Chapter 155
Chapter 155
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: Salad Time Site Selection
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“......So, the candidate sites for ‘Salad Time’ tend to have somewhat high rents. We selected areas frequented by young people and those interested in health management, as well as places familiar with foreign cultures.”
Joyruk pushed up his glasses and spoke.
This was a discussion about the flagship opening for The Song’s seventh brand, the salad specialty shop [Salad Time].
Since it was an experimental brand with no immediate sales expectations, they’d decided to run the flagship under direct management.
I nodded and listened to the rest.
“As President expected. If we keep the store small and focus on takeout, we should break even somehow.”
Hmm. I see.
“......But, President.”
“Yes?”
“Anything good happen?”
“Pardon?”
What was this out of the blue? As I widened my eyes and stared, Joyruk tapped the corners of his own mouth with his fingertips.
“You’ve been smiling the whole time.”
“Oh~.... Haha. Have I? Didn’t notice.”
“And come to think of it, you took some rare personal time yesterday. You said it was a class reunion—looks like you had a good time.”
A good time, huh.
I wrecked the atmosphere and left early from the first round because it got uncomfortable. Could you even call that a good time?
“Well.”
I brushed it off with a casual smile.
“Most of your classmates are college students, right? With all the attention on you lately, they must’ve made a fuss there too.”
“They did.”
Seemed like they knew everything about me. They were even ready to grill me on our financial statements.
“Must’ve felt great.”
“You think so?”
“It’s an achievement worth bragging about. The Song’s growth is absolutely thanks to you. I’d boast if it were me.”
Joyruk’s eyes sparkled. Didn’t expect him to have such a showy side.
I shot him a look that said “go on,” and he quickly continued.
“Of course, you wouldn’t brag outright—that’d just make you look obnoxious. But people around you must’ve chipped in a word or two. Doesn’t that alone make you puff up with pride?”
“Haha......”
“Were you smiling thinking about that, President?”
Oops. Close, but no. Sure, moments like Joyruk described did happen, but they were fleeting.
And I wasn’t one to welcome such exaggerated praise anyway.
I tapped the table with my fingertips and said,
“I left midway.”
Joyruk’s eyes bulged. Not what he expected, apparently.
Sorry to shatter the illusion. But reality tends to be harsher than you think.
“One guy picked a fight. I clapped back appropriately, but it got too awkward to stay.”
Somehow, taking that kid seriously felt immature. Sure, we looked the same age on the outside.
Joyruk’s face hardened instantly at my words.
“Picked a fight... you say.”
“Yeah. What was it again? Something like ‘no parents to ask about business, must’ve been tough.’ That vibe.”
“......”
“Of course, I’m not the type to just take it. I hit him back hard, so no worries.”
“Good to hear.”
Joyruk’s expression softened at that. His face shows every thought plain as day.
“But why were you smiling? Doesn’t sound like a fond memory—more unpleasant.”
“It was.”
I smirked, recalling yesterday.
Definitely soured my mood.
I’d left my car since I planned to drink, so I had to grab a taxi home.
Even then, I was wrapped in deep regret.
‘Success or not, I still haven’t properly put down roots here.’
That’s what hit me. A strange emptiness hollowed out my chest.
Right then, Choi Min-hyeok approached.
“Still...... hearing what I wanted to hear lifted my spirits somehow. Not feeling bad at all.”
People really are creatures that crave constant validation. Seeing how much comfort I get from knowing I’m not wrong, that someone empathizes...
Like when everyone’s shouting you’re wrong, and one person quietly comes close to whisper they think you’re right. Feels like this, maybe.
“You have your worries too, President.”
“Of course.”
Looking flawless at everything just means more experience points piled up. If he’d seen my pre-regression self, even Joyruk might’ve pitied me.
“People’s hearts are tricky. That’s why business is tough.”
Financial statements are way easier. Numbers don’t lie. Usually.
But human motives are far more complex and elusive.
Business is people meeting people, exchanging goods and feelings. It doesn’t always add up neatly like 1+1=2.
“Anyway. I wasn’t zoning out of the meeting.”
“Didn’t mean it like that.”
Joyruk hurriedly added.
“......Still, seeing your bright face, looks like yesterday’s reunion gave you a good jolt.”
“Something like that.”
Grateful for it. Without Choi Min-hyeok, my mood might’ve stayed sour till today.
“Alright. Let’s wrap this chat and get back to the meeting?”
“Yes. Got it.”
“These are the current candidates, right?”
“Yes. Itaewon, Gangnam Station, around Tehran Road......”
Huh.
A certain name caught my eye, making me pause. Joyruk had full authority on site selection since then, and I hadn’t meddled.
But this one spot should be scratched off the list.
“Let’s drop Gangnam Station.”
“Gangnam Station? Sure, rent’s steep, but it’s got tons of young people sensitive to trends—thought it was solid.”
“Hmm...... Fair point. Trendy, young crowd. But Gangnam Station vicinity and Tehran Road have different vibes.”
Joyruk looked puzzled.
He was thinking, “How different can places that close be?”
“Proximity doesn’t mean identical consumers. Sounds funny, but Gangnam Station’s surprisingly conservative.”
“Gangnam Station?”
Conservative.
Not a word you’d pair with its flashy nightlife image.
But my “conservative” didn’t mean politics or gender views.
I elaborated.
“It’s where hits go to make bank, not where trends are born.”
“Ah......!”
“Get it now?”
“Yeah. Think so.”
“Tehran Road has lots of IT firms, so people comfy with foreign stuff. Go further to Apgujeong, even better.”
Better fit for a salad shop than Gangnam. Frankly.
“So, exclude Gangnam Station.”
“Got it.”
Joyruk scribbled something out with his pen. Probably Gangnam-related notes.
“Learned something. Even nearby spots can have different consumer mindsets. One street makes all the difference.”
“Easy to overlook. Usually not a big gap. This brand’s so forward-thinking. Food biz shouldn’t be like this.”
I chuckled dryly.
“We’re only trying because finances are solid and we can weather it. Normal folks couldn’t dream of this.”
“Really?”
“Food biz has high costs, slim operating margins.”
Net profit at 10% of sales? Over that, and you’re sucking franchisees dry to fatten HQ.
Unthinkable without massive scale. Only possible because every brand’s a cash cow churning profits nonstop.
“Means we’ve got breathing room.”
Sailing smooth with a tailwind.
If we keep this momentum, no regrets.
“Tell me once candidates are finalized. Then we pick exact spots......”
We were wrapping up the meeting.
Knock knock.
Someone rapped on the door.
Who? They usually don’t interrupt when Joyruk and I are in here.
I glanced at Joyruk, who nodded, so I raised my voice.
“Come in.”
Slide.
The door opened, revealing Hyun Ye-won with a troubled look.
“Ye-won. What’s up?”
“Um, President......”
Hyun Ye-won spoke in a meek tone, glancing nervously outside. Something was definitely wrong.
I hurried over and asked,
“What’s going on? You okay?”
“Well, you should come out. A franchise owner’s here......”
“At this hour? A franchise owner?”
I couldn’t hide my surprise. Weekday this time, they should be busy with business.
And coming straight here instead of calling HQ? Rare unless it’s serious.
“No scheduled visits, right?”
“Yeah. None. Showed up out of nowhere—we’re all flustered.”
“Looks it. They ask for me?”
Hyun Ye-won nodded.
Must be something really bothering them. These cases often turn confrontational—got me tense.
“Didn’t say what it’s about?”
“They did. But it’s so absurd......”
“Huh?”
I was about to press for details when—
“I came to see the president here, they saaaay!”
A booming shout echoed from outside.