Factory Overhauls and Diet Commitments
Jinseong visited the YSP Pharmacy factory. In a mid-sized conference room, he gathered with the heads of operations, production, and development.
[Kim Jae-wook (33)]
[Management (S)] [Operations (S)]
The operations team head was the kind and young Kim Jae-wook.
[Gong Hyun-seong (30)]
[Misc Work (S)], [Efficiency (S)], [Stamina (S)], [Affinity (A+)], [Leadership (A+)]
The production team head was the energetic Gong Hyun-seong. The development team head was the genius researcher Ha Seon-jin. Jinseong planned to appoint Ha Seon-jin as the VP of YSP Pharmacy.
Ha Seon-jin had founded Seonjin Pharmaceuticals. While Jinseong owned YSP Pharmacy, Ha Seon-jin was the company's founder.
But.
Ha Seon-jin declined the VP position.
Ha Seon-jin's one wish was to make YSP Pharmacy a massive success—a global powerhouse. He believed the development team head role suited him better than VP, so he politely declined.
Director Ha is truly remarkable.
He was an admirable man.
"President, we need to expand the factory. At least double—no, triple the size to keep up with orders," said Gong Hyun-seong, the production team head.
"Even running the factory 24/7 full throttle, production can't catch up to demand at all."
There was no sign of orders slowing. If anything, they were exploding day by day.
"Got it. Director Gong, I'll expand the production facilities. At least tenfold the scale."
"Huh?! Ten times? That's way too aggressive an investment. Three times would be more reasonable."
"It's fine."
Jinseong flashed a gentle smile at the startled Gong Hyun-seong.
First phase: tenfold.
There were plans for phases two and three.
"President, we're severely short-staffed. We desperately need more people—at least double the headcount," said Kim Jae-wook, the operations team head.
"And it would be great to hire a bunch of sales reps. We should supply our vitamins to pharmacies nationwide."
With orders surging, operations work had ballooned too. The team was struggling with the manpower shortage.
"Director Kim, I'll urgently bolster the staff. Please submit a detailed report."
"Understood."
"I'll review the sales reps and pharmacy supply idea as positively as possible. Give me a little time."
He'd need to draw up a new org chart based on Kim Jae-wook's report.
"Director Ha, I'm counting on you for new product research."
The biggest reason for visiting the YSP Pharmacy factory was new products.
"Please develop Omega-3."
"Got it."
"And a diet vitamin too."
"Pardon? A diet vitamin?"
Ha Seon-jin asked, puzzled.
"Yes. A comprehensive vitamin for people dieting."
The foundation of dieting was eating less. But getting balanced nutrition while doing so was incredibly hard.
Jinseong wanted a vitamin to fix dieters' nutritional imbalances.
"Oh?! A comprehensive diet vitamin? That sounds excellent. Understood."
"If you need more research staff, just say the word."
"Two more would be greatly appreciated."
"Done."
'Yoo Jin-seong Diet' keyword hit #1 in real-time search trends. It showed people were way more interested in dieting than expected. He planned to launch diet-related products.
While at the YSP Pharmacy factory, Jinseong also stopped by the YSP Cheongju Building.
"President?"
Lee Hyun-woo, head of the YSP Food research team, was deep into developing fresh foods. He oversaw both the Halmae Tteok research team and the food research team. He was also uploading cooking content and vlogs to the Cook Hyun-woo channel.
"How's development going?"
"Smoothly, sir."
"What products are you prepping?"
"Veggie chicken breast bars."
"Oh? Sounds good."
He taste-tested one. The moist, mild chicken breast blended perfectly with the veggies' texture.
"Whoa, this is tasty. Gym-goers would love it."
"We're developing it as a convenient meal replacement."
"Only issue is it's almost too mild. Make versions with black pepper, spicy, and soy sauce flavors. To survive, we need decent health benefits, stimulating tastes, and reasonable prices."
"Oh?! That's a great idea."
They moved to the president's office on the top floor of the YSP Cheongju Building. Jinseong visited every Friday to review operations and catch up on interviews.
"Director Lee, any shortages in the development team?"
"Budget's ample, but manpower is critically low."
"Got it. I'll add staff."
"Thank you. And we desperately need someone with strong planning skills."
"Planning skills?"
"Yes. We don't know what products to develop."
Lee Hyun-woo excelled at research but lacked planning. His researchers were much the same.
"Understood."
Jinseong got to the point.
"Please develop diet bento boxes."
"?"
"Super healthy, super tasty ones with perfect carb-protein-fat ratios. Take orders online, produce fresh daily at the factory, and deliver to homes."
He requested two versions:
1. Frozen diet bento
2. Chilled diet bento
Frozen had a long shelf life. Chilled was shorter but fresher and more convenient.
"How about focusing on 'health' over 'diet'? It'd boost sales."
"Make both diet versions and health-focused ones."
"Got it."
Y Shopping's launch was approaching. Diet bento was planned as a flagship product.
First phase: diet bento.
Health bento was added.
Phase two: fresh foods.
Phase three: imported foods.
Step by step.
Ready-made meals business later too.
He taste-tested new Halmae Tteok products, then ran into Hong Jae-gu at the company cafeteria.
"Hyung Jae-gu, how's it going?"
"Thanks to you, President, it's great."
Hong Jae-gu handled Lilys exclusively—producing Lilys World videos and managing ads. He pocketed millions monthly in incentives. He even had a girlfriend now: average looks but a charming smile. Evenings were YSP gym dates; off days were hikes and trips.
"Hyung, anything lacking or inconvenient at work?"
"Not really?"
To Hong Jae-gu, nothing was missing. Great pay, great food, solid welfare.
[Trust: 20]
Jinseong smiled warmly.
So glad Jae-gu hyung is thriving.
He'd become incredibly upbeat. Jinseong hoped he'd succeed even more.
Next, he headed to the second floor of YSP Cheongju Building, home to YSP Gym branch 2.
"Oh?!"
Jinseong couldn't help but grin.
Park Ha-yeon's poster hung proudly by the entrance.
Dieting? You can succeed too!
A massive poster with a killer slogan.
"Damn, that's cute af."
His own stunning poster. Indescribable pride swelled in him. Now he got why Ha-yeon beamed at hers.
Branch 2.
The gym was twice as big as branch 1, with better facilities.
Tons of customers.
Even in the provinces. Even midday.
"Huh? Oh? President? Yoo Jin-seong, right?!"
A woman in leggings—impressive curves—approached.
"Yes, that's me."
"Whoa! President! Huge fan—can I get an autograph?!"
"Photo too?"
"Yes!! Please!!"
He signed for her. Took the photo.
"President, me too."
"Sure."
An alpha-male type requested a pic.
"Me too."
"I'm a fan."
Members swarmed him.
Nice.
He loved the attention. Signing felt great. Smiling for photos too.
He truly felt like a celebrity now.
Time to buy privacy protection items.
He'd only get more famous. Severe privacy invasions were inevitable. Protection wasn't optional—it was essential.
Buy for my girls too.
He wanted them living peacefully.
Ha-yeon might brush off intrusions, but A-young and Mi-yeon would struggle.
In the president's office, Jinseong rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought in the chair.
"Hmm—"
Yoo Eun-ha. The Yoo Eun-ha who reminded him of American pork. He wasing over her request.
Help her? Or not?
She'd asked for diet coaching. Jinseong was insanely busy. Twenty-four hours a day wasn't enough. He sometimes wished he had two bodies. Achievements, studying, managing, girlfriends, people—etc.
To help Yoo Eun-ha—I'm too swamped.
He scratched his cheek with his index finger.
Time for her—better spent on my people.
He barely had time for his inner circle.
But.
Her desperate face flashed in his mind.
Still.
Her kind heart surfaced.
She's begging so earnestly—
She's such a good person—
I should help.
Success Era. A game of nurturing self or others.
The essence: turning below-average people into successes.
Yeah. Help her.
After long deliberation, he decided. He'd help Yoo Eun-ha to the max.
He pulled out his business card—no, his phone.
He had to wonder.
What? She's barely eating?
Just one serving per meal.
Jinseong was speechless for a moment.
"President does chocolate runs too?"
Secretary Han Jiyu peeked at his phone.
"Huh? Yeah."
Jinseong didn't look up.
Twitch. Her stoic face cracked.
"That's not how you do chocolate run...."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Just talking to myself."
[Favor: 99]
He played the game.
Fun.
Han Jiyu was humming 'chocolate run!' in her head, sparking his curiosity.
"Like chocolate run?"
"Yeah, love it."
Not just like—obsessed.
"Wanna game after work?"
Strategy shift: 'chicken' to 'games'.
"Game?"
"Don't like?"
Han Jiyu pondered briefly.
"Sure."
She nodded.