Chapter 126: Han Chae-won's Breakup Method
Chapter 126: Han Chae-won's Breakup Method
Bill Karen, the Republican senator.
He and I really hit it off.
“Reading the book made me feel like I got to know CEO Kim Shin so much better.”
“In what way?”
“I got divorced too. My wife had an affair.”
“Ah…….”
I hadn’t expected our connection to form around something like that.
“Let’s have a drink.”
“She was the woman I truly loved. I fell for her at first sight in high school, called her every day while in med school, and drove 1,100 km back to my hometown every weekend to see her.”
“Don’t cry.”
“Ugh. I couldn’t tell anyone. When I saw her in bed with another man, I was filled with self-blame and resentment over how inadequate I must have been for her to cheat…….”
“Have another drink.”
Deep down, I harbored distrust and disdain for politicians, but seeing him cry bitterly over his divorce made him seem human.
“Which med school did you attend?”
“Johns Hopkins. Before entering politics, I worked as an endocrinologist at a hospital.”
“I see.”
Working at a pharmaceutical company, I knew the basics of getting chummy with doctors.
Pretend to know a bit about their specialty, listen to their stories.
Endocrinology dealt mainly with hormones and metabolic disorders.
“I believe endocrinology is a vital field that saves lives. Even a slight change in hormone levels from the brain can have a huge impact on the body. Diabetes, thyroid issues, strokes, and more—it’s connected to so many diseases.”
“You really know your stuff. Hormones are crucial. An indispensable subject in medicine.”
We talked about endocrinology for a good while before the conversation naturally shifted to vaccines.
Senator Bill Karen was well aware of the tremendous impact K-Vaccine was having in America.
“Your investment in Biolife was truly impressive. Other politicians might not get it, but I do. If COVID hadn’t happened, that investment would’ve been a total loss.”
“Yes. It was an investment for just in case.”
“True foresight. American and European pharma companies always say only they can handle crises. New drug development costs a fortune with high failure rates, so they only invest where there’s profit. I tell everyone around me how remarkable your decision was—risking it all to accelerate vaccine production.”
“I just hoped to help the world a little.”
“Investing with the expectation of failure is incredibly tough.”
We went back and forth, acknowledging each other’s merits.
“Arcor. Honing your investment instincts while working as an employee there is truly astonishing.”
“I was just doing my job. I didn’t know much back then.”
Even stating the facts, Bill didn’t believe me.
“There’s a saying in Asia about a politician who waited patiently like a fisherman. Seems like you were that kind of person, CEO Kim Shin.”
“Ah. Yes.”
After making a fortune, humility was impossible.
* * *
Vice President of Arcor’s Korean branch.
Jeong Su-man was in dire straits both inside and outside the company.
Han Chae-won, the head of the support team, had suddenly resigned.
“I never thought Han Chae-won would quit like that.”
“Yes, President. It seems the stress has really taken a toll on her health.”
“Even so, quitting the company like this? Because of Han Chae-won, our company’s name keeps popping up negatively in the media. And over the past two years, there’ve been constant complaints about the support team being uncooperative.”
Reprimands from the president and other directors in the conference room.
It was his decision to force Han Chae-won into the team leader position, so he couldn’t escape the blame during meetings.
“Whew. This is killing me.”
After the meeting, Jeong Su-man headed to the rooftop.
“Vice President.”
“Yeah. Go ahead and enjoy your coffee. Take it easy.”
“No, I’m done.”
The young employees went downstairs from the rooftop, holding cups with more than half their coffee left.
He knew the company staff didn’t like him much, but ever since Han Chae-won’s book came out, they openly avoided him.
Kim Shin was treated like a national hero who’d saved the country, while he was lumped together with Han Chae-won as someone to shun.
‘Maybe one or two years left.’
His long career gave him a sense for these things. He figured there’d be a purge when the German president changed.
Even a hardworking salaryman couldn’t escape that fate.
‘Just hold on for a few more months, I said. Never thought she’d quit outright.’
Arcor was a company he wanted to work at until he died.
Still, with Han Chae-won now rich from the book, he thought she’d live comfortably even after leaving.
‘She can travel abroad and live leisurely.’
Han Chae-won was bearing the brunt of public backlash. He figured he just needed to cherish and love her more going forward.
* * *
That evening, in a Gangnam apartment.
Jeong Su-man punched in the door code on the wall pad.
[Incorrect code.]
[Incorrect code.]
[Incorrect code.]
The front door to the apartment Han Chae-won had bought wouldn’t open.
‘Did I forget the password?’
Finding it odd, Jeong Su-man called Han Chae-won.
―The customer you have dialed……
‘That’s weird.’
―Jeong Su-man: Honey, what’s the door code again?
―Jeong Su-man: The door won’t open.
His years in society had sharpened his instincts. Still, just in case, he sent the texts.
‘No way. We lived together for two years. I took such good care of Chae-won’s family.’
He’d rush over if anything happened to Han Chae-won’s family.
On weekends, he’d go to her mom’s restaurant in Myeongmok-dong to do the dishes, bought her dad a car, and gave pocket money every month to Han Chae-won’s still-unemployed younger sibling.
He even covered the sibling’s cram school fees, textbooks, and goshiwon rent for civil service exam prep.
Ding!
―Han Chae-won: Why would I tell you?
“Hah.”
The worst response he’d feared.
The text plunged Jeong Su-man’s world into darkness.
―Jeong Su-man: After all our time together. You’re really doing this?
―Han Chae-won: What time together? Because you gave me some money? That’s why I lived with you?
―Jeong Su-man: You……
Jeong Su-man trembled with rage and betrayal.
―Jeong Su-man: Did you really never like me?
He knew it was childish, but he had to ask.
He’d been so wrong about Han Chae-won.
Memories surfaced from their two years together—moments he’d sensed but brushed off without digging deeper.
―Han Chae-won: There was a time I did.
―Jeong Su-man: Really? Then why this?
―Han Chae-won: Only when you gave me money.
It felt like a brutal blow to the back of his head.
―Jeong Su-man: What are you saying? Why are you doing this to me now?
―Han Chae-won: I can do this. No one thinks I have any integrity anyway.
―Jeong Su-man: Chae-won, that’s not it. People might trash you now, but it’ll all blow over with time.
It seemed Han Chae-won couldn’t contain her anger from the intense stress. He wanted to soothe her somehow.
―Han Chae-won: I hope the public keeps trashing me?
―Jeong Su-man: What?
―Han Chae-won: They have to hate me for my book to stay in the spotlight and keep selling.
―Han Chae-won: Think simply. I don’t need to pretend to be nice to you anymore, old man.
―Jeong Su-man: Old man?
―Han Chae-won: Yeah, old man. Oppa?
―Han Chae-won: Annoying. Let’s break up. Don’t even think of coming home. Delete my number too. I’m telling you this so you don’t cling.
A brutal breakup notice.
In his twenties, he might’ve wailed and pounded on the door, but Jeong Su-man didn’t.
At mid-forties, he didn’t want to show tears to the woman he’d loved for two years.
―Jeong Su-man: I get it. You don’t need me anymore.
―Han Chae-won: Glad you catch on quick.
―Jeong Su-man: Yeah. Got it. It’s night now, so I’ll pick up my stuff tomorrow during the day.
His laptop, watches, suits—his things were at Han Chae-won’s Gangnam apartment.
He’d called a moving company from her Gangbuk villa and helped her move here himself.
Even in breaking up, he wanted one last talk in daylight.
―Han Chae-won: Check your parents’ place.
―Jeong Su-man: Huh?
―Han Chae-won: I shipped everything via courier. That settles it?
* * *
―Bill: It was a great time. For America’s sake, feel free to share your honest opinions anytime—I’ll listen.
―Kim Shin: Thanks for coming in person. Hope we can talk more next time.
Senator Bill Karen drank late into the night before crashing in another hotel room.
I felt as though I had gained a valuable connection in Washington.
‘How much pull does a four-term senator have?’
I got a rough sense of the Washington vibe.
Senators and representatives didn’t care at all about their one-liners in front of President-elect Biden.
With the executive and legislative branches divided, plus the massive influence of Earth Channel and the COVID vaccine.
They valued business acumen and influence far more than investment profits.
‘Busy as hell. For real.’
Staying in New York, I’d handled tons of business.
I met countless financiers and politicians and built a broad network.
‘Now, most things can be sorted with one call.’
It was mid-December before I knew it.
“Jong-yeop, let’s take a break.”
“Yes, hyung.”
Meeting people was far more exhausting than working at Earth Resource.
Selling stocks meant staring at screens nonstop for every extra buck.
Even with over $120 billion in assets, money was still precious.
Hundreds of millions could swing in moments.
Dealing with big investors meant tedious block trade negotiations.
Dumping stakes that could affect control might hurt companies we’d massively profited from.
‘Tesla’s been a golden goose.’
With so many investors, I cleared my Tesla position via on-exchange sales.
After a month of unloading stocks, I craved rest.
“Let’s head to LA.”
“Yes, hyung.”
I told Oh Myeong-woo to rest a few more days, then flew to Los Angeles.
Laguna Beach.
Planned to cool my head gazing at the beautiful ocean and recharge fully.
“Let’s drive by the sea.”
Instead of the mansion, I steered toward the beach first.
The car crept along the coast when I spotted a woman walking on the beach.
Time seemed to slow as I watched her.
“Jason, pull over for a sec.”
“Yes.”
I parked and approached her on the beach.
From afar, no one else registered—only her.
My heart pounded harder with each step closer.
‘Too much on my mind lately? Hallucinating from stock trading?’
I doubted my sanity.
Step by step.
‘Jo Soo-ah couldn’t possibly be here. Did reading Han Chae-won’s book drive me nuts?’
She sensed something odd and glanced over.
Seeing her eyes widen in shock, I fought to stay calm and pulled out my phone.
[Jo Soo-ah]
I called Jo Soo-ah, and the phone in her hand really rang.
“Jo Soo-ah?”
―Yes. It’s me.