ALL NOVEL 59
Ever since the day Dokyung had decided on his dream, he’d often dreamt about his future.
Sometimes he imagined himself as a world-renowned fund manager, sitting cross-legged while giving interviews to the media, or everyone following his stock picks. Other times, he had nightmares of the fund he managed collapsing and everyone pointing fingers at him.
Looking back now, it seemed like a silly dream, but Dokyung had always sincerely wished for it. Even if others mocked his dream, Dokyung was always earnest.
Even when reality’s walls seemed insurmountable, he persevered to grasp at least the edge of that dream.
“Have you been waiting long?”
In the WM Division Head’s office at Yuseong Investment Securities headquarters.
Vice President Sim Ju-won greeted the two people standing and looking at him as he entered the room.
“No, we just arrived a moment ago.”
“I’m sorry. The meeting ran a bit long.”
Sim Ju-won took off his jacket, hung it on a coat rack, and approached them with an outstretched hand.
“Yoon Dokyung! It’s been a while.”
Dokyung, standing with a nervous expression, bowed his head as he grasped Sim Ju-won’s extended hand.
“Vice President, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
At Dokyung’s greeting, Sim Ju-won smiled and patted Dokyung’s hand with his other hand.
“Your hand is sweaty. You must be nervous?”
As Sim Ju-won released his hand with a smile, Dokyung wiped his hands on his pants repeatedly, looking flustered.
“Let’s sit down. You two should have something to drink.”
“No need. We had coffee with Dokyung-ssi on the way here.”
As Ryu Tae-hwa, sitting opposite Dokyung, answered, Sim Ju-won slightly furrowed his brow.
“Is that so? That’s disappointing. Next time, just come. We should at least have a cup of coffee together. It’s too austere otherwise, isn’t it?”
Dokyung and Ryu Tae-hwa slightly bowed their heads at Sim Ju-won’s words.
“I thought you might have had a lot during the meeting.”
“Hahaha, Tae-hwa, you know me too well. I was feeling a bit burdened, but that’s a relief.”
Sim Ju-won made various jokes as if trying to ease Dokyung’s tension, then looked at Dokyung.
“Yoon Dokyung.”
“Yes, Vice President.”
“How is it?”
At Sim Ju-won’s abrupt question, Dokyung pondered for a moment before smiling brightly.
“It’s good.”
“Has it been a year? Since you won the mock investment competition.”
“It’s been about a year and a half.”
“Has it already been that long… I can still vividly remember you saying your dream was to be a fund manager.”
Sim Ju-won continued speaking while looking at Dokyung with a serious expression.
“Your name has been circulating in the industry lately. They say there’s a PB with outstanding returns at the Seongnam branch.”
Dokyung felt puzzled at Sim Ju-won’s words. His name was circulating in the industry?
Of course, more people had come to know him after his appearance on the YouTube channel and his unofficial battle with Jo Hyunseok.
But this was different from what Sim Ju-won was saying.
If that were the case, someone should have contacted him or people around him should have mentioned it, but this was the first time Dokyung had heard of it.
“You look like you’re hearing this for the first time.”
“…Yes, that’s correct.”
“Have you forgotten that you’re in the stock market? Rumors spread fast. Even if only a few people are talking about it now, your name will be rumored everywhere later.”
The stock market was sensitive to returns. Dokyung’s name, having recorded high returns since becoming a PB, would spread quickly.
“Our company invests a lot to secure skilled PBs. And it’s not just us, other companies are the same.”
Competition between securities firms was fierce. Even if not visible from the outside, the war to secure outstanding talent was always intense, and recently, as all securities firms turned their attention to personal asset management services, they were becoming even more passionate about securing talent.
“I can’t tell you all the internal data, but when comparing profits over the past year in percentages rather than amounts, you, Yoon Dokyung, have shown better returns than even formidable PBs.”
Ryu Tae-hwa also nodded at Sim Ju-won’s words.
After all, it was his team member sitting in front of him, nervously, who had routinely doubled profits—something others consider difficult to achieve even once in a lifetime.
“And thanks to that, the Seongnam branch ranks first in profitability for the first half of this year.”
Both Dokyung and Ryu Tae-hwa looked at Sim Ju-won in surprise at his words.
“I’m just telling you in advance what will be announced later anyway. You’ve worked hard too, Branch Manager Ryu.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m more grateful. Anyway, to continue our conversation, headhunting offers will soon start coming in for you, Yoon Dokyung.”
In these fiercely competitive times, a PB showing tremendous returns would soon catch the eye of every securities firm.
“That’s why, to protect an employee with outstanding skills, I’m sending you to the Leaders Center.”
“Thank you.”
“Is there any need to thank me? It’s just because your skills are outstanding.”
At Sim Ju-won’s words, Dokyung thought for a moment before speaking.
“I think not everyone recognizes hard work. So I feel blessed. It seems I’ve found a good company and good superiors.”
Dokyung knew that many people, even if they work hard and produce results, are treated just as a cog in the machine that keeps the company running.
“I’ll work hard.”
Thinking that this was all he could say to a company that recognized his abilities and gave appropriate rewards, Dokyung bowed his head in greeting.
“Well, you have a talent for making even the person giving the reward feel good. Do you two have any plans today?”
At Sim Ju-won’s question, Dokyung looked at Ryu Tae-hwa.
“I don’t have any. What about you, Dokyung-ssi?”
“I don’t have any either.”
“Good. Then let’s go out together. We’ll have a meal before returning.”
Sim Ju-won decided without even waiting for their answers, got up, put on his jacket, and led the way out. Ryu Tae-hwa chuckled and patted Dokyung’s back.
“Shall we go?”
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“This is it, this one.”
It was the weekend, and Dokyung had come to a car dealership in Gangnam. As it was his first time in such a place, he had come with Choi Woojin, and they were sitting at a table in one corner of the showroom, looking at the prepared catalog.
“Take a good look.”
Choi Woojin handed the catalog to Dokyung and began to speak.
“A domestic car? Good. These days, domestic brands are ranked third in the world. That’s really good. But you know.”
Dokyung, who had been reading the catalog, looked at Choi Woojin and focused on his words.
“We young people might think that way, but clients of a certain age don’t think like that.”
“Then?”
“It’s obvious why I brought you to this showroom. This is the Maginot Line.”
At Choi Woojin’s words, Dokyung looked around the showroom. From luxurious sedans to sports cars that made even Dokyung, who usually wasn’t interested in cars, turn his head.
They said it was the largest imported car showroom in Korea, and indeed, the cars were displayed glamorously.
“We’re in sales. And if you’re a PB at the Leaders branch, all the clients you deal with are high-net-worth individuals. High-net-worth individuals evaluate people in various ways. Of course, performance is a given, but naturally, external appearance also factors in.”
Dokyung focused on Choi Woojin’s words, which seemed incomprehensible to him.
“Appearance? Pass. You’re handsome. The clothes you’re wearing? Of course, you bought luxury brands from the department store, so pass. Then what’s left?”
“The car?”
“Bingo. That’s why I brought you here when you said you needed to buy a car. People’s perceptions are all the same. Imagine you set up an appointment with a PB outside, and they show up in a domestic sedan. What would you think?”
“Come on, do people really care that much about cars?”
At Dokyung’s words, Choi Woojin looked at him, waving his hand as if exasperated.
“They do care. Some people drive cars out of necessity, but there are those who use them to showcase their success. Most high-net-worth individuals fall into that category.”
“Hmm…”
Dokyung seemed to understand but also not understand.
“Of course, as you said, there are people who don’t care. Those who don’t care what car the other person drives won’t care even if you show up in an imported car, so don’t consider them. Who should we consider?”
“The clients who do care?”
“That’s right. If they see you driving a car like that, they’ll think, ‘Oh, this person must be making some money with good performance!’ The attitude itself will be different when they talk to you.”
At Choi Woojin’s words, Dokyung seemed to understand why he was specifically recommending an imported car.
Dokyung had just thought about buying a car because he figured there would be more outside meetings after moving to the Leaders branch, but Choi Woojin’s point that a car could also be a kind of indicator as a sales employee didn’t seem wrong.
“In the same class, the price difference isn’t that big anyway. Just think of it as a car for show.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Then choose one.”
At Choi Woojin’s words, Dokyung started looking at the catalog again.
“This is your car, right, Assistant Manager Woojin?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
The two exchanged various opinions while looking at the catalog, and when the selection was over, they began to fill out the contract.
“Even if you contract now… it looks like delivery will take about 7 months.”
“Ah… I guess the semiconductor supply still isn’t smooth?”
At Choi Woojin’s question, the employee nodded, looking slightly surprised but also as if it was unexpected.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Ah, we work at a securities firm, so we’re quite familiar with this kind of information.”
“Oh, I see. I was wondering why you were the only customers who asked about the semiconductor issue.”
The employee smiled as if amused.
Dokyung, who was filling out the contract, fell into thought for a moment.
“Why? Is 7 months too long?”
“Ah, no. I was just thinking about whether I should take a position in used cars. If new car deliveries are delayed this much, everyone will be looking for used cars. We might expect some sales for about a quarter.”
At these words, which went even further than his own, Choi Woojin looked at Dokyung as if fed up, then turned to the employee with an embarrassed expression.
“It’s a kind of occupational disease, you could say. Hahaha…”
“Ah, I see…”
After completing the contract and handing it over along with the necessary documents, the employee disappeared somewhere for a moment.
“I thought we’d have to wait about 3-4 months, but the wait is longer than expected.”
“Seven months is a long time, but it’ll pass quickly. You’ll have to live as a pedestrian for a while, what can you do?”
Buzz-
As Dokyung was nodding at Choi Woojin’s words, his mobile phone vibrated, and he checked the screen.
[This is the VIP service that always cheers for our client.]
[A small fortune will accompany our client who has not disappointed our expectations repeatedly.]
Dokyung looked surprised at the sudden message.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
“When you make that expression, it makes my heart sink, wondering what it is this time.”
“I guess it’s a habit.”
Dokyung smiled and recalled the content of the message.
A small fortune…
Although it was a message that didn’t clearly reveal anything, it didn’t feel bad. Even if it didn’t bring small fortune, the words that small fortune was accompanying him somehow made his heart feel at ease.
“Has the registration certificate come out?”
“No, it hasn’t.”
“Then why are you refusing to take delivery?”
The employee who had been smiling and making a contract with Dokyung until just now was talking with someone who seemed to be a superior, and it looked like they were in a very difficult situation.
“It seems like a simple change of mind, but they’re making various excuses.”
“Are you sure there’s no problem with the car?”
“Yes, I’ve confirmed there’s no problem.”
“Hah… If the vehicle registration certificate hasn’t come out, we have to take it back. This is going to be a headache if we get a complaint…”
The two exchanged conversation with furrowed brows as if there was some problem, and the employee looked very troubled.
“This kind of situation happens sometimes.”
Choi Woojin, who had been watching the conversation, turned to Dokyung.
“If they refuse delivery due to a simple change of mind when there’s no problem with the car, they have to send the car back and inspect it again. That seems to be giving them a headache.”
“Passing it on to another customer…”
“That doesn’t happen much here. All the people we deal with are quite wealthy, and if the customer finds out later, word spreads quickly.”
“I guess they’ll turn it into a rental.”
“Usually, that’s what they do. They turn it into a long-term rental, but that employee will have his performance canceled, have to watch out for his superiors, and will be quite stressed.”
“Customer.”
As the two were in the middle of their conversation, the employee approached and handed over some documents.
“Thank you for making a contract with us. As much as you’ve trusted me…”
“Please don’t feel too bad. I overheard earlier, but is the car that was refused delivery the same model as mine?”
When Dokyung asked this, the employee looked at him, surprised.
“Y-Yes, it is.”
“Are you sure there’s no problem with the car? If you’re certain, I’d like to take delivery of that car.”
At Dokyung’s words, the employee’s eyes widened in surprise once again.
“I’m in a bit of a hurry for a car, you see.”
“Th-There’s definitely no problem. If you want, we can have it verified at a repair shop of your choice.”
“Yes, let’s do that then. I’ll take delivery of the car.”
Choi Woojin grinned at Dokyung’s choice. At first, he thought about stopping him, but he seemed to understand the sentiment behind the choice.
“If you wish to take delivery of that vehicle, I’ll adjust the list price and prepare some additional benefits for you.”
“Shall we rewrite the contract?”
Dokyung said this as he pushed the already completed contract, and the employee took the contract and bowed his head.
“I’ll prepare a new contract.”
As the employee said this and left, Choi Woojin chuckled.
“Well, well. You’re a good person.”
“It’s not like that. I’m in a hurry for a car too, and they said there’s no problem with it… Plus, they’re offering benefits since I’m buying the car. It’s a small fortune for me.”
Choi Woojin nodded at Dokyung’s words.
“That’s right. It’s a small fortune that’s come to everyone.”
Choi Woojin said this as he looked intently to one side, and as he turned his head, he saw the sales employee coming towards them with arms full of service items.