As soon as I stepped outside, I called Senior Sang-yeop.
[What happened?]
“They said they’d think about it.”
[If they beco a full professor at Korea University, they’re among the top 1% of professors. Would they really leave that position?]
“I think they would.”
The higher soone is, the more they tend to avoid risks.
Professors enjoy social status, financial stability, and guaranteed prestige. That’s why so many strive to beco professors.
However, Professor Kim Ho-min, whom I t, felt more like a scientist than a typical professor. A scientist would likely be tempted by an offer that allows uninterrupted focus on research and developnt.
[But why Professor Kim? There are many others if you look around.]
“He’s the most suitable. Who knows? He might succeed in research and later win a Nobel Prize.”
My comnt seed like a joke, and Senior Sang-yeop burst out laughing.
[Ha ha, wouldn’t it be faster for you to win the Nobel Prize in Economics?]
“Co on, what would I have to do with a Nobel in Economics?”
Strictly speaking, the Nobel Prize in Economics isn’t a Nobel Prize. It was established by the Swedish central bank in honor of Alfred Nobel, with the selection of winners and prize money handled by the bank, not the Nobel Foundation.
Still, it’s the most prestigious award in the field of economics, and most economists dream of receiving it. Actual recipients are globally renowned scholars like Milton Friedman, Paul Krugman, and Angus Deaton.
Of course, one doesn’t receive this award rely for making money through smart investnts; significant contributions to economics are required.
[At least one thing is clear: the rumors are clean. No embezzling research funds or abusing graduate students.]
Being a great scientist doesn’t automatically an one is a great person.
So professors embezzle research funds or misappropriate grants, exploiting their students for cheap labor or treating them like slaves.
In universities, professors hold absolute power, making it difficult for anyone to protest these practices when they occur.
Anyway, since academia is what it is, if you happen to annoy your advisor, you might find it hard to establish yourself for life. On top of that, n also have military obligations to deal with.
Professor Kim Ho-min is at least clean regarding such issues. He takes good care of his research students and actively helps them with papers and job placents.
Nonetheless, the situation for the research students isn’t great. There’s plenty of work, but their salaries are barely at the minimum living wage. If the university cuts research funding, they’ll have to worry about making ends et imdiately.
I proposed to set up a research institute, hire all of them, and give them the best treatnt. If Professor Kim Ho-min feels responsible for them, he will have no choice but to accept my proposal.
“Please start looking for a building for the institute right away.”
[Already?]
“There’s no harm in being prepared in advance.”
[Got it. I’ll get on it imdiately.]
Sunbae Sang-yeop didn’t ask any more questions and hung up.
Now all I have to do is wait for a response?
Instead of going back to the office, I took a mont to stroll around the campus. Since it was lunchti, students were gathering in groups and heading to the cafeteria.
I saw so upperclassn and fresh-faced freshn who still showed signs of being high school students.
With the sester just starting, their faces seed full of expectations and excitent about college life.
There was a ti when I also had such youthful days.
…Thinking about that makes feel strangely old.
If I hadn’t jumped into this line of work, I would probably still be preparing for a job while attending school, right?
That thought gives a mixed feeling. I slightly long to return to being a student.
I wonder what the kids are up to.
Since then, I’ve lost all contact with my peers. It’s been so long since I’ve seen Min-young and Kyeongil.
For now, I headed toward the Business Administration building.
I wonder if Yuri ca to school today.
I was about to contact soone when suddenly my phone rang. To my surprise, it was Yuri.
“Uh, Yuri.”
Yuri spoke hurriedly.
[Senpai, did you co to school?]
“Yeah. How did you know?”
[Where are you now?]
“I’m on my way to the business school building. I’m almost there.”
At that, Yuri shouted.
[You can’t co!]
“Why not?”
[Since the rumor spread that you’re here, all classes have been suspended, and students are gathering here. If you co, you won’t be able to get away.]
I was taken aback by what she said.
“What?”
I had only told Professor Kim Myoung-jun, thinking it wouldn’t cause any complicated issues. I couldn’t believe the departnt head would spread rumors.
“Who spread the rumor?”
[It was Hye-mi.]
“Huh? Lee Hye-mi?”
Why is she involved in this?
[She said she saw you coming out after eting the departnt head.]
“……”
Honestly, she’s of no help in my life whatsoever.
I quickly ducked my head and turned my body. I needed to get out of this situation fast.
At that mont, soone grabbed my arm. Startled, I turned to see Yuri standing there with her phone in hand.
Yuri smiled brightly and said,
“There you are, Senpai.”
“Ugh. You startled .”
“It’s been a while.”
She had her blond hair in a ponytail, wearing a white turtleneck and a tiered skirt that ca to her knees. She still looked cute and lively.
Yuri playfully scolded ,
“Why didn’t you let know you were coming to school?”
“I was actually about to contact you when my phone rang.”
“Really?”
The last ti we t, she was a first-year student, and now she had beco a third-year. Ti certainly flies.
At that mont, a group of students passed by us.
“What’s going on?”
“Jin-hu Kang is at school!”
“Really? The Jin-hu Kang from the business departnt?”
“Yeah. The CEO of Otaku Company.”
“Don’t you an OTK Company?”
“No way! Let’s go check it out!”
“……”
Is my popularity at this level?
Anyone would think a Hollywood star had arrived.
In truth, it was more about curiosity than popularity. People probably just wanted to see what Kang Jin-hu looked like.
Yuri grabbed my hand and pulled along.
“If we get caught, it’ll be a big problem. Let’s hurry and escape.”
We quickly made our way to the parking lot.
I climbed into the driver’s seat, and Yuri naturally got into the passenger seat.
“So, we’re going straight to the company, right?”
“Huh?”
“You said you’d show around the company before.”
“…….”
Did I say that?
“What about your classes?”
“They’re all finished.”
“Really?”
Yuri subtly avoided my gaze.
“Of course.”
“…….”
I felt like she was skipping out on class.
“Alright, driver Kang. Let’s get going.”
“Got it.”
I started the car.
***
During the drive to the company, Yuri shared various stories about school.
“Min-young senior got a job at a defense company. Kyeongil senior went to KATUSA.”
“I guess both of them will have a tough ti for a while.”
But speaking as soone who’s been discharged as a Sergeant, it’s a hundred tis better than just going to the military.
“Do you know Hye-mi senior talks a lot about seniors to the juniors? The freshn all think there was sothing going on between the two of them.”
“……”
Can’t this be considered defamation due to false rumor spreading?
“She said she hasn’t graduated yet?”
“She has a lot of credit issues, so she has to stay until this year. She’s confident she’ll get into OTK Company after graduation.”
What’s that about?
“Oh! Seon-ah senior graduated and got a job at GH Construction.”
“Really?”
From the looks of it, they seem to still be seeing each other well.
“I want to graduate and get a job quickly, too. If things go well, I think I can graduate early after just attending until next sester.”
I was quite surprised by that.
“Guess you’ve managed your grades surprisingly well.”
“Surprisingly? There’s no student who works as hard as I do. Please take good care of when I apply for jobs later, CEO.”
“……”
Is she really thinking of coming to OTK Company?
Yuri casually added, “Dad and Uncle Cheol-gyun said they wanted to have a drink with you.”
“That would be an honor.”
“Can I join, too?”
“Isn’t it fine if it’s not a business place?”
“Hehe, since you allowed it, I guess I should talk to Dad. But what brings you to school?”
“I just wanted to see the departnt head for the first ti in a while…”
Since I would find out later anyway, I spoke frankly.
“I’m thinking of establishing a battery research institute and trying to bring a professor from the Chemistry departnt as the head of the institute.”
“Oh, so that’s why you’re here to persuade them in person?”
“Sothing like that.”
“You’re taking on quite a lot—acquiring a car company, setting up a battery factory, and now a research institute. Isn’t that a bit too much?”
“You’re right about that.”
At first, I only invested in CarOS, but sohow I’ve been expanding my reach throughout the automotive industry.
I wonder what kind of outco this will yield?
“But with basic science research, doesn’t it take quite a while to comrcialize it?”
Technology or patents don’t generate money on their own. To comrcialize them, countless experints and trials are necessary.
Sotis there are failures in this process, or better technologies may erge in the anti.
“I’m investing with a long-term perspective.”
If it happens quickly, great; if it takes longer, well, I’d still be able to get research results worth a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. There’s no risk in investing.
“I think the governnt has decided to push for hydrogen cars.”
Thanks to a direct directive from the President, the hydrogen car developnt plan is progressing steadily. Local governnts have already started selecting sites for charging stations, and the authorities signed a contract to purchase 300 hydrogen cars.
Currently, the only hydrogen car released in Korea is the Eunsung Motor’s PotenHY, so naturally, PotenHY was the target.
As hydrogen cars begin to surge as future vehicles, related stocks have all shown an upward trend. Eunsung Motor, expected to benefit the most, saw its stock price rise by about 3%.
In contrast, electric vehicle stocks are experiencing weakness, and Seosung SB’s stock price has dropped below 300,000 won again.
If hydrogen cars beco the dominant trend like this, companies that invested in electric vehicles will suffer huge losses. My losses will be significant too.
As I was driving, Yuri was staring at my face from the side.
‘What’s wrong?’
Yuri smiled and replied, ‘Just because.’
***
“It was quick to get to the company.
After parking, I headed straight to the top floor. Yuri was admiring the CEO’s office.
‘Wow! You can see Tehran Street all at once. Senior, you’re working in such a nice place.’
‘Isn’t your father’s office similar?’
The RCK Brothers building is also in Gangnam and about the sa size.
‘Oh, it’s not quite like this. Is Taek-gyu oppa working here with you?’
‘The COO’s office is on a lower floor. The layout is almost identical.’
‘So he’s working downstairs now?’
‘Well…’
I’ve been busy these days, preparing to establish an esports team.
‘Let’s go. I’ll show you around so other places.’
I took Yuri around, showing her various parts of the company. Then, we ran into Senior Gi-hong near the PR departnt.
Senior Gi-hong looked surprised and asked, ‘Oh! Shin Yuri?’
Yuri bowed her head in greeting.
‘Ah! Hello, senior!’
‘What brings you here?’
I chid in to explain for her.
‘She wanted to take a tour of the company.’
Senior Gi-hong nodded with a smile.
‘Hmm, I see. Have a great ti.’
‘…….’
What did that an?
After wrapping up the tour, I asked Yuri.
“Have you not eaten lunch yet?”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s go. I’ll buy you sothing delicious.”
“Okay. I’m hungry, so let’s hurry.”
As we stepped outside the building, I spotted Taek-gyu and Ellie walking in together.
“Hey, Jinhoo! How was school?”
Ellie waved happily at , then looked at Yuri beside .
“Who is this…?”
I stamred a bit and replied, “Ah! This is a junior from school.”
“Oh really?”
Ellie greeted her warmly.
“Nice to et you, I’m Ellie Kim.”
Yuri bowed her head slightly.
“Hello, I’m Shin Yuri.”
The two, who had been smiling and greeting each other, suddenly paused. It seed they were recalling sothing from each other’s nas.
“Isn’t she the foreign student who ca to school with Jinhoo during the break…?”
“The junior who followed you ho…?”
“….”
“….”
A brief mont of silence passed, and then Taek-gyu placed his hand on my shoulder and spoke in a low voice.
“I knew a day like this would co, my friend.”
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