Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Kang Joo-young
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Kang Joo-young.
Section chief at Travel Wiz Agency and team leader of the MD Team.
Even in her mid-to-late thirties, she boasted an alluring figure that curved out where it should and dipped in where it ought to.
Her leadership that commanded the team and her ruthlessly efficient way of handling work...
She was the company's undisputed ace, acknowledged by everyone.
In fact, since she took over as team leader, the team's performance graph had never once trended downward.
However, even she had her flaws.
"Hmph. So, you're saying you were so exhausted after getting off work yesterday that you just crashed?"
"Yes, that's right."
As soon as the elevator doors closed, Kang Joo-young pounced, grilling me about why I hadn't picked up her call yesterday.
She hadn't pressed the button for the second floor, where our office was.
"...Yes, that's right."
Like a herbivore facing a predator, I shrank back and rattled off the excuse I'd prepared in advance.
In the heavy silence that crushed down on me, I snuck glances at the floor indicator stuck on the first floor.
I was so tense that my armpits and back were already slick with sweat.
"...Fine, whatever. It happens when you're tired. Our job is exhausting, after all."
Her verdict, when it finally came, was surprisingly lenient.
Only then did the breath I'd been holding rush out of me, but at the same time, unease stirred.
'No way she'd let me off that easy with her personality.'
In the meantime, Kang Joo-young reached out and pressed the button for the second floor, where the office was.
"T-Team Leader?"
"What?"
"Um, what did you need to call me about yesterday?"
Ding-
But before I could get the question out, the elevator arrived at the floor.
The doors slid open, and Kang Joo-young stepped out without a word. I crept along in her wake.
No words passed between us as we walked down the hallway tinged with a pale beige hue.
"Good morning."
As we entered the office, a few colleagues already there greeted Kang Joo-young.
While she exchanged greetings with them, I tried to slip past her and bolt to my desk.
"Assistant Manager Lee."
Her voice clamped onto the back of my neck like it wouldn't let go.
"Assistant Manager Lee, I sent you a file by email. Could you revise it for me?"
"A file?"
"Yes. By end of day, please. That's what I was going to ask you about on the phone yesterday."
"Ah."
Luckily, it didn't seem as serious as I'd feared the night before.
No, but why give instructions that late after hours?
I swallowed the words rising in my throat and nodded to Kang Joo-young.
"O-Okay. Got it..."
But before I could finish, she spun on her heel and continued on her way.
What a rude bitch.
"Hooaaaah."
Still, finally free of her leash, I collapsed into my chair and let out the sigh I'd been holding back.
I felt ten years older.
"Your sigh's echoing through the whole building, sunbae."
As I leaned back in my chair waiting for the computer to boot up, a familiar bright voice piped up from beside me.
Soon, the sound of chair wheels rolling preceded Park Mi-na, my junior, peeking out from behind the partition.
She was a newbie who'd been with the company just two years and my first subordinate.
"What brings you in so early?"
"You think I'm a slacker like you, sunbae? I've always come in around this time."
Mi-na shot back defiantly and whipped her head away.
Her platinum blonde hair, falling all the way to her bare shoulders, swayed right in front of my eyes.
"Slacker? You sure don't hold back with your sunbae."
I reached out to flick her forehead, but she wheeled her chair back to dodge.
"Hee hee hee."
Her narrowed eyes as she grinned cheekily highlighted her seductive yet adorable charm.
My gaze, which had been on her face, drifted unconsciously to her bare white legs, exposed unfiltered by her short pants.
I wondered if she dressed like that on purpose sometimes.
Or if she just genuinely liked that style.
"What about you, sunbae? Coming in this early for once?"
"Huh? Oh, uh. The alarm went off loud and clear today..."
No way could I admit the maid burned the omelet and woke me up.
"Talk about bad luck. Team Leader Joo-young always comes in around this time too."
"Figures."
Coming in early had backfired.
From now on, I should deliberately leave late.
Just then, I felt a probing gaze sweep over me.
"What're you doing?"
"Sunbae, has something about you changed?"
When I confronted the source of the stare, she leaned in closer instead, appraising me from head to toe.
"Your muscles look a bit more defined? Or is it the tighter clothes?"
"Ahem!"
Just as Mi-na's hand was about to touch my arm, a pointed cough from Kang Joo-young at her desk halted her.
"Talk later."
Mi-na covered her mouth and whispered before ducking back behind the partition.
Her reaction piqued my curiosity, but provoking Kang Joo-young further wasn't wise.
I checked my email on the booted-up computer and opened the file she'd mentioned.
"Isn't this the proposal you wrote recently, sunbae?"
The moment I opened it, Mi-na poked her head over the partition to peer at my screen.
Her face naturally drew close, and a fresh shampoo scent brushed my nose.
"...Yeah, looks like it."
As Mi-na said, it was the product proposal I'd submitted to Kang Joo-young a few days ago.
True to her meticulous nature, she'd kindly added comments to every section.
"It got rejected?"
"Yep."
I'd half-expected this.
My first proposal as an assistant manager.
If it passed right away, I wouldn't be stuck here.
The problem was...
"Whoa... that's harsh."
The revisions were way too extensive.
This was basically "rewrite the whole thing."
"Knew it."
That explained why she'd let me off easy earlier.
She had this planned.
"You okay, sunbae? You've got other work too."
"What can I do? It's due today."
Orders from above mean you comply.
I swallowed the curses on my tongue and closed the proposal.
I wanted to dive right in, but as Mi-na said, I couldn't neglect my regular duties.
"Gonna be pulling an all-nighter."
But just get through today.
Weekend starts tomorrow.
Clinging to that tiny hope, I got busy.
****
MD stands for Merchandise something-or-other—basically, product manager.
Costing travel packages, scheduling, managing flight seats, regional marketing...
It's a job with a ton on the plate.
I handle Japan products.
Every day I think it: I'm not cut out for this.
For starters, it's not fun.
How interested in travel can a guy whose only joy is ya-games in his room be?
Sure, how many office workers actually enjoy their jobs?
Still,
Most have some small spark or motivation.
I just stumbled into this because it used my Japanese major.
I didn't know how grueling it was back then.
I thought I'd travel more, but nope—glued to a desk chair in the office.
One tiny snag in the itinerary, and problems snowball.
Once another department forgot a zero in a package price, and reservations exploded.
Luckily resolved with refunds.
Chills if I'd done that.
Anyway, stress galore, zero fun.
I've wanted to quit more times than I can count.
But where else would I work?
So I grit my teeth, endured, and just got promoted to assistant manager.
More work, subordinates to manage, a bit more pay.
Still just a drone dreaming of quitting time.
'Possess into some game.'
And today, even as I focused on work, thoughts of possession wouldn't quit.
Like at a buffet, overwhelmed by choices once you can have it all.
Now that I could possess into a game, I got picky.
Better pick something impossible in real life.
Like molester routes, incest, shotas sound fun.
Maybe tentacles or goblins?
"...Assistant Manager Lee. Assistant Manager Lee!"
The sharp voice intruding snapped my reverie.
I snapped to and turned toward the sound. Kang Joo-young, at the edge of the conference room table, glared at me irritably.
"Were you listening to me?"
"Pardon?"
"I just told you to report this month's sales results."
"...Ah, sorry."
"What? Tired again today?"
"No. Just had something on my mind."
Kang Joo-young let out a sigh that echoed through the room at my excuse.
"Haa. I get you're excited about the promotion, but focus during meetings, okay?"
Her sarcasm made my lip twitch.
"You're in your fourth year already. How are juniors supposed to learn if you're spacing out like this?"
"Sorry."
This was clearly my fault, so I kept apologizing profusely.
The other department heads glanced nervously at Kang Joo-young.
No one wanted to jump in and get burned.
"Anyway, start the report."
"...Yes."
With eyes on us, she didn't drag out the scolding.
I inwardly sighed in relief and proceeded with the report step by step.
"That's all."
Once done, Kang Joo-young jotted something on her tablet and nodded.
"Hmm. Got it. Peak season's coming, so coordinate with other departments for better customer acquisition strategies."
Other departments.
Those guys who never consider our side and spit out insane ideas?
"Team Leader."
"What now?"
Her sharp tone rang out.
Normally I'd shrink, but courage welled up from somewhere, and I pressed on.
"As you know, coordinating with them always screws us over..."
"So? You nap during meetings, and now you're defying orders?"
"No, I mean finding more effective ways..."
Kang Joo-young drummed her fingers hard on the table, signaling no tolerance for backtalk.
"Maybe you find their ideas lacking because of your own shortcomings?"
The critique shifted seamlessly from my slip-up to a personal attack on my competence.
"Isn't it irresponsible to blame other departments for your own incompetence?"
She had no intention of accepting my opinion straight-up.
Judging that, I ground my teeth and nodded.
"Understood. I'll follow your instructions."
"Then let's continue with the other teams' presentations."
Kang Joo-young switched back to her neutral expression as if nothing happened and proceeded with the meeting.
When it ended, the other heads scurried out, wary of her gaze.
"Assistant Manager Lee."
As I gathered my things to leave, she called me back.
"How's that thing I asked you to do this afternoon coming along?"
More like ordered.
"Not yet."
Dissatisfied, her brows furrowed menacingly.
"It's already afternoon. When do you plan to finish? Think you can make today's deadline?"
"I'll hurry as much as I can."
"I said by today. No excuses like being tired this time. Got it?"
One wrong excuse, and she'd squeeze me dry.
"Why no answer? Did you hear me?"
She raised her voice aggressively, jabbing her index finger at my chest.
"...Understood."
After my emotion-packed reply, Kang Joo-young haughtily turned and strode out of the conference room.
Her plump hips swayed enticingly in the tight skirt suit with each step.
The old me would've just cursed while staring.
But now was different.
That moment she'd pointed her finger at me.
For a split second, I'd seen her eyes twitch.
And that reaction in the lobby this morning...
"Just you wait."
No one else, but you—I'll make you spread your legs and beg before me.
Alone in the conference room, I glared at Kang Joo-young's retreating back, grinding my grudge to dust.