First Day at Work (2)
Dong-hyun had been assigned to Section 3 of the Industrial Materials Team. Beneath the section chief, the section consisted of two assistant managers — Dong-hyun included — along with a staff member and an intern. Aside from Assistant Manager Lee Su-jin, there was one female intern.
By around half past eight, every employee had arrived. The section chief, a man who looked to be in his mid-thirties, came in and had everyone introduce themselves.
"Assistant Manager Kang Dong-hyun here used to work at another company. He's transferred over to our team. Please give him a warm welcome."
Section Chief Park Kyung-deok of Section 3 offered a brief introduction of Dong-hyun. Dong-hyun was a little taken aback that the section chief was reciting credentials he didn't actually possess, but he stood and offered his greeting.
"Good morning. I'm Assistant Manager Kang Dong-hyun. It's an honor to join the Industrial Materials Team at Mugang Corporation. This is all new to me, so I'm sure I'll be awkward and have a lot to learn. I'd be grateful for your help."
Once Dong-hyun finished, the others applauded. After that, Assistant Manager Lee Su-jin stayed at his side, walking him through this and that and introducing him to the other sections and the company at large. She stuck to him like a personal secretary, teaching him everything.
With no one in Section 3 ranking above him except the section chief, Dong-hyun's office life turned out to be more comfortable than he'd expected.
That was when Kang Su-yeon paid a visit to Section 3. Park Kyung-deok shot to his feet and hurried over to her.
"Team Leader, you've arrived?"
"Yes. Good work, everyone. I heard a new hire started today...?"
"Ah, that's right. Assistant Manager Kang Dong-hyun. Come over here. This is the Team Leader of our Industrial Materials Team."
At the section chief's gesture, Dong-hyun strolled over at an unhurried pace. A vein bulged on Kang Su-yeon's forehead at the sight.
"Assistant Manager Kang Dong-hyun? You seem like a rather... unhurried type."
"Yeah... well. I suppose I am."
Dong-hyun answered with a faint smile. In the old days, he wouldn't even have managed a proper reply to his half-sister Su-yeon's words — but strangely, he felt no fear of her now.
"You suppose you are?"
It was Su-yeon who bristled at Dong-hyun's answer.
"Yeah. Is there a problem?"
At Dong-hyun's flippant remark, Su-yeon's fists clenched tight.
What the hell did this kid eat this morning? Why is he acting like this?
This wasn't the place to lose her temper, so she had to take a step back.
"No... nothing like that. Are you settling in well?"
"Yes. The section members have been helping me in all sorts of ways, so I'm adapting quickly."
"That's a relief, then. This company isn't a playground. I'd like you to settle in quickly and devote yourself to your work."
"Sure. I'll do that."
Su-yeon had come here intending to crush Dong-hyun's spirit, but his reaction was so different from what she'd expected that she decided to back off. She spun on her heel and swept out, leaving a chill in her wake.
It was Park Kyung-deok who was left flustered.
"Hold on... Assistant Manager Kang. What kind of disrespect was that toward the Team Leader?"
"Pardon? What did I do?"
Dong-hyun's completely clueless expression left Park Kyung-deok speechless.
"Never mind. Let's get to work. Work."
Park Kyung-deok found himself thinking that a complete lunatic had just landed in his Section 3. The best policy with lunatics, he muttered under his breath, was to stay the hell away from them.
After Park Kyung-deok returned to his desk, Assistant Manager Lee Su-jin came over again.
"Assistant Manager Kang. That was impressive."
"Pardon?"
The remark came completely out of nowhere.
"It's not easy for a mere assistant manager to stand up to a team leader. Especially Team Leader Kang Su-yeon."
"We're all just people. What's there to be afraid of?"
"Um... so, about that... would you like to have dinner together tonight?"
"I already have dinner plans with Cheon So-hee tonight."
Lee Su-jin already knew he'd made plans with Cheon So-hee that morning, and yet she'd asked him to dinner out of the blue.
"It's your first day. We should have a team dinner, don't you think?"
She suddenly raised her voice so the section chief would hear. Park Kyung-deok's ears perked up at Lee Su-jin's words, but he said nothing. After what had just happened, he had zero desire to go drinking with Dong-hyun anytime soon.
"Let's pick another day. I already have plans — it wouldn't be right."
Dong-hyun's reply cut like a knife, and Su-jin's face fell.
"Aww... well, can't be helped. Then let's grab a meal tomorrow, at least."
"Sure. That works."
"That's a promise?"
"Yes. Got it."
Dong-hyun didn't have much actual work to do that day. He spent it learning Mugang Corporation's systems and making the rounds to introduce himself, following Lee Su-jin's lead.
Around six, Dong-hyun tidied his desk. The moment the clock struck six on the hour, he stood up.
"Good work, everyone. See you tomorrow."
Park Kyung-deok was stunned by Dong-hyun's clock-out-on-the-dot departure. With his own two eyes, he watched the new hire stand up and walk out without so much as reporting to his section chief that he was leaving. He considered chasing after him to say something, then settled for grumbling about what kind of guy this was. He seemed to have concluded that Dong-hyun was a complete lunatic.
The two staff members and the intern were equally dumbfounded. Staff member Lee Jae-pil, in particular, wore a look of open resentment. He'd joined the company at twenty-six and was about to be promoted to senior staff — and now some kid far younger than him had come in as an assistant manager. That was irritating enough. Watching the guy act like he owned the place only made it worse.
Dong-hyun couldn't have cared less. He left the office and went down to the first floor. His destination was the reception desk, where Cheon So-hee was still sitting.
"Hmm? Haven't you been relieved yet? Isn't it time to clock out?"
"Huh? You're already down here?"
At Cheon So-hee's words, Dong-hyun lifted his wrist and checked the time.
"It's already five past six."
"Wow... no way. Okay. Let me just tell my supervisor and I'll be right out."
Cheon So-hee looked incredulous, but she said she'd be out shortly.
"Sure. I'll wait here."
It was about ten minutes later when Cheon So-hee emerged.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I had no idea you'd be down this fast, so I didn't even get a chance to fix myself up properly."
Cheon So-hee made a show of fussing. But for all her protests, her beauty was remarkable. The fact that she worked the front desk at Mugang Corporation was proof enough that she was well above average in looks. At about five-foot-three, her neatly arranged hair had given off a refined, demure charm — but after she'd gone back and let it down, a sultry allure had joined it.
"You look great. Shall we go?"
Dong-hyun took the lead and headed down to the parking garage. Cheon So-hee walked pressed right up against his side. They went down to the garage and headed for the car he'd driven in.
Beep-beep!
At a gesture from Dong-hyun, his car's engine came to life.
"Wow... is this your car, Dong-hyun-ssi?"
"Yeah. Hop in."
Dong-hyun opened the passenger door for her.
"Thank you."
Once Dong-hyun got in, Cheon So-hee was busy looking around the interior.
"Where should we go? Anywhere you like?"
"Hmm... I want to eat something delicious."
"Something delicious? That's pretty broad. I don't know this area well, so if there's a good place, you'll have to tell me, So-hee."
"Hmm... should I? Hold on a second."
Cheon So-hee pulled out her phone, searched for a moment, then showed him the screen.
"How about this place?"
"A restaurant?"
"Yeah. It's the restaurant at the Goryeo Hotel. I heard the atmosphere is nice and the food is decent. I've never actually been, though."
"Looks good. Let's go."
Dong-hyun's car glided smoothly out of the garage. Having driven once already that morning, his skills behind the wheel were a little better than they'd been earlier.
Conversation flowed naturally on the way there, thanks in large part to Cheon So-hee's considerable social ease. Even with her gift for putting people at ease, this would have been no easy situation for the Dong-hyun of before he'd met Serién — but he had clearly changed a great deal.
They arrived at the hotel, handed the car over to the valet, and headed for the restaurant.
"Do you have a reservation?"
A staff member at the counter asked as they walked in. It appeared to be reservation-only.
"No, we don't have a reservation... Is it not possible to dine without one?"
"Ah... one moment, please."
The staff member spoke into the radio clipped to his chest for a moment, then said,
"Fortunately, a party canceled today, so it looks like we have a table. I'll show you to your seats."
Both their faces lit up at the news that a table was available. Dong-hyun had never been to a high-end restaurant like this either, and neither had So-hee — which was why she hadn't known they needed a reservation. In any case, they were fortunate enough to have a table, and they were seated.
So-hee picked up the menu, her eyes going wide, and passed it to Dong-hyun.
"You pick, Dong-hyun-ssi."
Dong-hyun had no idea how to order at a place like this, so he spoke to the waiter.
"We'll have the chef's recommended course."
"And for the wine?"
"Pair whatever goes well with the dishes."
"Adding crème fraîche and a soufflé will incur an additional charge. Shall I include those?"
"Yes, please do."
Dong-hyun had more than enough money, so the price didn't concern him in the slightest. It wasn't for nothing that he was a third-generation conglomerate heir. He'd never gone out wasting money on anything — which also meant he had no real grasp of what things actually cost.
Watching him, So-hee's eyes grew moist.
This man... he's different.