Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Major Shareholder
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Na-young had placed my head on her lap and was stroking my hair with a happy little smile.
Then, out of the blue, she glanced at me cautiously and spoke up.
"Ji-hoon... Can't I come too...?"
"Na-young... I told you, it's not just for fun."
Even after I'd said no over and over, Na-young wasn't getting it and was even pulling out all her cute puppy-dog eyes.
With a face like that, she almost had me giving in without thinking, so I let my head drop from her soft lap.
A disappointed sigh escaped her, but I stayed firm and raised my voice.
"Hiiiing... But stiiiill..."
"No means no. Besides, today you're supposed to work out with Hye-ri noona, so even if I can't go, you should still go."
"Noona can do it by herself now..."
"Still, go with her."
"Ugh..."
No matter how pitiful she acted or begged with her cutest voice, today I couldn't give in.
And for good reason. The place I was headed wasn't some casual outing.
"If not that, then hang out with Chae-yeon or the others. Can't all three of you get together?"
"Yeah... probably."
"Probably?"
"No, they can't... So I'm by myself. That's why, Ji-hoon...?"
The way she switched topics so fast? Total lie.
She wanted to come with me so badly she was even fibbing.
But still.
"If you're bored, work out with Hye-ri noona or just wait quietly at home."
"Can't I just... just come along? I'll be good."
"I said no. And even if you came, it'd just be boring and awkward. Home's way more comfortable."
"Ung..."
"When I get back, we'll play a ton. Okay?"
"Okay... Got it..."
Maybe my sincerity finally got through, because Na-young stopped whining and nodded.
Couldn't be helped.
Using future info, I'd bought a massive chunk of stock in a company with guaranteed growth potential. Now, out of nowhere, they were calling an emergency shareholders' meeting because of some big internal issue, and I had to go.
Of course, since it survived fine in the future, nothing major was probably wrong.
The problem was the owner change due to the butterfly effect.
This company wasn't well-known yet, so info was scarce. The only way to ease my anxiety was to go check it out myself.
As a major shareholder with a whopping 25% stake.
"Hoo."
I let out a sigh.
Money? I could make as much as I wanted anytime. But letting an astronomical sum I'd built up vanish in a blink? No way I could sit still.
The issue was how I'd even get into this emergency shareholders' meeting, which only happens for major company crises.
Eh, I'd figure it out once I got there.
Staying cooped up praying wouldn't cut it.
"Time to go, Na-young. See you later."
"Okay... Be safe..."
"Sorry. When I get back, I'll stick to you like glue. And let's go somewhere fun, just us two."
"Amusement park...?"
"Yeah. Amusement park. We'll go."
"Yay!"
Na-young, who had even sung about wanting to go to one.
But the nearest one was seriously far from home.
Dad was swamped with work, and with everyone shorthanded, even Mom—who was chilling at home—was pitching in.
No car, and we kids couldn't drive anyway. Going alone would've been tough.
But carving out a day for it sounded nice.
"Have a good trip~!"
"Yeah."
I left home with Na-young's bright smile and cheerful send-off.
"Sigh... Haa..."
Out the door, but now it all felt so daunting.
"Should I have just mentioned it to Mom or Dad?"
Neither knew I was sitting on a ridiculous fortune.
Sure, the company where I held major shares had emailed me endlessly about some stumble, but I'd mostly ignored them.
Then this emergency meeting invite begging me to show up. So here I was, heading over, but doubtful I'd even help.
At my age—too young for a brokerage account—they'd laugh off any proof I was a major shareholder and bar the door.
"Gotta try crashing it, though."
25% stake. That's 20 billion won in cash terms.
With the current bad news tanking returns, selling out felt wrong too.
"Why'd they want to meet before the shareholders' meeting, anyway?"
The guy who'd ousted the old owner—new CEO running affiliates, called Chairman—had reached out to meet beforehand.
With my pea-sized brain, he was probably scheming sweet-talk to keep me hooked.
They'd just acquired it, but troubles hit immediately. Losing a 25% whale? The company'd crumble fast.
So there, I'd...
"Play it smooth."
First, reveal I'm a kid with 25% and get them to buy it.
I'd packed proof: all their emails, stock balance screenshots, everything.
If that flopped, sell out to prove a point or call Dad.
Dad was gobbling companies to build his group; he'd know how this works.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hoo... I'm nervous... So nervous..."
A middle-aged man sat in his chair, face grave, leg jittering wildly.
"What do you think?"
He asked his friend-cum-secretary standing nearby.
"Why ask me? No clue."
True to their long partnership, the reply was casual, rank be damned.
But utterly unhelpful.
"Still, comet-like appearance, aggressive trades for surefire gains. Could be some shadowy bigwig we don't know."
No way to know who bought or sold except brokerage disclosures.
Brokerages live on secrecy and trust; violate that, they're toast.
Even Korea's top dogs couldn't pinpoint individuals.
But sometimes, unique patterns let you guess.
Seemed promising, so they rushed the acquisition. Stepped in shit instead.
"Trouble... Real trouble..."
He gnawed his nails in frustration.
Honestly, sinking company? He'd turn it around given time.
Problem: the 25% whale, aggressive hit-and-run mystery with massive cash, might bail this time.
"Shouldn't have acquired it...?"
Others were quick in-out; this stock, held long.
Long-term bet on the future? Looked solid to him, so impulse buy. Regretting hard now.
Was it even them? Maybe misread, someone else?
"Spilled milk. Gotta ride it out. Quit now? Losses massive."
"I know... That's why meeting before the emergency meeting."
"True. Didn't expect instant yes, though."
"Yeah."
Less than a month: 300% domestic stock returns. Face known? Hassle city.
300%? Others too, right?
Nah, tons maybe, but small change—millions tops.
This enigma? Started with 10 billion reckless plunge.
Profits? Reinvest with another 10 bil.
Now 10 bil to 30 bil.
So, desperate hail mary: emergency meeting plea, pre-meet request. Answer? "Coming."
Ignored or no? Relief. Kinda anticlimactic.
"Hmm..."
Leg still bouncing, fingers drumming desk.
"Why so worried?"
"Not worrying like you? That's weirder."
"As long as not gangster boss with thugs. Never heard of gangsters trading stocks anyway."
True, not a thug.
10 bil start? Not young. Mid-40s at least.
"Haa..."
Tried calming; just more anxious sighs.
As appointment neared, dread amplified.
Waiting for the genius—90%+ accuracy, investment prodigy, stock emperor—felt eternal.
Like past subprime mess, bust revival grind.
Tap tap tap.
Waited endlessly.
No show? 5 min past, 10, 30. Still nothing.
Clock wrong? False hope.
Yeah... Won't come.
Changed mind.
Checked phone. No messages.
Can't make it? Text at least, you nameless hope-crusher.
"Not coming. Time for worst-case plans... Huh?"
Resigned to plotting post-whale exodus.
Outside commotion piqued interest.
"I'll check."
Friend headed out to assess.
Noise persisted.
Already pissed at no-show; racket made it worse.
Then.
Ding!
Desk phone lit up, alarm blaring.
Checked email cautiously.
"...!"
The savior whale, the enigma, had messaged.
Odd: curt "let me in."
No time to ponder; bolted out.
Soon,
"J-Ji-hoon?"
"D-Dad?"
At the entrance, blocked by security: his most beloved family, his son.
They stared wordlessly for a while.