Chapter 353: Ideology
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 353: Ideology
About a week had passed since Kim Woo-jin became a member of Uju Global’s Digital Marketing Team.
During that time, truly...
Absolutely nothing had happened.
Well, that wasn't entirely true.
It wasn't as if heads were rolling, but everyone from the Department Head to the Director, Managing Director, and Executive Director—even the Vice President—had dropped by to greet Kim Woo-jin or take him aside for a chat.
Thanks to that, the Digital Marketing Team had suddenly become the hottest department in the company.
"Section Chief Yoon, I’ll be heading out for some field work now."
"Ah, yes. Go ahead."
The man himself, however, was going on "field work" with ridiculous frequency.
The team was now used to Kim Woo-jin leaving for these assignments. He wasn't assigned any actual tasks, yet he went on more field work than anyone else in the office.
"What on earth does he even do out there?"
Assistant Manager Oh, who was always full of grievances, spoke up the moment Kim Woo-jin left. While it was a bit unsightly to see him jump at the chance to complain, his frustration was understandable.
"Who knows? He’s probably at a PC Bang. He’s at that age, after all," the taciturn Assistant Manager Choi remarked, scratching his head.
Was that really it?
Another week passed, and it was Monday again.
"Staff Jung, how many times has he gone out on field work?"
"Every single day except for the Mondays and Fridays he actually showed up."
"Hah."
Just then, Employee Kim, who had at least shared a coffee and a few words with Woo-jin, tentatively raised a hand.
"Um, he said he was going to school."
"Huh? School?"
"Yes, I heard he’s still a sophomore at Gahyeon University."
"Wait, so he’s going to lectures and calling it 'field work'?!"
What kind of nonsense was this? They wondered if it was even legal to attend university lectures while being employed at a company.
But then.
Staff Jung seemed to realize something and clapped her hands.
"Ahhh! That’s why he didn't go out on Friday!"
"Why Friday?"
"Most college students have a Friday free period."
"Ah."
The team members finally understood why Kim Woo-jin went on "field work" so often.
"Tsk, he has no idea how much trouble he’s causing us. He just does whatever he wants," muttered Section Chief Yoon, the head of the Digital Marketing Team, unable to look upon the situation kindly.
* * *
"Does this even count as holding a second job?"
Yoo Ah-rin, who was attending the lecture with me, glanced my way and asked.
"Who else goes to school while working at a company?"
"I do. And Jin-ah did too. She went to recitals while she was in university."
"That’s because Jin-ah was in that specific department."
"So what? It’s the same for me. They use a lot of English there, too."
At my sharp tone, Yoo Ah-rin frowned and immediately reached out to pinch my cheek.
"What’s wrong with you today? Did you get scolded at work?"
Did I look like I was sulking? I did feel like I was being a bit more on edge than usual.
"Sorry. I guess I’m just tired from bouncing back and forth between school and the office."
When I apologized sincerely, Yoo Ah-rin finally let go of my cheek. She gave a small smirk and pressed further.
"I don't think you're just tired from that, though."
She was sharp.
I’d thought this before, but the girls had become incredibly sensitive to even the slightest changes in me. I was grateful, but I also felt a bit guilty.
"Alright, we’ll end today’s lecture here."
The class ended just in time. I glanced at Yoo Ah-rin and told her we should talk over coffee.
* * *
We were supposed to talk over coffee.
But somehow, we ended up in my room—on my bed, to be precise.
The plan to head straight back to the office after the lecture had changed, and now I was lying down with Yoo Ah-rin.
"I’m pretty sure I only meant to have coffee," I muttered to myself. Yoo Ah-rin, nestled in my arms, pinched my waist.
"I’m trying to comfort you in my own way."
"Comfort?"
"Because you’re struggling."
"I mean, it’s not like I’m struggling that much."
As I gave an awkward reply, Yoo Ah-rin rested her ear against my chest.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. The security team drives me back and forth. If anything, they’re the ones suffering because of me."
"Hmm, I see."
I thought I’d made a decent excuse, but it didn't seem to convince her.
This time, Yoo Ah-rin turned her head and rested her chin on my chest. Since she was lying almost on top of me, I could see her clearly just by looking down.
"Did you gain weight? Your chin is folding."
"Hey, if your chin doesn't fold when you look down, you're probably too skinny."
"I think you’ve gained more than when you were working out all the time. Are you eating late-night snacks?"
"……."
Damn it, Choi Jin-ah...
"Watch what you eat. You’ll have a hard time losing it later."
"Yeah, I should."
As I gave a half-hearted answer, Yoo Ah-rin steered the conversation back.
"Is it something other than the commute that’s bothering you?"
"Are you a mind reader? I told you I’m fine."
"It’s because you don't look fine. Ye-rin and I-seo also said you haven't looked great lately."
If all three of them knew, there was no point in hiding it.
It had only been a week. I thought I was doing a good job of managing my expressions, but apparently not.
In the end, I gave in to Yoo Ah-rin’s pressure and opened up.
"Sigh... Honestly, the work itself is fine. I don't do anything there; I just kill time."
Occasionally, higher-ups would visit and insist on having tea or lunch for no reason. It was annoying and irritating, but I let it slide for now. I knew my position, and I accepted that everyone had to walk on eggshells around me.
"But the problem is the team members."
"Where were you again? Digital Marketing?"
"Yeah."
"Why? Are they walking on eggshells too much?"
"There’s that... but they’re also suffering in ways they shouldn't have to because of me."
"Suffering?"
Corporate politics are surprisingly deep-rooted and complex. Uju Global, in particular, is one of the core businesses of the Uju Group.
And I had suddenly been dropped right into the middle of it.
It could be interpreted as me starting to creep into the power struggle for management rights. If I started achieving results and catching my father’s eye, the game could change entirely.
"Uju Group is generally conservative. They hate leaving even the slightest room for uncertainty."
"Mhm."
"If I achieve something here, it creates a sort of foothold. It creates an opportunity for me to prove my ability."
Naturally, those who wouldn't like that...
"The people on my eldest brother’s side—the Vice Chairman—would obviously find me an eyesore."
"Ooh."
"So they’re intentionally putting pressure on the Digital Marketing Team. I really don't like that."
There is only one throne. Throughout history, kings have purged their siblings to solidify their own power.
The fact that my eldest brother’s faction was pressuring the Digital Marketing department just in case... that really rubbed me the wrong way.
"But if I move recklessly, it might look like I’m actually threatening my brother."
Besides, I didn't even have the ability to do anything. It was no joke; I couldn't understand half of what they were saying most of the time.
"Wow, hearing this, it’s not like there’s anything I can do to help."
Yoo Ah-rin laughed hollowly.
She was right. There was nothing she could do. The same went for Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo.
So, I just held her tight. Yoo Ah-rin snuggled into me in return.
"I should probably get going soon."
As I grumbled, Yoo Ah-rin looked up at me and asked, "Even though you’ve got a tent pitched down there?"
"……That’s your fault. Not mine."
"Fine, you jerk. Take some Hershey's from the fridge before you go. I bought a few."
When did she buy those?
I gave her a kiss, got up, and changed back into my suit.
"By the way, what’s with the red? Why did you buy that?"
Yoo Ah-rin, who was drinking chocolate milk from the fridge while I changed, teased me.
"It’s an ambitious declaration that I’ll stain anyone who touches me with their own blood."
"Pfft."
"It’s like a red light. A warning to be careful."
"Oh, brother."
It was meant to be a joke, but she didn't seem to find it very amusing.
As I headed out, Yoo Ah-rin trotted over to the front door. Is she not leaving?
"Have a good day at work~?"
"Pfft."
"How was that? Did I sound like a wife? Would it have been more stylish if I’d been wearing an apron?"
"It was good. Yeah, I liked it."
I kissed her again before leaving. Yoo Ah-rin didn't refuse and accepted it gently.
"I feel a bit more energized now."
"Glad to hear it. Don't get too stressed. You’re the one in power anyway."
"True."
"And don't worry too much about your big brother. I don't know much about these things, but if his position is so fragile that it shakes just because you did something, isn't that the real problem?"
"……."
"Fighting!"
Thud.
I closed the door and headed out of the dormitory.
She wasn't wrong. If my brother’s position was shaken just because of something I did, then that was the weird part.
Was I being too cautious?
Even if I was the Chairman’s son, I was still a newcomer to society. Realizing that I had been walking on eggshells because I was overly conscious of them walking on eggshells around me made my head feel a bit clearer.
* * *
All five members of the Digital Marketing Team had been called into the conference room.
The Executive Director had summoned them out of the blue. Since the team's performance last quarter had been somewhat sluggish, he claimed he wanted to hear about their internal situation, budget, and future direction.
"That is all."
Section Chief Yoon’s presentation was quite impressive. Despite the sudden summons and lack of preparation, he laid out the details of their work as if he had been waiting for this moment. Section Chief Yoon was a bit timid, but he wasn't incompetent.
"That was great, wasn't it?"
"Our Section Chief is only out of favor; he’s actually very capable."
Assistant Manager Oh and Assistant Manager Choi whispered to each other, giving Yoon a quiet thumbs-up.
Staff Jung and Employee Kim might not have noticed, but the Executive Director had summoned the entire team specifically to tear them down. When his plan to trample them into submission didn't go as smoothly as expected, the Executive Director paused for a moment.
"Tsk, Section Chief Yoon, are you playing games?"
He began to nitpick.
"Pardon?"
"Is this how you work? Do you think we’re some neighborhood mom-and-pop shop? This is a corporation. A corporation!"
"Ah, yes. May I ask which part gave you that impression?"
The content itself wasn't bad. Section Chief Yoon was actually quite confident in it. He could have been angry at being insulted like this, but he asked calmly.
"You don't know? Is this some school essay contest? You’re going to inject your own personal preferences into your work? This is Uju Global! A titan of South Korea! A member of the Uju Group!"
"……."
"Efficiency? Results? Those are important, but we have a path we walk! The Royal Road of the Uju Group! The direction the Chairman himself has always taken!"
"……."
Slam! Slam!
Gaining momentum, the Executive Director hammered on the table.
"This... this is the kind of marketing some bottom-tier company would do. Why should we lower ourselves like this?"
"……I apologize."
This wasn't the first time Section Chief Yoon had dealt with unreasonable demands. He knew from experience that complying and adapting was the best way to survive.
"Remember. Uju Global is, in the end, the Uju Group. You must not forget the ideology of this place. Are you really missing such basic things in your work? You there, Employee Kim? Do you even know the company’s mission statement?"
"Ah, that—"
"See! You don't even know the basics, which is why you produce results like this! Section Chief Yoon, get your act together."
"I understand."
Section Chief Yoon bowed deeply, apologizing repeatedly.
Just then.
"Why don't you tell us, Executive Director?"
A voice drifted in from the entrance.
The lights, which had been turned off for the PPT, flickered on, illuminating the doorway that had been shrouded in darkness.
Standing there was a non-regular employee in a deep red suit.
"Huh?"
The Executive Director’s expression darkened instantly.
He had heard that Kim Woo-jin was out on field work, which was why he had been bullying the Digital Marketing Team.
"No, I’m just curious. The Chairman’s ideology! The way the Chairman has always done things! The Chairman’s Royal Road!"
Kim Woo-jin approached with an exaggerated, mocking gesture and sat down across from the Executive Director, on the side of the Digital Marketing Team.
"So."
To be more specific.
"What exactly is my father’s way of doing things?"