Director Wang Hye-seok
Dojin's resignation was processed in no time.
Manager Park, who had looked after him since he first started working at the factory, tried to dissuade him until the very end, but he couldn't break Dojin's stubborn resolve.
To be precise, he gave up once Dojin mentioned he had already purchased the land through an auction.
Thanks to that, the resignation process went much smoother than expected.
Dojin, who had expected the handover to take anywhere from two weeks to a month, was actually caught off guard by how quickly it was settled.
Still, I'm glad they're letting me stay in the dormitory until the end of the month. Otherwise, I would've been sleeping rough at the school starting tomorrow.
One might wonder how staying at a school counted as sleeping rough, but it truly did.
There was no way a building abandoned for five years would have running water or electricity.
Right now, the school was literally just a block of concrete—not a place fit for human habitation.
If Dojin had been forced to leave the dormitory immediately, he would have had to leave his luggage at the school and live in a motel or inn. He only needed a place to stay until the school's remodeling was finished and the utilities were hooked up.
Exiting the station and following the map sent by the director, Dojin unconsciously let his jaw drop at the sight of his surroundings.
"Oh, is this Gyeongridan-gil?"
Even though he had heard the commercial district had declined significantly compared to its heyday, the street still possessed a unique charm.
It felt like he was in Seoul, yet not in Seoul at the same time.
"Whoa, this is amazing. I guess this is why people tell you to travel and see the world."
Dojin had rarely visited famous places.
While he had been to a few well-known streets in the metropolitan area, that was strictly to shoot videos. His usual radius of activity was limited to the dormitory and the factory.
To someone like him, Gyeongridan-gil was nothing short of a whole new world.
"If I have time left over, should I check out Itaewon too? The map shows it's right nearby."
It was only one subway stop away, so it was well within reach.
But after a moment, Dojin shook his head.
"I don't know what Director Wang is going to say, so I shouldn't make plans for afterward. I'll just come to Itaewon with Dohee next time. Today, I'll meet the director and head straight back."
Though not as extreme as Dojin, Dohee also had very little experience going out.
It was because she had spent her entire school years cooped up at home, constantly walking on eggshells around her family.
Although she had gone out more often with Seungwan after meeting him in college, she still had far fewer outings compared to others her age.
"I'm such a jerk. Instead of taking her out on dates every weekend, I was always too busy sleeping off my exhaustion."
Of course, Dojin had his reasons.
After their marriage, he had to build up their savings while also secretly meeting the financial demands of his in-laws, who constantly harassed him for money behind Dohee's back. This forced him to work overtime and extra shifts as if it were second nature.
What truly broke his heart was that Dohee had never once complained or shown disappointment.
Instead, she had been the most supportive wife anyone could ask for, doing everything she could to keep his spirits high.
*Gulp.*
"Is this the place?"
Looking back and forth between the map the director had sent and his surroundings, Dojin swallowed hard.
"I knew she was rich, but... this is beyond anything I imagined."
No matter where he looked, he couldn't see any other houses.
An entire block was enclosed by a single, massive wall.
The only break in the wall was the giant gate standing right in front of him.
"How is a house gate bigger than a school's main entrance?"
Even looking at it again, it was definitely larger than the gate of Jeong-a Elementary School.
Considering the school's gate easily spanned wider than a two-lane road, this gate was unnecessarily massive for a private residence.
"What is your business here?"
Perhaps because he had been standing in front of the gate for so long, someone from inside the estate inquired about his business.
For Dojin, who had been seriously contemplating whether to just turn back, it was a welcome relief.
"Ah, my name is Baek Dojin. I... I have an appointment to meet the director today. That is, Madame Wang Hye-seok."
Wang Hye-seok was the name of the director of the Dawoom Welfare Foundation, whom Dojin affectionately called "Grandma Wang" in private.
She must have given prior instructions, because the moment Dojin gave his name, the gate swung open and a man walked out from inside.
The man, dressed in a sharp suit, looked to be transitioning from middle age to his senior years.
Yet, the moment Dojin saw him, a strange sense of déjà vu washed over him. It was a face he felt he had seen before.
The man seemed to share the feeling, as he offered a warm smile and spoke slowly.
"Well, if it isn't Dojin. It's been a long time. Do you remember me?"
"...Uncle Jo?"
Dojin had been uncertain just looking at the face, but the moment he heard the man's voice, he realized who it was.
"You do remember. Well, you always did have a good memory since you were a boy."
"What are you doing here, Uncle...? Ah, of course. You've always been by Grandma Wang's side, haven't you?"
"I am merely like Chairman Wang's shadow."
Dojin nodded at the man's words.
The man he remembered had always kept those words on his lips. In fact, he didn't just say it; he lived it.
He had been the vice director at the orphanage, a secretary at the factory, and now, it seemed, he played the role of a butler at the estate.
"Let's go inside. The chairman has been waiting for you for some time."
With those words, the man, Jo Yeong-jin, guided Dojin inside.
Dojin followed closely behind Yeong-jin and spoke up.
"Ah, really? I tried to hurry, but... I got a bit lost since it's my first time here. I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize, it's not even our scheduled time yet. It's just that the chairman seemed very eager to speak with you."
"With me?"
When Dojin pointed a finger at himself, Yeong-jin nodded expressionlessly.
Anyone else might have misread that blank look, but Dojin, having known him for so long, didn't mind. That expression was simply Yeong-jin's default state.
Actually, Uncle Jo is at his most dangerous when he's smiling.
When Yeong-jin was truly enraged, he would smile brightly, like a clown or the Joker.
And when he was in that state, no one could stop him—except for Chairman Wang.
"She was quite pleased to hear that you bought the school grounds. It seems she held that incident closer to her heart than I realized. I should have looked into it sooner. It was my oversight."
Dojin scratched his head as Yeong-jin spoke with genuine regret.
He felt as if he had somehow snatched a gold star of approval from Yeong-jin without meaning to.
He's not going to be jealous of me for this, is he?
It seemed unlikely, but with him, you never knew.
In all other matters, he was so dry and robotic that one might mistake him for an AI. But the moment Chairman Wang was involved, he would throw his very soul into it.
Having resolved a worry of Chairman Wang's right in front of such a man... Dojin felt a bit self-conscious and quickly changed the subject.
"The garden is beautiful. I had no idea a place like this existed right in the middle of Seoul."
He had blurted it out in a hurry, but it was also what he had genuinely thought the moment he saw the garden.
The manicured garden trees, the pristine lawn, and the pond filled with koi fish made it obvious to anyone that an immense amount of effort went into maintaining this space.
If someone walked in without knowing where they were, they could easily mistake it for a K-drama set.
"It is the chairman's favorite place."
At Dojin's remark, Yeong-jin calmly looked around.
Yet, Dojin could sense a subtle trace of pride in his expression.
"Don't tell me you manage this place too, Uncle?"
"Most things that the chairman touches are managed by me."
Dojin was dumbfounded as Yeong-jin slightly lifted his chin while speaking.
Is that really something to be so proud of?
It seemed his excessive loyalty to the director had grown even more intense than Dojin remembered.
Fortunately, the brief conversation seemed to have put him in a better mood, and Yeong-jin maintained his usual blank face until they reached the mansion.
"Chairman, young Dojin has arrived."
"Heul-heul, you've arrived earlier than scheduled. Come over here."
At Yeong-jin's gesture, Dojin stepped past him and walked forward.
He bowed deeply to the elderly woman sitting on a luxurious sofa.
"Director, it's been a long time. I hope you've been well?"
"Heul-heul-heul, what is there to say about the life of an old woman waiting for her time to come? More importantly, come and sit down. I'm too old now, and looking up at you strains my neck."
At the director's gesture, Dojin sat on the sofa opposite her. He naturally looked around the room.
"Heul-heul-heul, what is it? Are you surprised that the living room is so modest? You aren't criticizing my taste, are you?"
Dojin shook his head slightly at the director's playful teasing.
Having known her for so long, he could easily laugh off this level of banter.
"Of course not. It's just that the atmosphere here feels a bit different from the rest of the house."
Taking the opportunity, Dojin began to examine the living room more closely.
The director's words weren't entirely false modesty; the living room they were in was surprisingly cozy. It was roughly the size of a living room in a 1,400-square-foot apartment.
While the sofa and other furnishings were clearly high-end and matched the estate's overall quality, the space itself felt distinct.
I expected something like the chaebol mansions you see in dramas and movies.
Given the scale of the mansion he had seen on his way in, it wouldn't have been surprising if there was a grand hall capable of seating thirty people at once.
"Heul-heul-heul, don't look so puzzled. I had this space built separately. The main living room of this house is so massive that it feels far too empty when I'm alone. Even this room is unnecessarily spacious for just one person."
"Ah..."
So the grand living room from the dramas did exist after all.
Once his curiosity was satisfied, coffee and snacks were placed before Dojin. They were brought in by the housekeepers, and every single item was something Dojin loved to eat.
"I had them prepare the things you used to like, though I don't know if they will suit your taste now."
"These are all my favorites. Thank you, I'll enjoy them."
"Yes, let's eat and talk slowly."
The conversation between Dojin and the director lasted for over two hours.
The director had many questions, not just about his plans for the school grounds but also about Dojin himself, asking in detail and listening carefully to his answers.
Dojin answered honestly, treating her questions with the same respect he would show a parent.
However, even until the very end, she refused to hear the exact amount of money he had found in the principal's office.
"Enough. As I told you over the phone, I don't care how much is in there."
"Still..."
"Heul-heul-heul, can't you tell just by looking at this house? I already have more than enough wealth. Besides, it's far better for someone who truly needs it to use it rather than that wretched son of mine."
"..."
"In exchange, would you do me one favor?"
"A favor?"
"Yes. This favor has nothing to do with that money, so you don't have to feel pressured."
Dojin, quenching his thirst with the rest of his coffee, nodded.
The director told him not to feel pressured, but how could he not?
The money he had saved up in his entire life barely exceeded a hundred million won. Even that was a significant sum compared to most people, but now he was about to receive over eighty times that amount all at once.
Unless it was an utterly unreasonable demand, he was prepared to do whatever she asked.
As Dojin steeled his resolve, the director finally spoke.
"How you run the school grounds is entirely up to you, Dojin. But if possible, I would like you to leave a space where children can rest and play."
"Children?"
"Yes. The reason I built that school there in the first place was because there were no facilities for children nearby. But that good-for-nothing son of mine ruined everything."
"..."
"I know there are no children left in that neighborhood now. Even so, please leave just a small area where any children who happen to visit can play in peace. That is all I ask."
At the director's calm yet earnest plea, Dojin naturally nodded.
She was a woman who had always prioritized children above all else. Having been a beneficiary of her kindness himself, there was no way he could ignore her request.
"Yes, I understand. Leave it to me."
"Heul-heul-heul, yes. I knew you would say that, Dojin. That is why I prepared a small gift for you. Chief Secretary Jo."
"Yes, Chairman."
The moment the director spoke, Yeong-jin brought over a small tray and presented it to Dojin.
"Director? What is this?"
"What else could it be? I just told you, it's a gift."
"No, I've already received more than enough of a gift. The money in the principal's office..."
"Heul-heul-heul, how is that a gift? That was just you picking up trash left behind by the previous owner. If anything, I should be paying you for cleaning up the mess my son left behind. So stop complaining and take it."
"Dojin. This is the chairman's goodwill. If you refuse here, it will only embarrass her."
"Ah..."
Faced with the director's words and Yeong-jin's gentle coercion, Dojin finally accepted the tray.
There were three items on it: a car key, a card wallet, and a box.
Setting the tray down, Dojin picked up the key and spoke.
"Director, a car is too much."
"It's a 1.5-ton truck. As you run the school grounds, you'll have to buy and haul all sorts of things, so it will come in handy."
"Heul-heul-heul, I'm sorry it's not a luxury sedan or a sports car. Are you disappointed?"
"No, it's not that at all... Thank you. I'll put it to good use."
Dojin bowed his head as he slipped the key into his pocket.
While Yeong-jin's intense glare from behind the director was intimidating, he also knew that arguing further would be pointless.
Next, Dojin opened the box.
Inside the fairly large box were items that were quite familiar to him.
"Huh? This is..."
"You said you were going to upload videos, right? I don't know if it's a full-time job or a hobby, but I heard equipment is very important for that sort of thing. Chief Secretary Jo did the research and bought these, so make good use of them."
Listening to the director, Dojin pulled the items out of the box one by one.
Two DSLR cameras, two smartphones for filming, a high-definition webcam, a MacBook, a ring light, a gimbal, a tripod, and even an external microphone.
It was an endless array of equipment that every YouTuber dreamed of having.
"Thank you..."
Dojin's voice trembled slightly as he spoke.
In terms of monetary value, this gift was worth far less than the others. No matter how expensive YouTube equipment was, it couldn't compare to eight billion won in cash or a cargo truck.
Yet, the emotion Dojin felt was far greater. He could feel just how much the director cared for him.
"Heul-heul-heul, why does a grown man look like he's about to cry? The last item, the card wallet, contains the business cards of contractors who can handle the remodeling. Take them and head back now. I've talked so much that I'm feeling rather tired."
"...Yes, I'll contact you again soon."
"Heul-heul-heul, what else are you planning to take from me? Just living a good life is enough. If you're truly grateful, just make sure to take care of my request."
With those parting words, Dojin left the director's estate.
In the end, Dojin couldn't visit Itaewon that day.
Although he had arrived on foot, he had to drive back in the truck the director had gifted him.