Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 116

Hyung, Am I Cute? (1)

We sat down.

Steve Baek was looking at me with an interesting expression.

“I enjoyed the video you made with Player Bell. It was fun and fascinating.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I was curious how it would be perceived by others.”

“Haha. You can tell from the comments, can’t you?”

“Actually, there are many things you can’t know from the comments. Unlike how we’re meeting and talking like this.”

“That’s right. That’s why we need to meet even more.”

I took out a pen and signed the contract in front of me.

I had finished grasping the general content.

The money promised in the contract wasn’t the important thing.

Today’s deal was starting from this signature.

“That’s right. That’s how you’ve grown the shopping mall so big. Ah! Now that I think about it, I have something I’m curious about too.”

“Ask me anything.”

Steve Baek shrugged and gestured slightly.

A relaxed face and interest coexisted.

One thing was certain: he was showing me goodwill.

That meant he was somewhat letting his guard down.

So, how should I start?

Just like the first button is important, the beginning should be about work.

I turned on the recording app on my phone and placed it on the table.

“How should I write an autobiography?”

“Isn’t that up to the person writing it?”

“You know everything, yet you ask. Okay, I’ll tell you. Crisis, and overcoming it. With what spirit and how you’ll overcome it. In short, I’m talking about writing it with the purpose of idolizing that person.”

“That’s good.”

Steve Baek smiled.

I felt that the smile was fake.

It seemed I could see a slightly different side of Steve Baek compared to ordinary people.

“So, you don’t like this kind of autobiography?”

“Haha. Yes, that’s right. That’s how I feel.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I want to reveal even my base emotions. Idolization, as Si-hyuk said. I don’t think that makes sense. The footsteps of a great person… There are many of those, aren’t there? But I’m not that kind of person.”

“Are you looking for something special? Something different from others?”

“No. I want something ordinary. How an ordinary person came to this position. That’s what I want. And what position they’re in now.”

This meeting seemed like it would be much more beneficial than I thought.

Right. By starting this autobiography, I might be able to see the person’s true face.

Whether it’s hiding behind a mask.

Or hoping to be elevated while hiding.

Manager Hong Jin-soo smiled brightly as he placed two cups of coffee down.

“Then I’ll excuse myself. Have a good time, both of you.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“I’ll enjoy it. Manager Hong.”

As Hong Jin-soo left, only two cups of coffee remained on the table.

Because they were in hot mugs, it would take quite a while for them to cool down.

Perhaps we would have plenty of time to talk while they cooled.

“Then shall we start from the beginning? About what base emotions you had when you came to this position.”

“Haha. It feels like I’m writing slander about myself.”

“No. I think it’s human and good. Ah! Even that person had the same thoughts as me. They still made it to the top with those thoughts. Their thoughts changed. How dramatic is that?”

The person in front of me is an ordinary person.

Or, perhaps, was an ordinary person.

Like the instant coffee in this mug is ordinary to us.

Even though, in reality, the sales and revenue show that it’s definitely not ordinary.

Steve Baek gently lifted the mug and brought it to his lips.

“It’s dramatic. When I first got a job at a shopping mall in the United States, it was quite difficult due to racial discrimination. There weren’t always good people.”

“That’s right.”

Discrimination exists in any company.

But the moment it’s covered by the frame of race, it easily becomes an enemy.

Perhaps people use that.

“I wasn’t that nice of a person either. I smiled and bowed, cursing them greatly in my mind.”

“That must have been tough.”

“Not really. I was confident. I was confident that I would surpass them in the future, even if I was told I had no pride.”

A very aggressive person.

A proactive person who moves forward.

“You’ve surpassed them as you are now.”

“Yes. That’s right. I’ve seen so much cowardice from people there. Even from myself.”

“Cowardice?”

“Yes. Once, there was a fight between two groups. They couldn’t stand being suppressed by the established powers, so they started shooting.”

“Real guns?”

“It’s a metaphor. Haha! Don’t think that everyone shoots real guns because it’s America.”

I thought they were really shooting guns again.

Is it because it’s America?

Steve Baek continued.

“People were cheering, saying it was refreshing, but do you know how cowardly they looked?”

“Why?”

“When things went wrong later, they turned their backs and cursed, calling them stupid. That’s when I realized. I’m the same kind of guy. That’s me.”

“Wow… You want me to write about this?”

“Haha. Of course, if I only had these thoughts, how would I have gotten to this position? I’m a coward, but I thought I should at least keep the line.”

“Did you change?”

“No. I didn’t change. I just took something else to get to the top. I’m a coward. I took a close relationship with a client and started my own business.”

“Hmm.”

“There was no damage to the company. Only one tightly bound string of the client disappeared. Like a fleeting mirage.”

“Isn’t that hurting them?”

“There was no immediate visible damage. It gradually loosened and broke later. In the end, I won.”

“Wow…”

Right. This person looked at the long term.

How he could succeed. How he could win this competition.

He ran the path to success with his clear line and the contradictory emotion of cowardice.

He could have packaged his success with righteousness, but he refused.

“Even if other people see this, won’t there be damage to the company?”

“No. People in the world aren’t that interested. It’s even better if it becomes a topic. A topic is also money. This might also be my cowardice.”

I had never thought about it that way, so it was fascinating.

‘Come to think of it…’

Isn’t Alisa using the same strategy right now?

Whether it’s a good topic or a bad topic.

It was a use that started with the purpose of promoting it somehow.

I touched the mug.

The hot mug had turned warm.

The reason the temperature dropped wasn’t just because time had passed.

Perhaps the cold energy of his cowardice had cooled the mug.

Even so, because there was a unspoken rule called the line, this coffee would maintain its warmth.

“Now that you’ve succeeded, what’s your purpose or goal?”

“Others might see it as a success. But I still don’t think I’ve succeeded that much. I find myself feeling pathetic in front of people who are better than me.”

“There’s no end to comparing yourself.”

“I’m not the one comparing; others are comparing. So sometimes I wonder, is this even my own thought?”

“So, what’s the conclusion?”

“Because the environment is like that, it eventually became my thought. I need to become someone who isn’t shaken by the environment, but it’s not easy.”

I nodded.

I could confirm that ambition and passion were still burning there.

“That’s not easy.”

“Haha. That’s right. The reason I like Player Bell so much is largely due to vicarious satisfaction. He’s holding the top team in Korea and the world.”

It was necessary to change the atmosphere here.

“Then you must have been upset when you lost to Player Well [likely a typo and should be Bell]?”

“There was a bit of that feeling. It wasn’t a complete defeat. It was a capability where it wouldn’t have been strange for anyone to lose in that situation. The skills were similar.”

“The realm of luck?”

“You can’t ignore luck either. Player Well [likely a typo and should be Bell] just happened to be in better condition that day. Isn’t this because of a good translator?”

I let out a dumbfounded laugh at Steve Baek’s playful reproach.

I drank the coffee.

Finally, the general story was over, and I could grasp Steve Baek.

Just one last thing.

Let’s just confirm one thing.

So that the aftertaste of this coffee isn’t bitter.

“If you’re in the clothing business, there’s one thing you’ll definitely experience: plagiarism.”

At that, Steve Baek reacted without hesitation.

“That’s a thieving act that far exceeds not only my line but also the lines of other workers. The same goes for ideas.”

I placed the coffee on the table.

Water, a very ordinary liquid, has a strange point.

This lukewarm water can become hot at any time.

‘Then where…’

Shall we make Steve Baek’s heart boil?

“From what I’ve heard, aren’t you still being ignored in the United States?”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because you still seem to have a lot of heat. You also have passion. Then, if the company has an idea to go one step further, would you like to sign another contract with me?”

I picked up the pen on the table.

The pen that I used earlier and left there.

“What do you mean?”

“It seems like there’s still plenty of time left for the ink to dry.”

“Haha. Do you have good business information?”

“Of course, I do. The problem is how you’ll accept it.”

“Oh! I’ve never heard such a proposal in my life.”

Steve Baek’s face was tinged with embarrassment, though he pretended to be relaxed.

He probably never dreamed that such a proposal would come out.

“Since I’ve heard Steve Baek’s story, I need to tell my story too.”

“Okay. Let’s hear it first.”

“First, I’m a freelancer. But one loach [a type of small fish, used metaphorically to describe someone who stirs up trouble] made my friend’s shopping mall a mess. It’s just starting.”

“That’s a bit strange.”

“Right? They completely stirred up trouble with reviews. This is beyond cowardice and crossed the line.”

Steve Baek leaned slightly forward, interested in my story.

The legs he had been crossing were already uncrossed.

“I have a question.”

“Yes.”

“The shopping mall your friend made is just starting now? At a young age?”

“Yes. He’s still a college student. You could say it’s youth entrepreneurship? There are many startups these days.”

“That’s great. But… this is really… To break that before the competition even starts. As a senior in the same industry, I’m really angry.”

“Haha.”

“To cause this kind of damage to someone I have affection and curiosity for.”

“I’m in a hired position, so there’s no damage. I might even have some gains in the future.”

“It seems like you need my help.”

As expected of a businessman? His senses are ghostly.

He points out exactly what I want and puts it in front of me.

But I also have pride.

This isn’t help.

“No.”

“Yes?”

My answer was unexpected, and a question popped out.

He didn’t understand, but he was watching me very interestingly.

What on earth is this young man in front of me going to say?

That’s exactly the feeling that was showing on his face.

“It’s not help, it’s a deal. I told you, there’s a way to go one step further. Buy that.”

“It seems like you need a connection with a client. I’ll help you with that, so please tell me the story.”

“Hey. Do you think I’m only hoping for that?”

“Then what?”

“Let my friend’s Blue Mall also get a foot in the idea I proposed.”

Steve Baek’s face became serious.

“You’re sure this business will definitely work.”

“Of course. Otherwise, would I make this ridiculous deal? I’ve even made a contract here. Read it and sign it.”

“Haha. This is really interesting.”

“It won’t be a bad deal. Let’s talk equally.”

“What if I don’t?”

I had two cards.

One is that Steve Baek has goodwill towards me and is letting his guard down.

That’s why I can make a good proposal.

The other one is…

“Then the 1-on-1 fan meeting with Player Bell will disappear. It’s a shame. We were going to play games together at the PC cafe [internet cafe] this time.”

“With Player Bell at the PC cafe?”

“Yes.”

“Ahem.”

Steve Baek took the pen in my hand, scanned the contract, and signed it.

There were no unfavorable conditions for Steve Baek written.

“It’s definitely not because I’m looking forward to meeting Player Bell.”

I know that’s a lie.

Because someone so busy wouldn’t have flown from the United States to see Player Bell’s game.

Steve Baek was caught being a true fan to me.

“Yes. I know. Would you sign for that reason?”

“That’s right. So now tell me. What on earth is that idea?”

I smiled at that.

“Have you ever heard of Future Industries?”