Chapter 21

When the chair was partially prepared, Lee Sang-hoon rested on the sofa behind him and attempted to catch his breath. At that moment, the office bell rang. Deputy Jang halted what he was doing, hurriedly made his way to the door, and opened it.

"Oh, Mrs. Kim, you're here early."

Instantly the stern look on Deputy Jang's face softened as he greeted Mrs. Kim with a smile. Mrs. Kim, a woman in her 50s with permed hair and a round face, entered and looked around before commenting, "Dr. Jang looks much better. You should get married. But why hasn't anyone else arrived yet? Time is of the essence, isn't it?"

"Chairman Jangpyeong Kim and Director Daechidong Choi mentioned they would be about five minutes late, and it's almost time for Ms. Park and Ms. Heo to arrive. It's not too late," Deputy Jang explained.

"No, these people should arrive early, especially considering the difficulty of finding this place. Why are they late? Please relay my message to the chairman later, Deputy Jang. I am someone who keeps my promises."

"Of course, the president also recognizes Mrs. Kim's sincerity. You are well-informed, so there's no need to worry."

"Alright then, ho ho ho."

Mrs. Kim took a seat at one end of the table under Deputy Jang's guidance. Upon sitting down, she opened the prepared snacks, took a bite, and gestured towards Lee Sang-hoon.

"Who's this?"

"Oh, you must be the researcher who's joining us. I came here to briefly attend today's study session and get a feel for the environment."

"Alright then. A new researcher? Hmm, quite dashing."

As Mrs. Kim finished speaking, she thoroughly examined Lee Sang-hoon from head to toe. Feeling uncomfortable under her intense scrutiny, Lee Sang-hoon smiled nervously and greeted Mrs. Kim.

"Hello, I'm Lee Sang-hoon. I look forward to working with you."

Feeling uneasy about Mrs. Kim's gaze, Lee Sang-hoon urgently tried to engage her in conversation to divert her attention.

"I'm not sure about certain things, so please teach me."

"We should be the ones receiving guidance. Oh, you look quite handsome."

Mrs. Kim got up from her seat as if to approach Lee Sang-hoon, causing him to step back in surprise and glance at Jang, who appeared oblivious.

Just as Lee Sang-hoon felt a sense of urgency and attempted to get Jang's attention, the doorbell rang. Mrs. Park and Mrs. Heo, whom they had been expecting, arrived at the office, naturally dispelling the tense atmosphere.

As Lee Sang-hoon observed the three middle-aged women, he wiped his brow. The three of them chatted and enjoyed sweets as if they were old friends reuniting after a long time. Lee Sang-hoon noted that the snacks prepared for the gathering were swiftly disappearing.

Despite their relaxed behavior, the vibrant clothing and expensive-looking bags they carried denoted their affluence. They appeared to be well-off, despite their casual demeanor.

After another ten minutes, the middle-aged men also arrived one by one, and the entire group assembled and began conversing around the table in the center. At first glance, they seemed no different from individuals making an excursion together.

Lee Sang-hoon observed Deputy Jang sending a text message beside him. It appeared to be directed to President Wang, who seemed to have been waiting outside until everyone else arrived.

"Is that really necessary?" Lee Sang-hoon pondered. He didn't like the idea of arriving earlier than everyone else, and he was unsure about the purpose. Shaking his head at President Wang's unexpected appearance, about 10 minutes passed after Deputy Jang's text message. Just as Lee Sang-hoon had anticipated, President Wang entered the office.

"Everyone is here."

"President, you're here?"

"Ah, how long have you all been waiting? It's great to see everyone."

"Indeed, we owe it all to you. Thanks to the chairman, I've been able to recover much of what I had lost, and now I feel more at ease. Hahaha."

"Oh, I feel the same way. Because of the chairman, I can even enroll my kids in an academy again. I used to wonder why the market wasn't open on weekends, but now I'm thrilled to be able to attend the chairman's lectures on weekends. It's such a joy to see you all often."

"I always look forward to meeting you all, but finding the time isn't easy these days. I hope you understand."

"Of course, it's a delight to see a busy person like the chairman. Ha ha ha."

Observing their lively exchange, Lee Sang-hoon turned to Deputy Jang, who was seated beside him. Deputy Jang was peering out the window with a dissatisfied expression.

"Right, then. Shall we all take our seats and begin?"

After some small talk, President Wang directed everyone to their seats and took charge. He removed his jacket, donned an armband, and stood in front of the whiteboard with a marker.

"Some of you may have heard the last lecture, while others may not have. I will briefly revisit the key points from our previous session, particularly on the subject of the Elliott Wave. Did you all study the Elliott Wave theory during the last session?" President Wang inquired.

As Lee Sang-hoon observed the attendees, he was taken aback by their rapt attention to President Wang's words. Whether it was their fervor for stocks or for financial gain, their expressions transformed once the lecture commenced. They resembled a snake fixated on its prey, their eyes unwavering.

"As I mentioned before, in the case of the Elliott Wave, the 3-wave is the longest, and the 5-wave is the most robust, correct? Identifying the starting point of the wave is crucial. It is also essential to discern whether the wave is progressing in an ABC pattern or a 12345 pattern. A rising wave follows a falling wave, and a downward wave follows a rising wave. Understanding the pattern of the wave is key, and I invite you all to delve deeper into this concept with me," President Wang continued.

Lee Sang-hoon listened to President Wang's lecture with keen interest. While familiar with the material from his own studies, hearing it presented verbally rather than in written form provided a fresh perspective.

"Let's approach this with the mindset of comparing and reflecting on our individual studies as we listen to President Wang's narrative," Lee Sang-hoon thought to himself.

President Wang occasionally punctuated his speech with rhetorical questions and effectively captured the members' attention.

"When a trend deviates from the wave trend line, overshooting and undershooting occur. I'm sure you're all familiar with these concepts?" President Wang queried.

He emphasized the significance of trend lines and the potential consequences of overshooting and undershooting, eliciting nods and marked notations from the audience.

Lee Sang-hoon perceived that President Wang's explanation effectively concluded with the imperative to apply the knowledge and retain their members' commitment.

Unfolding his arms, Lee Sang-hoon directed a quiet question toward the person beside him. "What do you make of this?"

Deputy Jang turned towards Lee Sang-hoon's voice and gazed at him with a mournful expression. Lee couldn't fathom why President Wang's explanation of the Elliott Waves had affected her so deeply, but the desolation etched on her face was tangible.

"Sang-hoon, would you like to step outside for some fresh air?" Deputy Jang suggested.

"Now?" Lee inquired, taking notice of Chairman Wang leaving his seat amidst the engrossing lecture.

Despite the growing momentum of the lecture, Deputy Jang rose from the sofa, her expression familiar, and gently tugged at Lee Sang-hoon's arm. "It's alright. Let's go outside for a breather."

Caught off guard, Lee glanced at President Wang and the other attendees to ensure they wouldn't attract attention as Jang led him out. Yet, the group was solely focused on the whiteboard and handouts, demonstrating no interest in their departure.

Once outside, Lee and Jang made a stop at a convenience store in the building and selected some beverages. Lee suspected that Jang's purchase of multiple drinks was an attempt to justify their exit by procuring refreshments.

Taking a seat in a nearby pavilion with the drinks in hand, Jang fixed her gaze on Lee for a moment. Lee, feeling flustered under her scrutiny, averted his eyes. In all his years of university, he had never engaged in club activities, and encounters with women were rare due to the disproportionate gender ratio in the electronics department. Jang's intense scrutiny made him blush, prompting him to glance away. It seemed as though Deputy Jang was trying to discern his thoughts.

Growing uneasy, Lee decided to break the silence. "How long will the lecture go on for?"

At the conclusion of Lee Sang-hoon's statement, Deputy Jang responded, averting her gaze.

"Typically, it wraps up before lunch. Extended discussions might cause delays, but it should be done by 1 o'clock," Jang informed Lee Sang-hoon.

Glancing at the clock, Lee noted that it was just 10:30. Despite feeling a bit drowsy on this leisurely Saturday morning, he didn't mind donning a suit and savoring a leisurely coffee.

As Lee closed his eyes to appreciate the refreshing morning breeze, Jang inquired, "Will you continue attending?"

"Me? I'm not sure. You seem eager to attend, hence your presence today. You've been talking about it all morning. You seem content, don't you?" Lee responded.

"I'd like for you to attend. It doesn't feel right if it's anyone else but you. Doing it alone is difficult. I feel lonely too," Jang expressed.

"Why do you speak as if I'm reluctant to be here?" Lee asked, trying to maintain a lighthearted tone. Despite his efforts, Jang's somber demeanor tugged at his heartstrings. He felt an urge to alleviate her sadness.

"What alternatives do I have if I don't like it? It's just that I'm cautious about committing too quickly. I need time to ponder," Lee expressed.

"Ah, not this place, perhaps?" Jang inquired.

Pretending not to comprehend, Lee turned away. He had a vague sense of what this place was like, largely informed by his readings and his parents' experiences. However, he opted to feign ignorance instead of delving into those details, and he sat down in front of Deputy Jang, maintaining an expression of ignorance.

Pulling out a cigarette, Jang remarked to the space behind Lee's shoulders, exhaling a plume of smoke.

"It's worse than I expected. Well, it feels inappropriate to label it merely as 'bad.' It's truly a terrible place. Many people enter and then leave disillusioned. I say this after observing you quit for a few minutes before coming in. I can't make decisions for you, but I hope you'll choose wisely," Jang remarked, addressing the invisible cloud rather than Lee.