First Steps 2

The male senior, addressing the female juniors, launched into an animated explanation of Warren Buffett with grand gestures, almost seeming to assert his superiority.

"He's someone who's never lost money because he has been investing since he was young. Have you heard of Black Monday? You might not be familiar with that," he began. In some ways, it almost seemed as though he was disregarding the female juniors, yet he displayed a demeanor that suggested he was more engrossed in his own words. Lee Sang-hoon struggled to stifle the impulse to laugh at the interaction between the female juniors and the male seniors.

"There was a time when the US stock market crashed, but that didn't bring him joy," the male senior continued.

"Why?" one of the women asked, clearly intrigued.

As if anticipating the question, the male senior gestured skyward. "I had too many stocks to buy," he retorted, prompting a chorus of impressed murmurs.

"That's absurd," thought Lee Sang-hoon, finding the scene before him more comical than whether Warren Buffett actually conveyed such sentiments. It almost seemed as if the man were gnashing his teeth in front of the young women. The age disparity was striking— the male senior was on the cusp of turning thirty, while the female juniors were only twenty-two or twenty-three. From Lee Sang-hoon's perspective, it wasn't a particularly flattering sight.

"In any case, he's the kind of person who bought Coca-Cola stock decades ago and never sold it, and that's how he achieved wealth. It's a legendary story among investors and has become a textbook example. The key to success in stocks lies in steadfastly holding onto your investments," the male senior continued.

"Wow, how do you know so much?" one of the women inquired.

The intense gazes of admiration directed at the male senior suggested that the female juniors held him in high regard.

"Today, you can't thrive without financial technology, and stocks represent the pinnacle of these financial tools. Aren't stocks the very essence of the capital market?" the male senior opined.

"Absolutely," the female juniors concurred.

"I've put in some dedicated study because you can't survive in this world without learning. Even if you enter society and earn money later on, you can't overlook financial skills. It's not a world where you can simply rely on your salary to hire a butler and a car," the male senior concluded.

"Not at all, Senior. You're amazing," the women responded eagerly. Their gestures and expressions underscored their enthusiasm for his words.

As Lee Sang-hoon pondered whether it might be time to take his leave, one of the female juniors posed a question to the male senior.

"Senior, how much did you invest in it? Please share with us," she inquired.

Hesitating, the male senior assumed a serious expression, contemplating his response to the somewhat pressuring question. Meanwhile, Lee Sang-hoon stood by, listening to their exchange.

The female junior sitting next to the male senior leaned in closer, subtly drawing attention to her slightly unbuttoned shirt, and coaxed, "I promise not to tell anyone. Please, just between us. How much did you invest?"

Although the male senior initially averted his gaze, it became clear that the women had noticed his eyes momentarily drifting to their chests. In response, the female junior leaned even closer, subtly accentuating her chest with her arms.

The male senior, seemingly at a loss for where to direct his gaze, stammered, "Um, I'll tell you, but you must promise not to disclose this information to anyone. It's just between us."

"Absolutely, we won't breathe a word of it to anyone else," the female juniors assured him.

At that moment, the female juniors redirected their attention toward Lee Sang-hoon, who, unaware of the specifics, nodded, unwittingly becoming party to a shared secret.

After a brief pause, the male senior disclosed the investment amount. "I invested about 10,000 won," he revealed.

"Wow, really? It was only 10,000 won? Incredible. If it's over 100,000 won now, that's amazing," one of the female juniors marveled.

"Perhaps. Hahaha," the male senior responded nonchalantly.

The female juniors enthusiastically grasped each other's hands, reveling in the moment, while the male senior, taken with their excitement, practically shrugged his shoulders to their full extent. Observing him, it seemed as if his shoulders might ascend endlessly, threatening to break through the ceiling. Unable to endure further, Lee Sang-hoon interjected.

"Pardon me, Senior, but is the professor around?" he inquired, trying to steer the conversation away from the enthralling stock discussion. The female juniors shot him an irritated glance, but determined to depart as swiftly as possible, Lee Sang-hoon disregarded their looks and focused solely on the male senior. Responding to Lee Sang-hoon's question, the male senior puzzled briefly before replying, "No, the professor isn't here. Why do you ask?"

"I just wanted to inquire about the professor," Lee Sang-hoon responded. "Well, in that case, I should come back another time. If the professor isn't around today, it means he's out for a meeting."

Though Lee Sang-hoon's initial aim was to leave, he found himself intrigued by the stock conversation that had captivated the others. Eager to understand the stock they were discussing—how 10,000 won had apparently turned into 100,000 won—he asked the male senior about the specific company he had invested in.

In response, the male senior at their table, Gyeongwoon, began to explain, "Well, Gyeongwoon is a stock expert. You know about US shipbuilding, right? I bought US shipbuilding for 10,000 won. Amazing, right? Can you believe I bought it for just 10,000 won? If I'd bought it with Kyungwoon back when I was at Miju Shipbuilding, it would have been a life-changer. Ah~~ What a missed opportunity."

Lee Sang-hoon recognized the company as part of the Americas Group, a shipbuilding company. However, he failed to comprehend the significance of purchasing the company for 10,000 won.

Another junior, filled with a mix of awe and curiosity, chimed in, "I've nearly reached 100,000 won. That's a tenfold increase. Amazing. Did you make ten times your investment? How much did you put in? 100,000 won? 500,000 won? Maybe... a million?"

"Would I nonchalantly disclose an investment worth 100,000 won? Heh heh. I won't reveal the exact figure now. Let's meet up later for a drink, and I'll share the details then. I'll even treat you to the drinks," the male senior retorted with a smile.

"Elder, today is just perfect for our get-together. Please make the purchase today, okay? Are you all on board with that?" another junior chimed in, seeking consensus from the group, who nodded in agreement.

The male senior made eye contact with Lee Sang-hoon and informed him that they had concluded their conversation. Unfazed, Lee Sang-hoon actually seemed to relish the situation.

"Alright. I won't hold back. I'll make the purchase today. What would you like to eat? I'll treat you to something delicious, long overdue," the male senior offered.

"Really? Then get more alcohol than food this time around. How about some Yangju liquor? We've been meaning to try Western liquor," one of the juniors suggested eagerly.

"Alright. I'm feeling it. Since there's no professor around today, let's head out for some drinks. We'll make it a big celebration for Valentine's Day this year," the male senior proclaimed excitedly.

"Wow~ It's Valentine's Day. Fantastic," exclaimed the female juniors, reveling in the moment with joyful handshakes.

The male senior, with a pleased expression, turned to Lee Sang-hoon and proposed, "Sang Hoon, come along with us."

Sensing the lack of warmth in the male senior's expression, Lee Sang-hoon declined, saying, "No, I have other plans for the day. I'll take my leave then." Eager to depart, Lee Sang-hoon nodded and exited the room. Even as he left, the vibrant sounds of laughter lingered behind him.

***

"Should we just sell and cash out now? It's grown substantially. Can't we be content with the current amount and withdraw the money? I'm worried it might take a downturn."

"I feel the same way. But they have all the bank books, stamps, and certified documents. How do we handle that? Trust me, the vice-chairman is trustworthy."

"You said the same about the chairman, and look how that turned out. Why are you still placing so much trust in people?"

"I thought the same, but this time is different. Look, it's really soaring. What was once 10,000 won is now 40,000 won. Isn't that something we can rely on? As the vice president assured us, let's believe that we can cover all our losses and even buy a house. We'll recover everything we've lost, secure a home, and settle down in one go. Trust me, just this once. It's for real this time."

"I'm home." Lee Sang-hoon entered his room, where his parents were still locked in a disagreement.

His father had toiled as if to dedicate his life to the company, only to be asked to retire honorably at an early age. He lived off his severance pay, struggling to find new employment, but his age stood as a barrier. Eventually, he joined a distribution company through a connection. However, to Lee Sang-hoon, it resembled a pyramid scheme. He couldn't ignore the hollow promise of making profits through buying products.

His mother attempted to dissuade his father, but eventually fell for the promise of earnings through purchases, not recruitment. When they received nearly 200% annual returns, they invested their remaining severance pay and additional funds, despite Lee Sang-hoon's objections. Though he initially tried to persuade them, he ultimately relented, realizing his father was determined to handle the situation himself and take care of college tuition. Dependent on his father's financial support, Lee Sang-hoon lacked a compelling argument to persuade his parents against their investment.

The recent success experienced over several months filled Lee Sang-hoon's parents with newfound hope. They were enamored with the idea that they could recoup their investment within six months. Gradually, they started borrowing money and urging their acquaintances to invest. Meanwhile, the distribution company, which had been on a winning streak, acquired a large department store located in the province.

However, at one juncture, the company began to miss payments, and shortly after, its offices were shuttered. The news reported that it was the largest pyramid scheme fraud case since Dangun, and the screen displayed the arrest of the person referred to as the chairman, who, wearing a mask and in a wheelchair, was taken into custody by the authorities.

Intent on securing the release of the company's president, Lee Sang-hoon's parents even staged a protest in front of the prosecutor's office. They believed that the current predicament had only occurred because the president had been arrested and his business had been shut down. However, those around them insinuated that they had been deceived, ultimately forcing the protest to disband.

Stunned by the turn of events, Lee Sang-hoon's parents found themselves in a state of disillusionment and inertia. Lee Sang-hoon initially dropped out of school for the remainder of the semester, intending to earn money. His mother, however, persuaded him to finish his education, so he ultimately applied for a student loan and returned for his final semester.

Amidst their struggle, several individuals who had suffered similar losses approached Lee Sang-hoon's father, who had sunk into a daily routine of alcohol consumption, having lost all his money in multiple stages. Although initially disheartened, his resolve was shaken when others suggested it was unfair to relinquish hope after such losses.

It was during this uncertain period that a figure known as the Vice President emerged. He operated the actual company under the chairman, who was at the helm of the pyramid scheme. Seeking individuals in positions of authority, the Vice President convinced Lee Sang-hoon's father that there was a way to recoup all the lost funds. Once again, Lee Sang-hoon's father placed their house as collateral, this time for stock investment.

This venture involved those who had faced financial hardships coming together under the leadership of the Vice President, aiming to reap substantial profits through acquiring and then flipping a company. Despite Lee Sang-hoon's limited knowledge in the field, it became apparent that the situation was likely not above board. Nevertheless, his parents were gripped by the hope of reclaiming their lost money, and they persisted, reminiscent of the days of the pyramid scheme.

Not yet...