The New Hire

Why does it feel like this?

I'd walked in with a strong, energetic greeting, and now everyone was just staring at me blankly.

There was no way they didn't know the company had been acquired.

"I forgot to mention it, didn't I? Our new CEO is a very young man. Hahaha~"

"Ah..."

"Whoa..."

"No way..."

"Insane..."

So they'd all been half-doubting it. Fair enough — I would have too. If a company got bought for twenty-seven billion won and some fresh-faced kid walked in introducing himself as the new CEO, I'd have tilted my head the same way.

"Welcome, sir. Congratulations on your first day."

"Thank you, President Hong Mincheol."

The one greeting me was Hong Mincheol, the founder of Art Company. He'd originally planned to sell and walk away, but he'd agreed to stay on for about a year to help out. Maybe he didn't fully trust me yet. Or maybe he just wasn't ready to let go of the company he'd built. Either way, it bought me time to find a proper professional executive — and a chance to learn the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠business myself.

"Everyone, please introduce yourselves. This is Yoo Eunho, the new CEO of Art Company."

"It's an honor to meet you, sir!"

"Good morning!"

"Looking forward to working with you, sir!"

"You're so young that I — well, all of us — were too stunned to greet you properly. I'm Oh Kyungjun, General Manager."

"Yoo Eunho."

Oh Kyungjun. The owner of that business card Iseul had dropped under the sofa.

I'd known the numbers going in, but the place was even cozier than I'd expected. A fifty-pyeong office near Apgujeong Rodeo Station. Aside from me, it was President Hong Mincheol, eight managers, and three office staff — a small company. Could I grow this into something bigger?

"Manager Oh holds the title of Manager here, but at any major agency he'd be Director or Head of Department level."

"I see."

"He'll be a great help to you going forward."

"I'd better stay on his good side, then."

"I'm the one who should be saying that, sir. Looking forward to working with you."

"And this is Manager Park Eunmi — essentially Art Company's CFO. She also oversees the PR team."

"Park Eunmi."

"Yoo Eunho. Looking forward to working with you."

After a round of brief introductions, I stepped into the CEO's office.

"My apologies. I'll have all my things cleared out by tomorrow."

"No need. Please keep using this office, President."

"What do you mean?"

"Just put a desk for me out on the floor. I think that'll be better for learning the ropes."

"A salaried president using the private office while the actual CEO sits outside? Absolutely not."

"Oh — I have my own office as well."

"Excuse me?"

Art Company occupied the fourth floor of the building. Not the whole floor — there was a smaller twenty-pyeong office next door that would serve as my private workspace and the office for U-INVESTMENT. It was currently getting a light interior renovation.

"You're running an investment firm as well?"

"Yes."

"If you don't mind my asking — what's the capital?"

"Initial capital is twenty-five billion won."

"......"

I'd originally planned to start with thirty billion. But rather than sell off rising coins just to cover the tax bill, I'd decided to trim U-INVESTMENT's starting capital instead.

"What kind of investments are you looking at?"

"Funny you should ask — I've got a lot of questions for you on that front. I'm thinking of investing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in films and dramas. Why do you ask?"

"Sir — would you consider investing with me?"

Hong Mincheol had sold me the company for twenty-seven billion, but after taxes his take-home was roughly nineteen and a half billion. Of that, he'd spent five billion on a riverside apartment for his son, paid about two point one billion in gift and acquisition taxes, and was planning to build a country house in Yangpyeong for his retirement. Whatever was left after setting aside living funds, he wanted to put into a drama.

"Hmm... a co-investment. What project?"

"One moment, please."

Hong Mincheol went straight to his desk and came back with a thick stack of paper that looked like a script.

"You'll see once you read it, but the short version — think of it as Korea's Marvel."

"Korea's Marvel..."

Marvel. The first universe that came to mind when you thought superhero films. Marvel properties were huge in Korea and absolutely massive worldwide. But there was a problem.

"Haven't Korean-style hero projects all underperformed? Actually — there barely are any, are there? I can't think of a single one."

"You're right. Every Korean hero project has tanked. The industry's developed this natural assumption that hero films fail, so nobody even tries anymore."

"And you still want to invest?"

"Yes. This one's adapted from a webtoon, and the original creator is involved in the adaptation. The story is rock-solid, and the characters have real personality. I believe this one can succeed."

This was money from selling the company he'd poured his life into. If he'd decided to invest that kind of capital, he'd clearly thought it through. Plenty of thought didn't guarantee success — but it at least meant this wasn't a blind gamble.

"Could I have some time to think it over?"

"Of course! Take all the time you need."

Hong Mincheol was an investor himself. The fact that he was pitching me on co-investing probably meant he had no other backers. Without me, this project might never get made.

I wrapped up the conversation and left the office. The desk wouldn't be set up until tomorrow anyway, so learning the job could wait until then.

I ended the call with Park Daehan and got out of the car. Phone still in hand, I started reading the original webtoon as I walked. Then I put the phone away.

"The art style... yeah, I'll just stick to the script."

I opened the script with the mindset of someone picking up a book for the first time in a while. I read while waiting for the elevator. I read on the way up. I read walking into the house. I read lying on the bed. And as I read, I painted it all in my head — the settings, the situations, the characters' emotions.

"This is actually good...?"

It was good. Not childish at all. Just as Hong Mincheol had said, every character had a distinct personality.

"Eunho oppa..."

"Huh??"

"I'm sorry... I kept knocking and calling, but you didn't answer, so I just came in..."

"No, that time was—! Hoo... From now on, don't worry about that. Just come in."

"Really...?"

"Yeah. What's up?"

"Dinner."

"I already had lunch."

"What??"

"Huh?"

"I mean... dinner. It's seven o'clock..."

"......"

I'd been reading this for five hours?

Ha... Well, that settled it. I was investing.

"Iseul."

"Yes?"

"Do you read webtoons?"

"Yes. Sometimes when I need a break from studying."

"Have you ever read this one?"

"Huh?? Yes! I loved this one! It's by one of my favorite creators!"

"Really...? I couldn't get into it because of the art style..."

"With this creator, you don't read for the art — you read for the story! The storytelling is incredible!!"

"You really like them, huh?"

"Yes! Hehe~"

"So what do you think of this project?"

"I love it!"

"No — I mean, if you were to star in it."

"What...?"

I asked again as Iseul froze in confusion.

"I asked you before, remember? Whether you'd ever want to try acting."

"H-how could I be an actress... I don't have that kind of talent..."

"That's a lie. You said you had no talent and dropped out of art school, and then you drew those pictures. You have talent. Stop underselling yourself."

"But... drawing is something I could do because I studied and practiced for years... I've never acted even once..."

"Then you learn. And you're already good at it."

"What..?"

"Last time, when I said something that hurt you, you acted like it didn't. You're still doing it right now."

"O-oppa...."

"Just try it once. Take some acting lessons, go to an audition. If it doesn't work out, you go back to studying. And if you become an actress, your mother will be over the moon. Her daughter fulfilling the dream she never could."

"......"

As far as I could tell, Iseul had no talent for studying. No — she shouldn't have talent for studying. Being that pretty and good at school would be cheating. So I figured it was worth one more push.

Knock knock knock—

After dinner, once she'd gone to her room to study, I knocked on her door.

"Did you need something??"

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠held out a plate with a slice of cake to the Iseul who opened the door.

"Here. This is the cake that's going to turn you into an actress. Study while you snack."

"....Thank you.."

About thirty minutes later, I knocked again.

"Here. Fruit that's going to turn you into an actress. Study while you eat."

"....Thank you.."

Another thirty minutes, another knock — and this time Iseul opened the door with a slightly sharper look in her eyes.

"What is it this time that's going to turn me into an actress?"

"Nothing. I'm hungry."

"Ah...! I'll change real quick and make you a late-night snack!"

"No, just come out. You don't have to wear the maid outfit anymore."

"Did you... get tired of it..?"

"Not tired of it — just be comfortable. Watching you change every time you do housework makes me uncomfortable."

"Ah... okay...."

Looking vaguely dejected, Iseul slumped out of her room with her shoulders drooping. Fortunately, cooking seemed to lift her spirits — she started humming to herself.

"You'd be really good at acting. You're already good at cooking."

"I don't think cooking and acting have anything to do with each other?"

"Why not? You could nail a chef role."

"Haa.... Oppa. I'm going to be a civil servant."

"You'd look great as a civil servant, too."

"......"

Did she really hate the idea that much? Iseul made a face I'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠never seen on her before — a look of genuine dislike. Just a slight scrunch of the brow, but still.

"Last question. You really have no interest in acting?"

"No."

Firm. At this point, I had to let it go. Push any further and it became pressure.

"Alright. I won't ask again."

"I'm sorry... You thought of me and made the offer, and I turned it down..."

"Don't worry about it. People are happiest doing what they actually want to do."

"Thank you for saying that..."

I decided to give up on making Iseul an actress. Still, it was a shame. Actress Han Iseul. It would have suited her so well.

I went back to work four days after the introductions. Solari Coin, which had jumped twenty percent, suddenly plunged to minus eighteen, the price thrashing around so violently I couldn't even think about showing up. It had thankfully started climbing again by now.

But what was going on here?

"I'm Shin Yena. You're Yoo Eunho, right?"

"Yes."

"I've only been here a few days longer, but that still makes me your senior — so I'll show you the ropes."

"Excuse me??"

"Today's your first day, isn't it?"

"Ah... well, officially, yes."

"Hey! Yena, what are you doing right n—"

"......"

I casually raised a hand and gave Manager Park Eunmi a signal that it was fine.

"...Yes?"

"Nothing. Keep going."

"Ah... yes! I'll teach you everything properly! Eunho-ssi, this way."

"Yes, sunbae."

I had no idea what this was about, but I'd come here to learn the job. If she wanted to teach me, I'd learn. Besides — she looked exactly the way I had on my first day at a company.

"Huh..? Why isn't the copier working..?"

"It's out of paper."

"Ah..! Paper... paper..."

"Usually in this situation, you either grab some from the supply room, or open the cabinet under the copier. Here we go."

"Whoa!"

"Want to try loading it yourself?"

"Yes! Let me tr— hey, Eunho-ssi! I'm the one teaching right now, okay?!"

Annoyed at having the initiative stolen, she planted her hands on her hips like a kid and raised her voice. Fine — I'd play along.

"Could sunbae show me how?"

"Sh-show you what..?"

"How to load the paper."

"......"

She couldn't manage a single word, so I ended up teaching her instead.

"There you go. Open that and put it in. Simple, right?"

"Yes! Super easy!"

"Well done. So what do we learn next?"

"Uh... so.... Ah! Next I'll teach you break room etiquette! Do you know how to make coffee?"

"Want me to show you?"

"Yes.... Hngh..."

I had a feeling there wasn't much left for me to learn here. Still — she was pretty cute.