The Reprieve and the Question

Three o'clock sharp.

Lee Moo-sung, CEO of Dongkwang Electronics, had arrived.

Unlike the two men before him, he looked utterly cowed and diminished. He wore a work uniform stiff with grease stains, clutched a worn ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠briefcase on his lap, and kept stealing anxious glances at me.

"Um... I received a call to come in. You're Team Leader Kim Dong-su, correct?"

A voice that seemed to be crawling along the floor. Everything about his posture said this was a man who had already accepted rejection before he ever walked through the door.

"Yes, please, come in, CEO Lee."

I rose from my seat and offered a courteous handshake. He half-took my hand, half-let it go, and sank into his chair.

"I'll get straight to the point. The loan maturity... I understand it's not possible. The factory's appraised value has dropped, we're still running at a loss... but if I could just get past this one time—"

He began stammering out one excuse after another. I waited quietly until he finished. Then, when he finally ran out of breath and stopped talking, I laid a single document on the desk.

"CEO Lee. A maturity extension is not possible under the current terms."

His shoulders slumped.

"Ah... so it's true, then. I see. Well, there's nothing for it, is there. I suppose I'll have to file for bankruptcy..."

He moved to stand. I called him back in a low voice.

"Sit down. I haven't finished speaking."

"I beg your pardon?"

"The terms won't work as they are. So we change the terms."

I pointed a finger at one section of the document. It was a tiny item tucked into the corner of the technical manual he had submitted — a patent for eco-friendly plating.

"Is this technology fully commercialized?"

"Ah... yes. It is, but the unit costs are high, so no one wants to use it. Honestly, it's just there for show—"

"That 'for show' is going to save your company."

I handed him the materials I had prepared. It was a press release for S Electronics' Next-Generation Eco-Friendly Supplier Support Initiative — information not yet widely publicized, known only to industry insiders.

"S Electronics plans to phase out any suppliers using hazardous materials starting next year — both primary and secondary vendors. In return, companies with eco-friendly processes will receive low-interest funding through their mutual-growth fund."

CEO Lee's eyes went wide.

"Um... really? This is the first I'm hearing of it..."

"Bankers are people who smell money, that's all. Your technology is exactly what S Electronics is looking for right now."

I made my proposal in a tone ringing with conviction.

"I'll connect you with the corporate consulting team at headquarters and register Dongkwang Electronics as a recommended prospective supplier for S Electronics. If your technology credit rating comes back well, you could receive mutual-cooperation funds instead of a standard commercial loan. The interest rate will be at least 5% lower than what you're paying now."

"Five whole percent? Good heavens..."

His mouth hung open. It was only natural that he couldn't believe it — a bank offering to lower interest rates for a company teetering on the edge of default.

"That said, the process won't be easy. You'll need to undergo a fresh Technology Credit Bureau assessment, and the paperwork is extensive. I'll take care of all that tedious work for you myself."

I paused for a beat, then added softly, like a hunter gently setting his snare.

"In exchange, I need something too."

"And what would that be...?"

"When the mutual-growth loan comes through, roughly one billion won will land in your account. Leave the management of those funds entirely to our branch. And on the condition that you move your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠S Electronics payment settlement account and all your employees' payroll accounts over to us as well."

Color bloomed in CEO Lee's face. It was no unreasonable demand. If they were saving his company and slashing his interest, what was changing banks compared to that?

"Team Leader... if you can truly make that happen, I'd sell you my very soul! Changing my main bank is nothing! I'll drag in every distant cousin I have!"

"Excellent. Then let's proceed right away."

I shot a glance at Assistant Manager Choi, who appeared as if she'd been waiting for exactly this, a thick stack of application forms in hand.

"Sign here, here, and here, and we're done."

The paperwork took less than thirty minutes to complete. CEO Lee bowed repeatedly at the waist as he left the branch — not the dead man's face he'd arrived with, but one glowing with hope.

When every last task was finished, it was five in the evening.

I leaned deep into my chair. Seoul System, Mirae General Construction, Dongkwang Electronics. Three bombs the branch manager had abandoned and the team leaders before me had fled from — I'd defused all of them in just two days. And not through mere extensions, either. These were flawless deals that secured both the numbers and the justification.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Team Leader."

Assistant Manager Choi came over.

"To be honest... when I first met you, I thought you were just someone sent down from headquarters to take it easy."

"And now?"

"Now you're... something like the savior of this branch. I've learned more from you in one day than I did in the last three years."

Praise spoken with genuine sincerity. Something heavy settled in the corner of my chest — the recognition I had never received from the man I used to be.

"Thank you. You've worked hard this week, so head home early."

"Yes, sir! You should head out too, Team Leader!"

Assistant Manager Choi practically bounced away to pack up. Looking around the office, I saw the other employees gathering their things one by one as well. As for Branch Manager Park Tae-jin — whether from the shock earlier or sheer embarrassment — not so much as the tip of his nose had been seen since.

Well, I'd say my initiation rite went over just fine.

I rose from my seat and shrugged on my jacket. Outside the window, dusk had fallen without my noticing. Friday evening rush. The week had already slipped past in a blink. It was the kind of moment that made me look forward to Monday — for the first time, differently than before.

Saturday, five in the afternoon.

I stood before the mirror of my walk-in closet, getting ready for dinner. Ordinarily I'd have grabbed whatever shirt my hand landed on first, but tonight that wouldn't do. The person I was meeting was Song Hae-in — one of Korea's biggest stars. However comfortable our senior-junior rapport, showing up looking like a slob would have been a discourtesy. And above all, today was Saturday. A day when I could use that ability.

The moment the ability activated, the clothes in my closet seemed to transform before my eyes. A navy blazer, a cream knit, and slacks — pieces I'd always thought impossible to match. I threw them on carelessly, yet the fit in the mirror was something else entirely. The shoulder line fell in perfect precision, and even the natural crease where I'd pushed up the sleeves looked like deliberate styling. I could have passed for a model on the eve of a photoshoot.

Standing next to a top star, at least I won't be embarrassed.

The meeting place was a private dining establishment in Cheongdam-dong. I was shown to a private room and took my seat. Glancing at the clock: 5:50. Ten minutes early. Arriving first and waiting was always the more comfortable option.

Before long, the sliding door opened quietly.

"Huh? You're already here?"

A woman came in wearing a black cap pressed low and a face mask. When she pulled them off, Song Hae-in was revealed — bare-faced, fresh and unadorned. And yet even that plainness seemed to catch the light, glowing as if she stood under studio lamps. The moment she saw me, her eyes went round.

"Whoa. Kim Dong-su."

"Good evening."

"You... why are you so dressed up today? Did you stop by the salon or something?"

She sat down, sweeping her gaze up and down my outfit. Her tone was teasing, but her eyes carried a distinctly genuine admiration.

"Just grabbed whatever was lying around."

"Liar. Whatever was lying around? Back in college you wore nothing but track suits every single day. Banking's changed you, hasn't it?"

Hae-in chuckled and wiped her hands with a warm towel. I didn't mind the flattery. No — honestly, it felt good.

"I've already placed our order. I hear the omakase here is excellent."

"Oooh~ look at Mr. Team Leader Kim. You've got some style these days, don't you? I've been watching my diet lately, so heavy stuff was going to be a problem."

Appetizers arrived in due course, and a light white wine filled our glasses. We touched them together with a clear chime.

Tink—

"Congratulations. I heard you got transferred to the headquarters sales department?"

Hae-in asked, taking a sip of wine.

"How did you know that? Who told you?"

"Who else? Your bank's marketing director went on and on singing your praises. Says the ad campaign's been working well, and that your field performance is outstanding too. Aren't you something of a star at the bank these days?"

"Oh, come on, that's an exaggeration. And honestly, I just got lucky."

"Save the modesty. I told you, didn't I? Banking is your calling."

She rested her chin on her hand and studied me for a long moment. I thought back to her earnest advice in the car that day. If she hadn't talked me down then, I might have thrown in my resignation by now, chasing an empty dream.

"You were right that day, senior. I think I was just trying to run away because my life felt dull. Now... work is actually fun."

"I'm glad. I can see it on your face. That's not the weathered, worn-out look you had at the reunion. There's ease in you now."

Ease.

That was true. With over seven billion won in my account and recognition at the office besides, how could I not feel at ease? But that ease reached its completion right here, in this moment — good food, a wonderful atmosphere, and Korea's finest actress seated across from me.

"By the way, senior."

"Hm?"

"Why did you tell me so firmly, back then, not to become an actor? Were you worried I might actually make it and threaten your popularity?"

At my joke, Hae-in burst out laughing.

"Pffahaha! Hey, Kim Dong-su, you've gotten shameless, haven't you? A rookie like you, taking my bread off my table? Wake up and smell the coffee."

Then her laughter faded, her expression turned serious, and she lowered her voice.

"...I just said it because I was worried about you."

"Worried?"

"Mm. I hated the thought of watching you suffer. The entertainment industry — glittering on the surface, rotten to the core underneath. A soft kid like you wouldn't have lasted a year. You'd have come away with nothing but scars."

"I'm not soft, you know. People call me a shark these days."

"Really? All I see is the twenty-year-old Kim Dong-su who used to tremble in terror every time he picked up a curling iron."

"Ah... that cursed curling iron."

We broke into laughter at the same time. The mood grew warm and easy, and around the time the main course arrived, Hae-in asked, wearing an odd expression:

"Dong-su."

"Yes?"

"Is there... someone you're seeing right now?"