n

n

nThe same day.

nShin Semi looked out at the Han River from her expensive condo.

n“The prediction numbers can’t be trusted.”

nShe 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.

n“Nuri Finances Research Lab.

n“General election prediction.

n“Liberty Korea Party 162. Democratic Party 77. Future Hope Party 20. Democratic Progressive Party 18. Independent Party 32.”

nIt was slightly different than Woosung’s prediction.

n“We’ll see when the actual result comes out…”

nWhen midnight passed, the final result was released.

n“Liberty Korea Party 153. Democratic Party 81.”

nWoosung 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.

nBzzz.

nBzzz.

nWoosung’s phone vibrated. He checked the caller ID and didn’t answer.

nHe remembered how she stared at him when he entered the CEO’s office for a meeting. This was payback.

nThe phone vibrated again but Woosung didn’t answer. Yoon Gihwan looked at him and asked.

n“What’s going on, newbie? Why aren’t you answering your phone?”

n“Haha, it’s nothing. It’s not an important call.”

n“Are you having a fight with your girlfriend or something?”

n“What?”

nIt has been so long since he had a girlfriend. “Is it Cha Yeoreum? I could tell that there was something between you two.”

nWoosung flinched but answered calmly. “Ha…haha. You’re funny. You’re good, but not that good.”

nWoosung clearly looked awkward, but Yoon Gihwan let it go. “Really? Alright. Well, let’s get to work. Let’s work hard!”

nPark 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.

n“Woosung! You’re here! Phew, come with me quick, we need to go to the CEO’s room.”

n“Me?”

nWoosung asked innocently as Kwak Jungwook begged.

n“Please. I’m going to be in trouble. We need to go now.”

nWoosung decided to follow him.

nIn the room wasn’t Na Jaeman but Shin Semi. “How did you know?” She asked before Woosung took a seat.

nWoosung shrugged and answered. “I told you, insight.”

n“This is not a joke. If you continue to give me a bogus answer, this meeting is going to be useless.”

nWoosung had already thought of a plausible answer. “Big data. I used my specialty. That’s all.”

n“Explain.” Shin Semi bought his excuses and nodded.

n“I would like to ask you something in return.”

nShin Semi nodded again. “Ask away.” She felt like he earned the right.

n“I would like to know about the secrets of the heirs to Daeyang Group.”

n“What?”

n“I would even accept any gossips. Do they drink too much? Drugs?”

nThis was such an unexpected question. Shin Semi looked at him curiously. She expected him to ask for money…

n…But this? Shin Semi was confused.

n“Why do you need to know that? Did you get a deal from the media or something?”

n“Haha, no. It’s…”

nChoi Gichul.

nWoosung needed to gather information on him. Woosung paused before answering.

n“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.”

nEvery piece of information counted. “Hmm…”

n“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.”

n“Well, I guess I know a few things.” Shin Semi was finally convinced.

nBased 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.

nRich 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.

n“Perfect. Then I’ll start talking first.”

nShin Semi nodded, and Woosung gave her the answer he prepared.

nGoogle Trend.

nWeb Crawling. (Internet bot systemically browsing the worldwide web for a defined purpose.)

nPrevious election result and the predictions.

nWoosung stated he analyzed these data through this method. He, of course, didn’t actually do it, but this was his explanation for her.

nShin 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.

n“That’s it.”

n“Hmm.”

nShin Semi closed her eyes. She was processing what Woosung said in her mind. After a few minutes, she opened her eyes.

n“Then it’s my turn. Listen.” She sighed. “First, the first-born Choi Taemin is dating a celebrity.”

n“Even though he’s already married?”

n“Marriage to rich people are just a business.”

nWoosung nodded. He already guessed this.

n“Alright. Continue please.”

nShin Semi continued to tell Woosung what she knew. Some things were useless, but some were exactly what Woosung needed to know.

nChoi Gichul.

nShin 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.

nDaeyang Group’s CEO Choi Gunwon.

nHe 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.

nWhen Woosung returned home that day, he couldn’t stop thinking about the information Shin Semi provided.

n“Choi Gichul, alcohol, Choi Gunwon, Daeyang, Daeyang…”

nWoosung 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.

nHe 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.

nAlso on April 28th, 2008.

nWoosung remembered the news involving Daeyang’s CEO Choi Gunwon assaulting bartenders on behalf of Choi Gichul. This would happen very soon.

nChoi 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.

nChoi 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.

n“Why are you so slow!”

n“I’m sorry.”

nChoi Gichul kicked the driver’s seat.

n“Sorry? That’s it? I told you I hate it when the car stops, didn’t I?”

nIt 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.

n“S…sorry.”

n“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.

nThe driver moaned to every kick, again on purpose to please Choi Gichul. Not too loud, but just enough.

nThe light turned green.

n“I’m sorry. The light changed.”

nThe 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.

n