The Famous Millionaire

“Okay. Let’s get down to work immediately,” said Hyunwoo, clapping his hands.

Then Jungah presented another idea as if the discussion had not yet ended.

“How can you find a voice actor? And we need background music, theme music, and sound effects. I hear sound effects critically affects the animation images. Don’t you think so?”

“I’ve got a pool of voice actors. And I can get the usual sound effects by using the existing tools. As for the theme music you have to spend some money to commission a professional on that,” said Gyungsu like an expert.

Then Junga said, “What about using part-time middle school students as voice actors?”

“Voice actors are professional actors. We should not bring anybody for that role.”

“These days there are lots of students dreaming to be actors. And their acting ability is much better than expected. If you see them in person, you’ll be stunned. If you put out an announcement through the schools, lots of applicants will come.”

Hyunwoo thought it’s a very good idea. The direction of Ani & Funny’s business was to help the Anifan kids grow, but he felt he should not limit the beneficiaries only to the Anifan kids. If it’s possible, he wanted to offer opportunities to other students and support them.

And when he heard about Jungah’s mention of background music, someone came to his mind suddenly. The grandson of the old woman in his neighborhood was excellent at composing.

Though he was a high school student and his ability was not yet proven, Ani & Funny was composed of such kids. As he intended to release its animation works for free, he would welcome any challenging new attempt.

“Let me figure out the background music. Would you take care of the voice actor and sound effects, brother Gyungsu? Once we test them and find they’re not good enough, then we’re going to turn to the professional.”

“Got it,” said Gyungsu. The meeting ended like that.

On the way back home, Hyunwoo got a call on his cellphone.

It was from Sungji Na, the president of N&C in Vietnam.

His message was simple: You’re coming to the wedding ceremony this Sat, right?

Several days later there was a meaningful wedding ceremony on Saturday in Vietnam. Jungsu Kown, the son of Sangtaek Kwon, the chief technician with N&C, was to remarry on that day. His fiancee was a Vietnamese woman 12 years younger than him.

“I’d love to come, but it’s too far away.”

“It isn’t that far. It takes only five hours to fly from Incheon International Airport to Tan Son Nhat International Airport.”

Hyunwoo had nothing to say but felt it was very far mentally. It was not in his element to fly to Vietnam to attend a wedding ceremony, so he wanted to change the topic. There was some big news about a typhoon hitting Vietnam.

The affected area was south of Vietnam, not far from Ho Chi Min city where N&C was located.

“Did you have damages from the typhoon?”

“We’re fine here, though there were lots of damages in the upper areas.”

“How come the typhoon hit Vietnam in December?”

“Typhoon’s are very unusual in December. They often go through Vietnam in November.”

“I’ll certainly see you later when I have a chance,” said Hyunwoo, hanging up the phone quickly.

As soon as he arrived home, he called the old woman whose grandson was pretty good at composing music. She would be very happy if he called her, praising her grandson’s great musical talent, but an unexpected thing happened. When he called her, she let out a sigh in a voice intermixed with tears.

Worried, Hyunwoo ran to her house. She was drinking soju without any side dishes.

As soon as she saw him, she began to dwell on her own misfortune.

The problem was her son’s quarreling with his wife. Her son, Junggyun Kwak, was familiar to Hyunwoo. Kwak remarried a Vietnamese woman after his wife died six years ago. Because of his frequent drinking and violent temper, however, there were constant family troubles, but their quarreling was so serious that the couple was talking about divorce.

And the reason for the quarrel was even more surprising.

“The typhoon in Vietnam was the reason?” asked Hyunwoo.

“I hear my daughter-in-law’s hometown was devastated by the typhoon. She says she lost contact with her parents and sisters, so she is anxious to fly to Vietnam to search for them.”

“Absolutely, you should allow her to fly there in such a situation. I think Junggyun should go with her there.”

She shook her head, “Their new-born baby just turned one year old. How can she leave the baby alone and fly there?”

“Oh, she had a baby?”

Her first grandson was Jinhun Kwak, the son born to her son’s first wife, and the second one was Jinguk, a baby only 14 months old, born to his current wife.

In Hyunwoo’s opinion, that was not a big problem.

“Why don’t you fly there with the whole family?”

“It isn’t that easy. What about the flight tickets and his company. And what about Jinguk?”

“Still the family is more important.”

“They can’t even make ends meet now….And even if the family goes there, there is no guarantee they can solve the problem.”

After all, money was the issue. Not only the expenses of their travel to Vietnam were the problem, but also Junggyu’s stay in Vietnam could lead to his being fired by the company.

His wife could understand if he allowed her to stay in Vietnam between one and two weeks, but the immediate issue was the travel expenses.

When Hyunwoo thought as far as that, Hyunwoo proposed a surprising suggestion, “Let me pay for your family’s travel expenses.”

“Really?” asked the old woman, opening her inflamed eyes wide.

“I’ve got one condition. Jinhun should make some songs for me.”

“Jinhun?”

Hyunwoo explained to her about the situation of Ani & Funny. The more Hyunwoo talked about his plan, the wider her eyes opened.

“I’m not sure whether Jinhun will listen to me.”

“Please give him a call now.”

She called Jinhun and let Hyunwoo pick up the phone.

“Are you Jinhun? This is Hyunwoo. Do you remember me?”

“How are you, sir? Of course, I do, hahaha.”

Hyunwoo thought he was speaking in a dismal tone because of his family troubles, but he spoke in a bright voice. He’d run away from his house for one week, not knowing about the typhoon that hit Vietnam. When Hyunwoo told him about what happened to his stepmother’s hometown in Vietnam, Jinhun asked back in a worried voice, “Really?”

Hyunwoo brought up the main topic about his animation business and his interest in hiring him.

“Are you going to buy my music? Seriously?”

“Yes, I’m going to use your composition as the background music of my animation. Can you also make the theme music? Instead, let me pay for all the expenses of your trip to Vietnam.”

Jinhun immediately okayed his proposal.

“Hey, go back to your house as soon as possible. And don’t run away from your house again, please!”

“Hahaha, got it, sir.”

This time he called Junggyun about his proposal that he made to his son.

Junggyun had no reason to reject it, who kept expressing thanks to Hyunwoo.

Hyunwoo called Yoran Noh, president of the travel agency Yellow Balloon. She got the tickets with which they could fly to Vietnam next Tuesday. and come back in fifteen days.

Hyunwoo called Mr. Na, president of N&C in Vietnam to ask for his help regarding their travel to the area hit by the typhoon.

“I’m sorry to call you like this again.”

“You’re very welcome. It’s me who calls you for favors all the time. I’m happy to repay you like this.”

Mr. Na said he would arrange the transportation for them and send one of his staff members to accompany them.

Hyunwoo felt relieved to hear that.

“Thanks so much. Let me repay your favor later.”

“You’re very welcome. By the way, please come with them on this occasion. You can attend the wedding ceremony for Jungsu Kwon. Perfect timing!”

This time Hyunwoo felt he wanted to go as he could help them search for the family of Mr. Kwak’s wife. And his travel to Vietnam this time was appropriate because he could not take any time off once he moved to Space Design in Seoul.

“Okay. Let me use my vacation to join them this time. If my manager approves my leave request, I’ll join them.”

“Great idea. I’ll be seeing you soon then.”

The next Monday morning Hyunwoo called manager Youngsu outside quietly.

Youngsu made a puzzled look because Hyunwoo has never done so before.

“What’s the matter with you?”

“I’m so sorry, but can I take vacation leave for several days? I have to fly to Vietnam.”

“Vietnam? Why? Any business to do there?”

“Well, an acquaintance of mine living there lost contact since the recent typhoon hit his area. I would like to go there and help them search for him, and I need to attend a wedding ceremony for technician Jungsu Kwon of N&C in Vietnam. On this occasion, I’d like to visit N&C factory there.”

Youngsu nodded his head and approved his request casually, “No problem. You may go there unless you have any special assignment. And you can make vacation request like this in the office.”

“Thanks. Let me apply for vacation leave from this Friday until next Tuesday then.”

Jinhun’s family left for Vietnam next Tuesday Except for his grandmother, all of them boarded the plane. Hyunwoo also was on his plane on Friday morning.

When he arrived at Tan Son Nhut International Airport, not only Sungji Na, Sangtaek and Dohyuk Kim but also Jungsu Kwon, the groom, were waiting for him at the airport.

As soon as Sungji saw Hyunwoo, he opened his arms to hug him.

“Hahaha. How long has it been, Hyunwoo?”

“How are you, everybody? I wish I came more often. Sorry about that. Please talk down to me. I feel just uncomfortable when you keep talking polite to me,” said Hyunwoo. Actually, they were all much older than Hyunwoo.

“Okay, then. It’s about time. Hahaha”

Sangtaek and Dohyuk spoke informally to him.

“Congratulations on your wedding!”

“Thanks so much. I owe it to you.”

“By the way, did Jinhun’s family arrive well?”

“Sure. As soon as they got here on Tuesday they left for Natrang. And I heard from them this morning. Fortunately, his wife’s family is all well.”

“I’m so glad to hear that,” said Hyunwoo with a sigh of relief.

He then accompanied Sungji to the N&C factory.

When he arrived there, he was pleasantly surprised to find that there were so many changes there. Above all, he was surprised to see lots of employees. When he first visited, he only saw a few workers there, but now, it was crowded with lots of them.

“Is this the same workplace that I visited before? How is it possible to see such a big change here?”

“Well, I owe it to you all, Hyunwoo. It’s you who save me from the crisis of bankruptcy by making an investment, opening new branches in Korea, and sending the Dream Team led by Sangtaek Kwon.”

“Fortunately, we got connected then rather than my credit. I think you and Mr. Kwon’s capabilities have made N&C what it is today.”

“No, I think our capabilities can take 10% credit while the rest 90% is yours, and the Vietnamese government also gave us a lot of help.”

“How wonderful! Hahaha.”

The wedding ceremony took place in the next afternoon. There were lots of guests present to congratulate the couple. While Hyunwoo was taking a look at the wedding hall and the guests, Sungji approached him and asked, “When are you getting married?”

“Well, I’m thinking about that,” replied Hyunwoo superficially.

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

“I’m going to get one eventually. Hahaha”

“Really? Actually, I’ve set my heart on a beautiful lady for you. When I saw her for the first time, I immediately felt she’s the perfect match for you. Wait a minute. Where is Miss Yuzung? Hey, call her,” said Sungji, asking one of his staff to find and bring her here.

Hyunwoo was embarrassed by his unexpected act. He was destined to have a blind date with a Vietnamese woman.

“No, don’t do that, sir,” said Hyunwoo.

“Wait a minute. I would like to just show her face to you. You don’t have to commit now, of course.”

Why is he recommending such a woman so strongly?

A little later someone brought the lady to Sungji.

At that moment, Hyunwoo’s eyes opened wide because of her stunning beauty.

He felt as if a shining star was approaching him.