novelraw Chapter 84: First Button (2)
Chapter 84: First Button (2)
We got into the elevator.
Everyone was on edge, checking my expression.
Unaware of that, I contacted Chief Jeong Jin-woo.
“Chief, I checked the message. Let us proceed with the details in my office this afternoon. Please organize the relevant documents separately.”
After hanging up the phone, I pressed and rubbed my eyes once as if fatigued.
Choi Seo-jun took note of even that short motion.
No, to be precise, everyone with me did.
Choi Seo-jun cautiously opened his mouth.
“Representative, are you okay?”
I turned my head and slowly asked back.“Yes? What for?”
Not a trace of anger could be found on my face.
Rather, I looked somewhat excited.
Choi Seo-jun spoke while avoiding my gaze in embarrassment.
“You pushed them quite strongly in the meeting room earlier. I thought you might be in a bad mood….”
Upon hearing that, I burst into a smirk.
“Me?”
Choi Seo-jun and Yu Hyeon-seok met each other's eyes at the same time.
In fact, they really thought so.
It was because my attitude while pushing Cho Minki and Park Se-dong was so firm.
I smiled broadly.
“I was not angry. Rather, it felt refreshing. How great is it that I can start paying them back in earnest from now on?”
I loosened up my body by rolling my shoulders once for no reason.
“I am so refreshed I could die. Thanks to those people, the morning is pleasant.”
At those words, General Manager Yu Hyeon-seok’s eyes widened.
“Representative, does that mean you stopped the meeting also not because you were angry?”
“Of course. It was not because I was angry, but because I did not have time.”
“Time?”
I checked the watch while crossing my arms.
“I can only attend class right away if I go now, but they came too late. I do not like being late. If a person made a promise, they should keep the time, should they not?”
At those words, Choi Seo-jun and Yu Hyeon-seok were speechless at the same time.
In their eyes, I had been scaringly pushing the Korea Development Bank manager until just a moment ago.
But now, I have returned to being an ordinary high school student.
“The first period today was Korean. Anyway, see you at the company after I finish school today.”
A dry laugh escaped Choi Seo-jun.
“Ha… really, if it were not for the Representative, who would talk about class or whatever in this situation.”
I spoke with an expression full of playfulness.
“Studying is the most important thing for a student. In fact, it is true that it was delayed because Manager Cho Minki came late. He is probably regretting it while sweating bullets by now, right?”
General Manager Yu Hyeon-seok muttered quietly.
“I wonder… would he only be sweating?”
At that moment, the elevator door opened.
I lightly raised my hand and greeted them as if nothing had happened.
“I am going first. See you at the company. Director Choi Sang-gyu, you also worked hard today.”
After even giving a polite greeting, I disappeared leisurely.
Director Choi Sang-gyu, who gave a greeting in a daze, spat out a monologue as if only then regaining his senses.
“He is an interesting person….”
At those words, Director Choi Seo-jun felt embarrassed even though it was not his own doing.
“Our Representative is a person who lightly presses down on someone like a Korea Development Bank manager while having a meeting in the morning and eats school lunch in the afternoon.”
At that remark, Director Choi Sang-gyu and General Manager Yu Hyeon-seok looked at Choi Seo-jun with strange eyes.
It was a gaze saying that man was also no ordinary person.
***
I arrived at school safely before the morning assembly time and entered the classroom door.
While I was sitting in my seat and chatting while greeting friends, the teacher came inside.
“Now, now, quiet! Everyone, sit in your seats.”
The noisy classroom became quiet in an instant.
The teacher looked at the children's faces one by one and made eye contact with someone.
“A first-place student came from our class this semester as well.”
One guy who liked to chatter shouted.
“Aw, teacher, it is obviously Hyunjun again.”
At those words, jokes mixed with jeers burst out from here and there among the children.
“Ah, it is Lim Hyunjun again? I am sick of it.”
“Hyunjun, give it a rest. Are you not tired of being first place?”
Despite such jokes, I kept wearing a smile.
Even as the company became busy, I had continued studying whenever I could find a spare moment.
That effort was not in vain.
The teacher calmed the students down and said with a slight smile.
“Now, I will announce starting from the overall first place this time too. The overall first place in the school is Lim Hyunjun.”
The entire classroom was covered in applause.
“Whoa! Seriously amazing!”
“Hyunjun, are you even human? When do you study?”
“No, I was the one who studied, so why is he in first place?”
I bowed my head slightly and laughed.
“Thank you.”
The teacher also nodded with satisfaction.
“It was a perfect score in all subjects this time as well. Great job.”
Friends one by one gave me a celebratory pat on the shoulder.
I laughed shyly, but inwardly, I was very happy.
No matter how successful a company representative I was, this was a completely different sense of achievement.
***
In the afternoon, an elegant lady visited Hwasan International High School.
She wore a neat dark navy two-piece suit and a subtle pearl brooch.
She was Mrs. Kang Ji-yeon, who was well known as a daughter-in-law of Taeseong Group and a descendant of a person of distinguished service to national independence.
The principal and my homeroom teacher greeted her personally.
“You have gone through much trouble coming a long way, ma’am.”
“Not at all. It is my apology to meet you like this, teachers.”
Kang Ji-yeon moved her steps to the principal’s office following them.
When everyone was seated, Kang Ji-yeon spoke first.
“I came because I was curious if my child is causing any trouble in school life.”
The homeroom teacher shook his head.
“Not at all, mother. Lim Hyunjun is a student that every teacher does not spare praise for. He participates in class diligently and gets along well with his friends.”
The principal also chimed in.
“I have also heard that he engages in school life very diligently. Furthermore, does he not study very well? You must be very happy, ma’am.”
Kang Ji-yeon bowed her head as if being humble.
“He is a child with many deficiencies at home, so I am always grateful that you lead him well at school. Hyunjun always says he is learning a lot.”
While saying so, she cautiously continued her words.
“In fact, I am cautious about saying this, but if there are students in difficult circumstances at school, I would like to help even if just a little.”
The principal was nodding but soon waved his hand.
“It is a grateful proposal, but in fact, that part is already being sufficiently filled.”
Kang Ji-yeon tilted her head.
She had not expected him to say it was sufficient when she was offering to sponsor.
She asked.
“Is someone else already sponsoring?”
The principal cautiously opened his mouth.
“I am cautious about how to say this, but Lim Hyunjun has been doing that work after consulting with us since a few months ago.”
Kang Ji-yeon’s eyes grew large.
“My child?”
“Yes. We proceeded quietly at the student's request, but he promised support for scholarships, living expenses, and recently, even the construction of a new dormitory. The number of scholarship students alone has already exceeded double digits. They were all children who wanted to continue their studies but had difficult circumstances, yet now they can attend with a smile.”
Kang Ji-yeon quietly brought her fingertips together.
Outwardly, she managed her expression with a quiet smile, but inwardly, it was hard to suppress the surging emotions.
However, she tried to remain calm until the end.
“I see…. That is such a commendable thing.”
“You truly have a wonderful son. In fact, tuition support was being done before, but children with difficult lives also had to earn living expenses. However, as Hyunjun does not spare generous support considering even that part, for us, we are so grateful and proud.”
After a moment, she said cautiously.
“Teacher, do the students happen to know that fact?”
“It is not like that. We are keeping it strictly a secret. Hyunjun wanted that as well.”
Kang Ji-yeon nodded with relief.
After that, she spoke as if requesting.
“Please keep that fact a secret at least until Hyunjun graduates. Because there should not be any agitation among the children.”
“Of course, ma’am. Do not worry.”
The principal bowed his head once more.
Her dignified behavior and considerate way of speaking left a lingering impression on him.
He thought to the extent that it must be true that parents are a mirror for their children.
Mrs. Kang Ji-yeon greeted him for the last time as she stood up from her seat.
“Please continue to take good care of my child. And I also deeply thank the teachers who work hard for the school.”
She quietly left the school.
As the day grew colder, the chilly air made her fingertips sting.
However, her heart was very warm.
Meanwhile, I packed my bag and quietly left the classroom after class ended.
In front of the main gate, a familiar black sedan was standing.
Assistant Manager Moon Jong-beom, who was sitting in the driver's seat, quickly got out and opened the door.
“Representative, you worked hard today too.”
“Thank you, Assistant Manager.”
I leaned my body against the back seat.
The inside of the car was very warm.
Assistant Manager Moon Jong-beom spoke immediately as he sat in the driver's seat.
“Representative, Manager Cho Minki of Korea Development Bank contacted us while you were attending class.”
I answered briefly.
“Is that so? What did he say?”
“He said he wants to meet you in person and talk. And he also said he wants to apologize.”
I smirked.
“An apology….”
I paused for a moment and then said while slightly turning my head.
“Assistant Manager, please convey it like this. ‘The Representative has nothing to say to the Manager.’ Say that and then hang up the phone.”
Moon Jong-beom blinked for a moment.
However, he soon received the call and conveyed it exactly as I instructed.
“Manager Cho, the Representative has nothing to say to the Manager.”
Click.
As soon as he finished speaking, Moon Jong-beom hung up without a moment of hesitation.
The inside of the car became quiet again.
Moon Jong-beom drove the car slowly.
Occasionally, he checked me through the rearview mirror.
However, I was still busy looking out the window.
The car crossed the city center and headed to HJ Partners.
At that time, Moon Jong-beom’s cell phone rang again.
This time it was Director Choi Seo-jun.
He quickly connected the Bluetooth.
“Yes, Director Choi.”
Tension was buried in the voice coming from the speaker.
-Assistant Manager, is the Representative there?
“He is in the car right now.”
I, sitting in the back seat, raised my voice.
“Please speak, Director Choi.”
“Representative contact has come from Min Kyung-ho, the Governor of Korea Development Bank. He wants to speak with you directly. What should I do?”
Silence flowed for a moment.
Moon Jong-beom subtly looked at me through the rearview mirror.
My eyes were no different from usual.
I slowly opened my mouth.
“Director Choi, please convey exactly as I say. ‘Representative Lim Hyunjun has already conveyed everything he wanted to say this morning.’ And then, hang up the phone.”
Choi Seo-jun answered right away.
“Yes, I understand. I will convey it exactly like that.”
Click.
The call was cut off.
Moon Jong-beom felt strength entering his hands holding the steering wheel.
He asked cautiously.
“Representative, will it be okay to do this?”
I answered while leisurely looking out the window.
“It is okay. It is because I made them anxious on purpose. By now, they will probably be so anxious that they will come looking for us at the company.”
Spitting out those words with an indifferent face, I looked amazing to Moon Jong-beom.
It was as if I were a person who saw through everything.