Having Fun is the Best (2)
......
She wore an expression of pure disbelief. But I had seen it clearly. It was real.
"When you accept the contract, a rebellion will break out inside Iran."
A civil war would follow, and as a result, they wouldn't even receive the construction payment.
"While the company is already reeling from cleaning up the current mess, the Iran situation on top of that will shake it even harder."
And then Saseong's rival, Daehan Construction, would seize that opening to nibble away at Saseong's territory.
"Then... what direction should we take?"
"I don't know that part either."
I had only seen the future, after all. How a faltering Saseong might survive wasn't visible to me.
"What if I step down from the chairman position and hand it over to Yu-na?"
"That doesn't seem like a wise choice either..."
I could see the future where Han Yu-na inherited the Saseong chairmanship. A young female chairman. She lacked the stellar track record of Chairman Han Jun-ho and hadn't studied construction overseas like his son.
A successor whose only interest had been hotel management would suddenly lead a construction firm. That would breed anxiety among the shareholders, and eventually Saseong Construction—the group's very foundation—would crumble.
"So in the end, I have to stay put."
"Yes. That would be the best option."
"Haa."
Chairman Han Jun-ho let out a heavy sigh at the news that there was no immediate fix. Still, dodging even one landmine was a victory in itself.
"Chairman."
I fiddled with the cards in my hands.
"Something I've learned while reading fortunes is that the future isn't set in stone."
The future could change in countless ways. All I could do was offer a slightly better path forward.
"In other words, there are plenty of opportunities left."
"...Huh. For someone so young, you certainly have a way with words."
"I have to be good at talking at least."
It's the only thing I know how to do, after all.
Chairman Han Jun-ho smiled faintly.
"Thanks to you, my worries have lightened a little. In any case, it sounds like we should stay away from the Iran bid."
"Yes."
"Hmm... Then if we pass, does that mean Daehan Construction will take it?"
"I'm not sure."
It wasn't as if only Korean companies were competing for the project. Unless the Iranian official in charge showed up, once the chairman decided to abandon it, even I couldn't see that particular future.
"I see. Haha. My goodness. I've kept a valuable guest here only to ask questions and haven't entertained you properly at all."
He rang a small bell, and soon a new wave of dishes arrived. They were similar to the previous ones. The stir-fried spicy pork and boiled pork had both been completely wiped out.
"You really do eat well."
"Haha. Thank you. The food here is genuinely delicious."
"Now that I think about it... you mentioned you're an outside director at Sejin Trade, correct?"
"Yes."
"If you'd like, I can arrange a position for you at Saseong."
"An outside director?"
"That's right. Think of it as an advisory role."
I would simply offer counsel beside Chairman Han Jun-ho. No need to commute to an office—just pick up the phone and give answers when he called.
"I'm thinking of an annual salary around this amount."
Oh... It was higher than what President Hong offered. The performance bonus looked pretty attractive too.
"The Sejin side signed the contract on the condition that they wouldn't interfere with my personal activities."
"Your activities..."
"I don't like living with my hands tied."
I had no interest in any contract clause that said I could only read fortunes for people the chairman approved. Honestly, the broadcasting work was pretty entertaining too. If I saw a future where I could save lives, I would choose that path.
"Hmm."
Maybe my answer didn't sit well with him. He pondered for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"Let's do that, then."
"Good. We'll draw up the contract."
"Thank you, Advisor Kang."
"Not at all. It feels more like you're the one taking good care of me."
"Thanks to you I was able to protect the company, so this is only natural. By the way..."
His gaze shifted to Han Yu-na.
"What exactly is your relationship with our Yu-na?"
"Just a broker?"
"Is that all it is?"
What more did he want? We had barely even met in person.
"I'm thinking of routing all my future requests through Yu-na... so I'd like you to meet the people I introduce together with her."
I glanced at Han Yu-na. The beautiful woman kept her stoic face as she quietly chewed on some vegetables.
"Isn't Ms. Han Yu-na busy?"
"Yes. It's about time I finished my successor training. I've already submitted my resignation at the hotel."
She was moving into full-scale hotel management. She would enter the five-star hotel operated by Saseong and properly take on the role of president.
"Your experience so far will be recognized, of course."
"I see. Congratulations."
"It's all thanks to you, Advisor Kang."
If I hadn't warned her, she would have been eliminated from the successor race.
"Managing a hotel while studying the construction industry will keep you very busy."
"Yes. For the construction side during that period... it seems my uncle will take charge."
A professional manager who had built the company from the ground up alongside Chairman Han Jun-ho. The plan was to call the man out of retirement and hand him Saseong Construction.
"Since Father is still healthy... we'll have to proceed that way for now."
"With a schedule that packed, are you sure you'll manage?"
Han Yu-na's eyes curved into gentle arcs.
"Of course."
The meal ended. Chairman Han Jun-ho, pleasantly drunk, climbed into the car.
"I'll escort you home."
"Shouldn't you ride with the chairman?"
"The secretary will take good care of him."
When I gave a slight nod, the middle-aged secretary slid into the vehicle. The car carrying Chairman Han Jun-ho pulled away.
She watched it disappear, then got into her own car.
"Get in."
"Yep."
We drove home in her sports car. I couldn't speak to the ride quality, but the seating was genuinely awful. I hadn't been sitting long, yet my back already ached.
"Advisor Kang."
"Just call me Kang Noah."
"Yes. Noah."
She stepped out of the car. Wasn't she leaving?
"Would you like to get a drink?"
"All of a sudden?"
"I didn't drink because I was driving you home, Noah."
"Hmm..."
Well, sure. It's not like I couldn't handle one or two glasses.
So the two of us ended up at a neighborhood pub. After ordering two beers and a plate of chicken, I was staring blankly at the TV when she spoke.
"Noah."
"Yes?"
"By any chance... are you interested in dating or marriage?"
"Interest...? Sure, I have some."
"What do you think of me?"
Facing her stiff expression, I looked into Han Yu-na's future. There was no man in it.
"Don't you have any thoughts about marriage?"
"...As expected, I can't hide anything from you, Noah."
She gave a bitter smile and nodded.
Her past and future. As far as I knew, there was no man living happily beside her in either.
"Yes. Ever since I was young... I've never understood the emotion called love. To be honest, I'm fairly attractive. I also come from a good family. So I've received plenty of confessions."
But none of them had ever shaken her heart. No matter how handsome, no matter how kind—they were simply seen as people.
"I'm not asking you to love me. If you want, you can take me as your mistress."
"Then why make this kind of proposal?"
"I simply want to deepen my relationship with you, Noah."
The ability I possessed to see the past and future was practically essential for running a massive organization like a company. Of course she had signed a contract with Saseong, but it seemed that alone wasn't enough to put her mind at ease.
"The only thing I desire is to build an outstanding corporation."
She was completely sincere. There wasn't a trace of falsehood. That was exactly why it felt so tragic.
"Is running a company that enjoyable for you?"
"Because there's nothing else I know how to do."
"Have you ever properly played before?"
"......"
Han Yu-na stared at me in silence. Then she lowered her head slightly.
"...Embarrassingly, no."
The gifted Han Yu-na had spent her entire life studying and working. To her, playing was a luxury—something beyond even that.
"Even if it's only occasionally, wouldn't it be good to go out and have fun with friends? You've already resigned from the hotel, so you should have the time. A string pulled too tight is bound to snap, isn't it?"
"...Embarrassingly, I don't have any friends."
Oops. Even though I'd seen her past, the words had slipped out.
"Then would you like to play with me?"
"With you, Noah?"
"Yes. I can't promise I'll show you an incredibly fun time, though."
"Hmm..."
As she toyed with her beer glass, a faint smile touched her lips.
"I'd be grateful if you would."
The first time she brought home a perfect score, her father smiled. As expected of my daughter. That must have been the beginning. The moment Han Yu-na turned her back on everything else and devoted herself solely to studying.
The harder she studied, the better the results she produced, the more her father liked it. Was that all? Other adults also favored Han Yu-na, who studied diligently and performed well on tests. She liked that feeling. She believed it was the only way to earn recognition.
Mingling with peers was difficult. Adults would acknowledge and like her as long as she studied well and behaved. But her classmates were different. To them, studying was merely a side note. Earning their approval through grades alone, living among them, felt impossibly hard.
She never even knew what to talk about. She once bravely repeated a funny joke she'd heard from adults, only to be met with looks that asked why she was telling such a story.
At least her pretty face earned her attention from a few boys. But even that didn't last. They drifted away once they realized they couldn't understand her.
So she was alone. Always, from a young age.
Seeing this, her father, Han Jun-ho, declared that the other children simply didn't know any better. They weren't studying properly, he said, and sent her to a better school.
The children there were different. They studied constantly, just like her. Yet even then, understanding them remained difficult.
That was Han Yu-na's school life.
Only studying and producing results felt rewarding. Of course the adults praised her every time, but her peers never did. To them, she was nothing more than a formidable rival.
It was even worse in the prestigious middle and high schools she attended—places where grades decided everything. That was why she remained isolated throughout her entire school years. Never understanding anyone. Never understood by anyone.
And so she became an adult.
Han Yu-na's past was difficult to call enjoyable even in the most generous terms. She had no friends. No one to spend time with. It had been that way during her school years, but it grew even worse after she became an adult.
As a student she had simply been an admirable child, but once she entered society she became a competitor.
The adults who once praised her began to keep her at arm's length. Eventually, even in the workplace, people grew wary of her constant results.
That's why she ended up alone.
If that was the case...
"Whatever. We can just play together and fix it."
After all, having fun is the best thing in the world.
So I took her with me.
"...Where are we?"
She asked with clear reluctance. I smiled at her.
"A trampoline park. I used to have a blast on these when I was a kid."
"But I'm an adult."
"Adults can have fun too."
It's seriously fun, I tell you.