New Employees With an Annual Salary of 1 Trillion Won - Chapter 34

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 34. Simple Payment System (4)

 

 

 

Korea University wasn’t called ‘Korea’s top university’ for nothing.

Korea University Medical School, called the pinnacle of science, and Korea University Art School, positioned at the peak of the arts.

And there was one unique person who had experienced both places.

 

Someone who graduated high school early and entered Korea University Medical School,

but then dropped out and transferred to Korea University Art School – a peculiar individual.

That person was now extending their hand toward me.

 

“The 10% commission is real, right? I counted all the Sea Skin sales myself.”

“Of course I’ll give it to you. But first, shall we introduce ourselves? I’m Lee Jung-hoo, who created Rollbook. I’m not a Korea University student – I was dispatched from Nexpin.”

“You’re the person who made Rollbook? Unlike your image… you look pretty normal. I’m Yu Min-jung. Nice to meet you.”

 

I couldn’t tell if that was a compliment or an insult.

Just how strange was Rollbook’s image for her to say I ‘look normal’?

 

But now wasn’t the time to worry about such comments.

More than anything, I wanted to know why that heterogeneous gear structure had appeared when I saw the skin she created.

 

“Shall I pay the commission first, then we can talk for a bit?”

“Sounds good. I had something to tell you too.”

“Here’s your first settlement of 1.5 million won. From now on, settlements will be monthly.”

“You’re really giving it to me. That’s a relief. I didn’t have money to buy paint this month, so now I can take a break from part-time work.”

 

Yu Min-jung smiled with a scrunch of her nose,

then quickly stuffed the envelope into her bag that was as big as herself.

 

“Should I deposit it into your account next time?”

“Cash feels more real. But what did you want to talk about?”

“About the Sea Skin. I want to know why it’s so popular. It seems like there’s something I can’t see.”

“Should I call you CEO? People like you who have excellent scientific intuition might find this kind of sense harder to understand.”

 

Scientific intuition?

That was exactly what I had lived by, watching and learning.

How to assemble in the shortest time possible, how to optimize most efficiently.

 

I had always lived thinking only such thoughts,

and the people around me were the same.

Nexpin employees, research lab members.

Everyone pursued efficiency and was obsessed only with performance.

 

“Are you saying I lack artistic sense or liberal arts intuition?”

“It’s not that you lack it, but your scientific intuition is so excellent that other senses feel relatively lacking. This isn’t really the place to talk about it, but both my father and mother are doctors. They’re both people who only think in scientific ways, just like you, CEO.”

 

Was this the meaning of the heterogeneous gear?

The liberal arts intuition I didn’t have – things like art and emotion.

It wasn’t something you could easily learn just by wanting to.

But it also wasn’t a problem I could just ignore.

 

“Could you explain using the Sea Skin as an example?”

“I was actually wanting to tell you about that. Not just about the Sea Skin, but about Rollbook’s entire structure. The current bulletin board concept and page-centered structure is too rigid. It’s designed completely from a scientific perspective only.”

 

Yu Min-jung smiled with another scrunch of her eyes.

But her expression didn’t register in my eyes at all – only thoughts of rebuttal came to mind.

 

“It’s also the most efficient structure. The more efficient it is, the higher the user accessibility.”

“Access would be easy. But if emotion were included… wouldn’t people want to visit more often?”

“Then, Min-jung, how would you want to design Rollbook?”

“The category and bulletin board-centered system would all have to be scrapped. Do you know what’s the first thing you learn when you enter art school? Art history. You learn what painting styles were popular in each era and who led those trends.”

 

She pulled out a thick specialized textbook from her bag that was as big as herself.

It was truly filled with the flow of eras and the evolution of culture.

 

“You mean the flow of time is important.”

“Exactly. Bulletin boards and pages can only capture that moment. But if you design around a timeline, you can show the flow. Stories emerge, and users inevitably stay longer.”

 

I was beginning to sense the identity of the heterogeneous gear.

The current Rollbook was trapped in a flat structure,

and to contain more stories, it needed to move toward a three-dimensional structure.

 

An important puzzle piece for completing Rollbook.

Since it was a puzzle I couldn’t fill myself, I held onto Yu Min-jung.

 

“Do you have any thoughts about employment?”

“I’m only a freshman – what employment?”

“You can work while attending school. Would you like to create Rollbook together with me? I’d like you to fill in the emotional aspects I’m lacking.”

“I don’t have that much free time.”

“You can come only when it’s convenient. I’ll pay a salary and continue giving you the skin sales commission. You won’t have to worry about money for paint anymore.”

 

I had to secure her no matter what.

I had thought the harmony of gears meshing perfectly was everything.

But Yu Min-jung’s appearance made me aware of a different kind of sound.

 

‘Resonance.’

Not sound, but vibration.

It was an essential element for expanding Rollbook.

 

“Would working just two or three hours a day be okay? Then, how much salary would you pay? Actually, I can’t get any support from home… so I need money.”

“Not just two or three hours – even working just one hour would be fine. I’ll pay 2 million won monthly and provide a workspace too.”

“I can really get the commission separately too, right? Then I’ll try it.”

 

Yu Min-jung extended her thin but sturdy-looking hand,

and I grasped it without hesitation.

 

“Let’s create Rollbook together from now on.”

“But how old are you? You look similar to my age.”

“I’m twenty.”

“We’re the same age. Still, calling you by name feels a bit awkward, so how should I address you?”

“Feel free to call me whatever you like. You can call me Employee Lee, or President Jung-hu.”

 

After thinking for a moment, she gripped my hand tightly and said.

 

“I’ll call you President Jung-hu. But what exactly do I need to do?”

“You can help supplement the design and emotional aspects of the products I create.”

“That sounds fun. I really like that kind of work. But please pay my salary on time. If it’s late, I’ll quit immediately!”

“But didn’t you say both your parents are doctors?”

 

Yu Min-jung was quite sensitive about money.

If her parents were doctors, she shouldn’t have money worries, and I could sense that leisurely attitude typical of people who grew up without financial concerns.

 

“Why do you think? When I dropped out of medical school to go to art school… they cut off my allowance. They probably thought that would make me change my mind, but I’ll never go back to medical school!”

“People should live doing what they want to do. I completely agree with your opinion, Min-jung.”

“Thanks for saying that, at least. So, what should we start with? I have plenty of time today.”

 

Yu Min-jung put down her bag and sat next to me.

I immediately opened the Rollbook website and went through each part that needed emotional enhancement with her.

 

“How should we design the timeline? To naturally show a person’s history, a scroll format would be better than a page format, right?”

“Much better! Plus, if we could organize it not just by time flow, but also by seasons or emotions, it would be even more interesting.”

 

We immediately began the modification work.

I applied what I learned from our conversation right away.

 

Then the image of the cogwheel in my mind began to change.

It wasn’t just getting bigger or more structurally complex like before.

The colorless steel framework gradually began to take on various colors, and patterns that seemed to be carved with emotions started blooming on its surface.

 

***

 

The end of 1999.

Finally, the Rollbook office was completed.

The Rollbook office sign was hung right next to the Nexfin office, and the Branch Manager and Nexfin colleagues all watched together.

 

“Wow~ The website our Employee Lee made has really become a company? Congratulations!”

“I actually feel a bit sorry. I’m already overwhelmed with Nexfin work, and now managing Rollbook too makes me feel heavy-hearted.”

“What are you talking about? Even if you come to Rollbook more often than Nexfin, no one will say anything. Don’t worry about it.”

 

The Department Manager’s warm words made my heart feel heavy.

But Manager Kim immediately broke the cozy atmosphere with his words.

 

“Hey~ Department Manager, that’s not quite right. You’re saying that because if Employee Lee focuses on Rollbook, we’ll get some breathing room too.”

“Manager Kim! Why are you twisting my words like that? And Employee Lee isn’t that kind of person. He’s someone who will perfectly handle both Rollbook work and Nexfin work.”

“I’ll make sure there are no delays with the patent drafts.”

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Even if it’s a little late, no one will say anything. Don’t overwork yourself and take it easy.”

 

I was confident I could do both jobs well.

I made this decision because I was confident I could operate Rollbook while maintaining my existing routine.

I already had many patents in mind, and several drafts were near completion.

 

“Now, now! There’s one more thing to celebrate. Year-end bonuses are out!”

“You’re even giving year-end bonuses?”

“It’s a bonus to show we’re counting on you for next year too, so don’t feel burdened and just accept it.”

“I’ll gratefully accept it!”

 

Everyone clenched their fists at the Branch Manager’s words.

Although we were making huge profits from the Saera Technology investment, we hadn’t realized the profits yet, so quite a few colleagues needed immediate cash.

 

“This bonus also includes part of the joint development investment from MS and Apple. You can think of it as a bonus received from MS, not from the fund.”

“Wow, the day we receive bonuses from overseas companies has come…”

“The year-end bonus amount is 50 million won per person. Actually, I’d like to give more, but I saved a little for next year. Instead, if we achieve the same results next year as this year, I’ll give you more then.”

 

A whopping 50 million won.

It was an amount equivalent to twice the annual salary of an ordinary office worker.

The Branch Manager seemed to think the bonus was small, but the colleagues didn’t think so at all.

 

“Are you really giving us that much?”

“Giving that money won’t shake the company, will it?”

“These people, they worry when you give, and worry when you don’t. Just accept it gratefully!”

 

It was literally like scattering money.

The Branch Manager had given tremendous bonuses to Nexfin employees several times before.

Patent bonuses, year-end bonuses, various gifts.

But compared to stock investment profits, it was just a small amount.

 

“And there’s one more thing I need to tell you. I think it’s time to realize profits from our investments in Saera Technology and Dream Rain. I’ve already finished discussing this with Employee Lee. Does anyone object?”

“Isn’t this not the peak yet?”

 

Manager Kim stepped forward boldly.

The Branch Manager made eye contact with Manager Kim and continued.

 

“Aiming for the highest point could tie up our money. I judged that now is the right time. If anyone doesn’t want to sell, just say so. Manager Kim, do you not want to sell?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to, I was just asking. And if Employee Lee decided, we should follow. We agreed to only listen to Employee Lee for this investment.”

 

Manager Kim quickly changed his stance.

The President and other colleagues also nodded.

 

“Does everyone agree?”

“I agree. Actually, holding onto it this long was also burdensome.”

“We absolutely have to go together!”

 

With everyone’s will gathered like this,

the decision to realize profits from stock investments was finally made.

 

“To get the highest possible price, we’ll process it through block deals rather than regular trading. It might take some time to find trading partners, but we plan to complete all sales within January.”

“This year and next year will both start strong.”

“Now, some of you will want to withdraw after realizing profits. But withdrawing from fund accounts incurs taxes. If you’re not going to invest anymore, it doesn’t matter, but if you have additional investment plans, I don’t recommend withdrawing.”

 

At least 4 billion won per person.

It was enough money to buy 10 Gangnam apartments and still have some left over.

But human greed had no end, and when faced with money, everyone was bound to look toward even higher places.

 

And I made my intentions known for the sake of my colleagues.

Since keeping money tied up in staff accounts would help prevent colleagues from leaving.

 

“I hope to make additional investments. I’ll leave the money in my account as is.”

“We received year-end bonuses too, so there’s no real need to withdraw money right now.”

“Same here. I don’t have any immediate use for it.”

“I do need to buy a newlywed home next year, but I think I can manage just by saving what I have now.”

 

Everyone nodded, and naturally an atmosphere formed around the next investment.

 

“Then, should I understand that we’ll all proceed with the next investment together?”

 

As soon as the Branch Manager finished speaking, my colleagues all looked at me in unison.

As if prepared, I answered on behalf of everyone.

 

“We’ll all invest together.”

“Excellent. You’ll feel more at ease if you think of the money in the fund account as severance pay. If you try to withdraw and use money just because it’s right in front of you, the losses will be huge.”

“We can’t run away alone at this point, right?”

“Of course not. When will we get another opportunity like this? Let’s all stick together!”

 

And so we became one again.

A company where staff assets alone exceeded 80 billion won.

It seemed visible that the larger the amount grew, the stronger the shackles became as well.

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