Chapter 151
His absence triggered an avalanche of urgent communications and operational paralysis. Some even came to his doorstep, pleading desperately:
“Director Kwon, please return to us. Without you, we’re at a complete standstill!”
“This is a crucial period for the group. Please come back, Director. Nothing is moving forward!”
“At this rate, not just Hwanhee Construction, but the entire Hwanhee Group will be shaken. The stock prices are already being affected. We’ve all united in our support for you, Director Kwon. Please return as soon as possible.”
Yet Si-heon ignored them all. His sudden refusal to come to work was interpreted by observers as the beginning of a genuine power struggle for succession. Most agreed that this was Si-heon’s calculated move to assess his standing within the group and identify his true allies.
The results spoke volumes. His absence left a void far greater than anyone had anticipated—so much so that even the ambitious father-son duo of Jae-sung and Kwon Si-jung, who had long coveted his position, found themselves overwhelmed.
“Father, I hate to admit this—it’s revolting, chilling, and I don’t want to acknowledge it…”
“What is it?”
“That bastard Si-heon—he’s more extraordinary than we thought. How did he manage all this in just a month? It should take at least half a year. That monster has transcended human capabilities.”
“Sigh… What can we do? We still have to handle it.”
“I’ve been pulling all-nighters for days, Father. No matter how many people we bring in, the work never ends. The documents requiring approval, the matters needing review—they’re mountainous. And with the Chairman personally reviewing everything, it’s driving me insane.”
Watching his son’s dejected expression, Jae-sung heaved a deep sigh. Previously, they had assumed the Chairman only assigned Si-heon seemingly impressive yet straightforward tasks, allowing him to build his reputation effortlessly. They had watched him complete his assignments with that characteristic expressionless face, thinking: If only they would give those projects to me or my son instead. Unlike that cold-hearted fellow, we could leverage our connections and political acumen from countless social gatherings.
But they had miscalculated severely. While the beginning had been manageable, now it was pure torture.
The projects under Si-heon’s purview demanded constant vigilance, as Chairman Kwon Soon-yeol personally reviewed many of them. When summoned by the Chairman, even in the dead of night, one had to respond immediately and field his relentless questioning. In retrospect, what they had previously considered “work” hardly deserved the term. They had naively assumed their role merely involved delegating tasks to subordinates, maintaining a facade of supervision, and simply signing off on completed work.
“We thought everything would fall into place once Si-heon’s wife was exposed as an illegitimate child,” Si-jung remarked.
Jae-sung clicked his tongue in disapproval. “Foolish boy. Do you still understand so little about your grandfather?”
“But she damaged the group’s reputation! She deceived all of us!”
“Do you really think your grandfather was unaware of this fact?”
Watching his son blink in confusion, Jae-sung removed his glasses and wearily rubbed his eyes. “Si-heon has suffered from insomnia since he was twenty.”
“In-insomnia?”
“The cause remains unknown. Before we could learn more, his people located and… removed the attending physician. I suppose we’ll never see that doctor again.”
They had been waiting for the perfect moment to leverage this information, believing it would turn the tide in their favor. However, before they could seize the opportunity, Si-heon had married. That’s when Jae-sung noticed the change—Si-heon’s insomnia had improved. The transformation was unmistakable in his complexion and vitality.
He finally understood why his father had chosen a bride from such a humble background for his eldest grandson. The woman must have cured Si-heon’s insomnia. Nothing else would explain why his father, knowing her illegitimate status, would accept her as Si-heon’s match.
“We’re surrounded on all sides,” Jae-sung muttered.
“What do you mean, Father?”
“That girl clearly cured Si-heon’s insomnia. Look at him now—he’s not human anymore, he’s like a demon.”
“And…?”
Jae-sung grimaced at his son’s obtuseness. Even now, he failed to grasp the situation.
“If that girl returns, Si-heon’s insomnia will be resolved. He’ll maintain his peak condition and soar even higher.”
“But that means driving away Si-heon’s wife was the right move, doesn’t it?”
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