[Have you lost your mind?! What the hell are you doing?!]
Lee Ujin’s voice, calling without any preamble, was filled with anger. But I’m not the type to back down right away.
“What’s with calling me out of nowhere just to yell?”
[I’m asking why the hell you’ve been avoiding Tracy’s calls!]
Tracy Bongard definitely lived in a completely different world from mine. Because of that, I had ignored her calls for more than ten days, and apparently she had started tormenting Lee Ujin instead.
“The clothes and accessories Tracy wears are worth at least a hundred million won. How am I supposed to keep up with a girl that rich?”
[Then just let her pay for the dates herself!]
“A man has his pride. How could I do that?”
[You’ve gone crazy! Is your pride going to feed you?]
“Maybe not you, but it feeds me. Besides, what did Tracy even see in me that she’s chasing me around like a stalker?”
[I was curious too, so I asked her. She said she liked how tireless you were, like an enraged bull.]
“Hm, I guess that night really was like that.”
Although I was a healthy man in his twenties, I had never possessed some extraordinary stamina. Yet that night, my energy had been overflowing, and I couldn’t control it. Trying to figure out the reason, I suddenly remembered something.
“Could it have been the effect of that herbal calming medicine...?”
But Lee Ujin interrupted my train of thought.
[Why’d you go silent? What are you thinking about?]
“I’m wondering why I suddenly became so durable in bed.”
[Idiot! They say that kind of thing is relative.]
“What do you mean, relative?”
[If Tracy wasn’t that gorgeous, would you have charged around like a mad bull?]
“Hm, you do have a point...”
Bzz.
Just as I vaguely agreed, a message arrived on my phone. Thinking it was another delivery request, I casually glanced at the screen. After reading it, I froze in confusion, but continued talking to Lee Ujin.
“Looks like messenger scammers have reached a whole new level these days.”
[What are you talking about?]
“It says I passed the interview and got accepted as an intern at Hangang Group. It’s asking me to call back immediately.”
[What if...]
“What do you mean, what if?”
[What if the world flipped upside down and you actually passed?]
The interviewers had intentionally humiliated me to guarantee my elimination. Under those circumstances, how could I possibly have made it?
“I told you in vivid detail what those interviewers did that day.”
[Still, you’ve got nothing to lose. Try calling.]
“All right. Let’s talk later.”
“Chairman Park Yeongil promised to help only with the document screening...”
After hanging up, I called the number in the message. After several rings, a cheerful and polite voice answered.
[Cha Jiham? Hello. I’m Lee Jinwon from the Human Resources Department of Hangang Group.]
“Specialist Lee Jinwon?”
[Everyone below department heads and executives in our company uses the unified title of specialist. Incidentally, I’m a senior specialist, which corresponds to deputy department manager level. But you can simply call me Specialist Lee.]
“I understand. But honestly, I called because I can’t believe the message about my acceptance.”
[You really have been accepted as an intern, Cha Jiham. The selection process was conducted in a completely fair and lawful manner.]
Among all the candidates, my credentials had been the worst. On top of that, the interviewers had openly disliked me. No matter how I thought about it, Chairman Park Yeongil must have intervened. Deciding to settle that matter later, I replied,
“It feels like a dream that I got into Hangang Group.”
[Haha, is that so? We have an orientation for the interns tomorrow. Please arrive at the company headquarters by ten in the morning.]
“Understood. See you tomorrow.”
Click.
The moment I hung up, I immediately called Chief Secretary Kang Inhan.
* * *
“Kang, tell me what you talked about with Jiham.”
As soon as Chief Secretary Kang Inhan finished the call, Chairman Park Yeongil asked with curiosity.
“He said he urgently needed to discuss an important matter with you. His voice was practically dripping with coldness.”
“It seems the boy thinks I arranged the internship for him.”
“That was my thought as well, Chairman.”
“Still, it’s a ticket into Hangang Group, even if only as an intern. Shouldn’t he be grateful?”
“Cha Jiham has a very realistic understanding of his own abilities and credentials.”
“Well... That’s exactly what I appreciate about him.”
“But Chairman Park, why did Chairman Yoon approve Cha Jiham? What did he see in him?”
“There’s no need to guess. He simply couldn’t bear losing money.”
Chairman Yoon Jongu had planned to build a hotel on land owned by Park Yeongil. He had repeatedly asked to buy the property, but the old man had refused every time. Eventually, they reached an agreement: Park would sell the land, and in return Yoon would ensure that Cha Jiham passed the first round of document screening. The problem was that Yoon Jongu had handled the matter carelessly, resulting in Jiham suffering an unforgettable humiliation during the interview.
“Hm, a man running a giant like Hangang Group shouldn’t settle matters so clumsily.”
Using that as an excuse, Park Yeongil had already informed Yoon Jongu that their agreement was off and that he would neither return the deposit nor the first installment of two hundred billion won. Realizing the trap he had fallen into, the conglomerate chairman had personally rushed to repair the damage.
“Ah, now I understand,” Kang Inhan nodded.
“You understand that Jiham must never learn about this, right?”
“Of course, Chairman.”
“Good. Now let’s think about how to cool our young man’s temper.”
Ding-dong.
As they were discussing the situation, the doorbell rang. Knowing exactly who it was, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan hurried to open the massive gate. Soon, Cha Jiham entered carrying a small paper bag.
“Welcome, Cha Jiham. It’s good to see you.”
“Hello, Kang. Where’s the Chairman?”
“He’s waiting for you in his study. Please follow me.”
Entering the study, I politely bowed to Chairman Park Yeongil and sat down on the empty sofa. The old man immediately looked at me curiously.
“Jiham, what’s that bag you’re carrying?”
“It’s the expensive watch you gave me. I brought it back to return it.”
“But we agreed that it would become your gift if you got accepted as an intern.”
“If you hadn’t stepped in, I never would’ve passed that interview. Since it wasn’t because of my own abilities, I have no right to keep it.”
“It seems you’re deeply mistaken, boy. I swear to heaven, I didn’t lift a finger to help you succeed.”
“My resume leaves much to be desired, and the interviewers openly disliked me. What other miracle could have gotten me through?”
“Perhaps you have talents hidden even from yourself.”
“...Do you seriously think that sounds convincing?”
Ding-dong.
At that moment, the bell rang again. Chief Secretary Kang Inhan frowned in confusion, since no one else had been expected. He went out to check and returned less than a minute later, practically bursting into the room.
“Chairman Yoon has arrived!”
“Oh? Bring him in.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kang Inhan answered briefly and hurried back.
“Well then, Jiham, let’s go greet our guest.”
Park Yeongil stood up.
“May I ask who it is?”
“Chairman Yoon Jongu of Hangang Group.”
“...What?!”
My genuine shock seemed to amuse Park Yeongil. He burst into his booming laughter and walked out first. Soon, Kang Inhan returned with a completely white-haired old man and a man in his sixties, who turned out to be his aide, Chief Secretary Song Dosok.
Park Yeongil spoke rather dryly to the visitor.
“You came without warning. What kind of manners are those?”
“Do old friends need appointments to visit each other?”
“I can’t argue with that. Still, why are you here?”
“To invite myself to dinner. By the way, who’s this fine young man beside you?”
“Guess correctly, and I’ll treat you to dinner.”
At that moment, Chief Secretary Song Dosok quickly whispered a brief explanation into the conglomerate chairman’s ear. Yoon Jongu nodded in understanding and turned toward me.
“Pleasure to meet you, Cha Jiham. I’m Yoon Jongu, chairman of Hangang Group.”
“Chairman Yoon Jongu, it’s an immense honor to meet you.”
“Since fate has brought us together, shall we shake hands?”
“Of course, Chairman.”
Without hesitation, I firmly grasped Yoon Jongu’s hand. Meanwhile, the conglomerate chairman felt a slight shock. Figuratively speaking, his own name shone over the country like the sun, while this young man was no more than a faint firefly. Moreover, it was Yoon Jongu himself who had essentially approved his acceptance. Yet there wasn’t the slightest tremor in the young man’s hand.
“So my granddaughter wasn’t lying. This boy really does have nerves of steel.”
“Cha Jiham, you don’t seem nervous at all. Am I right?” Yoon Jongu asked with a smile.
Standing before me was a living legend, one of the giants of Korean business. Naturally, I should have been trembling with fear. Yet somehow, inwardly, I felt just as relaxed as when I visited my grandfather back in the countryside.
“That’s right. It’s the effect of the herbal calming medicine.”
If I answered that I wasn’t nervous at all, it would surely lead to more questions. At times like this, a small white lie was best.
“Not at all, Chairman. I’m tightening my abs with all my strength just to stop myself from shaking.”
“I can tell you’re lying, but I like your answer.”
“Thank you for your kind words. Please continue your conversation with Chairman Park. I won’t disturb you.”
Park Yeongil immediately seized the opening.
“All right, Yoon. Tell me the real reason you came.”
“Not now. Let’s discuss that later.”
“Fine, then sit down.”
Once everyone had taken their seats, the housemaid served steaming cups of tea. Yoon Jongu took a sip, set down his cup, and began speaking.
“Park, are you living with Cha Jiham?”
“Why would I? He came to complain.”
“Oh? And what complaint could he possibly have?”
“The boy mistakenly thinks I put in a word so he’d get the internship.”
“Hm...”
Yoon Jongu paused thoughtfully and took another sip of tea. Everyone, including me, silently waited for him to speak. Finally, he continued calmly.
“Park, I had two reasons for bringing Cha Jiham into the company. The first was as a form of apology to you. Though that accounts for only about twenty percent.”
“And the other eighty percent? Out with it.”
“It’s because of Cha Jiham’s conduct on the day of the interview.”
“As far as I know, the interviewers disliked him and only asked him one question.”
Yoon Jongu knew every detail thanks to his granddaughter Yun Sola. But he couldn’t mention her now without making me suspicious, so he had to shift the focus slightly.
“There are surveillance cameras in both the waiting room and the interview room. The footage clearly shows Cha Jiham calmly eating his boxed lunch and then even managing to take a sweet nap.”
“Jiham, is that true?” Park Yeongil raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“I can’t deny it. That’s exactly what happened.”
“And why did you behave like that?”
I had eaten lunch simply because I never expected to succeed at this company. As for sleeping, it was because the calming medicine had taken effect. Explaining everything would only complicate things.
“After talking to the other candidates, I realized they all had outstanding educations and impressive accomplishments. Once I knew I had no chance, I decided to sleep and recover my energy.”
“So you could go right back to making deliveries afterward?”
“...Yes.”
Hearing my subdued voice, Yoon Jongu spoke again.
“Park, what deliveries?”
“Jiham works as a delivery rider to support his family.”
“Ah, I see. Now let me tell you what happened inside the interview room.”
“We already know that,” Park Yeongil waved him off.
“No, there was one detail left out.”
“Oh? And what might that be?”
“The interviewers asked Cha Jiham questions bordering on outright personal insults. Yet the boy didn’t even bat an eye. He answered calmly, without a trace of irritation.”
“I see...”
Yoon Jongu looked around at everyone present.
“Our conglomerate is overflowing with geniuses and brilliant minds. They’re as common as stones underfoot. But they all share one flaw—they lack patience and endurance. Yet Cha Jiham possesses not only phenomenal patience and self-control, but admirable courage as well.”
At that very moment, I finally learned the real reason why I had become an intern at Hangang Group.