I’m only saying this excluding my ex-girlfriend. I spoke the truth.
“She’s a fellow student from school, and she’s getting married this time.”
CEO Im Soo-mi nodded her head.
“I see.”
“The person she’s marrying is Go Jun-hyung from GH Construction. Do you know him?”
At my words, she opened her eyes wide.
“He’s the third son of CEO Go Jin-gwang. Ah! I heard he’s getting married this time.”
Seon-ah quickly stood up and bowed her head.
“Hello, I’m Yoon Seon-ah.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Im Soo-mi.”
They shook hands.
“Congratulations on your wedding.”
“Thank you.”
Perhaps because of the CEO Im Soo-mi’s strong presence, Seon-ah seemed somewhat withdrawn.
“I didn’t know the future daughter-in-law of CEO Go Jin-gwang was a fellow student of Representative Kang Jin-hoo. If the two of you have a friendship, it would make it easier for GH Construction to get help from OTK Company later.”
I shook my head with a smile.
“Do you really think that would happen?”
“Why not? OTK Company is also the biggest shareholder of ArcIt, right?”
She seems to know everything.
ArcIt, a UK-based startup, uses artificial intelligence and machine learning for architectural design. It’s not well-known in Korea but is rapidly growing, mainly in Europe.
She took out a business card from her handbag and handed it to me.
“If you need anything at the hotel, feel free to contact me. I’ll answer even if I’m asleep if it’s the CEO’s call.”
It’s customary to give your own business card after receiving someone else’s in a business setting.
“I do have a business card, just haven’t been carrying it around.”
“You know my contact information, right?”
“Of course. I’ll make sure to arrange a meal soon. Let’s all see each other, including my younger sibling.”
“Yes. I look forward to it.”
“I feel like I’ve taken too much of your time. I’ll take my leave now. I’ll pay for today’s coffee, so you two can keep talking.”
“Take care.”
Seon-ah bowed her head in greeting.
“Goodbye.”
After President Im Soo-mi left, we sat back down.
Seon-ah looked at me with a surprised expression. President Im Soo-mi’s presence had made her realize my position once again.
Of course, she must have already known this fact, but thinking it and seeing it directly are two different things.
Seon-ah was silent for a long time. She kept fiddling with her coffee cup, her head bowed.
“If I had been by your side… would you still have succeeded like you have now?”
“Well, I don’t know.”
I tend to seek stability. Back in school, I never thought about starting a business; my goal was to get a job in finance. If my family had been intact and my father had still been alive, I would have graduated normally and gotten a job.
I do have the ability of foresight, but investing was a huge gamble.
Would Seon-ah have made the same choices if she had stayed by my side?
I recalled the path I had walked until now. Her presence was never there anyway. It’s too late to turn back now.
“No one knows how it would have turned out.”
Seon-ah made a bitter expression.
“That’s true.”
Talking about the past is meaningless. What matters is what lies ahead.
“I had something I wanted to say when I saw you…”
“Yeah?”
After a moment of thought, Seon-ah shook her head.
“I guess it’s better not to say it.”
I gave a light smile.
Seon-ah looked at me and asked, “Are you coming to the wedding?”
I don’t have much connection with the Korean business world. The only interactions I’ve had are with the Seosung Group for business, and I’ve only seen the other conglomerates once at a meeting hosted by Ronald.
So, if I show up at the wedding, it might become a topic in itself. Surely, she wouldn’t have given me the invitation with the genuine intention for me to come. It’s more likely the opposite.
I shook my head.
“I’ll just send a lot of congratulatory money.”
Seon-ah smiled softly, as if she expected that. Then she gathered her bag and stood up.
She offered her farewell.
“Take care, Jin-hoo.”
I said sincerely, “Congratulations on your wedding.”
***
After I collapsed in America, calls started coming in from everywhere. Yuri also called several times.
I obviously couldn’t answer at that time, but I had a brief call after I woke up. And today, I received another call.
As expected, Yuri started by asking about my health, and I answered that I’m fine and changed the subject.
“By the way, school must be on break now.”
[When has it been since the break started? You should pay a little attention to the academic calendar.]
What does it matter for a long-term leave student to pay attention to the academic calendar?
“Aren’t you going anywhere for fun?”
[Fun? With the current youth unemployment rate, how can you say that? Everyone is busy with job study groups. I need to work hard to join OTK Company too.]
“Really? Are you actually going to get in?”
[I told you before. I need to keep a spot open until I graduate. You can’t say there’s no TO later.]
“……”
Is this what people call an illicit job recommendation?
“But didn’t you say you called for an important reason?”
[Oh! That’s right. Um, but I’m not sure if I should tell you this, though. You’ll find out eventually anyway… ]
“What is it? Is it about Seon-ah getting married?”
Yuri was taken aback by my words.
[How did you know?]
“I heard it directly.”
[From Seon-ah? You didn’t actually meet, did you?]
“I did meet. Is that a problem?”
[Well, it’s not that it’s a problem… So what happened?]
“What happened? I congratulated her and told her to live well.”
[Hmm, well done. Ah! But have you heard about that?]
“What’s that story?”
[I heard from Dad that Warren Buffett is visiting Korea next week.]
“Really? What’s the occasion?”
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway started in the insurance industry but now invests across various sectors, including finance, IT, media, manufacturing, energy, retail, consumer goods, and automotive.
Warren Buffett never invested in areas he didn’t understand or considered risky. During the dot-com bubble, he notably refrained from investing in internet stocks, which upset shareholders. However, after the bubble burst, he was praised as an investment genius.
Instead, he bought familiar companies that most people would recognize, such as Coca-Cola, Costco, and Walt Disney. Recently, he is said to have a keen interest in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and IT, with his purchase of Npple stock being a prime example.
[I hear he’s coming to meet Chairman Im Jin-yong.]
Warren Buffett is extremely cautious in selecting investment targets and generally avoids investing in companies that overlap significantly with his existing businesses. However, he recently surprised everyone by suddenly purchasing shares of Seosung Electronics.
Is he meeting with Chairman Im Jin-yong regarding investment matters?
***
A few days later.
Warren Buffett’s visit to Korea was reported in the media.
Even those unfamiliar with computers likely know Bill Gates, and even those uninterested in finance or investment have probably heard of Warren Buffett.
Warren Buffett was born and raised in Athens, a city not far from Atlanta, Georgia, known as the capital of the Deep South, and after graduating from college, he returned to his hometown to settle down.
Berkshire Hathaway also has its headquarters in Athens, and Buffett has spent most of his life in that area, rarely leaving home unless absolutely necessary.
This visit to Korea is his first in nearly ten years.
Upon hearing of his visit, the Blue House immediately expressed a desire to invite him. A spokesperson announced that President Park Si-hyeong would have a meal with Buffett and discuss expanding investments.
Conservative media, centered around outlets like the Joongilbo, began publishing articles as if the meeting between President Park and Buffett was already a fact.
[President Park Si-hyeong invites Warren Buffett to the Blue House!]
[Business-friendly actions continuing even at the end of the term]
[The meeting between the economic president and the great investor!]
[This should be an opportunity to increase global companies’ investment in Korea]
[Warren Buffett’s investment philosophy aligns closely with the creative economy.]
It almost seemed as though Warren Buffett was coming to Korea specifically to meet President Park.
However, after the articles were published, Berkshire Hathaway denied the reports from the Korean media.
The reason for going to Korea was vacation, not business, and due to personal schedules, while they appreciated the invitation from the Blue House, they would have to postpone it for another time. They also emphasized that the meeting with Chairman Im Jin-yong was due to a past connection with former Chairman Im Il-kwon.
-Haha, the president is getting quite excited.
-Seriously, talking about the creative economy? Enough with the news creation already.
-They seemed to try to pressure for the meeting through public opinion. Their actions are so low, I can’t even respond.
-If it were a conglomerate chairman, they would cancel all plans and rush to the Blue House, but would Warren Buffett do that?
– This is what we call international shame. If you stay quiet, at least you won’t be caught in the middle.
– Doesn’t the Joongilbo feel embarrassed? No wonder they get called “fake news.”
However, this time, another report came out from the American media. It was said that Warren Buffett would meet not only Chairman Im Jin-yong but also Kang Jin-hoo.
– Is it a meeting among century’s investors?
– Our esteemed leader was ignored!
– Now the leader isn’t significant anymore. Kang Jin-hoo is on the rise.
– Please don’t say that. The leader feels hurt.
– Kang Jin-hoo has really grown. He couldn’t even show his business card before Brexit.
– Anyone who hears this would think you raised him.
***
I received a call from Berkshire Hathaway.
As soon as I hung up, Taek-gyu asked, “What did they say?”
“They want to have lunch together.”
“They’re just asking for a meal?”
“Yeah.”
In fact, having lunch with Warren Buffett is a huge deal.
He auctions off a lunch with him every year, donating the proceeds. Last year’s winning bid was $3.7 million.
The cost of sharing a meal and conversation exceeds 4 billion won.
Upon hearing this, Taek-gyu blinked in disbelief. “What could possibly cost 4 billion?”
“The menu isn’t anything special.”
“Then why is it so expensive?”
“What’s important is the life advice you receive.”
I often say that the wealthier people are, the less they waste money. If you can gain something from a conversation, even 4 billion won wouldn’t seem excessive.
Warren Buffett is respectable not only as an outstanding investor but also as a person.
Despite his wealth reaching 90 trillion won, he’s known for being frugal. While typical wealthy individuals live in mansions with helipads and multiple swimming pools, he has lived in the small house he bought when he got married. He has been driving a Cadillac DTS for over ten years.
For breakfast, he usually has McDonald’s breakfast. If his investment performance is good the day before, he opts for the pancake set. If it’s not good, he goes for a cheaper single menu item.
“Where does all that money go? Are you taking it with you when you die?”
“He said he would donate it.”
He has stated for a long time that he plans to donate most of his wealth.
Unlike some Korean conglomerates that use donations as a way to pass down management rights, he genuinely wants to contribute to society.
Taek-gyu nodded.
“He’s a nice grandpa.”
Anyway, since others would pay 4 billion won for lunch, there’s no reason to decline a free meal. Since they requested the meeting, I was free to decide the location, attendees, and menu.
We crossed over to the adjacent building.
Upon hearing the news, Ellie joyfully hugged me.
“Really? I can meet Warren Buffett too?”
“Of course! Let’s go together.”
On the other hand, Hyun-joo Noona nodded calmly.
“Got it. I’ll clear my schedule for that day.”
She seemed nonchalant, but I could tell she was very happy inside. No need to say it out loud, though.
However, Taek-gyu felt the need to mention it.
“Hey! Noona looks really happy. Are you that excited?”
At that, Hyun-joo Noona frowned immediately.
“Shut up.”
