The Famous Millionaire

Besides, Yu Zuung’s dancing was pretty attractive, too.

In fact, dancing doesn’t necessarily draw people’s attention simply because of the dancer’s fantastic dancing. What was important was to bring out the feelings of the people.

In that respect, Jiah’s dancing was amateurish. Though she danced well, she didn’t bring out the feelings that fit the music.

On the other hand, Yu Zuung’s dancing was rather clumsy, but her untainted innocence turned her dancing into a strong spell.

“You already know how Jinhon is doing now, right?”

Of course, Soyun was aware of his activities.

Though he was no longer on TV these days, his music video was so popular in the US market, it sometimes found its way into the news.

In fact, Jinhon was almost like a singing star.

Several music commentators predicted about the ranking of Duckling Fly. Some predicted it would get in the 10th ranking of the Billboard Chart, some even predicted he might compete with the top singer, Linya, over the top place sooner or later.

All that suggested Jinhon’s future was rosy. Hyunwoo sometimes wished he had promoted Jinhon in the US market much earlier.

Of course, his popularity might not last that long, but what was important was his success in the US market that could spill over into the domestic market.

If that really happened, Taesu Ahn, the president of AT Entertainment, could not block his activities in Korea. If he tried to block Jinhon, he would put himself in a dangerous situation.

Hyunwoo said confidently, “I promise you I won’t reveal your face unless the music video hits the jackpot. The general public will remember you as a female dancer with a mask in their minds. Don’t you think you can make it in this situation?”

She looked at him as if she was ready to change her mind.

“Just imagine the day when you’ll have become so famous that even Taesu can’t dare to do anything to you. You will be able to tell the people proudly that what they used to know about you was all fake.”

Now she was clearly shaken by his sincere persuasion, showing some tears.

“Can I really make that happen?”

Her question was not about success but about how she could become the kind of star that even Taesu could do nothing about.

Nodding his confidently, Hyunwoo said, “I’ve got a plan for it.”

“What is it?” she asked urgently.

Hyunwoo felt she made up her mind. Only a few minutes ago, she was just preoccupied with avoiding him.

Now, she changed. She seemed to be a person earnestly looking for a chance.

He briefed her about his promotion campaign of the music video.

It was a secret that nobody should hear, and it was the first time he told anyone about it, too. For that reason, he came closer to her ears and told her in a quiet voice. Though what he said was barely audible, it was convincing enough to persuade her.

“That day is just around the corner.”

Soyun’s eyes twinkled at that.

“Just trust me. This is not a dangerous challenge at all. Even if you fail to gain the popularity that you expect, let me keep your identity secret. So, you don’t need to be sacred. Don’t you want to listen to the people’s clapping hands once more?”

At that moment, tears rained down her face.

At the same time, she opened her tightly closed lips.

“I’d love to. I’ve been dreaming of that every day, but I’m so scared, so scared of the people saying that I became a star by selling my body like a prostitute.”

Hyunwoo vaguely remembered what had happened to her in the past. Though he was too busy to watch TV at that time, she and Hey Girls were so popular that even he became their fan.

As she was so popular, her fans were so shocked to learn about her alleged sex scandal.

For that reason, the fans who were disappointed in her slandered and abused her freely online, and the female rivals who felt jealous of her and Hey Girls fanned the online terrorism against her all the more. In fact, Soyun was born and brought up in a strict conservative family, who never had a boyfriend, so her shock was beyond imagination when her sensational scandal broke.

According to the principal, she even suffered from social phobia. In particular, she was plunged into a great confusion when someone approached her with romantic feelings.

She still hadn’t overcome that fear even three years after it happened.

Hyunwoo took out his handkerchief and gave it to her, “Don’t worry. You’ll be alright.”

Soyun nodded and once again sought his reassurance.

“Please promise me once more that you will never reveal my identity. If you do it, I really won’t be able to stand it…”

“Of course, I will. Even if I give up the music video I’ll keep your identity secret by all means.”

“Okay. Let me participate in the music video then.”

She wiped her tears with the handkerchief.

Hyunwoo waited until she completely calmed herself down then left the office.

The principal was standing guard far away. When Hyunwoo and Soyun approached, he came to them and looked at them with an expectant expression.

Hyunwoo bowed to him and then said to Soyun,

“Sorry. I think I have hurt your feelings. Let me find the main dancer among new singers or entertainers.”

“Don’t worry. I am sorry, too, as I can’t help you at all. I’ll try my best to coach Jiah’s dancing so that the music video can make a great hit,” replied Soyun chiming in with his.

The principal smiled a bitter smile at that.

***

Several days later, Raymon and his two friends came down to Ansan.

Hyunwoo took them to the warehouse of KOVE DREAM, where there were already six people including Jonghyon. The female staffer was Sonjong Kim, who served as an office manager, while the other staff members were so busy sorting out the products imported from KOVE partners in Vietnam.

When Hyunwoo brought Raymon and his friends to the warehouse, the staff welcomed them as if they were saviors.

“Wow, you guys look really strong!”

“Three of you can do the work for six.”

Hyunwoo smiled satisfactorily and said, “Hey, don’t give them too much stress. They might flee to the United States anytime.”

“Really? We won’t! Hahaha”

Hyunwoo introduced Raymona and his friends to Sonjong, who was recently hired to take care of the trade documents.

She welcomed them gladly but complained to him.

“Please give me a helping hand, too. It’s not just that the warehouse work increased, but mine, too!”

“Even your work increased, too?”

“Oh my god! This is a breach of the contract. I can’t even take time out to go home and take care of my babies.”

Actually, she wasn’t exaggerating the situation at all. Since the trade fair opened recently, KOVE DREAM was growing too rapidly. Its growth was literally explosive.

She put more priority on raising her babies than her salary. Her husband was making decent money, but she still paid great attention to taking care of her two babies.

She was always ready to go back to being a housewife if she didn’t like the working conditions.

In fact, working well alone wasn’t the only factor of a good employee. Harmony with the fellow staff and taking the initiative were also important.

In that respect, Sonjong was the best employee. She took the initiative in cleaning up the office when she came early in the morning and sometimes served free soft drinks. Besides, she even went out to the warehouse to help the staff carry stuff.

Hyunwoo quickly nodded at her complaint and said, “Let me find one for you as soon as possible.”

“Can I recommend one? In fact, I know a couple of them who want to work with me.”

“Of course. Who are they?”

“Well, they were former employees of a customs office, but they were laid off as the office was closed. They have been looking for a job but couldn’t find one until recently.”

“Bring them today.”

“Please pay them high. They are in financial stress a lot. In return, let me have them work hard to repay your favor.”

And then she called them to come to the office immediately.

This time Juwhan also made the suggestion to Hyunwoo.

“Sir, I think you have to make a bold investment on this occasion. As you know, we can’t deal with the growing workloads these days. As the trend goes on like this, our warehouse will be fully packed with products.”

Hyunwoo was aware of that, too. Though the new warehouse was four times as large as that of N&C Korea, he felt the space was not big enough. He could not even figure how big KOVE DREAM could grow in the future.

Hyunwoo owed it all to Korea Broadcasting’s recent broadcasts on the KOVE DREAM team’s hard work in Vietnam. Following the broadcasts, more and more Korean technicians flew to Vietnam to join KOVE, and the number of the local Korean companies that joined KOVE increased to seventeen and was still growing.

Hyunwoo felt that the increase in the workload of the warehouse was not simply because of the sales boost. He found the fundamental reason somewhere else.

It was basically Hyunwoo’s mistake.