An Investor Who Sees The Future

Kim Doyoon, a BMW dealer.

As a rookie dealer, he classified all customers into two types: those who already drive BMWs and those who will drive BMWs in the future.

Though there are dealers who discriminate against customers based on their cars or attire, he was far from being like them.

However, having a good mindset and being diligent doesn’t immediately translate to results.

It had been quite some time since the new year began, but sales performance had not been great, and pressure from above was slowly mounting.

Since it was a weekday, the showroom was quiet. Only families and couples who seemed to have come for a leisurely visit were looking at cars.

Senior dealer Park Shinwoo sighed and said, “Looks like everyone just came to look around. I need to go have a smoke.”

Just then, two young men who looked like college students entered the showroom.

When Kim Doyoon moved to greet them, Park Shinwoo stopped him, saying, “Don’t bother with those kids. They drove here in some weird sticker-covered compact car. They’re just dilly-dallying around.”

He recalled the game character-decorated compact car he saw in the parking lot earlier. It seemed those young men had driven that car.

“I’ll take care of it.”

“It’s almost a waste of time since they probably won’t buy anything. Just let them look around and leave on their own.”

Kim Doyoon chuckled and said, “It’s fine. I don’t have much else to do anyway.”

Even though they were just college students now, couldn’t they eventually enter society, succeed, and come to buy a car?

Kim Doyoon approached them and guided them through the cars. The young men looked at various models, then seemed to like the 7 Series, inquired about it, and after he kindly provided information on price and availability, one of the young men jokingly asked his bespectacled friend to lend him 15 million won.

“I’ll pay you back when dividends come in.”

“When do dividends come in, anyway?”

“Eventually, I’ll come out.”

Watching them playfully tease each other, it reminded me of when we used to stick together every day until college, drinking and hanging out. But caught up in work and marriage, we haven’t talked properly in a while.

“I wonder how my friend Sangwon is doing? Let’s catch up over a drink soon.”

Lost in thoughts about Sangwon, suddenly a young man presented a card. “I’d like to contract this car.”

“What?” Until that moment, I thought it was a joke. Buying a car is not something you decide on impulsively, especially not a 7 Series costing over a billion won. Nevertheless, Kim Doyoon accepted the card.

Although unfamiliar, the card shone in a golden titanium material, not your average card. Unbeknownst to him, it was issued in connection with the Master by Golden Gate, a card seldom seen in Korea.

Puzzled on what to do, as the young man got off the car, he asked, “Shouldn’t we write a contract?”

Kim Doyoon, collecting himself, replied, “Ah, yes. Right. Would you please come this way?”

The bespectacled youth spoke, “I would like to pay in full.”

While filling out the contract, he contacted the card company for payment. Surprisingly, it was approved immediately.

Just then, Park Shinwoo, done smoking, entered. Seeing the busy Kim Doyoon, he inquired, “What are you up to?”

“I’m currently finalizing a contract with those customers over there.”

In that place, the young and carefree ones I saw a while ago were sitting.

“Huh? What car?”

Would they even buy a 1 Series on installment?

“A 7 Series.”

Park Shinwoo was taken aback.

“What?”

People who look like they’re unemployed buying a 7 Series?

“Isn’t it just a contract signing?”

Signing a contract is not the end. There are plenty of cases where it gets canceled before delivery.

Kim Doyoon shook his head.

“No. The approval just came through from the card company.”

‘What a waste. I should have been the one to advise if I knew this would happen!’

Regrets were already too late.

However, there was still more to regret. The bespectacled young man extended the card to Kim Doyoon again.

“While I’m at it, I’ll also buy one. Give me that car.”

If someone saw it, they might think we were buying a 1+1 roll of toilet paper at a mart.

Kim Doyoon, taken aback, quickly accepted the card.

“What car are you referring to?”

“That flat one with the door that opens upwards.”

Although various car models were on display in the store, there was only one car with a door that opens upwards.

Park Shinwoo saw a BMW with a supercar-like exterior.

‘Could it be…?’

“The i8?”

“Yes. That’s the one. Please include it in the payment together.”

Kim Doyoon nodded vigorously.

“Yes, understood!”

The achievements of BMW rookie dealer Kim Doyoon today:

One 7 Series.

One i8.

***

I asked Taekgyu, “Are you changing cars?”

“No, I’m not changing. Just going to drive it as a second car.”

“······.”

Isn’t that supposed to be the main thing?

“But it seems difficult to personalize that car.”

“······Please don’t do that.”

Let me drive it for a bit too.

Side by side, we diligently filled out the contract.

“Let’s mark it as 150 million won in the ledger. Don’t forget to pay.”

“Are you really going to pay it back?”

It seemed like Taekgyu remembered something.

“Oh! Come to think of it, you still haven’t paid back the 100,000 won you borrowed for the date we went on before.”

Did that really happen?

“Okay. Write it as 150,010,000 won. I’ll pay it all at once. And······.”

I was about to say it wasn’t a date when suddenly, a strong gaze from behind made me turn my head. Hyunjoo Noona and Ellie, who went up to get coffee, were standing there. Since when have they been here?

Ellie smiled brightly and said, “Hmm, I see. Jinhoo borrowed 100,000 won for a date. How important was that date that he even borrowed money?”

“Oh, no······.”

Taekgyu spilled the beans right away.

“He met a girl named Yuri around the end of the year.”

“Yuri? What a beautiful name.”

I quickly raised my hand.

“She’s just a junior from school. We met because we had some business to discuss, not a date.”

“But you followed her home.”

“······.”

This guy?

I tried to stop him from saying more, but it was too late. Ellie, still smiling, spoke up.

“So Jinhoo went all the way to Yuri’s house.”

“It’s not like that, though······.”

I did my best to explain the situation at that time.

After a long conversation, Ellie finally understood.

“So, Yuri is just a junior, and you didn’t actually go inside her house, you just took a walk around the apartment complex, right?”

“Exactly.”

“You haven’t met since then, right?”

“No.”

It’s probably best not to mention the occasional texts, right?

But why do I have to explain it in such detail? Wouldn’t it be fine if they just thought we went on a date?

“So, what were you doing?”

“We were in the middle of a car contract.”

Ellie seemed interested and leaned in closer to me. A faint scent of perfume lingered in the air.

Isn’t this too close?

“What car are you buying?”

“A 7 Series.”

“Isn’t the 7 series too big for Jinhoo to drive?”

I explained why I chose the 7 Series, and Ellie smiled and gave me a thumbs up.

“As expected, Jinhoo is a cool guy.”

“Ah… thank you.”

It’s a bit embarrassing to hear such a comment suddenly.

Hyunjoo asked Taegyu, “What are you doing?”

And that guy just sold me out.

“Oh, no. I’m helping Jinhoo with buying a car.”

“But why are you signing the contract?”

“…!”

Why can’t I just confidently say I’m buying the car?

Why can’t I say that car is mine?

After finishing the paperwork, we went outside. The dealer ran out to where the cars were parked.

“We will arrange for the delivery to the place you specified on the agreed date. Please inspect it.”

As we got into the car, I asked Ellie, “Where to now?”

She answered as if she had been waiting, “How about wolmido? I heard Disco Pang Pang is famous there.”

Hyunjoo cut in decisively, “I’ll pass, for sure.”

“What are you saying? We should all have fun together when we’re out.”

And off to Wolmido we went.

When we arrived at Wolmido, we all enjoyed the rides, including Disco Pang Pang. As dusk fell, we ate sashimi at a restaurant by the seaside, chatted about various topics, and returned late to the hotel.

***

The next morning.

Finally, it was the day of departure.

We went to Incheon Airport together. Even though it was a weekday, the airport was bustling with people leaving and arriving.

Hyunjoo and Ellie finished the boarding process at the airline counter. They were going back to their original jobs in Hong Kong.

Before entering the departure area, we exchanged our final greetings.

“You both have worked hard.”

At my words, Ellie squinted her eyes and said, “Jinhoo, you’ve worked hard too.”

Hyunjoo said to me, “I’ll contact you as soon as the Caros negotiation is finalized.”

“Yes. Please take care of it until the end.”

Taegyu waved his hand, saying, “Take care, Hyung.”

“Jinhoo, make sure he doesn’t mess around,” Hyunjoo said.

I nodded, “I will take responsibility and supervise him.”

He shrugged, “I’m not a kid.”

Ellie reached out her hand towards me.

“It was fun working together.”

I grabbed her hand.

“Me too.”

“Afterward, be sure to come to Hong Kong for a visit. I’ll be your guide then.”

“I will.”

Ellie hesitated, looking at my face as if she had something she wanted to say.

“Um…”

At that moment, Hyunjoo interrupted, saying, “What’s up, Ellie? We need to go in now.”

“Ah, got it. Then, see you again next time, Jinhoo. And Taegyu too.”

With that, Hyunjoo and Ellie entered the departure area. Feeling regretful, I stood there for a while until Taegyu said, “Is it all over now?”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s go back.”

We got in the car.

It’s going to be quite a journey from Incheon Airport to home. Taegyu drove swiftly on the airport expressway.

Thinking about wrapping up our hotel life and going back home gives me a bittersweet feeling. Or is it because only the two of us are left now?

I guess we won’t gather at the restaurant every morning for breakfast as the four of us anymore.

“Let’s make a quick stop by Senior Sangyeop’s place before heading home.”

“Okay.”

***

We arrived at a small building on Yeoksam-dong’s backstreet.

I’ve heard that K Company’s office is set up on the 5th floor here, but it’s my first time coming here in person.

We took the elevator up and walked through a door with no sign. Senior Sangyeop warmly welcomed us.

“You came straight from Incheon?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

In the office that still hadn’t been decorated, furniture like desks and computers were hastily brought in first.

I looked around and said, “For a company with 70 billion won in capital, it’s quite simple.”

Senior Sangyeop smiled and replied, “What’s the importance of that?”

Investment companies often set up their offices nicely to inspire trust in potential investors who come to visit.

By attracting investment funds and making profits, one becomes a successful entrepreneur; otherwise, they become a fraudster.

However, K Company doesn’t need investment funds or investors because they have already received investment from the parent company, OTK Company.

“The interior design somewhat reflects the company atmosphere. There are separate meeting rooms and the CEO’s office.”

“There used to be a small publishing company that moved to a bigger place after some major successes.”

“K Company should do the same.”

Senior Sangyeop laughed in response to my comment and said, “I plan to buy a building on Teheran Road in a few years.”

“It might be possible by the year after next.”

In truth, I could have bought it right away if I had set my mind to it. I just hadn’t bought it because I had diverted funds towards investments.

“Have you had a meal?”

“Not yet. I was waiting to eat with you guys.”

Taekgyu said, “Shall we order from a Chinese restaurant? Days like this call for black bean noodles.”

What kind of day is it, exactly? Nevertheless, after only having luxurious meals at hotels recently, I miss it.

I said to Taekgyu, “Order some jjamppong and tangsuyuk too.”