Chapter 16
Chapter 16
7:30 PM, see you at the café next to Marchel in Itaewon.
What is she up to?
After finishing two meetings and returning to the office, Jeong Jin-woo received a message from Choi Ji-eun.
“Team Leader, you worked hard today. I’ll buy the beers—let’s go.”
“How am I supposed to say no? I want the beer, but I already have plans tonight.”
“Plans? What plans? Meeting a girl?”
He almost said, “Meeting a client representative,” but stopped at the last second.
“That’s personal territory, you know.”
“Personal territory? Ah… I overstepped. How dare a lowly junior meddle in the team leader’s private affairs. My apologies.”
“Fine. That’s enough.”
“Really… you’re okay with that?”
“You made a joke, so I took it as a joke. Why?”
Having recently been her mentor, Jeong Jin-woo found teasing Ji-jung amusing.
“Ah, never mind. I just thought you worked hard for someone of your age, so I wanted to buy a drink.”
“What did you say? ‘For someone of my age’? How old are you, Deputy Ji-jung?”
“I’m a sprightly twenty-six. In the prime of my twenties, at the height of my bloom.”
“Yes, must be nice to be young. Old folks like me are just finishing contracts today.”
“You had business?”
Startled, Ji-jung asked.
“Yes, a few matters to handle.”
Jin-woo packed his things and stood up.
“If it’s work, you should’ve said beforehand. I’ll treat you to a drink when you’re free.”
“You young people enjoy it. What fun is there for an old guy?”
“Ah! Our team leader is sulking. I’ll call you young then.”
“Alright.”
Not a bit of offense taken. Whether twenty-six or thirty, it was all the same. You only realize that after the fact. Experiences feel long in the moment, but pass in a flash.
“What’s this?”
Seeing Choi Ji-eun enter the café, Jeong Jin-woo was surprised.
Her suit fit perfectly but looked more upscale than earlier, and the blouse had changed from cotton to silk. She gave a satisfied smile, as if she had scanned him too.
“That’s good enough. Let’s go.”
“Ah, yes!”
“Take this envelope first, 200,000 won. It proves this is a personal favor, so just take it.”
“It doesn’t feel like a task worth money.”
“It would feel weirder without it. We just met, so it looks like I asked and you did me a favor.”
Fair enough. If she had no one else, why ask a stranger for such a thing?
“There’s a role-play kind of job, but I thought you’d be suitable.”
“Understood.”
He took the envelope to avoid prolonging the conversation.
“Here’s the scenario. You, Jeong Jin-woo, are a successful IT company team leader. You’ve been seeing me for six months, and we’ve reached the stage of kissing.”
“That makes no sense… six months and only kissing?”
“Why not? When something is precious and treasured, it can be slow.”
“Even with my ex, it didn’t go past kissing.”
Snap!
Choi Ji-eun stopped in her tracks and glared at him.
“I get it. Five years together, and that’s all… what a man…”
“Stop pretending to be close!”
Suddenly, she linked her arm with his.
“Why now?”
“Pretend we’re close. Front 11 o’clock! Appeared!”
11 o’clock? Military training?
Ji-eun tugged him urgently toward the direction she indicated.
“Ji, Ji-eun!”
A man stood there: short, stocky, with sharp, narrow eyes. Next to him, a lively woman in a miniskirt looked at them seductively.
“Oh! Hi! The new girlfriend? Take good care! Fighting!”
Ji-eun clenched her fist and walked toward Marchel’s large garden gate.
Jeong Jin-woo glanced back: the man glared at him.
He began to understand the nature of this gathering.
These were not ordinary people. Some he had seen on TV. Celebrities, idols—it was a party for the wealthy and famous.
“When did you and Ji-eun meet?”
“Ah! Six months ago… haha…”
“Right after breaking up with Ho-seok? Did her ex, Ho-seok, know you’d be bringing your current boyfriend?”
“Yes, we met in between.”
“Impressive. And you brought the current boyfriend anyway…”
“Success! With her looks, anyone would show off.”
The tricky part was the women at the table, who kept the conversation rolling.
Ji-eun moved around with a champagne glass, greeting everyone, while Jin-woo, brought as her trophy, was left as prey for her friends’ curiosity.
Looking around, he wondered: why bring him? Her ex was nothing impressive—anyone could have been brought along and raised her social standing.
“Right, Jin-woo. Consider this part of work. Work’s tough.”
He mentally reassured himself.
Then:
“Kyah!”
A scream sounded.
“Cha Kyung-woo! Cha Kyung-woo!”
“Kyung-woo’s here? Where?”
Women at the table rushed toward someone resembling a gigolo actor. Better this than being pestered by them.
Jeong Jin-woo calmly scanned the room.
“They’re preparing to acquire Sampoh Chemical, need twenty shares… you in?”
“What? Four percent? That’s less than 10 billion won. Eat and leave…”
“Not investing in the stock you’re working on? Really? I’ll cover fifty shares, is that too small?”
The chatter indicated second- and third-generation chaebol heirs were present.
“Ji-eun’s boyfriend?”
Four men suddenly surrounded Jin-woo.
“Yes, but?”
“But? Short words…”
Her ex and his friends. Were they here to provoke jealousy?
“Want respect? First, show respect…”
“Oh, sorry. He’s hot-headed… Ham Ho-seok! Cut it! Nice to meet you, I’m Lee Jin-ho.”
“Jeong Jin-woo. Nice to meet you.”
Jin-woo shook hands with a familiar face: Lee Jin-ho, heir to the Saengsong conglomerate.
“Seongjin Song, challenger.”
“Kyung-dam Park, Yuseong GNR.”
The ex sat down without introduction.
“Unfamiliar face. Which company?”
“Uh?”
“What do you do?”
“Just a small IT company…”
“You run it? Where?”
“No, I’m an employee.”
“Oh… I see. Haha.”
“My title is—”
“Team leader.”
“Team leader?”
Everyone’s expression changed in surprise. To be fair, Jin-woo wasn’t exactly the ideal team leader, but he didn’t want to say just “employee.”
The gaze of everyone froze—except Lee Jin-ho, who still looked curious.
“I thought so. Just bringing some random guy as a boyfriend?”
“Ho-seok, that’s rude. Be polite to a stranger.”
Lee Jin-ho intervened, but Ham Ho-seok continued.
“Look at that broken watch on his wrist. The Rolex logo’s crooked. Not even real. Wanted to look fancy.”
He flicked his left wrist, revealing a large gold watch.
“This is how luxury watches are. Patek Philippe… you’ve heard of it?”
Jeong Jin-woo tucked his watch inside his sleeve. It wasn’t a trinket for these clowns—it was the only heirloom from his father.
“Hahaha… why hide it? Embarrassed?”
Ham Ho-seok mocked him, and the others laughed at the “pretentious commoner.”
“Some insignificant guy trying to insert himself here? What’s Ji-eun thinking? Unbelievable…”
“Um… may I see that watch again?”
Lee Jin-ho politely asked Jin-woo.
“What? Why bother with a broken fake?”
“Quiet! Could I see the watch again?”
Lee Jin-ho gave Ham Ho-seok a warning, then asked again with respect. Did he know its value?
Jin-woo hesitated, then rolled up his sleeve slightly.
“Ah, of course…”
Lee Jin-ho inspected it and nodded knowingly.
“Would you… consider selling it?”
“Sorry, it’s not for sale.”
“I can match any price in cash, no matter the amount.”
“It’s my father’s heirloom… I can’t sell it.”
“Oh! My apologies for asking.”
Lee Jin-ho’s respectful manner softened the earlier discomfort from Ham Ho-seok.
“Um… you’re Jeong Jin-woo, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’d like to get to know you better… may I have your contact?”
“Hey, Jin-ho!”
“Lee Jin-ho!”
The heir to Saengsong, admired by all. But Jin-woo was impressed by his dignity and manners.
“Here’s my card.”
He handed it to Lee Jin-ho.
“Oh! I don’t have cards… I’ll text you my number right away.”
“That’s fine.”
“Let’s meet again soon.”
“Sure.”
“Enjoy the rest of your evening. Well then…”
As Lee Jin-ho stood, everyone followed.
A little distance apart, Seongjin Song asked curiously:
“Why are you like that with a stranger?”
“Today, Jin-ho seems a little unfamiliar.”
“What did I do?”
“Hey! Watch out, Jin-ho! Trying to buy a broken watch. What’s the point of dating a salaryman?”
Ham Ho-seok stopped in his tracks.
“What? A broken watch? Pfft.”
Lee Jin-ho chuckled at him.
“Talking to you fools is useless… Ham Ho-seok! What’s the market cap of your company, Dae-ban C&C?”
“Why suddenly? Maybe over 1 trillion now?”
Lee Jin-ho smiled and whispered:
“Your challenger company?”
“About 500 billion?”
“Yuseong GNR?”
“Half after a failed venture, maybe 300 billion?”
Listening, Lee Jin-ho nodded subtly.
“That watch? You couldn’t buy it even if you sold all three of your companies… pathetic nouveau riche.”
“What?”
“What are you saying?”
The three bristled, but Lee Jin-ho just chuckled and led the way, leaving the others staring at his back.
“Unbelievable… seeing that watch here…”
The heir of heirs, said to possess a quarter of Korea’s wealth, shook his head, muttering.