Chapter 231

“I’d like to meet them,” said Hyunwoo.

“I know how you feel, but you can’t run your business with compassion. Sometimes, you had better ignore them.”

At that moment, Na stopped discouraging him because he saw Hyunwoo was smiling a confident simile.

That meant Hyunwoo didn’t say that simply out of compassion. It seemed he had a good idea.

Na led him to the main gate and introduced them to Hyunwoo, interpreting for him.

They were overjoyed as if they met a savior.

They moved to a quiet conference room.

“DF Technology is a company that produces lighting equipment with a long history. But it’s in financial difficulty at the moment as it failed to change its business at the right time, but I think it can overcome the difficulty with a new product.”

The new product he mentioned was LED lighting. According to him, the company’s technical skills were competent enough in the market.

The thing was that it had no money. The company needed to finance itself until it established itself in the market by selling lots of LED products, but it didn’t have any funding power.

Young Plastics was in the same situation.

Hyunwoo looked at Na and said, “You are sure they are not swindlers, right?”

As he spoke in Korean, the Vietnamese CEOs could not understand at all.

“Well, I know these men. They are sincere, but the technical prowess of their companies lag behind a lot.”

Hyunwoo nodded and asked, “How much do you think they need to stabilize their companies?”

Na’s eyes popped out.

“Are you serious about investing in them?”

“Well, it depends. If I think they have potential, I would like to.”

The Vietnamese CEO of DF Technology quickly intervened, “I need 30 billion dong. If you invest, I’ll give you 7% of our shares.”

30 billion dong would be 1.5 billion won.

Hyunwoo was not sure how much he could invest just based on their explanation. Depending on the size of DF Technology, he would decide how much to invest. He also wanted to find out the status of its technical skills.

“Can I visit your company? I think I have to know more about your company before I decide,” said Hyunwoo.

“Of course,” said the Vietnamese CEO, pressing him to visit even now.

But Na snapped his finger and said, “Good. I know someone who is well versed in lighting. I think if I take him to your visit to the factory, you can find out more about its technology.”

“Can you call him to come over here now?”

“Let me call him.”

Na called someone in Vietnamese and smiled after the call.

“He suggested meeting at the factory of DF Technology. If we start now, we could meet him there.”

“Let’s leave now.”

DF Technology was a larger company than thought. Hyunwoo initially 7% stake was not big enough, given his investment, but it was much more than expected.

Like the CEO said, only those workers at the LED factory were busy while other factories were sluggish.

A little later an acquaintance of Na, a technician well versed in LED technology, arrived.

Looking around the factory, the technician kept nodding his head with a good review of the products.

“I think they can be competent enough in the market, but the thing is the price. Though the product here is good, its price is not competent at all. The unit cost of production should be cut by 3% at least.”

Hearing that, the CEO looked gloomy again. Obviously, the technician touched the sore spot.

Na said, “No matter how competitive the technical skills of a company, it will go bankrupt without price competitiveness. I know it because I have been there.”

In other words, Na seemed to suggest that Hyunwoo should not invest.

But he differed.

“If we can find technicians in Korea or in Japan, can’t we enhance the technical prowess of DF Technology and lower its product?” asked Hyunwoo.

“Of course, it’s not impossible. It’s possible theoretically. As you know, you don’t accomplish anything just as you wish.”

Na’s point made sense, but Hyunwoo said, “Well, a risky business sometimes brings you more profits, doesn’t it? If the business is doing well, it will bring about more profits.”

Na didn’t agree with that.

“The possibility for success is too low. Even if you invest 30 billion dong in the company, it will only delay its collapse. You will have to pour another 30 billion dong to save it. Even if your investment is successful, it won’t bring you many profits as you think. Given the costs and benefits, there is a low possibility.”

Hyunwoo smiled at that as he would enjoy greater benefits.

“Well, I’m not that much interested in DH Technology. What I am aiming for is a bigger one.”

Na’s eyes sparkled momentarily.

“Bigger one? What is that?”

“The image of KOVE DREAM in Vietnam. If my investment this time is successful, KOVE DREAM will be widely known to the Vietnamese people for its contribution to Vietnam. You can’t value that with money.”

Come to think of that, Hyunwoo’s point was very important. As KOVE DREAM kept on rolling in Vietnam, there was also a growing resistance to its growth in Vietnamese society. That’s one of the reasons he said he would accept Vietnamese companies as members of KOVE’s minor league.

Hyunwoo continued, “As you said, money is important. I don’t mean I will invest immediately.”

Na made a relieved expression, “I’m relieved to hear that. I was a bit worried you might want to sign the contract right now. Haha”

“Hahaha, no way. Let me find some technicians in Korea first. I’ll invest only when I am convinced that my investment can save DF Technology. Of course, that company has to survive until then.”

“In that case, I think there is a higher possibility of success, and I welcome it then,” said Na.

But the Vietnamese CEO was disappointed to hear that. But he was a bit relieved to know that Hyunwoo would actively search for good technicians to help his company.

“If I sell a factory site, I think I can get the funding to sustain my company a little longer. But I am not sure how long I can.”

“Let me deal with this as soon as possible,” said Hyunwoo.

Coming out of the factory, Hyunwoo went back to the office of N&C.

Inside the car he was sharing with Na, Hyunwoo said, “Can you find out if there is any other company like DF Technology? If you find such a company, I think we can boost the image of KOVE DREAM here. Besides, we will have investment returns later.”

“Got it, but bear it in mind that this is not an investment but speculation. If the company fails, your investment will disappear!”

“Hahaha, I know that.”

While Hyunwoo was talking with Na, his cell phone buzzed. It was a call from Yu Zuung.

“My parents want to invite you to dinner. Are you available?”

In fact, Hyunwoo was trying to get out of the N&C office because there was planned another long meeting. The topic of the meeting was KOVE DREAM Blue.

As he already had the basic framework of it, the meeting would focus on working out the details. Hyunwoo would not need to attend it.

Hyunwoo quickly accepted her invitation.

“Oh, I can’t refuse it if your parents have invited me.”

“Got it. Let me pick you up at the N&C office.”

After the call, Hyunwoo asked for Na’s understanding.

As soon as he received a call from saying that she arrived, he went out.

He immediately noticed her dress. She put on the traditional Vietnamese costume Ao Dai, which was modernized to emphasize its sexy style. Though her body was not naked, her clothing was tight to the skin, revealing her curvy figure.

“Which makes you so beautiful, your clothing or your figure? I can’t take my eyes off from you.”

“Both, hoho,” she said with a merry laugh, twisting her body. Obviously, she felt satisfied with his praise.

While driving down to Ho Chi Min City, Hyunwoo praised her.

In return, she also searched for his merits and praised him.

Later, she told him that he was her ideal type, but she looked shy as if her genuine feelings about him were detected by him.

Hyunwoo just laughed heartily at that.

“It’s my honor, hahaha.”

Chattering away in a cheerful mood, they arrived at Yu Zuuug’s house.

She was from a much more affluent family than Hyunwoo thought. It seemed her family had inherited a fortune from generation to generation and kept it well.

Besides, her family members were elites in Vietnam. They had expert knowledge in their fields and could speak English fluently.

“My daughter’s dream was to live in Korea, and she is feeling happy these days thanks to your help. Thanks so much.”

“Oh, it’s me who has to thank you as she works for my company.”

“I heard a lot about you from my daughter. You’re doing lots of good things such as free education for students. And she said you’re such a great businessman…”

Her parents kept praising him, so he felt a bit embarrassed.

As their conversation went on, however, the atmosphere turned a bit strange at some point.

“In fact, my daughter is pretty popular here. There are lots of my acquaintances who want to have my daughter as their daughter-in-law. I have to marry her off as she is old enough to get married. But she doesn’t let us mention it, saying she has her eye on somebody…” said her father, trying to read Hyunwoo’s mind gently.

Hyunwoo looked at her at that moment, too, because he felt he might be the very person that she had her eye on.

Yu Zuung found herself embarrassed a lot. Her milky white face blushed.