Chapter 53 – Playground – Part 4

Chapter 53 – Playground – Part 4

“Jessica from Lpon?”

When I went up to the Sales Team to deliver supplies, Intern Baek Jihyeon from Sales Team 4 was alone and answered the phone.

The caller was Jessica, and her tone was bored and sharp.

In response, I tried to soften her emotions so that Sales Team 4’s work could proceed more smoothly.

-Sales Team 4 has been waiting for you, Woojin, with bated breath.

“Understood. I’ll leave right away.”

Woojin, who had finished the call, re-stated his destination.

“Detective Kim, could you please take me to Shinhwa Trading instead of my house?”

“Of course, no problem. It’s closer to the Police Station too.”

Kim Taehyun pressed the accelerator and asked,

“But why there?”

“It seems like things aren’t going well at work.”

“Work? Woojin, you work at a company?”

“I joined as an Intern until School starts again.”

“Oh, really?”

Kim Taehyun turned the steering wheel and chuckled.

While others mostly did part-time jobs at Coffee Shops or Convenience Stores, it felt like Woojin had chosen a Large Corporation for his part-time work.

He was certainly the type of person who could do that and more.

“Is it urgent?”

“Yes. I think so.”

“Wow…”

It was obvious without even seeing it.

He would also be surprising people at Shinhwa Trading.

“Then I should take you there quickly.”

Kim Taehyun’s car, exiting the Alley, sped up as if chasing a Criminal.

***

Arriving at the lobby of Shinhwa Trading, Woojin went straight to the elevator to find the Management Support Team.

“I’m here.”

At Woojin’s voice, Assistant Manager Im stood up and said,

“Hurry and go to Sales Team 4.”

“Yes!”

Manager Lee, who would be promoted to Deputy Manager in a few days, chuckled.

“This is also part of management support, you know.”

“Now he’s even doing hands-on work. And for another team, at that.”

“He’s no ordinary person. Look at how cleanly he handles things once you teach him and leave him to it. I knew it the moment I saw him memorize all the items in the Supply Room on his first day.”

“He does well even without being taught. He wasn’t taught the vehicle dispatch system, but he canceled and made reservations for necessary staff members.”

The employee next to Assistant Manager Im said,

“He’s a prodigy. I hope to see him again in three years. In the Management Support Team.”

At that moment,

The gazes of Sales Team 4 all turned to the side.

Because Woojin had finally appeared.

The Deputy Manager yelled out,

“Hey. Don’t you think it’s a bit much for an intern who just started to take a half-day leave?”

Woojin quietly looked at him.

Emotions such as anger, urgency, and irritation were mixed and flowed out of his face and voice.

Emotions always simplify thought and degrade the quality of rational judgment.

Although the Deputy Manager’s rank was higher, in this situation, it was as if Woojin himself was in a superior position.

Woojin said,

“An unavoidable situation arose, so I had no choice but to take a half-day leave. But…”

At that moment, a sharp voice cut in, interrupting Woojin’s words.

It was Dad’s friend, Munjin-uncle.

“Deputy Manager Hong, what are you saying, calling someone who’s on vacation? As you said, he’s just a newly arrived intern. The entire Team 4 is relying on such an intern. Do you think this makes sense? Should I ask a third party who’s at fault? How about the Department Head? Huh? Department Head?”

As Oh Munjin’s eyes widened, the entire Team 4 looked surprised and turned their heads.

But there was no one there.

Oh Munjin chuckled and said,

“Oh dear, people, you’re working a new recruit to death… Woojin, just go. You have no obligation to handle Team 4’s work. Go and get some good rest…”

Team 4’s Manager stopped Munjin-uncle.

“Deputy Manager, why are you doing this? You know Deputy Manager Hong is in a hurry, don’t you?”

“Let go, you idiot!”

Woojin approached Munjin-uncle and bowed slightly.

“Hello, Deputy Manager Oh.”

At Woojin’s action, the surroundings fell silent for a moment.

“Oh dear… Our Woojin is so kind, I wonder how he’ll manage in the professional world.”

Oh Munjin was mistaken.

When necessary, Woojin was someone who could act completely differently.

“Not at all. I’m actually happy because I think I’ll get a good performance review score.”

As Woojin moved to Sales Team 4, Assistant Manager Kang joined him.

“Woojin, thanks for coming in during your vacation. We’re fighting Lpon over margins, so…”

Assistant Manager Kang thought Woojin wouldn’t understand him, so he changed the subject.

“Just listen kindly to what they say. Got it? We’re at 4%. If it drops even 1%, hundreds of billions will be lost. Understood?”

“Yes.”

Assistant Manager Kang dialed a number and then activated the intercom so everyone could hear.

Woojin knew well what Sales Team 4 was working on.

It was the business of selling Indonesian building materials to the Middle East.

Jessica was not Indonesian; she was an American citizen from the United States.

She was in Indonesia for business.

Yes. This is Jessica from Lpon.

Hello. This is Woojin from Shinhwa General Trading in Korea. How have you been?

It’s hot. I want to go back to my home country soon. How is it there?

The weather in Seoul is sunny. The wind is also cool. As I told you before, hearing Jessica’s voice makes me feel good. I think an attractive voice is a very good strength in negotiation.

Woojin’s peer, Intern Baek Jihyeon, watched the scene, blinking.

It was quite a sight to see the staff members gathered around Shin Woojin.

He’ll get good marks and be chosen as a regular employee later, right?

She had just started being able to answer the phone and was copying like crazy, while Shin Woojin was already doing practical work as a core member, which was frustrating.

But the self-reproach wasn’t strong. Other interns were doing the same work as her.

In another way, Shin Woojin seemed to be in a world completely separate from her.

The sound is echoing. Is it the intercom? Have I become popular?

At Jessica’s suddenly uncomfortable voice, Assistant Manager Kang looked at the Manager.

When the Manager gestured, Assistant Manager Kang turned off the intercom and handed the handset to Woojin.

Woojin said,

Is it okay now? Sometimes this happens, but it wasn’t a call for everyone to hear.

Assistant Manager Kang pressed her ear close to the handset Woojin was holding.

But unfortunately, she couldn’t hear well.

Yes. 5%?

At Woojin’s single word, the staff members were startled.

Assistant Manager Kang made a large X shape with her arms and whispered,

No. Absolutely not.

Another staff member ran her hand through her hair and even muttered a curse.

Woojin took in all their expressions.

Jessica, I trust your keen eye, but 5% seems difficult. The samples were also of very good quality. However, I hope you will reconsider. We believe that a good partnership can be formed where we can also be considerate in other areas of Lpon, and where we can both benefit each other.

The staff members watching Woojin gasped.

Because it was not something an intern would say.

It was easy to imagine considering the other interns who came in with Woojin.

Since Jessica was silent, Woojin spoke.

“Jessica?”

As Jessica started talking again, Woojin slowly nodded his head.

“Understood. Yes. That’s possible. When is that?”

The staff members stared intently at Woojin.

Then, Woojin, with a calm expression, covered the handset with his hand and said,

“They say they’ll inform the owner about the 4%.”

“Good!”

“Yes!”

“It’s done? It’s done!”

Documents flew into the air, and someone threw an uppercut with a clenched fist.

Woojin spoke again.

“But…”

The festive atmosphere suddenly quieted.

“Why?”

“What are they saying?”

“Are they asking for something else?”

“They want me to attend the final meeting, but my internship period will be over by then.”

Deputy Manager Hong quickly said,

“Just say yes for now. Say you’ll attend.”

Woojin nodded and brought the handset back to his ear.

“I will definitely attend. Yes. I’ll see you then.”

As Woojin hung up, Deputy Manager Hong spoke hectically.

“Hey, hey, quickly prepare the approval documents for the Department Head…”

Deputy Manager Hong, who had been lost in thought, suddenly shouted.

“We’re having a company dinner today! No one is to be absent! Got it?”

“How could we be!”

“Understood!”

Deputy Manager Hong approached Woojin. He lightly grabbed Woojin’s shoulders with both hands.

“Sometimes buyers insist on only one person, and it turns out that person was our new intern. You did well.”

“I merely did what was necessary to help the company, Deputy Manager Hong.”

At Woojin’s words, Deputy Manager Hong smiled like someone who would grant any wish.

“I will not be attending that meeting.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“On that date, I need to study as a university student, separate from the company. I believe a student’s main duty is to study.”

Deputy Manager Hong’s eyes wavered greatly.

Woojin felt it immediately.

Regardless of age or position, the power dynamic had instantly shifted.

It was a natural and obvious progression.

“Perhaps you need money? If so…”

He offered money.

“I could also help with your HR evaluation score…”

Even though they were on different teams, he offered to help with HR evaluation scores through an acquaintance.

Woojin said,

“After my internship ends, that period will be the most important time in my life, I think.”

At Woojin’s unreactive words, Deputy Manager Hong ran a hand through his hair.

“Mr. Shin Woojin, couldn’t you reconsider? We’re talking about hundreds of billions of won here.”

Woojin showed a moment of thought.

Then,

“I’ll think about it.”

“Yes, yes, let’s be positive, positive.”

Woojin bowed slightly to Deputy Manager Hong and headed for the elevator.

And he looked at himself in the reflection.

The gaze that made Sales Team 4 look at him like that was merely a rehearsal.

As Woojin disappeared, Oh Munjin headed to Sky Park.

And he made a call to someone.

“Hey, it’s me. Are you busy?”

He had called Woojin’s Dad.

“Shall I tell you something interesting?”

-If you’re going to talk nonsense, hang up. I’m busy as hell.

“It’s about Woojin?”

-Woojin? What about our Woojin?

Oh Munjin chuckled and said,

“There was something Sales Team 4 was strongly pushing for this time, you know?”

-What does that have to do with Woojin?

“Hey, don’t interrupt me, just listen. Woojin solved it, didn’t he? Hahaha! There’s a scumbag named Deputy Manager Hong, you should have seen that Deputy Manager Hong fumbling in front of Woojin, hahaha!”

-What nonsense are you talking about? Explain it in detail so I can understand.

“Didn’t you say you were busy? Then buy me a drink later. I’ll tell you in detail.”

* * *

Woojin, who had returned home, was looking at an incoming call.

[Jessica]

You can always create opportunities.

That opportunity always escapes, but it returns in a different form like a boomerang.

People call it luck and also effort.

Woojin soon answered the phone.

Jessica’s voice was heard immediately.

-Did I do well?

“Yes. You did well. Thank you, Jessica.”

Jessica’s light and pleasant voice flowed out again.

-Then shall we talk about that? How can vegetables grow well in the Middle East where the environment is not good? If it’s possible, it seems like it would be a really good business.