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Just as Kang Chan was feeling down about fighting against gangsters, his phone began vibrating.
Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—. Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—. Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—.
Kang Chan held up his phone, but the call was from an unknown number.
“Hello?”
- Mr. Kang Chan, it’s Kim Hyung-Jung.
“Ah, yes.”
- Did you decide to meet Ambassador Lanok tomorrow?
“Yes. He said he’s going to let me know the time and location as soon as he arrives in South Korea.”
- Would you be able to give us some of your time as well after you meet with him, Mr. Kang Chan?
Kang Chan tilted his head, but he had already decided to do it. They said it was an urgent national-level matter, so there was nothing that cumbersome about giving them some of his time in the evening.
“Alright. Should I contact you through this phone number once I’m done talking to Lanok?”
- Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan.
Kim Hyung-Jung sounded relieved, almost as if he had just achieved a big wish.
- Also, I got promoted thanks to you.
Kang Chan ended up laughing out loud. Why would the National Intelligence Service give a promotion just because he handed a card to a high schooler?
- Now that I’ve become the manager, please don’t hesitate to call me immediately if there’s something bothering you or if you need anything.
“Mr. Manager.”
- Yes, Mr. Kang Chan.
Kang Chan sounded quieter, which seemed to have made Kim Hyung-Jung nervous.
“President Kim Tae-Jin is working with someone that he trusts without regrets. You’re someone like that to me. Now that I've decided to do this, let's give it our all and handle this like equals.. So please stop treating me so formally.”
Kang Chan heard the sound of his breathing over the phone, which sounded like a groan.
- Kim Tae-Jin told me that if I want to work with you, I should prioritize taking care of those that you value over trivial conditions. I understand. I’ll try my best for South Korea and not disappoint my friend who trusts me. Thank you, Mr. Kang Chan.
When the call ended, Kang Chan heard someone knocking on the door.
“Yes?”
Michelle came into the room.
“Everyone, including the trainees, has all come down to the lobby. They said they have something to tell you.”
His office was too narrow for everyone to come in.
Kang Chan nodded, then went out of the room after Michelle.
“Thank you, Mr. President!” The employees and trainees greeted him all at the same time the moment they saw him.
Kang Chan smiled brightly.
It was childish and cheesy, but this was their own way of expressing their feelings.
He hoped these trainees and employees would succeed.
“Is that what you guys wanted to say?” asked Kang Chan.
Michelle could now smile without trouble.
“Honestly, the programming for the drama had finished. Everyone is extremely happy, but they’re also afraid. I came down with them because they said they feel reassured when they’re with you during times like this.”
Since they were women, the earlier scuffle could have been their first time witnessing someone fight like him.
“Let’s sit down. Having a company dinner today isn’t a good idea, so how about we buy and eat snacks instead?” Kang Chan asked everyone.
Michelle nodded satisfactorily, and the two road managers quickly went outside.
They brought the chair at the table and all of the chairs in the conference room into the lobby then sat in a circle.
“Are all of our trainees appearing in the drama?” asked Kang Chan.
“Of course, sir! There’s a difference in screen time, but everyone is starring in more than three episodes, and all of them even have lines,” Michelle answered.
Kang Chan smiled again after seeing excitement flash across the trainees’ faces.
“Casting the male lead won’t be a problem now either since we’ve finalized the programming. Director Pyo also said there’s an actor that he wants to recommend,” Michelle continued.
When Kang Chan turned his head in the same direction as Michelle’s gaze, he found Eun So-Yeon also looking quite excited..
That was the first time that Eun So-Yeon had looked straight into Kang Chan’s eyes. The look in her eyes showed she was enduring something she was afraid of.
At that moment, the door opened and the two road managers came in with a big plastic bag in each hand. Based on the bags’ size, it looked as if they bought everything from a store.
The trainees all ran to them and spread out the snacks with the employees.
Kang Chan said they should buy and eat snacks as a joke, but when everything had been spread out, there was so much food that it looked as if they actually did buy everything from a snack bar and a bakery.
After preparing coffee, juice, and a few other drinks, they began to eat to their heart’s content. The trainees initially only picked at their food but gradually showed the appetite they had when they were at the Japanese restaurant.
Kang Chan mostly talked with Michelle. By the time he thought everyone had eaten their fill, it was already 4:30 pm.
“Before I go, I have a favor to ask all of you,” Kang Chan said, and all eyes quickly turned to him, almost as if they had been waiting for this exact moment. They seemed to have been looking forward to him saying something to them.
“I don’t know much about drama production, broadcasting, or acting. But let’s not live like cowards just because everyone else does. When you all become famous later and are in a position where everyone looks up to you, then I hope you become a figure people would sincerely congratulate and be jealous of. This isn’t what we mean when we stated in your contract that we won’t cling to you, but if anyone here disagrees with what I just said and wants to work differently, you’re free to leave anytime.”
Some of the trainees even shook their heads at Kang Chan’s words.
“However, while you’re in this company, don’t even consider acting like a coward. Let Michelle know if you’re going through something difficult. In that sense, I’m grateful for Eun So-Yeon and Ji Yeon-Hee. They chose to trust Michelle and the company with this situation.”
Why is that bitch acting like that?
Eun So-Yeon was staring intensely at Kang Chan again.
Kang Chan turned his head toward Michelle.
“Why don’t we have a company dinner before we start filming?” He asked everyone.
“Mr. President! We have to go on a diet from now on. So please have the company dinner after we're done filming the drama!” One of the trainees said that as a joke, and the other kids agreed while clapping their hands.
It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
“That’s right! Let’s do that instead, please!”
Kang Chan and Michelle smiled and responded to them, then got up from their seats.
***
Kang Chan took a taxi home.
‘Taxi fares are no joke.’
Having money in his bank account was one thing, and paying a lot for the taxi fare was another. Still, it wasn’t like there was any other way to get around.
For some strange reason, Kang Chan felt at ease when he saw the apartment.
Having decided to meet with Kim Mi-Young in the evening, he immediately headed inside.
When Kang Chan pressed the key card against the scanner and opened the door, Yoo Hye-Sook greeted him.
“I’m back.”
“Welcome home. You must be exhausted.”
“No, I’m not. I didn’t have any difficult tasks to do today.”
The five obnoxious gangsters earlier were a piece of cake. He shouldn’t say that out loud, though.
“Would you like some fruits?” asked Yoo Hye-Sook.
“No thanks. I ate some snacks before going home.”
“That’s great to hear.”
Yoo Hye-Sook looked like she was trying hard to understand the six billion won that Kang Chan offered them.
“It seems like father had called you.”
“Yes, Channy.” She smiled awkwardly.
“He said that creating and running a foundation would overall be the most effective move. He seemed very surprised that you really had stocks as well.”
“Would you like to have a cup of tea? I’ll make it,” asked Kang Chan.
“Will you really make me one?”
Kang Chan placed the kettle on top of the gas stove, then took out green tea and two cups.
“Here! This is yours.”
Yoo Hye-Sook moved the cup that Kang Chan had placed on the table closer to her.
“The money is weighing on your mind, isn’t it?” Kang Chan asked.
“It is.”
Her answers and actions were similar to Kim Mi-Young's. Kang Chan forced himself to hold in the urge to burst out laughing. Kang Chan found Yoo Hye-Sook really pretty.
“Do you feel that way because you’re worried it could harm me?” he asked.
“Are you really okay?”
“Yes,” Kang Chan responded to Yoo Hye-Sook’s question.
“I heard that Branch Manager Smithen also got paid. Gong Te automobile said choosing Kang Yoo Motors over Suh Jeong Motors was an excellent decision, and that while this seems like a large amount of money to us, it’s not that big of a deal for Gong Te automobile,” he continued.
“Your dad and I have decided to accept this, but I couldn’t help but feel worried and nervous when we’ve confirmed the stocks really do exist and that your dad’s going to create a foundation with it. Maybe I feel this way because your dad and I have never had this much money before.”
“No way!” Smiling, Kang Chan consoled Yoo Hye-Sook.
“Please just think of this as the heavens helping us because you were trying to do something good. That’s how I see it. On the contrary, I feel bad. I did this to make you happy but made you worry instead.”
“That’s not true, Channy,” Yoo Hye-Sook hastily responded to Kang Chan.
“I was just worried this could harm you somehow because I kept recalling how you got injured and came back last time.”
When Kang Chan smiled, Yoo Hye-Sook smiled as well.
Making her feel better this way was the right call. People got used to things like this over time until this no longer made them feel better.
Kang Chan had just come into his room after spending time with Yoo Hye-Sook for a moment.
Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—. Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—. Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—.
Kang Chan held up his phone to check if the caller was Kim Mi-Young, but it was from an unknown number.
“Hello?”
- Mr. Kang Chan?
It didn’t feel right.
“Speaking.”
- I’m Yang Jung-Mook, the Criminal Affairs Department head of the Gangnam Police station. You’ve been accused of criminal assault. But you already know which incident I’m talking about, right?
Considering how he talked to Kang Chan so informally, he seemed to think the latter was still quite young.
- Come to the Gangnam Police Station’s Criminal Affairs Department by 10 am tomorrow. If you don’t, then we’re going to have to take action.
“Alright. I’ll go there tomorrow.”
As Kang Chan listened to him, he noticed Yang Jung-Mook’s voice was loaded with hostility.
‘Phew! I’m tired.’
Kang Chan lay in his bed with a thud.