Chapter 1720: The Wrong Choice

In Lee Boo-jin's impression, Zhao Fusheng possessed a depth of cunning and intellect far beyond his peers, and even most people.

This was beyond doubt.

At the very least, among the younger generation Lee Boo-jin knew, no one was smarter or more resourceful than Zhao Fusheng. Even she or Lee Jae-yong in their younger days were far inferior compared to Zhao Fusheng.

Not to mention standing up to her father Lee Kun-hee.

Lee Boo-jin remembered clearly that her father had once evaluated Zhao Fusheng, calling him a born business genius, with both investment vision and goals that were extremely formidable!

And now, Zhao Fusheng had proposed to her that he was interested in South Korea's cultural industry.

Lee Boo-jin suddenly felt that she shouldn't have come here today.

This was no joke, but the truth.

"Fusheng, it seems I can't answer your question."

Lee Boo-jin looked at Zhao Fusheng, smiled, and said slowly, "Because Samsung Group really doesn't have much involvement in the cultural industry."

"Is that so?"

Zhao Fusheng looked at Lee Boo-jin with a half-smile: "That's strange. It seems the news I heard that the JoongAng Ilbo is connected to Samsung must be a rumor."

Liar!

Zhao Fusheng didn't believe Lee Boo-jin's words at all. If they truly had no interest in the cultural industry, Samsung wouldn't have supported newspapers and such behind the scenes back then.

In the end, Lee Kun-hee still had his desires.

As for why they stopped, the ultimate reason was probably due to the division of power.

Simply put, in today's South Korea, although various industries seem to be developing well, in fact, they have already been carved up by the chaebols.

Whether it's shipping, automobiles, or the electronics industry, they are all controlled by the chaebols.

As for the cultural industry, that's the private preserve of SK Group and Lotte Group. CJ Group has dabbled in it a bit, but that's because when Cheil Jedang was spun off from Samsung, Lee Kun-hee had no choice but to agree to the Son family.

In other words, the vast majority of South Korea's cultural industry today is controlled by these three companies.

Even those idol management agencies have countless connections behind the scenes with these chaebols.

Therefore, Zhao Fusheng didn't believe a single word of Lee Boo-jin's words.

"You..."

Lee Boo-jin smiled bitterly. She knew well that Zhao Fusheng wouldn't believe her words, but the problem was, under the current circumstances, no matter what Zhao Fusheng said, she couldn't easily agree.

Because she, Lee Boo-jin, was not an individual but represented the Samsung Lee family.

"Sister Boo-jin."

Zhao Fusheng looked at Lee Boo-jin, speaking slowly and deliberately: "We have an old saying in China: 'Before an honest person, no secret words are spoken.' I am very interested in South Korea's cultural industry, and I have a few cards to play. You can go back and consult with Mr. Lee Kun-hee. If he is interested, I think we can meet and talk."

He paused, then smiled: "As for today's dinner, I think I'll skip it for now, shall I?"

Originally, according to today's plan, he was supposed to have dinner with Lee Kun-hee.

But now, Zhao Fusheng felt that perhaps Lee Kun-hee would rather meet with Lee Boo-jin.

After all, he also needed to give them some time to prepare.

Looking at Zhao Fusheng, Lee Boo-jin was silent for a long time. She didn't quite understand why Zhao Fusheng had suddenly made such a request to her. What was this guy really up to?

Could it be that something had happened that she didn't know about?

That was the only reasonable explanation; otherwise, Lee Boo-jin couldn't fathom why Zhao Fusheng would suddenly tell her that he wanted to join forces with Samsung to enter South Korea's cultural industry.

Didn't he know that doing so would be snatching food from the bowls of the other three chaebols?

Cutting off someone's income is like killing their parents.

This saying applies equally in China and South Korea.

Not to mention that Samsung is the top chaebol in South Korea; even the President of South Korea is no exception.

With such doubts, Lee Boo-jin left the Shilla Hotel and rushed quickly to the Lee family mansion in Cheongdam-dong.

And the news of her appearance there was quickly relayed to Han Jin-young.

Holding the phone, Han Jin-young looked conflicted. Lee Boo-jin was the vice president of the Shilla Hotel; her appearance there was normal and didn't prove that the Chinese man had already joined hands with Samsung.

But what if it was true?

"Director, what should we do?" the person beside him asked cautiously.

As the person in charge, he was the one who had the authority to report to Shin Kyuk-ho at this moment; no one else was qualified to appear before Shin Kyuk-ho.

"Let me think, let me think." Han Jin-young waved his hand, not making an immediate decision. He had to be very, very careful.

If he rashly reported it, and it turned out that Samsung and the Chinese had no connection, he would have unnecessarily created an enemy for the family, and in the end, he would be the one to suffer.

"Did you see clearly?" After a long while, Han Jin-young asked the man.

"Yes, it was definitely Lee Boo-jin, but I don't know if she met with the Chinese man."

The confidant answered honestly.

There was no helping it; they were Lotte people, and at most, they could only monitor in the lobby of the Shilla Hotel.

If they dared to go elsewhere to monitor, that would be suicide!

No one was stupid these days. Even the underlings knew that if they truly offended the Samsung Lee family, they would be scapegoats. Even if they were beaten to death or crippled, the Shin family wouldn't shed a tear for them.

Only those idiot gangsters would desperately try to climb up, caring about nothing.

These guards, who came from legitimate security backgrounds, were not fools.

"Then continue monitoring."

After pondering for a moment, Han Jin-young made his decision.

Regardless, the matter couldn't be blown out of proportion. If it escalated further, it would become known to everyone in South Korea. Neither he nor the Lotte Shin family could bear that outcome.

Of course, his consideration was mainly for himself.

"Iron-clad government, fluid chaebols"—this was a fact known to all South Koreans. In other words, while chaebols might be suppressed for a time, they would never go bankrupt unless faced with irresistible forces like an economic crisis.

But that didn't mean he himself was safe.

It was often said that leaning against a big tree gives good shade, but the problem was, the tree had to be willing to provide shade.

Han Jin-young didn't know what he was missing. If he had chosen to report to Shin Kyuk-ho immediately, perhaps the whole matter could have been salvaged.

But unfortunately, for his own safety, he chose to conceal and not report.

Everything was heading in an unknown direction.

…

…

"Father, Zhao Fusheng invited me today and made a proposal to me."

Lee Kun-hee, who had been waiting for Zhao Fusheng at the Lee family mansion, didn't see Zhao Fusheng arrive but instead received his eldest daughter.

After hearing Lee Boo-jin's account, Lee Kun-hee frowned: "What did he say?"

To be honest, ever since Zhao Fusheng sold him the Twitter shares, Lee Kun-hee no longer regarded Zhao Fusheng as a young junior.

In his view, this young man was on par with himself.

After all, not everyone could earn billions of dollars before the age of thirty.

"It's like this. He proposed..." Lee Boo-jin repeated Zhao Fusheng's proposal and finally said, "He said he wouldn't come to tonight's dinner and hoped to give you time to consider this matter."

"Hmm, interesting."

Lee Kun-hee laughed, a strange smile on his face.

"What's wrong, Father?" Lee Boo-jin looked at Lee Kun-hee curiously, not understanding why her father suddenly laughed. Did Zhao Fusheng's plan have some other meaning?

Or was Zhao Fusheng scheming against Samsung Group?

Thinking this, Lee Boo-jin frowned slightly and couldn't help blaming herself for not detecting Zhao Fusheng's intention.

"No, you're overthinking."

Hearing his daughter's words, Lee Kun-hee smiled slightly and gently shook his head, saying to Lee Boo-jin, "He wasn't scheming against you. This young man was just sending me a signal."

"Sending a signal?"

Lee Boo-jin was taken aback, looking at Lee Kun-hee in confusion. Clearly, she didn't understand her father's words.

"Yes." Lee Kun-hee smiled and said calmly, "He's a smart man. Smart people don't act rashly. Once he chooses a target to attack, it must be after careful consideration. Do you know what that means?"

"I don't know." Lee Boo-jin answered honestly.

From a young age, following her father's side, she had learned a lesson early on: be honest. If you understand, say so; if you don't, you must dare to ask; otherwise, mistakes will eventually occur.

As a member of the Samsung Lee family, she couldn't afford mistakes; otherwise, she would disappoint her father and lose many things.

"You..."

Lee Kun-hee glanced at his daughter, his smile unchanged, but a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

This eldest daughter was very filial and capable, but one thing disappointed Lee Kun-hee: she was not the kind of talent who could forge ahead and break new ground.

Doing business is like sailing against the current; if you don't advance, you retreat. It's often said that it's easier to conquer than to hold. In fact, from another perspective, any enterprise that remains complacent and stays the same will eventually be eliminated by the market.

Because as a large group, it must not only face market competition but also the pursuit of competitors. Especially for a big chaebol like Samsung, did anyone really think other chaebols were submissive and respectful to Samsung?

Dream on!

Whether it's the Lotte Shin family or the Hyundai Chung family, every chaebol probably wishes to see Samsung's downfall.

The reason is simple: once Samsung falls, they will unhesitatingly swallow up the power vacuum left behind.

This is the true nature of chaebols!