Chapter 117: <China>

Lee Ari said to Woosung awkwardly, “This is so sudden. I assume you are saying KND will be getting into the entertainment industry?”

“I will be building a comprehensive agency, which will include music and making movies and TV shows. Have you heard of Netflix?”

Both women shook their heads. It was not available in Korea yet, but it was a fast-growing business worldwide.

Woosung explained, “It is a company that shows videos online. I will be adding the management department on top of that.”

Lee Ari asked, “So it’s like YouTube.”

“YouTube offers free videos uploaded by the users. What I will do is provide videos for a fee. Unlike YouTube, which relies on ads for profit, my company will have paying users.”

Woosung answered sincerely. He was a big fan of Lee Ari, and he really wanted her to join his agency.

“Sona, do you have any other conditions you would like to add?”

Yoo Sona hesitated, but Woosung understood immediately.

He answered quickly, “Don’t worry about that. You will never have to do anything you don’t want to.”

Yoo Sona bit her lips. Her eyes welled up. She tried her best not to cry.

Clap!

Suddenly, Woosung clapped his hands and winked at Yoo Sona understandingly.

He then asked Lee Ari, “Ari, what do you think?”

Yoo Sona got her emotion under control. Lee Ari could guess what Woosung and Yoo Sona were talking about.

She answered, “I may not know much about business, but I know you need to make thoughtful decisions and have total focus. Don’t you think getting into so many different industries will be your downfall someday?”

“Some people think that, but I don’t believe that.” Woosung grinned and continued. “I can do anything.”

Yoo Sona suddenly felt subtle darkness radiating from within Woosung. She shivered and looked at him. She wondered if she could really trust Woosung.

Mahwacin approached their table and asked, “Haha, what are you guys talking about so seriously?” He spoke in Chinese.

Woosung answered in the same language, “We were talking about my company.”

Both women’s eyes shined at Woosung’s flawless Chinese.

“Your secret to success must be to never stop working, Woosung.”

“I am trying to give up that habit, but it’s very hard.”

Two women looked at Woosung with interest. Women loved successful men.

Mahwacin said to Woosung, “But you should always think of your health too. Your work is only beginning in China.”

“Thank you for your concern. I won’t let you down.”

“I think this is the end of this evening. I will contact you later with more details.”

“Call me anytime. I will wait for you.”

***

When Woosung returned to his hotel, he called for Jang Gwangchul.

After Woosung’s explanation, Jang Gwangchul said to him weakly, “Sure, why not.”

Jang Gwangchul knew by now Woosung would do whatever he wanted without his approval anyway. Besides, everything Woosung had tried so far had been a huge success.

“I want the headquarter to be in Chungmuro, so please purchase an appropriate building.”

“Will you start this company with your own personal money again?”

“Do you want to invest? Once it gets listed in the stock market, I guarantee your profit will be over 100%.”

Jang Gwangchul said to the confident Woosung, “So you will start making smaller movies and TV shows, then get into the management business. Eventually, you want it to become something like a mixture of Netflix, Fox, and HBO?”

“Haha, yup. Have you heard of something called a comprehensive channel? With Lee Sunghyun, I should be able to get a TV channel for this company.”

Jang Gwangchul closed his eyes and asked, “And you are probably thinking of taking this company to the international market too.”

“Of course. Oh, and I forgot to mention that we need to purchase Spotify.”

“The free music streaming service?”

“Yes. The current Korean streaming service Grapefruit will never survive the world market, But bringing Spotify into Korea would be easy, just like Facebook and Google.”

“So your company will be truly comprehensive.”

“Yoo Sona already accepted my offer. I have a good feeling Lee Ari will also be convinced too.”

“Then why not just take over Lee Ari’s management company, Top Entertainment? You can keep the current chairman Moon Yongjun as the CEO.”

Woosung thought carefully. “Is he someone who could be trusted?”

“I will look into it.”

Jang Gwangchul stood up to leave, but Woosung grabbed him. “One more thing.”

“Gosh, stop creating more work for me! I’m dying here.”

“Sir, I am doing this to make it easier for you.”

“Fine. Tell me.”

“I think we need to make a separate information department.”

“Like the Daeyang Economics Lab?”

Woosung nodded. “We need a reliable internal department that can gather various information and analyze them. Like looking into Moon Yongjun.”

“Why don’t you ask for Lee Sunghyun for help? He must know a lot of NIS agents.”

“What if those agents give Lee Sunghyun information about us?”

Jang Gwangchul coughed. “Umm…You’re right.”

“We need people we can trust. Don’t you know some reliable people?”

“Fine. I will look into it.”

Woosung stood up and gave Jang Gwangchul a big hug. Jang Gwangchul stammered in surprise.

“W…what are you doing?”

“Do you remember that day when we decided to create our own company?” Jang Gwangchul remembered. He trembled as Woosung explained, “I know very well how hard you have worked for me, but look at where we are. We are doing business in China! Did you ever think we would come this far?”

Jang Gwangchul couldn’t answer.

Woosung continued, “It has been less than a year and we have come so far. Blue S is selling like hotcakes and Coconut Talk is being used worldwide. Soon, China will be ours too.” Woosung stepped back slowly and added, “It won’t take very long. Just a little bit longer, and our empire will be complete. We will become so big companies like Daeyang will cower before us.”

Jang Gwangchul replied quietly but firmly, “Is that the future you saw in your dream?”

“So far.”

“Fine. I get it. I will do my best.”

“Haha, thank you. I know I can count on you.”

“And…” Jang Gwangchul paused before continuing. “Thank you.”

“…pardon?”

“I admit we came a lot further than I could ever imagine.”

Woosung added, “And we will go much further.”

Jang Gwangchul nodded. He believed it. He was sure of it.

***

Incheon International Airport.

Many reporters were waiting in anticipation.

“Are you sure he is coming back today?”

“For sure. Why would they lie to me?”

“Then what is taking him so long?”

“Just be patient.”

The earthquake in Yushu didn’t interest the Korean public much, but the efforts of the Red Angel Team did.

Once it became known that it was a team created by a Korean company KND, people became fascinated.

The media was all over it, and that was why so many reporters were waiting at the airport.

“Maybe he already left through the VIP exit.”

Then suddenly, someone yelled.

“Oh, there he is!”

Ban Jihwan was the first to come out. He was a big muscled man. The reporters crowded him and asked.

“Is it true that your team was waiting on site in advance?”

“How did he know there was going to be an earthquake?”

“Is it true your team was waiting in a hotel room?”

“Does KND have an earthquake detector?”

The biggest question was this.

“How did he know he needed to wait in the city of Yushu?”

Ban Jihwan gave the answer prepared for him by Woosung. “I just followed my CEO’s order.”

“Are you referring to Kang Woosung?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s true that Kang Woosung sent your team to Yushu city three days before the earthquake? Because he knew it would happen?”

“I guess so.”

At Ban Jihwan’s vague answer, the reporters became frustrated.

“This is very important. Please answer the question.”

They were being pushy. Ban Jihwan became angry. Even when he was a firefighter, reporters treated him like this. They were rude and aggressive.

Ban Jihwan raised his voice. “The important thing is…!”

The reporters quieted down.

“…That there were so many people we couldn’t save. There are people still buried under buildings somewhere unknown to us. Lives matter the most, but it seems like you people don’t care. I have no more to say.”

He then walked away. KND’s bodyguards made a way for him and Ban Jihwan quickly disappeared.

Lee Sunghyun turned off the TV.

Oh Hoon, the current mayor of Seoul who was in the middle of re-election, asked, “Is this your friend’s work?”

Lee Sunghyun nodded. “He said I am in the lead by a little.”

“His analysis ability is uncanny.”

“When will I be able to meet him?”

“He is actually on his way here right now.”