Chapter 240
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 240
Chapter Title: Manager Seo's Deployment
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Seo In-ae tore through the contract at an astonishing speed.
“Mind if I borrow a pen?”
I’d planned to tell her it was fine to sign after I’d reviewed it slowly.
But before I could, she snatched the pen from my desk and signed.
“In the future, when new branches pop up, should I pop over like this now and then to get things set up? Sort of like a manager role... Sounds fun.”
“It’ll shake out that way eventually. For now, start by getting a read on things, and we’ll brainstorm solutions together.”
“Got it. I’ll run it by you first and proceed.”
“No, what I meant was it’s fine to loop me in if you’re unsure—I don’t want it weighing on you. But if your judgment calls for immediate action, just handle it and give me the rundown after.”
I cleared up Seo In-ae’s misunderstanding and laid out exactly what I had in mind.
The corner of Seo In-ae’s mouth twitched.
She blinked a few times, then pressed her hands to her chest.
“Thank you for trusting me. I’ll give it my all.”
Fighting. I had total faith she’d pour her heart into it.
After wrapping up with Seo In-ae, I posted a job listing for a nursing assistant.
Even if it wasn’t for immediate trips, I’d need someone to cover the basics if I wanted to hand off more tasks down the line.
Minimum two hires. Three if the applicant pool’s strong.
Seo In-ae was already maxed out on hours under labor laws, so good luck finding takers under those conditions.
And even if someone bit, no single regular person could shoulder that load.
By the time the listing went live, lunchtime had vanished.
I dove back into afternoon clinic hours.
And a few hours later.
On my way out for the day, I gave Chu Miyoung a call.
“Director Chu, In-ae teacher’s heading your way to sort things out. She’ll stick around a month or two for training and setup.”
- Oh! For real? What a relief! My nerves were shot...
“Should’ve looped you in sooner.”
- Sob, all the other directors have it together, but I feel like such a burden. Years in and I’m still fumbling this stuff.
“Staff management’s the toughest part of the gig. That’s why we team up. Can’t fix it all, but I’ll brainstorm with you anytime.”
- Thank you so much!
Chu Miyoung sounded worlds lighter.
She’d clearly been through the wringer.
Truth be told, long-term staff retention like at our clinic wasn’t the norm.
Small outfits losing one or two and cycling in new blood? Routine.
We didn’t hash out every hiccup, but this one screamed trouble.
Word from yesterday: mistakes everywhere.
Patient gripes nonstop, even on no-brainer stuff.
Staff bailing left and right without Director Chu even prodding—something was off, but she played clueless through tears.
- They’re trying, but man, it’s rough... Sob sob.
“Let’s scope it out first. Next week if possible, week after latest—In-ae teacher’s on her way.”
Things had held steady till now, so maybe a bad apple?
Lim Suchul and I figured as much.
- Yes yes, truly grateful!
Back in the Haneul Clinic network days, they’d tapped a counseling manager for most training.
Generous pay and bonuses, full delegation—including hiring and wrangling the rest.
That 14-hour week trick? HQ’s doing, no doubt.
Post-rebrand to Seongsu Clinic, she was on her own—but a manager-type pitched in big-time.
Director Chu’s mom’s friend: retired big-hospital nurse who kept the young ones in line.
She relocated, cue the chaos.
At least we’ve ID’d a network weak spot.
If Jang Jung-jae hadn’t sparked the staff chat, Chu’s confession would’ve lagged.
HR’s as crucial as protocols—maybe more.
Veteran directors had carried it so far, but manuals with Seo In-ae would level us up.
With the plan locked, our clinic spent about a week prepping Seo In-ae’s dispatch.
I vetted interviewees, snapped up two solid fits.
Seo In-ae handed them her duties, then jetted to Daegu.
Director Han Yeowon held nothing back on support.
I tried talking her out of it, but she booked a hotel anyway.
Plus weekend Daegu-Busan transit, all meals on the clinic card.
Seo In-ae could only brim with gratitude for the trust.
Someone like Director Han hands you the reins? Gotta nail it.
Said it sounded fun, but...
Truth? Didn’t look like a cakewalk.
She’d lucked into longest-tenured status, onboarding newbies as they came.
But total fresh turf this time.
No degree, spotty business stints—no real resume.
Older staff snubbing her or icing her out? Secondary.
Director Chu taking a dislike? That’d sting.
Still, push through, deliver results.
Director Han sees big potential.
Comes off casual, but she doesn’t handpick just anyone. Must see the chops.
Seo In-ae set off for Daegu, resolve steeled.
“Wow, hello! Manager Seo! Long time no see. Thrilled to have you back!”
Manager Seo.
The title made her shoulders twitch.
Director Chu beamed a welcome.
Her face? Burned in memory—striking beauty, hard to forget.
Back when Haneul Clinic was ramping up, she’d pushed to send us there first.
Director Han worked some magic, networked us in; they’d exchanged hellos during Busan visits.
No deep chats, mind you.
“Thanks for the warm welcome. I’ll pitch in wherever needed.”
If none? I’ll make some. Firm resolve laced her words.
“Yes! Knew you would be. Director Han’s pick! She runs with top-tier folks, right?”
“Spot on. Director’s elite, patients too...”
Faces flashed: recent prince, conglomerate boss, Melon Soda Horizon. Even that longtime high school regular turned pro baller.
What a crowd.
Rubs off? Or magnets?
Seo In-ae smiled despite herself.
“Let’s keep up!”
Director Chu burst out laughing with her.
“Rough trip to Daegu? Fave drink or snack? I’ll stock up. Any discomfort, holler anytime.”
Director Chu rustled pantry treats, headed to her office.
Seo In-ae had braced for pushback, but the director’s vibe? Promising start.
“Hm?”
The pantry overflowed with drinks and snacks.
“Clinic-provided? Or staff-stocked fridge?”
“Pfft, clinic of course. Used to be Choco Pies and OJ, but Youngsun teacher suggested variety!”
...Expansive tastes.
Even pricey imports Gong Nari had name-dropped.
Not her jam—grabbed a standard chocolate bar, water from the cooler, into the director’s office.
“Four staff now, right?”
Dove straight into work.
Director Han had briefed her pre-departure, but time to probe Director Chu’s take: traits, mistake patterns.
Director Chu listed them, breaking each down.
“High churn lately—Youngsun teacher aside, all green, few months in. This crew’s held a month-plus.”
“Ah, so quitting spree’s stabilized?”
“Last month, yeah. But sudden walkouts still spook me.”
Director Chu shuddered: please, no more hires—just peace.
“Quit styles? Any gripes voiced?”
“Hm... Short-timers ghosted mostly. One scrapped with Youngsun teacher here. Rest boilerplate: health woes, like you but not the clinic.”
“...On-site staff fight?”
Unthinkable at Haneul Clinic.
Exes were exes; the other still clocked in.
Heo Youngsun, 49.
Senior-most. Eight months: tenure champ.
“Yeah... Shift beef. Youngsun teacher called dibs on vacation day; other insisted same slot.”
“Noted. I’ll keep eyes peeled while we work.”
“Yes! Dig into pain points, please. They try, but director vibe makes ’em tense.”
Talk done.
Director Chu rounded up the four, intro’d Seo In-ae.
Per Director Han’s nudge—no temp 1-2 month mention—director billed her as manager.
“Manager Seo from Haneul Clinic. My handover sucked, hence slip-ups. She’ll guide us across the board.”
“Nice to work with.”
Director Chu downplayed herself, hyped Seo In-ae to the hilt.
Seo In-ae stiff-neck bowed, gauged reactions.
“Looking forward~ Manager. Show us the ropes~.”
Heo Youngsun led with a handshake.
The back three? Smirks only.
...Chilly.
“Pleased to meet you. Teacher Heo Youngsun, Teacher Im Iri, Teacher Kim Juwon, Teacher Choi Semi. Let’s make it work.”
“Yeah. Hi.”
The three managed half-hearted nods.
“Morning desk, afternoon treatment room today. I’ll assist and flag fixes on errors.”
She knew a parachutist barking orders would chafe.
But hierarchy with near-two-decade age gaps? Non-negotiable.
She wasn’t here to chum it up—but to fix what ailed the clinic’s ops.
“Ah, correction. Right...”
Work kicked off moments later.
That initial frost? Gut call.
But specifics surfaced fast.