“Brother, aren’t you going to work?”
Feeling someone shaking his shoulder, Cha Jiham slowly opened his eyes with difficulty and saw his younger sister, Cha Hyeonji.
“...Hyeonji. Starting today, I’m on leave, so I can sleep a little longer.”
“You’re only an intern. What kind of leave could you possibly have? How did you even get it?”
“I didn’t take it. They forced me to.”
“I don’t understand anything. Explain it properly so I can make sense of it.”
“I’m dead tired. Let me sleep a bit more, and I’ll tell you later.”
“No, I want to know right now. Tell me first, then sleep all you want.”
Cha Hyeonji was exceptionally stubborn. If he didn’t clear up her doubts now, there would be no peaceful sleep. Jiham had no choice but to sit up and start explaining.
“Oh-ho-ho... Yesterday, the Vice Chairman suddenly came to our department.”
“And then what happened?”
“He gathered everyone together and...”
Cha Hyeonji absolutely refused to believe her brother’s words. Why would an ordinary intern be sent on a business trip to America? And even receive paid leave to perfect his spoken English? Who could believe such a thing?
“Listen. You got fired, didn’t you? You’re just lying so I won’t worry, right?”
“Have I ever lied to you in my life?”
“Well... Then it’s true?”
Caught completely off guard, Hyeonji even stuttered badly.
“Yeah.”
“Brother, I’m so proud of you!”
“Where is all this affection suddenly coming from?”
“It’s practically impossible for graduates from our university to get into Hangang Group. It’s farther than walking to the moon. But you not only passed the internship screening, the higher-ups even recognized your abilities! They gave you paid leave! How could I not be proud?”
“Well, if you put it that way, I don’t really have anything to say.”
“Okay, I’ll make something to eat. Get some proper sleep, then wake up and have lunch.”
“Hyeonji, wait.”
Jiham called out to his sister as she turned to leave.
“What? Is there something else?”
“Starting today, I need to study English... especially conversational English. Do you know a good method?”
“Install one of those AI conversation apps. That’s enough.”
“And those apps are really reliable?”
“They say they’re much better than learning from mediocre foreign instructors.”
“That makes sense. Technology has reached that level, after all. No wonder everyone keeps talking about the technological singularity. Anyway, now that we’re talking, let’s discuss something else.”
“What?”
“Why have you been coming home so late every day? Don’t tell me you’re staying out because of tutoring.”
“No! Not at all!”
Cha Hyeonji frantically waved both hands and denied his guess.
“You know that excessive denial is practically an admission, right? Tell me honestly.”
“...Well, you see. I just feel uncomfortable living off you.”
“You got hit by a car, the driver ran away, and you spent almost a year in rehabilitation. And after all that, you still insist on working as a tutor?”
“I was crossing on a green light, on the crosswalk!”
“Obviously that bastard was one hundred percent at fault. But I told you not to walk around late at night because it’s dangerous! Who knows? You might run into another lunatic!”
“But you come home after midnight because of work!”
“Don’t compare a man and a woman! I’ll give you as much money as you need, so quit tutoring immediately!”
“How can I spend money you earn by working yourself to death with a clear conscience? Whenever I think about how much of your precious time was spent paying my hospital bills, I feel like crying from guilt!”
“You’re family.”
“Sorry, but I’m not a little kid anymore,” Hyeonji shot back boldly before leaving the room.
“Ah... She won’t yield an inch.”
With a heavy sigh, Jiham lay down again, but sleep had already left him. He sat up, grabbed his phone, and called Chief Secretary Kang Inhan. As always, the call was answered the instant it began ringing.
[Intern Cha, this is Kang Inhan.]
“Secretary Kang, how is the search for the driver who hit my sister and fled the scene progressing?”
[Since too much time has passed since the incident, we have encountered certain difficulties.]
“I see.”
[Did something happen concerning the case?]
“My sister ignored my warnings and started tutoring again... Ah, never mind. We’ll talk later.”
***
Click.
As soon as Secretary Kang Inhan hung up, Chairman Park Yeongil asked with lively curiosity in his eyes,
“So, what did you and Jiham talk about?”
“It’s hard to say for certain, but it seems Intern Cha argued with Cha Hyeonji over the accident.”
“Why did they argue?”
“Cha Hyeonji has been coming home late because of tutoring. Intern Cha found out and tried to stop her from working, which apparently brought back memories of the incident.”
“That’s understandable. By the way, why hasn’t that hit-and-run driver been caught yet?”
“The police closed the case, saying they had no way to gather new evidence. And the two witnesses emigrated to Canada and New Zealand six months ago.”
“Hm...”
Chairman Park Yeongil trailed off. Tapping the sofa armrest thoughtfully with his fingers, he sank into contemplation. Kang Inhan sat quietly beside him, careful not to disturb his thoughts. After a while, the Chairman stopped moving and broke the silence.
“Secretary Kang, doesn’t this seem like too suspicious a coincidence?”
“I had the same thought, Chairman, so I’ve already sent our people to Canada and New Zealand.”
“Hm, then we’ll soon find the trail of that bastard.”
Bzzzt. Bzzzt.
At that moment, the phone in Kang Inhan’s hand vibrated. Looking at the screen, he informed Chairman Park that Song Dosok, Chairman Yoon’s chief secretary, was calling and accepted the call.
“Secretary Song, this is Kang Inhan.”
[Secretary Kang, I’m calling regarding an extremely important matter.]
“Please ask whatever you wish.”
[By any chance, did you tell Intern Cha about the problems at Hangang Electronics and how to solve them?]
“I have absolutely no idea what problems Hangang Electronics is facing.”
[Could Chairman Park have told him?]
“Impossible. I personally attended every meeting between the Chairman and Intern Cha.”
[Hm, I see.]
At that moment, Chairman Park Yeongil held out his hand. Kang Inhan gestured to his caller and handed the phone to his boss.
“Song, tell me what happened.”
[Yesterday afternoon, Vice Chairman Yoon visited the department where Intern Cha works. During the conversation, that young man accurately pointed out all of Hangang Electronics’ weak points and even provided a ready-made solution.]
“I never said a word to Jiham about Hangang Electronics.”
[I understand, Chairman.]
“So what exactly did our Jiham advise the Vice Chairman?”
[Intern Cha stated that Hangang Electronics’ semiconductor business was currently in a distorted and unhealthy state, and...]
Until now, Chairman Park Yeongil had believed that Cha Jiham possessed no extraordinary intellectual abilities. But listening to Secretary Song’s report, he realized how mistaken he had been. Even the elite specialists and executives in the Future Strategy Promotion Department, a gathering place of geniuses, had failed to discover such an unconventional solution.
While the Chairman reassessed Jiham’s abilities, Secretary Song’s report came to an end.
[...As a result, Vice Chairman Yoon plans to travel to America personally and negotiate with Endivia’s executives.]
“Song, why doesn’t Vice Chairman Yoon take Jiham along?”
[That is exactly what Vice Chairman Yoon has decided.]
“Tell the Vice Chairman that he made the right decision. Well done.”
[I’ll make sure to pass it on. Chairman Yoon believes that Intern Cha experienced a tremendous leap in intellectual development after taking that herbal sedative. What do you think, Chairman Park?]
“Tell Yoon that I hold exactly the same opinion.”
[Understood. Goodbye.]
***
After hanging up, Chief Secretary Song Dosok relayed every detail of the conversation with Kang Inhan and Chairman Park to Chairman Yoon Jongu and his son.
“...Chairman Park thinks exactly the same as you, Chairman.”
“I see. Still, where did Intern Cha obtain information about Hangang Electronics?”
“Shall I summon him and interrogate him about his sources?”
“We’ll find out sooner or later. There’s no need to conduct interrogations unnecessarily.”
After finishing with Secretary Song, Chairman Yoon Jongu turned to Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun.
“The information that Endivia intends to outsource the production of high-bandwidth semiconductors—is it confirmed?”
“Judging by this morning’s Wall Street Journal article and the information Sola obtained, it is absolutely certain.”
“Then Endivia’s official request for our proposal should arrive any day now.”
“That is most likely the case.”
“If we’ve been expecting this, shouldn’t the proposal already be prepared?”
“The Future Strategy Promotion Department and Hangang Electronics are currently forming a special task force to prepare it.”
“Excellent. Personally oversee the group.”
“I was already planning to do so.”
Chairman Yoon Jongu looked at his son with approval and trust before continuing.
“Now, another matter. You met Intern Cha personally. What are your impressions?”
“I now fully understand why Chairman Park treasures him so much and treats him like a priceless jewel.”
“I’m glad you recognize his value. Take him under your wing and put him through rigorous training.”
“I’d be happy to, but I’m afraid he might break under the pressure and run away halfway.”
“That young man is made of different stuff from modern youngsters. His endurance is tremendous, and his sense of responsibility is ironclad. So cast aside your worries and raise him into a leader capable of carrying the entire Hangang Group conglomerate on his shoulders in the future.”
“Understood.”
“You have plenty of work. Go.”
Receiving the polite order to leave, Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun opened the office door and stepped outside. Song Dosok watched him go and remarked with obvious satisfaction,
“It seems Sanghun has become less arrogant. Intern Cha really knocked him down a peg.”
“I completely agree.”
“It’s already been three months since Intern Cha took that herbal sedative, but not only have the effects not weakened, they seem to grow stronger every day.”
“Hm... You’re right. By the way, Song, when is Park going to get me some of that medicine?”
“Don’t even hope for it, Chairman. The chances of that remedy reaching your hands are zero.”
“Why is that?!” Yoon Jongu shouted irritably.
Despite his boss’s anger, Song Dosok remained completely calm, as if he held an iron trump card.
“Chairman Park is now fully aware of the miraculous properties of that medicine. Why would he hand it over to you?”
“Well... You have a point.”
“I believe the best option for us is to make Intern Cha completely our person.”
“I’d love to, but that boy is stubborn as a rock. He’s impossible to approach.”
“The key is persistence. If you keep knocking on a closed door long enough, sooner or later it will open.”
“Should we tell Sola to be more proactive?”
***
Later that evening, after visiting the local administrative office and applying for a passport, Jiham sent Yun Sola a message.
[Cha Jiham: I submitted the passport application myself, so you don’t need to worry.]
Bzzzt. Bzzzt.
About ten seconds later, his phone vibrated.
“She could’ve just replied with a message. Why call?” Jiham muttered and answered.
“Intern Yun, did you receive my message?”
[Department Director Jeong instructed me personally to take care of your passport, Intern Cha.]
“Using highly qualified personnel for such a trivial matter is an irrational allocation of conglomerate resources.”
[The others don’t think so.]
“Someday they’ll recognize your true potential.”
[Your words really give me strength.]
“Glad to hear it. Since you’re busy, I won’t keep you.”
[Please wait a second.]
Yun Sola stopped Jiham just as he was about to hang up.
“Do you have some business with me?”
[Endivia has just officially sent Hangang Electronics a request for contract production of high-bandwidth semiconductors.]
“What?! Already?”
[It seems they don’t have any time to spare.]
“I see. Is there any other important information I should know?”
[Endivia’s management requires our proposal by the fifteenth of next month.]
Jiham had expected the trip to America to take place near the end of next month. He had planned to combine food deliveries with studying conversational English. But everything had gone completely off course. The situation had changed, and he would have to fly to the United States in only two weeks.
“Ah... This creates a serious problem.”
[Director Jeong hopes very much that you will make the most of this paid leave, Intern Cha.]
“I understand. All right, I’m busy. Goodbye.”
Click.
After hanging up, Cha Jiham stared at the distant peaks of Bukhansan and cursed bitterly.
“Oh, damn it... This is a total disaster!”