But it was Hyongbok’s big miscalculation.

In fact, there was no reason whatsoever that Hyunwoo had to listen to Hyongbok’s annoying complaint. Given the situation, it was Hyunwoo, not Hyongbok, who had the upper hand here.

Hyunwoo said in a chilly manner, “It looks like you have misunderstood. The reason I made KOVE Dream was because I wanted to make sales activities more convenient. So, I made some regulations and standards. What’s wrong with that?”

“Oh, what I mean is not whether you are wrong or not, but it is not fair. Some companies are included, but others aren’t.”

“Do you think I am a philanthropist? Why are you taking issue with fairness because I have made KOVE Dream for my own? If you want to be included in the list, pass the standards I set. As I have to go now, let me hang up the phone,” said Hyunwoo.

After the call, he quickly headed home.

Seungwoo Paek was already waiting for him there. Before he left for the United States, he stopped by to say goodbye to Hyunwoo.

Seungwoo took Sungrak Sohn with him, who was learning on-the-job training from him.

When Hyunwoo arrived home, he found Seungwoo and Sungrak speaking with his parents.

They were escorted into Hyunwoo’s room.

Seungwoo looked carefree. Though he might feel a bit scared to set foot in a strange place, he didn’t.

“Originally I was planning to make an American dream with empty hands, but I’ve earned enough money thanks to you. Thanks, man,” he said to Hyunwoo.

“Oh, it’s me who has to thank you. Thanks to your excellent sales activities I’m making lots of money here. Hope you can be a millionaire in America. By the way, the ratio of profits division is 8 to 2, as I told you.”

As soon as Seungwoo had lunch, he left Ansan quickly. Sungrak also followed him, saying he would see Seungwoo off.

***

Seoul Broadcasting is one of the three major broadcasting networks in Korea, along with Korea Broadcasting and World Broadcasting.

The director of the cultural department of Seoul Broadcasting gave the staff a hard time every day. In terms of entertainment programs, Seoul Broadcasting was performing as well as Korea Broadcasting and World Broadcasting, but it lagged far behind in cultural programs.

“Hey, do you want to see me fired? If I am fired, do you think you can survive?”

His increasing pressure was killing the writer and the main producer, in particular. They had to find an item that could hit gold.

Then, someone in Vietnam called the cultural department, and said, “I run a toy company called DAS Toy in Vietnam. I called you to tip you off a big unprecedented scam that’s happening here. Korea Broadcasting is involved here.”

The female employee who received the call opened her eyes wide at the caller’s mention of a big fraud involving Korea Broadcasting, but she was not excited. It could be a prank call or a disinformation call.

“Did you mention a fraud? What is it?”

“Have you heard about KOVE Dream?”

She heard of it for the first time. While he was explaining to her, she faintly remembered she heard of it before. She recalled watching a TV program related to a castor dream team.

“KOVE DREAM is the work of swindlers. They are deceiving the people as if they have excellent technology. The real dream team is ‘Dream Korea’ here in Vietnam. I hope Seoul Broadcasting can reveal the truth to the whole world.”

After the call, she wrote down the gist of what the caller argued and gave it to the producer.

The producer looked very surprised, “KOVE DREAM? In fact, we tried to cover it some time ago, but Korea Broadcasting stole our thunder.”

“The caller argues KOVE DREAM is a fake dream team.”

The producer gave her a doubtful look.

“Isn’t it possible that somebody made the call to slander KOVE DREAM because he was not included in it?”

Other producers were of the same opinion.

“Just ignore the call. We don’t have to meddle in their fighting.”

But there was one producer who raised an objection. Though he was not as experienced as other producers and younger than them, he was on his way up with the blessings of the director.

And he was pretty greedy about promotion, so he bent over backward to get results once he got wind of something. That’s why everybody called him a “bulldog.”

“I don’t think our hasty conclusion is correct. The caller’s tip-off could be true. Why don’t we dig into it first?” he said.

“Hey, it only wastes time and money.”

“Yea, this can’t be true. I think it is sheer slandering.”

But the young producer was not persuaded. “Let me report it to the director.”

Then, he ran to the director’s office.

The director had the same mentality as him. Keeping his position and getting a promotion, not chasing the truth, was more important to him.

“Hey, just go ahead with digging into it. You have to pick holes in Korea Broadcasting by all means, so this time we have to beat them.”

“It might be a false tip-off.”

“Doesn’t matter. We just relay what the caller argues. Then, it is not us, but the caller who is making lies. The thing is we should get a higher rating with this reporting.”

The bulldog producer could figure out the director’s intention. Namely, Seoul Broadcasting can only represent their voice, while the judgment of the tip-off belongs to the viewers, who should also bear the responsibility.

Back to the office, the bulldog producer conveyed the director’s firm resolve, and then called Hyongbok, the caller.

“Hi, our Seoul Broadcasting intends to cover it. I’m seeking your cooperation.”

After the call, Hyongbok curled up one of his lips and murmured, “Yah, Hyunwoo, did you think I would sit idle? No way! Let’s see who will lose more here. How dare you look down on me?”

***

Hyunwoo’s mobile phone buzzed noisily.

On such an occasion, Hyunwoo was surprised a lot because he became more and more tense as the date of Asan city’s announcement of the contest winner drew closer and closer.

But the caller was not a city official but Suji Min.

There was not a single time Suji called him in the morning before.

Hyunwoo quickly picked up the phone.

“I had a day off on Thursday. Can you show me around when I travel to Seoul?”

Hyunwoo’s eyes opened wide.

Though she didn’t mention ‘dating,’ Hyunwoo was already thrilled to think about dating her.

He quickly checked out his schedule, and fortunately, he had no appointment during the day.

“Sure, I will, but I can’t take time out in the evening because of work.”

“I can meet my friends during the evening. Let me call you on Thursday then.”

Back at the office, Hyunwoo took a vacation on Thursday.

As he had to report to work in the evening, it was technically not a vacation leave. Anyway, he would leave Space Design in several days.

At the bus terminal on Thursday, he waited for Suji.

A little later, the bus carrying her arrived and she got off.

“Suji, I’m here,” called Hyunwoo.

“Oh, you’re here!” exclaimed Suji, and then hopped to him.

If he had opened his arms, she would have hugged him, but Hyunwoo didn’t dare.

Instead, Suji came to him and he naturally folded his arms.

Hyunwoo took her to the places here and there that he had selected. They took bicycles and went to a department store. Though he asked to buy her various stuff, she refused, with excuses that she didn’t like them.

“All of them are just too expensive and hard to carry. Instead, buy me a nice lunch. I’m getting hungry.”

They went to a crab house, her favorite food. He cracked a steamed snow crab and put it into her mouth. In return, she did the same to him.

“Wow, I’m full now. Looks like they’re going to charge us a lot. I’m afraid I’m going to make you penniless,” said Suji jokingly.

“No problem. I can buy you this as much as you want. If you feel like it, tell me anytime.”

“I don’t believe it. You can’t see me every day!”

“Ha ha ha. Where shall we go now? How about riding a ferry?”

“We did already. Why don’t we climb up Namsan Hill? It’s clear now, so we can get a very nice view of Seoul.”

“Sure, why not?”

They went to Namsan Hill.

Though it was a weekday, it was crowded with many people. Mostly, they were young couples. They were walking, with their arms crossed or with arms around each other’s shoulders.

Suji was folded into his arms before he knew it.

At that moment, he had a call and found it was from someone in Bono-dong office.

Asking for her understanding, he quickly answered the phone.

Kyongsu spoke in a screaming tone, “Hey! They announced the final results. We’re the winner!”

“Wow! Really?” screamed Hyunwoo in spite of himself.

The amount of the subsidies was not important.

What was more meaningful to him was that the value of Tuti & Angelica was formally recognized. Naturally, Hyunwoo’s expectation of the talent donation broadcasting’s selection of Tuti & Angelica was growing after Ansan city’s announcement of the animation contest results.

“Thank you all for your great work! Why don’t you have a dinner get-together with the staff?”

When Hyunwoo hung up the call, Suji opened her eyes wide and asked, “What’s the call about? Did they win something?”

“Ansan City selected our animation work as the winner. Hooray!”

Hyunwoo expressed uncontrollable joy once more.

“Wow, how wonderful!” exclaimed Suji and hopped here and there out of joy. And now she flew into his arms.

Surprised, Hyunwoo hugged her shoulders with his arms in spite of himself. Suji was also holding his wrist with her arms.

As he put on thick clothes, he couldn’t feel her warmth, but he felt it so marvelous that she was now in his arms.

As if she realized it belatedly, she gently got out of his arms but didn’t feel bashful.

With a smile, he looked at her face. He wanted to hug her all of a sudden but felt he would be rejected this time.

They went up to Namsan Hill, chatting about their work, and enjoyed a panoramic view of Seoul. When climbing up, Suji folded her arms, but when coming down, Hyunwoo put his arms around her shoulders.

Hyunwoo and Suji didn’t feel awkward about their behavior at all. There was not much talk between them, but whenever Suji cast her eye at a certain object, he did the same.

Hyunwoo’s heart was throbbing not because he had a call from Kyongsu but because of his own indecisiveness.

Suji’s shoulders were already halfway into his arms, and he hugged her with one arm.

If he tried harder, he could hug her whole body. It looked like Suji was standing gently, waiting for his embrace.