# Chapter 6
“Teacher, what should I do to succeed?”
Woojin suddenly asked Ahyoung.
“Good question! What kind of success do you want?”
Is he going through puberty? He’s suddenly asking such a cute question. Ahyoung answered without much thought.
“I want to make a lot of money, a whole lot of money.”
Ahyoung felt a pang in her heart. Woojin was mature beyond his years. Though he didn’t show it, he was at an age where he would naturally want many things and have many desires like his peers. Feeling sympathetic, Ahyoung gave a somewhat textbook answer.
“Well… since you’re a student now, wouldn’t it be studying? If you study hard, you might find your dream and make a lot of money in the future!”
“Really?”
Woojin replied with sparkling eyes.
The era when simply studying well could earn you a lot of money had passed. But Ahyoung didn’t particularly want to convey this reality to the young middle schooler in front of her who was asking how to make a lot of money.
“Of course! If you just study hard, you’ll be able to make all the money you want! You already have big dreams, I’m so proud of you!”
Ahyoung smiled and gently stroked Woojin’s head.
After hearing Ahyoung’s answer, Woojin’s eyes changed fiercely, as if he had made some resolution. Ahyoung didn’t notice this.
Study? I need to study. More fiercely than anyone else. To a degree that no one can surpass me. An intense flame began to rise in Woojin’s heart.
* * *
After his conversation with Ahyoung, Woojin literally devoted himself to studying like a madman. When he didn’t have enough money to buy workbooks, he would pick up books others had thrown away to study. In high school, no matter how much the mean kids attacked him by calling him “orphan bastard,” he didn’t yield and silently walked his own path. In his senior year, he studied all day long, sitting so much that mold grew on his chair, which shocked even Ahyoung.
[Korea University Business Administration Department / Admission Status: Accepted / Scholarship Status: Full Scholarship]
Perfect score on the college entrance exam. Full scholarship to the nation’s undisputed top university.
Woojin proudly entered the Business Administration Department of Korea University as a full scholarship student, achieving the remarkable feat of a perfect score on the college entrance exam without ever attending a cram school.
An orphanage graduate with a perfect score on the college entrance exam—Woojin’s story of boldly achieving a perfect score without attending a single cram school in a country where private education was rampant became a topic of discussion in the mass media for a while.
“Woojin hyung, I’m really proud of you.”
Youngjun and Yuha, who had grown up considerably, hugged Woojin with all their might. Those past days of studying intensely. Woojin felt like all the difficult memories of that time were being washed away.
‘This is just the beginning.’
Even after entering university, Woojin ran like a racehorse. While others took time off from school and traveled, he never once rested, studying fiercely to win external scholarships, and steadily saved money by juggling tutoring and part-time jobs.
Bone-cutting effort. Eventually, beyond his perfect entrance exam score, Woojin was able to graduate with top honors and hold a considerable sum of money in his hands. Though he could have taken a break after graduation, Woojin immediately got a job in the Business Strategy Department of Daejin Electronics, the second-largest conglomerate in the country. People around him expressed great disappointment in his career path, advising him that life should be viewed from a longer perspective and recommending careers as a scholar or a professional.
But Han Woojin’s thinking was different. The severity of poverty. The fear of poverty. Having experienced the power of money in the most desperate way since childhood, Woojin wanted to make money as quickly as possible.
Contract salary of 49 million won. It was quite a good salary for a fresh humanities graduate. But working wasn’t as easy as he thought. Arriving at 8 AM, leaving who knows when. The 52-hour workweek law might as well have been given to the dogs, he thought.
But it was just ‘tougher than expected,’ not unbearable when he thought about his impoverished childhood. Woojin worked silently without much complaint.
His ability to handle tasks quickly and accurately earned him the nickname “Strategy Team Ace” within a year. Woojin worked and worked, holding in his heart his small dream of earning money diligently to someday own his own home and live there with Youngjun and Yuha.
* * *
Friday evening, 6 PM. As work finished earlier than usual, Woojin started preparing to leave with a smile. Should I call Youngjun and Yuha and treat them to something delicious? While making happy plans, he quickly passed through the first-floor lobby.
“Hello, Han Woojin. I’m Jung Yujin, Executive Director Cha Taehan’s secretary.”
As soon as Woojin stepped outside the company door, a man with a neat appearance got out of a black luxury sedan and blocked his path. What the hell? Not properly hearing the man’s words, Woojin felt annoyed at the man who suddenly blocked his way.
“Executive Director Cha Taehan wishes to meet with you. Is now a good time?”
Cha Taehan? Hearing the name, Woojin’s mind snapped to attention.
Cha Taehan. A name he had only heard in the media. The publicly acknowledged successor who would inherit the Daejin Group from its second-generation chairman, Cha Taesan. He seemed to recall hearing on TV that he had returned from studying in the United States and had begun his successor training… Could he refuse?
Judging from the secretary’s attitude, it didn’t seem like he had the freedom to refuse.
“…Yes. I understand.”
Reluctantly, Woojin followed the man and got into the car. As soon as he sat in the passenger seat, the car immediately departed. Jung Yujin’s mouth seemed to be zipped shut, as not a single word came out.
What’s with this guy, eagerly asking me to come along at first, and now not saying a word? Woojin broke the suffocating silence first.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll know when we get there.”
The man’s answer only made Woojin feel worse. He had just asked a light question because he disliked the silence, but the man only gave a rigid, unpleasant response.
‘What the hell?’
Woojin decided further conversation was impossible and closed his mouth. About 30 minutes passed. A high-end Korean restaurant converted from a large traditional hanok, the kind you’d only see in political movies, came into view.
This must be our destination. Perhaps saying only what’s absolutely necessary is a quality of a secretary. Woojin thought.
“Han Woojin, we’ve arrived. Please follow me.”
After making this businesslike statement, the man immediately started walking somewhere, and Woojin silently followed him.
“We’ve arrived.”
When the man opened the door, Woojin could see Cha Taehan sitting on the opposite side.
A face that shone like blue jade and thick eyebrows as if drawn with a brush. A nose that stood as straight and high as a mountain. Even while seated, his enormous build was evident. He was a man who exuded an overwhelming presence without restraint. A tall, clear face, and in contrast, his sharp gaze gave off the gleam of a tiger.
“Hello, Woojin. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Hello, Executive Director. It’s my first time meeting you.”
“I heard you’re already the ace of the Business Strategy Department, even though you’ve been with Daejin for less than a year. Perfect college entrance exam score, top graduate from Korea University. I’m just grateful that such an excellent talent has joined our company.”
Cha Taehan greeted Woojin first without hesitation and praised him. But Woojin could sense a peculiar atmosphere. It felt similar to the emotion he had felt when looking into the eyes of that boy he met long ago at the orphanage.
He could tell even without it being obvious. The attitude of looking down on others. The younger Woojin might have felt displeasure from his youthful pride, but now he didn’t care.
Well, it’s understandable for a third-generation chaebol heir. The only thing he was curious about was why the group’s acknowledged successor would call a mere one-year employee.
Even after the light compliments, the small talk continued. This clearly couldn’t be the main point. Woojin responded to all of Taehan’s words with a fake smile, but as time went on, he grew increasingly annoyed. Just get to the point already.
“I have a younger brother.”
As if reading Woojin’s mind, Cha Taehan immediately threw out the bait.
Brother? Intrigued by this new information, Woojin’s interest was piqued. Until now, the media had never covered the fact that Daejin Group had another son. Most people who knew about Daejin Group would think of Cha Taehan as Cha Taesan’s “only son.”
“To cut to the chase, my younger brother is still immature and causes trouble here and there. Could you take on the role of his secretary and look after him for a certain period?”
‘…?’
It was an absurd proposal that Woojin hadn’t expected. Become a secretary? His pride was hurt. The fake smile he had maintained until now momentarily distorted.
“An initial payment of 500 million won, 500 million more in the second year, and an additional 500 million upon completion of the term.”
1.5 billion won? Woojin was so surprised by the unexpectedly large amount that he forgot his indignation. What he learned throughout his university years was that in a capitalist world, money is supreme, and money is the law.
No matter how well one studies, he keenly felt that the gap with the so-called “gold spoons” was nearly impossible to close. 1.5 billion won—a sum that some might carelessly spend, but for others, it could be a turning point in life.
But high risk comes with high return. Why would they offer such a job and money to a novice who had just joined the company? There had to be an ulterior motive. Noticing Woojin’s hesitation, Cha Taehan added:
“You seem more concerned than I expected. From your perspective, this isn’t a losing deal, is it?”
Cha Taehan looked at Woojin with a slight smile. That smile was a sneer. Did that person actually investigate my background? The thought that Cha Taehan had seen through his entire life sent chills down Woojin’s spine.
“Haha, don’t think too much of it. It’s just that, as an older brother, I thought having someone like you by my younger brother’s side might help him mature a bit, so I’m making this casual proposal.”
A lie. Woojin immediately recognized the statement as false. Cha Taehan’s eyes had become even sharper when mentioning his brother.
Is this possibly asking me to spy on or monitor that brother? Is this what they call a succession battle? But if it’s a succession battle, why hasn’t this brother ever appeared in the media until now? His thoughts multiplied.
“Can I quit in the middle if I want to?”
“You’re indeed quick-witted. I understand your concerns. I can give you a definite answer to that. You can quit anytime without any restrictions.”
Cha Taehan answered readily. But who knows what would happen once the job started. However, 1.5 billion won. No matter what kind of person this brother was, it was money he could earn by enduring for just four years. Money that an ordinary person could hardly even touch.
Every job comes with risks. Woojin had continuously craved money. It suddenly occurred to him that this uncomfortable meeting that came out of nowhere today might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Yes, whatever the job is, let’s face it head-on.
“Yes, Executive Director. I’ll do it.”
Woojin answered in a calm tone, looking straight into Cha Taehan’s eyes.
