Chapter 268
Translator: penny
Chapter: 268
Chapter Title: Hyun Ye-won's Complaints
*Slurrrp.*
The drink hit the bottom with a loud noise. I was chewing on the straw out of lingering regret when Yoo Sol finally spoke up.
"Would you like another one?"
I pondered for a moment but soon shook my head.
"Nah, I'm good. Any more and I won't sleep tonight."
"You practically live at the office anyway."
"...How'd you know?"
"I pass by on my way home from work. The lights are always on."
She'd noticed that much. I made a sheepish face out of habit, and Yoo Sol continued in her usual flat tone.
"I'm not like Jeong Da-on. No plans to nag you about it, so don't worry."
Her response felt like it pierced right through me, leaving me a bit embarrassed.
"Come to think of it, you two still keep in touch?"
Yoo Sol and Jeong Da-on had bonded back at Lee In-cheol's place, probably assuming at first that I was just another part-timer.
It was only later that I revealed I was the one behind the franchise. Jeong Da-on had been floored.
Yoo Sol, on the other hand, just went, "Ah, got it. No wonder things felt off. So I should use formal speech from now on?" without batting an eye.
'When I first announced the Song Café, she was the one who volunteered right away. That was unexpected.'
But thanks to her meticulous and calm personality, the first Song Café branch ran smoothly without a hitch.
Affordable prices and generous portions were its biggest draws. It had made a killer first impression during the free tasting on opening day and was still going strong.
'And it's where I grab my coffee on the regular.'
The beans I picked myself? Man, they hit the spot. Perfect for my taste.
Yoo Sol muttered while cleaning the coffee machine.
"You're a VVIP here, so I was thinking of throwing in an extra as a perk."
Fair enough. Who even knows how many coffees I've bought here.
One on the way to work, one after lunch, one during overtime. Three times a day, easy.
"It's fine. I'll just take the thought."
Yoo Sol nodded and then focused silently on her cleaning.
I glanced at the time—our meetup was almost due.
'I called her out in a rush during work hours. Hope nothing's wrong.'
Just as a flicker of worry hit me.
The door burst open, and a familiar figure strode in, scanning the room. Spotting me, she hurried over.
I raised a hand in greeting.
"Over here. Iced Americano with an extra shot, right? I already orde—"
Whoosh!
My world flipped in an instant. When I came to, I was buried in fabric.
Stunned at first, my body went rigid, but then I got it and patted her back.
Pat, pat.
How much time passed? Soon, the arms around me loosened gently as she calmed.
Only then could I look Hyun Ye-won in the face.
"Been rough, huh?"
She nodded vigorously at my question.
"Have a seat first. Drink some coffee."
Her face was on the verge of tears, so I tried a soft tone to soothe her. Clutching the cup with both hands, Hyun Ye-won launched into her woes.
"Song CEOoo...! I can't do this anymore!"
As expected. Fitting in at Hyunmu wasn't easy.
"Get this—they're making me head of the Strategy Office right off the bat. Like, just drop me in there, and I'm supposed to know what to do?"
Others start as directors at least. But I swallowed that comment.
'Hyun Jeong-hoo means business. As Strategy Office head, she'll oversee company-wide strategies and collaborate across departments.'
It was a push to get her up to speed on the internals by planting her in a core role fast.
Sitting there lets her grasp marketing, production, distribution—all of it. Perfect for grooming an heir.
"And the board's on me nonstop about sales this, stock prices that. The subcontractors are like, 'No more,' flipping me off. I'm losing it!"
But no matter how I sliced it, it didn't suit Hyun Ye-won.
Hyun Jeong-hoo had to know that.
'The hub of the company's core strategies, right in line with Hyunmu's philosophy.'
In other words, the exact kind of work she hated doing all the time. Aggressive pricing, squeezing subcontractors for cost cuts, ordering ruthless layoffs.
"And that jerk Hyun Tae-seong? Doesn't know much else, but he's greased the wheels. Keeps hearing, 'If it'd been Hyun Tae-seong...' It's drilling into my skull."
If Hyun Jeong-hoo had eyed Hyun Tae-seong as successor early, he'd have networked with the execs.
He'd need to balance the board and the rank-and-file to win support from both.
Hyun Ye-won, the hastily picked heir, got thrown in blind, so the ground team's resentment boiled over at the parachute drop.
Starting with a massive handicap.
'Late to the game, no avoiding it.'
I agreed there was no faster way to build her skills.
"They drag me into idea meetings, like, 'You know what kids like these days, right?' So I pitch some, and they subtly shut me down as 'inefficient'!"
She had a lot pent up. I waited until her anger subsided.
Her heavy breathing gradually evened out.
Now with slumped shoulders and a deflated voice, she thunked her head on the table, mumbling.
"...I wanna go back to The Song. I miss Team Leader Jo. You only know spring after it's gone..."
Seeing her struggle tugged at me. But this trial was hers alone to conquer.
No one else could shoulder it.
Sniff. Still teary-eyed, she shared other news.
"Oh, and about what you mentioned last time. I'm swamped and access is limited, so not 100%, but it lines up somewhat."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Not right away, though—later. I'll double-check and let you know."
"That'd be great."
Things were progressing as planned.
I smiled and opened up.
I couldn't fix her hardships, but I could mend her bruised heart.
"Wanna grab something tasty?"
A bit early for lunch, but Hyun Ye-won perked up and shouted.
"Totally!"
Her eyes sparkled like a kid's, all innocence and excitement—no trace of the tears.
Suppressing a laugh, I continued.
"Anything in mind? There's a Song Kitchen nearby. Eat with Jae-ha?"
"No way!"
The reply shot out.
"He sees you all the time. Today, it's just me!"
Weird place for rivalry. Dinner for two wasn't a big ask, so I nodded readily.
"Sure. What do you want?"
"I'm not picky. Anything's fine."
"Alright, then..."
I thought for a sec, then it hit me—been a while since I hit that spot.
"How about handmade burgers? They're legit good."
***
"Um..."
"...CEO, we can actually eat here today, right?"
The place was buzzing. Crowds everywhere drained my energy.
Hadn't been since the TV spot. Business was booming. People lining up for tickets mixed with those waiting to enter—it was chaos on the street.
"Won't work. Wanna try somewhere else nearby?"
Grab a number and wait? Dinner by then. Hyun Ye-won nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, let's."
Looking around, spots shuttered pre-broadcast were now open, drawn by the lunch rush.
Targeting folks like us—gave up on burgers due to the mob, settling for nearby alternatives.
'Smart play.'
Trickle-down effect, basically.
'Though only the close ones really cash in.'
A bit farther, foot traffic thinned, vibe shifted.
Pre-broadcast, it was a quiet neighborhood, so the burger joint stuck out.
Pondering options while scanning shops, Hyun Ye-won whispered.
"Huh? CEO, that guy's cutting in line! Heading in without a ticket?"
"Hm?"
Turning, sure enough. Some young guy marching right in.
Choi Min-hyeok would check tickets when seats opened and guide folks. What gives?
Choi Min-hyeok rushed out, explaining something—probably "Get a number and wait."
But the guy wouldn't budge, saying something back.
Even flashed some document. Choi Min-hyeok looked flustered, just watching him enter.
'What the heck?'
The mystery cleared quick. Word spread from onlookers.
One in line murmured to his group, loud enough for me.
"Some hygiene complaint came in. They're doing an inspection now."
What?