Chapter 172: Wheels on a Cell Phone
Chapter 172: Wheels on a Cell Phone
[CEO Kim Shin, Leader of K-Content, Returns Home]
[CEO Kim Shin's First Stop After Landing at Incheon Airport: His Old Favorite Soup Joint from His Salaryman Days]
―Kim Shin is back.
―Went straight to the soup joint, as expected.
―Coming home means hitting up the soup joint, no question.
―Gotta check out that soup joint myself. Maybe I'll catch some of big bro Kim Shin's vibes?
―Word's already spreading across every community. Line's a mile long.
―Stock jumped 70 points right when the market opened. What's the good news?
―Kim Shin entered the country.
―Kim Shin's back, and stocks are rising? Why?
―Dunno. Not just individuals buying. Foreign investors are scooping up massive amounts.
―Because of the $50 billion?
―Timing his return like this, he's probably acquiring some company.
―Leons hits the daily limit ㄷㄷㄷ
―Kim Shin stocks up 14% today.
―His mere existence is a cheat code, for real.
Just being back in Korea, and the articles and comments were flooding in.
One comment in particular caught his eye.
―CEO Kim Shin has some grand plan.
―Plan?
―Of course. Look at how he grew Earth Resource in just a year and a half. Created something from nothing. That alone makes him a genius CEO who surpasses Elon Musk.
Kim Shin read that comment too.
What plan? He had come back because his girlfriend was on vacation.
* * *
Reporters were swarming the entrance to the Hannam-dong apartment complex.
“Whew, it's hot.”
“Yeah. This late summer heat is brutal.”
“Wonder when he'll come out.”
“Who knows. Desk probably wants us waiting till late at night if we have to.”
News outlets had dispatched three or four reporters each to Kim Shin's residence.
The upscale Hannam-dong apartments, home to celebrities, chaebol heirs, and ministers, blocked outsiders from entering the grounds.
So instead, they littered the streets with illegal parking, ready to chase any sighting.
“This spot's not bad. Reporters are camped out in lobbies at companies too.”
“Companies?”
“Isung, LK, and everywhere else he might show up—reporters are staking them out.”
“Total chaos.”
“They even pulled reporters from police stations and the Justice Ministry.”
Any move Kim Shin made could generate massive headlines.
All eyes were locked on him.
* * *
He lounged around the long-vacant apartment all morning.
He ordered delivery food, watched television, and played on his phone.
‘Not going into work feels this good?’
He must have built up some commute stress without realizing.
Earth Resource was his own company, so he felt the employees' eyes on him, acting as the model boss.
‘Filling sales quotas at Arcor and then chilling on the rooftop with coffee—those were the days.’
He missed his old coworkers and friends.
Without Jo Soo-ah, Oh Myeong-woo, and Lee Jong-yeop, he might not miss office life at all.
That's why he still worked with his old boss, Team Leader An Myeong-guk.
‘Forgot about Team Leader Seo Jong-gi.’
The guy had always looked out for him at the company, but with everything going on in the US, he'd neglected to check in.
―Kim Sang-gi: LoL Worlds and Last Survivor semifinals today. Earth's esports team is in it, so check it out if you have time, sir.
―Kim Shin: Sure.
He hadn't planned on watching Korean game streams.
But back at the San Francisco mansion, Oh Myeong-woo kept the TV glued to game channels, so he'd caught bits here and there.
Earth's esports team putting up a strong fight had boosted their popularity across Asia.
―Kim Shin: What's the total roster for Earth's team?
―Kim Sang-gi: 32 players between first and second string. 10 staff.
Operating with 42 people total for that level of promo was thanks to the popularity of LoL and Last Survivor.
―Kim Shin: Sending daily bonuses.
―Kim Sang-gi: Thanks. They'll love it.
Lying on the sofa living like a bum—why did it suddenly feel so great?
Truth be told, he hadn't had much downtime since his teens.
Even after striking it rich with coins and quitting Arcor for overseas trips, he'd rushed around pinching pennies on flights and hotels.
Old pauper habits die hard.
―VP Jeong Beom-tae: Investment God part 1 premiere this Saturday.
A message from Dream Art Rainbow's VP Jeong Beom-tae too.
―Kim Shin: Investment God?
―VP Jeong Beom-tae: Movie based on you as the lead. Footage turned out amazing.
―Kim Shin: …….
His own company was making a movie about him.
He'd greenlit it as a documentary-style like The Social Network.
Based on true events, scripting and prep flew by, and Dream Art Rainbow poured everything into smooth filming.
Post-production work in Hollywood had shortened the release timeline.
‘Did they have to rush it this much?’
Still, he couldn't ignore the crew and actors' sincerity.
―Kim Shin: I'll attend the premiere.
―VP Jeong Beom-tae: Thank you, sir. The staff and cast will be thrilled.
He accepted, but regretted it bone-deep five minutes later.
‘Me at my own movie?’
There would be paparazzi photographs and headlines around the world...
Perfect promo, but what embarrassment would he endure?
He thought making bank meant no more midnight regrets under the covers. The world wasn't that simple.
[Kim Shin Rests at Home All Morning. Plotting His Next Move?]
[What's the Unrevealed $50 Billion Investment Plan from the White House?]
Articles popped up while he was just chilling at home.
‘Good call getting delivery through the security team's dorm.’
After announcing his return, calls flooded in from everywhere.
The callers included the prime minister, cabinet ministers, lawmakers, business groups, and executives of every kind.
Yet tonight's meetup was with Busan's dermatologist Choi Won-seok.
He wanted to see Jo Soo-ah, but she was out on sales calls in Chungcheong province before her vacation.
I could not interrupt her during the busiest part of her schedule.
“Just wanna take a casual stroll.”
Long time back in Korea—he wanted to wander Seoul.
Lucky part: Mask up, and once out of the complex, few recognized him.
He called the security chief.
“Jason.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Want to shake the reporters and head out.”
“On it.”
Ten minutes later, they rolled out from the apartment garage in a Benz.
The Mercedes was the least conspicuous car in the garage of such a luxurious building.
* * *
Masked up, wandering Seoul.
Rode the bus in Jongno with security, hit Namsan too.
He walked past office workers, children, and elderly people.
Seeing people didn't sit entirely right.
If there was one worry when deciding on Earth Electronics, it was Korea.
‘Am I hurting Korea?’
He was partnering with Isung Electronics, one of Korea’s most important companies, to build a massive factory in the United States.
$50 billion could create over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs yearly, plus huge value-add.
‘No law says invest only in Korea, but it'll drain wealth outward.’
Small scale, no issue—but this size nagged at him.
I could not invest in Korea, however.
No vast factory land like the US, tough tax breaks, far from mega consumer markets.
Factory build: min 3-4 years. Looking 20 ahead, Korea's economy worried him.
Ongoing low birth rates? Next gen doomed.
‘Maybe Isung Group's ditching the Korean market for US expansion.’
At Namsan's peak, overlooking Seoul, he sipped canned coffee at the octagonal pavilion, checked his phone.
He was only scrolling idly through the news.
―Why Kim Shin's $50 Billion Investment Is Destined for Success?
―He grew Earth Resource. Sees things differently than us.
―But manufacturing's a different field, right?
―What's manufacturing got that's so special?
―Huh?
―Think cars, the flower of industry tech. Elon Musk made 'em with electric motors. All public-domain stuff. No need to split manufacturing from electronics. Future cars? Just cell phones with wheels.
Cell phone with wheels is a car.
The remark seemed flippant at first, but it made him stop and think.
‘Kinda makes sense, in a way.’
* * *
Choi Won-seok finished afternoon appointments and bolted from his office.
“Heading out first.”
“Yes, take care, Director.”
Nurses' farewells as he hit the elevator to the underground lot.
“Done for the day?”
“Yeah. Wait long?”
“Just got here.”
Old middle school buddy Lee Beom-seok waited.
He had made a name for himself with his fists and accumulated numerous assault charges in his twenties and thirties.
“Let's roll.”
“Sure.”
The car was a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ.
Pale green head-turner peeled out of the lot.
Today, finally meeting Jo Soo-ah's American boyfriend.
Lee Beom-seok asked.
“Coming all the way to Seoul for a girl?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn, Won-seok, you're serious.”
“Damn right. Time to settle down.”
Choi liked Jo Soo-ah, but more importantly, his landlord parents adored her as daughter-in-law material.
He planned to act like the perfect son until his parents handed the buildings over to him.
Lee Beom-seok cracked the window.
“Mind if I smoke?”
“That's...”
“No?”
“Nah, go ahead.”
Fresh-off-the-lot 800 million won new ride—he babied it.
But couldn't say no to Lee Beom-seok.
Few words in, and a fist could fly anytime.
‘Guy only knows fists, but he's useful in his way.’
Choi had coasted through middle and high with him as muscle.
‘Can milk this one too.’
If Jo Soo-ah's boyfriend didn't fold easy in Seoul.
He knew this side offered way better terms, but if he wouldn't drop her...
Lee Beom-seok could play bad cop, short of violence.
At worst, Lee Beom-seok could beat him up alone and force him to come to his senses.
‘A good thrashing'll set him straight.’
Vroooom!
The Lamborghini tore down the highway.
Blasted a few speed cams, but who cared.
Traffic jams meant Seoul at 11 PM.
“Yawn. Here yet?”
“Yeah. Lemme call, see where.”
Choi dialed Jo Soo-ah's boyfriend.
“Where you at?”
―Coffee shop in Hannam-dong. Dying of boredom waiting.
“Thirty minutes. Hang tight.”
―Okay.
With a click, he ended the call first.
Choi smirked, drove on.
“This pup's got guts...”