I finished my English conversation class in the afternoon and called in Mr. Donald Cram.
"Would you like a beer?"
"Beer? Sounds good, right? But I have a 90-minute class in the evening."
"I'll wait till it's over.”
"Where would you like to wait?"
"I'll go to the Conrad Hotel Fitness Club and work out."
"No one can go there..."
"I have a membership card."
"Oh, is that so? The director of our academy said he couldn't register for membership because of the expensive membership, but Mr. Choi seems to be a rich man."
I sweated after exercising.
I felt as if I had made a good appointment with Mr. Donald Cram because the beer was squeezed at the right time.
I was about to go to the academy, but Mr. Donald Cram was already in the hotel lobby and smiling.
"You're already here. Let's go to the hotel bar.”
When I asked him to go straight to the hotel, Donald Cram declined.
"Mr. Choi, it's expensive here. Let's go somewhere cheaper. Even at the pub, today is Monday, so there won't be many customers."
Mr. Donald Cram seemed to have done so not to burden me.
Donald Cram led him to Levenhoff's house, where he often went.
There were few customers, perhaps because of the late hour.
We ordered draft beer.
I decided to leave my car in the parking lot of the International Finance Building and drank beer.
"Mr. Choi's English has improved a lot. It's much softer than when I first came. Can't you just have a normal conversation now?
"It's all thanks to you, Donald Cram. That's why I'm buying you a beer today."
"Haha Tankyu You."
I asked.
"How much does Donald Cram get for a special lecture?”
"There aren't many special lectures. Last year, I was invited to a panel discussion at a seminar and received 200,000 won."
"Would you like to go to Gangnam Station at 2 p.m. this Friday and attend like a panel discussion guest?"
"Is the subject difficult?”
"It's not a panel discussion, it's just a question."
"Just one question?"
"Yes, all I have to do is ask one stock question."
"I'm not answering or giving an opinion, I'm just asking questions? That's easy. Then it's too easy to get paid for the special lecture.”
"No, I give it to you. We'll give you 200,000 won."
"One question and two hundred thousand won? Oh, I don't like that. That's not a fair price."
"I could give you more."
"What is it?"
"We're having an investment presentation at a building auditorium in Gangnam Station."
"Oh, is that so?"
"This is an overseas fund subscription briefing that mainly invests in U.S. stocks. Many people are interested in American stocks because the Korean stock market is weak these days. There will be a lot of people who are interested in Trump's election if he chooses a company that doesn't have conflicts with China."
"Really? I'm also a little interested in stocks of American companies. That's why I sometimes surf the U.S. Internet here."
"What stocks are you interested in, Mr. Donald?"
"I'm interested in early technology."
"Earline technology, isn't it?
"It's a orthodontic drug company. It's a healthcare company. I'm personally interested in this. I heard in Korea that we can do business by opening an account with a securities firm, but we haven't done it yet."
"Why not?"
"Hehe, I don't have money.”
"Then on the day of the presentation, please stay with the general attendees and raise your hand and ask questions. Just ask me what's going on with the sales trend of Alignment Technology, and whether you're making profits."
"That's all I have to ask?"
"You have to ask questions in English. That way, we have to show that foreigners are interested."
"Oh, so you're using me as a marketing tool.”
"You can't say no. I don't deny it. Then our staff will answer in English and even translate."
"Is the employee good at English?”
"He grew up in the U.S. and even went to an MBA in the U.S."
"Oh, really? Mr. Choi has a competent man under his wing.”
"Thanks to them, our private equity firm is getting by."
"If you're developing, it's a good thing anyway."
"Can you do it?"
"Haha, I'll give you that for free. Instead of paying for today's drinks."
"No, I'll pay you for your attendance. If you sign the receipt, we can handle it with company expenses."
"Oh, you must be. All right, I'll be there that day."
I thought I was drunk, so I took the subway home.
I tried to catch a taxi, but I couldn't, so I took the subway.
There weren't many people on the subway maybe after 10 p.m.
When I got home, my dad and mom were talking at the table.
Mom got up from the chair.
"You're late. Did you eat?”
"Yes, I did."
said Dad, with his eyes wide open.
"I think you're drunk. Did you drive?”
"No, I left it in the car parking lot."
"Good job. I'll let you go to work tomorrow morning. The car you gave me, the Grandeur, is still rolling well."
A wedding invitation was placed on the table.
"Who seems to be getting married?”
"Your cousin is getting married this time. I don't know why it's in December."
"I'm not picky about that these days."
My cousin was the son of my uncle and was working at a large company.
When I went to my uncle's house during the holidays, my uncle was a regular son.
My uncle always asked me which school I go to when I go to college, whether I have a bad memory or intentionally.
I asked every year. And then the repertoire was his son's pride.
It was worth showing off.
I left Korea University as a substitute for a large company.
This boast was no more when I bought a 45-pyeong apartment.
I said, looking at the invitation.
"You do it in Yeouido. You can take my car that day."
"I got a call from my big mother and she said the father of the daughter-in-law was amazing."
"Really?"
"I'm the only one who boasts three apartments in Mia-ri."
"Really?"
I'm already a rich man, so three apartments aren't very impressive.
I don't know why I should brag about my father.
I didn't even ask who would be a bride. Mom kept saying.
"It's great to hear that the bride works for the same company and that she's already saved 50 million won in savings, right?
"Yes, that's great."
I just gave a perfunctory answer.
"I hear the bride-to-be is nice, but you should meet her soon."
I had the thought that Eunyeong might come to my house.
Now that Eunyeong has met her parents, I thought she could talk to her mom and dad.
"In fact, I also have a girlfriend."
Mom and dad opened their eyes wide and were glad.
"Really? That's good to hear! That's why you haven't tried to look at the line! What's the bride doing?”
"I go to the broadcasting station.”
"Broadcasting station? You said you work in Yeouido, and you dated someone who goes to KBS or MBC! What do you do at the station?"
"I'm an announcer. Announcer Park Un-young!"
"Park Un-young? I thought I had a real girlfriend again! It's late, so hurry up and wash your feet and go to sleep."
When I said Park Un-young, my mother seemed to think she was joking.
"Really, Park Un-young will come to my house to say hello.”
"Oh, they'll marry a chaebol. I guess you like Park Un-young the same older brother. Yeah, she's pretty. He's good looking again, so he's a first-class bride."
"Mom! And Park Un-young..."
"Done, done. Go to bed.‘
Mom didn't believe me until the end.
I was thinking about showing the picture that I took with Eunyeong on my smartphone.
I decided to show it to you only when the date of Eunyeong's visit is confirmed.
I wiped my feet and got into bed.
Lying on the bed, I could only think of the operation.
I sent a message to Eunyeong.
[Are you sleeping now?]
A reply came quickly to see if Eun-young was not sleeping.
[No, I just came in after meeting Hwang Mi-na in the cafe forest hoe.]
[Hwang Mina, how are you doing?]]
[Looks like he's having a hard time. The company is difficult now, too.]
[Why?]
[The THAAD issue seems to make it difficult for dramas and movies to enter the Chinese market. I guess it's hard because the secondary copyright income doesn't come in.]
It's the company's job. Doesn't it matter to you? Why don't you just do a good job of making a beautiful piece?]
[If the staff gets behind in their paychecks, it's hard for him, too. And if his salary is Drey, it's a serious crisis for a virgin.]
[Really?]
[Sighs, things aren't working out for her either. It wasn't that easy when I was in school, but I think it's the same again. What a talented and smart friend.]
[Lucky doesn't seem to keep up. Eunyeong should comfort you a lot.]
[Thank you, brother. My brother is a very kind and warm person.]
[Jeong Un is nice and warm.]
[Me? Thank you.]
[Did you decide the day you came to my house?]]
[This weekend is not going to be aired, next week...]
[Never fail to come next week. I'll pick you up at home.]
[Oppa, can I do a good job? A little scared.]
[What are you afraid of?] I'm here.]
[Didn't you get stressed out when you came to my house?]
[Got it, got it. But now that I've decided to show my honest side, I feel comfortable. That'll do for Eunyeong, too.]
[I'm more nervous than when I go to your brother's house to meet my parents.]
[My parents are not college graduates, but they are both understanding people. I'm sure she'll be very cute and show her love when she comes. You're a famous star-studded announcer. You're not going to do this. Don't worry about that.]
[Thank you, I'm a little relieved to hear you say that.]
[Then I'll tell my parents that Eunyeong is coming next weekend.]
[Don't tell me yet. I'll send you a text message after watching the broadcast schedule.]
[All right.]
[Oh, and I saw on the Internet that your company has an overseas fund investment briefing? I thought it was an article in some economic newspaper.“
[That's right. It's going to be in Gangnam this Friday.]
[That's why I even printed out an Internet article and showed it to my dad and mom.]
[Did you do that? Why would you...?]
[I feel strangely good when there's an article about your company.]
[I'm happy to have an article about Eunyeong, too. Do you know how much I liked it when I saw an article on the Internet last time that children cheered when Park Un-young, an announcer with a bright and innocent image, appeared on a TV children's program?]
[Then we're the same.]
[Unyeong! I'll be nice to you when we get married. I'm so happy that I feel like someone is coming to me. I'll sleep tonight thinking only of Eunyeong.]
[Thank you, brother. I feel at ease when I'm next to you. Good night, then. I love you!]
"Do you love me?”
I was so happy that Eunyeong sent me a message that she loves my brother.
VIP ward of chaebol