NOVEL NEXT 93
“Where are you going today?”
Two days later, the weekend atmosphere in Dokyung’s home was different from usual.
Typically, Dokyung’s house was quiet as a mouse on weekend mornings. Both Dokyung, who worked during the week, and his younger brother, who studied, caught up on much-needed rest on weekend mornings.
Their mother, aware of this, usually let her two sons sleep in, but…
Today, despite it being a weekend, the house was bustling with activity from early morning.
“Yes, I have a few places to go.”
Dokyung replied to his mother’s question as he sat on the living room sofa, fumbling to put on his socks.
“Where are you going? Who are you meeting?”
“Ah, it’s nothing like that. Since it’s a holiday, I just want to visit some places I haven’t been able to go to before.”
“Really? Are you sure you don’t need to rest?”
Dokyung smiled at his mother’s concerned question.
“It’s fine.”
“Still, you and Dojin come home so late on weekdays. I’d like you both to get some good sleep on weekends.”
“I slept well. I went to bed early last night, remember?”
As Dokyung said this, his mother nodded reluctantly.
“I’ll probably be back after dinner. Use the allowance I gave you yesterday to treat Dojin to something delicious.”
As soon as he got home yesterday, Dokyung had given part of his performance bonus from work to his mother and younger brother.
Both of them had adamantly refused, but Dokyung thought it was only natural, believing that his family’s sacrifices allowed him to focus solely on his work at the company.
“What are you…”
“Don’t be like that. I’ve already talked to Dojin separately, so go out when he asks. This is my chance to play the role of a good son.”
“Alright.”
At his mother’s words, Dokyung grinned, gathered his bag, and stood up.
“Well then, I’ll be going.”
After saying goodbye, Dokyung left the house and got into his car parked in the underground garage.
Then he took out his phone.
“Let’s see, the address is…”
Dokyung opened an app labeled “Cat Photo Collection” and went to the message inbox. The content of the message that had arrived while he was having lunch with Han Dahyun appeared on the screen.
[This is the VIP Service that always cheers for you.]
[Yoon Dokyung-ssi has shown everyone, through his own example, what an investment expert should observe in the rapidly changing market trends.]
Reading the message again, Dokyung chuckled.
‘His own example,’ huh.
“It was an example alright. Though I went through hell for a few days.”
Dokyung grumbled. The criticism and reproach directed at him over the past few days had been almost unbearable, to the point where it was difficult to even express his honest feelings.
[World affairs are certainly enough to shake the stock price of a single company.]
[However, the only thing a person like me can do in such a situation is to study my own position.]
Dokyung nodded as he read the message.
He seemed to understand why the message had been telling him he had an obligation, and how it was related to increasing the YouTube channel’s subscriber count.
Reducing the number of people who believed in opinions skewed to either extreme of the market due to Dokyung’s words.
He thought that was the essence of this mission.
[Yoon Dokyung-ssi has always shown through his impressive actions that he is worthy of our selection.]
[Yoon Dokyung-ssi deserves to receive an appropriate reward for this.]
[Reward: 8 Gukjegeumyung-ro, Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul…]
The reward included an address for a specific location.
And a new menu had appeared in one part of the app.
[Authentication Key NEW!]
It was a menu called “Authentication Key,” but when pressed, it only displayed instructions to bring the phone close to something.
Dokyung was heading to the address provided in the message today to solve this mystery.
After entering the address from the message into his navigation, Dokyung started the car, and it glided out of the apartment’s underground parking lot.
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“Is this the place?”
Dokyung parked his car in a nearby public parking lot and arrived at the given address.
In front of Dokyung stood a massive building, and he looked up at it.
“Whoa, that’s dizzying.”
The building was so tall it made him dizzy just looking up. It was a high-rise building with commercial spaces and officetels on the upper floors.
Dokyung clicked his tongue and entered the building.
“Let’s see… Room 2104… This is it.”
Standing in front of the room number indicated in the message, Dokyung eyed the door suspiciously before pressing the doorbell.
Ding dong- Ding dong-
Despite ringing several times, there was no response from inside.
Bzzt-
Just then, his phone started vibrating, and Dokyung reflexively checked the screen.
[Please place the Authentication Key against the door lock.]
The source of the vibration was a message, and Dokyung did as instructed, pressing the Authentication Key menu and holding it up to the door lock.
As soon as he brought his phone close, he heard the distinctive cheerful sound of the door unlocking, and Dokyung opened it.
“Wow…”
The moment he opened the door, Dokyung couldn’t help but exclaim in awe at what he saw through the narrow entrance hallway.
As he took off his shoes and stepped inside, Dokyung felt like the music that used to play on TV when introducing a new house in his childhood was playing in his head.
Bzzt bzzt-
As Dokyung entered the apartment, his phone vibrated once again, and he checked the screen.
[This is a place that no one but Yoon Dokyung-ssi can access.]
[The stock market is a place where dozens, even hundreds of pieces of information circulate daily.]
[Contemplation is a great help in seeing the “essence” hidden behind exaggerated information.]
“So… this place is.”
[This space is solely for Yoon Dokyung-ssi. Use it when you need to organize your thoughts or when you need time alone.]
Dokyung, who had been wondering if this was even possible, recalled the experiences he’d had through the messages and chuckled as he looked around.
One side of the living room, with floor-to-ceiling windows, offered a view of the Han River.
And in front of it, a bookshelf was stocked with various books.
“Wow, this is the collector’s edition of ‘Extras in the Novel’.”
From novels to humanities, comics, and economics-related books.
Although it was a small bookshelf, it seemed to contain books that accurately pierced Dokyung’s tastes.
“Oh, this is comfortable. I could even sleep here.”
Dokyung sat down on the recliner sofa in front of it.
The moment he sat down, it felt as if the sofa was embracing his body, so comfortable that he might fall asleep if he wasn’t careful.
Fearing he might doze off due to the comfort, Dokyung got up and moved to what appeared to be the kitchen.
“There’s lots of delicious stuff.”
The kitchen shelves were filled with the kinds of snacks Dokyung liked, and the refrigerator was stocked with his favorite beers, drinks, and even some food for a light meal.
“No need for a hotel staycation.”
Dokyung chuckled and turned his attention to a separate room on one side.
“Is that the bedroom?”
Dokyung wondered as he flung open the door, but he froze with his mouth agape at what he saw.
“Oh my, Manager.”
Dokyung entered the room with a delighted smile, but it was set up like a one-person office with a desk, chair, computer…
And the star of Dokyung’s surprise, a Bloomberg Terminal, sitting on one side of the room.
The Bloomberg Terminal was a kind of terminal that allowed access to various analytical charts and reports from securities firms and asset management companies worldwide.
“Why is this here?”
Dokyung sat at the desk and began fiddling with the Bloomberg Terminal like a child with a new toy.
In addition to the features mentioned, the Bloomberg Terminal could display all sorts of economic indicators, including futures price indicators and bond price fluctuation indicators.
It provided almost every service related to stocks and the economy, so the annual usage fee for the terminal alone was comparable to the salary of a manager at a decent securities firm.
That’s why it was jokingly called “Manager Bloom.”
“This is the best part.”
Dokyung muttered as if for the message to hear and began operating the terminal.
While he could receive news 5 minutes faster through the “Cat Photo Collection” app, this place was the most convenient for viewing macroeconomic indicators, and it had a variety of functions.
After fiddling with the terminal for a while, Dokyung got up from his seat with a grin.
Then, as if now familiar with the place, he opened the refrigerator door and took out a can of beer.
He sat down cross-legged on the living room floor and gazed at the Han River through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“Is it really okay for me to receive this?”
With a ‘tsss’ sound, Dokyung opened the beer can, took a sip, and spoke to himself.
“This is a first.”
For the first time in his life, Dokyung had a space entirely his own.
Of course, he had rented rooms before… but this was different. An overwhelming emotion welled up in his chest.
“And it seems you know my tastes better than my mom.”
Dokyung looked around and finally raised his beer can.
“My mom doesn’t even know my beer preferences.”
Dokyung made a frivolous joke as he gazed at the peaceful Han River on a weekend afternoon.
After a moment of contemplation, Dokyung raised his beer can towards the window.
“Thank you.”
Dokyung expressed his sincere gratitude and then took a swig of beer.
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“How have the past few days been?”
A few days later, back to his routine, Dokyung was having a conversation with Center Director Ha Min-jae in the director’s office.
“I feel like even having two bodies wouldn’t be enough.”
Ha Min-jae had called Dokyung to ask about his recent work, and he chuckled at Dokyung’s response.
“You’re getting a lot of calls, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I have two meetings scheduled for today as well.”
After the incident with Lee Donghyuk, the industry’s top PB, there was a constant stream of phone calls from high-net-worth individuals inquiring about receiving Dokyung’s asset management services.
The phone at Dokyung’s desk and his mobile phone were almost always busy, so clients would sometimes inquire separately at the head office or the center.
“Your body might be tired, but you should enjoy this moment while knowing it’s temporary.”
Ha Min-jae offered advice born from his own experience to Dokyung.
“It won’t last long, so don’t be disappointed when it’s over.”
“Yes, I already understand that.”
Dokyung well understood that this flood of attention was temporary. He had experienced it several times at the Seongnam branch.
Perhaps it was the fate of those called star PBs.
“Good. Even if I want to teach you something, Dokyung-ssi, there’s nothing left for me to teach.”
Ha Min-jae spoke as if regretful.
He sincerely saw Dokyung as a star who would lead the industry in a few years.
It felt like the desire to leave even a single dot on a masterpiece.
“That’s not true. I’m learning plenty just by observing you, Center Director.”
“I’m grateful you say that. Do you have any plans for the weekend?”
“No. For my own sake, and for the clients’, I try not to schedule anything on weekends if possible.”
“That’s good. Then are you free on Saturday evening?”
Dokyung looked at Ha Min-jae with a puzzled expression at his question.
“Yes, I don’t have any particular plans.”
“Then there’s somewhere I’d like you to come with me. Would you like to go?”
Saying this, Ha Min-jae handed Dokyung an envelope, which Dokyung received with both hands.
The envelope was clearly labeled “Invitation.”
“May I ask what this is…”
“Hmm, Dokyung-ssi, have you ever heard of HMIC?”
“Yes. Isn’t that the stock investment club at Korea University?”
“That’s right. I’m an alumnus.”
Ha Min-jae smiled and continued talking to Dokyung.
“They have an annual event that’s open to outsiders. Let’s go together.”
Dokyung, who had been listening quietly to Ha Min-jae’s words, looked at him with a surprised expression at this unexpected proposal.