Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: VIP and VVIP
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Is an annual purchase amount of 3 million won a lot of money?
The entry-level employees at the department store would nod at that question.
Spending 3 million won here in a year is something anyone could do, but it's in the realm of luxury that most people don't bother with.
That said, it's true that 3 million won is an easily achievable amount—just buy one or two luxury items.
However, discounted items or promotional products don't count toward raising your VIP grade, no matter how luxurious they are.
The same goes for restaurants and food courts inside the department store, as well as miscellaneous goods.
So, grades are determined purely based on spending at high-end brand stores.
The staff know these internal details well, so they conclude that 3 million won a year is indeed a significant amount.
The VIP dedicated response team feels the same way.
They know it even better than regular employees, if anything.
That's why they don't take even the VIP Red grade lightly.
'Haa...'
Of course, that doesn't mean...
"I didn't even remove the tag, so why can't I return it? It's not a discounted item, and the tag is intact. What's the problem here?"
...they have to put up with every tantrum thrown by a Red grade customer.
Three members of the VIP dedicated team, there to tidy up the Pranda store, watched the complaining customer from outside the window.
"Should we intervene?"
"Wait. Let's see how the store staff handle it first."
"The staff here are being super polite..."
While the three waited to observe the store employee's response,
inside, a back-and-forth was unfolding between the Red customer and the store staff.
"We're sorry, ma'am, but returns are not possible at our Pranda store after 7 days from purchase or if there's even minor contamination."
"Contamination? Does this look contaminated to you? I told you this was the original color!"
The Red customer's tone was shifting to informal speech bit by bit.
The employee handling the VIP Red customer wore an apologetic expression and pressed a button under the counter.
Then, she took the item from the customer, put on white gloves, and pointed out each detail one by one.
"Ma'am, we're truly sorry, but this item cannot be returned. If you look here, there's a faint red spot—something that wouldn't be on the original product..."
"Do you know how much I've spent here? It doesn't make sense to refuse a return over some barely visible spot!!"
VIP Red.
Not all Red customers were like this, but most troublemakers were Red grade.
It was so common that the phrase "not the danger signal red" quietly circulated among staff.
The manager, who knew her grade from her membership card, let out a short sigh and walked over to the employee being scolded.
"Ma'am, we're truly sorry for the inconvenience, but this isn't just our store policy—it's Pranda headquarters' guideline, so there's nothing we can do."
"Then give me some compensation. I drove all the way here to return this. You have to give me something."
"Yes, we'll make sure to provide adequate compensation. Could you please step over here for a moment?"
The manager skillfully led the Red grade customer aside.
Normally, he'd handle it in-store, but there was a directive from above.
[VVIP and VIP are en route to the Pranda store. Prepare to control store access.]
And the VIP response team was waiting outside.
'Gotta get her out quick.'
The manager sweated as he worked to usher out the troublemaker.
His plan was to escort her out fast, hand over a few gift certificates, and shoo her away.
"...Then let me buy that limited-edition bag that's still on sale. Looks like plenty are left."
But troublemakers never went according to plan.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "This donburi place is a chain, but it's better than I expected. Want to try the main branch in Seoul sometime? The taste is different there."
Yeon-a pointed at a donburi shop with her finger, chatting happily.
I think I've had it before.
Not at the restaurant, but the frozen version from a convenience store.
'The frozen one was pretty good.'
The memory made my mouth water a bit.
If I'm at the department store until dinner, I should stop by.
"Um... unnie."
The word "unnie" now came naturally.
The first time is the hardest; once you're used to it, it's easy.
"Yeah?"
Yeon-a turned to me with a delighted look at the term.
"...Does the section chief uncle always tag along like this?"
"Arcana grade means you don't shop like this, so you wouldn't know. I'm jealous."
It wasn't exactly that, so I scratched my head a little.
'She's getting the wrong idea.'
Maybe Yeon-a saw me as a chaebol heir unfamiliar with ordinary life.
"Normally, when a VIP wanders the department store, staff follow from a distance. I get someone around assistant manager level, but since you're VVIP, the escort is higher-level."
The higher the VIP grade, the more senior the accompanying staff.
'What is this, like pet evolution?'
The absurd thought made me chuckle involuntarily.
"Walking around isn't too tiring? But isn't shopping out here more fun like this?"
I nodded with a slight smile at her words.
She wasn't wrong.
"I usually just hit the lounge when I need something specific, but when I'm bored, I wander like this."
I totally got that vibe.
Window shopping is so much fun.
Of course, right now it was less "window shopping" and more "ouch, shopping hurts my wallet."
I was buying everything that caught my eye as we went.
"Oh, this looks tasty. A new hotteok place?"
With that, she hurried forward, drawn by the hotteok scent.
She looked like a puppy charging at a treat smell, which made me laugh.
"Yeon-bi! This is from Busan!"
Why is Busan famous for hotteok?
No idea.
'Well, the east coast has places famous for spicy fried chicken, so not that weird.'
I recalled a beach trip with friends long ago.
If I were alone, that memory might have brought a twinge of loneliness.
But not now.
"I'll have mine after it cools a bit."
I didn't feel lonely at all.
After sampling the hotteok, I handed a small gift box to the section chief uncle.
It wasn't expensive.
The packaging probably cost more.
'Perfect for showing off.'
Great for handing over confidently if someone asked, "No souvenirs from your trip?"
I wasn't trying to show off so much as feeling a bit guilty about us eating and wandering without including him.
Hotteok splits opinions less and is easy to eat.
'It'll cool a little, but hotteok is better slightly cooled anyway...'
He insisted it was fine, but I slipped it into his hand anyway, and he accepted with a small smile.
Seeing that, Yeon-a looked at me with curious eyes.
And added,
'See? Leisure comes from money.'
I couldn't argue with that.
Next stop was the Pranda store, where Yeon-a wanted the limited bag.
As we headed there leisurely, the section chief uncle approached slowly, hotteok box in hand.
"Customer Choi Yeon-bi, customer Yu Yeon-a. I'm truly sorry, but we've received word that the Pranda store isn't fully tidied yet. Would it be alright to guide you to another store for now?"
He smiled, but his eyes looked a bit anxious.
Store interior tidying?
Not sure what that meant, I tilted my head. Yeon-a asked me,
"Yeon-bi, you okay running into other customers?"
"Yeah... sure. No big deal."
She smiled brightly at my response and looked at the section chief.
"I'm fine, so let's go as planned."
He hesitated a moment, then nodded.
I watched him step back a bit.
'Walkie-talkie?'
At a distance from us, he started talking into the one clipped to his shoulder.
As I watched the curious scene, Yeon-a grabbed my hand and pulled me forward.
"Hurry. I have a feeling other VIPs are after the limited bags."
"...Really?"
"This is why chaebols with private lounges suck. Lounge-exclusive items can't be picked from there! Unless it's a personal lounge!"
She quickened her pace.
Her face mixed excitement and worry. I let her lead me along.
We reached the Pranda store after a short walk.
But it seemed rowdy.
"Do you know how much I've spent at this department store?! Is this how you treat me?!"
'What the...?'
The classic department store tantrum line startled me. I looked toward the noise.
A stylishly dressed middle-aged woman was there.
She looked much older than Yeon-a.
Comparing them at all would be rude to Yeon-a.
"...Ah, so this was the issue."
Yeon-a scratched her cheek with a troubled expression.
From the section chief's words earlier and hers now,
this must be what "store tidying" meant.
"Ignore her and go in. They'll handle it."
"Okay."
We passed the VIP arguing outside. Suddenly, she rushed to the section chief, who had been following us well.
"You're the section chief, right? I saw your face in the lounge last time?"
"Yes, ma'am. I am. Is there a problem? I'll resolve it within my authority."
"Finally, someone higher up who listens. How do you train your staff to respond like this? No returns, no compensation, and now they say I can't even buy the limited bag."
From what I overheard, she was your typical troublemaker.
'Well, almost no one causes scenes at department stores.'
We ignored her and entered the store.
Inside, the staff looked a bit strained, like they'd been through it too.
But they were pros.
"Welcome. We'll guide you straight to the items."
They greeted us with subtle smiles and led us somewhere.
There, the limited-edition Pranda bags stood proudly on the shelves.
Yeon-a inspected them eagerly, like a kid checking toy packaging.
"What do you think, Yeon-bi? Pranda has a different charm from Erth, right?"
Honestly, no clue.
I bought the one I was carrying because it was pretty, but I went for it to hit Arcana grade.
Not sure how to respond, I gave my honest impression.
"The matte texture looks clean and nice."
"Right? I like the clean vibe too. Wish there were more colors, though. Still in stock, right?"
"Yes, ma'am. If you'd like to purchase, this way."
"Let's go, Yeon-bi."
Yeon-a finished buying quickly and pulled out her new bag right away.
"Can you unpackage this so I can carry it now?"
"Of course. One moment, please."
She handed the bag to the staff.
Something felt off.
Even I, unfamiliar with rich life, sensed Yeon-a's actions were unnatural.
'Don't they usually open carefully at home?'
As I thought that, she seemed to catch on and laughed lightly.
"You gave the section chief a gift, so I'm helping out a bit too."
"Huh?"
I just tilted my head, confused.
"Here you go, ma'am."
"Thanks. Let's go, Yeon-bi."
She took the bag and headed out, her expression somehow more confident.
'What's going on...?'
No idea what she was thinking, so I followed quietly.
Outside, the section chief was still dealing with the troublemaker auntie.
"......I see. We're sorry for not notifying you properly in advance, but per policy, it's not possible..."
"No!! I'm not here for apologies!! Treat me like a VIP! VIP service!"
'Even people like her get VIP status.'
I shook my head inwardly and followed Yeon-a.
Then, the section chief, listening to the troublemaker, spotted us, smiled, and approached.
"Sorry for the wait, customers. Han Su-bin, please provide compensation to this customer and escort her to the customer center."
"Got it."
At his words, a bob-cut staffer grabbed the furious customer's shoulder and slowly led her aside.
"Hey!! We weren't done talking... Wait, she bought the limited bag and left, so why me!!"
Suddenly, the ire turned our way.
As I pondered how to respond, Yeon-a spoke first.
"Ugh, so noisy. My ears hurt."
"Wh-what? Who do you think you are!!"
"Yeon-bi, let's not end up like her when we age, okay?"
Yeon-a laughed, ignoring the shouting troublemaker, and looked at me.
She subtly showed off her bag to the woman.
"Do you know who I... who I am? I'm... at Pranda..."
The auntie started to say something.
Then abruptly shut her mouth.
Wondering, I followed her gaze.
'Ah.'
Sometime, my Erth bag had shifted from my side to visible for all.
'When did she turn it?'
Impressed by her sleight of hand, I looked at her.
There stood Yu Yeon-a, exuding leisure and confidence.
"Hmph. Let's go, Yeon-bi."
"Yes."
And just like that, we left the silenced troublemaker behind and walked off slowly with the section chief.
