Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Pen's Secret and VIP Perks
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"Chan-rim is my cousin. It's been a few years since she started college and I saw her again."
"Huh? Your cousin?"
Kang Hyun let out an exclamation he couldn't hold back.
Then he asked one of the questions that had been nagging at him for so long.
"...By any chance, the pen?"
Whenever he saw her in the lecture hall, the pen she used kept bothering him.
It looked just like the one she'd given him as a gift long ago. He didn't know why, but honestly, it rubbed him the wrong way.
"The pen?"
"Yeah, the one you gave me in high school. Yoon Chan-rim seemed to have the same one...."
"Oh, that. Mom probably gave it to her as an entrance gift."
Kang Hyun couldn't see her face, but she continued in a somehow cheerful voice.
"And the one I gave you? When Dad went overseas, I spe-cial-ly asked him to buy it for me."
She emphasized "specially" for some reason.
"Looks like you're using it well?"
"Of course. It's the first gift I ever got...."
"It's my first time too. Giving someone a gift, I mean."
With every word she said, Kang Hyun felt his face flush even deeper.
Still, it was true that his mind felt a lot clearer now. He couldn't quite explain why.
"But Chan-rim... she used to be so shy, and now she's changed a lot after meeting you. Says you're like an idol or something?"
Kang Hyun's breath caught again at the sudden mention of himself.
"An idol?"
"Yeah, she really looks up to you. Enough to make me jealous."
"It's not that serious...."
"Take good care of my lit-tle sis-ter from now on."
"Huh? Uh, sure."
She stressed "little sister" this time as she went on.
"What you did with those study materials this time was amazing. No one else could've pulled it off like that. That's one of the things I like about you. Makes me want to be more like you."
At her surprise praise, Kang Hyun felt a surge of pride bursting through his chest.
Along with that came the thought that he'd have to help Yoon Chan-rim a lot from now on, and it felt like a blockage in his heart had cleared, filling him with joy.
"Thanks."
Just looking at the back of her head as she walked ahead made Kang Hyun feel like he was floating.
The school behind them was quiet and dark now that the festival was over, but Kang Hyun worked hard to suppress the fireworks exploding in his mind.
Kang Hyun's June flew by in a flash.
As expected, once the festival ended, people started seeking out his study materials collection, and the views skyrocketed to several times the number of law department students.
For a while, in class, students buzzed about the amazing materials being shared for free, and the law department student council even went around trying to track down the anonymous poster.
"I'd love to buy that person a meal."
"Why?"
"Perfect references for writing papers. They're a light in the darkness."
Overhearing seniors in the hallway, Kang Hyun smiled warmly as he stepped onto the stairs.
Then Woo Si-hyung, standing nearby, poked his head in and said,
"Why don't you just own up to it?"
"Huh?"
"That study pack. It was you, right?"
"You figured it out quick."
Woo Si-hyung gave Kang Hyun, who shrugged, a meaningful look demanding an answer.
But Kang Hyun brushed it off casually.
"It wasn't a big deal."
"This isn't a big deal?"
"Nope."
"Yeah, right."
Despite Woo Si-hyung's fussing, he exited the building nonchalantly.
"I'm heading out first."
"Alright, see you later."
Today, he had to skip lunch with Woo Si-hyung—somewhere else to be.
Lee Mi-yeon ran the copy shop in the student welfare center. She was key to the whole incident, now cleared of charges and working hard. She'd called him.
Clunk.
Arriving at the copy shop, Kang Hyun smiled again at the sight of it buzzing along busily.
The complaint against the copy shop had vanished like it never happened, and students seemed to have lost interest.
It had been unfair because of Professor Yoo Dong-hee, but the quiet now was better. No need to drag a settled issue back into the spotlight for another explanation.
Kang Hyun flung open the door and stepped inside.
"Hello."
"Oh my!"
Lee Mi-yeon's face lit up brightly as she welcomed him warmly.
"Kang Hyun! Come here. Over here, this way."
"Y-Yes? Ma'am?"
"I have something to show you!"
She rushed over like she'd been waiting impatiently and grabbed his hand, dragging him somewhere.
"...?"
Bewildered by her actions, Kang Hyun let himself be led. But soon he realized what she wanted to show him.
"Look at this. This is what I really wanted to show you."
"Ma'am, this is...?"
They'd arrived at the back of the welfare center.
A large building under construction—once used for club rooms, now vacant since the new student center was built.
Kang Hyun had wondered about its purpose amid the fresh renovations, but spotting the new sign going up revealed it.
[Youth Shared Space Promotion Project: Shared Hub.]
She'd wanted to show him this highlight moment of the sign being installed, like a scene from a presentation.
"Thanks to you, Kang Hyun."
"Wow... what's this?"
As he marveled at the building's exterior, now lavishly remodeled and sleek, she began explaining.
"It's called Stand Avenue, a shared office space promoted by Seoul City."
"They're popping up everywhere these days."
She handed him a brochure she'd prepared, and Kang Hyun leaned down to skim it.
"This place offers youth job counseling, design services, shared spaces, big data resource systems, and more."
She smiled as she gazed at the trendy, spotless space under construction.
"We even got designated for the 'Shared Hub' project, so we're getting support. Now it's not just copying and binding—I'm diving headfirst into youth support services."
Her business savvy was as impressive as ever.
This leap forward was surely thanks to not giving up, with his help, so it made sense she'd want to thank him.
"You're amazing."
"Aw, it's all thanks to you, Kang Hyun!"
"Still, most people just think about making money—they don't actually do anything innovative. You really are incredible."
When Kang Hyun gave her a thumbs-up in full praise, she looked bashful.
"No one else was doing it, so it was blue ocean territory! Everyone says winning national grants is tough, but thinking differently made it easy."
"You're really cool."
Kang Hyun nodded vigorously.
Lee Mi-yeon might not be just the type sighing over a doomed unmanned binding shop, as he'd thought.
Recent policy improvements due to overseas market issues were ongoing.
Investments from 'new tech finance companies and startup investment firms' into new ventures were on the rise, and soon the government would enact special laws allowing direct national investment.
Beyond Article 37 of the 'Venture Investment Promotion Act' for SME startup investment companies or Article 50 for venture investment partnerships, the new 'Venture Investment Special Act' enabled direct government support projects.
Funds tailored to selected startups by region had grown from 20 billion won in the past to nearly 300 billion now, forcing these new companies into 'compulsory growth' toward unicorn status. It was a boom time for the sector.
Her choice to tap into this reality was a straight path to success.
He'd known she was straightforward and sharp-minded, minus the rigid side, but this rapid leap was astonishing—she seemed larger than life.
In a few years, she might own a company worth incomparable value.
"Thanks to you, ma'am, this place has been completely reborn."
"Oh, come on, not that much."
"No, really! You didn't give up, didn't cut corners. I always say people who face crises head-on succeed."
Kang Hyun now knew how to hype someone up well.
People like Lee Mi-yeon, principled in any field, were essential and more than qualified for success.
"Soon I'll be calling you CEO. Congratulations."
"Not quite there yet. But thanks."
She smiled awkwardly at the title he used, then continued playfully with a strained, excited voice.
"Alright! I know you're busy, but the real reason I brought you here isn't this!"
The building bustled with workers moving about amid construction.
Standing in front of it, she paused dramatically, building tension.
Then, ta-da!
"Voila!"
She thrust a shiny gold card at him.
It looked luxurious, like a VIP pass.
"...?"
Kang Hyun tilted his head.
"What's this?"
"It's a VIP card for the Shared Hub 'Standing Avenue' going in here."
"Standing Avenue? You mean this place?"
"Exactly. Public spaces, study room rentals, parking, youth talent sharing, shared lodging, daily essentials rentals, public and big data systems. This card lets you use the whole shared office!"
Like she'd memorized it, she rattled off the building's features in detail.
Shared Hubs were the hot new place-making business concept.
Combining meeting rooms, offices, amenities for quick, efficient use, expanding into transport, daily goods, and database sharing—a massive platform Seoul City was pushing.
"Use whatever you need from now on. It's free for you, Kang Hyun!"
"Huh?"
She meant free access to most of the incoming 'Standing Avenue' facilities.
Kang Hyun, who had unconsciously taken the card, waved it back frantically, but her resolve was firm.
"Expansion's done, remodeling finishes next week. Room 401 has study rooms and meeting spaces combined—I've reserved it long-term. Check the booklet for all the facilities inside."
Starting a new business expansion like this came with burdens. He didn't know the exact cost, but long-term rentals for such spaces weren't cheap.
Yet Lee Mi-yeon was offering it without a penny.
"It's really okay!"
"No, I've thought about this a long time. I'd gladly take hundreds, no, millions from anyone else, but I know your personality—you'd never accept. Oh, right, you're entering the campus mock trial this time, aren't you?"
"Huh? How'd you know about that?"