A Genius Speaks with Money

Chapter 9

Time passed and it was the day the midterm exams ended.

The classroom was full of students enjoying a sense of liberation.

There were friends playing around as soon as the exam ended, and there were also students already worrying about the next exam.

However, I, Lim Hyunjun, sat there calmly as if I hadn'

t cared about something like an exam in the first place.

At that moment, Jang Wooseok, who was sitting next to me, nudged me with his elbow and asked.

“Hey, Lim Hyunjun! Did you do well on this exam too?”

“Well, just so-so.”

I answered indifferently and checked my phone.

[Secretary Choi Seo-jun]

[I have returned from my trip thanks to you, CEO. Could I meet you today?]After checking the text message, I replied immediately.

[I'

ll go to Cafe Rahm. Let'

s meet there.]

Soon, a reply came saying he understood.

I was about to leave with my bag, but Jang Wooseok grabbed me.

“The exams are over, are you just going home?”

“I have something to do today. Let'

s play next time.”

“...Okay.”

Jang Wooseok scratched his head as he watched me leave in a hurry.

I seemed like a person whose mind was elsewhere, wondering what I was thinking these days.

In fact, I was out of my mind planning investments and business during the exam period.

Since I had studied in advance, there was no need to worry much whenever I took an exam.

***

Cafe Rahm was quite crowded despite it being a weekday afternoon.

Choi Seo-jun had taken a seat in a relatively quiet spot and was waiting for me.

He turned his head at the sound of the door opening.

“...CEO.”

Seeing me walk in naturally, he stood up and offered a greeting.

Perhaps because the title ‘CEO’ was not yet familiar, I made a slightly shy expression.

I also bowed and greeted Choi Seo-jun, then sat in the opposite seat.

“Did you have a good rest?”

“Yes, I had a good time thanks to you. My girlfriend liked it very much too.”

“That'

s a relief.”

After leisurely taking a sip of coffee, I ordered a tea separately.

Only after the ordered tea arrived did the two of us get straight to the point.

“Universe Games. It went up as expected, right?”

“That’s right. It has risen more than double based on the closing price.”

Choi Seo-jun opened the laptop he brought and showed the chart.

The graph was drawing a rapid upward curve and the trading volume over the past few days was also enormous.

“The investment funds must be around 2.7 billion won now.”

At my answer, Secretary Choi spoke with a somewhat cautious expression.

“When do you plan to sell?”

I smiled leisurely while taking a sip of tea.

“Not yet.”

My answer was firm.

Choi Seo-jun examined the chart once more with a subtle expression.

‘If it’s a profit of more than double in a short period, it would be right to realize the gains...’

Without any particular explanation, I just laughed lightly and spoke.

“It'

s not time to sell yet.”

“...Is there a reason?”

Choi Seo-jun asked carefully.

He was curious if it was simple intuition or if there was information certain enough to be confident.

However, I still only gave a meaningful smile.

“I can'

t tell you yet. Well, around next month, the outline will be revealed to some extent. By then, you'

ll know even if I don'

t explain.”

If it were the usual Choi Seo-jun, he would have demanded a detailed explanation from me, but now he just watched quietly.

In fact, considering the things I had done so far, they were only things hard to believe a high school student had done.

Even this investment, I had seen through it accurately from the beginning.

If so, there must be a good reason for the words ‘It'

s not time to sell yet.’

Choi Seo-jun nodded while drinking his coffee comfortably.

“I understand. I will follow your judgment, CEO.”

I gave a satisfied smile.

“Good. Instead, from now on, please analyze the stock price flow more closely. If the trading volume suddenly increases, you must tell me. Because we must be ready to move at any time.”

“Yes, I will monitor it thoroughly.”

In this way, the conversation between the two ended.

***

When it becomes Parents'

Day, although it is a weekday, the school I attend is closed.

Since the absence rate becomes high on this day every year, the school side simply designated it as a holiday.

The inside of the house, which had been quiet all morning, became busier as lunchtime approached.

“Hyunjun, are you all ready?”

At the voice of my mother, Madame Kang Ji-yeon, I answered while fastening the buttons of my shirt in front of the mirror.

“Yes, I’m coming out.”

I wore a neat light blue short-sleeved shirt, light-colored cotton pants, and white sneakers.

It was a neat outfit suitable for a teenager in the warm and slightly hot weather of early May.

If it were before, I would have just headed out wearing a T-shirt and a hat pressed down, but today was different.

Saying that clothes must be worn to suit the time and place, I followed what Choi Seo-jun had picked out in advance.

‘His eye for detail is better than I thought.’

As someone who has no interest in such things at all, it was easier to just wear what I was told to wear.

I headed toward the mansion where my uncle lives with my parents.

When the luxury sedan stopped quietly at the mansion entrance, the butler who had been waiting outside politely opened the door.

“Welcome, the Chairman also arrived a little while ago.”

At the butler'

s words, Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung'

s face darkened.

Madame Kang Ji-yeon was the same.

“Honey, we should have hurried.”

“It can'

t be helped. Because something happened this morning of all things...”

I bowed and greeted as I got out of the car.

“Hello, Butler.”

“It has been a long time, Young Master.”

Unlike my parents, I, who looked relaxed, went inside the house after greeting.

Upon passing the large iron gate, the garden that appeared immediately was perfection itself.

Well-trimmed ivy vines hung long along the walls, and on the central lawn, there were low benches and a luxurious-looking fountain.

On one side, royal azaleas and bridal wreath flowers were blooming in profusion according to the season.

White petals swayed and fell as the wind blew.

The appropriate empty space and harmony made it feel as if all kinds of sincerity had been poured in.

After passing the entrance where the marble floor shone smoothly, they opened the luxurious door and went inside.

The chandelier hanging from the high ceiling was casting a soft light.

On the walls, artworks that strongly reflected Shin Seo-yoon’s taste were hung neatly.

The interior, where a fragrant herbal scent spread faintly, was sophisticated and neat.

The family members who had already arrived turned their heads toward them all at once.

The first person to stand up was my uncle, Lim Do-hyun.

Dressed in a dark navy suit, he greeted us warmly with a faint smile.

“You’ve come. Everyone is waiting for Brother to arrive.”

Beside my uncle, my grandmother, wearing a fine lavender hanbok, warmly took her son'

s hand.

“I was waiting. Come quickly.”

My parents offered greetings side by side, and I also bowed and greeted.

Grandmother seemed happy that the whole family had gathered and sat down after saying a word.

“On such a good day. It'

s good to have the whole family together.”

Only after my family also sat on the sofa did my grandfather, Chairman Lim Man-seok, half-cover his newspaper and speak quietly.

“You’re late.”

It was a short sentence, but it was a word in which the weight contained within was felt.

My father'

s shoulders slumped.

As if conscious of that, Chairman Lim Man-seok added a word while looking at his son.

“I heard there was work. You did well. Work always comes first.”

Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung flinched and raised his head.

“Yes, Father. Thank you.”

If it were the usual Chairman Lim Man-seok, it was a matter he would have been more than angry about, but unlike before, he had become much softer.

When my father tried to make excuses without picking up on the mood, I spoke while touching my stomach.

“Grandfather, I'

m hungry.”

Chairman Lim Man-seok'

s gaze turned toward me.

“My eldest grandson is hungry. Well, it must be so since you'

re at a growing age. Let'

s eat first.”

I just gave a small wink to my father with one eye.

Lim Do-kyung smiled contentedly as if he had noticed.

Madame Kang Ji-yeon, who was sitting next to him, also seemed to have seen that and quietly let out a sigh of relief.

Originally, in my memory, I thought we ate food with a table placed in the garden, but perhaps because the day got hot, it seems they decided to eat inside.

When entering the dining room, food was already neatly prepared.

Vases were placed here and there in the middle, and the lilies in full bloom were beautiful.

Traditional Korean food and modern dishes were appropriately harmonized on the table.

Perhaps it was set with foods that Chairman Lim Man-seok likes.

The family members sat down one by one and the dining atmosphere was quiet yet comfortable.

Yoon Myeong-sook, my grandmother, opened her mouth.

“Hyunjun, are you studying well these days?”

“Yes, I'

m working hard.”

“Indeed. It'

s very admirable that you'

re working hard.”

At that moment, the husband of my eldest aunt cut in and began to lead the atmosphere cheerfully.

“I heard Hyunjun is that good at studying?”

As I scratched my head, Jeong Tae-jun picked up the plate of grilled eel and handed it to me.

“I tried it and the taste is very good. To study hard, you should eat things like this well.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Lim Hye-seon, the eldest aunt, picked up the plate of japchae and put it in front of Hyun-woo.

Perhaps it was an action conscious of Hyun-woo.

“Hyun-woo especially liked japchae since childhood, right? It was delicious, eat a lot.”

“...Thank you.”

Lim Hye-seon smiled softly.

Her gentle expression was full of benevolence.

At that moment, the look in the eyes of Jeong Tae-jun, the husband of the eldest aunt, suddenly changed and then disappeared.

‘The personalities are somehow too different.’

While I was noticing the subtle atmosphere of the two, Jeong Seo-yeon spoke with a sulky expression.

“You two, if your daughter has come after a long time, shouldn'

t you take care of me first?”

Perhaps because she made a look as if she were feeling slighted, Jeong Tae-jun laughed loudly and pushed the bowl containing salad.

“Here, eat a lot. Our daughter needs to lose some weight too.”

“Dad!”

“Don'

t grumble about having gained weight and eat some vegetables too.”

Jeong Tae-jun had a jovial appearance and even his voice was full of confidence.

Jeong Seo-yeon, who is 3 years older than me, is a college student and was currently staying abroad.

In fact, she came to Korea briefly for Parents'

Day and seeing her, she took after her father exactly.

She was completely different from my aunt, who looked serious and calm.

In the midst of the father and daughter bickering and showing a close appearance, only Lim Hye-seon seemed a bit troubled between them.

I thought about how they could be so different even if she took after her father'

s side.

Moreover, no matter how much the times have changed, I thought it was strange that Chairman Lim Man-seok still kept his eldest daughter and her husband close.

It didn'

t match the usual temperament of Lim Man-seok at all.

Jeong Tae-jun spoke while slightly leaning his body toward the head of the table.

“Father-in-law, seeing you in such healthy spirits today makes me feel reassured. These days, the newspaper business is also going well as if sailing with a tailwind thanks to you.”

Laughter bloomed at the sight of the son-in-law speaking affably.

Chairman Lim Man-seok only picked up his spoon with his brow slightly furrowed.

He just lifted a spoonful of soup without any particular response.

Watching that, I noticed the distance between the two.

On the surface, they were son-in-law and father-in-law, but there seemed to be a gap somewhere that couldn'

t all be explained in words.