Chapter 433 |
The marriage of the heir to Golden Gate, the world's largest investment bank, and the third-largest shareholder of OTK Company.
As the wedding of the century, it garnered worldwide attention. Those gathered at the wedding hall were either celebrities recognizable by name alone, or key figures in the financial world who could move tens of billions with a single word.
South Korea's ruling and opposition party members and city and provincial governors subtly sent word that they wished to attend.
I don't know why they want to come to someone else's wedding when they have no personal connection and don't do business with Golden Gate.
Taekgyu said.
"Maybe they want to eat the course meal?"
"No. They probably want to shake hands and take pictures with famous people."
Wouldn't they then post the pictures on Facenote and promote how hard they worked to attract investment to their voters?
Their intentions were so obvious that I declined, citing a lack of space. In reality, there wasn't enough space, and even the invited guests were carefully selected.
Professor Kim Ho-min came with Professor Kim MyoungJun, Professor Jang Se-myung, and other university mentors of Hyun-joo.
I said to Professor Kim Ho-min.
"You should take it easy. Are you trying to win another Nobel Prize?"
"If they give it to me, I have to take it."
The royalties from OTK Battery alone are more money than he could spend in a lifetime. The reason he is so dedicated to research is not for money or fame, but purely out of a researcher's ambition.
It's natural for investors to jump at a money-making opportunity and for researchers to jump when they see results.
Professor Mohan and Carrie couldn't come because it's the middle of the semester, and Professor Petrov couldn't make it because he was at the TWR construction site in Kaliningrad, but they sent their congratulations.
CEOs from companies like CarOS, Faceit, M Pizza, and OTK Games were also extremely busy, so I didn't invite them on purpose, and we decided to contact them separately later.
Ambassadors from various countries also attended. Princess Anneke came with the Norwegian ambassador, and Yang Ha-na came with CL Chemical's President Yang Ho-young and his wife, and CL Group's Chairman Yang Jun-mo.
And Min Ha-young came late by herself. Her small frame and large glasses were cute. Her attire was also modest.
It was such a lavish wedding, and there were far more foreign guests than Koreans.
Min Ha-young looked around with a timid expression.
"Is, is it really okay for me to be here?"
"Why not? Just enjoy the meal and congratulate my sister. I've put you at the same table as Hana and Anneke."
"Huh? Isn't that person a movie star?"
"That's right. David Bishop."
Hollywood top star David Bishop was there with his girlfriend, Sasha Alexandrova.
Min Ha-young made a fuss.
"Wow. I'm a fan. I've seen all of David's movies."
Taekgyu said.
"Should I introduce you?"
"Is, is that okay?"
If not for an occasion like this, when would they ever meet separately?
When Taekgyu went and said a few words, David Bishop, who had been talking with others, came our way.
Min Ha-young was surprised and bowed her head.
"Hello. I'm a fan."
It was in Korean, but he seemed to have understood the gist of it.
Min Ha-young took out her phone.
"Pi, picture, please?"
David Bishop gladly took a picture with her, and she was overjoyed.
My mother came back from the bride's waiting room with Taekgyu's mother.
"Soo-mi is so busy it's hard to even talk to her."
President Im Soo-mi was going around the venue giving instructions to ensure there were no mistakes in hospitality.
"By the way, when are you going to do it?"
"Do what?"
My mother spoke in a low voice so that others couldn't hear.
"You need to get married soon too. How long are you going to make Ellie wait?"
I nodded my head.
"Don't worry. I'll do it soon."
"Really?"
"I've thought it all out."
After the wedding, I plan to go to Ellie's hometown, Hong Kong, and propose to her somewhere with a view of the sea.
Of course, Ellie doesn't know yet.
My mother's face lit up at my words.
"Good thinking, son."
***
The Governor of New York and the Mayor of New York City came together. As everyone knows, Wall Street, the center of global finance, is in New York.
Governor Cooper said to me jokingly.
"Don't you think it's about time OTK Company moved to Wall Street?"
I responded in kind.
"The rent there is too expensive. I'll have to save up some more money."
"Hahaha, if you just come, I'll contribute from my own salary."
Executives from the top 10 conglomerates also flocked to the wedding. From Seosung Group, department head Kwon Young-chul and Seosung SB President Lee Su-hak came in place of the absent chairman, and from Eunsung Motors Group, from which Eunsung Cha had split off, Eunsung RT President Kim Hwan-jin attended.
Yuri came with her father, Vice Chairman Shin Byeong-doo, and Chairman Ryu Cheol-gyun. Both of them had already been in Jeju Island for three days and had met with sovereign wealth fund officials.
The profits of a private equity fund are directly related to the size of the fund. RCK Bros plans to create a regional fund to invest in Asia, including China and Japan, in the near future.
The number of successful M&A cases so far is too long to list, so everyone showed interest.
"Thank you for coming."
"Thank you for inviting us."
Next, an old gentleman wearing a silk hat and carrying a cane appeared. He looked so distinguished and stately that it wouldn't have been strange to see him in late 19th-century England.
It was none other than Golden Gate CEO James C. Goldman. He had been in his room meeting with others until just a moment ago and came down after he was finished.
An elderly couple was with him. It was the now-retired former head of the Asia branch, Chase Southwell. To Hyun-joo, he was like a mentor.
We greeted each other warmly as it had been a long time. In addition to them, many other celebrities came.
I used to be nervous when I first met people like this, but now it feels comfortable, like meeting someone I know.
Is it because I've grown in the meantime?
"I wasn't fazed from the beginning."
"You were nervous when you met Ichikawa Shigeru."
"That's because Mr. Shigeru is a legend. And he's still writing new legends."
Everyone has someone they respect.
As I was thinking that, people's attention was drawn for a moment. Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett appeared with an old man of the same age.
"Oh! CEO Kang Jin-hoo!"
Chairman Warren Buffett grabbed my hand and shook it warmly.
"You must be tired from your long journey."
"Haha, it's been a long time. This friend next to me is Charlie Baine."
I had met Chairman Buffett several times and we occasionally kept in touch, but this was the first time I had met Vice Chairman Charlie Baine.
Chairman Buffett and Vice Chairman Baine rarely leave Edens, where the Berkshire Hathaway headquarters is located, and don't often make public appearances. Since both are in their late 80s, the long-distance flight here was not an easy task in itself.
As such, the fact that they came all the way to Korea for the wedding was a remarkable thing.
"It's an honor to meet you. I'm Kang Jin-hoo."
"Nice to meet you, CEO Kang Jin-hoo. I've always wanted to meet you, and today is the day."
"Not at all. I should have visited you sooner."
He is not as well-known in Korea, but he is a famous investor no less than Warren Buffett.
As someone who has invested myself, I can understand how great these two men are.
It may be possible to achieve a profit of several hundred percent once in a while by luck, but consistently making a 20 percent profit for decades is something that no one can do.
The fact that they built the world's best investment company without any abilities like foresight naturally inspired respect.
***
We headed to the bride's waiting room.
Hyun-joo, wearing contact lenses instead of glasses, bridal makeup, and a pure white wedding dress, exuded a completely different charm than usual.
Taekgyu was in awe.
"Wow! My sister is so pretty today."
Hyun-joo frowned slightly.
"Are you teasing me?"
"I'm serious."
I nodded my head.
"I think so too."
She had a calm and elegant atmosphere rather than a flashy one.
My sister took a deep breath as if to calm herself down.
"I thought I'd be fine, but I'm kind of nervous."
I said to my sister.
"I saw Henry was nervous earlier too."
Perhaps this is the most important moment in life. Getting married to someone must be like that.
Hyun-joo looked at us with a warm gaze.
"Thank you all. Thanks to you, I met Henry, had Geon, and am now getting married like this. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known this happiness existed, and I might still be working alone. Especially Oh Taekgyu."
"Huh? Me?"
"I was worried because you were playing games and watching anime instead of studying, but you've grown up to be so wonderful. Thank you so much."
"No, well..."
Taekgyu seemed embarrassed by his sister's praise and looked away.
A tear trickled down from under his black-rimmed glasses.
"Are you crying?"
Taekgyu shook his head at my question.
"I'm not crying."
"Anyone can see you're crying."
"Sob! Do you have any idea how I feel sending my sister off to get married?"
"..."
Anyone would think he was a father sending his daughter off to get married. For reference, Taekgyu's father, who is actually sending his daughter off, is beaming.
I silently patted Taekgyu's shoulder.
***
Everything from the decorations and props in the wedding hall to the meal was top-notch.
Among these, President Im Soo-mi paid special attention to the meal. For this, she had personally selected and ordered high-end ingredients from all over the world a month in advance.
It was truly a lavish wedding that could rival those of the world's wealthy or Hollywood stars.
Taekgyu nodded with satisfaction.
"Excellent. My sister's wedding should be at least this grand."
He is a good younger brother who always thinks of his sister.
Throughout the wedding, four cameras filmed every single scene without missing a moment. The best filming team was hired, and cameras that would almost be used for filming a movie were mobilized.
Throughout the wedding ceremony, Geon was by the couple's side.
Getting married with a child is not common in Korea, though it might be in foreign countries. When he grows up and watches his parents' wedding video, he'll be surprised to find that he was there.
The two held hands and kissed, and the guests all applauded.
Taekgyu teared up again, and Ellie's eyes also welled with tears.
"I'm so glad they both found happiness."
Meeting someone you love and spending the rest of your life with them must be a wonderful thing. I held Ellie's hand tightly, and she smiled.
***
I went outside the building to get away from the people. My throat was hoarse and my hands were numb from all the greeting and shaking hands.
In fact, my right hand was red and swollen.
If I go back inside, people will start talking to me nonstop again. As I was getting some fresh air and taking a breather, someone approached me.
Blonde hair that came down to her waist and blue eyes. She wore a green chiffon dress and heels, and lace gloves on her hands. Her face was as pretty as a doll, and her skin was snow-white.
Even though she wasn't extravagantly dressed, her appearance alone drew attention.
When on earth did she get here? I don't think I saw her before the wedding started.
Her blue eyes sparkled as she spoke.
"Nice to see you, Mr. Kang Jin-hoo. It's been a while."
Her clear voice suited her British accent well.
"What brings you here?"
"I was invited. My family has a long history of doing business with Golden Gate."
Come to think of it, it's only natural.
Considering the size of their investment funds and the banks they own, how many places in the financial world don't do business with the Rothschilds?
I looked at her.
The first time I met her was at the JPMorgan headquarters on Wall Street. And we met again in Oslo, Norway.
Is this the third time?
"I was waiting for your call. Did you perhaps lose the business card I gave you?"
I looked at her and asked.
"There was no need to contact you."
"Really? I have a lot to talk to you about."
"What about?"
She tilted her head slightly and thought for a moment.
"Hmm, how about our future?"
What is this all of a sudden?
I answered as I had before.
"I have a girlfriend."
She smiled faintly.
"I know. It was the woman who caught the bouquet earlier."
She took another step closer to me.
"How much does she know about you?"
What does that mean?
I said, bewildered.
"She probably knows more than you do, at least."
At my words, Grace Rothschild laughed out loud.
"Do you really think so? Then does she also know about that ability you have?"