The Famous Millionaire

Hyunwoo had another good candidate in mind. Someone with real experience in dealing with trading: customs official.

Of course, there was little possibility that such an official would give up his or her stable job to switch to Hyunwoo’s company.

Next, Hyunwoo thought of a licensed customs agent.

Maybe he could hire someone from that field. He’d heard there were so many licensed customs agents these days that lots of them were struggling to find a job.

In particular, he could hire a married woman with that license as a part-timer.

If I contact the customs office, can I find a licensed customs official looking for a job? As it’s too late, let me call them tomorrow, Hyunwoo thought.

He ordered food to eat with the staff and watched the news hour of Korea Broadcasting that featured Tohyok Kim’s interview.

Many reporters were covering his press conference. Seoul Broadcasting’s recent program Dream Korea team had heightened the attention of the press.

Tohyok’s face was hardened with lots of tension.

As he was supposed to read from the readout he had prepared in advance, his press conference went well.

The purpose of the conference was to explain the dream of KOVE DREAM without blaming Dream Korea as Hyunwoo requested.

<I don’t want to judge which side is true or false. The KOVE DREAM team and the Dream Korea team are Korean compatriots working hard for the success of our companies in Vietnam.

The only thing worth your attention is that the KOVE DREAM team set the bar a bit higher for technology based on the experience of the Castor Dream team that I created.

That was an inevitable decision as we needed the public to recognize that they could trust the products of the KOVE DREAM team.

Our goal is to include all the local Korean companies in Vietnam in the long run. That way we can enhance the technology of all the Korean companies in Vietnam, but we need more technicians to achieve the goal.

To those who want to join us, Vietnam is the land of opportunity. If your skilled technicians come to Vietnam, we, KOVE DREAM, will actively help you resettle. We have already secured the funds for that purpose.

You still have an opportunity to come back, so don’t hesitate. Try to achieve your new dream. We’ll help you realize that dream.>

Tohyok read the press release calmly. As soon as he was done, several reporters asked questions, all focusing on which side was genuine.

Tohyok replied as Hyunwoo requested, “There are no fakes here. Neither the Dream Korea nor the KOVE DREAM team is fake. The only difference is that the condition for the application is different.”

“Dream Korea argued that KOVE DREAM was a fake. What do you make of that?”

Instead of replying, Tohyok looked at the reporter and asked, “It depends on what is the standard that tells lies from the truth.”

“Don’t you think the thing is which team represents Vietnam?” asked another reporter.

“Well, that’s not a question I can answer. The consumers who have used the products of the Dream team or KOVE DREAM team will judge.”

At that moment, Tohyok suddenly stopped speaking, and then resumed, “Well, it was about two years ago that I went to Vietnam to form the Castor dream team and created the success story of that team. That’s all I want to say today.”

Some other reporters also threw questions at him, but there was nothing particular.

Watching the press conference, Hyunwoo smiled in satisfaction.

He did quite a good job.

***

Hyunwoo went to the office of Ani & Funny.

Though it was the weekend, most of the staff came to work.

Everybody was busy taking care of their specialized assignments.

Jihoon Kang exchanged opinions with Jungah and Myonghun on developing new characters, and Sanggyu focused on working out the storyboard with Yujong Suh, whom he had an eye for. The rest of the staff produced sample videos of the major facial expressions or movements of the animated characters.

The length of the videos ranged from 20 seconds to 40 seconds, so they quickly proceeded with the production.

As soon as the sample videos and the storyboard of Garbage World were completed, they were sent to VPictures in Vietnam.

Hyunwoo smiled in satisfaction, “Let’s pick up Jinhon for a business trip to Seoul.”

“Take care, sir.”

He headed for the alternative school where Jinhon was waiting for him.

Arriving there, Hyunwoo was surprised to see more than ten students gathered.

“What the heck? Who are all these guys?”

Scratching his head, Jinho said, “I couldn’t refuse their earnest request to come with you. Jinyoung is such a famous musician with great musical talent.”

With an embarrassed expression, Hyunwoo looked at his friends.

“Please take us, too. Please.”

But it was not something he could decide.

“This is not your best manners to Mr. Paek.”

“Can you call him in advance for his approval?”

Hyunwoo couldn’t refuse it, so he called Jinyoung.

“No problem. I don’t have any reason to avoid them. Bring them all, but it’s your responsibility to take care of them while they’re here,” said Jinyoung.

“Hahaha. Got it. We’re heading for Seoul now.”

Jinyoung Paek was originally the representative of JYP, one of Korea’s best entertainment companies. The company was powerful and famous enough to have branches in Korea, the United States, Japan, and China.

Despite his prominence in the past, he was in a miserable position now due to enormous amounts of debt. He had no building nor house under his name, so he had to live in his younger brother’s house, but the students’ highly respected Jinyoung. They got excited, saying they could visit Korea Broadcasting thanks to him.

They arrived at the appointed place 30 minutes early.

Strange enough, Jinyoung didn’t appear. They waited ten minutes longer, but he didn’t come.

Hyunwoo looked at his cell phone.

“What’s wrong with him? Can I call him?”

But he decided to wait a bit longer because Jinyoung could come late due to his tight shooting schedule.

In the meantime, Jinyoung was at a nearby location. He wanted to rush to the appointment place but couldn’t.

He was given a severe rebuke by Taesu Ahn, the president of AT Entertainment.

“Hey, Mr. Paek. I hear you are slandering me behind my back these days.”

Taesu was one year older than him, and he insisted on being treated as his senior.

Reluctantly, Jinyoung treated him as his senior. As AT entertainment had such a big influence in the field, he had to curry favor with Taesu to survive.

That’s why Jinyoung was stunned to hear Taesu mention ‘slandering’ of him.

“What? Slandering you behind your back? How? That’s just groundless rumor,” denied Jinyoung, flustered by Taesu’s sudden attack.

“You are treating me with contempt, aren’t you? Didn’t you talk about me behind my back to somebody who was close to Nami Yu, right? You called me a virgin killer or womanizer. I heard it from a very informed source.”

At that moment, Jinyoung’s face turned pale. Actually, he mentioned it secretly when he was with Hyunwoo alone. How could it have reached his ears?

Jinyoung had to deny that unconditionally.

“I guess there was some misunderstanding. I am not a person like that. How can I dare talk about me behind my back you, brother?”

But Taesu was mocking him as if he knew Jinyoung was lying.

“Do you want me to name the person you talked with? Hyunwoo Jang. President of Ani & Funny, N&C Korea and KOVE DREAM. Are you going to make an excuse even now?”

Jinyoung was at a loss on how to respond, but he had to deny it thoroughly to survive.

“I just don’t know what you’re trying to say. I know Hyunwoo, but I have never slandered you when I met him. Please trust me. Do you think I’m such a fool to do so?”

When Jinyoung tried his best to show he was not lying, Taesu didn’t blame him anymore.

“As you know, the most dreadful thing in the world is your three-inch-long tongue. You had better not do anything that can cut your throat, okay?”

“Of course, brother. I won’t”

Taesu gave him a sharp warning with a cynical smile and disappeared.

Suddenly, Jinyoung thought of Hyunwoo.

Come to think of it, he became convinced that it must be Hyunwoo who tipped Taesu off on that.

Jinyoung’s face was distorted and muttering to himself,

What a bastard! I can’t tolerate him anymore. I’ve really treated him well so far.