandfather."

"Live properly?"

"I know my past actions were wrong. Please give me another chance."

"Again? There are no more chances. Leave for abroad immediately."

"Grandfather…"

Chairman Lim’s face twisted.

"You…!! I even considered letting you join the planning department. But you caused an accident right after returning?"

'Planning department? Not the CEO?'

In my previous life, I remember Jaehoon was the CEO, but I don’t recall him starting in the planning department.

But starting in the planning department isn’t bad.

The planning department oversees the entire company, and becoming the CEO after serving as the head of the planning department wouldn’t be bad.

Take it when it’s offered.

"I’m sorry. I was wrong."

As soon as "I’m sorry" came out of Jaehoon’s mouth, the atmosphere around him froze.

The people lined up behind Chairman Lim raised their heads, and their eyes met in the air.

They looked as if they had said something embarrassing and swallowed dryly.

They whispered to each other.

"Did the young master really say that?"

"I thought the chairman said it."

"Say something that makes sense."

"Too shocking… Did the young master really say something that ends with 'da'?"

Even Chairman Lim paused for a moment.

But he seemed determined not to be fooled again.

"Go out and take responsibility for your actions. It’s better not to come back until I call you."

Chairman Lim nodded to Manager Jung, who bowed and handed a yellow envelope to Jaehoon.

Jaehoon, looking disappointed, tried to step back without taking the envelope, but Manager Jung shook his head slightly, indicating that he should take it.

Considering the many eyes on him, Jaehoon reluctantly took the envelope.

"Prepare the documents by tomorrow and leave in a week. This time, it’s Canada. Manager Jung, help him with the paperwork."

"Yes."

Grandfather turned and entered his study.

'It’s not working. Then…'

I expected Grandfather wouldn’t back down easily.

After all, my experiences since coming back to life included driving without a license, being treated like a walking dog in a suit, and hearing alien signals after apologizing once.

Jaehoon quickly followed Grandfather into the study, and Chairman Lim, looking at him with a "Why are you following me?" expression, sat down.

Manager Jung stood beside him like a bodyguard.

"Why?"

"Grandfather, I won’t go to Canada."

Chairman Lim’s gaze swept over Jaehoon’s body, and his lips moved.

He was surprised by today’s behavior.

This isn’t the Jaehoon he knew, and he wondered if he had eaten something wrong.

But there might be a thousand-year-old sword hidden in this thunderbolt.

'He’s just hiding his true self.'

"If that’s what you came to say, I don’t want to hear it."

"I want to join the company."

Jaehoon answered with a resolute voice.

"What…?"

Chairman Lim’s eyebrows trembled.

Want to join the company?

"Did you not take my words seriously?"

"No."

"Leave. It’s not possible."

"Grandfather."

"I saved you from going to jail for driving without a license."

"I’m sorry."

"I don’t want to hear it. Get out."

"..."