Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 417

418

“Driver Choi, no, Secretary Choi.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh called Secretary Choi Jin-young. After his secretary, Kim Young-woo, quit, Choi Jin-young, who had been a driver, became Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s personal secretary. Thus, Choi Jin-young became Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s driver and also managed his personal affairs as his secretary.

“Yes, Chairman.”
“Is there anything difficult about working?”

“It’s quite the opposite. In fact, there are many times when I feel sorry, wondering if I deserve to be paid while not doing much.”

“Haha, what are you saying…”

“No, Chairman. It’s true. Since I don’t handle company work, I don’t have much to do. I even mowed the lawn in the yard yesterday. So, please give me some work to do now.”

Secretary Choi Jin-young was expressing his honest feelings, not joking.

Two years ago, when Chairman Shin Chun-oh left Nongshim [a major South Korean food and beverage company], he offered him the position of personal secretary, which he gladly accepted. The reason was frankly due to the working conditions Chairman Shin Chun-oh offered.

Of course, there were other conditions, but above all, it was the salary Chairman Shin Chun-oh offered. He would give 50% more than when he was just a driver, so there was no reason to refuse.

Moreover, since he wouldn’t be doing company work, there would be less to do, and he would have more personal time, so he thought there couldn’t be better conditions.

The prediction was spot on. There wasn’t much driving, and he wasn’t asked to do household chores. When watching TV, there were cases where drivers were asked to do all sorts of odd jobs, but Chairman Shin Chun-oh never did such things. The same went for his wife.

As a result, he naturally had a lot of personal time and could pursue hobbies he hadn’t been able to do before.

At first, it was great.

But after a day or two, he realized this wasn’t right. When he received his salary, he felt guilty.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh quietly called Secretary Choi Jin-young again.

“Secretary Choi.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Did you ask for some work just now?”

“Yes, Chairman. Frankly, I even feel guilty on payday…”

“That’s enough.”

Before Secretary Choi Jin-young could finish his sentence, strange words came out of Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s mouth. Naturally, Secretary Choi Jin-young was surprised.

“Yes?”

“I said that’s enough.”

“I don’t understand what you mean by that.”

Secretary Choi Jin-young tilted his head and looked at Chairman Shin Chun-oh. Even with a quick thought, he couldn’t understand what Chairman Shin Chun-oh was saying.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh spoke again.

“Secretary Choi, what’s the date today?”

“Yes? Ah, yes… It’s February 19th.”

“What year?”

“Of course, it’s 1992. But why suddenly the date…”

Secretary Choi Jin-young still couldn’t understand why Chairman Shin Chun-oh suddenly mentioned the date.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s words continued.

“Do you know what day tomorrow is?”

“Tomorrow? Tomorrow is February 20th, so Hyun-sung… Ah! Are you talking about Hyun-sung?”

Tomorrow is the day Hyun-sung is discharged from the military. Originally, the service period is 30 months, but since he entered the Munmu University [a military academy in South Korea] during his freshman year and received a week of military training, he receives 45 days of benefits. So, he is discharged 45 days earlier than friends who went to the military right after graduating from high school.

“Yes, that’s right. Finally, our Mr. Kim is being discharged.”

“Of course, I know that, but…”

“Still, don’t you understand the meaning of what I said earlier?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t understand what you mean, Chairman.”

“Haha, this guy…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh laughed lightly and continued.

“What did Secretary Choi say a little while ago?”

“Yes? Me?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to work? So, I’m saying that time has come. Do you still not understand even after I’ve said this much?”

“Ah… So, you mean that Hyun-sung is being discharged tomorrow, so…”

Clap!

Secretary Choi Jin-young slapped his knee while speaking. He finally understood what Chairman Shin Chun-oh had said a little while ago.

Secretary Choi Jin-young’s words continued immediately.

“Ah! I understand now. That’s why you said that earlier, Chairman.”

“It’s good that you understand now.”

“I’m sorry. I’m a bit slow…”

“That’s enough. You’ll be busy from now on. So, be prepared.”

“That’s what I wanted. I’m sorry, but to be honest, I liked not having work at first. But as time passed, I felt guilty as someone receiving a salary…”

“Secretary Choi!”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh interrupted Secretary Choi Jin-young and called him again. But this time, unlike when he called him earlier, Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s voice had a sense of gravity.

Perhaps that was why.

Secretary Choi Jin-young’s voice also changed.

“Yes, Chairman. Please speak!”

“Do you know why I’m trying to keep Secretary Choi by my side?”

“Yes? I’m not sure about that…”

To be honest, it was something he had wanted to ask at least once. He first met Chairman Shin Chun-oh 15 years ago. Even though it was just hiring a driver, he was lacking in qualifications from the beginning.

Of course, he applied because it didn’t matter about education, but he couldn’t help but be concerned.

High school graduate.

As someone who barely graduated from high school and didn’t go to a good university like others, he couldn’t help but be concerned. But he was confident in his driving skills, so he took the challenge.

But the result was that he was the only one chosen out of over 300 applicants. And he later learned that Chairman Shin Chun-oh was the one who ultimately chose him.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s words continued.

“It was because of your eyes.”

“Yes? My eyes?”

It was a completely unexpected answer. Even though it was just hiring a driver, his eyes, not other conditions… Naturally, he became curious about the reason.

Then Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s words continued again.

“That’s right. I’m only saying this now, but there were 5 people left at the end. Of course, except for you, the rest were all friends who graduated from famous universities.”

“…”

“But I saw you. No, to be more precise, it would be right to say it was your kind eyes.”

“I don’t know.”

“Of course. That gaze is not something you see yourself, but something others see. And originally, people’s eyes are said to be the windows of their hearts. I once knew a lot about eyes…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s explanation about eyes continued.

Our eyes, which connect social human relationships and act as emotional links, have been widely known as the ‘windows of the heart’ since ancient times.

And doctors also diagnose patients through their eyes. The only place where you can observe the internal blood vessel condition without dissecting the body is the eye.

By examining the blood vessel condition in the retina through the eyes, you can directly and indirectly know the person’s current health condition. Even before doing a blood test, you can diagnose diabetes, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis [hardening of the arteries], etc.

And it was also said that you can know more than just the health condition through the eyes.

When looking at a person’s physiognomy [the art of judging character from facial features], the eyes are said to be the most important, accounting for 50% of the physiognomy because they are the window of the heart.

Looking at the eyes means looking at the gaze, not the shape of the eyes, and that gaze is closely related to the mental state that expresses the person’s mind.

The eyes show good and evil, and the psychological state of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure contained in the person’s fortune and the current situation are expressed as they are.

No matter how well-formed the face is, it is difficult to achieve great success if the eyes are ominous in terms of physiognomy, and there will be many difficulties.

And finally, when you look at the eyes of people who have gained social honor or wealth, that is, successful people, you can see a gentle gaze and a sharp light that penetrates things.

But on the contrary, the eyes of mentally ill people or criminals are unclear, always bloodshot, or you can feel a lack of stability. Like this, the eyes can know not only the current state but also the future to some extent, and furthermore, even the person’s mind.

When Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s long explanation ended, Secretary Choi Jin-young looked at Chairman Shin Chun-oh with respectful eyes.

Then Chairman Shin Chun-oh smiled and asked.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because it’s amazing. It’s amazing that you can know a person so well with just one eye, and it’s also amazing that you actually do that, Chairman.”

“I once learned a little about physiognomy. So, I unknowingly started paying close attention to people’s eyes.”

“Ah, yes…”

Secretary Choi Jin-young nodded.

Then Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s words continued immediately.

“Anyway, your eyes were especially different from others back then. How should I put it, kind… Anyway, I like that your eyes are still the same now as they were then.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh glanced at Driver Choi once and continued.

“And you were the only one who gave an honest answer in the interview.”

“Me?”

“Yes, the question at that time was, if an accident was about to happen, which way would you turn the steering wheel? Do you remember?”

“Ah, yes, I remember. I said at that time…”

“Yes, you were the only one among the many applicants who said you would protect yourself first. But I chose you.”

He wasn’t sure at that time either. But he couldn’t lie, so he gave an honest answer. But the result was that it wasn’t the people who said they would protect the chairman first, but the opposite, himself.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh continued.

“I was honestly surprised at that time. In fact, I put that question in knowing that an obvious answer would come out. Just in case. But you…”

“I’m sorry. I hesitated, but I couldn’t lie, so I…”

“No, why should you be sorry? That’s human. But in conclusion, you lied at that time. Isn’t that right?”

It was 7 years ago. He had to go to Busan [a major port city in South Korea] urgently, and an accident happened on the way down. The accident was caused by a vehicle that crossed the center line. But at that time, Secretary Choi Young-jin turned the steering wheel towards the passenger seat, not the driver’s seat.

As a result, Chairman Shin Chun-oh, who was in the back seat of the passenger seat, was unharmed except for some bruises, even though it was a big accident. But Secretary Choi Jin-young had to stay in the hospital for three months due to the accident.

Secretary Choi Jin-young, who said in the interview that he would protect himself first, actually protected Chairman Shin Chun-oh first, not himself, in a situation where an accident was happening.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked again.

“I haven’t been able to say it until now, but I’ve always been curious. Why did you do that then? People instinctively protect their own bodies first.”

“Because you’re the Chairman.”

“Because it’s me…?”

“Yes, at that moment, I thought you were more important than me.”

“So, what’s the reason? It’s completely the opposite of what you said in the interview.”

“I honestly don’t know either. I thought that was right at that moment. Without me knowing…”

“Haha…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh just laughed.

Even now, he sweats when he thinks about that time. Because he saw the moment of the accident exactly. If Secretary Choi Jin-young had turned the steering wheel towards the driver’s seat instead of the passenger seat at that time, the impact of the accident would have been transmitted directly to the passenger seat.

But surprisingly, in that desperate moment, Secretary Choi Jin-young turned the steering wheel and blocked the vehicle crossing the center line with his body. But the reason was that he thought the chairman was more important at that moment, so Chairman Shin Chun-oh had nothing to say.

“I’m sorry.”

The words Chairman Shin Chun-oh, who had been silent for a while, said were sorry.

Then Secretary Choi Jin-young looked at him.

“I missed the opportunity. I couldn’t even say thank you at that time. And because I missed that time, I haven’t been able to until now.”

“Chairman, why are you saying that…”

“No. I received a letter a few days ago.”

“Yes? A letter?”

“Yes, from Young-woo, who was Secretary Kim before. And that friend brought up that old story. He said that if you hadn’t sacrificed yourself at that time, he and I would have been in danger.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh seemed to be thinking about something for a moment, then took out a white envelope from his desk drawer. Then he continued.

“I won’t say much now. Take this.”

“What is this?”

“It’s my grateful heart, though it’s late. Young-woo said that even if it’s late, it’s right to express your gratitude. So, I prepared it now. Check it.”

Secretary Choi Jin-young checked the envelope he had received in a daze.

After a while.

“No, Chairman…!”

Secretary Choi Jin-young could only look at Chairman Shin Chun-oh after checking the envelope. He couldn’t say anything. That’s because there were three 100 million won checks [approximately $85,000 USD each] in the envelope.

In the world, what kind of person would give 300 million won, not even a penny or two, because of gratitude received 7 years ago?

Then Chairman Shin Chun-oh spoke again.

“Your eyes were not lying after all. And my choice was not wrong either. Anyway, you and Kim Young-woo, both of you are people I chose, but thanks to you, I was able to come this far.”

“…”

“Okay, let’s end that story here, and who is going to pick up Mr. Kim, who is being discharged tomorrow?”

“Director Yoo in the countryside said he would go himself. If not, I was going to go, but he said he would go himself as he is serving his master…”

“Haha, did Director Yoo call Mr. Kim his master?”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh just smiled. Then he continued.

“Okay, let’s start working in earnest from tomorrow. Because the master is being discharged.”

“Yes? Master…?”

Secretary Choi Jin-young tilted his head and looked at Chairman Shin Chun-oh. Then Chairman Shin Chun-oh just smiled.