`Inside a private room at the Shilla Hotel, Luke and Lee Fu-jin sat across from each other once again.
"You really stole the show at today's press conference, Mr. Luke. You left those sharp-tongued reporters speechless," Lee Fu-jin said with a smile, clearly aware of what had gone down at the event.
"No big deal. The facts were on my side, that's all. Shall we get down to business?" Luke cut to the chase. Beating around the bush wasn't his style.
"You must be exhausted after that press conference. Need a break? Starting negotiations now could put you at a disadvantage," Lee Fu-jin replied, her concern catching Luke off guard.
In negotiations, both sides usually try to maximize their own advantage while exploiting the other's weaknesses—that's just how it works.
Up until last night, Lee Fu-jin had played that game, setting up what seemed like a subtle honey trap with some ulterior motive.
But now, after just one night, she was switching gears, going for sincerity?
With his [Life's a Stage] talent, no one could lie to Luke's face.
He could see right through people's intentions.
So, he knew Lee Fu-jin was being genuine.
That surprised him.
Still, he shook his head. "You know I'm an action star. I've got energy to spare. A press conference like that? No sweat. Let's get to it."
"I want to confirm one thing. As a major shareholder in the fund, what's Samsung Group's stance on investing in the Oriental Media Platform Company?"
This was the main reason for Luke's trip to South Korea.
Sure, he'd had fun at the press conference, setting a trap for the future, but he hadn't forgotten his top priority: securing funding for the project.
The so-called Oriental Media Platform Company was a venture he and Mr. Eisen had launched with $400 million of their own money. It included a film city project in Fanyu, CBD developments in major cities, and a network of supporting movie theaters.
When it came to convincing shareholders, Samsung Group—one of the biggest players—hadn't committed, instead inviting Luke to South Korea for a face-to-face discussion.
Now, he needed to know what Samsung was thinking.
"The project has a lot of uncertainty, which makes the risks hard to assess," Lee Fu-jin said candidly.
She used the word "uncertainty" instead of "high risk."
In the investment world, "high risk" isn't the scariest thing. If the potential returns are high enough and the expected value makes sense, high risk is manageable.
What's truly terrifying is "uncertainty."
It's like driving at high speed through fog—no one knows what's coming next.
"So, the group's initial stance was to say no," Lee Fu-jin continued.
Luke stayed quiet, waiting for more.
Since she said "initial," there had to be a chance for a shift.
If they'd flat-out rejected it, they wouldn't have invited him to South Korea.
"I was the one who pushed my father to reconsider, which is why we're meeting today," she said.
"This investment is essentially a bet on China's economic growth over the next twenty years.
Mr. Luke, be honest with me: do you truly believe China's GDP will surpass Japan's in ten years and keep charging forward to challenge the U.S.?" Lee Fu-jin asked, locking eyes with him.
It was 2002, and the latest GDP data was from 2001.
That year, Japan's GDP was $4.095 trillion, while China's was $1.325 trillion—Japan's economy was 3.091 times larger.
The idea of China overtaking Japan in ten years? Even the most optimistic economists in 2001 predicted that wouldn't happen until 2035. Pessimists thought it might never happen.
Yet, just eight years later, in 2010, China did surpass Japan's GDP.
Looking back, those economists seemed shortsighted, but at the time, that was the prevailing view.
So, when Lee Fu-jin asked this question, it was a tough one for Luke to answer.
He'd seen the future and knew he was right, but would anyone believe him now?
It sounded absurd—China's GDP overtaking Japan's in just a few years to become the world's second-largest economy?
If it were that easy, India would've been a superpower by now!
"Does it matter if I say I believe it?" Luke replied.
"It does! If you tell me you believe it, I'll believe you!"
Her response caught him off guard again.
Thanks to his ability, he could tell she was telling the truth.
"Since you trust me that much, I'll be straight with you: it's true!
Trust me, China will create an economic miracle in the coming decades that'll blow everyone's minds. We should jump on this train and share the rewards," Luke said earnestly.
"Then it's settled. Samsung Group will back this investment," Lee Fu-jin said with a smile, extending her hand for a handshake to seal the deal.
Luke, a bit puzzled, reached out and lightly shook her hand.
That was it?
Wasn't this a bit too easy? He says it, and she just believes him?
Even if she did, would her father—the head of Samsung—agree?
Seeing his confusion, Lee Fu-jin didn't make him guess. "I have full authority over this investment. My approval is all it takes.
Of course, this is my one shot. If it flops, I'll be relegated to playing the rich housewife for the rest of my life. This is me putting my entire reputation on the line."
"You're that confident betting everything on me?" Luke asked.
Lee Fu-jin explained further, "You've probably figured it out, but as a woman, I have no shot at controlling the family business. I'm not okay with that."
"Right now, my brother is the chosen heir. To take his place, I need to prove I can outdo him."
"My brother can play it safe. He just needs to score a 60 to be a competent successor. But I need to score a 95 or higher as a trailblazer.
I have to show the shareholders I can deliver far greater returns than my brother. My only option is to make a bold bet—and win!"
Hearing her response, Luke nodded.
He knew she was being honest. The underdog always has to take big risks to turn the tables—it's been true throughout history.
But something still didn't add up. Luke asked, "I get what you're saying, but why do you think I'm worth betting all your chips on?"