Ch.313313. Don’t Gamble Unless You’re Certain

“Yes, our great-grandchild. Do you like being in your great-grandfather’s arms that much? There, there.”

“……”

I thought we were finally getting to the main point, but grandfather seems completely uninterested in anything like homework. I can tell because even though I’ve spread out various documents on the table in front of the sofa, he hasn’t even glanced at them once.

Honestly… I still don’t understand people’s true feelings. Grandfather is undeniably the current chairman of Han Group, and according to the reputation around him and what my parents and brother say, he must be a formidable person. But looking at his behavior now, he doesn’t seem to be that rigid of a person.

Or perhaps he only softens up like this in front of his great-grandchild. It’s certainly true that Woohee is cute enough to melt any adult’s heart.

While I was lost in these trivial thoughts, grandfather finally glanced at the pile of documents. With one arm holding Woohee, he picked up a few papers with his free hand and skimmed through them.

But somehow, his posture looks strangely familiar. Perhaps he had similar experiences in the past? Like having to handle work while taking care of a newborn…

“So, what does my youngest grandson think?”

“Pardon?”

“LP Group. I’m asking what you think about it.”

His tone is quite serious. But since he’s asking such a question while holding and soothing Woohee, the intimidation factor is half—no, less than half—of what it usually is.

Thanks to that, I was able to answer with a much more comfortable mindset than I had anticipated.

“In my opinion… it seems like a good stock that appears to be underperforming.”

“Hmm, and why is that?”

“Even though the stock prices of their affiliates have been crushed due to the drug scandal, LP Group’s core business—construction—hasn’t failed. This decline is temporary, and I think it will eventually recover to its original stock price. Just like other groups have done.”

“Half right, half wrong.”

“…Ah.”

Would it be inappropriate to be happy about getting half right? I awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck.

Despite my limited insight, I thought I had predicted the future well regarding this matter. But hearing grandfather’s words, it seems that’s not the case.

“LP Group will fall to pieces within 5 years at the latest. The stock price will naturally drop by half, or even lower.”

“5 years…”

I don’t know his reasoning, but if grandfather’s words are true, buying shares in LP Group would be foolish. There’s nothing more stupid than boarding a ship that’s scheduled to sink in the near future.

I’m not an actor… why would I be in a disaster movie? While thinking this, I suddenly looked at grandfather. Still soothing and comforting Woohee, he glanced at me and quietly smiled.

“My grandson, you look like you’re curious about the reason. Shall I tell you?”

“Yes, I’d like to know. Why you think that way, and what part I failed to see…”

“The chairman there is a junkie.”

“…Excuse me?”

“The largest shareholder of LP Construction, the chairman of LP Group, is a severe drug addict. Remember how it was reported that his children also took drugs? That was all his doing. When parents take drugs day in and day out, the children follow suit, and that’s how it ended up. Tsk, tsk, what a great example he set as a father.”

“Grandfather, this is the first time I’m hearing this… Are you certain? I remember the news reporting that the chairman was cleared of charges.”

“Of course, those who should know already know.”

Grandfather briefly said this and then gently pinched and massaged Woohee’s cheek. Looking at just this scene, he’s every bit the doting great-grandfather…

“Can you hide the sky with your palm? Just wait and see. It won’t last 5 years.”

…And then like this, he’s every bit the current chairman of a major conglomerate.

“What, don’t you believe it?”

“No, it’s not that I don’t believe it… it’s just hard to accept readily.”

“Then shall we make a bet? Whether LP Group collapses within the next 5 years or not.”

“A bet? Between you and me…?”

“Yes, a bet. Let’s see, if I win, my youngest grandson will work hard helping his grandfather, and if I lose…”

Since grandfather is generous, I thought he might offer me a car or a house if I win.

However, what came out of grandfather’s mouth far exceeded my imagination.

“Take Han Group, my youngest grandson.”

“…Pardon? Take what?”

“Han Group, I’m saying my youngest grandson should take it. If there’s someone who can see the future more accurately than the current chairman, that talented person should be the chairman for the group to run better. Don’t you agree?”

I was momentarily startled, thinking he was being serious. So I quickly shook my head and was about to decline when I saw grandfather smiling with a mischievous expression.

Ah, what? It was a joke. Finally realizing this, I smiled and played along. If I win the bet, he’ll give me the group? If he’s offering it for free, why not take it?

“Yes, I’ll take it if I win. Following in your footsteps, I’ll grow Han Group to be the number one conglomerate.”

“My grandson, make sure to learn diligently under Jiwoo. If you’re going to help grandfather soon, you should have graduated from these trivial tasks long ago.”

After exchanging these warm words, grandfather and I looked at each other and smiled.

“By the way, my youngest grandson. Did I ever tell you this?”

“Tell me what?”

“This grandfather of yours never makes a bet unless he’s certain to win.”

“I’m the same way. What a coincidence, grandfather.”

I responded without much thought, assuming it was just an extension of the joke.

…I shouldn’t have done that.

*

To cut to the conclusion, LP Group ended up exactly as grandfather had predicted. The group itself shattered into pieces.

The chairman was arrested on charges of drug use and drug trafficking, causing the stock price to drop not just by half but to shreds. All of this happened in just 8 months. It didn’t take the full 5 years grandfather had guaranteed; it happened in less than a year.

Well, it was inevitable from the moment the stock price failed to rebound long after it had halved. Even if the chairman hadn’t been arrested, the collapse would have happened eventually.

So while it might have been a natural progression, that’s not really my concern. Why? Because what’s important now isn’t what happened to someone else’s group in which I don’t own a single share, but the fact that I lost the bet with grandfather.

“…Nabi, I feel like I’m dying.”

Late in the evening, having just started my winter break as a sophomore in college, I returned home half-dead. The reason doesn’t need to be explained. It’s because my brother worked me to the bone after I lost the bet with grandfather.

I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal when I was just dabbling, but once I started learning properly, I realized how exhausting it was. The daily parade of numbers, miscellaneous tasks, human relationships… They say nothing in life is easy, and that’s absolutely true.

“Heh, you worked hard. Did you have dinner?”

“Yeah, I ate something quick while working. Are the kids asleep?”

“They just had dinner and are both sleeping now. Oh, you must be hungry too. I’ll prepare dinner for you, so why don’t you wash up first?”

Hwa Nabi, who gently embraced me, patted the back of my head and asked. After deeply inhaling her fragrant scent, I straightened my back and stood up.

“Yeah, please do.”

“Alright. I’ll make something delicious, so make sure to wash thoroughly.”

I was going to do that anyway. With Hwa Nabi seeing me off by patting my back, I went to the shower room and started showering. As I stood still under the warm water, it felt like all the fatigue accumulated from work was being washed away in an instant.

“Ah, that feels good.”

When you go to public baths, middle-aged men often make strange noises, and now I understand that those are sounds that naturally come out when fatigue is relieved. I didn’t understand when I was younger, but now I kind of get it.

The fact that I feel this way means I’m gradually becoming a middle-aged man too, right? Actually, I am a middle-aged man. I already have two children. My older child, Woohee, is three years old, and my younger one, Woocheon, is one.

“Wow…”

Yes, surprisingly, I’m already the father of a three-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son. I myself am amazed by this fact, and when I told my colleagues and college friends, they scolded me for making strange jokes. Having two children at the age of twenty-two seems to be that unbelievable.

…I wouldn’t believe it either. Who would believe that a college classmate or a new employee just learning the ropes is the father of two children? Even if I showed them photos, they’d think I was joking with pictures of my niece and nephew.

Lost in all sorts of thoughts while washing, I realized I was done. I turned off the faucet, dried my hair and body well, and headed to the kitchen.

The dinner Hwa Nabi prepared was quite elaborate with five side dishes. It was a meal that made my mouth water just by looking at it, so I quickly sat down at the table. She, who was already seated, personally placed side dishes on top of my rice.

“Here, eat a lot.”

“Yeah, thank you. You worked hard.”

“You worked harder than I did. Was today very difficult?”

“No, it’s fine. It was actually fun.”

Right after returning home, I unintentionally showed how tired I was, but now is not the time for that. If I, the head of this household, show signs of fatigue, wouldn’t Hwa Nabi worry? She might also feel unnecessarily sorry.

To show that I was fine, I shrugged my shoulders. Hwa Nabi stared at me for a moment, then suddenly leaned forward.

“By the way, do you know what day tomorrow is?”

“Tomorrow? It’s February 14th. Ah, Valentine’s Day.”

“Yes, correct. But you said you’ll be coming home even later tomorrow, right?”

“Hmm, did I? In the morning I have to follow grandfather somewhere, and in the afternoon I need to stay longer because I’ll be late…”

“You’ll be too tired to do anything. Right?”

“Well, probably.”

I’ll probably get home after 9 PM, and at that point, it’s not just about being tired; there’s no time to do anything. At most, we’d eat, talk a bit, then fall asleep, and then it’s the next day for work.

“Then, shall we just do tomorrow’s things today?”

“Tomorrow’s things? What were we supposed to do? I can’t quite remember…”

“…Finish your meal and go to the bedroom. I’ll prepare and join you soon.”