Chapter 11

It’s okay to attack Nice car. A two-seater sports car born to run. What on earth is a car that is nothing more than a piece of machinery that makes a man’s heart beat? Krrrr. When stopped, it growls like a threatening beast. If you step on the accelerator just a little bit, the RPMs skyrocket without hesitation. Kleulalala! ‘This is how I feel.’ 3 am. I drove out of the underground parking lot and enjoyed the drive. I couldn’t sleep well at night while investing all my money in coins. I invested 100 million dollars, so I accepted the level of tension and not being able to sleep comfortably. ‘Stress isn’t bad either.’ I wondered if I should enjoy being under pressure while investing. Even if this investment goes wrong, even if 10% remains, more than 10 billion won. Enough to live on for a lifetime. Even if 1% was left, it was 1 billion, and if you sold the car minus the jeonse, you could somehow make ends meet. It’s been a long time since I’ve lived in poverty. ‘I’m always thinking about money.’ When I was young, I had no choice but to think about money to eat and live. Now, even though I have a lot of money, I live only thinking about money. Meetings were held every morning in the company. “Prognostic factors associated with optic nerve damage. Director Jang Won-young will announce at 2 p.m.” “The person who will give a lecture on the iris treatment in cataract surgery is Dr. Lee Hyeon-chae of Bright Light Ophthalmology.” “Pediatrics?” “There is an announcement regarding strabismus patients.” “It is said that he is giving a lecture on lens prescription for patients with severe astigmatism at Seoul National University Hospital. I think doctors will be present quite a bit.” At the conference, lectures on surgical techniques, equipment, and treatment methods are given. Since the company wants to show off its state-of-the-art surgical equipment, the technology team, support team, and PR team plan together. The sales team took care of the doctors at close range. I saw my ex-wife, Han Chae-won, sitting quietly across from me in the conference room. ‘Eleven months.’ Period of marriage with her. A style of directing, wishing to have all opinions aligned with one’s will. I had a bad feeling before marriage, but the gates of hell opened during the honeymoon. I went to Thailand for a honeymoon because of flight and company schedules, but there was no day when I felt comfortable with my body and mind. “All my friends went to Hawaii or Cancun. I am embarrassed to tell my friends that I came to Thailand.” “… … .” “What is this hotel? Did you make a reservation correctly?” “Aren’t you okay? I picked it up from a travel agency because it’s a hotel where many honeymooners come.” “What do you know and take the side of the travel agent? If I had used a more expensive travel agency, I wouldn’t have found this place. Are you new to social life? Don’t leave everything to us, you have to check it yourself.” Every time I choose food in a restaurant, it takes a long time. After that, the food that came out didn’t taste good, or it didn’t suit my taste. Hygiene is questionable. When I said that I don’t know who eats this kind of food, I ate it deliciously and put the tableware down. He was right in everything. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was gaslighted badly. “My brother couldn’t get married without me, and lived alone all his life.” “You married me even though you knew I had no money. There is no one like me. But until when will I live with a beggar mindset?” “Your brother didn’t get a proper home education from his parents. That’s why there are so many things I don’t know about the basics in human relationships.” “Don’t make excuses. Oppa is an excuse for everything. How long do I have to endure and understand?” When I talked, I always ended up being the only one who was weird. The conversation became less and less, and the words piled up in my heart increased. ‘Let’s wait. I have to be patient.’ I endured the thought of being a family. What I got was otitis media and allergies that didn’t happen even though I lived in the semi-basement. “As for Cheonan, Assistant Manager Kim should take care of it.” “Yes. No problem.” I didn’t say a word to my ex-wife during the meeting. But I knew it because I was married. Her miasma was quite high as she was making a nonchalant expression in the conference room. ‘It’s okay to jump. But don’t look at me anymore.’ “Deputy Manager Kim from the sales team said he rides a Ferrari.” “Really? How much money did you buy such a car for?” “They said they earned a lot with coins. I heard that the property exceeds 2 billion.” “Really? 2 billion?” Rumors about Kim Shin spread among the company’s female employees. The discerning staff knew that the brand of clothes they were wearing had changed. ‘It’s unpleasant.’ Han Chae-won sat on her office chair and gnashed her teeth. When I was married, I was a person who couldn’t even look at myself straight because I was intimidated. ‘Where did I marry you?’ At the beginning of the marriage, my mother was sick, so I needed surgery and hospital bills. “You are nothing but me. Would you have died alone because you were old?” Gently scratched the weak part. I attacked my weaknesses and ripped off the money I had saved while working. I was displeased that my ex-husband, who had nothing to do with it, became a hot topic among female employees. ‘annoying.’ What was more upsetting than popularity was the rumor that he had made a fortune with coins. ‘Didn’t I have to live with it for one more year?’ If I had known that I would have a 2 billion fortune, I would have done much better when I got married. Water had already spilled through. ‘You have to disappear from my life.’ At lunchtime, Choi So-hye, the boss of the support team, and the female employees gathered together and spoke. “You know my ex-husband.” “Yes?” “I gambled every day. How much money did you borrow from our house for gambling while you were married? I haven’t paid any.” “Is it?” “On gambling on women. I’m glad you got a divorce before it’s too late. The reason I bought the car now was probably with all the money I needed and bought it in installments. I’m a person who can’t think of anything because I didn’t learn anything.” Team leader Choi So-hye, who had been listening silently, tilted her head. “Chaewon. I haven’t looked at people like that, but I go around looking at my ex-husband a lot.” “Yes?” “You talk about your ex-husband every day. If we broke up, wouldn’t that be the end?” “… … .” “Maybe Assistant Manager Kim from the sales team was a bad person for him. Can a marriage be all right? But he works hard in his company life. There is no harm done to other employees.” “However… … .” “Deputy manager Kim said he hit her, and it was an affair. Wow, you talked a lot. I thought it was because it was a job for two people. It’s a matter for them to figure out on their own. But I have a little bit of an eye for people in my life, but Assistant Manager Kim didn’t seem like that kind of person.” “… … .” “No?” Han Chae-won’s eyes shook. Choi So-hye and other female employees from the support team were watching her. Corporate life, the reputation she had built up to now, could be shaken. “How could even Team Leader Choi trust him… … Even if I talk like this, do you still not believe me?” As Han Chae-won shed tears, the other women looked at her cynically. I invested in coins and worked harder at the company. ‘Balance check is only at home.’ Above all, I tried to keep this principle. If you frequently check how much you have earned or lost, you can get caught up in greed or fear. ‘Buying and selling at the perfect timing is the realm of the gods. Let’s wait until there is a big change.’ Before the conference, I often went out with Lee Jong-yeop. Driving around Gangnam or Gangdong with the Ferrari was comfortable to drive on the road. Instead, I was nervous every time I entered the underground parking lot. “Sir. The car kills me. This is the Italian sensibility.” When you step on the accelerator, the power jumps out without hesitation. Listening to Lee Jong-yeop’s admiration made it worthwhile to buy a Ferrari. “Chief Kim, welcome.” “Hello. Head nurse.” Even when I went up to the hospital, the reactions of the nurses were a little different. Young female nurses glanced at me. “Professor Jeongchan, you are making rounds. It will take about 30 minutes.” “Did you come to see Professor Nam Ho-seok? I have a surgery scheduled in a while. You should go in quickly.” Nurses at general hospitals have quite high noses. They kindly take care of my convenience as a salesperson. The head nurse is the head of the nurses. An elderly head nurse spoke up. “Was it Manager Kim?” “yes. Chief Nurse Lee Hyun-young.” “Ho Ho. Say hello too hard. It’s been years since we’ve seen each other.” When I was a freshman, I didn’t go to general hospitals or university hospitals, so it was about three years. All those three years, you were treated as a small merchant and ignored? Ophthalmology clinics are run by pharmacists. Salespeople dealing with ophthalmic equipment were not ignored. It’s not about choosing one product out of countless products, it’s because doctors don’t have many choices. University hospitals had the influence and reputation of professors, so sales staff had to pay more attention. “I heard that it was changed to a very good car this time. I heard you saw Nurse Cho Young parked.” “… … .” “I didn’t know. The house must have been very rich. Ho Ho. At this point, would you like to go on a blind date with a nurse who likes Assistant Manager Kim?” While I was still, Lee Jong-yeop was more curious. “Who are you? The person who is attached to our deputy.” “Moon Young-eun. know?” “Ah. That smile is so pretty… … .” “My ward’s a pretty nurse. It’s not a popular joke. What do you think? Do you have any thoughts about acting manager Kim?” Working as a salesperson, I often had blind dates with nurses. Even before marriage, there were one or two words at the hospital where we were quite close. There are more than 10 nurses in each eye hospital, and more than half of them are in their 20s or early 30s. If you go on a blind date like that, you will get a lot of internal injuries. When I went out after being introduced, he said that he likes big cars. First of all, ask about your house or your salary. Nurses in health care are dedicated and good people. However, it was also true that nurses with pretty faces looked at conditions a lot. “I do not know. It’s not long since I got divorced, so I don’t like it. Head nurse, do you know that I am a divorced man?” “know. How are you?” “Are you okay?” “Yes, Youngeun said okay, too. What’s wrong with divorce these days? How long have you been married? Then it’s worse than living together, what?” When I got divorced, I thought I would never get married and start a family for the rest of my life. Just changing the car is such an easy opportunity. “Thank you, but I have no idea yet.” Okay. Then tell me if you change your mind anytime. I’ll tell Moon Young-eun well.” When I got out of the hospital and got into the car in the parking lot, Lee Jong-yeop said cautiously. “What do you think, Mr. Jo Soo-ah?” “Mr. Jo Soo-ah?” I answered while tilting my head. “It is pretty. Not nice. You have the ability.” “And what?” “What more do I have to think about?” “… … Ugh.” I couldn’t be honest. I don’t have much experience in dating, but that’s why I think it’s rather easy. ‘Couldn’t that person like me?’ I got that feeling from Jo Soo-ah a few times, and I saw her come to the semi-basement and cry. No one has ever cried for me. No one cared about me.