Chapter 13
Chapter 13
TV That Shows the Future (3)
Rooftop garden.
It was a secluded spot.
I handed the cold drink I got from the vending machine to Deputy Manager Woo and asked,
“Are you okay?”
“Do I look okay right now? Hoo… Thinking about how I suffered for over two months working on that thing… Argh! I’m so pissed off.”
“Yeah… why did it have to be a fashion item?”
“Damn, who would’ve expected someone to lay it out in such detail? I thought they’d just gloss over it on the first day, but no. Hoo… But you, did you really know something about it?”
He was probably referring to the moment I said I’d give up on the project right after my presentation.
“I’ve got an uncanny sense of reading the room. I locked eyes with Section Chief Han in front of everyone! The look in her eyes was terrifying—it didn’t seem like she’d let it slide. So I surrendered right away.”
“Wow~ This crazy guy. Incredible!”
Usually, Deputy Manager Woo would have scolded me, but after the sudden bombardment from Section Chief Han, I must have seemed even more impressive.
For a while, the praise continued.
“But wasn’t this a project that even the Director had seen through to the end? Team Leader Kim must be having a hard time.”
“What’s there to worry about? Just find a new item.”
“Oh~? Got more confident now that you’re looking good?”
“Heh.”
Confidence was an understatement.
With money overflowing in the bank, it would be stranger not to be confident.
“By the way, tactics for Section Chief Han? Did you hear something about her?”
He had come this far because he felt sorry for making Team 3 bear the brunt of the bombardment on my behalf. So I decided to give him a hint.
I wiped the playful look off my face and spoke seriously.
“When deciding on a target customer, try focusing on men instead of women.”
“?”
Woo Jeong-hwan tilted his head, not immediately understanding what I meant.
“Section Chief Han is a woman. Naturally, she’ll have a lot of knowledge about products aimed at women. She’s young and interested in fashion, too. If you switch to a men’s item, it’s basically a free pass.”
“No way~”
“If you don’t believe me, prepare both options. Better safe than sorry. Isn’t that a cold-weather item? Either way, you won’t be ready for launch after October.”
The product Team 3 reported was a high-efficiency winter coat that absorbs solar heat, transfers it inside, and converts part of it to electricity.
Snow had suddenly fallen in the U.S., where it rarely does, and Europe was experiencing record snowfalls and cold waves.
It was designed to cope with the rapidly changing global environment.
“But given the material, we can’t get away from metallic colors, which men wouldn’t like…”
“Then start with ski jackets. You rarely ski on rainy days anyway, so the solar issue is resolved immediately, and thermal storage lets you stay warm at night. The metallic design itself can become part of the brand identity. Ski jackets are worn as a set, so the surface area is large, making it a good point design. If ski jackets sell well, we can expand to hiking gear.”
I suggested designing for ski jackets because of Section Chief Han’s trauma.
Han Se-a absolutely hates extreme sports.
If it involves snow-related activities, she shudders.
Because in her early twenties, she had a terrible experience being scolded by a director while filming a ski scene for an ad. She was a terrible mover, and the incident led to her being kicked out of the ad model selection.
Since then, she hadn’t applied for any role that required athletic scenes.
That meant she had zero interest in ski jackets. If the business potential was solid, the project could proceed without much resistance.
“And from what I found, our company’s fashion department plans to acquire a famous overseas outdoor brand. If we collaborate, the business feasibility looks promising.”
“Ski jackets… sounds good. I need to go tell the team leader right away.”
Woo Jeong-hwan sprang up as if my words had convinced him.
“But why are you so smart? You’re not the Kang Min-hyuk I know.”
“I’ve always been smart. I just didn’t show it.”
“Really? Seems like Yang Mi-jung was suppressing your abilities. Anyway, if this goes through, I owe you a drink. Thanks!”
He patted my shoulder and ran off.
Ability suppressor. Maybe he was right.
During work, there were many times I couldn’t focus because of worries about Yang Mi-jung. But that villain was gone.
No. She was back under the name Han Se-a, but she no longer had any leverage over me.
She even completely changed the face I liked.
Thinking about seeing her next week gives me chills. With today’s events, the team leader would report next week. I’d just quietly support from behind.
I needed to finish her thoroughly as soon as possible, secure all the profitable business items, and quit.
‘But just showing the chairman that she lacks insight isn’t enough…’
I wanted to hit harder—enough to financially impact the company due to her decisions. That would shift the chairman’s attention away from Bul-yeo-si.
But I didn’t want our team members to experience failure. The damage from failure accumulates on those who carry out the project. Repeated failures would increase fear, which is poisonous for a startup.
‘Let’s find another way. Maybe a good idea will come up.’
While walking back to the office with these thoughts, I ran into Team Leader Lee Jung-wan in the elevator hall.
I tried to greet him briefly and pass, but he called me over.
“Kang Min-hyuk, can I have a word?”
He usually wouldn’t even acknowledge me. Why the sudden friendliness?
Strange, but I couldn’t ignore a superior’s request. I followed him silently.
He led me to a nearby meeting room and immediately asked about Team Leader Kim.
“Team Leader Kim Jun-seok, isn’t he frustrating?”
“Excuse me?”
“You know, he always smiles but never delivers results. Can someone like Kang Min-hyuk really learn anything under him?”
Did he eat something strange at lunch? Why is he suddenly lecturing a regular employee? And trying to drive a wedge between a well-functioning team leader and team member?
‘Maybe he assumed that since I volunteered to report earlier, my relationship with Kim isn’t good?’
From his perspective, that might make sense.
Curious about his intentions, I said nothing and listened.
“I saw your briefing earlier. This idea you brought, you came up with it yourself, right?”
“It’s my idea, but the team helped make it concrete.”
“That’s my point. How incompetent must the team leader be to discard an idea your team worked hard on? I feel sorry for it.”
I was the one who discarded it. Why blame Team Leader Kim?
Summarizing his words, it basically meant the team leader lacks connections, causing employees unnecessary struggles.
“I wouldn’t let a project fail so pointlessly. The most frustrating moment for employees is when their efforts don’t bear fruit, right?”
“True…”
Hearing that made me feel even more sorry for the team. I should treat them to a meal soon, something expensive to show my feelings.
As I agreed, Team Leader Lee lowered his voice and whispered.
“I’ve got some info. From next year, the New Business Development Team will get differential treatment based on performance.”
That was news to me.
“Differential treatment?”
I asked with interest. He replied proudly,
“Yes. The best-performing team becomes Team 1, the rest ranked by performance as Team 2 and 3. Salaries and incentives vary by results. And worse, if a team’s profit is negative after converting successful and failed projects into monetary value, that team could be disbanded.”
“Really? Is that true?”
“Why would I lie to you?”
The New Business Development Team was only three years old. It had been in its adaptation phase, relying on the team leader’s ability, but now it was moving to a competitive system.
I understood why Team Leader Lee was trying to check Team Leader Kim. Our team and Team 2 were producing similar results. Originally, Team 2 had better performance, but a successful project before Chuseok let us catch up.
‘Could it be that he tried to sabotage the kit project?’
No, that wouldn’t make sense. Han Se-a would do the opposite if told what to do.
Team Leader Lee left Section Chief Han’s office after our team’s report. If he came to interfere, it would be to prevent project continuation. That aligned with my interests.
While I pondered silently, he revealed the real reason he called me.
“Why don’t you consider joining our team?”
“Team 2?”
“Yes. I feel it’s a shame for a talented employee like you to be unrecognized because of your team leader’s lack of ability. With your skills, promotion next year isn’t a problem.”
Team 2 had three more members than ours, meaning the roster was full. If I moved, someone else would have to be displaced.
And immediate promotion? That would make me unpopular with the existing Team 2 members.
‘He really doesn’t care about team members at all.’
Compared to Team Leader Kim, who takes care of the team, he seemed irritating.
“Team 2 has Senior Manager Sung Min-woo. If I get promoted, what about him…”
“He’s old enough; he deserves to be team leader. I won’t be a team leader forever either.”
Subtly, he revealed his ambition.
“Think about who should get promoted first between Kim Team Leader and me. Better to be the express train than the local, right?”
‘Ah! So that’s it.’
Now I understood why he had been checking Team Leader Kim. His real goal was promotion.
Han Se-a wouldn’t stay long in the Future Strategy Office. The chairman put her there to gauge company atmosphere. After about a year, she’d either get a CEO role or move to a powerless director position. That would free up the New Business Development Team’s chief role. That’s what Lee Jung-wan wants.
‘But why me?’
If he wanted to outperform Kim, he should recruit Senior Manager Seo Eun-ho, the team ace. I or Junior Staff Jin Sun-mi are still learners; Seo Eun-ho controls the actual operations.
‘Could he have approached me because of the kit?’
The spoilage check kit received quick pre-budget approval and strong executive response. He must have come drooling, believing he could save it. If I joined Team 2, even if they pursued the kit, Team Leader Kim would just let it slide.
‘Ah! That’s why he’s been praising me all along.’
Understanding his plan, everything fell into place like puzzle pieces. He was confident he could save the kit project. Maybe something was arranged in the director’s office earlier.
But what could I do? I had no intention of moving to Team 2. And I certainly wouldn’t hand over the kit idea.
No need to reveal my thoughts yet. If he approached me to use me, it’s only fair I return the favor.
A good idea came to me: use him to gather intel on Han Se-a.
‘The more cards you hold, the better.’