Chapter 56 – Playground – Part 7

Chapter 56 – Playground – Part 7

After finishing the call, Department Head Shim nodded slightly.

If money can control even ghosts, then humans are no exception.

If money is placed right in front of them and they’re told to take it, would anyone refuse?

Just then, there was a knock, and Woojin entered.

“Hello, Department Head Shim.”

“Nice weather today. Have a seat.”

As Woojin sat on the sofa, Department Head Shim also took the main seat.

Then, clasping his hands, he leaned slightly towards Woojin.

“I have a proposition for you.”

Woojin’s eyes wavered.

It wasn’t agitation at the fact that Department Head Shim, a superior, was making a proposition.

He was observing Department Head Shim’s actions and face.

“What do you mean by…”

“If you attend the meeting, I’ll deposit 300. It’s not a small amount of money.”

Department Head Shim, who was smiling faintly, began to get tangled in his thoughts.

He mentioned the amount, 300, but there was no reaction, as if Woojin were a stone statue.

Truly no reaction, not even a blink of an eye.

His expression was the same as when he first entered the Department Head’s Office.

How many people had he met until he earned the title of Department Head?

Humans shouldn’t be like this…

Department Head Shim’s brows furrowed slightly, and his eyes moved from side to side.

Confirming that, Woojin nodded inwardly.

He had a lot on his mind, but he still had some composure.

“As I told you before, that period in my life…”

“Alright, 600! How’s that?”

“Department Head Shim…”

Department Head Shim’s pupils dilated.

This was because Woojin seemed completely uninterested in money.

He had never encountered someone like him in his life.

So, Department Head Shim blurted out,

“Ten million won. I’ll buy that day. How much is that per hour for ten million won? It’s not like the meeting will last 24 hours.”

Woojin slowly nodded to himself.

There was actually such an incident.

There was a person who sold accessories to tourists, and they sold them cheaply.

However, they didn’t sell well.

In the meantime, a part-timer made a mistake.

They had displayed newly arrived birthstones, but they had written the price tag incorrectly.

The price should have been 2,000 won, but by mistake, they displayed them with a price of 20,000 won.

The birthstones sold like hotcakes.

It was a happening because the tourists didn’t know what birthstones were.

This is how people determine the value of something they see for the first time by looking at the price.

They assign value, thinking expensive things are good and cheap things are not good.

If the birthstones had been cheap, people wouldn’t have bought them, but it could be said that their psychological state led them to buy the birthstones, assigning them the value that expensive things are good.

Department Head Shim was thinking of himself in the same way.

Initially, Department Head Shim valued the intern according to his own framework.

However, Woojin was breaking that framework.

Just like tourists looking at birthstones for the first time.

Department Head Shim had created the game, but Woojin was not someone who would play by his rules.

Games are meant to be won.

Woojin opened his mouth.

“If we calculate ten million won for ten hours, that’s one million won per hour. It’s a lot of money, but considering the amount I could earn at that time…”

Department Head Shim cut him off.

“You can earn more?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t you say you were studying?”

“I believe one should always study consistently. Like studying to survive even if the world ends tomorrow.”

Department Head Shim made a confused expression.

‘The world…’

Then he quickly composed himself and looked at Woojin.

He couldn’t engage this guy in a normal, logical conversation.

Department Head Shim, deciding that being direct was best, then spoke.

“Then, for that one day, that one day’s time, how much do you think my renting your time is worth?”

“Two thousand…”

Woojin mumbled as if thinking, while observing Department Head Shim’s reaction.

His eyes widened, and his lips parted slightly.

Surprise was evident on his face, but disbelief, anger, or shock had not yet appeared.

That meant there was still room to negotiate.

Woojin continued speaking after a moment.

“If you add a thousand to that…”

Shock and anger appeared on Department Head Shim’s face.

‘Maximum.’

Woojin understood Department Head Shim’s words, actions, and expressions.

And the capital for the game board Department Head Shim created was 30,000,000 won.

If he played within these rules and they were upheld, he would lose.

Because he would be moving according to Department Head Shim’s design.

Woojin finished his sentence.

“I think 35,000,000 won is appropriate.”

“What did you say?”

“35,000,000 won. Department Head Shim asked for my opinion, so…”

Woojin consciously turned his head to look at the orchids.

He had previously framed people who grow orchids as being relaxed and generous.

His actions would trigger the unconscious.

“I told you my thoughts.”

Department Head Shim felt his stomach churn.

He wanted to shout, but he couldn’t.

As the intern said, he had asked, and the intern had merely answered his question.

His pride also played a part.

If he said anything, he would just be what people commonly call an old-school boss, nothing more, nothing less.

And it was an undeniable fact that Woojin was the key man.

Department Head Shim leaned back deep into the sofa, as if dumbfounded.

“Your time is quite expensive. Rich people do have such thoughts.”

“I apologize if I seemed preposterous.”

“Still, the amount is too large.”

“I apologize. Department Head Shim, I must go now. I have a lot of receipts to process.”

Department Head Shim laughed in disbelief.

Thousands were going back and forth before his eyes, and he was saying he had to go do some trivial work.

He was truly a fellow who had no common sense.

“Ah, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone about our conversation today.”

“Understood.”

“Alright, go on then.”

Woojin bowed to Department Head Shim and thought as he walked out.

He was a salesman, shallow but good at using psychology.

Because he had created a secret between himself and Department Head Shim.

This meant…

“Woojin, did your conversation go well?”

Assistant Manager Kang approached with a friendly smile.

The other staff members’ gazes also focused on him.

“Yes, it went well.”

At Woojin’s words, the staff members’ expressions immediately brightened.

Assistant Manager Kang asked, as if wanting confirmation.

“You’ve decided to attend the meeting, right?”

“No.”

“Huh?”

“I told them I wouldn’t attend. I need to process a receipt. I’ll be going now. Good luck.”

The celebratory mood of Sales Team 4 instantly died down.

Thanks to one intern, their emotions swung between heaven and hell.

At that moment.

Department Head Shim got up from the sofa and walked to the window.

The open view seemed to calm his excitement.

Department Head Shim tried his best to judge as calmly as possible.

It was money he could give, considering him a key player.

But it exceeded the limit.

‘The remaining 5,000,000 won…’

The maximum amount of money that could be drawn through negotiation this quarter was 30,000,000 won.

He could write a request for more money.

Because 5,000,000 won was pocket change to the company.

But the user is a newly hired Intern.

Will the higher-ups understand this situation?

Of course not.

It was clear that he would be cursed for being worse than an Intern.

Because it would also affect his performance.

‘Performance, performance Ira……’

Department Head Shim began to weigh 500 Ira against his own performance.

Thinking this way, he could make a quick decision.

He couldn’t remain in the Department Head position forever.

He had to climb higher.

***

Assistant Manager Im stared blankly at Woojin, who had just returned to the Management Support Team.

“Woojin, did the discussion not go well?”

“I told them I wouldn’t attend.”

Assistant Manager Im nodded, her expression unchanged.

“Department Head Shim wants you to come up again?”

Woojin felt the joystick of the game board pass to him.

“It’s almost lunchtime, isn’t it?”

“Before you think about lunch, isn’t Department Head Shim more intimidating?”

“No.”

“Hahahaha!”

“Puhahahaha! This is driving me crazy, really…”

Woojin was just being Woojin, but the Staff Members who were listening burst out laughing.

A Max-level Intern who fears nothing.

It was truly Shin Woojin-like.

Meanwhile, Woojin returned to his seat and called Department Head Shim.

“This is Shin Woojin, intern in the Management Support Team. Department Head Shim, it’s almost 10 minutes before lunch, so I’ll come see you after lunch.”

-…Alright.

The staff members laughed and shook their heads at Shin Woojin’s actions.

“Wow… he doesn’t back down.”

“I think so. There’s no reason for Mr. Woojin to be called in if he’s not even part of the Sales Team. They’re not giving him performance points there anyway.”

“Exactly, exactly.”

Lunchtime arrived, and Woojin chose Pork Bone Hangover Soup for his meal.

The meat was tender and the broth was spicy.

Then he said something he’d wanted to say while watching TV.

“Instead of buying that with that money, it’s better to eat a hearty hangover soup.”

Woojin, who had made an old-man-like comment, went back into the office. And only after exactly 1 PM did he go to see Department Head Shim.

Woojin was the first to speak.

“Department Head Shim, I’m sorry to say this, but I also have work to do. I feel a lot of pressure, and if you keep calling me like this…”

Department Head Shim spoke soothingly to Woojin’s conscious complaint.

“I’ll tell Department Head Kim, so you don’t have to worry so much.”

“My work is piling up.”

“I won’t call you much anymore.”

There was only one reason Department Head Shim listened to Woojin’s complaints.

If Woojin were to reveal their deal, a huge mess would ensue.

Of course, Woojin was making very good use of that.

“35,000,000 won. Please deposit it…”

Woojin spoke quickly.

“My account number is…”

Department Head Shim blinked.

I wasn’t expecting some grand reaction, but still…

Isn’t he a little too calm?

Woojin spoke up.

“If you’re worried, should I write a statement and get it notarized by a lawyer?”

“There’s no need for that.”

“Then I’ll be heading back now.”

“Oh? Oh, okay.”

Department Head Shim stared blankly at the door Woojin had exited through.

He felt like he had been tricked and empty.

Conversely, Woojin headed to the Management Support Team, thinking he might be able to hand Department Head Shim over to Lee Hyerim.

***

As always, quitting time arrived.

Woojin greeted each staff member.

“Good work, everyone! I’m heading home first!”

Assistant Manager Im also spoke up.

“Manager Lee, I’m also leaving right on time today. Woojin, let’s go.”

Woojin got into the elevator with a few staff members from the Management Support Team.

Just then, his phone rang.

[Detective Kim Taehyun]

“Yes, Detective Kim. The call quality might not be great in the elevator.”

The staff members’ heads reflexively turned to Woojin.

Not only was he calling the love hotline, but now he was even talking to a detective.

“What’s the case?”