The Overly Competent Junior Employee

“Dahyun-ssi, thank you for all your hard work.”

Two weeks later, members of Yuseong Investment Securities’ Leaders Center Asset Management Team 3 were huddled together in a restaurant in Teheran Valley, looking at one person.

Han Dahyun smiled at Team Leader Seo Jeonghwan’s words.

“Thank you, Team Leader. To be honest, I was glad you tried to keep me when I suddenly said I was leaving the company.”

Dokyung felt a mix of emotions as he looked at Han Dahyun speaking these words.

His first meeting with Han Dahyun had been an unexpected encounter with a great colleague, leading to an enjoyable year of work together.

But as always, good encounters come with unexpected farewells.

“It made me feel that I was still needed here.”

All team members except Dokyung nodded at Han Dahyun’s words. They seemed familiar with this scene.

The industry was small, talent was limited, and capable people often left for better opportunities elsewhere.

So for them, while such partings were regrettable, they seemed to think it was something to celebrate for the other person’s sake.

But Dokyung alone looked glum, as if he wasn’t yet ready for such an attitude. For him, this kind of farewell was essentially a first.

“And…”

Han Dahyun nodded as she looked at Dokyung, who was sitting across from her with a gloomy expression.

“I think I was really lucky that you were my first colleagues and seniors when I came to the Leaders Center.”

As she spoke, Han Dahyun’s eyes had become moist.

“Team Leader, who always taught me how to approach clients, and the two seniors who always cheered me on.”

Team Leader Seo Jeonghwan and the team members nodded with smiles at Han Dahyun’s words.

“And finally, my peer who was truly my greatest support. Dokyung-ssi.”

Han Dahyun smiled as she looked at Dokyung.

“Thank you so much. I think my experience over the past year is something I couldn’t have gotten anywhere else.”

“When I first heard where Han Dahyun-ssi was going, I wanted to stop you.”

Seo Jeonghwan continued speaking with a regretful expression.

“I thought you’d at least stay in this industry.”

“I also thought a lot about…”

“Ah, I’m just saying that because I’m disappointed. I thought Dahyun-ssi could become a one and only in this industry. As a startup expert, I mean. But now I support your decision. I understand it too.”

In fact, Han Dahyun wasn’t heading to another securities firm after leaving Yuseong Investment Securities.

Dokyung still recalled the day he heard Han Dahyun’s destination. It had been quite a surprising decision.

“I’ve actually been wondering for a while how startups operate. Of course, startups disclose quite a bit about themselves because they need investment, but it’s hard for an outsider like me to know the internal atmosphere.”

Han Dahyun was explaining the background of her decision to change jobs.

“So I was thinking I should experience a startup while I’m still young, and coincidentally, I got a good offer from Silicon Valley, where my alma mater is.”

Han Dahyun had graduated from a famous university in Silicon Valley. Naturally, her network was likely broader and deeper than Dokyung could imagine.

“They said they needed someone to persuade investors to secure external funding.”

Perhaps it was a win-win offer for both Han Dahyun and the startup.

Han Dahyun, who was curious about the internal structure of startups, and a startup that needed someone with experience in the investment industry to attract investors.

“But that doesn’t mean I’m leaving the securities world forever. I don’t know what my future will be like, but I should at least see through to the end of the company I’m moving to.”

Dokyung had asked that day if she had chosen to change jobs because of him.

To that question, Han Dahyun had laughed loudly as if it were a silly question and shook her head.

She said it was a choice solely for herself and asked for his support.

Though regretful, Dokyung supported her decision after receiving one promise from his colleague.

“And after that, I’ll come back. To Teheran Valley or Yeouido… to Korea.”

Dokyung had proposed working together again someday, and Han Dahyun had nodded and promised.

She said she wanted to form a team with Dokyung someday, and demanded that he be in a position to form a team when she came back.

Dokyung accepted her request.

The two promised to work hard on their respective paths and create the best team in Korea someday.

“So when I come back, don’t pretend you don’t know me.”

Han Dahyun said to the team members, and everyone nodded.

“Of course. Just come back.”

Only Dokyung answered her words sincerely.

“Hahaha, Yoon Dokyung-ssi is unusually serious today.”

Seo Jeonghwan commented as if Dokyung’s behavior was novel.

“It must be because his peer is leaving.”

When even another senior said this, Han Dahyun smiled and looked at Dokyung.

“Thank you so much.”

Han Dahyun said this to Dokyung, and he nodded.

“I’m also very grateful to you, Dahyun-ssi. Please take care of your health until we meet again.”

“You’re talking like we’re never going to be in touch.”

Han Dahyun spoke in a sulky tone as if she wanted to tease Dokyung for his solemn demeanor, and Dokyung waved both hands in flustered denial.

“How could that be? I’ll always be ready for Dahyun-ssi’s call…”

“Hahaha.”

All the team members burst into laughter at Dokyung’s flustered appearance, and when Han Dahyun also chuckled with a “pfft,” Dokyung realized he’d been had and scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

“Now, let’s raise our glasses to cheer on Dahyun-ssi’s new start.”

At Seo Jeonghwan’s words, everyone raised their glasses.

“To Han Dahyun.”

“Cheers!”

As everyone shouted loudly after Seo Jeonghwan’s lead, Han Dahyun clinked glasses with a bright smile.

“To the future of our Team 3!”

That day, all of Team 3 shared their feelings and spent Han Dahyun’s last moments together like this.

⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱

“Well, well, CEO Kang, what brings you here?”

Meanwhile, in the CEO’s office at Yuseong Investment Securities headquarters.

Sim Ju-won, the CEO of Yuseong Investment Securities, greeted his visitor with a bright smile.

“Sunbae, have you been well?”

“Oh my, you can say that even seeing my condition?”

Sim Ju-won received the other’s greeting and thrust out his head, using both hands to show a spot on his head.

“See this? At my age, I’ve developed circular hair loss.”

“Hahaha, but your face still looks good.”

“That’s right. Still, the stress of being a CEO is better than the stress of being a middle manager.”

Sim Ju-won joked as he guided his guest to a seat and sat down himself.

“Would you like some tea?”

“No, thank you. You’re busy, and I’m also…”

“Then if you ask who’s the busiest person in Yeouido, nine out of ten would say Kang Sung-ho.”

The person who had come to see Sim Ju-won was Kang Sung-ho, the CEO of KFSG, the leading private equity fund in the industry.

“Oh, Sunbae.”

The two didn’t have any school connections or work history together, but having been in the industry for a long time, they were on familiar terms.

They respected each other because Sim Ju-won was a major player in personal asset management, while Kang Sung-ho was in private equity funds.

“So, what brings you here today? I heard you’ve been quite busy lately.”

“Hahaha, the people in Yeouido are so mischievous. Has the rumor already spread?”

“Yes. When news broke recently that the acquisition of Tribe had fallen through, everyone said it must be KFSG.”

At Sim Ju-won’s words, Kang Sung-ho nodded as if there was no need to hide it.

“Yes, it was us. They played such an outrageous game.”

“And I heard you didn’t just let it slide.”

“Yes, they must pay the price for toying with me.”

After the acquisition negotiations with KFSG fell through, articles raising suspicions about Tribe began to surface.

Once an article broke, follow-up reports began pouring out to an extent that even a company with a media-friendly CEO couldn’t stop them.

It was like a dam with a crack suddenly collapsing all at once.

“I heard the prosecutors are investigating.”

“Well, I didn’t pass that on. It seems they acted after seeing the media reports. Some investors actually filed complaints too.”

Since then, Tribe had become the target of everyone’s finger-pointing, and Tribe’s CEO Heo Jun-soo had gone from being a pioneer who broke through the red ocean to being labeled as a con artist of the century.

Naturally, as the platform’s credibility plummeted, even existing viewers were leaving Tribe.

“Well, anyway, that friend can’t set foot in this industry anymore, so he’s no longer a topic of conversation.”

Sim Ju-won nodded at Kang Sung-ho’s words.

“That’s right. Now, why don’t you get to the point of why you came to see me?”

“Did you know that Yuseong Investment Securities was also planning to invest in Tribe?”

Sim Ju-won asked in surprise at Kang Sung-ho’s words.

“Us?”

“Yes, specifically the Leaders Center, I believe.”

“This is news to me.”

“It seems no separate report was made because the investment wasn’t carried out.”

Sim Ju-won couldn’t easily hide his bewildered expression at Kang Sung-ho’s words.

“Hahaha, Sunbae. You don’t need to be so perplexed. Yuseong pulled out before us.”

“What do you mean…”

“It’s exactly as I said. They noticed something fishy about Tribe before us and withdrew their investment intention. Moreover, they informed us about Tribe.”

Sim Ju-won couldn’t help but be surprised once again at Kang Sung-ho’s words.

“So to summarize, our side informed KFSG about Tribe’s problems?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Hearing this, Sim Ju-won thought quietly for a moment before looking at Kang Sung-ho as if something had occurred to him.

“I thought there was no one who would do such a thing, but it seems there is one person. In the Leaders Center.”

Kang Sung-ho chuckled at Sim Ju-won’s words. From his investigation, he had heard this was an employee Sim Ju-won fully supported.

“Yes. It’s that friend.”

“I see… If it’s that friend, everything makes sense. So did you want to meet me to praise that friend?”

“No.”

Kang Sung-ho began to speak with a serious expression as he looked at Sim Ju-won, who was asking quizzically.

“Why are you still keeping Yoon Dokyung as a PB?”

“What?”

“May I take him and use him? I’m too tempted. I was going to meet that friend first, but I didn’t want to distance myself from you, Sunbae, so I came to see you. Please forgive my impudence.”

At Kang Sung-ho’s words, Sim Ju-won’s expression hardened.