Chapter 39: Unexpected News

“Intern Cha, have some morning coffee.”

Yun Sola approached with a radiant smile and held out an iced coffee to me.

As if they had been waiting for this, the others immediately began joking.

“So Intern Yun only sees mouths on some people and muzzles on others?”

“First thing on a Monday morning, and all your attention goes to Intern Cha...”

But Yun Sola, as always, wasn't embarrassed in the slightest and replied with complete confidence.

“I simply bought coffee for a colleague who joined the company at the same time I did.”

“And why do I feel like there are personal feelings involved?” Woo Changhun asked with narrowed eyes.

“Deputy Manager Woo, perhaps you should look in the mirror before saying something like that.”

“......”

Woo Changhun's expression twisted instantly. Nevertheless, Yun Sola continued smiling calmly, as though she had a stone wall behind her.

“Intern Yun, do you realize that what you just said sounded like a personal insult?”

“Oh, please don't misunderstand me. I only meant to say that there is black fur on your clothes.”

I had a pretty good idea where the black fur on Woo Changhun's suit had come from. When I left home this morning, Saho had clung to me stubbornly and refused to let me go. While I struggled to pry him off, some of his fur had probably stuck to my clothes. Then, after arriving at the office and greeting Woo Changhun, Saho's fur must have transferred onto him. As if confirming my suspicion, I noticed several black hairs on my own trousers as well.

‘Hm... If this keeps happening, it'll become a problem. I need to find a way to leave for work without these morning battles with Saho.’

While I was briefly lost in thought, Yun Sola looked at me in surprise.

“Oh, Intern Cha, there's black fur on your pants too?”

“You're right. I just noticed.”

“It looks like cat fur. Intern Cha, do you have a cat?”

“Yes, I recently took one in.”

“How adorable! I absolutely love cats. Could you show him to me sometime?”

‘How would she react if she learned that Saho was a wildcat?’

“I don't know if it'll be possible, but if the opportunity comes, I will,” I replied indifferently.

At that moment, Director Jeong Sunho's secretary hurried over.

“Director Jeong is calling Deputy Manager Woo, Intern Cha, and Intern Yun.”

After receiving permission, we entered the office. Director Jeong Sunho, Support Team Leader Heo Yeongjin, and Team One Leader Jeong Doyeon were already waiting for us.

We bowed politely and sat down on the sofa, after which Jeong Sunho spoke in a gentle voice.

“You all rested well and recovered over the past three days after returning from the trip, didn't you?”

“Yes, Director!” we answered together.

Jeong Sunho nodded in satisfaction and continued.

“What I'm about to say must remain absolutely confidential for now.”

“Understood.”

“The Chairman was extremely pleased with the report on the results of our trip to the United States. He decided to generously reward everyone involved.”

Gulp.

I involuntarily swallowed. After all, the person who had contributed the most to the success of that trip was none other than me. Noticing it—or perhaps simply hearing it—Jeong Sunho chuckled.

“Deputy Manager Woo, the time required for your promotion to department manager has been shortened by an entire year.”

“Thank you very much, Director!”

“You should thank the Chairman, not me. Surely you understand that?”

Woo Changhun shook his head and sincerely said,

“If you hadn't exaggerated my achievements in your report to the Chairman, I would never have received such a generous reward.”

“Woo, I think you're mistaken. I wasn't the one who reported your achievements to the Chairman.”

“Excuse me? What do you mean?”

“The Vice Chairman personally informed the Chairman of your accomplishments.”

“Ah...”

Only then did Woo Changhun finally grasp the situation and fall silent. Jeong Sunho glanced at him and shifted his gaze to us.

“And Intern Cha and Intern Yun are being converted to full-time employees. Congratulations.”

“What?!”

Team Leader Jeong Doyeon, who had been watching Cha Jiham and Yun Sola closely, sensed something strange.

The ultimate goal of every intern was to secure a full-time position. Naturally, both of them should have been overwhelmed with shock and joy. Yet unlike the stunned Cha Jiham, Yun Sola remained completely calm.

Apparently, he wasn't the only one who noticed. Support Team Leader Heo Yeongjin tilted his head and asked directly,

“Intern Yun, aren't you happy about becoming a full-time employee?”

In truth, Yun Sola had learned last Friday from Vice Chairman Yoon Sanghun that she would be hired permanently. Since the news wasn't a surprise, she didn't react strongly. But Heo Yeongjin had obviously sensed something unnatural.

Of course, if she revealed that she belonged to the owner family of the conglomerate, everything would become clear. But she absolutely couldn't reveal her identity. If she did, Cha Jiham would undoubtedly build an even higher wall between them.

Forcing her brain to work at full speed, she finally came up with a convincing excuse.

“I talked with Isabella yesterday, and she hinted that Intern Cha and I would receive a major reward. I guessed she meant full-time employment, so I wasn't surprised.”

“Ah, I see.”

“And I'd also like to add something from my conversation with Isabella.”

“Go ahead.”

“Endivia is planning to hold a meeting in our country to establish the joint venture.”

Isabella worked in Chairman Hudson's office and was his niece. That meant there was a high probability she would come to Korea with his delegation.

Tracy, with whom I had spent two unforgettable passionate nights, would surely come as well, since the Bongard Group was supposed to receive thirty percent of the shares in the joint venture.

‘Haah... It'll be terrible if both girls throw themselves at me at the same time. What am I supposed to do?’

While I lamented something entirely unrelated, the conversation between Heo Yeongjin and Yun Sola continued.

“Do you know why Endivia and the Bongard Group want to come in person?”

“They want to inspect the factories where the high-bandwidth semiconductors will be produced.”

“That makes perfect sense. When is the visit scheduled?”

“They're currently coordinating the schedule with Hangang Electronics.”

“Of course. As soon as you learn anything else, report it immediately.”

After finishing his questions, Heo Yeongjin turned toward Jeong Sunho.

“Director, sorry for interrupting. Please continue.”

“Intern Cha and Intern Yun will officially become full-time employees at the end of this month.”

Since it was currently late April, only about a week remained.

“Understood.”

“However, your permanent employment comes with one condition.”

“What condition, Director?”

“You must both fully support the project to ensure the establishment of the joint venture proceeds without any problems.”

I absolutely couldn't understand Jeong Sunho's words. How was I, someone who had only just become a regular employee, supposed to influence the establishment of an international joint venture?

Seeing my confusion, the director replied in a gentle but firm tone.

“The very idea for this joint venture came from Intern Cha and Intern Yun. I don't think any further explanation is necessary, is it?”

“I understand what you mean, but how long will the process of establishing the company take?”

“The joint venture itself will be registered no later than the end of the year. However, considering the need to obtain approval from regulators in the United States, the EU, and elsewhere, you should expect at least a year and a half.”

My plan was to inherit Chairman Park Yeongil's affairs as soon as possible and take over Korea Investment. I had intended to resign immediately after becoming a full-time employee so I could begin learning asset management. That was why I had been so pleased by the news. But now this joint venture had completely tied my hands.

‘Chairman Yoon won't let me go until the company is fully established...’

Pushing the unsolvable problem aside for later, I continued asking questions.

“Is approval from the United States and the EU really that necessary?”

“Without it, we simply won't be able to export the high-bandwidth semiconductors we produce.”

“I understand now.”

“And one last thing. Everyone involved in the American business trip will receive a bonus equal to one thousand percent of their salary.”

“What?!”

Everyone present except Yun Sola, myself, and Jeong Sunho opened their mouths in shock.

Jeong Sunho looked at me curiously.

“You don't seem surprised at all, Cha. Care to explain why?”

I was destined to manage Korea Investment with assets worth fifty trillion won. And although there were conditions attached, I was also supposed to inherit Chairman Park's personal fortune of seventy trillion won.

Naturally, a one-thousand-percent bonus couldn't shake me. But I couldn't tell the truth, so I gave another reason.

“I don't think I've fully realized how much money that actually is yet.”

“Well, that's possible. By the way, Intern Yun also remained calm.”

In reality, Yun Sola had learned about the one-thousand-percent bonus last Friday, so she wasn't surprised. Moreover, as a member of an extremely wealthy family, the amount didn't seem that impressive to her.

“I don't really have a good grasp of what that translates to in actual money either,” she said, playing along.

“Ha-ha-ha! Fine, let's say that's true. But surely you all understand that we owe this enormous bonus to Intern Cha?”

“Of course we do,” the others nodded.

“Then you'll have to treat us when we receive the money!”

“Ha-ha-ha, I'll definitely do that,” I replied.

At that moment, Woo Changhun, who had clearly been holding an important question back, raised his hand.

“Director, will the bonus be paid at the end of this month?”

“They say it'll be paid on the tenth of next month.”

“Why the ten-day delay?”

“I was told that if it were paid at the end of this month, the bonus amount for Intern Cha and Intern Yun would be much smaller.”

Since Cha Jiham and Yun Sola were still technically interns, their salaries were far lower than those of regular employees.

Chairman Yoon Jongu knew this and personally ordered that payment be delayed until after their official transition so they could receive bonuses corresponding to their new status.

“Ah, that makes perfect sense.”

“That's everything I wanted to tell you. Team Leader Heo, stay behind. Everyone else can return to work.”

After Cha Jiham and the others left the office, Jeong Sunho glanced around and lowered his voice.

“What I'm about to say must remain between the two of us, Heo.”

“I'm listening, Director.”

“The Chairman summoned me last Saturday, and I learned something astonishing.”

“Astonishing? What is it?”

“Intern Yun is the Chairman's biological granddaughter.”

“Ah... I see...”

Heo Yeongjin let out a sound of understanding, finally making sense of all of Yun Sola's strange behavior.

“But the most important part comes next. The Chairman wants Intern Cha and Intern Yun to get married.”

“What?! Is that true?!”

“Heo, you've seen with your own eyes what Cha Jiham is capable of.”

“Well, even so... he's got nothing, and his family is completely ordinary.”

“Be quiet. I was given to understand that an unbelievably powerful figure is backing Cha Jiham.”

“Ah, so that's why he wears such expensive branded clothes?”

“Exactly.”

“Director, do you know who it is?”

“I became curious myself and asked the Chairman, but he avoided the question.”

In other words, it was a clear warning not to stick my nose where it didn't belong.

“I understand.”

“The problem is that Intern Cha has built a solid wall and won't let Yun Sola get close.”

“Maybe he guessed who she is and that's why he's being so cautious?”

“Heo, what would you do if you knew her status?”

“I'd bend over backwards to make her like me...”

Heo Yeongjin abruptly stopped, instantly understanding the director's reasoning.

“Exactly. That means Cha is keeping his distance for a completely different reason.”

“That does sound convincing.”

“The Chairman made it clear that he wants you and me to play a role and help them reach the altar.”

Heo Yeongjin's heart began pounding furiously. If Cha Jiham and Yun Sola really got married, a twelve-lane highway straight to the top of the corporate ladder would open before him.

However, that burning excitement vanished within ten seconds, replaced by chilling terror.

“If they aren't married within a year, you and I will retire and spend our days babysitting our grandchildren.”

“......”

“I think you understand what needs to be done if you don't want to be kicked out of the company?”

“Yes, Director!” Heo Yeongjin answered with absolute determination.