Chapter 83
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Ripples of Success
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Senior Researcher Lee Dae-hwi of Vigang Systems.
He stared at the amount stamped in his bank account, utterly at a loss for words.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Payment Recipient: [Lee Dae-hwi, Senior Researcher.] Payment Amount: [200,000,000 won] We always appreciate your hard work. This performance bonus is for the Saudi contract signing. We thank you for your achievements. The deposit will be made to the submitted account today. For inquiries, please contact Vigang Systems' HR team. We sincerely thank Senior Researcher Lee Dae-hwi for your dedicated efforts to the company. 'N-No way...'
He never could have imagined actually receiving 200 million won.
What kind of money was 200 million won?
For an ordinary commoner, it was an astronomical sum that required scrimping and saving without eating or sleeping to accumulate even 100 million—and that would take over ten years.
Even for someone who'd worked ten years straight, it was practically impossible if they had loans or student debt from financial institutions.
'This is too much. I have to brag to Yu-hwa right away.'
Lee Dae-hwi had been married for six years.
He had a son and daughter so precious he wouldn't mind getting sand in his eyes for them.
He'd been feeling guilty about leaving all the housework to his wife while she cared for their two kids.
One day on his way home, he'd seen the neighbor ladies showing off a bag their husband bought them.
Yu-hwa had been using the same bag for 15 years now. It was the same one from their dating days and even their honeymoon. He'd been planning to buy her a new one soon, even if it strained their budget.
All she ever said was that they needed to save every penny.
Ding-dong!
When he rang the doorbell and entered the house, his wife, busy watching the kids, greeted him warmly without a hint of fatigue.
"You're home?"
"Honey!"
Overjoyed, Lee Dae-hwi pulled his wife into a tight embrace.
At the unusual hug, Yu-hwa's cheeks flushed red like ripe fruit in season.
"W-Why are you doing this? The kids are watching..."
"I'm just too happy."
"Did something good happen at work today?"
Taking his wife's hand, he led her to the bedroom, sat side by side on the bed, and showed her the text on his phone. Her eyes widened instantly at the enormous amount on the screen.
"W-What is this? 200 million...? What happened at the company?"
It felt like a dream come true.
The loan they'd taken to buy their house alone was a whopping 200 million won.
No one could argue they'd practically sold their souls to scrape it together.
Every month, even interest payments—not principal—left them pinching pennies in a never-ending tightrope of frugality.
"You've seen the news, right? Vigang made a killing on that Saudi contract. Even Representative Seo was sweating it, but he says no worries for a while now."
"They made that much?"
"Yeah. And my salary's doubled too."
"!"
Lee Dae-hwi had joined Vigang Systems as a top-tier drone developer. But when the company hit hard times, he'd gone straight to Seo Kyung-hwan, saying he'd take a 50% pay cut if needed, and encouraged everyone to push through together.
Now the reward had finally come.
"Your suffering's over now. I'll do even better, so let's keep giving it our all."
"Hic!"
She covered her mouth with one hand, trying to steady her breathing, but she couldn't hold back the flood of emotions. Tears streamed down as years of worry and hardship flashed before her eyes.
"Honey... thank you so much."
He gripped his wife's hand tightly.
The tremor in her fingertips conveyed her raw emotion.
"What do you mean thank you? Seeing you toil outside every day had me so worried. I was terrified you'd ruin your health..."
She'd lived in constant anxiety, fearing something might happen to her one and only husband.
"Oh! And listen."
Lee Dae-hwi pulled a single card from his wallet.
"I saw that neighbor lady bragging all over the neighborhood about getting a Gucci bag from her husband or whatever. You should get one too."
"What? I'm not into bags. The one I have works just fine."
"It's faded in spots and has tears. Don't say no—tomorrow, let's go to that department store. They have a hot new one that just came in. Someone who supports Vigang told me it's super popular with young women."
"That's expensive."
"Expensive or not, nothing's too good for you. You're the most dazzling woman in the world."
"Honey..."
Soft lamplight illuminated the room.
And the two spent a happy night together after so long.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A strange rumor began circulating in domestic office worker communities.
It was about Vigang Systems.
💬 Comments — Anonymous Is this for real? Heard Vigang paid out performance bonuses—several hundred million? — Anonymous Yeah ; Bonus alone 200 mil, plus incentives probably at least 500 mil total. — Anonymous Insane; Vigang a conglomerate now? Isn't it just a mid-sized company? — Anonymous True, but that Saudi deal is on another level. Ramzan Abdul's investment alone dwarfs most mid-tier firms. — Anonymous Whoa! 200 mil bonus + 500 mil incentives = fucking lotto jackpot! — Anonymous After taxes, yeah about that. But Vigang hires all KAIST grads—top science talent in Korea. The rumors didn't stop at online communities; they seeped into domestic engineering universities. Graduating students started paying attention.
"Heard about Vigang Systems?"
"Oh, that place? Yeah, I heard. My senior's knocking on their door."
College kids with barely any cash survived on convenience store triangle kimbap. They gathered in groups, heatedly debating the hot topic.
"Senior Jeong got his drone certification and joined Vigang. Says the atmosphere there is unreal right after starting."
"What? Like the facade hides something shady?"
"Nah, it's insanely good. No old-school boomers, and from seniors to the CEO, everyone treats you great."
One student couldn't wrap his head around it.
How was that something to brag about?
But then...
His eyes narrowed sharply at what came next.
"Remember Senior Gong at HT Group? He's been hitting the bottle nonstop."
"...Why?"
"He said office drones come down to the shop floor lecturing about equipment. Stress from that almost gave him a rage-induced illness. Pissants who only push pens lecturing vets who've handled one machine for years? Ridiculous."
"No way..."
"That's the truth. Ever heard reality's worse than fiction? They spout logical BS for 30 minutes then demand the impossible."
"Still, the pay's gotta be good, right?"
"Not anymore."
His friend leaned in close and whispered.
"Vigang seniors make three times what HT seniors do."
"What?! Vigang's mid-sized at best! How's it beat a conglomerate?"
"That's reality. And yeah, office workers often out-earn engineers there too..."
"..."
The phenomenon hit KAIST—Vigang's home turf—too.
"Hey, Jeong-hoon."
"Yes, Senior."
"I'm heading to Vigang."
"...Pardon? Why Vigang, Senior? Ilseong called you up."
"True, but there I'd just bow to bullies. Not even more talented than me—I can't stomach that."
"Social life is like that everywhere, Senior. Lines to climb no matter where you go..."
"Not there. Vigang gives each research team private spaces. Even project failures don't ding your record—they give consolation pay and encouragement."
"...Seriously?"
"Couldn't believe it myself, but you know Woo-jin?"
"Yeah, the Korea Uni mech eng guy."
"He joined Vigang."
"!"
Jeong-hoon's eyes trembled more with every word from his top-ranked senior.
A super-elite fluent in five languages including English.
He'd hustled other fields on top of engineering school. For him to turn down Ilseong—Korea's top group—for a mid-sized firm?
Unheard of at KAIST.
"Starting salary's 100 mil. You heard about the Saudi deal?"
"Yeah, massive contract fee. Stock's all over the place."
"Right. That Kim Do-jun guy there handed out 500 mil per research team."
"!"
"Not just that. Salaries doubled too—total festival vibe."
"Wow, insane. Kim Do-jun that loaded? No mid-sized ever dropped that much on one person historically."
"Exactly! That's why Vigang's the fish in water rumor. Founded by our alumni seniors."
"..."
An even more shocking fact existed.
It hit Jeong-hoon hard.
"Vigang screams drones, but they bought new land for research facilities."
"!"
"Get this: the guy's funding it? Saudi's Ramzan."
"Who's Ramzan?"
"You don't read papers? Gotta know the world. Studying alone doesn't guarantee success. Ramzan's Saudi's number two after the crown prince. Top ten richest globally, unofficial assets aside."
Jeong-hoon, graduating next year, felt bewildered by the mix of vague fear and excitement blazing in his chest.
A company he'd never considered.
He felt his heart tilting firmly toward Vigang.
Born into what they call dirt-spoon poverty, he'd slept just two hours when others got five, all that effort...
It got him into Korea's top KAIST.
Others said college meant blind dates, girlfriends, trips.
For Jeong-hoon, it was just quiet study spots and bookstore runs for references.
"So don't fixate on conglomerates—challenge Vigang. Tons of our seniors there, no degree lines, everyone gets along. Anyway, I'll be at Vigang first. They treat techs and engineers worlds apart from others."
"...Got it. I'll think about it."
Even without that, Jeong-hoon had resolved to apply to Vigang next year.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Well, well, if it isn't her!"
In the massive mansion where Ilseong's chairman resided.
A beautiful woman flashed a bright smile.
"I'm here. Take this first."
"Heh, really..."
Lee Byung-hak's mouth curved into a wide grin at his elegantly dressed daughter.
After their reunion, the two sat in the luxurious living room chairs, enjoying light refreshments.
"You want me to join Vigang?"
"Yes. Call it what you want, but they're the rising star now."
"I want Ilseong Electronics."
Lee Byung-hak's face filled with regret at her words.
Ilseong Group was already divvied up by his incompetent sons forming their own factions.
No room for Lee Hye-ah there.
"Hye-ah."
"Yes, Father."
"Remember when you told me? You'd rather own your own company than succeed within Ilseong's framework."
"I recall saying that before heading to the UK."
"If that's truly your dream, make Kim Do-jun of Vigang—no, the soon-to-launch DJ Group—your man."
Lee Byung-hak, Korea's king of chaebols.
He genuinely wished his daughter's happiness, yet hadn't fully abandoned his selfish desires.
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