Chapter41: < From Ghost to Human (1) >
After finishing the meeting with Mirae Department Store, Yeon-hee waited anxiously all day.
Unlike Assistant Manager Noh Hyeong-seok and employee Lee Eun-seong, who were ecstatic as if they had gained the whole world after confirming the store placement contract with Mirae, she alone wore a grave expression.
Then, at a certain moment, a message arrived, and she left work immediately.
Her destination was the Hyatt Hotel in Hannam-dong.
When she arrived, Yeonghun wasn't there yet; only her mother was.
“I heard you finalized the store placement contract with Mirae Department Store today?”
“Yes, I’ve asked the legal team to review the contract. It’s not complicated, so they said the review will be done by tomorrow. The opening date is December 3rd. Perfect, right?”
“Why did Mirae Department Store suddenly send a proposal?”
“It’s because of Seo Ga-eun. They probably rushed it because we were originally in talks with New World Department Store. I didn’t mention that our deal with New World fell through during the entire meeting today. So now they think we signed with them because they offered better terms than New World, hehe...”
“I guess New World knows how to keep their mouths shut.”
“You and I are VVIPs at New World. Even if the deal falls through, they can’t exactly make a scene.”
“In any case, you worked hard. Can I expect 10 billion won in sales?”
“I’m expecting at least 10 billion. Honestly, Seo Ga-eun’s modeling fee alone is over a billion, so if we don’t even make 10 billion in annual sales, it’s all for nothing.”
President Song tilted her head.
“What are you talking about? Didn’t you sign a contract for the Mirae Department Store’s Gangnam branch? I wasn’t asking about Nodri Clare’s total sales, I was asking if you could make 10 billion from the Gangnam branch alone.”
Yeon-hee’s flustered expression was obvious, but she quickly replied as if it were a matter of course.
“That’s what I meant. I’m looking at 10 billion from the Gangnam branch alone.”
“Right?”
“Of course~”
Just then, the door opened and Yeonghun walked in.
“Sorry I’m late.”
“It’s fine. You all came by bus, so it’s natural you’d be late. Have a seat.”
As Yeonghun sat down, the faint, sour smell of sweat wafted through the air.
His slightly disheveled hair and somewhat weary expression suggested he had had a rather difficult day.
Yeon-hee felt a pang of guilt, as if she were the only one who had had an easy day at the office.
But Yeonghun just grinned and said.
“It felt good to exert myself for the first time in a while.”
“Thank you for saying that, it must have been tough.”
“It wasn’t that hard, probably because I was working with all my fellow new hires. And on my way here, I called Executive Director Lee Hyeong-jun with the number you sent me.”
This was the topic President Song and Yeon-hee were most curious about for this dinner, and their eyes sparkled.
“What happened?”
“It’s been resolved. As I mentioned, we’ll pay 100 billion won, and the remaining 150 billion will be paid in installments of 50 billion a year for three years.”
His nonchalant attitude was something President Song could no longer just let slide.
“What on earth did you do for Executive Director Lee Hyeong-jun to accept such a deal? This is an extremely burdensome loan from the bank’s perspective. And to allow installment payments for the Hyeseong Corporation acquisition fee...”
“As it turns out, Shinyoung Bank had already poured a lot of money into Hyeseong Corporation, and since they saw no chance of recovery, they concluded it was better to get rid of it quickly before it became a money pit. I think that’s why things proceeded so smoothly.”
There were more detailed circumstances he had heard from Executive Director Lee Hyeong-jun, but this was the most condensed version.
“That may be so, but who would agree to such an unfavorable contract while revealing all of their company’s internal affairs?”
Yeonghun furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before speaking.
“I saved Executive Director Lee Hyeong-jun when he was on the verge of death. And he believes I can kill him at any time. That’s why I was able to proceed with a slightly more advantageous contract.”
“Surely you don’t mean ‘life and death’ literally, it’s just a metaphor, right?”
“Of course. But for Executive Director Lee Hyeong-jun, it probably isn’t just a metaphor. To him, it was no different from death.”
“What on earth happened to make him feel that way?”
Yeonghun glanced at Yeon-hee before speaking.
“A succession battle might break out in the Shinyoung Group soon. Executive Director Lee Hyeong-jun is feeling a sense of crisis. That’s all I can tell you.”
President Song Eun-chae was no fool; even with just this much, she seemed to understand most of it.
“So, someone was planning to oust Executive Director Lee Hyeong-jun, and he didn’t know about it until you told him.”
“That’s correct.”
President Song was about to ask how he knew that, but she stopped herself.
His way of handling things was incomprehensible, but she was familiar with his methods, and she didn't think he would tell her even if she asked.
In any case, the deal with Shinyoung Bank was fantastic, and the company was now poised to climb to the next level.
The acquisition of the Australian Leverton Cobalt Mine was a project that looked 10, 20 years into Hyunjin Corporation’s future, so the pressure of this bid had been immense. When this news reached the company, every employee would probably jump for joy.
“I see. You’ve worked hard. Is there anything you want? Just say it.”
At that moment, Yeon-hee nudged President Song’s leg.
Only then did President Song realize her mistake and take a card out of her wallet.
“I’m sorry. I forgot you’re not attached to money. You can use this for meals and transportation, of course, but also feel free to buy anything you want without reporting it.”
“Isn’t this the same as money?”
“We’ve lived our lives knowing money is the best, so we can’t think of anything else. And I’d like you to move to a different department.”
Somehow, he had a feeling this was coming.
“To the Secretariat?”
“Yes. We can’t have a situation like today where you’re suddenly called away to work on an important matter. Honestly, I was quite flustered. I never imagined an employee would hang up on me first.”
“Ah, that was...”
“No. I’m not blaming you. That’s when I realized for sure. You’re not someone who should remain a new employee in Sales Team 2. I’ve seen enough of your abilities. It’s my judgment that you’re not someone who should be learning slowly by doing menial tasks in a single business department. If you don’t have a compelling reason to stay in Sales Team 2, I’d like you to move. What do you think? If you don’t want to, I won’t say more, but this is also a request.”
Yeon-hee kept signaling to Yeonghun with her eyes to accept quickly.
Truthfully, she was a little anxious that he was being promoted too fast, but she was also pleased.
It meant he was acknowledged to the point where the president herself was making a request.
“I understand.”
“Your rank will be that of a manager, but since the promotion speed is abnormally fast, we’ll keep it from being known externally.”
A manager...
It felt like he had taken a step—no, several steps—toward success as a corporate employee.
And he realized that all the years he had spent living in the mountains were not for nothing.
The four pillars of destiny and Face Reading were, in essence, about a person’s life.
If one did not master the joys, sorrows, and angers of life, one could not read the four pillars of destiny properly.
In this case, too, if he hadn't completely seen through the full spectrum of emotions and desires of Executive Director Lee Hyeong-jun and Vice Chairman Lee Se-jun, he would have surely been treated like a fool after some clumsy conversation at a bar.
Yeonghun felt a sense of pride and gratitude that the more than 20 years he had spent studying people had not been a wasted life.
“Then I have one condition.”
“Name it.”
“If I go to the Secretariat, I feel I might not be able to learn the things that regular employees learn naturally. So...”
“I know what you mean. When there’s nothing special going on, I’ll assign you an instructor so you can properly learn the company’s operations and necessary knowledge. Trade, accounting, languages, M&A—you can learn whatever you want.”
“Thank you. And now that I’m part of the Secretariat, I think it will be uncomfortable for me if you continue to use formal speech.”
President Song smiled warmly.
“Alright. Then, since we’re dropping the formalities, may I offer you a drink to celebrate your promotion to manager?”
“Thank you.”
President Song called an employee and ordered a wine with a name that was hard to catch.
When the hotel server brought the wine and was about to pour it, President Song told him to put the wine down and leave, then picked up the bottle herself.
“You worked hard on this. Normally, I’d give you soju for something like this, but they don’t have it here, so I’ll give you wine instead.”
“I’ve been wanting to try an expensive wine.”
“Shall I pour you a glass too?”
Yeon-hee quickly lifted her wine glass.
“Of course. It’s 5 million won a bottle.”
Yeonghun was startled but didn’t comment on the price.
From the beginning, these people had lived different lives from him, and their values regarding material things would be different.
After they had pleasantly finished their wine, President Song spoke.
“If I had my way, I’d send you to the Corporate Strategy Office and have you take charge of the company’s control tower, but not all the executives think like I do. And if I did send you there, they’d probably keep you in check and prevent you from doing anything... Just do what you want in the Secretariat.”
“What is it that you want me to do?”
“I don’t want anything unreasonable. Just do your best within your abilities to help the company move in a better direction. I’ll provide the support you need for that.”
“I understand.”
With this incident, President Song Eun-chae had already placed her complete trust in Yeonghun.
“We’ll talk while we eat, but first, let me tell you about the situation in the Secretariat. There’s a Chief Hong Seung-dae...”
The dinner at the hotel that day ended up lasting much longer than expected.
*
[Personnel Announcement]
When Chief Hong Seung-dae returned to the company after a good lunch, leisurely holding an Americano, he was so shocked by the sudden announcement that, to put it crudely, he nearly fell out of his chair.
The President had, without a single consultation, issued a personnel change that moved two new employees into the Secretariat and transferred two existing ones to other departments.
He didn't even notice that Assistant Manager Noh Hyeong-seok from Sales Team 2 had been promoted to manager, or that employees from other teams had been transferred to Sales Team 2.
What mattered were the people transferred to the Secretariat.
One was the owner’s child, and the other was a new hire who had joined at the same time as the owner’s child.
He wouldn’t have been surprised if it was just the owner’s child getting a promotion.
It was all too common for some kid who knew jack-shit to be plopped into an executive position and run their subordinates ragged—so common it was tiresome to even mention. But he had never heard of an owner’s child being placed in the Secretariat.
If you wanted to learn the company's core business, you went to the Corporate Strategy Office. What could you possibly learn in the Secretariat, which was, to put it bluntly, just being the president's gopher?
“Hey! What the...”
Just as Chief Hong was about to ask the secretariat staff, the door opened and two people walked in, carrying boxes full of their belongings.
One was Im Yeon-hee, whom he knew well, and the other was some guy he had no idea about...
“Hello. My name is Im Yeon-hee, and I've been assigned to the Secretariat starting today. Where should I set my things down?”
The secretariat staff were also flustered by the announcement they had just seen, but Chief Hong stepped forward first.
“For now, just put your things over there in the back. A desk will open up today, so you can use that one. But did you know about the transfer beforehand? The announcement just went up, but you packed up quickly.”
At Chief Hong's question, Yeon-hee smiled brightly.
“The notice was posted during lunch, so I packed instead of eating.”
“Oh? I see. Welcome. I'm Chief Hong Seung-dae. We've met before, haven't we?”
The other secretariat staff knew Yeon-hee was the president's daughter, so they didn't find it strange that he was using formal speech with her.
“Yes. I saw you at the president's inauguration ceremony.”
“I didn't expect to see you here. Did you ask the president for this, Ms. Yeon-hee?”
“Hmm~ I wonder.”
As Yeon-hee dodged the question with a mysterious smile that was neither a yes nor a no, the door to the president's office suddenly opened, and President Song Eun-chae appeared.
As the secretariat staff all rose to their feet, President Song spoke.
“These are your new colleagues. This is Im Yeon-hee, as some of you may know. She's my daughter, but I'd like you to treat her as a new employee. She still has a lot to learn.”
“I look forward to working with you all.”
As Yeon-hee bowed, the secretariat staff created an amusing scene by clapping while also bowing back.
“And this is Mr. Choi Yeong-hun. He's a new employee like Ms. Im Yeon-hee, but unlike her, I want you to treat him as a manager-level employee. This is confidential; officially, he's just a regular staff member. Do you understand what I mean?”
For a moment, Chief Hong Seung-dae thought he had misheard.
“What? Manager-level, you say?”
“That's right. Please help the newcomers adjust well. Well then...”
With that, President Song went back into her office.
While everyone was still trying to process the situation, someone briskly approached Yeonghun.
“Hello. My name is Kim Min-hee. You can put your things down here. It feels a bit awkward to just use your name, so would it be alright if I called you Supervisor?”
Yeonghun was inwardly impressed by her quick judgment.
“Yes, please do.”
“Since you said you missed lunch, I'll order you a sandwich. Is that okay, Supervisor?”
Watching Min-hee, who had joined the company three years before him, so readily call him 'Supervisor,' Chief Hong cursed her internally as a 'stupid bitch' and immediately left the secretariat.
He figured he had to go to the HR department and ask what was going on.
And Yeonghun watched Chief Hong's actions carefully.
< From Ghost to Person (1) > End
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