As soon as I stepped outside, I called Senior Sang-yeop.
[What happened?]
“They said they’d think about it.”
[If they become a full professor at Korea University, they’re among the top 1% of professors. Would they really leave that position?]
“I think they would.”
The higher someone is, the more they tend to avoid risks.
Professors enjoy social status, financial stability, and guaranteed prestige. That’s why so many strive to become professors.
However, Professor Kim Ho-min, whom I met, felt more like a scientist than a typical professor. A scientist would likely be tempted by an offer that allows uninterrupted focus on research and development.
[But why Professor Kim? There are many others if you look around.]
“He’s the most suitable. Who knows? He might succeed in research and later win a Nobel Prize.”
My comment seemed like a joke, and Senior Sang-yeop burst out laughing.
[Ha ha, wouldn’t it be faster for you to win the Nobel Prize in Economics?]
“Come on, what would I have to do with a Nobel in Economics?”
Strictly speaking, the Nobel Prize in Economics isn’t a Nobel Prize. It was established by the Swedish central bank in honor of Alfred Nobel, with the selection of winners and prize money handled by the bank, not the Nobel Foundation.
Still, it’s the most prestigious award in the field of economics, and most economists dream of receiving it. Actual recipients are globally renowned scholars like Milton Friedman, Paul Krugman, and Angus Deaton.
Of course, one doesn’t receive this award merely for making money through smart investments; significant contributions to economics are required.
[At least one thing is clear: the rumors are clean. No embezzling research funds or abusing graduate students.]
Being a great scientist doesn’t automatically mean one is a great person.
Some professors embezzle research funds or misappropriate grants, exploiting their students for cheap labor or treating them like slaves.
In universities, professors hold absolute power, making it difficult for anyone to protest these practices when they occur.
Anyway, since academia is what it is, if you happen to annoy your advisor, you might find it hard to establish yourself for life. On top of that, men also have military obligations to deal with.
Professor Kim Ho-min is at least clean regarding such issues. He takes good care of his research students and actively helps them with papers and job placements.
Nonetheless, the situation for the research students isn’t great. There’s plenty of work, but their salaries are barely at the minimum living wage. If the university cuts research funding, they’ll have to worry about making ends meet immediately.
I proposed to set up a research institute, hire all of them, and give them the best treatment. If Professor Kim Ho-min feels responsible for them, he will have no choice but to accept my proposal.
“Please start looking for a building for the institute right away.”
[Already?]
“There’s no harm in being prepared in advance.”
[Got it. I’ll get on it immediately.]
Sunbae Sang-yeop didn’t ask any more questions and hung up.
Now all I have to do is wait for a response?
Instead of going back to the office, I took a moment to stroll around the campus. Since it was lunchtime, students were gathering in groups and heading to the cafeteria.
I saw some upperclassmen and fresh-faced freshmen who still showed signs of being high school students.
With the semester just starting, their faces seemed full of expectations and excitement about college life.
There was a time when I also had such youthful days.
…Thinking about that makes me feel strangely old.
If I hadn’t jumped into this line of work, I would probably still be preparing for a job while attending school, right?
That thought gives me a mixed feeling. I slightly long to return to being a student.
I wonder what the kids are up to.
Since then, I’ve lost all contact with my peers. It’s been so long since I’ve seen Min-young and Kyeongil.
For now, I headed toward the Business Administration building.
I wonder if Yuri came to school today.
I was about to contact someone when suddenly my phone rang. To my surprise, it was Yuri.
“Uh, Yuri.”
Yuri spoke hurriedly.
[Senpai, did you come to school?]
“Yeah. How did you know?”
[Where are you now?]
“I’m on my way to the business school building. I’m almost there.”
At that, Yuri shouted.
[You can’t come!]
“Why not?”
[Since the rumor spread that you’re here, all classes have been suspended, and students are gathering here. If you come, you won’t be able to get away.]
I was taken aback by what she said.
“What?”
I had only told Professor Kim Myoung-jun, thinking it wouldn’t cause any complicated issues. I couldn’t believe the department head would spread rumors.
“Who spread the rumor?”
[It was Hye-mi.]
“Huh? Lee Hye-mi?”
Why is she involved in this?
[She said she saw you coming out after meeting the department head.]
“……”
Honestly, she’s of no help in my life whatsoever.
I quickly ducked my head and turned my body. I needed to get out of this situation fast.
At that moment, someone grabbed my arm. Startled, I turned to see Yuri standing there with her phone in hand.
Yuri smiled brightly and said,
“There you are, Senpai.”
“Ugh. You startled me.”
“It’s been a while.”
She had her blond hair in a ponytail, wearing a white turtleneck and a tiered skirt that came to her knees. She still looked cute and lively.
Yuri playfully scolded me,
“Why didn’t you let me know you were coming to school?”
“I was actually about to contact you when my phone rang.”
“Really?”
The last time we met, she was a first-year student, and now she had become a third-year. Time certainly flies.
At that moment, a group of students passed by us.
“What’s going on?”
“Jin-hu Kang is at school!”
“Really? The Jin-hu Kang from the business department?”
“Yeah. The CEO of Otaku Company.”
“Don’t you mean OTK Company?”
“No way! Let’s go check it out!”
“……”
Is my popularity at this level?
Anyone would think a Hollywood star had arrived.
In truth, it was more about curiosity than popularity. People probably just wanted to see what Kang Jin-hu looked like.
Yuri grabbed my hand and pulled me along.
“If we get caught, it’ll be a big problem. Let’s hurry and escape.”
We quickly made our way to the parking lot.
I climbed into the driver’s seat, and Yuri naturally got into the passenger seat.
“So, we’re going straight to the company, right?”
“Huh?”
“You said you’d show me around the company before.”
“…….”
Did I say that?
“What about your classes?”
“They’re all finished.”
“Really?”
Yuri subtly avoided my gaze.
“Of course.”
“…….”
I felt like she was skipping out on class.
“Alright, driver Kang. Let’s get going.”
“Got it.”
I started the car.
***
During the drive to the company, Yuri shared various stories about school.
“Min-young senior got a job at a defense company. Kyeongil senior went to KATUSA.”
“I guess both of them will have a tough time for a while.”
But speaking as someone who’s been discharged as a Sergeant, it’s a hundred times better than just going to the military.
“Do you know Hye-mi senior talks a lot about seniors to the juniors? The freshmen all think there was something going on between the two of them.”
“……”
Can’t this be considered defamation due to false rumor spreading?
“She said she hasn’t graduated yet?”
“She has a lot of credit issues, so she has to stay until this year. She’s confident she’ll get into OTK Company after graduation.”
What’s that about?
“Oh! Seon-ah senior graduated and got a job at GH Construction.”
“Really?”
From the looks of it, they seem to still be seeing each other well.
“I want to graduate and get a job quickly, too. If things go well, I think I can graduate early after just attending until next semester.”
I was quite surprised by that.
“Guess you’ve managed your grades surprisingly well.”
“Surprisingly? There’s no student who works as hard as I do. Please take good care of me when I apply for jobs later, CEO.”
“……”
Is she really thinking of coming to OTK Company?
Yuri casually added, “Dad and Uncle Cheol-gyun said they wanted to have a drink with you.”
“That would be an honor.”
“Can I join, too?”
“Isn’t it fine if it’s not a business place?”
“Hehe, since you allowed it, I guess I should talk to Dad. But what brings you to school?”
“I just wanted to see the department head for the first time in a while…”
Since I would find out later anyway, I spoke frankly.
“I’m thinking of establishing a battery research institute and trying to bring a professor from the Chemistry department as the head of the institute.”
“Oh, so that’s why you’re here to persuade them in person?”
“Something like that.”
“You’re taking on quite a lot—acquiring a car company, setting up a battery factory, and now a research institute. Isn’t that a bit too much?”
“You’re right about that.”
At first, I only invested in CarOS, but somehow I’ve been expanding my reach throughout the automotive industry.
I wonder what kind of outcome this will yield?
“But with basic science research, doesn’t it take quite a while to commercialize it?”
Technology or patents don’t generate money on their own. To commercialize them, countless experiments and trials are necessary.
Sometimes there are failures in this process, or better technologies may emerge in the meantime.
“I’m investing with a long-term perspective.”
If it happens quickly, great; if it takes longer, well, I’d still be able to get research results worth a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. There’s no risk in investing.
“I think the government has decided to push for hydrogen cars.”
Thanks to a direct directive from the President, the hydrogen car development plan is progressing steadily. Local governments have already started selecting sites for charging stations, and the authorities signed a contract to purchase 300 hydrogen cars.
Currently, the only hydrogen car released in Korea is the Eunsung Motor’s PotenHY, so naturally, PotenHY was the target.
As hydrogen cars begin to surge as future vehicles, related stocks have all shown an upward trend. Eunsung Motor, expected to benefit the most, saw its stock price rise by about 3%.
In contrast, electric vehicle stocks are experiencing weakness, and Seosung SB’s stock price has dropped below 300,000 won again.
If hydrogen cars become the dominant trend like this, companies that invested in electric vehicles will suffer huge losses. My losses will be significant too.
As I was driving, Yuri was staring at my face from the side.
‘What’s wrong?’
Yuri smiled and replied, ‘Just because.’
***
“It was quick to get to the company.
After parking, I headed straight to the top floor. Yuri was admiring the CEO’s office.
‘Wow! You can see Tehran Street all at once. Senior, you’re working in such a nice place.’
‘Isn’t your father’s office similar?’
The RCK Brothers building is also in Gangnam and about the same size.
‘Oh, it’s not quite like this. Is Taek-gyu oppa working here with you?’
‘The COO’s office is on a lower floor. The layout is almost identical.’
‘So he’s working downstairs now?’
‘Well…’
I’ve been busy these days, preparing to establish an esports team.
‘Let’s go. I’ll show you around some other places.’
I took Yuri around, showing her various parts of the company. Then, we ran into Senior Gi-hong near the PR department.
Senior Gi-hong looked surprised and asked, ‘Oh! Shin Yuri?’
Yuri bowed her head in greeting.
‘Ah! Hello, senior!’
‘What brings you here?’
I chimed in to explain for her.
‘She wanted to take a tour of the company.’
Senior Gi-hong nodded with a smile.
‘Hmm, I see. Have a great time.’
‘…….’
What did that mean?
After wrapping up the tour, I asked Yuri.
“Have you not eaten lunch yet?”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s go. I’ll buy you something delicious.”
“Okay. I’m hungry, so let’s hurry.”
As we stepped outside the building, I spotted Taek-gyu and Ellie walking in together.
“Hey, Jinhoo! How was school?”
Ellie waved happily at me, then looked at Yuri beside me.
“Who is this…?”
I stammered a bit and replied, “Ah! This is a junior from school.”
“Oh really?”
Ellie greeted her warmly.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Ellie Kim.”
Yuri bowed her head slightly.
“Hello, I’m Shin Yuri.”
The two, who had been smiling and greeting each other, suddenly paused. It seemed they were recalling something from each other’s names.
“Isn’t she the foreign student who came to school with Jinhoo during the break…?”
“The junior who followed you home…?”
“….”
“….”
A brief moment of silence passed, and then Taek-gyu placed his hand on my shoulder and spoke in a low voice.
“I knew a day like this would come, my friend.”
