Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: What in the World?
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What in the world is this now?
Just as I was about to peek my head out at the shouting voice calling for me from outside, Hyun Ye-won swiftly blocked my path in front of me.
“?”
I tried to step aside, but she followed me with one step to the side. The same thing happened when I tried the other way.
“Uh... Ye-won?”
What the heck was she doing? It wasn't irritation so much as bewilderment. She wasn't the type to act like this for no reason.
As I scratched my cheek and looked at her, Hyun Ye-won mumbled hesitantly.
“You shouldn't go out... I think it'd be better if you stayed here.”
“Huh?”
“That person's speech is weird. They came in because they insisted on seeing the owner, but I don't think you should go out there.”
Hyun Ye-won's face was deathly pale. There didn't seem to be any threats beyond the shouting. Why was she so terrified?
Of course, it wasn't a pleasant sight—a grown man barging in during broad daylight and yelling his head off...
For now, I threw out a few more questions to gauge the situation.
“What do you mean? That person outside is one of our franchise owners, right?”
“Yes, that's correct. We've verified their identity. He's one of the franchise owners from the Sanghae Banjeom branch—Chu Jong-wook, the owner of the Masang store over there.”
“They seem to have something to say to me directly. We can't just send someone away after they've come all this way.”
I patted Hyun Ye-won's shoulder. She must have been really startled. Still, there was no need to be that scared.
“It happens sometimes. There are people who won't be satisfied unless they speak to the boss directly. That's why I carry the owner title—to take responsibility in situations like this. Just let them in.”
“Ah, n-no, you can't!”
“?”
I tilted my head.
This level of opposition was a bit strange. I'd already said it was fine.
On top of that, the hand I'd placed on her thin blouse over her shoulder was getting damp.
‘Why is she breaking out in such a cold sweat...’
That was the moment the thought crossed my mind. Hyun Ye-won slowly lifted her head. Our eyes met, and I couldn't help but catch my breath for a second.
Her pupils were trembling non-stop, tiny shivers. Clutching the hem of my clothes with her fingertips, she whispered.
“W-what if you get hurt... like last time...”
“Oh.”
Come to think of it.
She had been one of the people right there watching the scene when I got hurt last time.
Now I understood why Hyun Ye-won was shaking like a leaf. It was a kind of PTSD. She'd witnessed a bloody incident up close, so it made sense.
“Ye-won. Calm down first. Deep breaths— in, whoosh, haa, whoosh, haa. Yeah, like that.”
“Whoosh... haa...”
“No need to worry. The situation's different from last time, right? How many people are out there?”
“B-but... last time Team Leader Jo was there too, sob, but Team Leader Jo couldn't even be of any use...”
Tears like chicken droppings streamed down Hyun Ye-won's face. Oh no, her eyes would swell up. Jo Yi-ruk, who had just been dissed as useless, looked a bit dumbfounded too.
“Drip. You have to stop.”
I soothed Hyun Ye-won while giving Jo Yi-ruk a glance.
First priority was to go out and check the situation, so I was signaling him to look after her in my place.
‘You get it? What I'm saying?’
I made a pointed expression, and Jo Yi-ruk pondered for a moment before nodding.
Good. Finally, I could step outside.
Jo Yi-ruk thudded over and stood behind Hyun Ye-won.
Which was... by the door to the owner's office.
“?”
What was he doing?
I shot him a puzzled look, and Jo Yi-ruk looked equally baffled.
“Weren't you telling me to block you from going out?”
Is that what you thought?
My face twisted in annoyance, and only then did Jo Yi-ruk seem to catch my real intention.
“......”
Jo Yi-ruk stared into space as if calculating something. Just as he cautiously stepped aside...
Crash! Clatter!
“You're all getting sued! I'm suing you all!”
A breaking sound came from outside along with a loud shout. Sounded like they'd thrown something on the floor.
It was noisy but not a heavy thud. At least that was a relief. Probably a relatively light object.
More for intimidation than intent to harm.
“Both of you, move.”
I couldn't just watch anymore.
The employees out there had to endure that humiliation until I stepped in.
I didn't know if they'd called the police or not. But the reason I took home a bit more money was because I took on more responsibility.
Even these sudden situations fell under my purview. At the very least, I couldn't pretend not to hear and hide in here.
“Hic... B-but...”
“Owner. You can't. You have to stay here until the police arrive.”
Hyun Ye-won and Jo Yi-ruk blocked my path, protesting.
But my resolve was firm.
“Move!”
They flinched at my sharp command.
When they hesitated, I couldn't stand it and pushed them aside myself, grabbing the door handle.
“Ah!”
“Wait,”
By the time they realized, it was too late.
Bang!
I flung the door open and faced the scene outside.
A middle-aged man huffing and puffing, snorting like a bull, confronted by Team Leader No Se-hee holding a broom at the ready. Other employees huddled behind her. And Park Sang-won and Yang Ji-ah clinging tightly to each other.
No Se-hee's broom was raised high, poised to crack over the man's head any second.
A powder keg ready to blow.
Everyone's eyes turned to me as I stepped out.
“......”
“......”
A brief silence fell.
“O-Owner...”
Park Sang-won was the first, his voice trembling as he called to me. One by one, the tension broke, and they started stepping back hesitantly.
“Team Leader No. You've had a rough time.”
I approached No Se-hee first. She slowly lowered her arm, dropping the broom to the floor with a clunk.
“Deputy Park.”
“Yes!”
“Please escort Team Leader No inside.”
“Got it!”
Toss to No Se-hee. Then I took her place.
“I'm the owner here. What's the problem?”
I asked politely, and the middle-aged man... presumably Chu Jong-wook, owner of the Masang store at Sanghae Banjeom branch... slammed the nearby table repeatedly as he yelled.
“What the hell! How long have I been looking for you, and you show up now?! Huh?!”
His hand came down so hard the table shook. I glanced at it, then looked straight at Chu Jong-wook.
“Owner. You came all this way because you had something to say, right?”
“Of course!”
“But if you keep acting so threatening, we'll have no choice but to call the police. If you want to talk, please restrain yourself.”
“Hah! Unbelievable!”
Chu Jong-wook let out an exaggerated scoff, as if my response was outrageous. But I didn't twitch an eyebrow. The moment I showed any emotional waver, he'd think he'd manipulated my feelings and seized control.
‘He's doing it on purpose. Scratching at me so I snap, then he thinks he's won.’
A common type. In the near future, you'd see them easily in YouTube comment sections.
“Have a seat here.”
I invited him calmly.
“You came a long way, so I'll handle you personally today, but if you show up unannounced next time, I won't be in the office. I travel a lot for work.”
I wasn't generous enough to even give him a ride home.
I placed an unopened bottle of spring water from the table in front of him.
“What did you need to tell me so urgently that you came all this way?”
“What do you mean, so brazen! Huh? I'm the victim here—why are you all acting like the victims?!”
Chu Jong-wook snapped back at me instead. I still had no clue what this was about.
“Please explain in detail. How else can we hear you out and help?”
“Sigh. I already told those people earlier—this is the last time I'll say it. Listen up, huh?”
Chu Jong-wook had a habit of adding ‘huh?’ But before I could even respond, he continued.
“Isn't this a total scam contract? Do you have any conscience?”
“?”
Scam contract?
Hearing that, my expression hardened instantly. Had the parasites already latched on?
“Were there brokers claiming to be from [The Song]?”
It happens sometimes. People pretending to have close ties to HQ to skim money from the middle.
They're basically con artists—never trust them.
They fool HQ into thinking they're the ones signing the franchise deal, and fool the victim by pretending to be HQ's agent.
They tweak the contract in their favor and get the victim to sign, exploiting them that way.
‘But we haven't scaled up that much yet—how could they not know about this?’
As the number of franchises grows endlessly and operations get more specialized, things slip through the cracks. But we weren't at that stage yet.
‘Is there really something that could be called a scam contract? Did one of the low-level employees go corrupt already?’
As I mulled over possibilities in my head,
Chu Jong-wook slammed the table again and shouted.
“Look at this, look!”
Now I noticed he had some pamphlet clutched in his hand. I read the title aloud as he shoved it toward me.
“Sanghae Banjeom Projected Sales and Net Profit...?”
“Yeah! Read what's written here clearly! Projected net profit: 4.5 to 5 million won per month! It says that right there!”
“Yeah. It does.”
But what was the problem with that?
I looked at him in bewilderment, and Chu Jong-wook thumped his chest in frustration.
“What the—! Then why didn't this month's profit reach 4.5 million?! Isn't this a scam?!”
......Huh?