Peninsula: I can steal the luck of disgraced celebrities

Chapter 127 Acquisition of YG

"I'm at the company." Yang Hyun-suk's voice was flat, as if he were inviting someone to coffee.

Lin Zhixun had the taxi change direction.

The Hosung Building is located in Mapo-gu. It's a drab, six-story building with some of the exterior tiles missing, revealing the cement underneath.

There was no YG sign at the entrance, only a stainless steel plaque with the building number.

Lin Zhixun got out of the car and looked up at the rooftop.

Once inside the building, I explained to the receptionist that I was looking for Yang Hyun-seok.

Front desk clerk: "Is this Mr. Lin? The boss is already waiting for you on the sixth floor."

The elevator doors were open, so he went straight to the sixth floor.

The office door at the end of the corridor was ajar, and the smell of cigars wafted out.

Lin Zhixun pushed open the door and went in.

Yang Hyun-suk sat behind his desk. He was around fifty years old, with his hair neatly combed back. He wore a dark blue suit jacket over a black turtleneck.

He saw Lin Zhixun, stood up, and reached out his hand.

Lin Chih-hsun did not shake hands.

Yang Hyun-suk wasn't embarrassed. He withdrew his hand and gestured for Yang to sit down.

"Child, sit down."

Lin Chih-hsun did not sit down.

He glanced around the office; the windows were closed, but he noticed that the latches on the window frames were newly replaced, the metal parts not yet oxidized, which clashed with the old aluminum alloy next to them.

"What do you want from me?" Lin Zhixun asked directly.

Yang Hyun-suk didn't beat around the bush; he placed his cigar on the ashtray and leaned back in his chair.

He recounted everything that happened that day in a straightforward manner.

He spoke in the same tone as when reporting on work progress, without a trace of emotion.

"I admit that I used inappropriate language when I called her to my office that day."

"I hinted that she should cooperate with some of the company's business arrangements. She refused, took out her phone to call the police, and I went to take her phone."

66

Lin Zhixun's eyelids kept twitching; ever since he came in, Yang Xuanxi had been provoking him.

"So—" Lin Zhixun asked, "you want to tell me about your crimes to satisfy your twisted psychology?"

Yang Hyun-suk was somewhat surprised by Lin Zhixun's naiveté. He took a sip of coffee to moisten his throat and chuckled, "Kid, I understand your anger, but from a legal perspective..."

"The law?" Lin Zhixun scoffed. "I didn't realize you were someone who would abide by the law."

"For people like us, we will naturally abide by the law if it is beneficial," Yang Hyun-suk said in a calm tone.

"My actions may constitute negligent injury, but the key elements are whether the perpetrator made any pushing or manipulating motions, and whether the injury is directly caused by the actions."

I didn't push her.

"The window railings are in disrepair due to their age and are the responsibility of the property management company."

She bumped into the windowsill because she was trying to avoid me getting close, but "getting close" itself does not constitute violence.

After he finished speaking, he picked up his iced Americano and took a sip.

Upon hearing these words, Lin Zhixun had only one thought in his mind.

Nausea.

"Since you were there at the time and it had nothing to do with you, why didn't you call the police?"

Yang Hyun-suk put down his cup.

"Once the police are called, the reporter will arrive tomorrow."

Yang Hyun-suk's face was full of frustration.

"YG is about to go public, and this is making the news at this time. Regardless of whether I am responsible or not, the stock price will drop by 20 points."

bI

"The livelihoods of hundreds of employees, the contracts of dozens of artists, and dozens of upstream and downstream partners. One phone call, and it's all over."

He looked at Lin Zhixun and shrugged.

"Child, you're so kind, you certainly wouldn't want to see hundreds of people in the company lose their jobs, would you?"

"So I chose the best solution for everyone: I would cover the costs and settle the matter privately."

"For everyone's sake?" Lin Zhixun's voice was low. "And for Yisheng?"

"She is still alive. I will cover all her medical expenses, and I can also arrange her rehabilitation and employment."

Yang Hyun-suk's tone suggested he was discussing an acquisition deal.

"To put it bluntly, if I had called the police, she's a former orphan from a welfare home, with no family or witnesses. Do you think the outcome would have been better than it is now?"

Lin Zhixun clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

He wanted to beat this person up, really wanted to.

But he knew he couldn't.

Without the system, he would just be an ordinary person now.

He was the one who ended up in jail after the fight, while Yang Hyun-suk had another reason to retaliate.

He forced himself to let go.

"How much compensation?"

Yang Hyun-suk's eyes lit up.

Problems that can be solved with money are not problems.

"Five hundred million won." He held out one palm. "Cash, it'll be in your account today."

"In addition, all medical and rehabilitation costs will be borne separately and will not be included in this figure."

11

Lin Zhixun looked at the hand that was outstretched by him.

Five hundred million Korean won, which is equivalent to more than two million yuan, is a huge sum of money for Ye-seung.

For Yang Hyun-suk, it's less than a fraction of his annual income.

"Eight hundred million," Lin Zhixun said.

Yang Hyun-suk raised an eyebrow.

"—Eight hundred million, okay." Yang Hyun-suk gritted his teeth and agreed.

Eight hundred million won is not a small amount for him, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth and pay it in order to go public.

He wasn't worried that Lin Zhixun would back out, since the money had already been transferred to his account, not to mention the surveillance he had on his way here.

If he dares to expose this, he'll be ruined by accepting money without permission.

"The funds will arrive within one day."

"Cash won't arrive that quickly, it will take three days, and we also need a receiving account."

Lin Zhixun provided a blank bank account number.

In the ward, Choi Eun-hee was changing the cold compress on Ye-seung's forehead.

IU wasn't there; she was probably picked up by her manager.

When Lim Ji-hoon came in, Choi Eun-hee turned around and glanced at him.

Where did you go?

"I took care of something." Lin Zhixun took out a bank card and handed it to her. "Here, take this card."

Choi Eun-hee took the bank card and looked down at it for a few seconds.

"This is?"

"The compensation from Yang Hyun-suk arrived in my account three days later, amounting to 800 million won."

Choi Eun-hee raised her head, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"You looked for him?"

He called on his own initiative.

Lin Zhixun sat down by the bed and glanced at the numbers on the monitor. His heart rate and blood oxygen were both normal.

"This money will be enough for Yisheng's treatment, rehabilitation, and future schooling for a long time."

Choi Eun-hee put her phone on the cabinet and didn't speak for a while.

"Thanks."

Choi Eun-hee didn't crave revenge; having this money to secure Yi-seung's future was already a blessing.

Lin Chih-hsun did not respond.

He stared at the quiet face on the hospital bed, half of the forehead covered by gauze, the exposed skin pale and bloodless.

"She deserves it."

Next, it's time to collect interest.

Lin Zhixun stood up, walked out of the ward, and took out his phone in the hospital corridor to dial a number.

The phone rang three times.

"Yo, Shiho."

"Mr. Jin, I have a question for you."

Kim Bum-soo's voice was tinged with helplessness.

"I've practically become your personal assistant these past few days. Being your uncle is such a hassle."

"I'm sorry," Lin Chih-hsun said somewhat embarrassedly, acknowledging that he had indeed caused the other party a lot of trouble these past few days.

All I did was answer one question for them that day.

However, now is the time to give them a big gift.

Are you interested in YG?

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

On the other end of the phone, Kim Bum-soo's voice carried the restrained excitement of a businessman who has sensed an opportunity.

What do you have in your hands?

"Three days later, Yang Hyun-suk will expose a lot of dirt on YG, and YG's stock price will plummet. At that time, YG shareholders will definitely sell their shares one after another."

"Are you sure?"

"100% certain."

Without needing a system assessment, Lin Zhixun could tell from today's conversation that Yang Xuanxi would definitely be identified as a villain.

Three days passed quickly.

The MBC news anchor looked serious, and his cue card trembled slightly.

"Today, an anonymous whistleblower document has been widely circulated online, accusing YG Entertainment founder Yang Hyun-suk of organizing female trainees and artists under his company to provide 'escort services' to foreign investors."

"The complaint materials include multiple hotel entry and exit records, bank transfer statements, and chat screenshots that appear to be from the parties involved."

YG Entertainment has not yet officially responded.

The scene cuts to the entrance of YG headquarters, where a dozen reporters are crowding around, microphones and cameras crammed together.

The security guards wouldn't let us in; it was pitch black inside the glass door, and there wasn't a soul in sight.

Lin Chih-hsun saw the news in a coffee shop.

He was holding an Americano, and the scrolling text on the screen kept updating.

Kim Bum-soo was more efficient than he had imagined.

Kim Bum-soo called and asked, "Where did the materials come from?"

Lin Zhixun said helplessly, "I didn't post it, how would I know?"

"Little fox," Kim Bum-soo said with a smile.

Since Lin Zhixun didn't say anything, he wouldn't force him.

After learning the news three days ago, he prepared his cash flow in advance and contacted some shareholders beforehand.

When the scandal breaks, those shareholders will naturally think of him first.

But this is only the first installment.

For a mere case of soliciting sex, resorting to lawsuits and dragging it out for who knows how long.

Next up is the National Tax Service.

Sexual favors involve overseas fund flows, making tax evasion a certainty.

A two-pronged approach.

Today is the third day.

"Have you seen the news?"

"I've seen it."

Kim Bum-soo sounded relaxed, "Their planned IPO in November is basically canceled. The underwriters started withdrawing their materials this morning."

What about the existing shareholders?

"They've already started selling. Several institutional investors held an emergency board meeting this morning and decided to liquidate their positions."

Kim Bum-soo paused for a moment.

"I've already arranged for someone to pick it up in the secondary market. Do you want it?"

Lin Zhixun ran his finger along the side of the cup.

"I?

"Yeah, that's right," Kim Bum-soo laughed. "We only managed to pick up some chips this time because of you."

"This company's artist resources and copyright library are still valuable. After Yang Hyun-suk went in, someone had to take over."

I'm not interested in the entertainment industry.

Lin Zhixun did not answer immediately.

In the past, he would definitely have refused.

He had enough money in his past life, so he's not interested in it in this one.

But after the incident with Yisheng, he looked at his system.

Have I been too lazy? With this system, I'm just trying to be a pure actor, and I haven't been deliberately trying to accumulate good deeds.

It could even be said that the credit for reaching 1000 points largely belongs to Jang Nara's charity foundation.

Seeing that Lin Zhixun hadn't answered for a long time, Kim Bum-soo asked again, "Have you thought it through?"

Lin Zhixun: "I don't have that much money right now."

"Haha," Kim Bum-soo laughed, "It's alright, I can hand this company over to you to manage. Whenever you have money, this company will be yours."

"Don't you dare evade taxes and use YG's money to buy YG."

I hung up the phone.

Lin Zhixun watched the news scrolling across the television screen.

He couldn't bring himself to make Yang Hyun-suk go to jail for Ye-seung's actions.

Legally speaking, that person is right. Without surveillance footage and direct evidence of sexual assault, it's difficult to constitute a crime.

But he can make him lose everything.

Company, shares, reputation, status.

All.

On television, two police cars were parked in front of YG headquarters.

Yang Hyun-suk was led out through a side door by two plainclothes officers. His hands were not handcuffed, but his posture said it all.

He kept his head down, his suit jacket draped over his shoulders, and didn't even open his eyes because of the reporters' flashing lights.

Lin Zhixun looked at the screen, without any particular feeling.

He thought he would feel relieved, but actually he just felt empty. It was like finishing an exam, answering all the questions, but not knowing if he got a good enough score.

Lin Chih-hsun looked away and took a sip of his now-cold Americano.

Only then did he notice that someone was sitting diagonally opposite him.

He was in his early thirties, very thin, wore silver-rimmed glasses, and had long hair that he casually tied in a small bun.

A pile of papers lay in front of him, and a pencil twirled between his fingers.

The table was covered with storyboard drawings on the scattered papers, and next to it was an open laptop with the interface of a comic submission platform on the screen.

Japanese.

Lin Zhixun was certain because there was a passport next to the coffee cup in front of the man, with a dark blue cover and a chrysanthemum emblem.

The man frowned, stared at a draft in his hand for a long time, then crossed it out, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the nearly overflowing wastebasket next to him. He muttered something in Japanese, something like, "No, this is too boring."

Lin Zhixun speaks good Japanese; after all, he went to Japan to do shady business in his past life.

The man picked up a new piece of paper, drew a few strokes, stopped, and scratched his head.

Lin Zhixun hadn't intended to speak, but the man's agitation was so obvious that he almost broke his pencil.

Moreover, Lin Chih-hsun needs something else to pull his mind away from Yi-sheng's hospital bed.

"Is it stuck?" Lin Zhixun walked over and asked in Japanese.

The person opposite looked up, somewhat surprised, first because someone had spoken to them, and then because the Korean was speaking Japanese.

"Ah, yes." He replied instinctively, then realized what he meant and looked Lin Zhixun up and down. "You're Japanese?"

"no."

"You speak Japanese very well."

"Thank you." Lin Zhixun walked over with his coffee cup and sat down opposite him. "Comics?"

"Hmm." The person moved the draft aside, feeling a little embarrassed to have it seen.

Lin Zhixun glanced at the storyboard on the table. The art style was rugged, the characters' muscles were exaggerated, and action scenes took up most of the screen.

"After the final boss's Stand evolves, I'm not sure what abilities I should give it." The man scratched his head.

"substitute?"

"Um."

The man explained the concept of a stunt double to Lin Zhixun.

"What I'm struggling with right now is what ability can convey the boss's sense of oppression."

Thinking about his newly acquired ability, Lin Zhixun made a suggestion: "The final boss's Stand ability should be designed so that any attack, disaster, or damage is deflected and transferred to some unlucky person in another part of the world."

"And the Boss himself is always in a state of absolute safety."

"How's this ability?"

The person opposite him lit up and quickly scribbled a few lines on the paper with his pencil.

"So what do you think would be a good name for this ability?"

Lin Zhixun looked at his system panel.

Let's call it the Love Train.