The Regressed Chaebol Grandson Finds It Hard to Forgive - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 17. Youngest Grandson of a Chaebol Family (1)

“Ha… Chairman Ha Chul-gon’s youngest grandson, you say?”
“Ah…!”
“Mm.”

An Jong-wook, principal of Cheongwha High School, was the most visibly shocked.

He asked again, his eyes betraying disbelief.

Both parents and both teachers had the same wide-eyed expression.

Haryn Group was a solid enterprise ranking among South Korea’s top ten conglomerates.

Before the group’s division, it had ranked in the top five.

It was a family enterprise with such deep roots that it had lasted five generations as a chaebol.

The webs of marriage and connection running through politics and business were beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

And certainly not something for a company the size of Cheongwha Group to contend with.

Yet that grandson of a major conglomerate had enrolled as a student with low academic background?

It didn’t sound like a lie at all.

The composed, almost haughty air emanating from Ha Tae-ung.

It was no different from the aura that extraordinary people from distinguished families gave off.

Moreover, no one could escape a crisis with an obvious lie in front of the school principal without losing their mind.

“Im… impossible! You enrolled through the low academic background admission process……”

Jo Hee-jung appeared half-dazed.
She didn’t want to believe Ha Tae-ung’s words, though they might actually be true.

If Ha Tae-ung really was a grandson of Haryn Group……
Her vision darkened and her mind spun.

Our house. Our daughter……

Her husband’s business could fall apart.

Her carefully cherished daughter’s future could be ruined.

“My grandfather is known to be extremely cold, as I’m sure you’ve heard? My older cousins all went abroad and ended up washing dishes.”

Everyone in the room unconsciously nodded at Ha Tae-ung’s words.

Chairman Ha Chul-gon’s corporate philosophy was so famous that hardly anyone hadn’t heard of it.

He was even called a cold-blooded businessman without mercy.

He had a notorious reputation for rotating his children through production-line work before promoting them to executive positions.

“Don’t believe me? If you’d like, I can provide you with a family certificate and a copy of the household registry.”

Ha Tae-ung remained unflinchingly confident.
No further proof was necessary.

Simply checking the guardian’s name in the admission documents kept at the school would suffice.

“…T-Tae-ung. Let’s consider today’s unfortunate incident forgotten. Now, return to your classroom.”

The anxious principal hurried to usher Ha Tae-ung out.

If everything checked out, he could lose his position.

An ominous premonition filled his mind.

He was nothing but a salaried employee.

Only one more year until retirement.

He didn’t want to be fired before then.
If he could just weather this, he could land a trustee position with the foundation after retirement.

That was the natural progression through Cheongwha.

It was also why he’d managed to stay under the radar all this time.

“Forgotten?”

Ha Tae-ung echoed the word questioningly.
And then.

Click, click.

He switched his smartphone to selfie mode and took pictures of his left cheek where Jo Hee-jung had struck him.

“Ma’am, you sure have strong hands. My grandfather would have quite a lot to say if he found out. A parent calling a student out of class to the principal’s office and hitting him across the face… Hahaha.”

There was something unsettling in Ha Tae-ung’s laughter—a hint of madness.

Everyone in the principal’s office went rigid, a chill running through them.

Something felt terribly wrong—like they’d just kicked a deranged scion of a chaebol family.

“Tae-ung. Today’s incident was simply a misunderstanding on both sides……”

Lee Kyung-ja, the general affairs director of the parent association, opened her mouth with a forced smile on her rigid face.

The one feeling that dominated the room now was simple.
We’re screwed.

Even among chaebols, there was an implicit hierarchy.

Chaebol families ranking in the top ten were in a different league altogether.

As long as one lived with one’s feet on South Korean soil, one couldn’t afford to cross them.

If you did, you could forget about sleeping peacefully for the rest of your life.

Of course, it was also true that only an idiot would deliberately create such a problem.

“I’d rather not.”
“……”

Ha Tae-ung’s gaze swept across everyone in the room.

“I’ve been hit repeatedly since arriving at school today. And now you want me to let it go? For what reason? Do I still look like a student with a low academic background to you?”

Ha Tae-ung drove the point home directly.

The principal, Park Dong-keun, Jo Hee-jung, and Lee Kyung-ja all went pale.
Especially Lee Kyung-ja, who fixed Jo Hee-jung with a cold glare.

An uncouth parvenu’s wife!

She’d blundered into exactly the wrong person and stepped in excrement.

If her husband fell out of favor with Haryn Group, everything could crumble.

Sweat pooled thick in her palms.

If her husband found out about today, she could be cast out immediately.
She needed to contain this situation as quickly as possible.

“Then… what exactly would you like us to do, Tae-ung?”

Lee Kyung-ja asked, trying not to sound tense.

It was wise that she hadn’t carelessly opened her mouth.

This was no longer just an exchange with a high school sophomore.

It felt like negotiating with a successor to a chaebol family who had been carefully trained and hidden among ordinary people.

From the moment Ha Tae-ung had entered the principal’s office, his arrogant bearing had been a telltale sign.

Gulp.

Despite trying to stay composed, she swallowed hard against her dry throat.

The principal and Park Dong-keun had already lost their nerve—they looked like mice before a cat.

“But who are you, ma’am?”

Lee Kyung-ja found Ha Tae-ung’s blunt manner of address grating.

But she made no sign of offense.

She accepted it as naturally as possible.

“…From Ojeong Accounting Firm……”
“The CEO’s wife?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m surprised that……”
“I’m sorry?”
“Well, it’s just that someone of your caliber associating with such an uncouth parvenu of a woman… it really does lower your standing.”

Ha Tae-ung praised Lee Kyung-ja while thoroughly cutting down Jo Hee-jung.
Jo Hee-jung, standing beside them listening, couldn’t so much as squeak.

Her face drained of color, she clenched her teeth in fury.

The chaebol heir had been recording everything since stepping into the principal’s office—all the crude language, the insults, every word of this conversation.

If he released those audio files, it would be ruin.

“I’m reconsidering as we speak.”

Lee Kyung-ja spoke curtly, her eyes fixed coldly on Jo Hee-jung.

She’d decided to bar Jo Hee-jung not just from the parent association leadership, but from all social gatherings.

She’d make sure she couldn’t attend any upper-class events.

“I… um, if there’s anything you require……”

Jo Hee-jung spoke in a groveling voice, eyes downcast and fists clenched.
Her temper still flared, but she understood the situation.

One wrong move and everything she’d worked for would unravel.

“What I want…? Hehehehe.”

Ha Tae-ung, now completely in control, reclined in his chair at ease.
A sneer played across his face.

“I’m prepared to accept any terms you propose, Tae-ung.”

Lee Kyung-ja had quickly spotted a glimmer of hope.

No matter how much of a chaebol heir he was, he was still a high school sophomore in reality.

Still a child from a social standpoint.

She wanted this resolved before Haryn Group found out.

“Unfortunately, the matter’s already beyond my hands.”
“…??”
“What do you mean……”

As everyone exchanged confused glances.

Tap, tap. Tap, tap.

The sound of dress shoes mixed with the rhythmic tap of a walking stick.
Behind Kim Chang-yong, the principal’s office door was still open.

Everyone’s nerves tensed at the sound of approaching footsteps.
And then.

Swoosh.

A stern-faced, elderly gentleman entered the principal’s office.

“Oh! G-Chief Kim……”

Lee Kyung-ja recognized him first and gasped in surprise.

She’d met him several times at business dinners with her husband—a partner of a law firm.

He was a former high-ranking prosecutor known for meticulous work.

He had many younger colleagues who followed him and a solid reputation, so he was in high demand.

For him to appear in this utterly unexpected place.

The lawyer stood in the doorway, surveying the principal’s office.

His gaze settled on Ha Tae-ung.

And then.

“Young Master, have you been found?”

The moment his eyes met Ha Tae-ung’s, he lowered his head in proper courtesy.

* * *

Young Master?

Attorney Kim Jung-ryul had answered my summons.

And the moment he saw me, “Young Master.”
I nearly burst out laughing.

The attorney’s got serious acting skills.

I’d predicted this afternoon would blow up.

Since I was back at school, I wanted to wrap things up quietly.

Now that the situation’s gone public, I won’t drag it past today.

It’s something I learned in Special Forces Tactical Doctrine Training.

Once you decide to eliminate the enemy, you attack until they’re dead.

Half-hearted attacks and mercy give them an opening to counterattack and kill you.

That’s why I called him.

A prosecutor-turned-attorney specializing in violence cases.

And just before, I told him the time and place.

Of course he agreed to come immediately.

“Attorney, you’ve reviewed everything I sent?”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“I’d like a fair settlement.”

There’s no need for lengthy conversation.

Whoosh.

There’s no need for me to stay.

Using the Tiger’s Authority.

I’m thinking I’ll benefit from Grandfather’s name this time.
Today is just the beginning.
I have much to look forward to ahead.

“And include in the compensation not just what happened to me, but also the fact that my friend was harassed with school violence for a whole year. I wonder what the total will come to.”

I glanced at O Seo-ra’s mother trembling, letting a hint of concern slip.

The knife is completely in my hands.

Now I’ll brandish it sharply.

“Attorney.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“If negotiations aren’t amicable… please leak this to the media. The headline could be something like ‘School Violence Against a Student with Low Academic Background at a Luxury Private High School in South Korea.'”

I drove home the final nail to prevent any attempt at trickery.

“They’ll come from all sides. Times are changing, after all……”

I trailed off briefly.

At the mention of media, the principal’s face darkened noticeably.
The Cheongwha Foundation valued reputation above all else.

If media reports about school violence came out, the principal’s head would roll on the spot.

“I’ll handle it definitively.”
“……”

Heavy silence hung in the principal’s office.
I fixed my gaze on Park Dong-keun.

He dodged my eyes like a ghost.

“Someone lacking basic educator virtues and character should probably take a few months off. It would be better for the students.”

I singled out Park Dong-keun with my eyes.
He immediately dropped his head.

The brave man who’d raised his voice and clenched his fists moments ago had vanished.

“Everyone, watch what you say. If my grandfather finds out……”

I left the rest to their imagination and stopped mid-sentence.

“Then.”

I gave a respectful bow, playing the part of a well-mannered student.

Tap, tap.

And with light, satisfied steps, I walked out of the principal’s office.

Hehehehe.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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