Chapter 130: End of 2020
Chapter 130: End of 2020
Stock investing made every day feel brand new.
Ordinary routines you'd normally breeze past could shift trillions of dollars in asset values with a single news headline.
〈Highly contagious South African variant raises global spread concerns〉
〈Mutant coronavirus detected in France and Germany〉
Stock prices plummeted.
Countless people must have lost their hard-earned investment capital.
〈K-Vaccine to tackle worldwide coronavirus mutation spread〉
〈UK government announces K-Vaccine effective against mutant coronavirus〉
Stock prices surged.
European and U.S. markets soared in unison, pulling Asian markets upward too.
〈Global coronavirus cases surpass 80 million〉
〈Mutant coronavirus patient found in Japan, sparking panic〉
Prices dropped again.
Stocks worldwide fell over 3% in a synchronized plunge, leaving people questioning if there was any hope left in the markets.
〈UK COVID-19 mutant virus detected in New York〉
〈U.S. pandemic chief Fauci warns, "Worst moment hasn't arrived yet."〉
Prices tanked further.
People's joy and despair.
Some made money, others lost it all.
That was why rational, logical investing was so damn tough.
That was the danger of the term "all-in."
Blind faith that you'd strike it rich, that you'd become wealthy—it was a delusion waiting to happen.
‘The stock market's a legal casino. COVID's turned it into a wild ride, but get too greedy and you could get burned.’
In an era where saving spare change made you look like a fool.
Where everyone dreamed of striking it rich just by dumping cash into stocks or coins.
I'd invested early, cashed out my gains first, and now I could sit back and watch the market.
〈Hoped-for Santa Rally fades amid mutant coronavirus fears〉
〈Kim Shin's prediction hits the mark again〉
〈Wall Street experts: "So far, Kim Shin has been right every time."〉
Whenever stocks cratered, my name popped up in the news.
I could see why world-famous investors and CEOs lived exhausting lives.
Reporters and the public never left them alone.
The UK Health Secretary called me personally.
―Are you enjoying a relaxing vacation?
"Yes. It's been very satisfying."
The media knew I'd taken extended leave from Earth Resource.
―Our research confirms the K-Vaccine works against the mutant coronavirus.
"That's great news."
―The UK would like to request additional imports of the K-Vaccine. Public anxiety is sky-high due to the mutant strain. Do you have surplus stock for us?
"We've got about 20 million doses available in Q1 next year."
No sooner had I wrapped up the additional supply deal with the UK than calls came from France and Germany.
European countries had endured regional lockdowns from COVID-19, and now this more contagious mutant had them scrambling.
―We'd like to import more K-Vaccine.
"How much?"
―As much as possible, as soon as possible. We'll meet any conditions you set.
The vaccine scramble was back on.
The U.S. and Europe had locked in production deals with Pfizer and Moderna once their vaccines launched.
They figured they'd have enough next year, but requests for K-Vaccine poured in.
Even at year-end, the world spun busily on.
"Bro, you look happy."
"Yeah? Must be all the good food and rest."
"You really need to date someone."
Lee Jong-yeop was staying at a nearby hotel and dropping by the mansion during the day.
I'd told him it was fine to stay here since he knew Jo Soo-ah well and they were friends, but...
"Do I look that clueless? You two enjoy your alone time."
"It wouldn't bother me if you stayed."
"Jong-yeop, I'm really okay with it."
At Jo Soo-ah's words, Lee Jong-yeop grinned.
"Sis-in-law, I'm planning to kick back and enjoy my vacation too. Do you know how much work your man put in back in San Francisco?"
"Really?"
Jo Soo-ah's eyes widened.
The first time she heard "sis-in-law" from him, she'd been startled and blushed furiously.
They'd known each other for a while, and he was older than her, after all.
It took a few days to get used to the term.
"Yeah. Entrepreneurs work like it's Monday through Golday—every damn day."
It was Lee Jong-yeop's lip service.
Weekdays, I'd go in, meet with staff, handle hiring.
I'd brainstorm Earth Resource's future with Eddie and Oh Myeong-woo.
I made a few big decisions, but they handled most of it.
‘Pretty sure I started grinding games on League from Thursday onward.’
Weekends with Oh Myeong-woo, totally immersed.
* * *
Choi Won-seok arrived at Los Angeles International Airport.
"Man, breathing America's clean air after years away—feels good."
Dragging his suitcase, he felt how much the world had changed.
Korea and Europe were in chaos over the spread, but L.A.'s airport buzzed with travelers.
"Probably because the vaccine's everywhere now."
As a dermatologist, he'd heard plenty about the K-Vaccine from his med school buddies.
At first, no one in the medical community believed it.
"A vaccine from Korea? Total bullshit. They're just grifting for grants or media buzz."
"Gotta make your lies believable at least. A vaccine out of nowhere?"
"Korea didn't even approve trials. U.S. is stricter—they'll flop in phase one."
But trials passed one after another, production ramped up at DK Group and Isung Group's bio subsidiaries.
Rave reviews in top journals and media flipped opinions overnight.
"Word is, the vaccine really works."
"Got a guy at a major U.S. hospital. Says patients who got K-Vaccine don't worry."
"Why?"
"Even if they catch it, it's mild. Unvaxxed go to pneumonia; vaxxed just get a cold. No treatment needed—they could sit in bed untouched."
Choi Won-seok booked a hotel, then headed straight to a clinic for his K-Vaccine.
A bit tired the first day, but after that, peace of mind.
* * *
"This is my building."
"Really? Wow, it's huge."
I took Jo Soo-ah to see the 35-story building in L.A.
I couldn't forget she'd gone on that blind date in Busan.
I knew I was petty, but I had no immunity to stuff like this.
Weird metaphor, maybe, but if my wife cheated after marriage...
‘Han Chae-won might've been okay with it. Might've made me divorce faster.’
Sorry for thinking of Han Chae-won in moments like this, but hey, she deserved it.
Looking at the building, I said,
"One of these could buy dozens of buildings in Haeundae, easy."
"Of course."
"It's a new build, barely used, and I got it cheap."
"Cheap?"
"Yeah. 1.2 billion dollars—that's a steal these days."
Jo Soo-ah smiled.
She'd clocked my childish bragging, but I wasn't stopping.
"Planning to house Earth Channel's content division here, plus Hollywood film and drama studios."
Major renovations underway inside.
It was owned by an investment bank doing business in L.A., used as their HQ.
They took a COVID hit, sold the building, and bailed.
"Jong-yeop, how's the restaurant hunt?"
"Looking at the best options."
San Francisco HQ had its issues.
Never expected Earth Resource to grow this fast—cramped space, messy layout.
Fine for 100 employees with basic PC bang snacks.
No one foresaw tenfold growth in under a year.
Without massive remote work, operations would've choked.
‘Gotta take care of meals at least.’
Best part of Arcor was mealtime.
Good food boosted job satisfaction big time.
"Jong-yeop, spare no expense on food."
"Got it. We'll make other companies jealous."
I pictured Korean entertainment agencies and aimed higher.
Floors 10 through 20 for Earth Channel's content ops.
Full amenities: restaurant floor, lounges, gym—everything.
"Lots of external visitors, so solve lodging too."
"Add a guest floor to the building?"
"Big actors and crews from Korea and elsewhere. For invites like that, partner with nearby hotels or buy one outright."
"I'll scout luxury hotels we can acquire."
Hotels got hammered hardest by COVID.
* * *
Christmas.
Never celebrated it before, but first one dating Jo Soo-ah—a milestone.
The day lovers worldwide don antlers.
"What do you wanna do today?"
As I asked, it hit me: I was filthy rich.
Stuff women dream of for Christmas.
Fancy hotel dinner, show tickets, parties—whatever.
"It's crowded today. Staying home with you is fine."
"But it's special."
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Jo Soo-ah's phone kept buzzing.
She checked texts, replied.
"Who's blowing you up?"
"A friend. Keeps asking where I am and what I'm doing."
"Told 'em you were traveling to the U.S.?"
"Yeah. Didn't mention you, though."
Jo Soo-ah seemed cautious.
I got that media spotlight stressed her, but I didn't want to hide.
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
"Weird. She's not usually this chatty."
Jo Soo-ah paused, texted back. One ding, then silence.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, probably."
We holed up at home all Christmas.
Time with her flew; her departure loomed.
Arcor sabbatical and leave days were winding down.
* * *
Three days later, I saw Jo Soo-ah off at L.A. airport.
Sharing a bed, the same blanket for over two weeks—now gone, leaving an empty ache.
"Jong-yeop."
"Yeah, bro."
"How do you fill the loneliness dating can't touch?"
"Well..."
Lee Jong-yeop hesitated, then answered.
"Meet another girl. Plenty of pretty ones out there."
Classic Lee Jong-yeop—and maybe spot-on.
Married her, but pre-dating Jo Soo-ah, loneliness barely registered.
After living with her, I got it: the hollow ache, the loneliness.
"Let's head out too."
"Back to San Francisco?"
"Yeah."
Jo Soo-ah gone to Korea; Laguna Beach vacay done—time to return.
Flew from L.A. to SFO; cars waiting, straight home.
"You're back."
"Yeah."
"Hyung, I'm here."
"Good work."
After a quick reunion with Oh Myeong-woo, I spent the end of the year binge-playing games at home.
Earth Channel had plenty of entertaining games.
It had been a wild year, and Earth Resource had grown explosively.
I thought I would never experience another business boom like it...
Then, in the new year, I met Eddie—and that assumption shattered.