Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: New Franchisee List
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After the New Year's holiday, the first day back at work.
Thud. The hefty binder placed in front of me was labeled in large letters.
"New Franchisee List?"
"Yes, that's right."
Jo Yi-ruk pushed up his glasses with a swift motion as he spoke.
"The recruitment of new franchisees has just wrapped up. This time, the scale was the largest ever, so a massive training program for them is in the works. This report covers all the details and the required budget."
"Wow. Throwing work at me right from January 2nd."
"You've got to work, Owner."
Who was the boss and who was the employee here? I chuckled and picked up the report.
"Did you have a good New Year's? I heard you spent it with your parents."
"Yes. It was great."
Jo Yi-ruk hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"They were... very grateful."
"Huh?"
Who? What was he talking about? I tilted my head, and Jo Yi-ruk added calmly.
"Because you took in a guy who couldn't even act like a human and turned him into a proper person."
"Haha! So Jo Team Leader's parents think that?"
"They see you as their lifesaver."
I couldn't hold back the laugh that burst out. As I openly cracked up, Jo Yi-ruk flushed with embarrassment.
"They even wanted to invite you over this time for a grand thank-you, but I barely talked them out of it."
"Ahahaha!"
"Is it that funny...?"
"Of course it is. Isn't it? Oh, not that their feelings are ridiculous or anything~."
I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes with my sleeve.
"Actually, it's the complete opposite."
"...Opposite?" "Yeah. Totally the opposite."
I winked at Jo Yi-ruk with one eye.
"You're my lifesaver, Jo Team Leader."
"..."
"What's wrong? I mean it."
That's how I saw it.
"You trusted and followed me when all I had was the title of 'Owner.' Haha. Your face when you saw that empty office back then was priceless. I almost regret not having an audience for it."
"Ugh. B-back then, I was a bit flustered..."
"Exactly."
I grinned and added.
"You believed in a broke nobody like me with nothing to his name and stuck with me. I know how much you've struggled, Jo Team Leader."
Even now, he was handling secretary duties, overall management, and practically department head responsibilities too. He never showed it, but the workload must be insane. Of course, I was compensating him handsomely with incentives.
"I said I'd make you a location expert, but I barely knew anything myself. So you had to self-study, pulling all-nighters all the time. You're still heavily involved in site selection for the new franchises."
He was one irreplaceable cog in The Song's vital machinery.
"I'm always grateful for it."
I smiled brightly, and Jo Yi-ruk averted his eyes, fiddling with his glasses. Probably felt awkward. Still, isn't it best to give recognition and praise right away? As I turned back to the report, Jo Yi-ruk finally replied.
"...That's my line."
"Hm?"
"I should be the one saying it. I was just a broke exam prep student, after all."
True enough.
"After years of repeated failures, you get used to it before you know it. Failure becomes second nature, resignation sinks into your bones. I thought my life was ruined so many times."
Behind Jo Yi-ruk—who wore thin-rimmed glasses, a neatly styled haircut, and a sharply tailored suit that made him look every bit the proper office worker—overlapped the image of the hunched, sloppily dressed exam student he used to be.
"I still can't fathom what potential you saw in that version of me. But you always see what we can't."
Jo Yi-ruk's voice was thick with trust.
"Not just my parents—I see you as my lifesaver too."
"..."
"If it's not a burden, I'd like to set up a meal sometime."
"Nah, anytime's fine. I owe you a meal myself."
After all, you'd nurtured and taken in such fine talent. What a huge win for our company. I said it half-jokingly, but it was mostly sincere.
"Pick a date. You know my schedule better than anyone."
"Yes, sir."
Jo Yi-ruk nodded.
"How did you spend yesterday, Owner?"
"Hmm..."
I let out a long breath.
"I went to see my parents too."
"Oh."
"Their faces are a bit fuzzy now, though."
Luckily or unluckily, their faces hadn't changed from before or after my regression. Still, seeing the photos made them feel familiar. I'd aged more than the parents in those pictures from my pre-regression self. Seeing Jo Yi-ruk's troubled expression, unsure what to say, I forced a bright smile.
"Since I'm doing so well now, they're probably watching happily from wherever they are."
"Yes. I'm sure they are."
That was enough of the gloomy talk. Come to think of it, things had been bustling outside for a while. I glanced out and asked.
"Oh, right. No Team Leader's people—all onboarded now?"
"Yes. The whole team transferred to The Song. Except one who went back to farming for family reasons."
Sounds like it went smoothly.
"Hmm. With the whole team moving over, this place feels cramped now."
We'd started with a tiny office for our first venture. Pre-regression, it took a solid five years to outgrow it. And now it was packed already.
"We'll need to move offices soon."
"I'll look into it."
"Thanks."
With that, I turned back to the report. I'd handed off new franchisee recruitment entirely to Jo Yi-ruk and the staff, so there was a lot I didn't know. 'Still, it's flawless. Budget looks reasonable too. Though the numbers are huge. I sat in on a few interviews...' That was when, flipping through the pages— A familiar name caught my eye.
"...Huh?"
"Is something wrong?"
"No, no. Nothing like that."
I blinked slowly. The name didn't vanish. Ji Sang-woo. I traced the name with my fingertip.
"..."
Fragments of the past naturally surfaced in my mind. — "Owner. Please, just one more chance. Yeah?" A desperate plea. Still vivid. It was back when we didn't have that many franchises yet. Just past 80, maybe. We were prioritizing quality over quantity, focusing hard on franchise oversight. I'd seen all sorts of messes back then. — "I'll beg like this, see? I swear I'll change from now on?!" Clinging to my pant leg, sobbing hysterically like he might collapse— — "My mom... she's battling liver cancer right now. She's counting on me alone, and if I shut down like this, how do I face her? She took out the deposit on our house to invest here, believing in me. If this falls through, how can I look her in the eye? And my wife and kids? Our youngest is just two. How can I abandon that baby and walk away? Come on, Owner, this isn't right..." Heartbreaking story, earnest appeal. — "Owner. If I screw up one more time, I'm not human—I'm a dog! I'll leave without a word. I won't even reclaim my investment. No, I'll give back everything I've earned so far! So please..." Firm resolve, ironclad promise. — "Give me one more chance..." In the end, I made the wrong call. Strictly by the strikeout policy, he should've been booted and his sign taken down. But I'd always been weak to the word "family."
What crime had his ailing mother and dependents committed? And when someone throws away all pride to beg like that, how could my heart not waver? — "Sigh... This is the last time. Not because I trust you, but for your mom and wife. Got it?""Hup! Th-thank you! Thank you!" His deep bow brought a mix of unease and relief. Yeah. He was jumping for joy like that. People can act two-faced, sure. But no one could fake that pure relief and happiness. Thinking that way... I decided to give him one more shot. It was the first and last time I personally violated the strikeout rule. And how did it end? 'If it had gone well, it wouldn't stick in my mind like this.' I didn't even want to dwell on the rest. It just drove home once more that people can't be fixed. Later, when I learned the full story, Ji Sang-woo had grown sick of the daily grind and fallen into alcoholism. He probably couldn't control himself anymore. My fault too, for naively believing his words. 'Yeah. That's how it was.' I muttered to myself. 'Hard to believe now.' After intros and theory lectures, it was hands-on practice for the prospective franchisees. Walking among the applicants, I ended up next to Ji Sang-woo. Unable to bear my lingering gaze, he fidgeted and asked.
"Did I get something on my face...?"
"No, nothing like that."
I smiled and took a step back. I'd been staring too intently without thinking.
"Nice work. You've got real talent with your hands."
"...! Thank you!"
His face lit up like he'd won the lottery—nothing like the Ji Sang-woo in my memories. Of course. At this point, he wasn't an alcoholic yet. I gazed at his age-appropriate face, pondering quietly. 'What should I do...?' Should I cancel the franchise contract with him over a future that hadn't happened yet? Or, Should I give Ji Sang-woo one final chance this time?