The same day.
Shin Semi looked out at the Han River from her expensive condo.
“The prediction numbers can’t be trusted.”
She saw the estimated number of seats based on the voters’ survey, but she knew not to trust them. She glanced at the report on the table.
“Nuri Finances Research Lab.
“General election prediction.
“Liberty Korea Party 162. Democratic Party 77. Future Hope Party 20. Democratic Progressive Party 18. Independent Party 32.”
It was slightly different than Woosung’s prediction.
“We’ll see when the actual result comes out…”
When midnight passed, the final result was released.
“Liberty Korea Party 153. Democratic Party 81.”
Woosung was right. Shin Semi stared at the numbers. It was past 1:00 am. She felt impatient but waited until the morning to make the call.
Bzzz.
Bzzz.
Woosung’s phone vibrated. He checked the caller ID and didn’t answer.
He remembered how she stared at him when he entered the CEO’s office for a meeting. This was payback.
The phone vibrated again but Woosung didn’t answer. Yoon Gihwan looked at him and asked.
“What’s going on, newbie? Why aren’t you answering your phone?”
“Haha, it’s nothing. It’s not an important call.”
“Are you having a fight with your girlfriend or something?”
“What?”
It has been so long since he had a girlfriend. “Is it Cha Yeoreum? I could tell that there was something between you two.”
Woosung flinched but answered calmly. “Ha…haha. You’re funny. You’re good, but not that good.”
Woosung clearly looked awkward, but Yoon Gihwan let it go. “Really? Alright. Well, let’s get to work. Let’s work hard!”
Park Junwoo and Kim Yonggun were focused in front of their computers. Woosung sat down as well and when he was about to start, Kwak Jungwook hurried in.
“Woosung! You’re here! Phew, come with me quick, we need to go to the CEO’s room.”
“Me?”
Woosung asked innocently as Kwak Jungwook begged.
“Please. I’m going to be in trouble. We need to go now.”
Woosung decided to follow him.
In the room wasn’t Na Jaeman but Shin Semi. “How did you know?” She asked before Woosung took a seat.
Woosung shrugged and answered. “I told you, insight.”
“This is not a joke. If you continue to give me a bogus answer, this meeting is going to be useless.”
Woosung had already thought of a plausible answer. “Big data. I used my specialty. That’s all.”
“Explain.” Shin Semi bought his excuses and nodded.
“I would like to ask you something in return.”
Shin Semi nodded again. “Ask away.” She felt like he earned the right.
“I would like to know about the secrets of the heirs to Daeyang Group.”
“What?”
“I would even accept any gossips. Do they drink too much? Drugs?”
This was such an unexpected question. Shin Semi looked at him curiously. She expected him to ask for money…
…But this? Shin Semi was confused.
“Why do you need to know that? Did you get a deal from the media or something?”
“Haha, no. It’s…”
Choi Gichul.
Woosung needed to gather information on him. Woosung paused before answering.
“I’m just curious. I am interested in a lot of different things. It doesn’t have to be an accurate fact. Anything you heard about them would be fine, but they have to be things I don’t already know.”
Every piece of information counted. “Hmm…”
“I won’t release it to the media. I’m just curious about the rich people’s world.” Woosung tried hard to convince her. “Collecting data on everything and everyone is my hobby.”
“Well, I guess I know a few things.” Shin Semi was finally convinced.
Based on Woosung’s research, Shin Semi’s father, Shin Yongwon, has a brother. The said brother’s son was married to the second daughter of Kyungsung Newspaper’s CEO. Daeyang Group’s CEO Choi Gunwon’s sister was married to Kyungsung Newspaper’s CEO Song Jongin’s brother.
Rich people married rich people. Shin Semi was also part of this world. More than anyone in this world whom Wusoong knows, she’s the best person he knows when it comes to this kind of info-gathering.
“Perfect. Then I’ll start talking first.”
Shin Semi nodded, and Woosung gave her the answer he prepared.
Google Trend.
Web Crawling. (Internet bot systemically browsing the worldwide web for a defined purpose.)
Previous election result and the predictions.
Woosung stated he analyzed these data through this method. He, of course, didn’t actually do it, but this was his explanation for her.
Shin Semi didn’t ask any questions and just listened. It took Woosung 30 minutes to give an explanation. Shin Semi nodded in response. It seemed like she believed him. She was smiling after all.
“That’s it.”
“Hmm.”
Shin Semi closed her eyes. She was processing what Woosung said in her mind. After a few minutes, she opened her eyes.
“Then it’s my turn. Listen.” She sighed. “First, the first-born Choi Taemin is dating a celebrity.”
“Even though he’s already married?”
“Marriage to rich people are just a business.”
Woosung nodded. He already guessed this.
“Alright. Continue please.”
Shin Semi continued to tell Woosung what she knew. Some things were useless, but some were exactly what Woosung needed to know.
Choi Gichul.
Shin Semi called him a snake, but she explained that when he’s drunk, he changed. He became violent. He was known to throw things and beat people when he became intoxicated. This happened many times, but it was kept from the public by his father.
Daeyang Group’s CEO Choi Gunwon.
He was also violent and abusive to his children. However, he also couldn’t let his children be publicly humiliated, so he made sure that none of the press or media ever mentioned Choi Gichul’s mishaps.
When Woosung returned home that day, he couldn’t stop thinking about the information Shin Semi provided.
“Choi Gichul, alcohol, Choi Gunwon, Daeyang, Daeyang…”
Woosung kept murmuring over and over again. He also over the excel file of future events he created. Most were intended to be used to make money and the rest were about Choi Gichul.
He wrote down every event he could think of that involved Choi Gichul. The day he received a business award, when he attended a baseball game, when he approached Woosung to work for Bitmain, and so many more.
Also on April 28th, 2008.
Woosung remembered the news involving Daeyang’s CEO Choi Gunwon assaulting bartenders on behalf of Choi Gichul. This would happen very soon.
Choi Gichul was annoyed. His oldest brother Choi Taemin was about to win another award on his mobile business. The brothers in his family hated each other.
Choi Taemin’s success was Choi Gichul’s failure. This was what Choi Gunwon always said. Choi Gichul was in the car fuming. When his driver stopped the car at the red light, he screamed.
“Why are you so slow!”
“I’m sorry.”
Choi Gichul kicked the driver’s seat.
“Sorry? That’s it? I told you I hate it when the car stops, didn’t I?”
It was better for the driver to apologize when Choi Gichul was this angry. He kept repeating himself, even stuttering on purpose to show him that he was fearful.
“S…sorry.”
“Dammit! I told you to learn the fastest route that doesn’t require you to stop.” He kicked the seat again. “Why. Are. You. So. Stupid!” Choi Gichul kicked the chair with every word.
The driver moaned to every kick, again on purpose to please Choi Gichul. Not too loud, but just enough.
The light turned green.
“I’m sorry. The light changed.”
The driver drove. Not too fast, but not too slow. He had to keep a perfect speed that kept Choi Gichul comfortable. He sweated visibly as he drove.
