Chapter 122: Marriage Life Revealed
Chapter 122: Marriage Life Revealed
While staying in New York, a lot had happened.
The launch of Channel 7.
―Oh Myeong-woo: Let me give you an update on the situation!
―Oh Myeong-woo: Over 100 million concurrent users already.
―Oh Myeong-woo: People from all over the world are logging in like crazy.
Channel 7 sparked a box-office frenzy.
The moment it opened at the announced time, users flooded in.
It proved that Earth Resource's business was under intense scrutiny from the media and the public.
―Kim Shin: Good work. But isn't the content a bit lacking?
―Oh Myeong-woo: It's fine. Lots of people are porting over videos from YouTube to Earth Channel.
―Oh Myeong-woo: Videos are being uploaded in droves right from the start. Professional YouTube teams are jumping straight into operations on Earth Channel too. Same with individuals.
―Oh Myeong-woo: Even broadcasters are creating accounts to upload their programs.
―Kim Shin: Broadcasters?
―Oh Myeong-woo: Yeah. They couldn't negotiate and buy all content on Earth Channel. Broadcasters around the world are uploading their stuff to Channel 7 to earn ad revenue.
―Kim Shin: I see.
I had debated whether to head to San Francisco for the Channel 7 launch.
But as the CEO, there wasn't much for me to do in person, so I left it entirely to Oh Myeong-woo, and he turned out to be rock-solid reliable.
‘Let's stick together for life, buddy. I'll really put you to work.’
Oh Myeong-woo seemed completely oblivious to my thoughts.
―Oh Myeong-woo: I felt a ton of pressure since you trusted me, but I think I pulled it off okay.
―Kim Shin: What are you talking about? I knew you'd nail it.
―Oh Myeong-woo: Companies lining up to advertise on Channel 7. Thinking of pricing the ad-free premium subscription at $3 a month for users.
―Kim Shin: Sounds good. Keep it up.
Channel 7's success must have skyrocketed Earth Resource's valuation.
That was the nature of internet businesses—once you had the user base, everything else was like swimming with floaties.
With over 100 million users, economies of scale made anything possible.
Whether online games or SNS.
Securing users was the hard part; building systems for new services was no issue.
After the US and Europe, it was sucking in Asian users, and growth limits were anyone's guess.
―Senior Managing Director An Myeong-guk: The Korean government has signed vaccine purchase contracts with Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca.
―Senior Managing Director An Myeong-guk: Exact quantities will be announced soon, but estimates are 20 million doses from Pfizer and Moderna each, and 10 million from AstraZeneca.
Word came that the Korean government had inked deals with multiple vaccine makers.
Pfizer vaccine launching in December.
Mass production and deliveries to countries would take time, but options were slim.
‘I want to sell the K-Vaccine, but no choice.’
Other countries had locked in contracts too.
I could siphon off some supply if I pushed, but no desire to.
‘Korea’s daily cases at 1,000. US over 200,000. Europe’s nations on the brink of collapse.’
Even accounting for population differences, countries that secured vaccines first had overwhelmingly more cases.
Letting 50 Americans or Europeans die to save one Korean didn’t feel right.
Lee Jong-yeop came back with a pretty big fish.
“Bro. Boston Consulting Group’s New York office is proposing a Major League team acquisition.”
“Major League?”
“New York Mets are up for sale.”
A baseball team based in New York.
Founded in 1962, the team where Korean star Park Chan-ho played briefly.
Rivals to the Yankees in New York, but far weaker and without a championship in ages.
“The Wilpon family owns it, putting it up for $2.6 billion.”
“That’s a hefty sum.”
I had never been a baseball fan.
Back when I first joined Arcor, tons of senior colleagues pulled all-nighters watching Major League games.
It had huge fanbases in Korea and Japan.
“COVID’s kept crowds out, so they’re taking massive hits.”
“Push forward with the acquisition.”
“Yes, sir.”
Owning the New York Mets would open tons of collab opportunities with Earth Channel.
‘Owning a baseball team that’s like a way of life for Americans would keep media and public eyes on us constantly—no way politicians could apply undue pressure.’
It was a way of buying influence with money.
Russia’s oligarchs owning English soccer clubs probably had reasons beyond hobbies.
“John Waldron from Goldman Sachs.”
Pushing block trades with various financial firms had the world-class investment bank’s president coming to the hotel himself.
“Kim Shin. Thanks for coming all this way.”
“No need for thanks. I’ve been dying to meet you, sir. I share your economic outlook.”
“Economic outlook?”
“Yes. Astronomical liquidity to stave off recession. Once consumption and travel ramp up, inflation from COVID’s aftermath will hit hard.”
“I think so too.”
Honestly, I had not thought that far ahead.
I had simply seen greed running rampant in the investment markets and predicted a bubble.
“Goldman Sachs forecasts over 2.5% inflation next year. The Fed will try, but it’ll be tough.”
“Too much liquidity pumped in.”
Chatting with Goldman Sachs’ president boosted my confidence.
‘Even global finance giants back my call. Even if wrong, won’t get totally roasted.’
* * *
Rumors started spreading through America’s bookstores.
The ex-wife of newly famous Kim Shin was publishing a book.
Kim Shin had been drawing massive public attention lately.
“Plenty don’t even know Kim Shin was married. And now his ex is putting out a book.”
“Kim Shin was married?”
“Apparently for about a year a while back.”
“Oh. He’s still only 32. A short marriage like that’s no big deal.”
“Unless you ignore his disinterest in Elizabeth?”
It hit talk shows, becoming massive buzz.
―Kim Shin’s ex-wife?
―Oh……. Gotta read it.
―Anyone else, maybe not, but if it’s Kim Shin hyung’s ex-wife? Supporting it.
―Gonna be hilarious. Like episodes of him bolting awake mid-sex yelling Nasdaq, Alibaba, then crashing back out?
―That was when he was broke and couldn’t invest like now.
―Bet he honed his investment instincts early.
Korea went nuts too.
Orders flooded bookstores, forcing a first Korean print run of 1.5 million copies.
“Things got interesting.”
“Lots of orders isn’t bad, is it?”
Random Flower Publishing had no plans to push Han Chae-won’s book hard.
No aggressive promo, no ads.
Still, word spread on its own, and orders poured in uncontrollably.
“Print as orders come. What happens next isn’t on the publisher.”
“Yes. We’ll handle it smoothly.”
Han Chae-won’s book title needed revisions.
[I Was a Bitch Married to Kim Shin.]
Initial title too provocative.
―To sell books, need a title like this. If the public loves it, even edgier’s fine!
Her strong push as author had the editor convincing hard.
“Pre-orders are flooding in. No need for something so extreme.”
―Gotta sell one more copy if I can. Title’s gotta grab eyes first.
“Publication alone’s already huge buzz. Too sensational risks backlash and no sales.”
―Really? Fine, something tame then. Got a few ideas.
[An Amazing Marriage with Kim Shin]
[50 Secrets from Kim Shin’s Ex-Wife]
[All the Details on My Marriage to Kim Shin]
Editor shot down each one quick.
“Does the title absolutely need Kim Shin in it?”
―Yes. Slap his name on, sells a million more easy. It’s the key hook.
“No need.”
―Sigh. Sell books with bland like this? Need eye-catching clickbait.
Publisher CEO stepped in, settling on a truly neutral title.
[One Year of Married Life]
Book hit shelves immediately.
Stormed bookstores, sales exploding, reader reactions flooding the net.
―This author nuts? LMAO
―Can’t believe this book actually exists. For real.
―Read up to chapter 3. Was curious how awesome their marriage was. Wow…….
―Not quick to anger usually, but rage bubbling up reading this.
―My wife’s an angel. Gotta treat the in-laws right.
―Scared I’ll meet a wife like this. This book drops Korea’s marriage rate 10%+.
―100% fiction, right? Real life? Seriously?
―Thought Kim Shin hyung lived a flawless success story. Marriage was pure hell.
―Nietzsche said what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. But Han Chae-won?
―Even Kim Shin hyung couldn’t escape ‘doormat hubby’ fate.
―Said when he proposed divorce, happiest marriage moments were scrubbing dishes and bathroom mold. How to process?
―No clue?
―Didn’t get it reading either.
―Pretty obvious. Dishes meant no wife nagging. Same for bathroom cleaning. Safest times.
―Ah……. Brutal.
―Never seen a tale of hardship so heartbreaking.
―At least happy ending. Kim Shin hyung tossed a villa her way and escaped.
―Thought giving villa was wasteful, called him a sucker. Turns out genius cut losses. Gotta have that boldness for derivatives jackpots.
US readers were even more fired up.
―Can’t believe a word of this novel. But apparently all true.
―Lived so rough.
―Ex-wife’s POV. Why am I empathizing with Kim Shin?
―Expected him to snap each time. Respect his insane patience.
―Never fought to the end. No violence. Kept his cool.
―Whatever happens, I’ll trust Kim Shin three times now. Ex-wife proves he’s earned it.
―Thought he was just a smart Earth Channel mogul. His past broke me.
―Dad died, first tears since. Crying over this pitying him after 10 years.
―How does a top-5 global super-rich guy like Kim Shin make me weep in sympathy.
―Real men cry.
Random Flower figured 10 million copies sellable.
Actual release? Orders exploded worldwide.