5
# Chapter 5
“Haaah...”
I let out a long sigh as I stretched my arms overhead.
“We're finally done.”
“Good work, Assistant Manager Song.”
“No, Department Head. You're the one who worked hard.”
I'd gone back to the office just two hours after getting off work and had worked until my shoulders felt like they were
falling off.
My eyes were hollow, and it felt like my brain was spinning inside my skull.
“What time is it...?”
“Just past eleven.”
“I think we've handled everything urgent. Let's see how the news develops tomorrow and respond accordingly.”
“Understood.”
“You should head home.”
“Yes, sir.”
I slowly got to my feet.
As I packed my coat and bag, Department Head Ma remained seated at his desk, absentmindedly clicking his mouse with no
intention of leaving.
“Aren't you going home?”
“Ah... I'll stay at the office a little longer.”
“Do you still have work left?”
I set my bag back down and reached to take my coat off again.
“I'll help you. You should head home.”
“No, it's fine.”
“Let's finish it quickly and leave together. If we wait much longer, we'll miss the last train.”
“Assistant Manager Song... that's not it.”
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“I'm waiting until my wife falls asleep.”
“Oh... Did you two have a fight?”
I quietly put my coat back on.
“Not exactly. She found out I secretly bought another fishing rod a couple of days ago. She's really mad.”
“Oh...”
He'd been proudly talking about how it was made of steel and how it was considered a luxury brand overseas.
Apparently, he'd gotten himself hooked instead.
“You'd better make the last train, then.”
“Yeah... I just hope she hasn't changed the passcode on the door.”
He waved his hand awkwardly.
“You should get going.”
“Then I'll see you tomorrow.”
“See you.”
Leaving Department Head Ma behind, I hurried toward the subway station.
Thankfully, since it was so late, there were empty seats.
I sat down beside the door.
Maybe because work had been so exhausting, I didn't even have the energy to take out my phone.
Clack... Clack...
As I stared blankly into space, listening to the sound of the train, my conversation with Department Head Ma replayed in
my mind.
'That fishing rod didn't even seem that expensive.'
He'd said it cost 440,000 won.
Sure, it wasn't exactly pocket change for ordinary people like us.
'But it's a reasonable amount for a personal hobby.'
The package had been delivered to the office, so I'd accepted it on his behalf.
Remembering how happy he'd looked while opening it...
It honestly seemed worth the money.
'Besides, he earns a good salary.'
As a department head at a major corporation, he surely contributed more than enough toward household expenses.
Yet all because he'd bought a single fishing rod...
He couldn't even go home.
'That's what happens when you marry the wrong person.'
I wasn't particularly fond of Department Head Ma.
But as another man...
I couldn't help feeling sorry for him.
'I'll definitely marry a kind, good woman.'
Renewing my determination, I headed home.
---
A little after midnight.
“Yawn...”
I switched off the television and collapsed onto my bed.
So much had happened today that exhaustion washed over me all at once.
'I should sleep.'
I closed my eyes.
Normally, after a day this tiring, I would've fallen asleep instantly.
'Why can't I sleep?'
For some reason, I was completely awake.
Sometimes it happened.
Your body was exhausted, yet sleep refused to come.
'Damn it.'
No matter how many times I turned over...
I couldn't fall asleep.
There was only one reason.
'Why do I keep thinking about her?'
Yu Sia wouldn't leave my mind.
'Maybe I went too far today.'
Instead of putting it gently, I'd bluntly called her materialistic.
The thought kept bothering me.
'I really don't feel good about it...'
When I'd said those words, she'd looked genuinely flustered.
'Maybe I was too harsh.'
I'd wanted to clearly draw the line between us.
Instead...
I'd ended up sounding like some old-fashioned guy lecturing a younger generation about life.
'Then again... that was pretty harsh for someone who's only just started working.'
I'd been there once.
For the first few months after receiving my first paycheck, I'd spent money like crazy, celebrating the joys of
capitalism.
'Maybe I should buy her a coffee tomorrow as an apology.'
Ding.
Just then, my phone chimed.
Yu Sia has followed you.
“...Huh?”
She'd just followed me on social media.
'She's still awake...?'
Since the opportunity had presented itself, I sent her a message.
Song Jin-seong: You're still awake, Sia?
Song Jin-seong: Sorry about today.
Song Jin-seong: I'll buy you a coffee tomorrow as an apology.
Less than a minute later...
Read.
The notification appeared.
Yu Sia: Not coffee. Dinner.
Song Jin-seong: Huh?
Yu Sia: Or drinks would be nice too.
“Sigh... Here we go again.”
We'd already split tonight's dinner bill.
Now she wanted another meal?
“Dinner feels a little much...”
Yu Sia: We couldn't refund the wine because it had already been opened.
“Ah...”
Damn.
That bottle had cost over a hundred thousand won.
I couldn't exactly argue with that.
Yu Sia: Don't think you can settle this with just coffee.
Song Jin-seong: Alright...
Yu Sia: Saturday evening this week.
“Good grief...”
Before I realized it, I'd agreed to meet her again.
'Sigh... Well, even if it costs me some money, this is easier.'
Spending a hundred thousand won was still better than causing trouble at work.
'Still... Her personal social media is completely different from her work account.'
On the company messenger, she used the default profile picture and always spoke formally.
Here...
She confidently used a glamorous photo of herself as her profile picture.
'She really is beautiful...'
Back when I played baseball, I'd known quite a few cheerleaders.
Even now, working in advertising, I occasionally met actresses.
Objectively speaking...
Yu Sia could easily stand among them without being overshadowed.
'With looks like hers, wealthy guys must be lining up to pursue her.'
There was no denying how attractive she was.
Even a quick glance through her page revealed comments from successful men who were clearly trying—and failing—to hide
their interest.
That wasn't all.
When she'd first joined the company, employees from other departments had made excuses just to come see her after
hearing rumors about the beautiful new intern.
Before I realized it, my finger had tapped into her profile.
'She followed me first, so it's not like I'm snooping.'
Since we followed each other, there was nothing wrong with browsing her page.
She only had a handful of photos.
One showed her standing in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, her legs elegantly crossed as she flashed a V-sign toward
the sky.
Another showed her swimming at a luxurious hotel pool.
The kinds of carefully posed pictures you often saw on influencer accounts.
Most people would simply feel jealous.
But I felt something completely different.
“All of these photos were taken overseas...”
I couldn't even imagine how much she'd spent traveling.
'Dating someone like her would definitely cost a fortune...'
While I worked myself to the bone...
She'd probably spend her days having brunch.
Secretly send money to her parents.
Then use the rest to travel.
I'd become one of those husbands who spent his life supporting someone else's lifestyle before I even knew it.
“Wait... What am I even thinking?”
We'd spent one night together.
I was trying to end things.
Why was I already imagining marriage?
“Get a grip.”
Her beauty had almost clouded my judgment.
I lightly slapped my cheeks before putting my phone away.
“I seriously need to sleep. I have work tomorrow.”
I forced my eyes shut.
---
The next morning.
When I arrived at the office, an unfamiliar document was sitting on my desk.
Work Environment Survey
“What is this?”
“No idea. Headquarters told everyone to fill it out. Apparently they're reviewing the company's working conditions.”
“Just our department?”
“No. The entire company.”
“Really?”
The survey contained the usual questions.
Satisfaction with the company.
Satisfaction with the workplace.
Complaints about supervisors or subordinates.
The standard annual questionnaire.
But...
“The last page has questions I've never seen before.”
Questions like...
Which coworker were you closest to?
Was there anyone you had personal conflicts with?
Which senior would you most like to continue working with?
Which junior did you have the best impression of?
Which senior would you most like to work on a project with alone?
It felt more like something from school than a workplace survey.
“And it's not even anonymous. Why are they doing this?”
“I heard Chairman Yu himself ordered it. Looks like every HR Group subsidiary is doing it.”
“...Really?”
Was there some hidden reason?
In fact, every HR subsidiary was in an uproar.
HR Electronics.
“Take this seriously!”
“Answer honestly. Don't hide anything.”
“Fill it out carefully!”
HR Insurance.
“This comes directly from the chairman.”
“If you don't answer sincerely, it could affect your evaluation.”
HR Entertainment.
“Headquarters ordered it.”
“Do we really have to do this? Did something happen? Workplace harassment or something?”
“No idea. But it's serious. The chairman's secretariat ordered a group-wide investigation.”
“Seriously? Then something big must have happened... Should we check the news?”
“Call around if you want, but finish the survey first.”
HR Construction.
“Ugh... Material costs are already driving us crazy. Why are we doing this now? Is the company planning something
major?”
“If headquarters says do it, then do it. They said anyone fooling around this time will be investigated thoroughly.”
“Yes, sir...”
HR Securities.
HR Energy.
HR Bio.
Every one of the group's fifty-three subsidiaries conducted the exact same survey.
“It came directly from the chairman himself...”
“I've got a bad feeling about this.”
Everyone was nervous.
The chairman's personal secretariat had launched a group-wide investigation?
People began imagining everything from major abuse scandals to massive executive reshuffles and company-wide layoffs.
Yet despite all the frightening speculation...
Chairman Yu Jin-gap wanted only one thing.
“Chief Choi.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Well?”
He stared intently.
“Have you found the bastard who dared to catch the eye of my precious granddaughter?”
He only wanted to find the HR employee his granddaughter had taken an interest in.
That was all.
He simply happened to be the chairman of the HR Group.
Naturally...
His methods operated on an entirely different scale.
He couldn't investigate openly.
If Yu Sia found out...
There would be serious consequences.
“Yes. We've completed the investigation.”
Chief Choi spoke calmly.
“At least it doesn't appear to be an illicit relationship.”
“Well... that's one relief. Did you narrow down the candidates?”
“Yes. We reduced the list as much as possible. By combining the survey results, intranet messenger data, and analysis
from HR Securities' analysts...”
Chief Choi's eyes gleamed.
“It appears she has one senior in her department whom she trusts and follows quite closely.”
“...Planning Team 2?”
“Yes.”
“There are two possibilities.”
“One assistant manager and one senior associate.”
“Their names?”
“Senior Associate Park Hyung-wook.”
“And Assistant Manager Song Jin-seong.”
“Can I see their personnel files?”
“I'll bring their employee records immediately.”
The invisible hand was slowly beginning to reach toward them.