Chapter 10

This is definitely not an act.

If this were an act, it wouldn't just be a matter of being smooth; it would be a matter of having the talent to act.

He genuinely doesn't know how to handle smartphones, computers, and their functions at all; that much is clear.

"Would it be okay if I take a look at your phone, Manager Song?"

At this point, Manager Jeong was confused again.

It can't be an act.

It can't be a joke either.

How can he show his smartphone so casually, without any hesitation or doubt?

Back at Manager Song's house, he didn't have the time to think deeply about such things, but Manager Song is a messy person in all aspects of his life, not just his private life, to the extent that he is called "Messy Manager" at the company.

Manager Jeong has seen Manager Song's messy private life firsthand many times.

And yet, he is willing to hand over his smartphone, which must contain all that messy private life, so casually?

This is definitely proof that Manager Song is not in his right mind.

Manager Song followed the instructions Jeong had given him, placed his face on the screen for facial recognition, and then handed over the smartphone.

"I'll just save Chairman Jang's number in my phone for you."

"Save it?"

"Yes, if I save it like this, you can find it here whenever you need to. Like this."

"Wait a moment. Let me try it again. I'll go in here and... then press this, like this..."

"Yes, you just need to press the call button here."

Manager Song asked Jeong, just in case, after Jeong had registered Chairman Jang's phone number in his phone.

"By any chance, is Manager Jeong's phone number also saved in my smartphone?"

"It should be, right?"

A moment later, Manager Jeong, with a troubled expression, searched for his name on Manager Song's phone but found no information.

So this time, he searched for "Jeong Daeri" instead of his name.

Again, no information was found.

This can't be possible?

Manager Jeong, puzzled, touched Manager Song's phone again.

He is the one who occasionally calls when drunk, asking for a ride.

His number must be saved under some other name.

This time, Manager Jeong directly dialed his own phone number on the keypad.

Then...

Slave 4

His number was saved, but the registered name was "Slave 4."

His face flushed, and an indescribable sense of humiliation began to envelop his entire body.

At that moment, the 10 million won checks he had received at Manager Song's house came to mind, and he felt deeply distressed.

Manager Song's face was also clouded with a heavy fog.

Although he didn't know what was going on, he could tell that his phone number was saved in Manager Song's phone not under his name or job title but as "Slave 4," and that this had shocked Manager Jeong.

* * *

I walked out to the elevator corridor.

After quickly checking if it was okay to make a call there, I pressed the green call button as Manager Jeong had instructed to call Taesan.

The signal went through, and from that moment on, my heart started racing, separate from the fact that I had upset Manager Jeong by calling him a slave.

Future Finance? Taesan is the chairman there now?

Was it my greed to hope he would stay in Jaejeong?

It doesn't matter.

What good would it do now?

If 30 years have passed, that friend must be close to 90 years old, and the important thing is that he is still alive.

Good job.

Although I couldn't do it, he has lived well and taken care of his health up to this point.

If you, like me and my wife, had not been able to see this wonderful world and had passed away early, how could I ask anyone about the state of Jaejeong now?

But don't worry.

I won't scold you like I used to.

I'm just borrowing my grandson's body to see how Jaejeong has changed, and since this is not my will but a mysterious phenomenon, I don't know when I will have to return this body to my grandson and go back to where I belong.

I'm just curious about the current Taesan.

If possible, I just want to have a bowl of spicy beef soup and a shot of soju at the Taehwajang restaurant we used to frequent.

That's all.

If I can hear how my children have been living through that soju, it would be more than enough.

—Hello.

Although it had been a long time, it was definitely my friend Taesan's voice.

"Are you Chairman Jang Taesan?"

—Yes, but who is this? Who knows my number and is calling me?

"Chairman. I..."

Yes, I should avoid surprising an old friend.

"I'm Jeong Hoon from the Son family."

—Jeong Hoon from the Son family? The second son of Chairman Son?

"Yes, that's right."

—The second son of Chairman Son? Why are you calling me?

Why is this friend using such a formal tone with my grandson?

"Are you well?"

—Is the sun going to rise in the west tomorrow?

"..."

—You must have lived a long time. I'm getting health greetings from the son of Chairman Son.

Is this Taesan scolding Jeong Hoon?

Usually, Hongjun and his sons also had a distant relationship with Taesan.

Why? How?

"I haven't been in touch for a long time."

—What are you talking about? I think this is the first time I've ever received a direct call from you. Yes, it must be the first time. How did you get this number?

"..."

—Yes, you could have found out the number easily if you tried, but what is it?

It's cold.

Taesan, who never treated anyone coldly, no matter who they were, and who often got scolded for not being firm, is now treating my grandson coldly.

And as the closest friend of the grandfather, who has lived to be over 90, he has never asked about his well-being?

Especially since Taesan is one of the major shareholders of Jaejeong Mojeok?

"I want to meet you in person to greet you and ask some questions..."

—Ha!

Is this a laugh?

—What? What did you just say?

"..."

—You want to come see me? To greet me?

"Yes, but why are you so angry? Did I..."

—Your dark intentions are all too clear, my friend.

Dark intentions?

—Did Chairman Son send you?

"What do you mean?"

—What do you mean? It's about my shares. I clearly told Chairman Son I wouldn't sell.

"..."

—Now, you're using a naive, ignorant young son to come up with such a trick? Poor Chairman Son, poor Chairman Son. To think that his eldest son, who followed him closely, would pass away so young, and that his youth and life, which he dedicated to building Jaejeong, would be led by a chairman of such limited capacity. How could he rest in peace in his grave? He would be weeping and wailing!

"..."

—Don't call me about such matters again. No, just don't call me. I have nothing to say to you. Unless it's business, what else is there to talk about?

"Then, what about Jeong Yeop!"

—...?

"Not Jeong Yeop, but do you know anything about Mr. Jeong Yeop?"

Was I too selfish?

Since Taesan is pushing away even the son of Hongjun, asking about the eldest son Hongmyung's son Jeong Yeop is probably too selfish.

But no matter how I think about it, I can't get accurate information about Jeong Yeop from Hongjun or Jeong Tae.

If he knew, or if he could mention it, why wouldn't he take care of Jeong Yeop separately?

—Jeong Hoon.

"Yes, Chairman."

—Of course, I don't blame you. I don't have the right to. It's a family matter, after all.

"..."

—But it's shameful that you can mention Jeong Yeop's name so casually. You should know that.

"..."

—Do you think I would tell you about Jeong Yeop even if you knew? Who knows when and how you might come and cause trouble?

Cause trouble? Me? Or Jeong Hoon?

—People need to have a sense of shame. I'll pretend I didn't receive your call today, so hang up.

I couldn't even say that I understood or ask for a little more conversation.

I don't know why Taesan is so angry with Hongjun and his son, but he hung up the phone after saying his piece...

* * *

Am I being punished now?

Throughout my life, I was obsessed with money, success, and business, neglecting my family and treating everyone as if they revolved around me. Is this a punishment for all that?

Yes, it could be.

If not, how could the terrifying information that flashed through the abyss of light, which seemed to span 30 years in a moment, be presented to me so vividly?

It seems that by showing me the future of Jaejeong, which I built, the heavens are making me reflect on my past and repent.

Still, I am grateful.

I can think about the future reality at the threshold of death, and perhaps I can taste a bowl of spicy beef soup, which I so desperately wanted to eat before closing my eyes, and then leave this world forever.

It was a little past 5 PM.

When I thought about it, it might have been fortunate that Taesan didn't meet me.

What could I do by meeting Taesan now?

What could I ask, and what could I find out?

Even if I found out about Jeong Yeop, what could I do now?

I don't know when I will return to Jeong Hoon's body, and in fact, I should be where I belong, and Jeong Hoon should be in this body.

I was thinking of meeting Hongjun, but that thought was fading.

Go quietly, quietly.

So that when Jeong Hoon returns to this body, there won't be more confusion...

"Excuse me, Manager."

No one was asking me to do anything or inquiring about work.

After sitting at my desk for about two hours doing nothing, I thought about how I was wasting this precious time.

Jeong Hoon seemed to be a troublemaker at the company, and everyone treated him as if he didn't exist. Since this moment might be my last in this world, I decided to leave the company on my own.

"Yes, Manager. Is there something you need?"

"Can I leave early?"

"Leave early?"

"Yes, I don't have anything to do, and I'm a bit tired, so I'll go home early."

"Yes, go ahead."

"Thank you."

Indeed.