Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun left behind a homework assignment for the Future Strategy Promotion Department in the form of a business trip to the United States.
However, we couldn't leave the conference room because there were still too many unresolved issues. Department Director Jeong Sunho sat with his eyes closed, deep in thought. Everyone else present, including myself, quietly waited without disturbing him.
After quite some time, he finally opened his eyes and spoke.
“Team leaders and Intern Cha, stay behind. Everyone else, return to your desks and continue your work.”
Those present had been waiting for those words. They immediately rose from their seats and streamed out of the room.
The team leaders and I approached the table where Director Jeong Sunho sat. Wearing a gentle expression, he turned to me.
“Intern Cha, if it weren't for you, the Future Strategy Promotion Department would have faced a serious crisis.”
“What?” I asked.
“The Vice Chairman is clearly dissatisfied with our department. That's why he came without warning. But not only did you brilliantly fend off his attack, you even counterattacked and cornered him. Where in the world did you get such courage?”
Actually, I had always been passive by nature.
Perhaps that was why I repeatedly failed job interviews. Even after entering Hangang Group as an intern, I still had to work as a delivery rider to make ends meet.
But after taking the herbal calming medicine Chairman Park Yeongil had given me, incredible courage had awakened within me.
Naturally, I had no intention of revealing the truth.
“I just thought I had nothing to lose and got carried away.”
“I'm sincerely grateful that we survived the crisis, but I'd like you to learn the difference between true courage and recklessness.”
“I'll remember your words firmly, Director.”
“Good. Now let's begin a proper emergency meeting. Intern Cha, do you think that Wall Street Journal article about Endivia outsourcing production of high-bandwidth semiconductors is genuine?”
I had anticipated such a question and had already prepared a convincing answer.
“As soon as the article appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Endivia's stock rose by eighteen and a half percent in a single day. If the news had been false, Endivia would already have demanded a correction.”
“So investors viewed the outsourcing news positively.”
“Rather than saying more, I'll just mention that there is still a severe shortage in the high-bandwidth semiconductor market.”
“Hmm, I understand.”
Bzzz.
Just as Director Jeong Sunho nodded in agreement, my phone vibrated.
Glancing at the screen, I saw a message from Yun Sola.
Yun Sola: Pay attention to tomorrow's Wall Street Journal.
At that moment, I had a feeling something important was hidden there.
“Director, I just received a message from Intern Yun. It seems tomorrow's issue of The Wall Street Journal contains something significant.”
“I see? Check it immediately.”
My spoken English was weak, but my ability to translate and analyze texts was outstanding. Understanding an article from The Wall Street Journal posed no challenge.
Still, I wanted to emphasize Yun Sola's importance, so I stepped back.
“Director, translating and analyzing it will take time. To save precious minutes, wouldn't it be better to ask Intern Yun directly?”
“That would indeed be better. Call Intern Yun immediately.”
“Yes, sir.”
I sent Yun Sola a message asking her to come to the conference room.
Moments later, the door opened and she entered. After politely bowing to Director Jeong Sunho, who sat at the head of the table, she sat beside me.
Burning with curiosity, Director Jeong Sunho immediately asked:
“Intern Yun, tell us quickly. What article will be published tomorrow in The Wall Street Journal?”
“Endivia is considering American company Micron, our domestic companies Hangang Electronics and BK, and Taiwan's TMSC as candidates for contract production of their high-bandwidth semiconductors.”
“And how reliable is the information that Endivia plans to outsource production in the first place?”
“I was curious myself, so I contacted a senior from university who works at Endivia. He confirmed it.”
“Director, Intern Yun has an MBA from Harvard,” Team Leader Heo Yeongjin added helpfully.
“I see. Intern Yun, were you able to learn anything else from your acquaintance?”
“He told me that Endivia plans to send official inquiries soon to determine whether those companies are prepared to take on the contract.”
“And how reliable is this information?”
“My senior works in the executive office that directly assists Endivia Chairman Michael Hudson.”
“Then it should be regarded as an established fact.”
Director Jeong Sunho turned to Team One Leader Jeong Doyeon, who oversaw coordination with Hangang Electronics.
“Deliver the materials obtained by Intern Cha and Intern Yun to Hangang Electronics management. Also, establish a joint task force with them as soon as possible.”
“It will be done,” Jeong Doyeon answered energetically.
Leaving his confident reply behind, Director Jeong Sunho turned back to me.
“I am granting Intern Cha paid leave. Before the trip to the United States, you must perfect your English conversation skills.”
“What?!” Team Leader Heo Yeongjin and I exclaimed simultaneously, though for completely different reasons.
I was astonished by the generosity and peculiarity of the order, while Heo Yeongjin was shocked that such an instruction made no sense.
Director Jeong Sunho cast an annoyed glance first at me and then at Heo Yeongjin.
“Team Leader Heo, think carefully. What do the Vice Chairman wanting to take Intern Cha to America and Chief Secretary Song Dosok periodically summoning me have in common?”
Director Jeong Sunho was subtly hinting that Cha Jiham was a close relative of Chief Secretary Song Dosok.
“You mean the Vice Chairman knows that too?”
“It would be strange if he didn't know something so important, wouldn't it?”
“Now that I think about it, you're right.”
After finishing this cryptic conversation with Team Leader Heo Yeongjin, Director Jeong Sunho smiled warmly at me.
“Intern Cha, you already have a foundation, so you'll surely be able to master conversational English?”
After taking the herbal calming medicine, my mental abilities had improved dramatically. I was completely confident I could learn.
Still, unexpected things could happen, so it was best to remain modest.
“I'll do my utmost to raise my conversational skills to the point where I can communicate freely and without difficulty.”
“I firmly believe in your abilities, Intern Cha.”
“I'll do my best to live up to your trust.”
“By the way, do you have a passport?”
“I've always been too busy making a living, so I've never had the opportunity to travel abroad.”
“I see. Intern Yun, help Intern Cha obtain a passport as quickly as possible.”
Those words irritated Yun Sola slightly.
After all, passports were supposed to be obtained personally.
Still, she wasn't about to ruin the atmosphere.
“I'll carry out your instructions, Director.”
“Good. Intern Cha and Intern Yun, you may leave.”
As soon as Cha Jiham and Yun Sola left the room, Team Leader Heo Yeongjin spoke anxiously.
“Director, won't this cause problems for us later?”
“Team Leader Heo, you're excellent in every way except for one thing. Your excessive cowardice is truly a problem.”
“What?”
“I'll repeat myself. Think carefully about why Chief Secretary Song summons me so frequently.”
In other words, Director Jeong Sunho was saying that any strange or improper instructions would ultimately be covered by Chief Secretary Song Dosok.
“Ah, now I understand what you mean.”
“Good. By the way, those issues in Hangang Electronics' semiconductor division and the long-term strategy to overcome them... Those weren't your ideas, were they?”
“Why would they be? I'm not Team One Leader Jeong Doyeon, who directly handles Hangang Electronics.”
Only then did Director Jeong Sunho fully understand the situation.
Cha Jiham had merely been trying to protect Team Leader Heo Yeongjin from falling out of favor with Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun.
“Team Leader Heo, you should carry Intern Cha around in your arms from now on.”
“I already intended to, but one question keeps bothering me.”
“What is it?”
“Intern Cha could've claimed those ideas as his own and received the praise himself. Why did he give all the credit to me?”
“Because you hold the key to his conversion to a permanent employee. He thinks we don't know about his secret powerful backing, so to him, that was only natural.”
“Oh, I never imagined there was such hidden meaning.”
“Contrary to expectations, he's rather clever.”
“I completely agree with you, Director.”
“But tell me... where did Intern Cha obtain such important confidential information?”
“Who else could it be?”
Heo Yeongjin hinted at Chief Secretary Song Dosok.
“Hmm, there is some truth to that.”
At that moment, Team One Leader Jeong Doyeon, whose curiosity had reached its limit, interjected.
“Director, who exactly are you talking about?”
“I'll tell you if you promise absolute secrecy.”
“Director, you know perfectly well how tight-lipped we are.”
“Very well. Hiding it might create even bigger problems later, so it's better to share it. Intern Cha was sent down from above.”
“If by above, you mean...” Jeong Doyeon trailed off.
Director Jeong Sunho understood immediately.
“No, not the Chairman of the conglomerate.”
“Then Chief Secretary Song?”
“Exactly.”
“Wait, is Intern Yun also someone with connections?”
“Most likely.”
“And whose protégé is she?”
Director Jeong Sunho believed it was Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun.
That was only natural, considering the peculiar warmth in the way he looked at Yun Sola.
However, not being entirely certain, he held back.
“There's a high probability that Chief Secretary Song also sent Intern Yun.”
“You mean Intern Yun is Chief Secretary Song Dosok's relative too?”
“Not at all. It seems Chief Secretary Song simply thought very highly of her exceptional résumé and outstanding abilities.”
“Ah, now everything makes sense.”
***
Meanwhile, after returning to his office, Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun was speaking with Chief Secretary Cho Seongjin.
“Vice Chairman, you failed to accomplish your objective. What should we do now?”
The previous night, Yoon Sanghun had heard shocking news from his wife.
Their beloved only daughter was apparently suffering unfair treatment at work.
What parent in the world could stay indifferent after hearing such a thing?
That was why he had barged into the Future Strategy Promotion Department without warning, intending to tear both management and employees apart.
Everything had gone according to plan until Cha Jiham suddenly stepped in.
Trying to test that insolent young man had completely derailed the situation.
That was what Chief Secretary Cho Seongjin was referring to.
“Although I failed to crush those lazy fools, I did get to know Intern Cha better.”
“Now that I think about it, that's true. But Vice Chairman, is the information Intern Cha brought really accurate?”
“The Wall Street Journal is famous for never publishing rumors or false information.”
In other words, Cha Jiham had spoken the truth.
“I understand, but don't you think Intern Cha is excessively bold?”
“What do you mean?”
“He openly opposed you and declared that he had nothing to lose.”
“At this very moment, he's undergoing Chairman Park's final test. Assuming he works for our company for at least five years. If he fails to become a permanent employee, that test automatically ends in failure.”
Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun drained his glass and continued.
“If Intern Cha fails that test, he'll lose the right to inherit Chairman Park's enormous wealth and influence. In that situation, can anyone seriously claim he has nothing to lose?”
“He surely understands that. Then why did he speak such bitter truths to your face without hesitation?”
“That only proves the boy has firm convictions.”
“I understand your reasoning now. How much should I award him as a cash bonus?”
“They say he's quite fond of money, so give him a generous reward.”
“It will be done. Still, why are you sending Miss Sola on this trip to America under such a questionable pretext?”
“It seemed to me that she's been under considerable stress lately. I want her to relax a little.”
“Ah, I see...” Chief Secretary Cho Seongjin nodded in understanding.