Chapter 27
Chapter 27
“I heard about the trouble you had with the Head of Risk Management recently.”
“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”
“It’s something I didn’t anticipate. I should have given you a heads-up so you could invest without interference, but I failed to do so. My apologies.”
“Pardon? Oh, no, it’s fine.”
The chairman of a top 30 conglomerate was apologizing.
His sharp eyes and square face usually matched arrogance and stubbornness, a bulldozer personality, yet here he was, listening carefully and apologizing for mistakes. I was taken aback. This was completely unexpected.
“So, I have a proposal for you. Ideally, I’d like to merge Teams 1 through 9 under you.”
“Pardon? No, that’s not necessary.”
Why is he making things so overwhelming? I’ve been at the company less than a year.
“Organizations aren’t easy to manage, you know.”
“Of course.”
“About what I mentioned before, Asset Management Team 10.”
“I already….”
“Yes, you rejected that. So this time, I’m giving a bigger offer. How about creating a TF team that lets you invest across all financial products? Of course, only if you agree… What do you think? Does this appeal to you?”
The chairman gave me a confident smile.
All financial products?
My ears perked up. Right now, I could only invest in stocks, futures, options, and ELWs.
If I could also trade in forex and commodities, the profit potential would be much higher.
But being allowed to invest didn’t automatically mean success.
“And I’ll strengthen the report team, for your benefit. Diversified investments require support.”
I nodded.
My chairman was surprisingly perceptive, identifying exactly what I needed and was concerned about.
“If we form the TF team, who will be the members?”
“You choose.”
“Thank you for the offer. I’ll do my best… no, not just my best, I’ll deliver results.”
“Hahaha. I like that answer. Deliver results.”
“However, I’ll keep the current team composition for now. We might add some members later, but not immediately.”
“That’s fine if you wish.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Thanks? I should be thanking you for staying with our company. Let’s have a drink.”
The chairman raised his glass. I clinked mine and downed it in one gulp.
“By the way, have you always been this skilled at investing? How have you never failed? Some people haven’t earned a single profit. I genuinely envy your parents.”
I could feel the sincerity in his eyes. I instinctively understood why.
“As you know, Head Kim Yuseong is my second son.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know that?”
I nodded.
“Thinking of him keeps me awake. How can he be so lacking?”
“No, I’ve heard his risk management is actually quite good.”
“That’s right. I don’t understand it fully either, but he has no talent for investing himself, yet he can analyze others’ risks like a ghost. He gives good advice, but can’t handle his own. That’s my son.”
He looked disappointed in his son’s shortcomings.
“May I ask you a favor?”
“Of course.”
“Could you teach my son a bit about investing?”
“Pardon?”
“Joining the TF team and observing how you operate could help him.”
At that moment, he wasn’t just the chairman of Mirae Group. His sharp eyes and square face still radiated the charisma of a corporate leader.
Yet, I also saw the human side of a parent worried for an underperforming child.
Technically, he could issue a directive, but he sought my agreement out of respect.
“……”
Seeing my silence, he smiled wryly.
“Seems like an unreasonable request. Forget I asked. Sorry.”
“No, this isn’t a decision I can make alone. I’ll discuss it with the team.”
“……Understood. Let’s drink.”
We clinked glasses with slightly awkward smiles.
“Team Leader, are you heading home directly after work?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Ah, could you give me a ride? I need to check that the interior work is finished.”
“Finished? Then I’ll check it too.”
“Oh, no, you must be tired. You can just go home.”
“A woman should see it anyway.”
I rode with the team leader to her Hannam-dong house. Along the way, she hummed along to the pop songs on the radio, seemingly in a good mood.
“Did you have good profits today? You seem cheerful.”
“No, minor losses today.”
“Then why hum along?”
“Ah… just… But shouldn’t you be happier than me? Such a beauty riding in a luxury car.”
“I don’t know about beauty, but luxury car, yes.”
She squinted slightly.
A smile spread across my face.
“I don’t know about beauty, but you’re cute.”
“Cute? Hey, what do you mean calling me cute?”
“That’s why it’s even cuter.”
“Hah, really.”
She shook her head, looking exasperated, though her face was slightly red.
“Team Leader, are you embarrassed?”
“A little…”
“Why are your ears red?”
“Ah, no, they’re not.”
Colorblind??
“By the way, why do you always call me Team Leader outside?”
She deflected.
“Just… because.”
“Calling you Team Leader all the time makes me feel distant. You called me ‘noona’ when drunk.”
“That was because I was drunk. I’m cautious because I feel too casual around you otherwise. You’re like the sky, and if I call you noona, it might become too familiar. That would be awkward.”
“Too familiar… awkward…”
After that, she drove silently, looking focused.
I was thinking hard too.
“Uh, Team Leader, shouldn’t we turn left there?”
“Oh, right.”
While waiting for the signal to make a U-turn, she spoke, without music playing.
“I think… we should be closer. I want… to be closer to you. So, from now on, call me noona outside… If you don’t want to, it’s fine too.”
“……”
I didn’t answer. I had wanted distance since the days of Captain Kim. Maybe from the first meeting. I had carefully maintained that distance.
I deliberately called her Team Leader to keep space.
Yet now she seemed uncomfortable.
“I’ll think about it.”
“……Okay.”
She looked disappointed, as if interpreting my answer as rejection.
Parking at the villa, she struggled more than usual, seemingly anxious.
After turning the wheel several times, she finally parked.
She silently got out, and so did I.
I called to her as she walked ahead.
“Uh… Yuri noona, maybe you need more driving practice. Shall I coach you?”
She stopped, paused briefly, then turned and smiled at me.
“What are you saying? You don’t even have a car. Get a license, and I’ll properly train you.”
The darkness that had filled her face vanished without a trace.
A radiant, bright smile. I had loved this smile since the first time I saw her.
“Everything looks clean and well done.”
The interior was modern white tone. Marble floors, bathroom in dark gray, modern and chic.
I took photos of each room to show my parents.
Even though I glanced over it quickly, she meticulously checked the finishes and found several issues. She got my number to call the company to request corrections.
Despite seeming careless, she was surprisingly thorough.
“Team Leader, or rather noona, shall we go now?”
“Yes. They said they’ll fix everything within the week.”
“Thank you for checking.”
“No problem. Where are you heading?”
“To my parents. To show them the photos and prepare for the moving date.”
“Then I’ll drive you.”
“No, the subway is fine.”
“It’s only 20 minutes by car. No traffic now. Why not?”
Could anyone dislike riding comfortably?
“No, it’s fine.”
We got back in the car. On the way, her playlist played pop songs we used to listen to during night duty in the military.
“Hey, this song. Do you remember it?”
“Yes… we listened to it a lot during night duty.”
She remembered. Sharing memories felt good.
“We’re here.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem. Be careful inside.”
“Yes, you too.”
“By the way, Deoksu, you’re not getting a car, right?”
“No, I plan to get one soon.”
“Oh, okay. But Deoksu, if you have a car, you won’t save money. Wait a bit, then buy one.”
“Huh? Wait more?”
I stared, astonished, and she avoided my gaze, clearly realizing how ridiculous she sounded. She left without hearing my response.
We entered the shop. My parents were watching TV news.
“I’m back~ what are you watching?”
“Ah, news about that scammer.”
“Who?”
I looked at the TV.
Na Ilri. A stock manipulation offender and no-capital M&A corporate raider, being interviewed outside a courthouse.
No-capital M&A refers to acquiring a company without personal capital, relying on loans. The biggest issue: after acquisition, they sell assets to repay the loan, including property, tech, and patents.
Acquired companies quickly collapse into failures.
“Is that true? Isn’t that Na Ilri? They’re innocent?”
“Yes, innocent. Ridiculous. Should’ve been torn apart… innocent! Argh!”
Dad grabbed the back of his neck in frustration.
“Deoksu, Dad, calm down. It’s over. Getting angry will only harm you.”
Dad was angry because his company collapsed due to those people.
He had created an organic vegetable delivery platform with friends, called ‘Motnani Vegetable,’ pioneering a new market with eco-friendly fresh vegetables.
Na Ilri shredded it. Using investment as bait, he gained shares and disrupted normal management. Meanwhile, a large corporation quickly monopolized the market. Sales fell, and it was sold cheaply.
So, even hearing the name Na Ilri made Dad and me grit our teeth.
“This isn’t the only company ruined by him. The damages are in the trillions. How is he innocent? South Korea is amazing.”
I agreed. I couldn’t understand why this wasn’t illegal.
But in Korea, maybe it is. Money decides guilt, innocence, and even sentencing.
“Because of them, so many lives are ruined. Some divorced after losing jobs, some even committed suicide…”
“Exactly.”
At that moment, I remembered the unpleasant scent I had sensed recently. A scent that made the stock seem profitable but I didn’t want to invest. I needed to research more at home.
To break the gloomy mood, I took out my phone.
“Our house interior is finished. Look at this.”
Showing it to my parents, their smiles were bright and joyful.
“I never imagined living in a house like this. Son, thank you so much.”
“Thank you, Deoksu. We really raised a good son.”
“Of course.”
I took a card from my wallet.
“Mom, use this to buy furniture and appliances you need.”
I handed it over, but Dad stopped my hand.
“No, furniture and appliances are for the husband. Here.”
He gave the card to Mom.
“I can do it, though…”
“No. Let me have some pride. Thanks to you, our business is thriving. I now earn a lot too. I take over 10 million won a month.”
He shrugged.
‘Dad, I make over 10 billion a year…’
I wanted to say it, but didn’t, respecting his pride. I just smiled slightly.
“Let’s go inside now.”
After tidying the shop, we all returned home.
On the way, I realized my parents might need a car, given the distance to the shop. I considered buying my own car but decided against it. Carpooling with the team leader sounded fun. Maybe she’d agree.
After showering, I turned on the computer and searched Edison SB.
“Let’s see…”
The stock’s movement was peculiar. Rising steadily without any particular positive news. I recalled what the team leader had said.
‘Rising without good news means it’s a manipulated stock.’
I went to an online community to gather information.
It was a hub of the latest info. Rumors for institutions and foreigners, and discussions for individual investors.
Individual investors pointed out issues with Edison SB. High revenue, but low operating profit. Bigger problem: no electric motor or battery management tech. Allegedly self-developed, but suspected to be imported from China.
The rumor of manipulation was widespread.
The scent I had sensed before was unpleasant. Lily and chrysanthemum, uncomfortable, smelling faintly of death. I didn’t want to buy.
Yet, investing could make money. Enter at the right time, exit cleanly, triple profit. The scent helped signal optimal timing.
But it was tainted with someone else’s failure, despair, grudges, and tears.
I didn’t want to earn money that way.
This stock shouldn’t rise.
By the company’s value, it should fall.
Profit would come from short selling, not buying.
Short selling?
I recalled that short selling suppresses stock prices.
‘Wait, if I short sell, the stock won’t rise, and the manipulation can be blocked…’
I imagined myself as an avenger of justice.
I shook my head. I wasn’t a hero.
No need to intervene in stocks unrelated to me.
Then, a floral rose scent reached my nose.
‘Huh, why does a pleasant scent appear here?’
Ah! I realized why.
I had imagined short selling.
But why did the scent change?
When imagining buying, the scent was unpleasant.
When imagining short selling, a fresh rose scent appeared.
The scent was telling me: make money with short selling.