Episode 52. Investment (8)
A long sigh escaped from participant Choi Bok-hyun’s lips after he finished the call.
He already had a lot of white hair, but it felt like even more had appeared after the phone call.
“Oh dear…”
He, looking troubled, put his smartphone in his pocket and slowly tried to walk away.
Just then, participant Choi Bok-hyun was greatly surprised.
“Daepyonim?”
He had run right into Kang Dae-oh at the corner.
And that wasn’t all.
Kang Yeyoung was also standing beside Kang Dae-oh.
Kang Dae-oh first offered an apology to Choi Bok-hyun.
“I’m sorry, eoreusin.”
“Huh? Why?”
Choi Bok-hyun found Kang Dae-oh’s apology unexpected.
And for good reason. From Choi Bok-hyun’s perspective, Kang Dae-oh hadn’t done anything seriously wrong to him.
However, Choi Bok-hyun just hadn’t realized it yet.
Kang Dae-oh had made a big, unintentional mistake towards him.
“I overheard your call.”
“Ah…”
“It was absolutely not my intention to eavesdrop. Your expression seemed unwell throughout today’s recording, so I was looking for you out of concern. And then I ended up hearing the contents of your call. I have nothing to say, even if I had ten mouths. I’m truly sorry.”
At Kang Dae-oh’s repeated apologies, Choi Bok-hyun shook his head.
“No, it’s my fault for talking on the phone in a place where many people pass by. And… I just wanted to keep it private from people if possible, but it doesn’t really matter if it becomes known, so you don’t have to feel too sorry towards me.”
Since he had also asked for Choi Bok-hyun’s understanding.
Kang Dae-oh decided to inquire more specifically about his situation.
“It seemed like someone close to you was very ill…”
He didn’t know exactly who it was.
Choi Bok-hyun opened his mouth with a bitter smile, with difficulty.
“It’s my wife. She suddenly collapsed two months ago due to blood pressure and diabetes. She’s currently hospitalized.”
“Both eoreusin and yeosanim, you’ve been through a lot.”
“There’s nothing for me to suffer. It’s my wife who’s suffering.”
Choi Bok-hyun thought only of his wife, awake or asleep.
His love for his wife, even after more than 40 years, still remained warm and hadn’t cooled.
Kang Dae-oh also lived well with Min Seung-yeon, still like newlyweds.
But seeing the Choi Bok-hyun couple like this, a thought of envy secretly crossed his mind.
“After this filming ends, I’m thinking of looking for a job. I heard there’s an apartment security guard position, so I’m going to submit my resume there today.”
His single remark came as a considerable shock to Kang Dae-oh.
“What about the senior cafe?”
“I haven’t been able to raise the money to start it yet. And in a situation where I need urgent funds, I don’t want to make my wife suffer any more because of my personal ambitions.”
Kang Yeyoung carefully asked Choi Bok-hyun.
“Have you contacted your children, perhaps…?”
“I plan not to, if possible. They’re probably busy making ends meet themselves. Where would they get the money to support their mom and dad? Haha.”
Within that laughter, a great deal of sadness was embedded.
In the past, it was a society where living with and supporting parents was taken for granted.
However, these days, even young people in their 20s and 30s are busy just trying to make ends meet, so they can’t afford to support their parents.
Parents were well aware of this social atmosphere.
Perhaps that’s why the perception that ‘not getting sick and not asking for help from children is the greatest filial piety’ was gradually spreading widely among the elderly.
Kang Dae-oh found Choi Bok-hyun’s situation simply regrettable and pitiful.
On the other hand, he had many concerns.
Eventually, after much thought, Kang Dae-oh made this proposal to Choi Bok-hyun.
“Eoreusin. Couldn’t you postpone applying for the security guard job until the broadcast ends?”
“But the hospital bills…”
“I will pay for them instead.”
“Huh?”
Choi Bok-hyun’s pupils trembled greatly.
Meanwhile, Kang Yeyoung, who was standing next to him, slightly shrugged her shoulders as if she had known her dad would say this from the beginning.
“I hope, even if it’s just until this filming ends, eoreusin will focus on the broadcast and diligently prepare for the senior cafe startup. Once the broadcast airs, I can guarantee that you will receive countless calls from various places wanting to invest in you.”
“I… see.”
“So, I hope you don’t give up. Until then, I will cover your hospital expenses.”
“Then, Daepyonim, what will you gain…?”
“Why wouldn’t I gain anything?”
Kang Dae-oh said with a gentle smile towards Choi Bok-hyun.
“Later, when I get older, I’ll become a regular at the senior cafe you started, you know.”
If he offered to help Choi Bok-hyun simply out of sympathy, it could, conversely, wound his self-esteem.
Therefore, Kang Dae-oh made the offer to help Choi Bok-hyun as carefully as possible, so as not to touch upon that point.
After much deliberation, Choi Bok-hyun eventually decided to accept Kang Dae-oh’s proposal.
“Thank you, Daepyonim. No matter what it takes, I will definitely repay this kindness.”
Kang Dae-oh looked at him and smiled deeply once more.
Perhaps it was thanks to Kang Dae-oh’s decision to cover the hospital expenses.
From the third recording session, Choi Bok-hyun’s expression brightened again, just like it had been during the first recording.
His voice and demeanor were also filled with confidence.
Seeing the changed him, Kang Dae-oh felt good.
The concept and planning for the senior cafe were also continuously being refined in a positive direction.
And finally.
On the day the first episode of In Future was broadcast.
As Kang Dae-oh had expected, news that investment inquiries were pouring in for the participating contestants was delivered via Kwak Jong-soo PD.
And for good reason. They had already properly promoted their items through the broadcast. If they were to launch or open those items after making slight modifications to suit investors’ tastes, they would be able to attract many customers while the broadcast was airing.
Even those who were eliminated in the first round were receiving many calls.
How much more so for those who made it to the finals?
Choi Bok-hyun, who secured a spot among the final 10, was also receiving love calls from numerous places.
Thus, the final recording day for In Future approached.
The final 10, resolute that this might be their last broadcast stage, diligently presented their items to the public.
Starting with the female participant, Yoon Hye-min, who garnered a passionate response with her eco-friendly mask pack, the participants one by one presented their final presentations.
When Choi Bok-hyun, neatly dressed in a suit, appeared, the audience gave him a warm cheer.
Despite his advanced age, Choi Bok-hyun fiercely competed with younger individuals and proudly advanced to the final stage.
The small miracle shown by the “old but strong” drew fervent support from all the elderly population in South Korea.
Choi Bok-hyun, who had poured out everything he prepared on stage, bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude to the viewers and the evaluation committee.
“This concludes all explanations. Thank you.”
With the presentation by Choi Bok-hyun, the last participant, everything prepared for In Future came to an end.
Now, only the final.
Only the public vote remained.
The final stage’s evaluation would be based on 30% from the evaluation committee’s scores and 70% from the public vote.
Kang Yeyoung, who received the cue sheet with the results from a staff member, announced the rankings one by one.
While the rankings from 10th to 3rd place were announced, Choi Bok-hyun’s name had not yet been called.
Only two spots remained.
The winner, and the runner-up.
“The glorious first winner of In Future is none other than…!”
The sound of drums made everyone’s hearts in the venue pound.
Soon, Kang Yeyoung called out the winner’s name.
“It’s Yoon Hye-min! Congratulations!”
Her eco-friendly mask pack ultimately led her to win the final In Future championship.
She shed tears as she received the winner’s trophy.
Meanwhile, Choi Bok-hyun, who took second place, congratulated her without any hint of disappointment.
Before hearing Yoon Hye-min’s comments, the microphone was passed to Choi Bok-hyun first.
“I am fully satisfied just with being the runner-up. Because… actually, there was a time when I thought about withdrawing from this program myself due to certain circumstances.”
He was referring to the time when his wife was hospitalized.
“But at that time, a righteous person appeared and helped me. Thanks to that person, I believe I was able to achieve this wonderful result of being the runner-up. I want to dedicate all this glory to that person.”
Kang Dae-oh smiled silently and slowly nodded his head.
His investment in him was worthwhile.
Kang Dae-oh thought so.
After In Future, which ignited a startup craze in South Korea, concluded its run.
Kang Dae-oh met Choi Bok-hyun again after a long time.
“Have you been well, eoreusin?”
“Thanks to Daepyonim, I’ve been well.”
“After becoming the runner-up, didn’t people recognize you?”
“Many recognized me even on the way here. It felt like being a celebrity.”
The two looked at each other and laughed heartily.
“I saw the news recently. There was an article saying K-Food wanted to invest in eoreusin?”
K-Food is a large conglomerate that ranks among the top 3 in the South Korean food service industry based on capital size.
It was the first time they had so explicitly expressed their intention to invest in an individual.
They were passionately coveting Choi Bok-hyun’s senior cafe item to an extent that could be called unprecedented.
Choi Bok-hyun smiled faintly and continued speaking.
“The amount was quite large. When a number I had never seen in my life was placed before my eyes, it made my head spin.”
“Yeosanim must have been pleased too.”
“Well, actually, both my wife and I. The place we want to collaborate with isn’t K-Food, but somewhere else.”
“Where is that?”
Choi Bok-hyun’s gaze fixed on Kang Dae-oh.
As soon as he saw that look in his eyes, Kang Dae-oh instinctively realized.
“Surely not.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Choi Bok-hyun revealed the real reason he had contacted Kang Dae-oh first today to meet him.
“I want to do it with Kang Daepyonim.”
“……”
“Are you perhaps feeling burdened?”
“Oh, no, not at all. If eoreusin wants to work with us, of course we’d be delighted. But isn’t it too regrettable to give up K-Food’s offer?”
“Daepyonim. Do you remember what I said before?”
“What did you say?”
“That I would definitely repay the kindness I received from Daepyonim, no matter what it takes.”
Choi Bok-hyun said, fixing his gaze on Kang Dae-oh as if revealing his firm resolve.
“From the moment Daepyonim said you would pay for my wife’s hospital bills, I already decided. With this person, it would be okay to work together for life.”
At those words, Kang Dae-oh fell into thought for a moment.
Soon, he slowly nodded his head.
“Thank you, eoreusin. I will do well.”
The small act of kindness Kang Dae-oh had shown.
It came back as an enormous reward.
Isn’t this the best investment? Kang Dae-oh thought to himself.
