Chapter 354: Real
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 354: Real
“…….”
Silence hung heavy over the conference room.
It was an utterly abnormal sight: an executive director of a major corporation unable to utter a single word, walking on eggshells around a mere temporary employee.
But then again, the person he was facing wasn't someone to whom normal corporate structures applied.
He was the youngest son of Uju Group’s Chairman.
Moreover, rumors had been quietly circulating that Chairman Kim doted on his youngest son quite significantly.
The Executive Director was at a total loss as to how he should proceed. It was a bizarre situation where everyone was taking their cues from a temporary worker.
‘I can end this here and still get through the current situation.’
If Woo-jin simply offered a perfunctory apology, the Executive Director would likely accept it, acting as if he were being magnanimous.
“Aren't you going to answer?”
However, if one is going to throw their weight around, they must do it properly.
Rather than repeating half-hearted attempts, it was better to do it once, openly and decisively. If you can use that to seize the initiative completely, a power trip can become a magnificent weapon.
“Ah, well… you see.”
“I haven’t been here long, so I’m not sure. Based on what you said, it seems the Section Chief doesn’t know either… Could you explain it to me, Executive Director?”
“Ahem.”
The Executive Director’s head felt like it was about to burst from the sheer volume of his thoughts.
There were too many eyes watching for him to swallow his pride and bow his head here. Yet, staying silent carried a burden of consequences he wasn't sure he could handle later. This was a company, after all.
‘I am an Executive Director. He is just a temporary employee, a nepotism hire.’
He decided to stand firm. If he bowed his head here, the very order of the company would be thrown into chaos. No matter if he was part of the owner's family, he was still just a college student.
So—!
— What is going on?
The voice, carrying a heavy resonance, possessed a magnetic force that overwhelmed the room. Even though the speaker wasn't physically present, the pressure was palpable.
Everyone’s eyes turned toward the phone in Kim Woo-jin’s hand.
“Father, I just called to check in on you.”
Father.
“Ah.”
With just that one word, the Executive Director was forced to abandon every insolent delusion he had been harboring until a moment ago.
— I assume you’re working hard?
Though he didn't know the details, Chairman Kim immediately sensed that his son needed his aura. When Woo-jin hinted that the Chairman had sent him there intentionally, Kim Woo-jin replied with a small smile.
“What would I know? I’m just doing what the people here teach me.”
— Do your best.
— Because you are the child who resembles me most.
I don't particularly like that phrase.
Even as he thought that to himself, Woo-jin replied with a smile.
“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”
The call ended, and Kim Woo-jin slapped his forehead as if he had forgotten something.
“Oh, right. I meant to ask about the Chairman’s methods, but I forgot and just made a social call.”
“Ah, that is—”
“I’ll call him back.”
“Wait a moment!”
Seeing him prepare to call back as if he were placing an additional order at a Chinese restaurant, the Executive Director finally had no choice but to tuck his tail.
* * *
“Wow, I think that was the most spectacular moment of my entire career.”
Back at the Digital Marketing Team’s office, Assistant Manager Oh shook his head in disbelief. It was an incredible event—a temporary worker of one week putting an Executive Director under such pressure. And to top it off, calling the Chairman directly on the spot was truly…
“I was more nervous than when I was in the Sales Department.”
Assistant Manager Choi, the second-in-command, also seemed to be reeling from the aftermath.
“But did he do it to help us? I’m not really sure.”
“I think he did. He sat on our side and took our part.”
Senior Staff Jung, the only woman on the team, and Employee Kim were quite pleased, believing Kim Woo-jin had helped them.
“It was pretty cathartic. It was frustrating watching the Executive Director be so unreasonable. Don’t you agree, Section Chief?”
Assistant Manager Oh asked with a laugh, but Section Chief Yoon’s expression was not good.
“This isn't right.”
He reached for his coffee, but the cup was empty. Pressing his eyes with his fingers, he stood up from his seat.
“Oh, I’ll go make some coffee!”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll go.”
Employee Kim stepped up quickly, but Section Chief Yoon declined and headed to the pantry.
Kim Woo-jin was already there. He seemed to be making coffee for the team, pouring boiling water into several cups.
“Ah, Section Chief. I was just making coffee.”
When Woo-jin smiled and tried to hand him a cup, Yoon shook his head.
“No, I’ll make my own.”
“Yes, sir.”
Nothing else was said. Kim Woo-jin simply continued making coffee in silence. A stillness settled between the two.
It was Kim Woo-jin who spoke first.
“I’m sorry about earlier.”
Woo-jin apologized with an awkward smile.
“I think I overstepped my bounds.”
“…….”
“This is a workplace, after all. I suppose I’m still immature because I’m a student.”
“You’re right.”
Section Chief Yoon answered before he could stop himself. He widened his eyes, surprised at his own response. As he slowly turned his head, he saw Kim Woo-jin, coffee in hand, looking at him.
Had he made a mistake? Against this kid, whom even an Executive Director was wary of? Many questions arose, but the milk was already spilled.
Section Chief Yoon took a sip of the coffee he had made and spoke.
“The Executive Director didn't reach that position for no reason. He isn't in a position to be disregarded by you in that manner.”
“You’re right.”
“There is a hierarchy in a company. Much like the military. There’s a reason why people hold high ranks. The Executive Director had his reasons for saying those things to us.”
“That’s true.”
“I know you have an extraordinary background, unlike ordinary people. But… right now, you are just a one-week-old temporary assistant in the Digital Marketing Team.”
“…….”
“You don't know the work properly, and you have no proven ability. Was it right to be so rude to the Executive Director?”
“…….”
“You’ll probably just be here for a short while and then leave, right? But please, think of the people who will remain after you are gone.”
“…….”
“I am the head of a household. I’m in a position where I have to cling to this company for my life.”
“…….”
“You’ve done well so far. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing for the past week, and not like today.”
The past week, where he had acted as if he were barely there. The time he spent out of the office on field assignments. Just do that much.
Section Chief Yoon turned to leave after saying his piece.
“You are right, Section Chief.”
He stopped in his tracks. When Section Chief Yoon looked back at Kim Woo-jin, the young man was staring at him with an expressionless face.
Suddenly, the words of Chairman Kim he had heard over the phone came to mind.
‘The son who resembles me most.’
For some reason, he found himself strangely agreeing with that sentiment.
“I don't know anything. I don't know the work properly, and there’s nothing I can do.”
“…….”
“I mean it. I’m just a college student. I can’t even properly understand the team members when they speak English on the phone.”
There were so many technical terms. It made all the English he had learned until now feel useless.
“I am incompetent and ignorant. I admit it.”
The way he shrugged his shoulders actually exuded a sense of composure.
“However, Section Chief.”
Gulp.
Was it starting now? Section Chief Yoon thought of his daughter. Should he kneel and apologize right now? A thousand thoughts raced through his mind.
“Even to someone like me, your presentation was persuasive enough to be considered excellent.”
The words Kim Woo-jin actually uttered were unexpected.
“Pardon?”
Section Chief Yoon felt as though he had reflexively become the subordinate.
“You’ve accumulated many years of experience.”
“Ah, well, yes.”
“I understand that it’s not that your performance is lacking or that you’re incompetent, but simply that you’ve been pushed down the priority list because you have no interest in office politics.”
“How did you know that…?”
Because he had nothing to do, Kim Woo-jin had been able to spend his time learning about the internal structure and current situation of the Digital Marketing Team.
“Section Chief Yoon, who works doggedly; Assistant Manager Choi, who was transferred here after the Sales Department dumped their mistakes on him; Assistant Manager Oh, who is passionate but leaves others unable to keep up; Senior Staff Jung, who can’t even voice her own opinion because she’s too busy reading the room; and Employee Kim, who is learning and absorbing everything like a sponge.”
“…….”
“Section Chief, those are the people I protected just now. Because your presentation didn't belong only to you—it belonged to the whole team.”
It was unexpected. He had never imagined in his wildest dreams that Woo-jin had been observing the Digital Marketing Team in such detail.
“In a company, you just need to work. Results are everything. In the end, you just have to prove your value through your ability.”
It was true. It was the right thing to say, but…
“So, how are things now?”
The opportunity to even demonstrate that ability was not coming to the Digital Marketing Team. Hadn't their efforts almost been overturned just now, despite showing their capability?
“But this is just the kind of person I am,” Section Chief Yoon sighed.
Woo-jin wasn't wrong. The company wasn't even giving them the chance to show what they could do.
“Office politics? Schemes? Shortcuts? I’m not a person who knows those things.”
“…….”
“I know what you’re trying to say. I already know that this attitude of mine is actually preventing the team from moving forward.”
Section Chief Yoon was a paradoxical man.
“Even so, I don't want to use those methods. Even a salaryman has his own principles.”
He was competent, yet incompetent. And…
“Heh.”
Kim Woo-jin tended to quite like that sort of thing.
“Who told you to use schemes?”
“Hmm?”
“Who told you to play politics behind the scenes?”
Wasn't it funny?
“Look again at who you have on your team, Section Chief.”
To the point where schemes aren't necessary. To the point where office politics can be crushed underfoot.
“Isn't it also a leader's skill to utilize the team members' abilities to their fullest?”
Did the Digital Marketing Team not possess overwhelming power right now?
“Go with the direct approach.”
Woo-jin held out the coffee he had just made. It was the same coffee the Section Chief had already refused.
“Push forward honestly, with power. Prove it with your ability.”
Right here, wasn't there a sword that you could wield entirely as you wished, precisely because it was ignorant of the ways of the world?
“The people whispering behind your back are just people of that caliber. Fakes who lack ability are just occupying seats one by one.”
Looking down at the paper cup Kim Woo-jin held out, Section Chief Yoon felt his body tremble. His emotions were beginning to soar.
A temporary worker who knew nothing about the work. Someone who went on field assignments at his own whim because he had to go to class. Yet, behind him was the massive power of the Chairman.
Section Chief Yoon felt like he finally understood.
“Section Chief.”
That a person who rules doesn't need to know everything.
“Go and show them what the real deal looks like.”
That it was enough to simply make people follow.
Section Chief Yoon took the coffee Woo-jin offered and downed it. The coffee, which had already gone cold…
Was far sweeter and more delicious than any coffee he had ever drank in his entire career.