It was a spontaneous thought.
If I wanted to escape from my grandfather's pressure, shouldn't I study abroad?
Of course, it wasn't a realistic idea.
Maybe for university, but…
'Why would I study abroad in high school!'
It was so obvious… there's no way he'd give permission… Hmm.
Still, what could I do?
With a sliver of hope, I pressed the pound key (#).
(Recording complete.)
Now that all the work is done, I should head over to Hyungang Automobile's headquarters.
Hmm.
I wasn't in the mood, so I picked up the phone again.
'Any remaining work…?'
I called Nintendo, and the answer was the same as last week.
The development of Capsulemon was about 60% complete.
They were working hard for a June release next year.
There was no more excuse to drag my feet.
'Ugh.'
Was it time to finally face my grandfather?
I reluctantly got up, feeling the weight on my shoulders.
***
Suwon, Hyungang Automobile Factory.
My grandfather made a point of coming to the factory every day, almost as if in protest.
Officially, it was to prepare for the flagship sedan.
'Obvious.'
He was pressuring me to take over the car business.
As expected.
Whenever I came here, there was a routine I had to follow.
"Let's go."
My grandfather would take me on a tour around the factory.
"This is the powertrain."
He would explain the car facilities to me.
"Say hello. This is President Hwang Dong-woo."
He made sure I met everyone, from staff to executives.
Every time, it made me feel like inheriting Hyungang Automobile was already a done deal!
Towards the end of the tour, there was always the same line.
"Dong-woo, do you know how much this kid loves cars?"
Of course. You said it last time too.
But President Hwang Dong-woo always looked curious, his eyes sparkling.
And the follow-up line:
"He loves cars so much, before even getting his license, he filled his garage with them, didn't he?"
"..."
In moments like these,
'I shouldn't have bought that car back then!'
I would regret it.
But then again,
'With my grandfather's personality, he would've pushed me at some point anyway.'
Part of me resigned to it.
What else could I do?
During high school, I could fend him off with the excuse of studies, and in college, I could escape by claiming I was studying abroad.
Then, it happened.
As if he had read my mind,
My grandfather approached me and asked,
"What's the plan for high school?"
"Pardon?"
"You're going to a regular school?"
"Well, I'm not sure."
"If you're going anyway, how about a science high school?"
"..."
"It wouldn't be a bad choice if you're going to take over the car business."
"Grandfather."
"What?"
"If I take over the car business…"
Was he happy just imagining it?
My grandfather's eyes sparkled with satisfaction.
"I'd completely stop developing engine-based cars and… focus on preparing for the next generation."
In simple terms, I meant I wouldn't make money and would only focus on development.
I was saying I would do the one thing my grandfather hated most.
But what's this?
My grandfather looked like he had decided to interpret my words in a positive light.
"The era of internal combustion engines is ending, and the next generation is coming, is that what you're saying?"
"I don't know."
"Don't know? You've already thought about it, haven't you?"
You just can't beat his sharp instincts.
"External factors might force the change."
"Force it?"
"It's not like oil is infinite, and there are environmental issues too."
"Let's say you're right and the change happens. Then the power source will completely change too, right?"
"I guess so."
"Then a new platform will be essential, won't it?"
"Yes. Developing a dedicated platform alone would cost at least several trillion won. It'd be like banging our heads against a brick wall."
If you put me in charge, I'd pour trillions into preparing for an uncertain future.
So just give up already.
That's what I wanted to say.
But… my grandfather gave an utterly unexpected response.
"Go ahead."
"Pardon?"
"Inherit the car business, and do whatever you want."
Wait… you mean shutting down the company and just spending money?
"Didn't you say a new era is coming? Then we need to prepare, don't we?"
At that moment, I was certain.
'Run away!'
I couldn't wait until university.
Whether it was the UK, the US, or Japan… I was determined to escape.
Just then,
"What are you thinking about so deeply?"
My grandfather's question caught me, and all I could do was give an awkward smile.
***
Jung Jin-wook, Jo Soo-deok's disciple, was building a rather unique career.
At first, he managed a publishing company, but now he had even expanded into the football world.
It was a constant whirlwind of busy days, but he didn't really mind.
After all, with double the workload came double the salary!
Fortunately, working in football was enjoyable.
Since his main job was meeting and communicating with people, for someone as skilled in interpersonal relationships as Jung Jin-wook, it was practically a calling.
"Good morning."
The first thing he did when he got to work was check on the youth players.
They were talents personally scouted and brought in by CEO Park Ji-hoon.
It was only natural that they were being managed in a systematic way.
Among them, the trio of Ahn Jung-wan, Park Jin-sung, and Yoo Chun-su were given special care, even receiving tuition and living expenses.
"Do we have any students with birthdays this month? Get some gifts ready."
Normally, kids this age would be part of their school's football team, raised as just one more cog in the machine.
Rather than focusing on the players' growth, they'd be running endlessly just for the next win.
And usually, they'd end up injuring themselves on hard dirt fields.
But CEO Park Ji-hoon opposed all of that.
He believed in letting the kids enjoy football without obsessing over winning and losing!
The youth coaches must have been delighted.
After checking on the youth players, Jung Jin-wook moved on to his personal tasks.
The documents that had been approved by the CEO.
Most of them were things he could take care of quickly…
'Wait, hold on.'
Among the approval documents was a yellow sticky note.
It was in the CEO's handwriting.
I've heard that Nagoya Grampus in Japan is in talks with a French manager.
They say it's looking quite positive.
If the J-League can make an offer, there's no reason we can't do the same, right?>
In simple terms, he was telling him to hijack the manager from the J-League by offering better terms.
'As long as we have the funds…'
Jung Jin-wook carefully reviewed the information on the manager written at the bottom of the sticky note.
Arsène Wenger?
Never heard of him.
Well, if he's not well-known, that's probably why he's considering going to the J-League.
In any case.
Since it was a special directive from the CEO, he had to act quickly.
Jung Jin-wook immediately picked up the phone and said,
"Can you find me the earliest available flight? Yes, to France."
***
I spent more time at the office in Hannam-dong to avoid my grandfather.
'Should I go work out?'
Just as I was about to get up,
Ring ring ring!
The phone started ringing loudly.
As I picked up the receiver, a familiar voice came through.
(President, studying abroad?)
It was Baker.
Looks like he had just checked my message.
"You know the saying, 'out of sight, out of mind'? I really need that right now."
(What are you suddenly talking about...?)
I had only confided in Jo Soo-deok about my relationship with my grandfather.
So, well,
I had to brush it off for now.
"Did you check out what I asked?"
(Ah, yes. Of course.)
After a moment, I could hear the sound of papers being flipped.
(If we're talking about the UK, there are two main types of schools. Prestigious private schools and general public schools.)
Then came the explanation.
Private schools cost about 50 million won in tuition alone.
It's at a level where, unless you're wealthy, you can't even think about enrolling.
There are some good public schools, too.
(The grammar school is the most representative.)
These schools were established so that ordinary people could receive the same level of education as prestigious private schools, and entry requires passing an exam.
"Wait, so private schools don't require exams?"
(No.)
"Then what do they look at?"
(The most important thing is the parents' social standing.)
"You mean wealth?"
(First priority is whether they're nobility or not. Second is their financial status.)
Sure, it's well-known that the UK has royalty.
But does it still make sense to talk about nobility in this day and age?
"What's the point of considering things like that?"
(A very strong network of friendships is formed. They help and support each other—it's quite something.)
"Really?"
(Especially in the case of the royal schools, which were founded by kings in the 1400s… they've produced over 20 prime ministers. It's like a training ground for modern aristocrats.)
Wait a minute.
'This could work.'
My grandfather would never allow me to study abroad in high school.
But!
What if it's a royal school that has produced multiple UK prime ministers?
'They say the connections are incredibly strong!'
If there's this much guaranteed return, my grandfather wouldn't have a good reason to reject it.
'Of course!'
Building connections was the least of my concerns… my real goal was just to enroll and slack off… heh heh.
"But isn't the pinnacle of UK networking usually at Oxford?"
(That's right.)
"Then why bother with high school?"
(There's a reason for that.)
"...?"
(Oxford churns out over 10,000 graduates every year. There's nothing special about that. But royal schools only graduate about 200 people….)
"So being a royal school graduate gives you a much more special status?"
(Yes. If you study well, you can get into Oxford, but royal schools are different. It's like a badge of having been chosen.)
It's a bit of an arrogant mindset.
But there's no better school to persuade the adults!
'So that's how it is, huh?'
I quietly smiled to myself.
After finishing the call, I checked out the UK's education system.
'Their system is unique.'
They combine middle and high school into a 5-year secondary education.
Then, students aiming for university go through a special 2-year program (post-secondary education).
Altogether, students go through 7 years of education before entering university.
'That's a year later than us?'
Maybe that's why.
UK universities are 3-year programs.
So they add an extra year during adolescence and cut one year off as adults?
'It's somewhat reasonable.'
But if you decide to study abroad partway through, you lose a year in the process.
Because of this, royal schools follow the American system (6 years of secondary education).
After 3 years in secondary school, you can enter a royal school, and after 3 years there, you qualify to take university entrance exams.
In other words, while most students take 7 years to complete the process, royal school students can finish a year earlier.
'That's a privilege, isn't it?'
It might not seem like a big deal to us, but for the British, it's quite significant.
You can build powerful connections and enter society sooner, so yeah.
'The competition must be fierce.'
Well, that works out just fine for me.
With the determination to strike while the iron's hot, I quickly got up.
"You want to study abroad?"
As expected, my grandfather's reaction was intense.
"Do you think I don't know you're trying to avoid inheriting the car business by pulling this stunt?"
However, the moment I mentioned the royal school, his expression noticeably changed.
"If I study in Korea, I won't be able to escape the title of Hyungang's third generation. I'll be treated specially in one way or another…"
There are plenty of chaebols who receive special treatment in Korea only to fail when they step onto the global stage.
But if I enter London's royal school?
I'd be treated as a foreign outsider and forced to face the harsh reality.
"Is there any better environment to eliminate the sense of entitlement that comes with being part of a chaebol?"
My grandfather seemed to somewhat agree with my words.
But he's not the kind of person to give in so easily.
He immediately raised an issue.
"If you go to study in England, what about the company? You're not telling me you'll be running the business while you're abroad, are you?"
Hmm.
"Or is it that you plan to close the company for the entire time you're away?"
"Of course not."
"Then?"
"I need to hire someone to run the company in my place before I leave."
"You mean you'll appoint a professional manager?"
My grandfather's reaction wasn't exactly positive.
He had that look on his face—doubting whether there could be anyone who could truly take my place.
"Well then, Grandfather."
"...?"
"If I find an excellent manager, you'll allow it, right?"
At my question, his eyebrows twitched ever so slightly.