The atmosphere at school was completely different. It was April, and the air was filled with the warmth of spring, but that wasn’t the reason.
As I walked from the school gate to the lecture hall, I exchanged greetings with quite a few classmates and seniors, and even found someone to walk with to class.
In the lecture hall, many students approached me first.
“Hey, Do-jun. Your laptop is amazing. It’s top-notch. But I hear you’re not studying because you’re too busy playing with it. Haha.”
“That’s the hidden agenda. Give a competitor a toy to distract them from studying.”
My job was to ease their discomfort with such jokes.
“Since I started using a laptop, I don’t use a pen anymore. Everything’s in Word.”
“Ah, that was the plan all along. Just send me your report file, and I’ll tweak it a bit before submitting it. Haha.”
I scanned the lecture hall, making light-hearted jokes.
The eyes of those who didn’t attend the freshman welcome party and missed out on the laptops were piercing. I could sense their hope that I might distribute laptops again.
Perhaps during the May festival, I thought.
I also noticed a few people from my mental list.
During a short break after class, I approached a guy getting coffee from the vending machine.
What was going through his mind when he turned down the 3 million won offer, more than double the starting salary for a college graduate at Daehyun Group?
I inserted a 100-won coin into the vending machine and got a coffee.
“You didn’t take a laptop, right? Did you forget?”
His face crumpled as he held the paper cup.
“Why? You want me to say thank you for offering it?”
I was expecting something special, but it was just the usual pride.
“Not really.”
My calm smile seemed to irritate him more, and his words grew sharper.
“Even if you don’t flaunt your wealth, everyone knows you’re a chaebol third-generation. Now you’re throwing money around at college too?”
“So, would you refuse if a senior bought you a 1,500-won meal at the cafeteria? Is that flaunting wealth?”
I pulled a 100-won coin from my pocket.
“Is it flaunting wealth if a classmate buys you a 100-won vending machine coffee?”
“You bastard! How is that the same as a laptop?”
“It is.”
“What?”
Seeing his flustered expression was almost endearing. After all, when else would he get to protect his pride?
Once he steps into the real world and gets knocked around, he’ll realize how burdensome pride can be.
“To me, it’s the same. You count in units of ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, but I think in billions, tens of billions, hundreds of billions. Anything under a billion is just pocket change.”
I tossed the paper cup into the trash.
“A laptop and a vending machine coffee… no difference to a chaebol third-generation.”
His face turned red, and I wondered if I had gone too far, but sometimes you have to stomp hard enough that they can’t look you in the eye.
“If you saw a 100-won coin on the street, you’d pick it up, right? It’s a free coffee. But your pride only kicks in when it’s a 3 million won laptop lying around? If that’s pride, it’s pretty useless, don’t you think?”
I turned away, confirming his twisted expression.
Most of the others reacted the same way. It was a series of disappointments.
But there was one who stood out.
“Hey, Jin Do-jun.”
A guy with a sly smile, his face as tanned as a farmer’s, looked like he might be a military veteran.
“You said it’s not a bribe, but it sure is, man.”
“Why would it be a bribe?”
“Bribes are usually paid in advance. The extra gift comes after the favor is done.”
“You’re not a public official, and I didn’t ask for any favors.”
“Do you always give bribes right before asking for a favor? Sometimes they’re spread out years in advance. In a few years, I’ll be a prosecutor, so it’s definitely a bribe. Did you learn this from your grandfather?”
“No. I’m the youngest in my family, so my grandfather doesn’t teach me anything. That’s for my older cousins.”
“So you’re completely out of the loop with the Sunyang Group?”
“Pretty much. You might not know, but my father, the chairman’s youngest son, was sidelined early on. That’s why he’s making movies now.”
“So you’re just a chaebol third-generation in name only?”
I nodded silently, and the guy who looked like a veteran lit a cigarette.
“Damn. I should’ve taken it.”
“Pfft.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. This guy was amusing.
“Hey! Can I still get one now? Is it too late?”
He reached out his hand, not really expecting to receive anything. He wasn’t the type to make enemies. Wise beyond his years.
“Did you repeat a year or two?”
His smile faded, and his expression hardened.
“Don’t imply I look old. That’s a sensitive topic.”
“Would you let it slide if I gave you a laptop?”
“Next time. I’ll let it go this time since it’s the first.”
He stubbed out his cigarette and headed into the library.
“Answer me before you go. How old are you?”
“Who’s Seo Min-young?”
“Wow, for someone who rarely shows up at school, you’ve already got your eye on someone?”
“What are you talking about?”
“What do you mean? She’s quite a catch. You didn’t ask because you heard she’s pretty?”
I couldn’t trust their judgment on beauty. These guys, who only focused on studying, had terrible taste in women, and their standards for beauty were incredibly low.
“Stop with the nonsense. Who is she?”
“Wait and see. If the chatter in the lecture hall suddenly stops, that’s when she appears.”
It didn’t take long for his words to prove true.
When Seo Min-young appeared, the lecture hall fell silent as if on cue, and all eyes were on her.
Impressive.
She was captivating enough to draw the attention of all the guys. Her height was a bit of a drawback, but with a face that fresh without makeup, my father might even consider casting her.
“What do you think? Was I right?”
“You’ve got high standards.”
“Don’t mess with her. Give the rest of us a chance. As a chaebol third-generation, you can date celebrities. Remember, if you date her, you’ll make enemies of all the guys at our school.”
“Don’t worry. Actresses come and go at my house every day. I have high standards. But I don’t recall seeing her at the welcome party.”
“She showed up briefly and left quickly. It was chaos when you were handing out laptops. She slipped away then.”
I waited until the end of class and stood in front of Seo Min-young as she was leaving school.
She was a bit startled by my sudden appearance but quickly regained her composure.
“What is it? Do you need something from me?”
Judging by her expression, she knew who I was.
“Yeah. Just a quick question. I noticed you didn’t take a laptop at the freshman welcome party. Can I ask why?”
Seo Min-young chuckled and said something unexpected.
“Do you know how to fly a plane?”
“What?”
“Do you know how to fly a plane?”
“Of course not.”
“Then a plane would be useless to you, right?”
“Enough with the wordplay. What’s your point?”
“For someone with such high test scores, you sure lack intuition.”
Her continued smile assured me it wasn’t pride that made her refuse.
“I’m a computer illiterate.”
“What?”
“To me, it’s like a plane. What’s the point of having something I can’t use?”
I hadn’t considered that reason. I was at a loss for words, just staring at her.
Then she said something else unexpected.
“Don’t look at me like that. It’s making my heart race.”
Due to the ongoing corporate bankruptcies, the study was filled with endless meetings.
Today, after another marathon meeting, Chairman Jin was about to rest his head on the chair when the intercom buzzed, as if waiting for the meeting to end.
“Ah, I’ll be right out.”
Chairman Jin walked to the living room with a spring in his step.
“President Yoon, have you been waiting long? I completely forgot.”
“No, Chairman. You’re the busiest person in the country. It’s only natural to wait.”
The person waiting in the living room was a middle-aged woman with the demeanor of a high school principal.
“So, have you found anyone suitable?”
The woman, known as President Yoon, took out three files from her briefcase and laid them in front of Chairman Jin.
“I’ve been particularly careful. After all, we’re looking for the future captain of the Sunyang Group…”
“Hey! Watch your mouth!”
“Oh dear, I’m being silly. I’m sorry, Chairman.”
President Yoon quickly bowed her head and opened the first file.
“She’s the youngest daughter of the president of Da-il Bank. She’s twenty-seven, graduated from Princeton, and currently works at the Boston Bank’s Hong Kong branch.”
She opened the second file.
“She’s the eldest granddaughter of the chairman of Hanseong Daily. She’s twenty-six…”
After introducing the three women, Chairman Jin nodded.
“Good. Set up a date.”
“Which one are you referring to…?”
“See all three. Why? Is that a problem?”
“Oh, no. I’ll arrange it as soon as possible. But Chairman…”
“I know. I’ll make sure no one talks about it like a shopping spree, so don’t worry.”
President Yoon’s face brightened as she took out another file from her bag.
“Chairman, this one was particularly hard to find. They’re so young, still with baby fat…”
“Hey, no exaggerations! I’ll pay you well for your efforts, so just tell me.”
Hearing that she’d be paid well, the matchmaker’s smile widened.
“She’s the only daughter of the newly appointed Constitutional Court judge.”
“A Constitutional Court judge? Isn’t that just a fancy title for a judge?”
“She’s from a family of judges. You remember the Chief Justice who passed away last year? She’s his granddaughter.”
“Oh, that guy! The one whose family doesn’t go into private practice after their terms end.”
“Exactly. People say their family gatherings are practically held at the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor’s Office. They’re a highly respected legal dynasty.”
“I know they’re a principled bunch. But what about the girl?”
“She’s a real gem. You won’t find many like her.”
Chairman Jin, irritated by the excessive praise, suddenly raised his voice.
“Is she a match for my kid? My son scored top marks nationwide. He’s a Seoul National University law student. And his looks? Who’s that handsome actor everyone’s talking about these days? Jang…?”
“Jang Dong-gun?”
“Right. Doesn’t he have features that could rival that guy’s?”
“Of course. That’s why I found someone who won’t fall short. She’s also a law student at Seoul National.”
“What? So…?”
“Yes, they’re in the same class. They can naturally get to know each other.”
“Hmm…”
Not bad. In fact, it’s quite promising. A family with deep roots in the legal world, respected by society. They don’t open private practices, but they do teach at universities and hold positions like Minister of Justice.
Did they even produce a Prime Minister?
“But isn’t it a bit awkward to set up a blind date when they’re so young?”
“Oh, Chairman. Young heirs these days hate those formal meetings in hotel coffee shops.”
“Then what?”
“My job is to let them get to know each other naturally. They’ll meet so smoothly they won’t even realize it’s a setup. It’ll feel like real dating.”
“Oh, I see.”
“If you approve, I’ll proceed. What do you think?”
“Is the other family interested?”
“Of course. Who wouldn’t want to be part of the great Sunyang family?”
“Good. Go ahead.”
With the chairman’s approval, Director Yoon stood up with a broad smile and spoke up courageously.
“But Chairman, with so many grandsons of marriageable age, why start with the youngest?”
“The older ones have their parents to look after them. I need to see my youngest get married before I die, don’t I? That’s why I’m in a hurry.”
Matchmaker Yoon thought there was more to it than that. The grandson who received the chairman’s extraordinary affection might just be the one to bring about unexpected changes.