Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 116

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

116. Are you seriously thinking about getting into politics?

A few days later, in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
The snow that had been falling since morning was beginning to taper off as afternoon arrived.
In a small office of the Annenberg Challenge Foundation located in a downtown building, Amar Cuff sat at his desk with his shirtsleeves rolled up, diligently attending to his work.
Amar Cuff, who had always taken a keen interest in social activism, had served as legal counsel for the Chicago Community Trust before becoming the chairman of the newly established Annenberg Challenge Foundation earlier this year, and he now poured even greater energy into this endeavor.
With his towering frame exceeding 187 centimeters and his lean, muscular build, Cuff extracted one of the documents piled on his desk and carefully read through it.
With the focus of a lawyer, he concentrated intently, determined not to miss a single sentence and to fully comprehend every detail.
Cuff kept his eyes on the document as he reached out one hand and picked up the mug sitting on his desk.
He brought it to his lips and tilted it back, only to discover it was already empty, and he smacked his lips in mild disappointment.

“When did I finish this?”

Judging by the dried coffee stains at the bottom of the cup, it must have been quite some time ago.

“Has it really gotten this late?”

Glancing at the watch on his wrist, he saw it was already past four in the afternoon.
He had been so absorbed in reviewing documents that he hadn’t noticed the passage of time.
Just then, a knock sounded, and Edrin, a foundation staff member, opened the door halfway and poked her head in with a question.

“Are you busy right now?”
“Oh, no. Is there something you need?”
“Not exactly. You have a visitor.”
“A visitor?”

Since he had no prior appointments scheduled, Cuff’s expression turned puzzled.

“They said they’re a Harvard alumnus.”

Cuff wondered if he had a junior from Harvard close enough to drop by unannounced like this.
He had graduated from Columbia University and attended Harvard Law School solely to become a lawyer.
Then, as a face suddenly came to mind, he lifted his head and looked at Edrin standing at the door.

“Where are you right now?”
“They’re waiting in the consultation room for now. Should I bring them here?”
“Yes, please do.”
“Please wait a moment.”

Shortly after, Edrin returned, and a familiar face followed her through the doorway.

“Is that you! It’s been such a long time.”

Amar Cuff rose from his seat, rounded his desk, and extended his hand first to Seok-won with a broad smile.
Seok-won shook his hand in return, offering a gentle smile.

“It’s been over a year since we graduated.”
“Time really does fly, doesn’t it.”

Amar Cuff marveled at how quickly time had passed, then gestured toward the sofa in his office.

“I can’t keep an honored guest standing. Please, have a seat.”

Though he held the position of director, his office was modest—barely four hundred square feet, befitting a public interest foundation.
The furnishings were equally unpretentious: a work desk, bookshelves crammed with documents and books, and a four-person sofa—nothing luxurious about it.
Once they were seated across from each other on the sofa, Edrin asked in a cheerful voice.

“What can I get you to drink?”
“Coffee would be fine.”
“Actually, I was just thinking I wanted a cup myself. Two strong coffees, please.”
“Of course.”

Edrin answered brightly and left the room.

“Though it’s a bit late in coming, I wanted to congratulate you on becoming director of the foundation.”

Amar Cuff, crossing one leg over the other, let out a hearty laugh and waved his hand dismissively.

“Don’t make it sound so grand. It’s just a small public interest foundation—there are only four full-time staff members including myself.”
“But regardless of size, taking on the responsibility of leading an organization means you’ve earned recognition from the people around you.”
“Ha, I suppose you’re right.”

Amar Cuff answered with an embarrassed yet not entirely displeased expression.
Just then, Edrin knocked and entered, setting down the coffee she’d brought on a tray before the two men.

“Please enjoy!”

As Edrin, with her bright red hair and cheerful demeanor, disappeared, Seok-won chuckled and asked.

“Is she your secretary?”
“She’s an office assistant at our foundation. Didn’t I mention earlier that we only have four employees? So normally she handles administrative work, but when guests arrive, she serves as a secretary and pours drinks and such.”
“I see.”

Seok-won picked up the mug and took a sip of coffee, then his eyes widened in surprise.

“Wait—is this instant coffee mix?”
“You recognized it right away, didn’t you?”

Amar Cuff nodded with a pleased expression.

“Last time you gave me that Korean coffee mix as a gift, and I tried it—it was absolutely delicious. So I took a chance and visited a Korean market in Chicago, and they had the exact same product, so I bought some.”

Amar Cuff sipped his coffee and settled into a relaxed expression.

“The smooth, sweet taste is absolutely wonderful. I always enjoy it, but especially when I’m tired and craving something sweet—one cup is absolutely perfect.”
“It seems to suit your palate even better than expected.”
“Indeed. Our office staff likes it too, so we’ve actually stacked several boxes in the break room and drink it regularly.”
“If you enjoyed it that much, you should have said so. I would have had some sent from Korea.”
“That would just be a bother. It’s fine—I can just buy it from the Korean market.”
“No, I’ll send some specially when I return home.”
“Ha ha… thank you. If you’re sending it, I’ll certainly enjoy it.”

The fact that he didn’t insist on declining suggested he truly loved the coffee mix.
From Professor Frank to Amar Cuff.
Somehow I’d become an evangelist spreading the word about sweet Korean instant coffee mix.

‘At this rate, I’ll probably still be drinking coffee mix even after I’m elected president and enter the White House.’

I imagined myself sitting on the sofa in the Oval Office with my staff, discussing serious international affairs while sipping Korean instant coffee mix, and I had to suppress the urge to burst out laughing.

‘If things really turn out that way, I should buy stock in domestic coffee mix companies in advance.’

Before my regression, there was no reason I couldn’t become like that instant noodle company—the one that rode a single spicy stir-fried noodle to global sensation, its stock price soaring nearly 300%. Why should I be any different?
As Seok-won continued this train of thought, he set down his mug and quickly cleared his mind at Amar Cuff’s words.

“I was actually meaning to call you. Not long ago, someone made a million-dollar donation to the Annenberg Challenge Foundation.”
“You were aware of it, then.”
“How could I not be? I’m the chairman of the foundation, after all. A donation that large doesn’t slip past me.”

At that, Seok-won replied with an unbothered tone.

“I’ve always been interested in education issues myself. When I heard that you’d taken on the role of foundation chairman, I wanted to contribute something meaningful, so I made the donation.”

The Chicago Annenberg Challenge, of which Amar Cuff had become the inaugural chairman, was a public interest organization established to promote educational reform in the Chicago area.
As Seok-won subtly emphasized that he’d made the donation precisely because Cuff was involved with the organization, Cuff’s expression grew even more grateful.

“A million dollars is no small sum. And helping us with both the Chicago Community Trust and the Annenberg Challenge—I’m truly grateful.”
“Please, you’re too kind. The more you say such things, the more I don’t know where to put myself.”
“But it’s true that your donation has been a tremendous help to our foundation.”
“If you insist, then since it’s nearly dinner time, why don’t you buy me a meal?”

At that, Cuff smiled with his characteristically warm expression.

“Of course. When our generous benefactor wants to dine, I’d be happy to make time even if I didn’t have any.”
“Are you going to keep saying such things?”
“Ha, I’m joking. There’s a place that makes Mexican food exceptionally well. Let me introduce you to it.”
“Really? Where is it?”

Seok-won had been in America long enough that he was beginning to crave something spicy, and he asked with immediate interest.
Cuff chuckled at his eager expression.

“My home.”
“Pardon?”
“Catherine recently learned to make Mexican food. She makes burritos and tacos wonderfully.”

Seok-won, who hadn’t expected to be invited to his home, asked with some surprise.

“Wouldn’t it be rude to show up so suddenly?”
“Not at all. You’ve met Catherine a few times before, haven’t you?”
“That’s true, but…”

Seok-won trailed off vaguely.
Truthfully, it didn’t matter much to me where I ate dinner.
To look at my face, one might assume I only frequented high-end restaurants, but the truth was I ate anything without complaint—street food, neighborhood pojangmacha tents, it all suited me equally well.
What worried me was whether Cuff, having suddenly brought a guest without warning, would later catch flak from his wife about it.

‘The thought of the future American president and First Lady having a marital spat because of me is genuinely awkward.’

Whether Cuff lacked social awareness or was deliberately doubling down on his pride because I was worried, he suddenly blurted something out.

“Perfect timing—Catherine has the day off and is resting at home.”

Hearing this, I thought to myself.

‘Bringing a guest on her day off is even worse, isn’t it?’

I couldn’t fathom why he insisted on taking me to his house when he could simply buy dinner elsewhere.

“Since we’re on the subject, let’s go right now.”

As Cuff rose from the sofa, I urgently tried to stop him.

“Wouldn’t it be better to call first before we go?”
“We can call on the way there.”

At his oblivious response, I grimaced inwardly.

‘Is he really going to get kicked out of his own house?’

Imagining Cuff napping under a blanket on the office sofa, I seriously wondered whether I should even follow him to his home.
Unaware of my concerns, Cuff instead urged me to hurry.

“Traffic will be terrible soon—it’s almost rush hour. Come on, get up.”

With no choice, I awkwardly stood, letting out an internal sigh.

‘In dramas, this is always how it goes—someone eagerly brings friends home only to get thoroughly scolded by their wife and thrown out….’

Given Catherine’s refined nature, I doubted she would lose her temper to his face.
But I could only worry about what Amar Cuff would face after dinner, once Seok-won left.
Seok-won, who had been fretting alone, suddenly wore an expression of liberation when he saw Amar Cuff hurrying to prepare for his departure.
Amar Cuff rolled down his shirtsleeves, retrieved his coat from the rack, and put it on—he was practically humming to himself.

‘So be it.’

He’d made this mess himself; let him take responsibility for it.

“It was you who suggested going home first, sir. I have no objections.”
“What? Of course.”

Seok-won nodded with an expression that said don’t forget those words.
And on the other hand, he found himself looking forward to the dinner the future First Lady would prepare.

* * *

Late morning.
The sky hung gray, threatening snow, and the café tucked in one corner of the elegantly appointed Hotel Lobby was nearly full with guests and those meeting appointments.
Seok-won, dressed in a white shirt and a perfectly tailored suit, sat alone at a window table overlooking the outside scenery, leisurely sipping his coffee.

“I’m not late, am I?”

At the familiar voice, Seok-won turned his head to see Amar Cuff in a gray coat standing there, flashing white teeth in a smile.

“You arrived right on time, sir.”

As Amar Cuff took the empty seat across from him, the Male Server approached and set down the menu.

“Will you be ordering?”
“A café latte with plenty of milk.”
“One moment, please.”

Once the Male Server left with the order, Amar Cuff asked in a cheerful voice.

“Did you sleep well last night?”
“Yes. Sir, did you not get scolded by your sister-in-law for bringing a guest without warning?”
“Why? Were you worried she might scold me?”
“Of course. You showed up so suddenly—I can only imagine how startled she must have been.”

I recalled Catherine’s bewildered face when she suddenly questioned why Mexican food of all things.

“Don’t worry. As you saw yesterday, Catherine was thrilled to see you. And she loved the mother-of-pearl jewelry box I gave her as a gift so much that she asked me to thank you sincerely.”

Seok-won, who had planned to meet Amar Cuff during this trip to the United States, had prepared and brought along a lacquered jewelry box crafted by an intangible cultural property artisan specializing in mother-of-pearl inlay work.

“I’m glad it pleased her.”

Cuff didn’t seem to notice, but I had seen it then.
The moment his wife’s fierce, menacing gaze softened and melted away the instant she saw the jewelry box.
If I hadn’t prepared the gift in advance, Cuff might have actually been thrown out of the house last night.

“When did you prepare something like that? The way you know how to win a woman’s heart—don’t you have unexpected playboy tendencies?”
“Hardly.”

I laughed and shook my head.
At the same time, I was privately relieved that yesterday’s sudden visit hadn’t caused Catherine, who would become the future First Lady, to develop any ill feelings toward me.

‘There’s nothing more frightening than pillow talk. It wouldn’t do me any good to be disliked by Catherine.’

Just then, the Male Server arrived with a café latte, and the conversation between the two men paused briefly.

“Your order is ready, sir.”

After the Male Server set down the coffee and left, Cuff spoke again.

“You said you’re leaving Chicago today.”
“Yes.”
“It would be nice if you could stay a bit longer. It’s a shame you’re leaving so soon.”

It wasn’t mere politeness—he genuinely seemed disappointed.
It appeared that eating, drinking, and talking at his house yesterday had made him feel more intimate with Cuff than he’d expected.
I straightened up from my reclined posture and asked with a serious expression.

“There’s something I’d like to ask. Can you answer me honestly?”
“You’re making such a serious face that now I’m worried about what you’re going to ask.”

Cuff, who had initially tried to brush it off as a joke, sensed from my silent gaze that this was something important.

“Tell me what it is.”

Watching the smile fade from his face, Seok-won asked in a slightly subdued voice.

“Are you seriously considering getting into politics?”
“…!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————