American high society
＜32＞
“···We have landed at San Francisco International Airport···.”
how much time has passed
Hyeon-joon fell asleep for a while and then opened his eyes to see San Francisco right in front of him through the airplane window.
At this time, Hyun-joon suddenly thought of Scott Mackenzie’s ‘San Francisco’ song released in 1967, but soon laughed.
If you’re going to San Francisco…
It was because of the unique beautiful lyrics and rhythm, and the feeling that the song was heard in my ears.
In fact, San Francisco has been the subject of numerous pop songs. This city is located on the west coast of the United States and is warm all year round, so it is neither too cold nor too hot all year round. A really cozy and lively city.
Of course, the weather in San Francisco in February isn’t bad either.
The warm sunlight continues to pour down, making it feel like a quiet spring day.
On the other hand, it is a bit chilly because of the sea breeze that blows in once in a while.
On the other hand, more time has passed since then for Hyeon-joon…
Around 1:00 PM, I got out of the San Francisco airport and stopped at the hotel where I was going to stay by using a rental car.
There, he changed into a suit and arrived at NovaCEM Research Laboratories in South San Francisco on time for his appointment.
At this time, a researcher from NovaCEM Research Laboratories came to meet him, so Hyun-jun was able to enter the laboratory after going through a simple identification process.
and after a while
Hyeon-jun waited for a while in the high-tech conference room.
Not long after, I had a meeting with Nancy Sullivan, director of NovaCEM Research Laboratories.
#
“Hi! Dr. Choi, Nice to meet you again. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Director Nancy Sullivan with very bright blue eyes.
Being in her late 40s, she shook hands with Hyeon-jun, looking at him with sharp but smiling eyes, and soon introduced other staff members.
Currently, there are three working staff from NovaCEM.
But Hyun Joon is alone.
Even so, Hyun-joon is not too burdened.
This is because the main data of ‘New Drug NS Science’ has been delivered to NovaCEM through confidential documents, and now it is more like an intermediate meeting for a technology transfer agreement.
It is not that we will sign a technology transfer contract right away, but it is an intermediate process of listening to each other’s requirements.
So Hyun-joon’s role was to convey the position of ‘New Drug NS Science’ in addition to checking the local atmosphere.
and after a while
Finally, the conversation began in earnest.
#
“I heard that you are on a trip. How are you?”
Hyunjoon smiled and replied.
“Well, it looks like we had a good time. I took a long break and watched a lot… and it’s also very good.”
Then director Nancy Sullivan smiled lightly.
Hyeon-jun got to know her through the introduction of Professor Sang-gi Bae at the American Society last year. However, apart from what I learned through such a simple introduction, it is also true that Hyun-joon has some contact points with director Nancy Sullivan.
NovaCEM, a multinational pharmaceutical company, is very interested in new drug technology, and has established close cooperative relationships with researchers from prestigious universities in the United States in addition to Stanford University, a nearby prestigious university.
As a result, Director Nancy Sullivan knew Hyun-Jun’s postdoctoral advisor very well.
In fact, she was immediately talking about Hyun-joon’s advisor.
“Do you often keep in touch with Dr. Grossman?”
William Grossman.
Dr. Grossman.
In American schools or society, there are cases in which anyone is called a professor, but it is common to call someone a doctor (a person with a doctoral degree), so Hyun-jun was also calling him that way.
Meanwhile, Dr. Grossman, a renowned scientist, was Hyeon-Jun’s advisor when he was doing post-doctoral training at Stanford University.
“yes. Sometimes we keep in touch via e-mail or something.”
“Oh, then… are you thinking of visiting Stanford soon?”
So, after today’s meeting, I was asking if I would ever consider visiting Stanford University later. Come to think of it, it was true that the distance from here to Stanford was quite close.
However, Hyun-jun did not include such an itinerary in his travel itinerary.
However, at the words of director Nancy Sullivan, Hyeon-joon soon made a surprised expression.
“I met Dr. Grossman at the Stanford University Symposium last month. The response to your draft of the grant was very encouraging. You said that new research topics are always interesting. By the way, in case you didn’t know, Dr. Grossman has the potential to win the Nobel Prize this year. Isn’t it related that his story is being talked about a lot in the academic world these days?”
Director Sullivan hints like that.
At this time, Hyeonjun was really surprised.
Dr. William Grossman.
Although he is a great big guy, a well-known scholar recognized in the academic world, the reality was that he was definitely far from winning the Nobel Prize. However, Hyun-jun was surprised to hear that he was being mentioned as a candidate for the Nobel Prize.
Of course, in hindsight, it is true that Hyun-jun was able to become a university professor at an early age thanks to the halo effect of his advisor at Stanford University.
In fact, the human network of professor applicants can be one of the most important factors to consider in the professor appointment process.
Although in industries (for example, in pharmaceutical companies), among those who hold executive positions, there are some cases where they are lucky enough to be appointed to schools even though their research (thesis) performance, which is the main job of a professor, is poor… It was also common for most young professors like Hyeon-jun to overcome fierce competition to become professors, in addition to their outstanding research abilities, they also had great human networks.
In other words, Hyun-joon has a strong human network that leads to his Stanford University advisor.
It was also true that such a series of backgrounds were evaluated very well in the process of Hyun-jun’s appointment as a professor.
yeah i was too careless
Shall we meet Dr. Grossman?
wealthy Jews.
However, a very selfish old man that ordinary people can’t even imagine.
Even if there was a relationship with him, it was true that Hyun-joon was somewhat burdened because of his personality.
Anyway, Hyeon-joon thought about it for a while, and soon gave up on that idea.
Now, the current issues related to the technology transfer of ‘New Drug NS Science’ have begun to be discussed in turn.
#
And time passed quickly from then on, and the sun was about to set. After saying goodbye, Hyun-Jun left NovaCEM Research Laboratories and started driving in the direction of Sausalito.
Actually, during a break in the meeting, I called Dr. Grossman’s office.
At that time, I had a more pleasant phone call with Dr. Grossman than I thought.
In particular, Dr. Grossman, who was surprised by the news that Hyun-joon was in San Francisco. At this time, no matter what, he invited Hyeon-jun to his Sausalito mansion without hesitation.
It’s a bit of an unexpected invitation.
Nevertheless, Hyun-joon holds a professorship in Korea. That’s why I think he treated Hyeon-joon in some way.
Anyway, the dinner invitation time was set at 7:30 pm.
So Hyun-joon ran on the road in the direction of Sausalito, the opposite direction to Stanford University.
after a while
I quickly passed the Golden Gate Bridge (Golden Gate Bridge), which was shining brightly as the sunset light reflected.
Then Hyun-Jun stopped by the Liquor & Wine Shop and bought two bottles of pretty good wine as gifts.
Hyeonjun finished the calculation. I just checked the time.
It was a bit early.
So I ended up spending a bit more time in the Liquor & Wine Shop parking lot to avoid arriving too early.
After that, Hyun-joon finally drove to Dr. Grossman’s mansion.
#
The time when the darkness has already spread.
Hyun-jun stopped the rental car in front of a mansion in Sausalito, which is said to be a quiet rich neighborhood, and first approached the front door to announce his visit.
Immediately, the front door opened automatically.
So Hyun-jun drove the car back into the mansion and parked in the guest parking lot in the mansion.
After that, Hyeon-jun walked towards the entrance of the mansion.
Currently, the mansion is surrounded by a forest.
Every time I look at it, it looks like a great masterpiece.
It looks like a great artist’s architectural work, but it looks like a small palace.
In particular, on one side of the garage building, you can see the Rolls-Royce Phantom and various supercars displayed there.
As expected, Dr. Grossman was extremely wealthy.
Come to think of it, the venture myth started a long time ago in San Francisco.
Dr. Grossman also acquired great wealth at that time.
He earned huge profits by selling numerous new drug technologies to multinational pharmaceutical companies.
He made another fortune by merging several of his own companies into multinational pharmaceutical companies.
The crystallization of that richness.
Should that be called this Sausalito mansion?
Anyway, when Hyeon-jun approached the front door, the white light there immediately lit up, and two decrepit old men walked out from inside.
It was Dr. Grossman and his wife, Mrs. Barbara.
#
“how are you?”
Hyeon-joon said that first and shook hands with Dr. Grossman, followed by a light hug with Mrs. Barbara.
Then, Hyun-jun stared at Dr. Grossman again.
His hunched shoulders.
An exceptionally intense pupil through the large and thick frame of the glasses.
From the bottom of his nose to the bottom of his ears, his white, curly beard grew in abundance.
In the end, nothing had changed, it was the same.
“Doctor Choi. Has it been half a year already?”
We met briefly last year at the American Society, so it is true that we saw each other again after nearly half a year.
However, he was still using the pronunciation of ‘Choi’ instead of ‘Choi’.
But Hyunjoon just smiled and replied.
“Yes, it seems. I’m glad you’re unscathed. Oh, I heard from Director Sullivan that I could be nominated for the Nobel Prize… that’s what I heard. Is that true?”
When Hyeon-jun asks out of curiosity, Dr. Grossman grins. Rumors like that seemed to make me feel good.
“I don’t know. I don’t know who started the rumor, but I’ve heard it a few times. But it’s not the Nobel Prize season yet, and I don’t know why. Come on, let’s go in. Kyle is inside, so let’s have some wine together.”
He said that while looking at the two bottles of wine Hyun-jun brought.
Meanwhile, Hyun-joon was shocked to hear that Dr. Grossman’s only son, Kyle, was at the mansion, but he deliberately hid his surprised expression.
Kyle Grossman.
Dr. Grossman’s late son, but unexpectedly, he does not resemble his father’s brilliance at all. No, maybe they are very similar.
In conclusion, Kyle was said to be a great genius within the Jewish society as a child, but is now completely abandoned.
A shadowy existence to Dr. Grossman. Such a being was his son Kyle.
#
“Did you say New Drug NS Science? Well, it’s not as bad a technique as you might think. I can give you a little help if you need it.”
After a while, Hyun-jun continued the pre-dinner conversation in the parlor and briefly mentioned the purpose of his visit to San Francisco.
In the meantime, Dr. Grossman was talking to Hyeon-jun in a slightly gentle voice, unlike his previous selfish appearance.
“Perhaps NovaCEM is working exhaustingly to get the negotiations on terms favorable to them. Dr. Sullivan has a knack for that.”
Hyeon-joon listened more to what he had to say when it matched what he roughly expected.
“Since you helped me write my grant this time, I can help a little.”
In an instant, Hyeon-joon’s eyes twinkled at the unexpected words.
“Instead of that, I’ll ask you a favor too.”
Are you asking? what the hell
Hyunjoon was puzzled.
“Nothing special. It was nice to see you contact me.”
“…?”
“I mean Kyle.”
Hyeon-joon looked at him, unable to understand.
Dr. Grossman covered his forehead with the palm of his hand, frowned, then opened his mouth.
“Can you take Kyle out for a bit after dinner? I almost shot him yesterday with a pistol because I couldn’t take it anymore.”
For a moment, Hyun-joon looked at him with a straight face. Dr. Grossman, who is not envious of everything. The problem with his son was very fatal to him.
What is the alternative problem?
Hyeonjun heard the story in more detail.
I learned that Kyle had recently tried to commit suicide with a pistol. The rich boy is getting more and more crazy.
#
After a while, Hyeon-jun, who had finished his meal with Mrs. Barbara’s prepared steak, went upstairs to Kyle’s room on the second floor with Mrs. Barbara.
dark interior.
32-year-old Kyle staring blankly into space.
I finally turned my head when Mrs. Barbara appeared.
I looked at it for a while.
Hyeon-joon and Mrs. Barbara were forced to step back as they suddenly attacked like monsters.
And soon bang! The door closed with a sound.
Hyunjoon looked at him for a moment.
Mrs. Barbara sighed and asked to go back down.
It was nothing special.
Dr. Grossman couldn’t get him out the way he wanted.
#
Inevitably, Hyun-joon talked to Dr. Grossman some more.
Around 10pm, I left the mansion and went straight back to the hotel.
And the next morning, Hyun-jun, who arrived at San Francisco International Airport, took the morning flight and now flew to Korea.
The trip to the United States, which lasted almost a week, was finally over.
#
Hyun-joon became busier after returning to Korea.
The gap of nearly a week was so great that I had no choice but to concentrate on my teaching job to the extent that I could not do other investment work.
In particular, preparations for professor renewal contract review at the end of this year.
And preparation for the upcoming semester lecture.
So, after spending a busy day so busy that I couldn’t carry out new investment work, I finally welcomed the first semester of 2019.
As such, time passed very quickly after the trip to the United States.
It was a chilly early spring.
