Real Man

Lee Jun-il, the manager, rubbed his eyes and checked the title again. He let out a hollow laugh.

“What is this kid doing now?”

His expression, which was first dumbfounded, gradually hardened.

He sensed an ominous atmosphere.

At that moment, Yoo-hyun was checking the interview of Shin Kyung-wook, the vice president of Hansung Electronics, in his office on the 11th floor of Yeouido.

Park Seung-woo, the assistant manager, was sitting next to him.

They belonged to different departments, but they didn’t need to care about anyone else since they were in a separate office.

Park Seung-woo, who was looking at the same part as Yoo-hyun, clicked his tongue.

“How much did he talk during the interview that the article came out as a three-part special?”

“True. There were a lot of requests for the vice president’s interview before. He rejected them all… Oh? Thank you.”

Park Seung-woo, who was answering while recalling his old memories, took the coffee that Jang Jun-sik handed him.

Jang Jun-sik nodded slightly and turned around right away.

“Kid. You’re finally treating me like a senior.”

“Jun-sik must have been good from the beginning.”

“I have a lot to say, but I’ll hold it in. But is this okay?”

“Why?”

“The interview is so long, but there is only one part about Shinwa Semiconductor. Look at this.”

Park Seung-woo pointed to the part where the word ‘Shinwa Semiconductor’ appeared.

Q. You said that semiconductors are important. Then would you acquire Shinwa Semiconductor if you could?

A. Of course I would. Shinwa Semiconductor is a good company.

It was a very bland answer, but it didn’t matter.

Yoo-hyun pointed out one of the many reasons.

“They picked a good title, didn’t they?”

“Still, there is no content. It’s too weak to make waves.”

“Just wait a little longer. You’ll find out soon.”

Yoo-hyun glanced at the clock and gave a meaningful smile.

Then, Kwon Se-jung, the assistant, raised his hand.

“Yoo-hyun, there’s a post on the community.”

“What kind of post?”

“A post related to the article. Come and see.”

Yoo-hyun got up from his seat and approached Kwon Se-jung with Park Seung-woo.

On his monitor screen, there was a post with provocative content.

-Hansung Group is already waging a takeover battle for Shinwa Semiconductor. How far have they progressed?..

Park Seung-woo widened his eyes as he checked the content.

“What? What is this? It’s so verbose. There’s no substance, but it sounds very plausible.”

“It’s a novel written by combining the article by Manager Lee Jun-il and this one.”

“Why?”

“First, look at the comments. Se-jung, scroll down.”

As Kwon Se-jung moved the mouse, comments appeared on the screen.

-Shin Kyung-wook is a man who does what he says. He’s different from cowards like Choi Min-yong.

-He’s refreshing. You saw him when he spun off Hansung Display.

-This time, Hansung Display’s performance is the world’s best. It’s all thanks to Shin Kyung-wook.

-Are you kidding? What about smartphones?

-That’s because the others messed up. Anyway, Shin Kyung-wook always keeps his word.

-It would be awesome if Hansung acquired Shinwa Semiconductor.

Most of the comments praised Shin Kyung-wook, probably because his previous press conference was so memorable.

Among them, there were some comments that caught his eye.

-Then, should I buy Shinwa Semiconductor stocks?

-Shinwa Semiconductor is expected to rise three times in a row. I have to get in.

-There are already signs of a surge. I’m all in.

Park Seung-woo, who was looking at the content, was incredulous.

“Why are there so many stock talks?”

“Shinwa Semiconductor’s retail investors are known to be passionate.”

Shinwa Semiconductor had no owner, so a lot of stocks were released to the public.

The price per share was also low, making it easy for ordinary people to access.

There were also many forces that took advantage of this, and Shinwa Semiconductor’s stock was famous for its volatility.

“But?”

“Once there’s news, the supply will automatically flock.”

The interview of Shin Kyung-wook alone might not have been enough.

But the speculative news by Manager Lee Jun-il that came out first acted as a trigger.

The people who combined the two news naturally linked Shin Kyung-wook and the acquisition of Shinwa Semiconductor.

The synergy effect that Yoo-hyun intended exploded at the start of the stock market.

Park Seung-woo opened his mouth as he saw the graph on another window.

“Wow… It’s really going to hit the ceiling. No, wait. It’s falling suddenly?”

“It’s just the beginning. More news will pour out.”

“They’re trying to raise the price more by manipulating it, right?”

Kwon Se-jung, who was listening, hit the nail on the head, and Yoo-hyun nodded.

“It’s because of money.”

It was as Yoo-hyun said.

The speed of information production was different because money was involved.

The news that was initially hypothetical soon turned into truth.

Regardless of the truth, the content of the articles focused only on the people’s interests.

The more people flocked to the news, the more gossip-like articles came out to increase the views.

Eventually, the related companies reacted.

Even though they said no, the stock price that hit the ceiling didn’t show any signs of changing.

That’s how much Shin Kyung-wook’s presence and Hansung Electronics’ background mattered.

Thanks to that, one thought was stuck in everyone’s mind.

Hansung will acquire Shinwa Semiconductor!

This was exactly the situation that Yoo-hyun wanted.

Park Seung-woo, who was watching the process of Yoo-hyun’s words being realized, clicked his tongue.

“Where did you learn this kind of thing?”

“From my mentor, of course.”

“Hmm! I can’t even take credit for this one.”

“You prepared it together. Of course, the vice president worked the hardest.”

“But is this okay? There will be a lot of inquiries from the Innovation Strategy Office, right?”

It was a fact that Shin Kyung-wook’s interview played a catalyst role for the rumor.

They would surely demand him to evolve directly.

Of course, Vice President Shin Kyung-wook was going to act ignorant.

Yoo-hyun, who had imagined the expected situation in his head, reassured Park Seung-woo.

“They won’t be able to find any fault.”

“You haven’t dealt with the foreign executives. They are restless to attack in any way.”

“That’s something the vice president will handle. We just have to do our job.”

“True. There are many mountains to climb from now on.”

They had to lower the acquisition price, but it had exploded instead.

Moreover, they anticipated a strong backlash from within.

They had sorted out this part over the weekend, and Park Seung-woo became the person in charge of the acquisition of Shinwa Semiconductor.

Was it because of the pressure?

Park Seung-woo, who spat out a weak voice that didn’t suit him, was asked by Yoo-hyun jokingly.

“Why do you look so worried?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m joining forces with my mentee, why should I? Oh, right. Jun-sik, come here.”

He raised his voice pretending not to care, and gestured to Jang Jun-sik.

“Yes? What is it?”

“Come and hold out your fist.”

“Why?”

“Hey! Hold it out. Yoo-hyun, you too.”

At the unexpected request, three fists gathered in the center.

Park Seung-woo shouted as he looked at the gathered fists.

“Three of mentor, mentee, join forces! Cross!”

“…”

“What are you doing?”

Jang Jun-sik asked as if he was dumbfounded, and Park Seung-woo looked awkward.

“Yoo-hyun, you know, right?”

“I don’t know.”

Yoo-hyun put down his fist with embarrassment, and Jang Jun-sik followed suit.

Swoosh.

Park Seung-woo, who was holding out his fist alone, casually put his hand in his pocket as if nothing had happened.

“Hahaha! You look very good.”

Kwon Se-jung, who was watching them from the side, shook his shoulder.

Park Seung-woo shook off the awkward situation and sat at the table.

He looked at Yoo-hyun, who was facing him, and asked in a serious tone.

“It seems like we’ve created the situation we expected. Then we need to talk about the next step, right?”

“Yes. That’s why you came here. Let’s wrap it up quickly.”

Yoo-hyun also put down his playfulness and matched the changed atmosphere.

The two people who were determined to work together refined the list that appeared on the TV screen without hesitation.

“Next, we’re going to officially form a team for the acquisition of Shinwa Semiconductor…”

“That’s what you should do. Then we’ll approach Shinwa Semiconductor…”

The contents that they had simulated several times were reorganized according to the current situation.

Since they had started, there were more specific things to do for the Innovation Strategy Office and the Future Technology TF.

Since Park Seung-woo was in charge, there were also many things that he could decide here.

The work that continued without a break ended with the sound of Park Seung-woo closing his laptop.

Thud.

He got up from his seat and packed his stuff.

“Okay. That’s it. I have to sort out the rest later.”

“Are you leaving? Why don’t you have a meal before you go?”

“No need. If I stay here, I have to buy you food.”

“You’re just saying that. You’re worried about the Innovation Strategy Office, right?”

“What are you talking about? They’ll do fine. Don’t worry about us, just worry about yourself.”

He fiddled with his phone while pretending not to care.

Beep. Beep.

Even now, his phone was constantly receiving messages.

He didn’t need to look at them to know the content. Yoo-hyun sneaked a peek.

“It seems like you’re getting a lot of tackles from the Innovation Strategy Office because of the acquisition news, right?”

“Nah, there’s nothing like that. Don’t worry about it, just worry about yourself.”

“Don’t I have anything to worry about? You’re doing everything for me.”

Yoo-hyun pointed to Kwon Se-jung and Jang Jun-sik, who were standing next to him, and Park Seung-woo pursed his lips.

“What does Jun-sik do well?”

“Don’t say that. You know he’s working hard.”

“I know. That’s why he’s overdoing it.”

He glanced at Jang Jun-sik, who was working hard even though he was pretending not to care.

“Jun-sik, don’t try to do everything by yourself. You don’t have to work hard, Yoo-hyun will do it for you.”

“I’m not doing that.”

“I don’t believe you. Yoo-hyun, check on him and make sure he doesn’t work too hard. Got it?”

Park Seung-woo asked Yoo-hyun again, worrying that Jang Jun-sik might overdo it.

He felt his affection for his junior, so Yoo-hyun smiled and answered.

“I’ll keep that in mind, mentor.”

“That’s good. Then I’ll go now. Take care.”

He winked one eye and waved his hand and disappeared.

Park Seung-woo’s figure appeared in the window a moment later.

He was running towards the road.

Kwon Se-jung muttered as he watched him.

“He seems to be in a hurry.”

“There’s a lot to do from now on. The situation inside the Innovation Strategy Office won’t be easy either.”

Yoo-hyun, who was looking at the same place, gave a specific reason, and Kwon Se-jung agreed.

“True, Manager Park won’t let it go easily.”

“He takes good care of people. He’s also passionate.”

“I know. He’s pretending not to care, but he’s very diligent.”

“That’s right.”

Jang Jun-sik nodded unknowingly at Kwon Se-jung’s words.

He was bickering with Park Seung-woo on the outside, but he was acknowledging him on the inside.