Chapter 2028: Choice

A real man, once he says something, naturally keeps his word.

Zhao Fusheng had no interest in deceiving two young girls.

Especially since the younger one was clearly underage.

"Hello, Ajusshi. My name is Choi Jin-ri, but my sisters call me Snowball."

Seeing Zhao Fusheng's gaze on her, Choi Jin-ri quickly stood up and bowed respectfully to him.

After all, he had saved her today, and she knew enough to be polite.

Though it wasn't a matter of offering herself to him, in her little head, Choi Jin-ri had an extremely good impression of this Ajusshi she was meeting for the first time.

Ajusshi means 'uncle' in Korean.

She spoke in Korean. Zhao Fusheng was completely baffled, but judging by the little girl's bowing posture, she was probably thanking him. He looked at Song Qian, waiting for her to translate.

Song Qian suppressed a smile and said to Zhao Fusheng, "She says thank you, Uncle. Her name is Choi Jin-ri, and we all call her Snowball."

"Oh, oh."

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "It's nothing, nothing. Don't mention it."

A little girl of this age was always endearing, especially since Choi Jin-ri was quite cute, the kind of sweet-looking girl. Zhao Fusheng found her pleasing to the eye.

Moreover, Song Qian was involved. As a fellow countryman, Zhao Fusheng couldn't stand by and do nothing.

As for that so-called director, ha, Zhao Fusheng didn't take him seriously at all.

He wasn't the chairman, so why should he care?

Still, he looked at Cui Zhenli and asked her, "Snowball, can you tell me which company that person is a director of?"

After all, he was an enemy; Zhao Fusheng thought about it and decided to ask.

Song Qian translated his words, and Cui Zhenli quickly replied, "He's a director at CJ."

"CJ?"

Without Song Qian's translation, Zhao Fusheng understood the meaning of those two letters, and the expression on his face instantly became interesting.

Seeing Zhao Fusheng's expression, Cui Zhenli thought he was troubled and nearly burst into tears. She looked at Song Qian, at a loss.

Song Qian, however, was not flustered at all.

There was no help for it; she remembered clearly that the last time Zhao Fusheng appeared in Korea, even the Lee family of Samsung had seemed to enjoy talking with him.

Moreover, she had looked it up online afterward and found that Future Group was a shareholder in Samsung and CJ.

In other words, Zhao Fusheng's status was far higher than that clueless director's.

"Don't worry, it's fine," Song Qian comforted Cui Zhenli.

"Eonni, that person is a director at CJ. I heard even the representative has to bow to him," Cui Zhenli said, still uneasy.

"That doesn't matter either," Song Qian said confidently.

Representative?

Heh, if this person is willing, Representative Kim would be happy to kneel before him.

Song Qian remembered hearing from Director Park Sun-young that Hanxing Investment held shares in SM Entertainment.

In other words, as long as this person wanted, he could start a takeover of SM Entertainment at any time.

Of course, he wouldn't do that—not because he couldn't afford it, but because it wasn't worth it.

After all, Zhao Fusheng was a shareholder of CJ and Samsung.

His opponents were Korea's top chaebols, not a mere director of CJ Group.

"What are you talking about?"

Zhao Fusheng listened to the two of them chattering away in Korean, completely confused.

"She's a bit worried, afraid of causing you trouble. She says that CJ Group director is very powerful—even our company's Representative Kim has to bow when meeting him."

Song Qian explained to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng smiled. "That is indeed quite impressive."

He could understand Choi Jin-ri's thinking; for ordinary Koreans, chaebols like Samsung and CJ were undoubtedly the ones who could decide their fate.

A single phone call, even a single word, could destroy a lifetime of effort.

It sounded absurd, but that was reality.

For most ordinary people, a lifetime of hard work might not compare to someone being born into the right family.

For trainees like Choi Jin-ri, this was even more true.

Perhaps with one word from that director, she could lose even her chance to debut.

Her family's hopes and her own years of dreams would all vanish in an instant.

"Ask her, if I couldn't stop that director either, what would she do?" Zhao Fusheng thought of something and asked Song Qian with a smile.

Song Qian was startled, frowned, and hesitated.

Zhao Fusheng's smile faded, and he said flatly, "Translate directly, don't hold back."

"Ah, okay."

In that moment, Song Qian felt the pressure from Zhao Fusheng, realizing that the man before her was not just a kind compatriot.

He was also a super-rich man who controlled the lives of tens of thousands of people.

Compared to him, some of Korea's chaebols were actually not as wealthy.

After Song Qian faithfully translated Zhao Fusheng's question, she saw Choi Jin-ri's face turn pale.

Her expression was conflicted, as if hesitating, as if uncertain.

Finally, she gritted her teeth and said something.

Song Qian's eyes instantly reddened.

"What did she say?"

Zhao Fusheng looked at Song Qian.

"She said, if you're also afraid of that director, hand her over, but you must remember to take me out of Korea." Song Qian's voice was already tinged with tears.

"Heh."

Zhao Fusheng laughed.

To be honest, he had asked that question deliberately.

He was very curious what kind of answer this Choi Jin-ri would give him.

Would it be pleading, or giving up in despair?

But unexpectedly, she chose an answer he hadn't anticipated.

She was ready to accept her fate and bear everything herself.

Yet she hoped Zhao Fusheng would take Song Qian away.

When people reach the point of despair, this is probably the mindset.

Caring about nothing, not even the things most precious to them.

"Mr. Zhao, you..."

Song Qian looked at Zhao Fusheng suspiciously; the Zhao Fusheng she knew was not the kind of cold-blooded, heartless person.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and waved his hand: "Take her back. Tell your company's representative that I'll handle this matter."

"Ah?"

Song Qian was startled, a bit surprised.

Clearly, she hadn't expected Zhao Fusheng to just let her and Snowball leave the Shilla Hotel like that.

"Don't worry, when your representative hears what I said, he'll know what to do."

Zhao Fusheng smiled and said to Liu Yiming: "Call Park Sun-young and have her bring people over to escort them back."

Under these circumstances, it was safer to use his own people.

"Yes, Chairman."

Liu Yiming quickly nodded, turned around, and went out to call Park Sun-young.

Soon, he returned to the room.

"Director Park is already on her way." Liu Yiming said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "That's good."

Then he looked at Song Qian and Choi Jin-ri: "Rest here for now. I'll send someone to take you back shortly."

"Thank you, Mr. Zhao."

Song Qian quickly nodded, then translated Zhao Fusheng's words to Choi Jin-ri.

"Thank you."

Choi Jin-ri immediately performed a deep bow of gratitude to Zhao Fusheng.

A Korean deep bow means kneeling on the ground and earnestly kowtowing to the other person.

Don't be fooled by the Korean celebrities on TV who often kneel and bow; in fact, that's only for those of higher status or who have done them a favor, like the audience.

Otherwise, they don't easily kneel in daily life.

And now, Zhao Fusheng's actions were, for Choi Jin-ri, no different from rescuing her from the abyss, so of course she wanted to express her gratitude.

"Alright, alright."

Zhao Fusheng quickly helped her up and said to Song Qian: "What's with these Koreans, always bowing? That's so unreliable, isn't it?"

Song Qian smiled sweetly and explained to Zhao Fusheng: "It's their custom. They must express their gratitude this way to their benefactors."

Zhao Fusheng was amused and couldn't be bothered to say more.

Less than an hour later, Park Sun-young arrived at the Shilla Hotel with a group of people.

Dressed in a white suit, followed by a group of burly men in suits and ties, just by her aura alone, Park Sun-young's presence was enough to outshine others by eight blocks.

"Chairman."

Entering Zhao Fusheng's room, Park Sun-young bowed to him in greeting.

"Mm, take Miss Song and this young lady back to SM Entertainment. Tell Kim Young-min that I'll handle their matter."

Zhao Fusheng said calmly to Park Sun-young.

"Yes."

Park Sun-young nodded, then hesitated: "Assistant Liu didn't make it clear. Chairman, if you think it's unsafe here, I'll prepare a new residence immediately."

"Heh, no need."

Zhao Fusheng laughed, waved his hand, and said to Park Sun-young: "If this place isn't safe, I doubt there's any safe place in Korea, right, Sister Boo-jin?"

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Lee Boo-jin, who had just arrived at the door.

Lee Boo-jin had come with her trusted aide, but at the door, they were stopped by the bodyguards Park Sun-young had brought.

"I thought it was someone else. So it's Director Park."

Lee Boo-jin smiled and said to Park Sun-young: "My people reported that someone was moving in and out of the Shilla Hotel with a large group, and I was worried it might disturb our distinguished guest. I didn't expect it to be you."

Clearly, she and Park Sun-young had dealt with each other before.

Or rather, Hanxing Investment and the Shilla Hotel had dealings.

Park Sun-young nodded slightly to Lee Boo-jin but said nothing.

With Zhao Fusheng present, it wasn't her place to speak.

Sure enough, upon hearing Lee Boo-jin's words, Zhao Fusheng chuckled and said: "Sister Boo-jin probably doesn't know, Director Park was worried something might happen to me, so she rushed over with her people."

Then he sighed and said with a grave expression: "I never expected that in the Shilla Hotel, I would almost be attacked!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Lee Boo-jin's face changed instantly.