A Genius Speaks with Money

Chapter 8

I, Lim Hyunjun, finished almost all the food Grandfather prepared, as I was at a growing age.

After drinking even the last of my beverage in front of Grandfather, who watched me eat with satisfaction, I opened my mouth.

“Grandfather, I enjoyed the meal. By the way, I like burgers too, but I like Korean food more like you do. Especially things like savory cheonggukjang ( traditional korean soup).”

At that moment, Chairman Lim Man-seok'

s expression brightened.

In fact, if he had to pick one of his favorite foods, it was cheonggukjang with its strong savory smell.

However, he couldn'

t eat it often because of the smell.

As someone who often had to attend important meetings, he was concerned about eating smelly food.

But he couldn'

t be happier to hear that his cherished grandson liked the same food.

“Is that so? To think you like cheonggukjang. You truly take after me.”

Lim Man-seok nodded and laughed with satisfaction as if he were in a very good mood.“Indeed, blood doesn'

t lie. Next time, this grandfather will feed you something truly delicious.”

The atmosphere ripened further and Lim Man-seok quietly sipped his tea while examining my face with a meaningful gaze.

“If my eldest grandson needs anything, just tell Grandfather. I'

ll do anything for you.”

I, Lim Hyunjun, answered immediately without even thinking.

“Then please give me just 1 billion won as pocket money.”

Lim Man-seok made a surprised face for a moment, as if it were an unexpected answer.

Of course, 1 billion won wasn'

t an amount he couldn'

t give to his grandson.

However, the request for 1 billion won as pocket money felt like bravado.

“What are you going to use 1 billion won for?”

I answered with a calm smile.

“I want to try investing.”

At the even more out-of-the-blue statement, one of Lim Man-seok’s eyebrows arched slightly.

“You, investing. Who enticed you? Which fellow was it!”

“Grandfather, who would say such a thing to me. Even if I'

m the son of a wealthy family, I'

m still a high schooler. It’s definitely not like that. I just want to test myself.”

“What kind of nonsense is testing yourself?”

Lim Man-seok felt relieved inside, thinking that his grandson wasn'

t talking nonsense, so he intentionally scolded me.

However, I wasn'

t intimidated at all and spoke my thoughts clearly.

“In order to work at Taeseong in the future, I think I need to know how big my vessel is. Since 1 billion won is a large amount of money, borrowing it from Grandfather is also fine.”

Lim Man-seok forcibly held back the corners of his mouth that were trying to creep up with interest.

“Fine. Even if this grandfather thinks his grandson is cute, I think 1 billion won is a bit large for pocket money. Besides, what do you plan to do if you blow all that money?”

I also smiled and said, not losing ground.

“Then how about the condition of writing a contract and increasing it within one year?”

“A contract?!”

Lim Man-seok'

s hearty laughter echoed through the restaurant.

“Hahaha! Not bad. Fine. I'

ll write a contract as you said. Cheol-woo!”

Kang Cheol-woo, who was waiting nearby, approached Lim Man-seok.

He quickly drafted a document on the tablet he was holding and handed it to Chairman Lim.

Lim Man-seok put on his glasses and carefully examined the contract drafted by Kang Cheol-woo.

No matter how much it was a contract with his grandson, it was strictly a matter of money moving back and forth.

He was a person who did not make contracts carelessly even for small matters.

The contract reviewed by Lim Man-seok was soon moved to me.

I reviewed the contract quickly and requested a few revisions.

The additional items I requested were as follows.

-The principal is repaid within one year.

-The matter regarding the money given by Lim Man-seok to his grandson Lim Hyunjun is kept secret from everyone.

-The interest on the principal follows the legal interest rate (5%).

-After paying the principal and interest, information and secrets regarding the profits obtained by Lim Hyunjun shall not be disclosed.

Lim Man-seok checked the contract again with interest and gave a beaming smile.

“Ho. Even the requirements. I'

ll listen with a generous heart.”

He spoke while looking at Kang Cheol-woo.

“Cheol-woo, include what Hyunjun said as well.”

In this way, the deal between me and Lim Man-seok was confirmed.

Lim Man-seok created a separate account and deposited the money for me.

Only after confirming that the money had been deposited did I bow and express my gratitude to Chairman Lim Man-seok.

“Investor, I will not let you be disappointed.”

“Tsk. This fellow is even joking in front of his grandfather. Fine, try it your way. This is all studying too.”

In fact, Lim Man-seok didn'

t care even if I lost all 1 billion won.

While that amount of money wasn'

t small, he intended to think of it as tuition.

If his young grandson gained a great realization from it, would 1 billion won be a waste?

***

After obtaining the unexpected harvest through Chairman Lim Man-seok, I immediately called Choi Seo-jun.

“Secretary Choi, I need to establish a company. I received a 1 billion won investment from Grandfather.”

Choi Seo-jun showed interest in his eyes and burned with motivation.

However, he suppressed his excited heart for a moment and asked me.

“The Chairman supported you directly?”

“Yes, but since I'

m still legally a minor, I can'

t establish a corporation directly. So get Grandfather'

s help as a legal representative.”

Choi Seo-jun asked me in detail.

“Do you want to establish a corporation?”

“Yes, the company name will be ‘HJ Partners’.”

Choi Seo-jun nodded.

“I understand. I will proceed with the procedure.”

“Yes, I’d like you to contact me with the progress when I’m finished with school.”

“I will do that.”

Thinking it would take more time than expected, I pondered what was worth investing in during that time.

Then, I saw my best friend Jang Wooseok playing a game passionately and asked.

“What are you doing so hard?”

“It'

s a new one. It'

s super fun. It'

s Celestial Aria, but it'

s a mobile game, so you can play it anywhere.”

Celestial Aria.

Something flashed in my memory.

“By any chance, is the game company name there ‘Universe Games’?”

“That'

s right. Do you want to try too?”

“Shall I?”

While installing the game for me, Jang Wooseok was excited as if he were gifting me a new world.

Then he even told me how to do it, but I just listened half-heartedly.

In fact, my head was now full of things about the Universe Games company.

Clearly, in my memory, there was a memory that the company'

s stock rose tremendously.

By far, if I were to count the stocks that rose the most that year, it was this game company.

Clearly, before summer started, a major article had appeared saying that the game released also worked globally.

Because I stopped my hands while lost in thought, I ended up losing the game.

Jang Wooseok rebuked me with regret.

“Hey, where did you sell your mind and what are you doing?”

“Ah, oops. Rather than that, let’s go eat something delicious. How about meat?”

“I have to go if you'

re buying.”

“Of course.”

The two teenage boys entered a rib restaurant and cleared out 20 servings of ribs.

After eating heartily, it was to the point where Jang Wooseok felt sorry after seeing the price.

In fact, for me, 20 servings wasn'

t an issue.

I obtained good information, so what did the price of meat matter?

After I arrived home, I went straight up to my room.

A text message was left on my phone.

“The official establishment of HJ Partners has been completed. Congratulations.”

I made a call.

“You’ve worked hard. Time must have been tight.”

“Actually, it was. Perhaps because I haven'

t slept well for a few days, I'

m very tired.”

“Oh, what to do? Please process just one more thing tomorrow and then go on a trip. You won'

t have anything to do for a while.”

At my out-of-the-blue words, Choi Seo-jun asked in a flustered voice, not knowing why.

“What does that mean?”

“The first company HJ Partners will invest in is ‘Universe Games’. Since today'

s closing price ended at 25,100 won. Please buy as much as possible tomorrow. Ah, I'

ll deposit 300 million won more, so please proceed including that too.”

At the unexpected words, Choi Seo-jun quickly tapped something.

He seemed to still be in front of the computer, unable to leave work.

Choi Seo-jun looked into the company and asked as if in doubt.

“Why a game company of all things? There are many companies with stronger financial structures. Instead of doing that, I'

ll look into a few places and then report.”

I answered with a relaxed smile.

“There'

s no need for that. I'

m telling you after looking into it in my own way too. Just trust me and proceed.”

“......”

Despite the confident answer, Choi Seo-jun couldn'

t speak readily as if he were hesitating.

I added one more word.

“Mobile games are the trend these days. The game market will grow even more in the future. Moreover, looking around, everyone is in a frenzy playing the game released by this company. Do as I say.”

“...I understand.”

It seemed like Choi Seo-jun was answering reluctantly, but I didn'

t mind.

This is because in a few months, I will give the answer as to why I insisted on this company.

Before hanging up, I spoke to Choi Seo-jun, who had worked hard, as a reward.

“Don'

t save money and go on a luxury trip. You can rest for about a month. Ah, Secretary Choi, you have a girlfriend too, right? How about going together? It'

ll be good to score points this time.”

At the mention of a girlfriend, Choi Seo-jun was flustered and slurred his words.

“G-girlfriend? How did you know that.”

“You'

re my right hand. Of course I know. Who knows? This opportunity might turn your girlfriend into your wife. Hahaha.”

“Goodness. Thank you.”

In this way, I finished the call with Choi Seo-jun.

In fact, I recently saw Secretary Choi'

s future.

Because I saw him marrying the girlfriend he was meeting now, I pushed him with confidence.

Isn'

t there a saying called give and take?

If something comes, something should go.

It was a realization I gained while living for over fifty years.

Moreover, Choi Seo-jun was my person.

There was a need to give a definite reward.

‘I must take care of my people definitely. That way they won'

t think of running away.’

The next day, a text message arrived from Choi Seo-jun.

As I said, he bought 50,000 shares of Universe Games company stock at around 26,000 won.

After that, Choi Seo-jun left for a trip with his girlfriend.

Even while on the trip, he checked the stock price of the company he invested in from time to time.

Even while drinking cocktails on the beach of a resort, he checked the charts on his smartphone, and even while sightseeing, he made time to keep an eye on what kind of trend the investment place chosen by me was showing.

Then, in just a few days, the stock price of Universe Games began to fluctuate.

It skyrocketed to twice the price it was first bought at.

Choi Seo-jun looked back at the smartphone screen as if he couldn'

t believe it.

‘Does this ... make sense?’

He stared blankly at the chart and let out a hollow laugh.

It was because he didn'

t think my choice would be this accurate.

At that time, Choi Seo-jun thought.

The person he was serving wasn'

t just a lucky person, but the real deal.

A golden rope.

Choi Seo-jun caught the golden rope named Lim Hyunjun.

Moreover, the person he would serve in the future was thorough with rewards.

There would be no better boss than this.

It was the first luxury trip of his life.

The girlfriend who came with him also liked it very much.

He put his hand in his pocket, fiddling with a small box, and thought.

‘Is he really looking ahead?’

Lim Hyunjun was now only a high school student.

However, as time passed, he looked forward to it.

The appearance of Hyunjun reflected in his eyes was more dazzling than any shining sun.