The Famous Millionaire

“Oh, are you talking about the Korean castor technicians who gained great success in Vietnam?” asked Jaeyol.

“You’re right! As you’re a reporter, you know lots of stuff,” said Suyoung, laughing outright.

But Jaeyol could not laugh, “I’ve just heard it was Hyunwoo who initiated the idea and helped launch the Dream Team. Well, what I heard at the time was it was the team manager, not Hyunwoo.”

“Yea, that’s what they broadcast on TV, but as you know, what’s on TV is not always 100% true.”

“Then, how much do you know about the truth?”

“To some degree.”

“Can you share it with me?”

With sparkling eyes, Jaeyol started taking note of what Suyoung said. Thanks to him Jaeyol could found out lots of new facts about the Dream Team, but he found them not proper for broadcasting or being printed in newspapers. When published, it would reveal that the team manager, Youngsu Park, took his team members’ credit, which could put him in serious trouble. Not only Youngsu and Aurum but also Hyunwoo would be put on the spot because of that.

Maybe not now. I may have use for it later.

But he felt he needed to dig more into that for a scoop later.

Though it was very late at night, Jaeyol didn’t hesitate to call Daebong Park, the president of Aurum. Given that Daebong was very aggressive about expanding his business, he would not take Jaeyol’s interview request lightly. In addition, Jaeyol was a veteran reporter with the Korean Broadcasting Co.

As expected, Daebong willingly accepted his interview request. When Jaeyol brought up the castor Dream Team, Daebong was pretty enthusiastic about it. He even tried to treat Jaeyol to a high-end restaurant where a beautiful waitress served food and wine, but Jaeyol resisted it.

“Let’s talk over beer lightly first. The interview is the priority, entertainment later, isn’t it?”

“That sounds good!”

Jaeyol asked a very challenging question from the beginning as soon as he opened his mouth, “Why did manager Youngsu Park snatch Hyunwoo’s credit?”

Daebong was embarrassed because he just thought Jaeyol’s interview would only add the glamor and prestige of Aurum. Then Jaeyou suddenly brought up the awkward topic.

“Well, the fact is…Assistant Manager Hyunwoo disclaimed his own credit in favor of Youngsu…”

As he was too embarrassed, Daebong even stumbled, but Jaeyol was staring at him as if he was an investigator questioning a criminal.

There was nothing particular in Daebong’s reply, however. Youngsu didn’t snatch Hyunwoo’s credit, but Hyunwoo let him take it, saying that would be better for the company.

And that was quite understandable in some respect.

So, Jaeyol smiled brightly and nodded, “I thought Hyunwooo might have done so.”

Changing the topic, he asked Daebong about Hyunwoo and ‘Hyunwoo’s Mom.’

Daebong was quite skillful in fielding his questions. While he was replying, Daebong added comments about Aurum and Space Design oftentimes for their publicity.

Hearing what Daebong said, Jaeyol found that he played a great role with respect to Hyunwoo Mom’s factory. It was all Daebong’s credit that Hyunwoo’s mother first started the business and expanded it.

Given his credit, Daebong was like a benefactor to ‘Hyunwoo’s Mom.’

Nodding his head again, Jaeyol said, “Oh, you were very moved to hear Hyunwoo made a big donation to the kids of Anifan. And so you introduced her to the presidents of other factories. I think you really did a good job.”

Only then could Daebong feel relaxed.

Relaxing his back that he had been stretching because of the intensity of the interview, Daebong smiled broadly and said, “I feel really satisfied with that. I think people like Hyunwoo’s mother should have success.”

“How wonderful of you to have such an employee! You’re really blessed with talented employees, I think. I guess you had better give such an employee special promotion, right?,” said Jaeyol, laughing cheerfully.

But Daebong’s face grew dark.

Jaeyol got curious at his looks and asked, “What’s wrong with you? Is there something bad about him?”

“As a matter of fact, Hyunwoo is leaving our company. He started his own business.”

“Personal business? Then, it looks like he has decided to concentrate on helping his mother’s business.”

“No, not that. He has started an animation business. Originally, he started with helping the kids of the House of Happiness…”

While listening to Daebong, Jaeyol kept tilting his head as if he could not understand.

After all, he stopped Daebong and asked, “Wait a minute. I can understand your explanation on how Hyunwoo started the animation business Ani & Funny, but I could not understand the rest of what you said. I don’t get it when you said the purpose of his business was not making any profits. Is that true?”

“Well, I was also confused when I first heard about it. From a common-sense standpoint, I couldn’t understand why he started the business to help the kids. Of course, he could get 50% in educational subsidies from the city government, but he had to pay for the remaining 50% anyway.”

“If that’s the case, did Hyunwoo pay for the rest?”

“Yes. You might find it hard to understand that, but as I know Hyunwoo, I can fully understand his motivation. He has such a large heart.”

Jaeyol could not figure out how to understand Hyunwoo while listening to Daebong. Hyunwoo looked like a man of great secrets. He strongly wanted to dig into the character of Hyunwoo more and more. He even thought that the person ‘Hyunwoo’ himself was a bigger scoop than ‘Hyunwoo’s Mom.’

The next day Jaeyol visited the House of Happiness. To him, Hyunwoo seemed to be more connected with it than with Aurum.

The director of the House of Happiness easily accepted his interview request when Jaeyol mentioned Hyunwoo and ‘Hyunwoo’s Mom.’ The director’s positive response suggested how much they helped the orphanage usually.

Even there Jaeyol was shocked to hear another episode, “You mean that warehouse over there?”

“Yes. Hyunwoo is really a good man. He clearly knew what kind of real help our kids here needed when they graduated and helped them out.”

Jaeyol almost felt dizzy when he heard all the surprising episodes about Hyunwoo.

What the heck is the real identity of this guy, Hyunwoo?

Now Jaeyol was firmly convinced. Though his mother was great, it was Hyunwoo who was much greater. He felt it might be better to prepare a special feature on Hyunwoo himself.

Such an article Hyunwoo might not object to, he thought.

The real reason Hyunwoo rejected his idea of reporting on the sanitary issue of the snack houses was that it might incur the revenge of those owners who would be affected by the report, but the story about Hyunwoo himself had nothing with that.

Hyunwoo’s animation business was just started. In that respect, his report would be a boost to the publicity of his company. How could Hyunwoo object to the sort of report that would promote his nascent animation company?

Let me interview some more in the field before interviewing Hyunwoo.

Jaeyol wanted to meet with his company colleagues, too, to dig out something new about him. So, he met them including Yonggu Kim and Suji Min.

Their replies were as he expected. In particular, Suji’s testimony was impressive enough.

“Really? Taking the seniors in his neighborhood to a climbing outing? How many?”

“Typically ten people. After the outing, he treats them to dinner and then gives them a ride back home.”

“When did he start doing so?”

“I’m not sure exactly when he did so, but it’s clear he has been doing so quite a long time. At least ten years, I guess.”

The first twenty pages of Jaeyol’s notebook was already filled with information about Hyunwoo.

Though he only jotted down the gist on it, there were simply too many episodes about him.

If this were broadcasted on TV nationwide, obviously it would spark a great enthusiasm among the people. And they would draw great comfort from the fact that there are still good people like Hyunwoo in this world.

Jaeyol went back to Hyunwoo, who gladly welcomed him.

“You came down here to Ansan again. You still have to cover more stuff, I guess.”

“Well, I didn’t go back to Seoul yesterday. I slept in Ansan, interviewing from dawn till night, and still doing it.”

Hyunwoo laughed heartily at that and said, “Hahaha. How come there is so much stuff you have to cover?”

“It’s all because of you, Hyunwoo.”

“What? Is it because of me?” asked Hyunwoo, opening his eyes wide.

This time Jaeyol laughed outright and said, “Haha. Actually, I was almost done with researching the sanitary problems of the snack houses Friday. And then I’ve been investigating you. By the way, what is your real identity, Hyunwoo? Whenever I meet someone who knows you, I find a new fact about you. I just can’t figure out.”

Hyunwoo hardened his face a bit.

Jaeyol laughed more aloud this time.

“Oh, you don’t have to be tense. I said that with a good intention,” said Jaeyol.

And then he interviewed Hyunwoo, based on the episodes he heard from the people he met.

Hyunwoo felt relieved because Jaeyol didn’t mention anything about his father.

Instead, Jaeyol brought up unexpected topics like the castor Dream Team, Anifan kids, and the warehouses of the N&C Korea. Jaeyol was also aware that he started Ani & Funny and that the original purpose of its founding was to educate the Anifan kids.

Hyunwoo got so tense during the interview that he almost forgot about the Dream Team program in Vietnam but suddenly got a rude awakening when Jaeyol mentioned it.

“Well, it looks like I was tense, but I’m not. In fact, I’ve got to tell you something. After they broadcasted about the Dream Team several months ago, there were some big changes happening there.”

“What kind of changes are you talking about?”

Jaeyol took out his notebook as a habit.

Hyunwoo cautiously answered, “Well, do you want to report about it if I tell you another story like the Dream Team?”