Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Group Headquarters Assignment (1)
The next day, he went to work and met the Japanese language instructor. He told her that he had been assigned to the headquarters. He also said that her classes were enjoyable, which made it a pity to leave.
The Japanese language instructor reacted dramatically.
“Goodness! Really? Then what will Oh Ha-young do now that she’s lost her partner?”
Oh Ha-young smiled and replied.
“We decided to meet occasionally at a midpoint. At Sindorim Station.”
“Oh my! That sounds like something out of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. It’ll be even more thrilling.”
Then the instructor extended her hand toward Kim Chi-rok.
“Kim Chi-rok, among all the students I’ve taught, you were the most outstanding. You have truly excellent memorization skills.”
“Thank you.”
“If you have time later, try reading Japanese elementary school textbooks. You can find translated versions from first to sixth grade at bookstores.”
“Understood.”
“And start with short Japanese fairy tales, then move on to Japanese modern novels. You’re a smart person, so you’ll pick it up quickly.”
“Thank you.”
After the morning training ended, when he returned to the office, Director Park told him to go greet the president in his office.
On his way to the president’s office, Kim Chi-rok ran into Moon Ji-hye from the IT room in the hallway.
When he met Moon Ji-hye, they didn’t really talk, but they would at least give a slight nod of acknowledgment.
However, Moon Ji-hye turned her head away abruptly.
“Hmph!”
It sounded almost like a sneer.
He wondered whether rumors had spread that he had gone to Yeonan Pier with Oh Ha-young yesterday.
He went to the president’s office.
The president’s secretary seemed unaware that Kim Chi-rok had been reassigned.
“What brings you here?”
“I’ve been assigned to headquarters. I came to greet the president.”
“Oh? Really? There will be quite a few people who feel disappointed that Kim Chi-rok is moving to the group headquarters.”
She smiled in a very meaningful way.
The president was looking down at his phone, reading a message.
When Kim Chi-rok bowed and entered, the president only looked at him over the top of his glasses.
“I’ve come to greet you as I’ve been assigned to headquarters.”
“Hmm. Right. Director Park told me about it. How long have you been here?”
“Two years.”
“It seems your reputation for being good at your work has reached headquarters as well. That must be why you received a special transfer order even though it’s not the usual personnel season. Anyway, keep working hard at headquarters.”
“I will do my best.”
“Let’s make sure people say that those from H Chemical are diligent and competent.”
“Understood.”
“Alright, good work.”
Only then did the president stand up and shake his hand. While shaking hands, he patted Kim Chi-rok on the shoulder and told him to do well.
Among the thousands of employees, with so many people coming and going, the president seemed to treat it as just another routine matter. Moreover, since he was not an executive but a junior staff member, it felt like a formality.
Kim Chi-rok returned to the office and called the owner of his studio apartment.
“Hello, is this the landlord? I’m the tenant of room 203, and I need to move out suddenly. I’ve been assigned to Seoul.”
“Oh? Then put the room up through a real estate agency.”
“I can move out as early as tomorrow. But about the 5 million won deposit...”
“We can’t return the 5 million won deposit right away.”
“What? Pardon?”
“We’ll return it once a new tenant moves in.”
The studio apartment in Yeonsu-dong that Kim Chi-rok had rented required a deposit of 5 million won and monthly rent of 450,000 won. The owner clearly intended not to incur any loss.
“I don’t think I’ll be coming back to Incheon. Is there any way you could return it in advance? I’ve never missed a single rent payment.”
“We can’t do that.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re young and probably don’t have much experience in society, so you may not understand, but we can’t take a loss. However, the room will be available quickly, so once a new tenant moves in, we’ll return your deposit right away.”
“I see...”
“This area has the Namdong Industrial Complex, so rooms are rented out quickly.”
“Understood. Then I’ll move out tomorrow and let you know my account number.”
Kim Chi-rok called a real estate agent and put the room up for rent, explaining that he would be moving out the next day and the room would be vacant.
During lunch, after finishing his meal in the company cafeteria, Kang Ji-eun from the HR team came after him. She was a quiet-looking young woman.
Kang Ji-eun spoke in a slightly sarcastic tone.
“I think I need to look at you again, Kim Chi-rok.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Now that I look closer, it seems like you’ve gotten quite close with Oh Ha-young from the general affairs department.”
“What do you mean by close? All we do is attend Japanese classes together in the morning.”
“That doesn’t seem to be all. It looks like you’ve been going on dates and everything.”
“Pardon? Dates?”
“The photos say otherwise. There were some very affectionate pictures posted on Oh Ha-young’s Instagram.”
“What did you say?”
Kim Chi-rok returned to the office and checked Oh Ha-young’s Instagram.
Photos from the sushi restaurant the previous day had been uploaded.
“That woman!”
He immediately wanted to go and scold her.
But if Oh Ha-young didn’t delete the photos, there was nothing he could do. Then it would turn into a conflict.
It seemed like Oh Ha-young would be better at fighting. She looked like someone with a fiery temperament.
Moreover, hadn’t she been known to have a history of school violence?
This was definitely getting entangled in something troublesome.
His mood worsened significantly. The kindness he had shown in the end had turned out like this.
Forget it. Since he was about to leave anyway, she could post whatever she wanted.
Kim Chi-rok handed over his duties to a nearby employee. While organizing his locker, Assistant Manager Lee, who had gone on the business trip to Japan with him, came by.
“Hey, Kim Chi-rok! We decided to have your farewell gathering at Yeonan Pier today, but everyone suggested somewhere closer instead.”
“I’d prefer somewhere close as well.”
“Oh? Then let’s go to a barbecue place near Hogupo Station. I’ll make the reservation.”
The end of the workday arrived. Those in the planning office who had been on business trips or had other commitments left early, and about seven people gathered at a barbecue restaurant near Hogupo Station on the Suin–Bundang Line.
Director Park also attended.
Director Park said he had another engagement that evening and would stay for only an hour, but Kim Chi-rok was still grateful that he came.
The meat was grilled and drinks were passed around.
As expected, it was soju mixed with beer again. Director Park raised his glass and said,
“Alright, let’s wish Kim Chi-rok success as he moves on. Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
Here and there, people joked with Kim Chi-rok.
“Kim Chi-rok! Take good care of us when you get to headquarters.”
“Come back to Chemical as a deputy.”
“So that means Kim Chi-rok will be one level above us? Chi-rok! Don’t move ahead on your own like that, help pull us along too.”
It was clear that moving to the group headquarters was indeed considered a promotion.
While filling Director Park’s empty glass, Kim Chi-rok said,
“I’m sorry that I’m leaving without having been able to properly take care of you.”
“No, you worked very hard here. And headquarters is the right place for you.”
Assistant Manager Lee spoke with a slightly dissatisfied tone.
“Director! Why did headquarters take Kim Chi-rok without filling the vacancy?”
“Well. I found that odd too, so I asked the head of the strategic headquarters team. They said it was a special order from President Jeong-hee.”
“What? President Jeong-hee? Does that mean the president knows Kim Chi-rok’s name? We did meet once in Osaka, but it seems he still remembers the name.”
“If the president remembers your name, that’s a good thing. It means you could grow significantly.”
“Damn it. The president probably doesn’t even know my name as an assistant manager, but I’m jealous. Kim Chi-rok already has his name known. He’s got luck on his side.”
“There’s no guarantee it’ll be all good there. You’ll probably have a lot more work.”
“I’ll learn a lot through the work.”
“You will. Here we only handle chemical-related tasks, but there you can get involved in everything. Here, have a drink, Kim Chi-rok.”
“Ah, yes.”
“I’ll get to see your face at least once a month. The group headquarters holds a monthly meeting of planning executives from each affiliate.”
“Right, I’ll see you then.”
“Even aside from that, come visit Incheon sometimes. It seems quite a few of the female employees here liked you.”
Assistant Manager Lee chuckled and said,
“Kim Chi-rok has already been chosen by Oh Ha-young from the general affairs department.”
At that, one of the female employees from the planning office sitting across covered her mouth and laughed.
Kim Chi-rok’s face turned red instantly. The only one who didn’t laugh was Director Park, who looked as if he was hearing this for the first time.
“Is that so? You’ve already been chosen? I thought Moon Ji-hye from the IT room liked Kim Chi-rok, but maybe that’s not the case.”
Director Park widened his eyes and looked at Kim Chi-rok carefully, appearing surprised.
Kim Chi-rok suddenly lost his appetite for alcohol.
He thought that rumors must have spread everywhere because Oh Ha-young had posted photos.
He said,
“Oh Ha-young and I have no relationship at all. It’s just baseless rumors.”
Even though he said this, he couldn’t shake off his unpleasant mood.
Food was served and drinks continued to flow.
After about thirty minutes, Director Park stood up first.
“I have another appointment, so I’ll be leaving now. Drink plenty. And this is...”
Director Park took out a white envelope and handed it over.
“What is this?”
“A farewell gift. The planning office staff chipped in and put together a small amount. It’s not much, but consider it a contribution toward your moving expenses.”
The planning office staff applauded. Kim Chi-rok accepted the money somewhat reflexively.
As soon as he received it, Assistant Manager Lee said,
“Looks like this farewell money can fund a second round tonight.”
Laughter and applause broke out again. So that day, they went to a karaoke room for a second round.
Everyone went except Director Park, who had left earlier, making a total of six people.
The planning office staff knew how to have fun. In fact, Kim Chi-rok was the only one who didn’t know how to enjoy himself. Having lived only to study and survive, he wasn’t used to this kind of culture.
Assistant Manager Lee was especially lively. He even danced while hitting a tambourine against his own hip.
As Kim Chi-rok sat on the sofa and watched others, Assistant Manager Lee grabbed him and said,
“Why are you just sitting there? Sing a song.”
“I’ll pass.”
“That won’t do. Maybe it’s because Oh Ha-young isn’t here. Should I call Oh Ha-young?”
At that, Kim Chi-rok was startled and quickly waved his hands.