A Genius Speaks with Money Chapter 90: Invitation (3)

Moon Jong-beom froze with his mouth wide open while looking at Jeong Jin-woo.

That appearance was truly an absurd expression, like a broken toy.

It was Jeong Jin-woo who usually gave off an iron-wall-like impression with his sharp gaze and suit attire.

The fact that such a man had chanted a savory lody with his mouth a mont ago was a shock itself to Jong-beom.

"Let go~! Let go ho~! I can't do things like PPT anymore~!"

Jeong Jin-woo's low voice strangely seed to tickle the back of the neck.

The vocalization was plain, but sohow it beca languid and sad.

But above all, this song contained the sorrows of office workers.

That lody that touched the heartstrings of the entire nation and turned many people's commute ho into a sea of tears.

The legendary office song that was humd even in conference rooms with a whistle.

The only song that gave comfort to office workers suffering from the mood of their bosses, the power trips of clients, and infinite overti.

Of course, Moon Jong-beom was no exception.

"That… that song… why is it coming out here?"

Toward Assistant Manager Moon, who was muttering with a dazed face, Jeong Jin-woo threw a single word with an indifferent face.

"Do you not know this song?"

Only then did Moon Jong-beom co to his senses, and he nodded with a face that looked as if it would burst into laughter at any mont.

"A-ah, I know it! If you don't know that song, you're not a person of the Republic of Korea!"

It seed the tension that had been pulled taut was gradually loosening.

In the end, he lay down on the sofa, stretching his body out like a flat cola.

After that, he looked at the screen as if he had t an old friend.

The familiar lody made his tension fly away.

Jeong Jin-woo was still looking at the screen with an expressionless face, but he was also smiling inwardly.

It was just that it did not show when other people looked at him.

Although he looked indifferent on the outside, the song he sang a mont ago was by no ans a coincidence.

In fact, he had already noticed that Assistant Manager Moon had been unusually nervous even before departure.

He guessed it as he saw his speech decrease at the airport and even minor tasks being slower than usual.

'At this rate, it will be a matter of ti before he is caught.'

So he chose it.

Although it did not suit his cold-headed image, he helped him in perhaps the most human way.

If the tension of Moon Jong-beom could be completely relieved with the song called the office song, things like embarrassnt were nothing.

He was not the type of personality to be ashad of such a thing anyway.

Jeong Jin-woo shifted his gaze slightly toward Assistant Manager Moon.

He saw him looking at the screen with a face that had relaxed before he knew it.

Tension had completely disappeared in the way he leaned his body deep into the backrest.

"Going to a state guest event hall with a nervous face is a disgrace as a working-level staff mber."

Moon Jong-beom was startled and scratched his head in embarrassnt.

"Ugh, did you perhaps do that on purpose?"

Chief Jeong turned his head away imdiately while putting on a serious face.

"Not a chance."

But in those words, the heart of a boss who was more considerate than anyone else was clearly hidden.

A few hours passed, and I, Hyunjun, slowly fastened the buttons of my shirt while gazing out the window.

Beyond the glass window, the redly burning sunset was slowly subrging the exotic city of Baghdad.

At that mont, the room was full of busy hands.

"Representative, please lift your head for a mont. Yes, exactly that angle."

It was not even an hour since the local stylist team, whom Moon Jong-beom had suddenly recruited, arrived at the accommodation.

He called a makeup artist, a hair designer, and even a coordinator capable of styling suit attire.

At this ti, Assistant Manager Moon instructed them one by one very seriously.

Even the usually taciturn Chief Jeong Jin-woo stood aside and watched silently.

A makeup brush brushed over my face, sothing was applied to my hair, and then it was being refined with brilliant hand movents.

Their fingertips were swift yet delicate.

The makeup artist naturally decorated my skin tone and made the three-dinsionality co alive with a makeup thod suitable for a young face.

My deep-set eyes were brought to life even more clearly.

The hair designer neatly organized the sides and directed the top with a sense of volu, finishing it in a classic yet sophisticated style.

A few strands of hair falling forward added a natural dignity as if unintentional.

Finally, a custom suit was draped over my shoulders.

The charcoal tone, close to deep navy, with silk fabric that had a subtle luster, was a suit made by an Italian craftsman, and the fit that adhered perfectly to the body perfectly showed my broad shoulders and slim waistline.

The bow tie had a dark-toned wine color, which radiated a neat yet classic elegance.

On the left chest, I wore a gold brooch prepared by the Pri Minister's Office.

It was a symbol of the state guest invitation and a sign that implied the importance of tonight.

As I stood in front of the mirror, I, who had been watching in silence for a while, organized the suit with one hand and leisurely touched my shirt sleeves.

With a calm expression, clear features, and even a composed smile added, that appearance could not be seen as a high school student.

The head of HJ Partners, who handles billions of dollars, and a person whom even the Pri Minister of a country treats with polite respect.

Tonight, I am not a simple businessman, but a person representing Korea standing at the center of the stage.

Moon Jong-beom let out an exclamation while looking at standing in front of the mirror.

"Wow! Representative, you are truly no less than a movie star. It wouldn't be out of place at all even if you stood on a Hollywood red carpet. No, honestly, you are superior to an actor."

I smiled quietly.

Turning my head slightly and looking at Jong-beom, I said jokingly.

"It is burdenso for as well if you praise excessively. Haha."

"Still, you must take photos."

Moon Jong-beom moved here and there to take photos.

The photos he took are planned to be sent to the HJ Partners PR Office imdiately.

"Do I still have to take more?"

"Of course. Just a mont."

The atmosphere in the room beca even more gentle.

Chief Jeong Jin-woo opened the door and bowed his head politely.

"Representative, the vehicle preparation is finished. You must go out now."

I touched my bow tie for the last ti and took a short deep breath while looking in the mirror.

Only then did the finished appearance radiate a subtle light in the mirror.

Just before arriving at the official banquet hall, the vehicle slowly entered the event entrance under iron-clad security.

As soon as the vehicle I was riding in arrived, the surroundings quickly began to stir.

"That is the car right there!"

The sound of cara shutters burst out all at once.

Press corps from various countries flocked, and photojournalists pressed their shutters continuously toward the car door.

As the car door opened, the pouring gazes and flashes were directed at simultaneously.

I slowly got out of the vehicle.

The gold brooch sparkled subtly over the charcoal-tone suit, and under the exotic evening sunlight, my silhouette exuded dignity like a scene from a movie.

Moon Jong-beom, standing right next to , was frozen while struggling to hide his tension.

Sweat ford in beads on his forehead.

It seed he was not a stage type after all.

On the other hand, I, the party concerned, was calm.

Spotlights poured down and dozens of lenses followed my every move, but I harbored a gentle smile as always.

From the entrance of the event hall, a man who looked handso and was wearing traditional Iraqi clothing walked quickly.

"Representative Lim!"

He, who had thick features and a nimble-looking physique, was Samir al-Zaidi, the son of Pri Minister Hakim al-Zaidi.

Gladness also spread on my face.

The two of us looked at each other without a word and soon shared a firm hug with open arms.

"Thank you for inviting like this, Samir."

"Rather, I should be the one to be thankful. My father wanted you to co by all ans."

The scene of the two people hugging was captured by nurous caras and soon beca a scene worthy of rising as a news headline.

I moved my steps inside the event hall according to Samir's guidance.

Moon Jong-beom and Samira Naji followed behind.

In particular, Moon Jong-beom repeatedly looked around while rolling his eyes in case he missed anything.

Far away on the other side of the hall, Chief Jeong Jin-woo quietly revealed himself.

He was not attending the official event in advance and was watching my line of movent like a shadow.

It was the sa expressionless face as usual, but his gaze was sharper and firr than ever.

The banquet hall was already bustling.

High-ranking officials from various countries, including the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, were gracing the seats while dressed up splendidly.

The fragrant scent of spices filled the space along with traditional exotic music.

Every person whose eyes t mine bowed their heads in greeting.

So officials ca forward first and asked for a handshake.

Being a teenage entrepreneur the world pays attention to, and a Korean who received an invitation from the Iraqi Pri Minister, held an extraordinary aning.

For those watching, my presence was clear enough to make them catch their breath while looking at .

The banquet hall where the celebration was held was a royal-level protocol hall in the center of Baghdad.

On the do-shaped ceiling, glass was shining translucently while harboring the light of ti, and curtains made of high-quality silk and golden-patterned pillars lined up along the walls revealed authority while being classic.

In the middle was a chandelier with thousands of crystals hanging, and the subtle light spread through them, warmly wrapping the entire space.

On the table, high-quality silver tableware, crafted glass cups where tradition stood out, and desserts and wine made by famous local chefs were set up.

I passed the waiting room and entered the inner hall under Samir's guidance.

Another figure who welcod quietly stood up from his seat.

Pri Minister Hakim al-Zaidi.

He was a middle-aged figure with a straight posture and a dignified atmosphere, and traditional clothing suited him very well.

"It is a pleasure to et you, Representative Lim."

Pri Minister Hakim's voice was low but had a resonance.

An elegance that contained sufficient respect without being intimidated by the opponent's status stood out.

I bowed my head lightly before the Pri Minister.

"It is an honor for to be invited, Pri Minister."

"Just the fact that you ca to this place holds great aning to and Iraq."

The Pri Minister looked into my eyes for a mont and then smiled softly.

In his gaze, a sense of trust in was dwelling.

"Heads of state and special envoys from various countries are gathered here. It is like a gathering where politics, diplomacy, and even economy are entangled. I hope it will be of help to you as well, so please enjoy it without burden."

"Thank you, Pri Minister. And I sincerely congratulate you on your birthday."

The Pri Minister wore a satisfied smile.

I took out sothing from the inner pocket of my jacket and gave it to the Pri Minister.

It was a luxurious-looking box.

I respectfully handed the box over with both hands.

Pri Minister Hakim received it as if interested and opened it right away.

Inside, there was a single card.

[To the Honorable Pri Minister Hakim al-Zaidi,

HJ Partners, a private investnt company from Korea, wishes to propose a journey of future industrial cooperation that the Republic of Korea and Iraq will walk together.

-Joint establishnt of an entrepreneurship fund for Iraqi youth

-Introduction and transfer of Korean-style smart infrastructure technology

-Joint hosting of a private investnt roadshow between Korea and Iraq

Centering on the above three directions, we promise a practical contribution to the diversification of Iraqi industry and the creation of youth jobs. All execution funds will be the responsibility of HJ Partners, and we state that this proposal is a promise of mutual growth, not a simple investnt. We intend to invest in future possibilities now, not in the fuel of the past. Accordingly, we invite the Pri Minister as the first companion of this proposal.

Respectfully, Lim Hyunjun, Representative of HJ Partners]

The Pri Minister, who finished reading the invitation to the end, was silent for a while.

His fingertips touched the invitation, and his gaze lingered for a long ti.

He slowly raised his eyes, looked at , and said.

"This is large enough to be burdenso to receive as a birthday present."