The Chairman Who Wants to Play and Eat

Chapter 39. They say a genius recognizes another genius.

The long, drawn-out schedule spanning two days had come to an end.

Stephen Jackson was leaving.

Yet,

even at that very moment of departure, he didn’t forget to surprise everyone.

“Goodbye, Seong-hyun’s friends! Until we meet again soon!”

With an unexpected hug, he left a lively farewell to Hyun Byeong-geon, the iron-willed chairman and top figure of Seong-hyun, who had come to see him off at the airport—a rare occurrence.

It was an impulsive act.

Even the grandfather must have been taken aback.

But he soon composed himself. He embraced him in return.

“Ha ha, this friend of mine.”

It was with this sentiment.

A moment worthy of being eternally recorded in the 30-year history of Seong-hyun.

He remained vividly in my memory.

How could it not?

For two long days, I had to move alongside him, sometimes as a conversation partner, sometimes as an interpreter.

It was truly a close mark.

During that time,

“I find greater interest in what I haven’t achieved than in what I have. What I’ve accomplished is in the past, but what I haven’t done is still in the future, isn’t it?”

I had to listen to his incessantly repeated sayings (?).

The words themselves are good.

On the surface, they sound wonderful.

However, that’s not all there is to it.

If I hadn’t caught on to the true meaning behind his roundabout expressions, I too would have only grasped that superficial meaning.

But not now.

I understand it all.

“I’m more interested in the future (the unrealized) where I become a billionaire with cash exceeding several hundred million dollars after selling my stake of over 10% in Apple, enjoying a leisurely rich life, than in the present (the realized).”

The hidden meaning contained in those words.

I learned a lot.

That’s why I supported him.

I wished him well, saying that I believed his goal would surely be achieved within three years.

“I, too, will surely lose our chairman’s trust and become a building owner in Gangnam within those three years, so I hope you, Steven, will be ousted from the board as you wish.”

That was the implication.

In the meantime,

“Well then, Mr. Hyun! Let’s see who gets there first!”

Leaving me with those last words that no one else could understand, Steven Jackson disappeared beyond the departure gate.

I answered inwardly.

“I will definitely achieve that goal before you do.”

I vowed.

I was determined to surpass him, no matter what, to be the first to be ousted before he was kicked out of Apple.

Yes.

This is a competition.

A contest of pride between friends who understand each other.

Wasn’t he thinking the same way as I was?

That’s what I believed.

And so I left the airport.

“How was it?”

On the way back to Seoul, I casually asked Lee Beom-seok, the driver.

“Are you talking about Steven Jackson?”

“Yes, the person you’ve been so eager to meet. A global icon that all of humanity is paying attention to, and so on.”

“You still have a good memory, young master.”

Even after two days of dealing with Jackson, the driver said with a smile.

“Isn’t that only natural?”

“True enough.”

Then, after organizing his thoughts for a moment, he replied.

“At first, I thought of him as Steven Jackson. Everything about him, from his appearance to his words, was extraordinary. I had heard that he had a ‘reality distortion field’ that overwhelmed those around him, and it was true. Being close to him felt like being pulled in.”

“Is that all?”

“No.”

He smiled again and opened up sincerely.

“But he talked too much. Eventually, it became tiresome. The illusion was shattered.”

That’s true.

Though I was mostly in a listening position, it seemed he was trying to understand Steven Jackson in his own way, as expected from the ace of the secretarial office.

Then, he said,

“I was a bit surprised at first.”

Suddenly, he brought up an unexpected topic. I asked.

“What do you mean?”

“The first day, when you met Jackson at the airport. On the way, you brought up movies first, and I was actually a bit anxious inside.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because people usually don’t do that.”

He added,

“Normally, when meeting someone like Jackson, who became a billionaire with just a computer, conversations usually start with computer talk. People who love computers have a common language among themselves. But you didn’t do that.”

As he said this, he clicked his tongue.

“What are you trying to say?”

I asked.

“I just wanted to say how impressive you are. I’ve been itching to tell you that for a while.”

“······I see.”

“Who would have thought that would open Jackson up? They say a genius recognizes another genius. Just like what you said before leaving, and our Seonghyeon has achieved something remarkable too, hasn’t he?”

Thanks to that, my ears were a bit sore, but his voice was filled with excitement.

Indeed.

During the two days spent with Chairman Hyun Byeong-geon, Steven Jackson chatted away enthusiastically with me in between, yet he didn’t forget his responsibilities.

As a result, discussions with Appel progressed very positively.

We even signed a memorandum of understanding.

He insisted that it must be documented.

It wasn’t a typical-sized contract.

Though not immediate, it was a technology partnership and parts supply agreement that could potentially generate millions of dollars in revenue in the future.

As he said this, he added with a hint of insistence.

“If Seong-hyun had only spouted the dull and clichéd words like the refrigerator of the normal and the giant, he would never have brought this up. It’s all because of Mr. Hyun over there, that friend of ours, that I’ve made this decision. Make sure to remember that.”

He even gave me a slight wink.

He was challenging me to see if I understood the true meaning of his words.

Of course, I did.

This was a kind of competition.

“He’s trying to make it impossible for me to leave the company before him. It’s a deliberate ploy to shift all the responsibility onto me.”

No, that won’t do.

This is not good.

I had fallen into Jackson’s “reality distortion field.” I couldn’t let Seong-hyun and Apel take away my peaceful future like this.

I needed to come up with a plan, even now.

I had to step up.

If I was to avoid losing to Jackson.

That was when it hit me.

“People who love computers have their own language that they understand among themselves.”

It was something this assistant had said earlier.

A language that people who love computers share? Computer language?

Wait a minute,

If that’s the case?

His words had unearthed a forgotten memory.

“Assistant.”

“Yes?”

“Since it’s late today, why don’t you go in and rest for now, and tomorrow, could you prepare just one thing I’ll ask of you?”

I acted immediately.

“What would you like me to prepare? Just say the word.”

“I need to study a language.”

“A language? Another one?”

“Yes.”

“What language are you referring to…?”

I answered.

“Just like Deputy Lee mentioned, it’s the language of people who love computers, like Jackson—namely, programming languages.”

How did I come to think of this?

To tell this story, I need to go back to the first day I met Jackson.

The words I shouted,

“Eureka (εύρηκα!)” led to a small incident.

“Earlier, in the car, you said ‘Eureka,’ didn’t you? Isn’t that Greek?”

Later, in the chairman’s office, Jackson asked me separately.

“That’s right.”

“Mr. Hyun, you’re quite fluent in English, but do you also speak Greek? It seems you have quite a few languages under your belt, is that correct?”

“Not really that many.”

I answered honestly.

It wasn’t an untrue statement.

The languages I can converse in are English, French, and German, plus a bit of Chinese, Greek, and Arabic.

If I include the Spanish I recently picked up, it does increase a little.

But that’s about it.

Anyway,

When I casually listed the number of languages I could use, Jackson looked surprised.

“Wow, you’re really impressive.”

He moved on to the next question.

“Then let me ask one more thing. Do you know any programming languages? Surely you can’t say you know that too, haha.”

It was indeed a typical question from him.

I felt as if I had been hit on the head with a hammer.

“If you don’t, I recommend picking up at least one. I believe computer language skills are not only necessary for programming but are also essential capabilities for the future that’s coming.”

I didn’t even hear his words.

The reason I learn languages is singular.

To show my grandfather that I’m working on developing skills that aren’t particularly needed for managing the group.

And computer languages are languages too.

To say I’m learning languages while completely overlooking programming languages—

That’s my oversight.

If it weren’t for him, I might have missed it.

And now, if this assistant hadn’t reminded me once again, I would have almost forgotten.

I’m grateful to both of them.

“Sir?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

This assistant pulled me out of my prolonged thoughts.

“First, I will get you the BASIC textbook. As far as I know, that’s the most fundamental one.”

Just one?

“No.”

“Then what else do you need?”

I answered his question.

“Please collaborate with the professor’s research lab at Korea University to gather all the major textbooks on programming languages that I can learn, and bring them to my study. Any existing language will do.”

*

A few days later,

“Did that really happen?”

Hyun Dae-jae, the eldest son of Chairman Hyun, and the general vice president, had been summoned and was visiting the chairman’s office after a long time.

It wasn’t a frequent occurrence.

This was due to Chairman Hyun’s usual belief in the importance of each person’s role in their respective positions.

“Yes, it did.”

Director Joo Yong-hoon, who was present, answered on behalf of the chairman.

“It’s a shame I couldn’t see it myself.”

“Even if you had, you probably would have frozen up and said nothing like I did.”

“Haha, that’s understandable. To hug the chairman, no less.”

At that remark, laughter spread within the chairman’s office.

The conversation had shifted from discussing the results of the meeting with Stephen Jackson to the incident at the airport.

However,

There was one person who couldn’t laugh.

That was Chairman Hyun.

From noble mtl dot com

“What good is it to see that? Don’t speak nonsense.”

He raised his voice for no reason.

But,

He knew it too.

That during the time Chairman Hyun was with Steve Jackson, there was someone quietly supporting him from behind, filling that empty space.

He also guessed that he had been anxiously waiting for the results all this time.

It was because he knew that he called him.

‘How curious he must have been.’

Chairman Hyun thought to himself.

He was someone who rarely revealed his inner thoughts, so he simply showed no expression.

“By the way, I heard that Sayoon played a big role this time?”

Hyun Deokjae asked.

“That’s right.”

In response to Chairman Hyun’s brief answer,

“Essentially, this achievement is almost entirely due to the young master. Even if we set aside the fact that Young Master Sayoon handled all the interpretation.”

Director Joo, considering Hyun Deokjae, added a detailed comment.

He was right in his assumptions.

It was an unprecedented achievement.

When he first heard that Apple CEO Steven Jackson was visiting Seonghyeon, it was a result he had never anticipated.

However,

What he hadn’t expected even more was that at the center of that achievement was his youngest son, Hyun Sayoon.

He couldn’t even fathom how it had happened.

He had merely gone out to greet him.

Yet, so many miraculous things had occurred.

To summarize:

First,

Although it was still in the idea stage, a rough outline was drawn regarding the direction of the joint venture that Steven Jackson wanted between Apple and Seonghyeon.

‘For now, since we need to establish a joint company for the display, let’s set that as a long-term goal and start with the disk drive. We will provide Seonghyeon with the clone license for our drives manufactured in Japan, so please create a customized drive for us.’

The discussions progressed rapidly.

Seonghyeon Precision Industry was selected as the company to partner with for technology.

As a defense contractor, it wouldn’t go bankrupt unless it fell out of favor with the government, but ultimately, it was just an ordinary subsidiary with that level of stability.

But what if they were to open a deal with Apple?

I cannot even guess how much sales will rise in the future.

“It’s amazing.”

“It’s thanks to you, young master. Who would have thought that the great Steven Jackson would be so captivated?”

“I knew it. You knew it too, Director Joo.”

And President Im knew it, and Chairman Hyun added. Director Joo nodded.

At that moment,

“I don’t think we can reward this level of achievement with mere praise, Chairman.”

Hyun Deok-jae suddenly said. In fact, he had been thinking about it even before coming to the chairman’s office.

“Then what do you suggest?”

“How about a promotion?”

“To whom?”

But all three already knew the answer.

“Not Sang-yoon.”

Chairman Hyun interjected, speaking decisively.

However, Hyun Deok-jae, who usually did not go against his grandfather’s words, seemed unwilling to back down this time.

“Why not?”

“He’s my grandson. If I promote him for such a trivial matter, it will affect the morale of the other employees.”

“That’s not true. It’s quite the opposite.”

Hyun Deok-jae countered.

“If there’s no reward for such an achievement, it’s closer to discrimination than favoritism. If there’s no acknowledgment for a job well done, morale will actually decline. Chairman.”

Upon hearing this, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

Chairman Hyun fell silent, lost in thought.

After a moment,

“Director Joo.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Do you think the same?”

Director Joo answered immediately.

“Not just me, but all the executives and employees of Seonghyeon will likely feel the same way. As long as they have the ability to gauge the magnitude of the achievement. You needn’t worry about that at all, Chairman.”

Meanwhile, at that moment.

He dozed off at his desk.

But the content of the dream was a bit strange.

‘What do you think about promoting Sang-yoon to president this time?’

‘Is he really fit for the position of president? If there are higher ranks, it’s only right to elevate him further, Father.’

It was a nonsensical dream.

Yet, before I knew it, cold sweat had begun to bead down my back.

I turned my gaze back to the book.

“Fundamentals of Computer Architecture,” the first book I obtained through this assistant.

There was only one reason I chose this book.

It dealt with machine language, the first-generation programming language that computers can understand directly.

“Machine language is difficult.”

That was what this assistant had said when he brought me the book.

That’s actually good.

The harder it is, the more time it will take, and in a way, I’ll be getting closer to my goal, even if just a little.

“Really? That’s nice.”

“…There are easier languages like BASIC. Do you really have to start with that?”

My answer was firm.

“To converse with a Japanese person, you must learn Japanese, and to communicate with a machine, it’s only natural to learn machine language, isn’t it? Please refrain from unnecessary comments. I’ll ask Professor Oh to prepare the next course as well.”

Thanks to that, there was someone who was excited.

‘Finally.’

In the dark laboratory of the Department of Computer Engineering at Korea University,

Professor Eom Nam-jun was smiling at the computer screen.

It was something I could never have imagined when Lee Beom-seok, the staff member, suddenly visited the lab.

But now I can imagine it.

‘Finally, the opportunity has come to me.’

How much time had I wasted on laws and such?

I didn’t have to do that anymore.

Hyun Sang-yoon had stepped into the beautiful and mysterious world of computers. And he had no intention of letting that opportunity slip away.