Chapter 82: Voices of the Future

On the way to the venue in the car, I remembered again that suspicious expression lingering on Min Doyun’s face.

I had a feeling that expression couldn’t have been just a passing emotion—and, as expected, I was right.

‘Of course there was a reason. Why else would I be going to an event where all the chaebol heirs are gathering?’

Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind.

‘Wait, is that really it? Maybe this is actually a good opportunity for me?!’

At first, I felt burdened. My schedule was packed with things I could hardly imagine, and everything surrounding me was unfamiliar. But when I thought about it again, inside that strangeness was the direction I’d always wanted.

Even this very moment was becoming a stepping stone to lift myself one step higher.

Unofficially, I’m someone with assets exceeding 600 billion won. It doesn’t show on the surface, but I had nothing to be ashamed of in front of anyone.

There was no reason for me to shrink back here.

“We’ve arrived.”

While I was gathering my thoughts, the car reached its destination.

“How was your day?”

After getting out of the car and walking to the entrance, Min Doyun was there waiting, his lips curled in a broad smile.

“Thanks to you, I had a fresh experience. Turns out, being a chaebol isn’t so different after all.”

That was my assessment of the day.

Aside from the difference in how people look at you and the scale of your capital, there wasn’t much else that set them apart.

Sure, at first it was overwhelming, and I was caught up in a strange feeling.

But looking back, except for living a little more luxuriously and being watched by more people, it wasn’t much different from the life I’ve lived so far.

“Well, that’s how it is, right? The only difference is that we eat better, wear better things, and live without worrying about money. But people, you know, they talk about chaebols like we’re at the center of some conspiracy. They blow up small things and treat us like criminals.”

Maybe he had some complaints, but Min Doyun also pointed out the public’s misconceptions.

When it comes to taxes, if you don’t get caught it’s tax saving, if you do, it’s tax evasion, right?!

That’s something that happens everywhere in our daily lives.

“Office workers just wake up, go to work at a set time, leave, and rest, but we’re different. It’s about survival for us. We start earlier than anyone and go to bed the latest. Sure, there are some weird ones among us, but most of us live this way.”

That, I could agree with.

I wake up at five in the morning, eat breakfast, and spend some time talking with my family.

That’s pretty much the only time the whole family from the LN family gathers and talks together.

In order not to fall behind rival companies, the chaebol families live more desperately than anyone else.

The kind of leisure we see on TV doesn’t exist in reality.

Through this experience, I realized it’s because of people like them that the job market works and we can earn money.

‘There are some, though, whose names are shameful even to mention.’

That thought, I quietly swallowed.

“Min Doyun, is that the writer you mentioned standing over there?”

While I was talking with Min Doyun, a stranger suddenly joined our conversation.

The man with his hair slicked back in a 2:8 part had a fresh smile on his face and fixed his gaze on me.

“Yes, that’s the writer. Let me introduce you—this is Writer Yoo Seunghyun, and this is Chairman Im Sangrok of JK.”

Min Doyun used honorifics as he introduced us.

‘My goodness, Im Sangrok……’

It was only after hearing his name that I remembered.

How could I have forgotten this face?

Back in 1998, when the former chairman passed away, there were predictions of a split in the JK Group.

At that time, Im Geonjong, who was the chairman of JK Chemicals, made a decision that prevented the split.

“Among us brothers, Sangrok is the most outstanding.”

That one sentence prevented a management rights dispute in JK Group.

After taking over as chairman, Im Sangrok recently made headlines by declaring, “Even if a subsidiary is in the black, if it can’t survive on its own, I’ll cut it off.”

And now, that very person was standing in front of me—what a strange feeling.

“Hello. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Writer Yoo Seunghyun.”

The age difference between him and me was like that of a father and son.

In fact, he wasn’t that much older than my dad.

I bowed as politely as I could and introduced myself.

I never expected the current chairman to show up at a heirs’ gathering.

I thought it was just a meeting for those in their twenties and thirties.

It turned out to be otherwise.

“I enjoyed your novel. You’re quite impressive for your age. Today’s gathering is also for you, so relax and enjoy yourself. Here’s my business card. This is special, so keep it to yourself. With that, I’ll be off—I can be a bit overwhelming.”

Im Sangrok left his business card and disappeared from our sight.

Now I was a writer with the business card of the JK Group chairman.

Strange things keep happening when I hang around Min Doyun.

After that, I spent some time getting acquainted with various chaebol heirs.

The fact that I wrote and published a novel while still in high school was apparently a huge shock to them. One after another, they asked why I started writing and what I planned to do in the future.

Some asked for my autograph, and others wanted to take a photo with me.

And just like that, I was marked as a writer known among the chaebols.

---

Underneath the massive chandelier, people laughed comfortably, calling each other’s names as they greeted and raised their glasses. It seemed like they had their own order and way of socializing.

“Do you hear that? They’re talking about real estate again.”

As Min Doyun and I walked slowly through the banquet hall corridor, he pointed out the conversations around us.

“In the end, you have to be able to see ten years ahead. It’s all about bio and satellite communications. Whoever leads in technology leads the market.”

“Technology alone isn’t enough. You need a channel to connect markets for the flow to happen.”

“That’s why I think logistics is the answer. Without logistics, even commerce or content just floats in the air.”

“Content is important, but in the end, it’s real estate. Just look at Seoul’s housing prices—see how much they’ve jumped in the last two years?”

“Domestic demand is also a problem. Instead of just external growth, you have to look at how to revive consumer sentiment.”

“If you ignore the Chinese market, you’ll be late. Just look at this World Cup—don’t you see how much that market’s grown?”

“But the problem is the network infrastructure is weaker than you think. If mobile communication infrastructure falls behind, expansion of the online market is all for nothing.”

Listening to Min Doyun, I let the voices of people flow into my ears. Most were sharing opinions on which industries would most influence the market in their respective fields.

‘Some of what I thought before needs revision. Regular people and chaebols are different—even the way they talk.’

Ordinary people worry about how to build their resumes and get hired, but these people worry about what business to invest in to survive in the market.

Unintentionally, all this information was a big deal for me.

Just knowing what companies were thinking could help immensely with investments.

Thanks to that, I had some time to organize my thoughts about where to invest my spare capital.

“We’re planning to acquire that side, but you’re not targeting it too, are you?”

“Oh, that side? I’ll step back when I need to. Don’t worry. I’ll just pretend to make a move. Instead, there’s another place we’re targeting—give us a little help there.”

They shared opinions about companies to acquire and exchanged information with careful calculations—pure give and take.

From my observer’s position, I quietly studied how they let information slip and how it was received, learning the flow of their language.

“Every time I come here, those arguments happen. They pretend to share information, but it’s really about pride. That’s what I find most fun.”

At that moment, Min Doyun chuckled lightly.

And I agreed, at least a little.

There’s no way this isn’t fun, hearing such high-level information so casually.

If I took what I heard here and spread it outside, the market would go crazy.

‘Good things should stay with me.’

I had no plans to share this information with others. I’d make good use of it to increase my own wealth.

“Anyway, I heard you’ve gotten a good sense of the market while writing that company-related novel? So tell me, what do you think of the movie business?”

I stopped walking for a moment.

“The movie business?”

“Yeah, the movie business as you see it.”

“Hmm……”

I was a bit caught off guard by the sudden question, but I thought back to what I’d studied in my previous life. Starting in the 2000s, major corporations began to show interest in film production and distribution, and alliances with theater chains were expanding. It was still early to call it full industrialization, but a big trend was definitely coming.

And at the center of it was ‘Hallyu’—the Korean Wave.

“It looks good. The current trend is promising, and there’s export potential.”

I nodded and shared my thoughts, following the stream of memories.

“Oh, look at you.”

There was a hint of surprise on Min Doyun’s face.

“But why? Are you thinking of going into the movie business?”

Ignoring Min Doyun’s reaction, I asked my own question.

I didn’t think he’d ask me just out of curiosity.

“Heh, who knows?”

Instead of answering, Min Doyun slowly curled his lips into a smile. I sensed a warning sign in that grin—it was that same sly smile I’d seen in the morning!

Suddenly, my heart started pounding.

‘What is he scheming up this time to torment me?’

My head was full of thoughts about running away from here as fast as I could.

“So, what do you think? Want to try the movie business with me?”

“Whaaat?!”

As expected, my prediction was right on the mark.

Something absurd came out of Min Doyun’s mouth.

I was so dumbfounded that I just stared at his face in silence.