The Boss
Lee Sang-soo smiled as he spoke.
“Also, President, you said to do whatever you feel like eating today.”
Cha Ji-hoon asked with a puzzled tone.
“Isn’t that the same as usual?”
“No! Chinese restaurant, samgyeopsal place—anything! Delivery is allowed! Soju or beer too! Just enjoy yourselves comfortably!”
Normally, the restaurant menus were the only ones to be chosen from.
But Han Ki-ju had made it so the hosts could eat and drink anything they wanted freely.
The men got excited and raised their voices.
They started requesting whatever they felt like to Lee Sang-soo.
In an instant, the restaurant tables were filled with all kinds of food.
Foot, bossam, samgyeopsal, pizza, sushi, raw fish.
It was a total mishmash.
After the delivery food and alcohol were laid out, Lee Sang-soo stood up and said.
“Well, since I have nothing to do, I’ll keep it short. Instead, let’s have a toast with the three newbies who did the most this month.”
And Lee Sang-soo pointed out the oldest among the three newbies, Shin Yong-geom.
Shin Yong-geom, who was being noticed by his seniors, looked flustered and opened his mouth.
“Um… it’s sudden to have a toast, I don’t know what to say. I’ll just say whatever comes to mind.”
He began to speak what was floating in his head.
“Even if I worked hard until now, it doesn’t seem like I got results. This time, I worked hard for the first time and got results. And that’s thanks to the maknae, Kim Namhu, who taught me the method. Namhu-ya. Thank you!”
And he raised his soju glass with a genuine look toward Kim Namhu.
Kim Namhu, as a host, raised his beer glass for the new host Shin Yong-geom who had just taken his first step.
Next, Cha Ji-hoon also conveyed his gratitude to Kim Namhu.
Kim Namhu humbly said he benefited because Cha Ji-hoon and Shin Yong-geom worked hard.
And after the newbies’ toast was over, Lee Sang-soo also raised his glass and said.
“Well, the newbies are so energetic and earning a lot of money. It feels good. I know there are quite a few among you who wanted to take it easy this month. This time, there were many who worked hard, so I didn’t touch it much. Don’t pick on the hardworking ones and ruin the atmosphere in the waiting room. Got it?”
Lee Sang-soo could speak like this because sales were good this month thanks to the newbies and many hosts compared to last month.
If most were just playing, saying such words could ruin the box.
Hosts who would receive double the incentive this month answered loudly.
The newbies were working hard, but the hosts who were just giving up and playing were starting to feel a bit uncomfortable at this table.
If they had known, they would have thought they would work hard too.
“Today, just play and drink comfortably. From tomorrow, everyone, let’s work hard.”
After Lee Sang-soo’s words, the hosts ate what they wanted and enjoyed the time.
Since there were many foods the men would like, the drinking atmosphere was cheerful.
The hosts who had not done well in sales this month quickly enjoyed the food and alcohol.
Kim Namhu knew the atmosphere had changed newly.
A box could collapse in an instant.
Thanks to Han Ki-ju’s casual remark this time, the box might have collapsed.
If Kim Namhu had not shown help for the other newbie, many senior hosts would have just given up.
And making a box good required various elements to combine.
Kim Namhu guided Cha Ji-hoon and Shin Yong-geom, and saw a few seniors’ motivation rise, leading to a good atmosphere for the whole box.
It was not just the atmosphere, but the results were good, so the two factions briefly stopped clashing and enjoyed the drinking.
Cha Ji-hoon and Shin Yong-geom holding hands and showing good sales seemed to have a good influence.
Cha Ji-hoon and Shin Yong-geom sat next to Kim Namhu and enjoyed the drinking.
And Shin Yong-geom said.
“Thanks to this month, the incentive will come in a lot. It’s hard to just say thank you in words, but do you have something you want?”
He seemed to want to give Kim Namhu a gift.
Cha Ji-hoon immediately participated in it.
“Yeah. I have to give something too. I can’t just say thank you as a newbie.”
Kim Namhu thought for a moment.
He had earned more than double the usual amount, but receiving it too expensively from the two newbies was a bit sorry.
Moreover, Kim Namhu was earning much more money than what he received from the two.
“This month, around forty-eight million won, roughly.”
Choi Moon-ho had worked like a madman to avoid missing the ace this month and failed to get first place.
But Kim Namhu had also raised more sales than last month, and since it became double, nearly five thousand in incentives were planned.
“Wouldn’t it be good to have this event every month?”
Doing the same thing and earning double was a pleasant feeling.
Kim Namhu recalled a gift that would not burden either the giver or the receiver.
“Then how about a phone? I’m using an old one.”
“Phone? Ah, then I’ll buy the latest model.”
A latest model phone would still be a bit over two million won.
Cha Ji-hoon and Shin Yong-geom splitting the cost would be enough to buy it comfortably.
The drinking continued pleasantly for both the giver and the receiver.
Han Ki-ju was alone drinking alcohol in her room.
She looked at the clock.
The hosts of The Queen were in the middle of the drinking.
Han Ki-ju was thinking about Kim Namhu.
“As expected, it’s fun.”
It had originally started before the stock game results came out to playfully handle Kim Namhu a little.
She thought there was a possibility that Kim Namhu would surpass last month’s sales.
Last month’s sales were high, but she acknowledged his skill.
And Kim Namhu showed even more.
She had set the same conditions for all The Queen hosts because she did not want to appear as if she was targeting only Kim Namhu.
Kim Namhu had helped the other newbies, and that had ultimately stimulated many hosts to work hard.
“A lot of money will be spent.”
The number of hosts receiving double the money meant her money would decrease.
Even if half the hosts received it, the loss would be greater than the gain.
“Well, it’s pocket money.”
For her, it was within the level to cover the rent of one of the many buildings she owned.
“A bit regrettable.”
Originally, Han Ki-ju’s plan had been in another direction.
If Kim Namhu failed and earned little money, she had planned to call him over separately to comfort him and give him pocket money.
While pretending to be a good person, she would do some bossing with money and slowly train him.
She wanted him to be somewhat obedient.
That plan was basically a complete failure.
But Han Ki-ju was not unhappy.
This result was also fun.
Ever since she met Kim Namhu, interesting things had continued to happen.
Han Ki-ju wanted to stay with Kim Namhu longer the more these things happened.
“What did he say? In the end, he said he would enter Gangnam and become the number one host in Korea?”
It was an absurd dream.
There were people who wanted to become the richest in Korea.
There were also people who wanted to become the best in sports or art.
But a man who wanted to become the best in a job that everyone else ignored, a host, was the first.
That was also fun.
“But would he really do it?”
Thinking what she needed to do to keep such a Kim Namhu, she wondered.
She wondered how far he could achieve what she said.
“Gangnam. Gangnam, huh. Would I make a host bar there too?”
After the drinking was well over, Han Ki-ju came to the restaurant.
The hosts, even while being drunk with alcohol, recognized the president and stood up to greet her.
Han Ki-ju made them sit down and said.
“Just play. I came by for a short visit today.”
She went to Lee Sang-soo and told him to properly finish the drinking, not to cause trouble, and no one should mess up.
Lee Sang-soo said yes.
And Han Ki-ju went to the table where the newbies were gathered and stood next to Kim Namhu.
She said to the newbies.
“Did you enjoy playing?”
“Yes! We enjoyed playing!”
“President, have a drink with us too.”
“No. I want to drink quietly today. I need someone to drink with. Would it be okay to borrow Namhu?”
“Yes, you can take him anytime!”
“Namhu, get up.”
Cha Ji-hoon and Shin Yong-geom did not refuse Lee Sang-soo’s words.
And Kim Namhu could not refuse when she wanted to have a separate drink with him.
When Kim Namhu stood up, Han Ki-ju put her arm around his as if she were his girlfriend.
She rubbed her chest against his arm.
The hosts were curious about exactly what relationship Kim Namhu and Han Ki-ju had.
Officially, the two were president and host.
According to Kim Namhu’s words, they were friends.
And the current appearance was definitely not the two relationships.
With the hosts’ curiosity left behind, Kim Namhu and Han Ki-ju slipped out of the restaurant.