“The design team’s work distribution is under General Manager Kang’s supervision, right?”
“Yes. When projects come up, General Manager Kang distributes them to the dedicated teams at that time. But usually they’re often paired with planning teams. Planning Team 1 with Design Team 1, Planning Team 2 with Design Team 2, like that.”
“I see. Then will Team Leader Seungju be doing a lot with Design Team 6 now?”
“No, since paper goods are Team Leader Cha’s exclusive domain. Won’t the design team redistribute work too? The planning team’s work distribution changed a lot.”
“Is that so?”
This time it’s certain. It’s a voice with hurt feelings. Why? Does he want to mess with the design team like he completely overhauled the planning team’s work?
They left the notebook corner. Seungju looked at the card and stationery corner displayed on the wall. Although it was work he used to do, since he was essentially starting again after four months, he needed to check how many new products had come out in the meantime.
When Seungju stopped, Muyeon also stood next to him and crossed his arms. Seungju picked out a few pop-up cards and noticeably post-processed stationery.
“Looking at things like this, it might be good to bring the design team along later too. In just a few months, completely new designs have been laid out.”
“I don’t want to.”
“What?”
The voice is soft but the content is not good at all. Seungju wasn’t surprised by that kind of response like the first time anymore. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t intimidated. Seungju observed Muyeon’s reaction.
“Why bring other people? It’s good coming out just the two of us.”
“What?”
“What about you, Team Leader? Isn’t it nice, like a date?”
Seungju lost his words again.
It’s a ghostly similar pattern to last week. So what was this called, hitting on someone?
A hazy memory roughly blurred by alcohol surfaced. A table with just the two of them sitting. A face that approached dangerously close. The things such a man says. Only now did Seungju feel reality from those things. Fuck, it’s real.
At the same time, his ears became hot as if turning bright red. Muyeon’s eyes rolled and stopped at the heated ears. He laughs quietly.
Seungju barely came to his senses.
“Right now we’re using company money, so it’s not a private meeting, right?”
“Hahaha… Team Leader is right.”
And he looks ahead again. But Seungju didn’t miss what he muttered. “It’s not that you don’t remember anything at all.” Seungju deliberately pretended not to hear.
But Muyeon’s words weren’t really wrong. The words that it wasn’t much different from a date. Last week, they each wandered around freely taking pictures or checking out stores. However, today Muyeon stuck with Seungju as they moved around.
And then he picks up items and asks. Team Leader, how about this, how about that. Should we take a picture of this display? That POP too? Buy this as a sample. That one’s not good.
It wasn’t uncomfortable. Rather, it was good. It was even a bit sweet. There was less burden in the relaxed atmosphere, but originally, work is comfortable if you just do what you’re told from the side.
However, Muyeon quickly noticed that Seungju was just saying yes, yes and going along with the things he pointed out. Standing in front of a corner of the spacious general goods store, looking at the items, he said.
“What do you think?”
“What?”
Seungju raised his head and looked around the display area where they were standing. It’s the kids’ corner.
“About what?”
“The kids’ corner. Whether to put it in the store or not.”
Seungju closed his mouth for a moment before answering.
“It’s not bad. Most stores definitely have one. However, we need to look at how far to handle items and what products to focus on according to the store concept, don’t we? We could mainly sell toys and playthings, or, well. Or these days kindergarten supply or elementary school supply corners are popular.”
Muyeon nodded slightly.
“Right. It’s a good corner to have, but we need to think more about direction. By the way, I thought Team Leader was spacing out and following around without any thoughts.”
“How did you know?”
At Seungju’s obedient response, Muyeon burst into laughter. Seungju laughed a little following him.
“How about living products?”
“For children’s items it depends on price setting, but infant products all need quality assurance. Still, if the design comes out well, it seems like it would be okay.”
“Clothing?”
“For the fashion sector, wouldn’t it be better to just wholesale from affiliated companies? Unless it’s something like socks.”
“Right, that would be better.”
Muyeon turned and headed to another corner.
“Team Leader Seungju’s opinion is helpful. Do you have nephews or nieces?”
“No. How about you, General Manager?”
“I have some. But I’m still not confident.”
Seungju could guess the reason. If they’re the General Manager’s nephews and nieces, they’re the children of Baekseong Group headquarters CEO’s sisters. They probably aren’t people who would shop in places like this. So it wouldn’t be strange if his background knowledge of the market was similar to Seungju’s, who has no nephews or nieces either. Seungju didn’t bother to voice that out loud.
“You know well about kids’ products even though there’s nothing in progress now and no new plans.”
“Last year, I think, we once promoted a related product line before. It fell through though.”
“Why?”
They were now standing in front of the electronics section. Seungju had been looking quite interestedly at the Bluetooth speaker in front of him.
“Because it wasn’t pretty.”
“What?”
“The President likes pretty things.”
Muyeon was silent for a moment. Seungju looked at him. Surprisingly, Muyeon had a speechless expression. Interest raised its head. It’s the first time I’ve seen that expression. Pretty cute.
“Is that the only reason?”
“What else could there be? If the President says do it, we do it; if he says don’t, we don’t. And in a design product company, if the design doesn’t come out, we stop.”
“I don’t like making decisions that way.”
Oh. Seungju let out an exclamation inwardly. For that, you were pretty damn dictatorial when distributing work, weren’t you? Of course, that was a somewhat rational decision.
However, what truly made Seungju admire was a different part. Boldly presenting opposing opinions to the President is something no one in this company can openly do. Everyone talks behind backs if they do. Is this because Muyeon is the youngest whom the President dotes on, or is it just because of Muyeon’s personality?
On the other hand, Seungju also realized that just a moment ago, he had expressed his opinion without reading the room in this company where subordinates can’t even open their mouths to superiors. That was indeed possible because it was in front of Muyeon.
Then Muyeon’s disposition could be the basis of his confidence. His disposition that even changes Seungju’s attitude conditioned by the company.
Seungju looked at the man in front of him again. The pretty face he still hadn’t developed immunity to was scanning the display in front with lowered eyes. He had to admit it’s cool after all.
He picked up the Bluetooth speaker Seungju had been looking at.
“How about something like this?”
“Electronics? It’s possible with OEM.”
Muyeon tilted his head and smiled.
“No, as a gift.”
“What?”
“If I give it to you, could you use it well?”
This happened last week too. Coming in casually and hitting someone before leaving. Moreover, a gift offensive. An obvious but not common method.
So… cancel what I just said. It’s not just cool. It’s fucking cool.
Seungju finally gained a bit of courage. He opened his mouth.
“With your money, General Manager?”
“Yes. Not company money.”
“Then I’d be receiving it privately.”
“Yes.”
“General Manager.”
“Why?”
“Please tell me what happened between us at last week’s company dinner.”
Muyeon blinks. And snickers. Seungju noticed that whenever he blinks, there’s always an intention. All of this can be known because he’s been staring at his face as if bewitched.
“I’ll tell you if you eat dinner with me.”
***
“Eating dinner is fine. Well, if I go home anyway, I’ll just eat delivery food alone.”
“But.”
“I’m embarrassed to keep getting treated.”
Seungju and Muyeon were sitting at a restaurant near the company. Because Muyeon said it would be better to bring the samples to the company. When they returned to the company, it was past quitting time, and only a few design team members working overtime remained.
Muyeon told Seungju to choose what he wanted to eat. Today Seungju was craving gopchang hot pot with soju. However, he couldn’t take the President’s son to a place like that.
Seungju compiled a list of high-end restaurants near the company in his head. Generally places where the President or Director occasionally buy meals. Seungju chose the Chinese restaurant with the most plausible atmosphere among them. Plausible meant that there were few people coming for company dinners during dinner time so you could sit in a private room without a reservation, and also that there were few couple customers.
Both were results of Seungju’s social ego working hard. A meal with the President’s son shouldn’t be shabby, but it was also embarrassing to choose a place with too obviously good atmosphere.
Of course, befitting a place where the President buys meals, the price wasn’t easy. But Seungju’s bank account could cover that much. From the moment he entered the store location into his car navigation, Seungju had decided he would pay today.
However, at Seungju’s words, Muyeon chuckled.
“Why worry about that? I have a lot of money.”
I think I heard a similar line before. It must have been the day the Director was going on about coffee from the morning. Back then it felt refreshing, but now it’s a bit annoying. However, it was so true that he didn’t really think to resist.
“Just because you have a lot of money, General Manager, getting treated every time is a bit different.”
“Don’t feel burdened. I said the person I want to eat with is buying.”
“That’s why.”
Muyeon widened his eyes briefly. A smile slowly spreads across his face. Soon he laughs as if delighted.
“So Seungju is going to pay?”
“Yes. I’ll pay.”
“Alright then.”
Muyeon seemed to be in a good mood. They ordered two mid-priced course sets. Seungju decided not to think about the price. Anyway, if you drink for a day and go to a third round, you’re bound to spend twice this much money.
“So, I have something I’m curious about.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“First of all, how did I end up going to the second round with only you, General Manager?”
