008. Tribulations (4) Does Appearance Correlate with Personality?
Recent studies have produced intriguing results on whether appearance correlates with personality. Contrary to popular belief that good looks mean bad character, the reality is the opposite. Handsome people enjoy high social standing, which spoils their personalities, while unattractive ones suffer the reverse. What an unequal world.
But...
Since joining Railroad Software, I'd successfully overcome biases and discrimination based on looks. Kim A-ram was stunning but possessed a lowly, chaotic nature. Not content with her unpredictable acts of destruction, she was still stirring up trouble. Im Su-yeon was attractive too. But with that personality, if she'd been born during the Japanese colonial era, what would she have done? Probably sided with the Japanese, sold out independence fighters' intel, and lived lavishly. And that wealth would have lasted three generations.
Yoon Se-hee was the same. She had clear eyes and a Western look, but her gloomy, timid personality made her incapable of big things.
Right. Looks and character aren't proportional.
Of course, the women I slept with were both gorgeous and decent, but anyway.
Im Su-yeon began her frank confession.
"Um... the incident started with, Director..."
She opened her mouth.
"It all began because Kim A-ram drives like crap..."
"Why bring that up?"
Kim A-ram freaked out. Han Yu-ra picked up the ashtray, and Kim A-ram shut her mouth like a scared puppy.
"Kim A-ram didn't slow down even in the school zone. She ignored the 50 km/h limit. She didn't hit anyone at the crosswalk, but she parked halfway across it, blocking pedestrians. So I nagged her a bit..."
"...Get to the point."
"Got it."
Im Su-yeon cleared her throat.
"Truth is, I happened to be smoking at the time, so... I didn't see what A-ram was doing."
"Su-yeon smoked all day! Check the exhibition hall CCTV—you'll see she didn't do any work after arriving."
"...I had a rough day emotionally, so I smoked. Anyway, when I came back to the hall, Yoon Se-hee was slapping Kim A-ram's face and cursing her out. It was like high school all over again."
"...What the hell. That crazy bitch."
"Crazy bitch?"
Han Yu-ra clutched her throbbing head.
"Enough. Is this company a joke?"
"No, Director! I really didn't do anything wrong!"
"Listen. There's a reason..."
Han Yu-ra snapped.
"Hey."
The sudden casual word froze everyone; the employees couldn't continue.
"Is this the time to fight? Among yourselves? With open beta in 10 days?"
"..."
"Se-hee. No..."
"..."
"Se-hee-ya. You tell me."
"Tell me. I can only trust your word now."
Han Yu-ra used the nickname from their university club days. Yoon Se-hee flinched at the intimate yet terrifying tone, shoulders trembling.
As Im Su-yeon tried to protest, Han Yu-ra cut her off.
"Maybe... maybe I made a mistake."
She tied back her red ponytail, glaring coldly at her employees.
"I met you all in the club. Remember that day? We decided to make our own game. The four of us, drinking whiskey, vowed to make a great game... to revolutionize indie gaming."
Yeah, that happened.
Han Yu-ra had told me. She'd teamed up with close club seniors and juniors to found Railroad Software—back when they didn't even have business registration.
"That's why I never hired new people. You worked without pay. Remember? For about six months remote, even without an office."
"Y-Yes... I remember!"
Kim A-ram blurted like grabbing a lifeline. Han Yu-ra nearly hurled the ashtray but spoke instead.
"I treated you not as 'employees' but as 'family' and 'founding executives' of Railroad Software."
Classic startup tale. Meet like-minded folks in a university club, form a team, found a company. Promise big equity later to extract passion labor. Resentments build, company tanks, friendships shatter.
But Han Yu-ra got lucky.
Not even typical seed investment.
After snagging 50 million won in government grants, they got over 100 million investment. Then nearly 10 billion from Angel Ventures. Unprecedented.
Her pitch was overwhelming.
IR pitches prioritize track record, headcount, revenue over presentation quality. But Han Yu-ra transcended that. Sepiros Online's quality openly mocked other indie startups. Unlike others droning about their games, she told a story.
Plus, it was peak time for women entrepreneur support.
Lucky all around. Unbelievably, Kim A-ram was top-notch back then. Han Yu-ra seized the perfect storm of luck.
Thus, Railroad Software was born—a product of fortune. And now, it hit its limit.
"Yoon Se-hee. Speak. Didn't I keep telling you? Fix that personality."
"...U-uh..."
"You've lived over twenty years, Se-hee-ya. Since college, I said: don't run from senior guys' confessions. Show up to drinks sometimes, nod along to what people say. Right?"
"I... I tried!"
Under Han Yu-ra's scolding, Yoon Se-hee trembled as she replied. But emotions escalated between them.
Time to step in.
Fun to watch the fight, but I owed Railroad Software. I'd tricked Han Yu-ra into three rounds with Shin Na-young, hadn't I? I felt responsible to contribute.
"Hold on, Director Han. Tempers are flaring."
"..."
She calmed instantly. Biting her lower lip was sexy, but I wasn't that oblivious.
"Se-hee, calm down too."
"Hic..."
"Tell us slowly. What happened."
"First... sorry. I messed up, yeah."
"Yeah! Se-hee fainted handing out flyers!"
Kim A-ram blurted; Han Yu-ra grabbed the ashtray.
"Kim A-ram. Shut it."
"Yes."
Yoon Se-hee continued.
"The camera shows I was so nervous... I slipped up, my mentality broke... hic... I cried right there."
"..."
Pitiful story. Sure, Yoon Se-hee never fixed her personality—that was on her. But so what?
"And... A-ram came up to me and said... my parents died."
Now it clicked. The YouTube description said that.
A-ram, you gay...! Fuck, you again? Can't hold back for a month after screwing up?
Back then, I'd convinced Han Yu-ra to torment Kim A-ram. But now, I couldn't even sell indulgences. Even if Jesus returned and told Han Yu-ra, "Forgive Kim A-ram, little lamb," she wouldn't.
No... I didn't even get proper revenge...? Felt unfair.
"No, A-ram. Is it true?"
"I've committed a mortal sin!"
Kim A-ram bowed her head flat, forehead to floor, flip phone style.
"The YouTuber in front of me... had about 100,000 subscribers. DarkSoulsCollagonaObsessedMarine."
Oh, that guy.
He was a FromSoftware game veteran for 10 years. Challenges like "Clear Dark Souls blindfolded with deaf-aid gear" and "Beat Elden Ring to ending with feet."
"I had to protect the company's reputation. Needed some justification!"
"Ah, so you deleted server files to 'protect' the reputation?"
Han Yu-ra sneered. CEO stress mixed with employee contempt formed a cold, cruel expression.
I knew what it meant.
That's... the face of cutting ties.
Bittersweet. Eternal friendships are rare. All have limits, especially with business or money involved.
"A-ram. What you need now isn't excuses—it's atonement."
I tossed her a lifeline. Not because I liked her.
Suffer more.
She hadn't tasted true overtime yet. I wanted to serve her Busan-style pork soup: overtime, deadlines, psych meds forgotten.
So, atone. Beg forgiveness, Kim A-ram.
I watched her. Her decision—
"Come on, Director. It's been a month since it blew up. Let's just forget it."
"You bitch!"
Han Yu-ra hurled the ashtray.
"Eeeek!"
Crash!
Labor and criminal law violation. Shouldn't think it, but I was thrilled.
The company that tormented me for a year. The one making my beloved game. With two women I fuck. It was crumbling.
"Sucking company blood! Deleting servers! Not enough to kill Yoon Se-hee's parents, now this shit?"
Ah...
My revenge failed.
A-ram gay...
Regret, ruin, obsession require minimal intelligence. But Kim A-ram? A bit slow.
Just... leave...
What could I do? She was born that way.
Han Yu-ra seethed, clutching her head.
"Kim A-ram. Listen clearly."
"...Eek!"
"Company's suing over the server deletion. Starting tomorrow. Got it?"
"Director Han."
I stopped her.
"Open beta in 10 days. Calm down first."
How did Han Yu-ra feel? Suddenly, she seemed pitiful.
Built this with college club study buddies.
Back then, her eyes brimmed with dreams and hope. She truly loved games, cherished Railroad Software most.
But she failed to separate business partners from friends. Why you don't start companies with friends.
People are endlessly lenient with the close...
Her brows twitched, eyes teared up. A drop welled.
The investment from a once-in-a-lifetime pitch. She'd worked hard too.
Maybe her biggest mistake: rehiring me.
Your karma...
Betrayed the faithful for friendship, now wounded by the faithful's betrayal.
But one promise to myself.
Let the company limp on.
Hurt Han Yu-ra's heart... sure. But tanking the corp was too vicious.
Finally, Han Yu-ra decided.
"Kim A-ram... I think you can't stay in this company anymore."
Growth as a businesswoman? Or just hurt? More resolute, anyway. Tasted bitter.
"And you two remaining... I'll reconsider contract extensions. You'll get all labor-law protections, no worries."
"Wait, why me..."
"Su-yeon."
Han Yu-ra eyed her coldly, piercing.
"Thinking calmly now, your actions are so infuriating."
"..."
"Always dodging responsibility, dumping on others. You've done nothing right, really..."
"..."
Han Yu-ra glared resentfully.
"You've changed a lot, Su-yeon-ah."
"..."
"Taught you not to let personal feelings mix with business... My mistake, right?"
I was shocked. Discarding your old self is tough.
That's rough.
"And Seong-u."
She looked at me with ruined eyes. Fair enough. No CEO's heart stays intact watching their company shred.
"Seong-u, can we talk privately?"
The emergency meeting ended.