IWSF – Ch 223

While prostitution is illegal in some countries and legal in others, in the case of pornography, most developed countries allow it. However, it is still illegal in South Korea.

However, as everyone knows, the internet is overflowing with porn, and you can still access foreign websites and watch it as much as you want. And the judicial authorities don’t really impose any sanctions on it.

Legally, it’s illegal, but it’s a bizarre situation where watching it isn’t punished.

Faceit is actively pioneering foreign markets, starting with the United States, then moving to South America, Europe, and Japan, but it hasn’t been able to officially launch its service in Korea, and even its website is blocked. (Surprisingly, though, the number of paying Korean subscribers continues to increase.)

Anyway, Faceit has now emerged as the absolute powerhouse in the porn market. People called Faceit the Netplay or Npple of the porn industry. (Although, it seems they really dislike being called that.)

Toby explained passionately.

“Dancing Rabbit is currently facing severe financial difficulties due to a series of business failures and has expressed their intention to sell. I’ve been thinking about entering this market someday, and this seems like a good opportunity.”

Gerard added, as if providing further explanation.

“Acquiring Dancing Rabbit is necessary for the success of the VR porn we’re currently developing. We’re planning to create porn that you can play, not just watch.”

“……Huh?”

What did they say they were going to do?

“Have you ever had this question while watching porn?”

“What question?”

“Why do I have to just watch the actors I like having sex with someone else?”

“Excuse me?”

“Of course, watching other people do it is enjoyable. But wouldn’t it be even more enjoyable to do it yourself?”

“W-Well, I guess so.”

As I agreed, Toby confidently stated his ambition.

“Just as Karos is making self-driving cars, Faceit will combine software and hardware to create a new kind of porn that allows users to have an experience as if they are directly engaging with their favorite actors!”

“…….”

Instead of me, who was speechless, Taek-gyu chimed in.

“Genius.”

The idea is certainly brilliant.

The sex industry has grown alongside human history. However, despite technological advancements, this field hasn’t seen much significant progress.

Although pornographic videos have been sold in earnest for decades, the only real changes have been in the medium, such as VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, and high-definition files. There haven’t been any groundbreaking changes.

If porn is considered software, then sex toys are hardware. So, they’re going to create porn that you can enjoy by combining the two?

I was inwardly impressed.

It’s not easy to dig so deeply into just one well.

One of the common mistakes successful entrepreneurs make is losing their initial passion. If they become complacent with their success and the initial creativity and innovation disappear, they become just another company and eventually collapse.

But Toby and Gerard were different.

Despite achieving enormous success in a short period, their passion for porn was as strong as when they first met.

Somehow, I felt that these two might truly rewrite the history of porn.

Wouldn’t people, when talking about porn in the future, mention Toby Strong and Gerard Bacon before Larry Flynt (founder of Hustler) and Hugh Hefner (founder of Playboy)?

When I said that, Taek-gyu nodded in agreement.

“And your name, as the investor, will also be etched in porn history.”

“……Huh?”

Why me? What did I do wrong?

Japan is the most active in this field. Several companies have already released VR porn, and sex dolls that can have simple conversations and simulate body temperature have already been launched.

If these two were combined, wouldn’t it create an enormous synergy? In some ways, this is the true meaning of combining software and hardware.

I nodded.

“What’s the acquisition price?”

***

After finishing the morning meeting about the additional investment in Faceit, it was lunchtime.

Once the employees left and it was just the two of us, Senior Manager Sang-yeop asked casually.

“What are you doing for lunch? Want to eat together?”

“I’m eating with Ellie.”

Sang-yeop sighed, as if lamenting.

“Ah, I’m jealous. I want to get a girlfriend too.”

“You have plenty of women around.”

“What’s the point of having a lot? You need substance.”

“Considering that, you were just in the news again for dating a girl idol.”

“Dating? We’re just seeing each other.”

“…….”

Just seeing each other, and you got photographed leaving her place together?

K Company is the largest shareholder of Edm Entertainment.

Unlike other entertainment agencies, Edm Entertainment originally started as an IT company operating a crowdfunding site. Currently, it makes more profit from investing in movies and dramas than from celebrity management. These investments are typically high-risk, high-return. If an invested movie becomes a blockbuster, you can earn more than 10 times your investment, but if it flops, you can lose your principal.

Anyway, due to investment matters, Sang-yeop frequently interacts with the entertainment industry and has been linked to several female celebrities, gracing the entertainment news.

“What’s it like meeting celebrities?”

Sang-yeop grinned.

“If you’re curious, meet one sometime. There are many female celebrities who want me to introduce them to you.”

“Who?”

“Movie actors, models, idols, and so on. Ah! You know Jung Soo-yeon, right?”

I nodded.

“Isn’t she a really popular actress these days?”

“She directly asked me for your number.”

It feels strange that a leading actress in dramas wants to meet me.

But if I meet other girls behind Ellie’s back, Hyun-joo noona will beat me to death. And I have no intention of doing that.

“Tell her I have a girlfriend.”

“Doesn’t matter. I think she’s seeing someone too.”

What kind of mindset is this?

Sang-yeop smiled and said,

“Be careful. There are more than a few women who like you.”

“…….”

Is my popularity that high?

As I got off the elevator and walked out, the lobby on the first floor was noisy.

“You can’t do this. I’ll report it, so please go back for now.”

“Ah, really! I’m in the same year as Kang Jin-hoo!”

I saw security team members trying to stop a woman who was shouting.

Surprisingly, it was a familiar face.

Wavy brown hair, large hoop earrings. Despite the still-cold weather, she was wearing a miniskirt that fully exposed her legs and high heels.

Her makeup was heavy and flashy, but she had a pretty face. She wasn’t very tall, but her proportions were good.

She was quite popular on campus.

But why is she here?

Unlike my bewildered expression, Lee Hye-mi waved her hand happily.

“Oh, Jin-hoo! Long time no see! It’s good to see you!”

The security team members looked at me and asked.

“Do you know her?”

“Well….”

Instead of my hesitation, Hye-mi said.

“I told you, we’re in the same year. We’re really close!”

“…….”

Weren’t we not really that close?

Her expression was too bright to deny it.

I sighed inwardly and said.

“What brings you here?”

“I just dropped by after school.”

“…….”

Exactly how do you “drop by” from Gangbuk to Gangnam?

Moreover, Hye-mi wasn’t alone. There were about ten other people with her. The gender ratio was about half and half. They all looked younger than me.

Hye-mi smiled brightly and said.

“These are the new business administration students who just started. They all wanted to see you, so I brought them.”

So, they’re my junior classmates?

The juniors greeted me awkwardly.

“Ah, hello, senior.”

“Nice to meet you.”

They all stared at me with wide eyes and curious expressions, as if they were seeing a famous celebrity on TV.

I could roughly understand the situation.

Hye-mi probably bragged to the new students, as usual, about being close to Kang Jin-hoo, or even that they were seeing each other. Then, when the new students said they wanted to meet me, she brought them to the company without a second thought.

So, what should I do about this?

As I was pondering, I heard a booming voice from behind.

“Hey! What are you guys doing?”

Turning around, I saw Team Leader Jung Gi-hong from the PR department.

Hye-mi and some of the new students recognized Gi-hong senior. Unlike me, who rarely goes to campus, Gi-hong senior occasionally visits the school with his girlfriend (Senior Hyun-jung) or treats the juniors to meals.

He says it’s to scout talent for the company, but… it just seems like he’s nosy and likes meeting people.

Gi-hong senior continued to shout.

“Do you think the workplace is your playground? What are you doing, barging into the company without an appointment?”

Then, as if to show off in front of the juniors, he bowed deeply to me.

“My apologies, CEO, for the disturbance caused by the students from our university.”

The new students, who had just followed their senior’s lead and were now being scolded out of the blue, were pale with fright.

Seeing them like that, I felt a bit sorry for them. I was also clueless and clumsy when I was a freshman.

Actually, it’s not their fault. Lee Hye-mi is the one who incited these clueless freshmen.

Gi-hong senior said in a low voice.

“I’ll scold them a bit and then buy them lunch and send them on their way.”

It seems he still wants to take care of his juniors.

I nodded.

“Buy them something expensive with the company card.”

“Understood.”

Gi-hong senior said to the new students.

“All of you, follow me.”

Instead of following the new students, Hye-mi naturally touched my shoulder and acted friendly.

“Jin-hoo, you’ve gotten so much more handsome since I last saw you.”

“…….”

I went into the cafe on the first floor of the building with Hye-mi.

***

It was a quiet place, only accessible to employees and visitors of the building.

“What would you like to drink?”

“A vanilla iced blended. With whipped cream and cinnamon powder.”

She’s got specific tastes.

I said to the employee.

“The same as she ordered and an iced Americano, please.”

As I stood there with my hands in my pockets, Hye-mi took out her wallet from her Louis Vuitton bag.

“S-Should I pay for this?”

Then, without waiting for an answer, she confidently handed her card to the employee.

“Please charge this.”

I couldn’t help but say.

“It’s free for employees.”

“Oh, really?”

Hye-mi put her card away with an awkward expression.

We sat down with our drinks. Now that we were facing each other, she seemed a bit wary of me. It’s no surprise, considering how much has changed in the meantime.

I’ve become the CEO of a huge company, and she’s still a student.

“…….”

But why is she still a student?

I took a sip of my coffee and asked.

“Didn’t you graduate?”

Hye-mi smiled and said.

“Nope. I failed a few courses, so I have to go until this semester to graduate.”

You should have studied more.

I’d been curious about two things. One was how she got into Korea University, and the other was why she chose business administration.

She doesn’t seem to have much interest in economics or business.

“Anyway, what brought you here?”

“What do you mean ‘brought me here’? I just came to see a fellow classmate’s face. Do you know how surprised I was when I heard the news? Everyone at school is talking about you.”

“I’ve heard roughly what’s going on.”

Yuri occasionally tells me news from the school.

“Have you heard about Seon-ah?”

“Yeah. I met up with her once before she got married.”

“I see.”

Hye-mi said as if something just occurred to her.

“Ah! Do you remember Chae Myeong-ho?”

“Master Chicken’s son?”

“Yeah. He went to study abroad and just came back to school.”

“Looks like he didn’t drop out.”

Well, he got in after trying three times, so he probably didn’t want to drop out.

After talking about school for a while, Hye-mi changed the subject.

“Have you had lunch?”

“I’m about to go eat.”

“Perfect. Then let’s go eat together. I love steak.”

“…….”

Is she asking me to buy her some?

“I have a lunch appointment.”

I thought she’d give up if I said that, but I underestimated her.

Hye-mi’s eyes lit up.

“What kind of appointment? Can I come too?”

“……Huh?”

Why would you come to my appointment?

As I was thinking that, Ellie called.

[I’m inside the building, where are you?]

“I’m in the cafe on the first floor.”

[Okay, I’ll head over there.]

Ellie walked right into the cafe. As usual, her shoulder-length brown hair was tied back, and she was wearing a black suit.

She was so stunning that even the cafe employees couldn’t help but stare.

Ellie approached our table, looked at Hye-mi, and said with a smile.

“Hello. Fancy seeing you here again.”

Hye-mi’s eyes widened as she looked at Ellie.

“W-Why are you here…?”

They had bumped into each other briefly at school before. It was probably a bad memory for someone.

I introduced Ellie.

“This is my girlfriend, Ellie. You’ve met her at school before, right?”

Hye-mi’s eyes became even wider.

“G-Girlfriend?”

Ellie sat down next to me, and I naturally took her hand.

“What were you two talking about?”

“She was saying she wanted to have lunch with me.”

“That’s great. It would be nice to have her join us.”

Hye-mi, who was flustered and didn’t know what to do, suddenly seemed to remember something.

“Oh my gosh, I completely forgot I had an appointment. I’ll, I’ll call you later, Jin-hoo.”

Then, she grabbed her bag and quickly got up. She didn’t forget to take her half-finished coffee with her.

Ellie watched Hye-mi’s retreating figure and asked me.

“Why was that woman here?”

I shook my head.

“I have no idea. I’m just as confused as you are.”

Why did she come, anyway?

(TL/n: Just to make it clear once again. Npple meant “Apple”.)