Chapter 53: The First Day of the Super Intern
Finally, the day had come—my first day as an intern at Buksan Ventures.
Standing amidst the now-familiar forest of office buildings in Pangyo, I adjusted my tie and straightened my outfit.
It was early morning, and the streets around Pangyo Station were bustling with office workers.
True to its reputation as an IT hub, many wore casual outfits, while others were dressed in neat business attire.
“I never thought I’d see the day when I’d wear a tie to work.”
Back when I worked in factory production, I had rented a suit for interviews, but wearing one as a daily uniform felt completely different.
Not wanting to draw unnecessary attention, I left my luxury brand items in the closet and opted for an off-the-rack suit and standard dress shoes.
After all, my goal as an intern wasn’t to stand out but to hone my skills as an accelerator and discover raw gems worth investing in.
“Let’s do this.”
With a deep breath, I stepped confidently into the building.
The structure required a pass to enter, so I approached the reception desk and informed them I was here as an intern for Buksan Ventures.
They promptly issued me a temporary access card.
Beep.
“Oh-ho.”
Just like in the dramas, a quick tap of the card made the glass doors slide open on either side.
The moment reminded me of my days at the press factory.
Back there, there were no fancy access cards.
Clocking in involved nothing more than loudly greeting everyone to announce your arrival.
Pulling out my phone, I double-checked the instructions I had received via text.
“Alright. Fourth floor, main conference room.”
As I stepped out of the elevator, I was greeted by a corridor painted in shades of gray and white and the pristine sight of a modern office.
Walking briskly, I entered the office, only to be met with a woman staring at me with a puzzled expression, as if silently asking, ‘Who are you?’
“How can I help you?”
She asked me, looking puzzled.
“Hello, my name is Song Dae-woon. I’m starting as an intern today.”
“Oh! That’s today, isn’t it? Hohoho. You’re here early!”
“It’s my first day. Of course, I had to come early.”
“That’s a great mindset to have. Please, follow me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I followed the woman down the hallway, wondering how far we would walk, until she pushed open a wooden door and gestured toward the room.
“Could you wait here for a moment?”
“Sure, no problem.”
Click.
As the large door closed behind me, a heavy silence settled over the room.
I glanced around with curious eyes, taking in the details of the conference room.
“It’s pretty spacious.”
There was a long oval table, a projector hanging from the ceiling, and even a podium with a microphone.
It was the textbook definition of a corporate meeting room.
“Did I come too early?”
Feeling a bit restless, I propped my chin on my hand and started scrolling through the internet on my phone.
That’s when a post caught my attention:
[If you suddenly feel old, click this!]
Without much thought, I tapped on the post.
Creak.
At that moment, the door swung open, and a large man in a suit entered the conference room.
[Ya~ya~ya~ What’s wrong with my age~ It’s just perfect for love~]
“Yikes—”
Startled by the loud, folksy trot music that filled the conference room, I frantically searched for the stop button, but unfortunately, I dropped my phone.
Scrambling to pick it up, I finally managed to close the browser.
Silence descended upon the room once more, stifling and awkward.
It was then I noticed the man staring at me, his eyes wide with confusion.
Pretending nothing had happened, I gave a casual nod, as if everything was completely normal.
Because isn’t that the rule of thumb for embarrassing moments?
When you trip in public, the best way to recover is to stand up, brush yourself off, and walk away like nothing happened—even if your knees and elbows are bleeding profusely.
“Nice to meet you. Please have a seat.”
The man hesitated for a moment before approaching me, bowing his head respectfully.
His build was bear-like, with a face that radiated simplicity and earnestness.
“Nice to meet you! I’m Jang Gu-bong, the new intern. Please take care of me!”
His posture was so stiff, like a soldier saluting his superior, that I couldn’t help but find it peculiar.
Then again, I figured it was probably just first-day jitters.
“I’m Song Dae-woon. Let’s work well together.”
“Yes, sir! I’ll learn everything you teach me!”
“Teach you what?”
At my lighthearted question, Jang Gu-bong’s pupils shook as if an earthquake had struck his very soul.
“S-sorry! I mean I’ll observe and learn on my own! Please forgive me!”
Watching him sweat bullets, I felt a pang of guilt for teasing him, even unintentionally.
Reaching out, I patted his shoulder and offered a reassuring smile.
“Let’s help each other out, alright? We’ll be working together for a while, so let’s make the most of it.”
“Thank you! I’ll do my best!”
What’s up with this guy?
Seeing the emotion brimming in his eyes, I found myself genuinely puzzled.
“Did you just get out of the military? You’re way too disciplined.”
I brushed it off casually and motioned for Jang Gu-bong to sit next to me.
Still stealing glances at me with an air of hesitancy, he finally asked, cautiously.
“Um… Is it really okay for me to sit here?”
“Why not? Sitting together looks better anyway, doesn’t it?”
“Y-yes! You’re absolutely right. I’ll do that!”
At my words, Jang Gu-bong straightened his back and stared ahead like a racehorse in the starting gates.
He was a character I couldn’t quite pin down.
I let it slide and turned my attention back to my phone.
Just as I unlocked the screen, a notification pinged.
[Beep!]
Reading through the message, I couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across my face.
[Trust Pictures deposit: 15,153,218,200 KRW]
“It finally came through.”
It was the first settlement payment for the movie Nemesis, one of my investments.
A whopping 15.1 billion won.
“Ah… This feeling is exhilarating.”
Is this how a farmer feels after a year of hard work, seeing their crops flourish and yield a rich harvest?
Watching the seeds I had sown grow and bear fruit was an electrifying experience.
It was exhilarating—bordering on addictive.
Thinking about the additional payments that would roll in later made me feel like I could skip meals altogether.
– Growl
Well, maybe not.
“Ah… I should’ve grabbed a quick bite before coming.”
But why does Jang Gu-bong, sitting next to me, keep sneaking glances at me while sweating buckets?
“Uh… Gu-bong-ssi? Are you feeling uncomfortable or something?”
“N-no, not at all. I was just, um, wondering… when you’re going to start.”
“Start? Start what?”
I couldn’t make sense of what he was saying, but just then, the conference room door opened, and two new faces walked in.
“Oh? Looks like you two arrived early.”
The newcomers were a man who looked to be in his mid-to-late 30s and a woman who appeared to be in her 20s.
The man had an approachable and easy going demeanor, while the woman, perhaps because of her thin-framed glasses, radiated a distinctly intellectual vibe.
The man extended a hand toward the woman and said.
“I think they’re your fellow interns, Chae-won-ssi. You can sit next to them.”
From his tone, it was clear the woman was also an intern like me, and the man seemed to be an employee of Buksan Ventures.
But why does Jang Gu-bong look at me like a scammed victim seeking justice?
His expressions were impossible to decipher.
The three of us sat neatly in a row, like baby birds waiting for food, watching the man in silence.
Smiling warmly, he bowed slightly and introduced himself.
“Nice to meet you all. I’m Chris, from the HR team, and I’ll be handling your orientation today. At Buksan Ventures, we all go by English names, regardless of position.”
“Even the CEO?”
“Of course. No exceptions. It’s all part of our CEO James’s commitment to fostering a flat organizational culture.”
Hearing this, I was reminded of Lee Jong-hoon, the CEO.
He was the epitome of a dashing middle-aged gentleman—handsome, with an effortlessly refined manner.
It struck me again: when the leaders set a clear example, the rest naturally follow suit.
“Each of you has an English name, right? Could you share yours with us?”
Chris asked, breaking the silence.
Jang Gu-bong was the first to speak at Chris’s request.
“Alfredo.”
It was a name that somehow fit him perfectly.
“Rose.”
The woman said next.
Her name, too, matched her intellectual and refined image.
Now it was my turn.
“Dylan.”
Dylan, meaning ‘son of the sea’, was a name a foreign sailor colleague had once given me.
I hadn’t expected to use it like this, but here we were.
“Wonderful names, all of you. Now, let’s begin with today’s orientation. I’ll start by giving you a brief introduction to Buksan Ventures, explaining the tasks you’ll be handling, and outlining the rules and expectations within our company.”
Chris then launched into a detailed explanation of Buksan Ventures’ organizational culture and company policies.
My impression as I listened?
‘Wow, this place is incredibly free-spirited.’
The employees seemed genuinely at ease, and the rule about addressing everyone by their English names—regardless of rank or age—eliminated any potential for a stifling hierarchy.
‘Not bad.’
I glanced sideways at my fellow interns.
On my left, Alfredo’s large, cow-like eyes blinked in rapt attention as he absorbed every word Chris said.
On my right, Rose adjusted her glasses with a finger and diligently jotted notes into a small notebook.
I’d heard that Buksan Ventures had a stellar reputation among job seekers for its corporate culture.
Rumor had it that only candidates with impressive academic credentials even had a shot at passing the initial screening.
“The basic training ends here. Your transition to a permanent position will depend on your performance evaluations during the internship. I sincerely hope you showcase your abilities without any regrets.”
Chris said, delivering such a harsh reality with an impossibly gentle tone.
As soon as he mentioned permanent positions, I could feel the tension ripple through the two people beside me.
For me, it wasn’t particularly relevant.
I was here temporarily, seeking both learning and harvest—though admittedly, the latter held more weight.
Chris smiled warmly before suddenly turning to Alfredo.
“Hey, Alfredo-ssi? Could you close the door for us, please?”
“Y-Yes? Oh… Yes!”
Startled by the request, Alfredo—or rather, Jang Gu-bong—looked as if he didn’t know what to do with himself.
He squirmed in his seat like a puppy needing to relieve itself.
Watching from beside him, I couldn’t understand his reaction but stayed silent since there wasn’t much I could do to help.
With his thick lips pressed tightly together, Alfredo finally stood up abruptly and dashed out the open door.
The rest of us—me, Rose, and Chris—were left dumbfounded, staring blankly at the still-wide-open door.
A few moments later, Alfredo returned, holding a tiny paper cup of water with his massive, bear-like hands as though it were the most precious thing in the world.
Setting the cup carefully on the table in front of Chris, he walked back to his seat with an air of triumph, his steps brimming with confidence.
Turning to look at him, I was met with Alfredo’s face glowing with pride, as if he’d just accomplished something monumental.
“Um… What exactly did you just do?”
I asked out of genuine curiosity.
Why on earth had he brought back a cup of water?
“Oh, you didn’t hear? Chris asked me to fetch some water! Hahaha!”
Alfredo laughed, beaming.
Good grief.
Chris’s ‘Could you close the door?’ had somehow been filtered through Alfredo’s mind into ‘Could you get some water?’
Judging by his initial flustered reaction, he must have been agonizing over where to get the water in the first place.
All I could hope was that he hadn’t fetched it from the restroom.
“This internship… is going to be quite an adventure.”
I muttered, a sinking realization settling over me.
I had a strong feeling this was going to be anything but an ordinary office experience.
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