Real Man

That afternoon, Yoo-hyun arrived at Seohan University, located on the outskirts of Seoul.

It was not a prestigious university, but it was famous for its computer engineering department.

Yoo-hyun parked his car in the parking lot and stepped into the crowded campus.

He followed the signs to the Hi-Tech Building, where the computer engineering department was located.

He had searched online beforehand, so he did not hesitate in his steps.

As he turned around the corner on the fifth floor, he saw a lecture hall full of computers.

A nameplate on the closed door told him that it was the place he was looking for.

-Data Management Office: Na Do-ha

Click.

The door was closed, and there was no one inside when he looked through the window.

The light was on, so it seemed that the office was not completely closed.

“He must have gone out for a while.”

Yoo-hyun wondered what to say to his former subordinate, as he sat on a bench in the hallway.

He recalled the first time he met Na Do-ha.

-What are you good at, Mr. Ha?

Na Do-ha was a talent that Lee Jun Il, the executive director, had personally recruited.

The only thing that caught his eye on the profile was that he had entered Seohan University as a computer scholarship student.

It was not impressive that he had received a scholarship, but that he had dropped out of college despite that.

He seemed to have no family except his grandmother, and no financial support either.

Why would such an employee join the Group Strategy Office?

Even if Lee Jun Il had chosen him, Yoo-hyun was doubtful.

To Yoo-hyun’s question, the young Na Do-ha answered boldly.

-I’m good at hacking.

Yoo-hyun did not fully understand what that meant at the time.

But his mind changed when he saw him integrate various programs in the data center and create a completely upgraded system.

He understood why Lee Jun Il had hired him, when he saw him change the complex software that even the experts of Hansung SI had trouble handling, to suit his taste.

Na Do-ha was a genius in dealing with programs.

As he was thinking, some students passed by him.

The fifth floor was where the computer engineering department was, so there was a high chance that they knew Na Do-ha.

“Hahaha. So I did that yesterday…”

Yoo-hyun approached two female students who were chatting and walking, and asked them.

“Excuse me, do you know where Na Do-ha is?”

“Na Do-ha? Who is that?”

The female student blinked her eyes, and Yoo-hyun pointed to the data management office.

“The person in charge of the data management office there.”

“Oh, the part-timer? I don’t know. He’s very quiet.”

“I see.”

He seemed to be as unsociable as he was in the past.

As Yoo-hyun nodded, the other female student said.

“Isn’t he the person I saw in front of the business building? You know, the one with the hat pulled down.”

“Really? Maybe. He looks familiar.”

“Thank you.”

It seemed that there was no more information to get, so Yoo-hyun went outside for now.

He felt restless sitting and waiting.

What would he say to Na Do-ha?

Yoo-hyun had not considered recruiting Na Do-ha in the first place.

He was not fully prepared because of Shin Kyung-soo’s early appearance, but he did not intend to reach out to him, who was still a college student.

He was capable, but the situation around him was uncertain.

Besides, he had a way to stop the data center without him.

But he still wanted to check on his former subordinate once.

-Why are you spying on people at a big company? You’re doing it for money, right? How disgusting.

-I guess I don’t fit in the company life. I’m going to farm after this.

-Why are you so obsessed with work, team leader? I don’t understand.

He was rough, blunt, impudent, but not someone to be discarded.

That was Na Do-ha.

Thanks to him, Yoo-hyun had a lot of trouble controlling him, who was not tamed.

That was why he left a strong impression on Yoo-hyun.

He walked in front of the business building, recalling his past memories.

The place became less crowded as he went to the end of the building, but he did not see Na Do-ha.

‘He’s not here.’

Yoo-hyun was about to turn around, when he heard a loud noise from the corner between the fence and the building.

“Why are you following me to school?”

“Hey, you should have done your job faster.”

Yoo-hyun heard a rough voice and walked toward the corner of the building.

In the narrow space, there was a standoff between a short man with a hat pulled down and a big man.

He had his hat pulled down, but Yoo-hyun sensed that he was Na Do-ha from his eyes without double eyelids, his pale skin, and his somewhat thin body.

Na Do-ha retorted to the man he faced.

“I wouldn’t have done it if I knew it was for an illegal gambling site. Why are you doing such a dirty job?”

“You’re really funny. What’s so great about tapping on a computer? Why are you acting so cocky?”

“Then find someone else.”

“Hey, if you don’t do it, I can’t give you extra money. You have to do it for your grandmother’s medical bills, right?”

“Ha. If you keep doing this, I’ll destroy the server I built.”

‘He’s still the same. His story is still the same.’

Yoo-hyun smiled bitterly.

The big man grabbed Na Do-ha’s collar and raised his fist.

“You bastard.”

“Hit me. I’ll just take the money for the treatment.”

He liked his bold provocation, but he might really get hit.

He would not be able to get proper compensation from such a thug.

It was time to intervene, so Yoo-hyun stepped forward.

“What are you doing there?”

“Damn. Na Do-ha, you wait.”

The big man ran away over the fence, as if he was scared.

After the man disappeared, Na Do-ha came out of the corner, fixing his checkered shirt and muttering.

“Damn it.”

He tried to pass by Yoo-hyun without paying attention, but Yoo-hyun stopped him.

“Are you Na Do-ha? Wait a minute.”

“Who are you? If you’re trying to be nice because you helped me, I’ll refuse.”

“Was there enough distance between us?”

“Just know that. Well, then.”

Nadoha left only those words and walked away.

“Can we talk for a bit?”

Yoo-hyun followed him and asked, but Nadoha cut him off without even looking at him.

He seemed very wary for some reason.

“I don’t want to. I hate talking and getting involved with strangers.”

“You didn’t even listen to me.”

“Are you trying to ask me for some useless favor?”

“That’s not it…”

“What do you mean it’s not? I can clearly see that you’re approaching me for your own benefit. Just go away.”

Nadoha, who was sarcastic, tried not to give him any chance.

Yoo-hyun, who stopped for a moment, spat out a word.

“Black Swan.”

Pause.

Nadoha, who turned around, lifted his hat.

His large, double-lidless eyes narrowed under his calm eyebrows.

“Oh. So you came for a real job? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“It’ll only take a moment.”

“But what can I do? My policy just changed.”

“What do you mean?”

“I only take advance payment. You saw it, right? There are too many jerks who talk nonsense even after I do the work for them.”

The reason why Nadoha caught the eye of Lee Jun-il, the executive director at the time?

It was because of the nickname ‘Black Swan’.

Nadoha had already made a name for himself with his hacking skills since high school using this nickname.

But this brilliant talent was entangled with bad adults and had fallen into a low-paying job.

Yoo-hyun asked the young genius who was wandering around aimlessly.

“How much do you want?”

“About a million won to do the job.”

“You don’t even ask what kind of job it is?”

“That’s when I decide. In other words, you’re saying no.”

Yoo-hyun looked at Nadoha, who refused bluntly, and recalled the moment when his eyes were bloodshot.

-My grandmother is in critical condition. But you want me to keep working? Can you do that, team leader?

The company had provided Nadoha’s grandmother with medical expenses, living expenses, and other material aspects, but they lacked personal care.

In the end, Nadoha, who had to stay until the end and work, missed his grandmother’s death.

That was the last time Nadoha had to do something he didn’t want to do for money.

Looking back, it was nothing but regret.

Even if Lee Jun-il, the executive director at the time, had pressured him so much, the team leader should have listened more to his team member’s story.

Yoo-hyun was able to understand that pain only after losing his mother later.

Swoosh.

Yoo-hyun took out an envelope from his chest and handed it to him.

“You don’t have to take the job. Please contact me when you can have a drink later.”

Inside the envelope was the condolence money that Yoo-hyun had failed to give him in the past.

“…”

“It was nice to meet you. I’m Han Yoo-hyun.”

Yoo-hyun politely greeted Nadoha, who had a blank expression, and turned around.

He felt his gaze from behind, but he didn’t look back.

Could he reconnect with Nadoha?

That was uncertain.

He just wanted to be more sincere to him than he was in the past.

Yoo-hyun, who met Nadoha, took a break and prepared for the next plan.

He did the underwater work to organize the data center, and met with the people from Hansung Electronics to prepare for the future.

He also reviewed the acquisition plan for Shinwa Semiconductor, which was concretized by the members of the Innovation Strategy Office, and prepared a backup plan.

This was something that only Yoo-hyun, who could see far from behind, could do.

When the preparations he had planned for a long time were over, it was time to speed up.

The next day, Yoo-hyun went to work at the Yeouido Center.

The bus route had changed, but the commute time was actually shorter than before.

He entered the entrance following the crowded people, and someone called Yoo-hyun.

“Team leader, hello.”

He turned his head and saw Jang Junsik standing in front of him.

Yoo-hyun, who smiled faintly, approached him.

“Were you waiting for me?”

“Yes. I thought you wouldn’t know where the office is.”

“You know, this situation, it feels like a huge déjà vu, right?”

When he returned from Yeontae to Hansung Tower, Jang Junsik had also waited for Yoo-hyun.

And the words he uttered were similar to then.

The junior guy who was always the same said in a good mood.

“As long as you don’t get lost and get in safely.”

“Right. Thanks to you, I’ll be very safe.”

“Yes. I’ll take you there.”

Jang Junsik smiled brightly and pointed to the inside of the building.

His appearance, which had become more relaxed than before, was impressive.

Jang Junsik explained the situation as he walked.

“When we moved…”

While Yoo-hyun was gone, Kwon Se-jung, the deputy head, and Jang Junsik changed their affiliation to one display.

They also received the relocation support money that they couldn’t get at the time of the spin-off.

“That’s good.”

“Yes. The vice president was very considerate.”

“Of course he should be. How’s the organization?”

“We are currently temporarily affiliated with the Strategic Product Group.”

“That’s good. But did they accept you nicely?”

“That’s actually the problem…”

Jang Junsik, who had a worried expression on his face in front of the elevator, quickly straightened his posture.

Then he bowed politely to the man who came behind Yoo-hyun.

“Hello, group leader.”

“Hello.”

Yoo-hyun, who turned around, also greeted and took in the man’s appearance.

The man with a strong impression, who had a wide face and half-gray hair pulled back, was Hong Ilseop, the executive director of the Strategic Product Group.

Yoo-hyun had already checked his profile through the company system, who was in charge of promotion in the mobile phone business division in the past.

“I see.”

Hong Ilseop, the executive director, who raised his hand slightly to greet him, looked at Yoo-hyun with a puzzled expression.

He then looked closely at his chest and raised his eyebrows.

“Han Yoo-hyun, the team leader?”

“Yes. I’m Han Yoo-hyun. Nice to meet you.”

“Hmm, you’re much younger than I thought.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

Yoo-hyun received the compliment from the executive director, who had a strong presence, in a good mood.

Then, the elevator door opened and the eyes naturally turned.