Chapter 88: Honey, I'm Not Coming Home Tonight
Chapter 88: Honey, I'm Not Coming Home Tonight
"Honey. I'm not coming home tonight."
Vice Chairman Seon Jae-yong's proposal was simple.
"- Let Isung Group handle the construction of the data center."
We'll build it quickly, affordably, and with high quality.
It was, at first glance, an appealing proposal.
'Isung Group is certainly good at this kind of work.'
What were the characteristics of a Korean conglomerate, after all?
Octopus-like business expansion, a 'hurry, hurry' culture, and a tendency to perform even better overseas than at home.
Isung Electronics could handle the semiconductors, Isung Construction the building, and various affiliates would procure the necessary components.
Isung Group was a company known for its meticulous and swift work.
Utilizing their overseas networks would also make it easier to select sites for the data centers and obtain construction permits.
'There's no Korean company as skilled in IT as Isung Group. Come to think of it, there are many advantages.'
Still, accepting the offer outright felt a bit premature.
It was necessary to crunch the numbers on this deal.
What level of terms could Isung Group propose?
What would Earth Resource gain, and what opportunities might it lose?
A decision needed to be made after several negotiations at the working level.
'But Earth Resource doesn't have any working-level staff in this field.'
Since they were in the middle of building a data center in the U.S., they had a construction manager, but no one to handle liaisons with other companies.
“It sounds like a good proposal, so I'll consider it. I'm not an expert in this field, so let's talk again later. I'll need to hear from my team first.”
He subtly hinted that he was testing the waters.
Was it like being in a clothing store, liking an item but saying you'll look around a bit more?
Or perhaps like being in an electronics market and asking how much of a discount they could offer?
Vice Chairman Seon Jae-yong readily accepted.
“Haha. Yes, of course. We are eager to cooperate actively with Earth Resource, so I'm glad to hear you don't have a prior contractor. The construction costs of your current data center, the costs if another company were to handle it... even after you review all the estimates, we'll make sure that collaborating with Isung Group is the best choice for Earth Resource.”
“Thank you very much for the proposal.”
Meeting so many people through business, he felt like he was learning something new each time.
Vice Chairman Seon Jae-yong was magnanimous.
He wasn't sensitive about things like the rankings of Korea's wealthiest people, prioritizing the success of his business instead.
'If it were me, I might have been petty. It must be because he's been doing business with the whole world for so long.'
* * *
At Isung Biologics, Team Leader An Myeong-guk's shoulders were squared with pride.
“Ahem.”
He received business cards from Vice Chairman Seon Jae-yong's entourage and Isung Group's high-level executives, and even scheduled separate dinner appointments.
While it was a necessary part of his job, being able to connect with the top brass of Isung Group as a professional filled him with immense pride.
'So this is what it's like to be a Senior Managing Director at Biolife.'
It was as if one's social standing changed depending on which company you worked for and what you did.
Meanwhile, Team Leader Seo Jong-gi of the support team wore a dejected expression.
“Hooo.”
An occasional sigh escaped him.
He had received an unexpected gift—a Bentley SUV worth 300 million won—but something felt empty.
Even if Team Leader An Myeong-guk left for his new job, he himself would remain at Arcor.
'Can I even afford the upkeep on this car with my salary?'
Sure, he could just fill it with gas and drive it during the free maintenance period, but the annual insurance premium would feel like a punch to the gut.
“Team Leader Seo. If I get the chance, I'll put in a good word with CEO Kim Shin and see if there's a suitable position for you.”
“I'd appreciate that. But you're already calling him 'CEO'.”
“Of course, even when he's not around. That's how professional life works, isn't it?”
* * *
By the time they finished their business at Isung Biologics, it was early evening.
The conversation with Vice Chairman Seon Jae-yong had run longer than expected.
“It's hot. It's been a while, and it feels like a shame to part ways just like this. Would you two like to grab a beer?”
“Should we?”
“Sure, why not.”
They all went to a pub in Songdo.
The staff at the empty pub were surprised when they arrived with bodyguards, but...
They found a table in a corner and talked about a few things over beer.
Things they needed to know, including the story of Dr. Lee Ho-yeon from Biolife.
“Yes, sir. I'll be sure to keep that in mind.”
“Come on. Don't be so formal, speak comfortably.”
“How could I? You're the CEO of the company that holds my life and death in its hands.”
“Power over life and death? And we're not even at the office.”
An Myeong-guk said with a smile.
“When we talk about work, I must use formal language. When I was your superior, you joined as a new employee, and I taught you many things. Now our positions have reversed, and there's much for me to learn from you, so I must show you respect.”
“That might be uncomfortable, don't you think?”
“I'll try to make it more natural over time. I'm not from the MZ generation, so this is more comfortable for me.”
Team Leader An Myeong-guk seemed like the type to fit in well at any company, so he wasn't too worried.
As they drank one beer, then another.
He remembered collapsing while drinking with the actors two days ago.
Despite that, the beer tasted especially refreshing today.
If the negotiations with Isung Group went well, Earth Resource's growth would accelerate even more.
It was something he couldn't have even dreamed of until recently, but now it felt as if Google and Microsoft were just visible on the horizon.
*Kakao!*
- Jin Yoo-kyung: I heard you're in Songdo!
*Kakao!*
- Jin Yoo-kyung: You went to Isung Biologics and met Vice Chairman Seon Jae-yong.
*Kakao!*
- Jin Yoo-kyung: How did I know? Articles about your whereabouts pop up instantly.
*Kakao!*
- Jin Yoo-kyung: And I hear you're drinking beer at a pub now. You should probably get out of there fast. It's all over social media and in the news, so a crowd of onlookers is probably heading your way.
He looked up from his phone and glanced out the window.
Beyond the pub, a large crowd had gathered, unable to get in.
It seemed the owner and staff had locked the door.
“Aren't we disrupting your business? You really don't have to do this.”
“I'm one of those retail investors in US stocks. I've made enough money to open two more shops. Please, relax and enjoy. Haha.”
To think he'd meet one of them here.
He'd heard there were many, and it seemed to be true.
Still, it could interfere with business, and with a crowd gathering, there was always the chance of an unfortunate incident.
“I should get going. I'll see you both later.”
Guided by his bodyguards, he quietly slipped out through the kitchen door.
* * *
After Kim Shin left, An Myeong-guk and Seo Jong-gi continued to drink their beer.
“So, what should we do about the Bentley?”
“Should I call a designated driver? No. It's better to just leave it in the parking lot and get it tomorrow.”
All in all, a lot of good things had happened.
“Hold on, let me call my wife.”
An Myeong-guk confidently took out his phone.
He hadn't been able to tell his wife amidst the chaos, but he had some incredible news for her.
The Bentley, the new job at Biolife.
The reason he hadn't discussed it with his wife beforehand was because the offers were too good to refuse.
He'd heard the salary was 500 million won.
That was already a huge amount, but Biolife's revenue was projected to grow exponentially this year and next.
And there were plans to give employees incentives worth several times their annual salary.
'I'm going to work my ass off. I really am...'
An Myeong-guk steeled his resolve and called his wife.
“Honey. It's me. Something incredible happened today.”
He would explain everything that had happened.
He would share his joy and tell her that their financial worries, including the kids' academy fees, were over.
He was just about to start with the Bentley.
When his wife's angry voice came through the phone.
“What have you been doing all day to only be calling now? Why didn't you answer your phone earlier!”
“Oh. Sorry. I was in a meeting with some important people and couldn't pick up.”
“What people? Instead of watching the kids at home on a Saturday!”
His wife sounded angry, but he was confident he could win her over.
Arcor's situation had been unstable lately, and he hadn't told her beforehand simply because he was afraid that if he mentioned meeting Kim Shin, she would pressure him to ask for a job.
“But so many good things happened today, so just listen for a second. I'll explain everything now.”
“What's that? Have you been drinking?”
His wife had an incredible sixth sense for when he was drinking or out having fun.
“I'm not drunk, just had a little beer.”
“Drinking in the early evening, you're really living the life. Where are you now?”
“Songdo.”
“Just great. You went all the way out there to drink?”
“It's not like that. I came to Songdo to meet people for business and just had a beer while I was here. Do you know who I met today?”
“How should I know? What business could you possibly have in Songdo besides bars? Do you have any idea how much the kids' academy fees are? How can the head of the household be out drinking on a weekend?”
Her dismissive and aggressive tone.
From here, the usual pattern would follow: a long string of nagging about childcare.
When he came home from work, he was treated like a criminal for neglecting childcare and household chores.
He had held his tongue dozens of times because retorting that he'd been at work would immediately start a fight.
As always, he tried to endure it by thinking of his children.
But how long did he have to live while being treated with such disrespect?
“You're always late because of 'work.' I'm the one who has to suffer because of my husband.”
“...”
“If you ever thought about your wife suffering at home, you'd think about helping out on the weekend. Instead, you just run off to meet your friends.”
“...”
“And you call me after drinking? Why? Are you calling to tell me what time you're coming home?”
Finally, the words just slipped out.
“Honey. I'm not coming home tonight.”
* * *
Yeouido Hangang Park.
In the sweltering summer, families could be seen enjoying the river breeze on picnic mats, and people were out for a stroll.
- Kim Shin: I'm here.
- Jo Soo-ah: I'm sitting on the steps by the river.
A one-day date with Jo Soo-ah.
The intense media and public attention meant he could only make time late in the evening.
'There she is.'
Jo Soo-ah, sitting on the steps.
He got her a can of coffee from a vending machine and was walking over.
When he saw three men talking to her.
'Still the same. Her popularity...'
She, with her slim and attractive figure honed by exercise.
This was the same Jo Soo-ah who had despised getting personal messages from doctors when she worked at Arcor.
He trusted she would turn them down on her own and waited a moment.
But then, Jo Soo-ah gave them a number, the men saved it on their phones, and they left.
“...?”
He walked up to Jo Soo-ah and handed her the can of coffee.
“Hey.”
“When did you get here?”
“Just now. But... did you just give those guys your number?”
“You saw that? I gave them Na Sang-guk's number.”
“...”
Wouldn't they be flustered to call what they thought was a beautiful woman's number, only for Na Sang-guk to pick up?
“Why Na Sang-guk?”
“He keeps pestering me to have a meal with him.”
“He does?”
“Yes. Ever since I first joined the company.”
So it was the right decision to filter out Na Sang-guk.
As they sat on the steps, they slowly began to attract people's attention.
Even if people couldn't recognize him in his hat, sunglasses, and mask, Jo Soo-ah's looks were enough to draw a crowd.
The part of her face above the mask was enough to give off the aura of a beautiful woman.
“Should we walk?”
“Okay.”
They walked along the Han River, sipping their canned coffee.
Families, young children.
The beautifully lit bridges over the river.
Just walking along the Han River path in the evening felt healing.
“I couldn't keep my promise to make time for you at least once a month because I was so busy. I'm sorry.”
“It's okay. You were saving people's lives.”
As he talked with Jo Soo-ah in the comfortable atmosphere, he thought.
He had thought he would be lonely his entire life.
The scars from not being loved as a child and living with anxiety didn't fade easily.
When he was struggling for money, he didn't have time for such thoughts.
But after hitting it big with crypto, he often thought about how he should live and what life was all about.
It was as if his former life of scrimping and saving every penny had lost its meaning.
He had traveled to find himself, and now he was even running a business in the U.S.
He wondered if, had he stayed in Korea, he might have started a serious relationship with Jo Soo-ah.
To love, and to be loved.
Wouldn't he have been able to experience the happiness of starting a family, having and raising children?
And then, a thought came to mind.
'They say you should run away when you start feeling like this...'