Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Jo Suyeon (Revised)
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After half a year, Enson Korea's headquarters hadn't changed much from before.
As if to prove its status as one of Korea's top three developers, the spacious first-floor lobby and the security gate leading inside remained the same.
The generous reception desk, big enough for at least four people, and the staff manning it were unchanged.
Being the headquarters, the overall interior felt similar to Enson GT's.
As soon as we stepped into the first-floor lobby, I felt countless gazes on us.
Most of them were directed at Suyeon.
Suyeon seemed to interpret those stares differently and smirked before whispering quietly so no one around could hear.
"Our Director's become a celebrity now, huh? People are starting to recognize you."
"You're imagining things. They're all just looking at the President."
"You really think that?"
"Of course. Why would anyone stare at me?"
Honestly, how famous could a director who had only struck gold with one mobile game really be?
I brushed off Suyeon's incredulous look and headed to the reception desk.
One of the four staff members waiting there—the one who seemed the most senior—came out to greet us personally.
"Hello. I'm Kim Chaeran from the Chairman's Secretariat. You're President Jo Suyeon and Director Ji Hojin, correct?"
"Yes."
"I've confirmed both of you. Please follow me straight to the Chairman's office."
After a simple verification, Chaeran began guiding us.
We followed her to the elevator that went directly to the Chairman's office.
As the elevator doors closed, Suyeon suddenly looked at Chaeran and asked,
"Is Unnie Hyunseo on vacation? She usually handled this kind of thing."
"Ms. Hyunseo left last month, so I've taken over."
"Oh, really? I didn't know."
Leaving Suyeon, who seemed genuinely regretful, behind, the elevator arrived at the 15th floor.
The doors opened with an arrival chime,
and instead of an empty hallway, a man and a woman stood there waiting.
Since they were strangers, I wondered if they knew Suyeon and glanced at her,
but her face showed annoyance and irritation, contrary to what I'd expected.
"Suyeon. What brings you here?"
"If you were coming, you could've given us a heads-up, you brat. Not even a single call."
"Oppa Suhwan, Unnie Sua... what are you two doing here...?"
From the atmosphere, they seemed to be the older brother and sister Suyeon had mentioned yesterday.
"Since we're all here like this, why don't we talk in the conference room over there instead of standing around? It's been ages since the three of us—and even the youngest—have met up."
Suyeon nodded reluctantly and headed to the conference room.
After confirming Suyeon had entered, Suhwan asked Chaeran,
"Chaeran-ssi, we'd like some time to talk as siblings. What's Suyeon's schedule set for?"
"10:20."
"Right now it's about 9:50, so we'll be back by 10:10."
"Understood."
*
Inside the conference room on the same floor as the Chairman's office.
One might expect a warm family chat, but the room was filled only with awkward tension.
The eldest, Suhwan, sat across from us sipping coffee silently,
while the second-eldest, Sua, nagged at Suyeon from her seat next to him.
"We're not the ones avoiding you—it's you dodging our calls. We've reached out so many times."
"......"
"Even at family gatherings. Dad practically begged you to come, so why do you always leave alone right after...?"
I glanced at Suyeon amid the nonstop lecturing.
She should've shown some irritation by now, but her face remained utterly apathetic.
"Unnie Sua, that's enough."
"What?"
"Let's be honest—we're not the type to sit here chatting cozily."
"What kind of talk is that? Oppa, say something!"
"Yeah, Suyeon. You went too far this time."
Suyeon smirked at their reactions and said,
"Stop with the obvious act and just say what you want. Want to talk to Hojin directly? Should I step out?"
Her unexpectedly aggressive words startled me, and I turned to see a new expression on her face.
A contemptuous look and raw emotional outburst I'd never seen before.
Compared to her usual mastery of composure and concealment, it felt utterly alien.
'Something must have happened between them...'
If things got worse, it might be unsalvageable, so I took action.
With all three arguing, anything flashy was out, so I quietly took Suyeon's hand under the table.
"Eek...?!"
She jolted in surprise at the sudden touch, her expression softening instantly.
That broke the standoffish mood in the room.
Sensing the timing amid the confusion, I spoke up.
"I'll borrow the President for a moment."
With that, I led Suyeon out of the conference room.
I ignored the voices calling from behind.
'Where to go...'
After a moment's thought, I took her to the terrace.
Fresh air outside seemed better than staying cooped up indoors.
Her expression brightened somewhat, so it was probably the right call.
"...Sorry."
"Pardon?"
"Acting like a fool at my age, unable to control my emotions... You saw an ugly side of me."
"......"
Suyeon tidied her wind-tossed hair and looked at me.
"You look full of questions... Ask whatever you want."
Cautiously, I asked,
"Is there a specific reason things are bad between you and those two?"
"A reason we're on bad terms? Simple. I've spent my whole life having everything taken by my older sister and brother."
A secret she'd never shared with anyone.
Her face looked relieved as she unburdened it.
"Honestly, looking back now, I'm not even sure. It's been so long since I lived as the 'youngest' getting everything snatched away that I don't know if I should be mad anymore."
"......"
"Of course, I know they didn't do it out of malice, so I couldn't complain to anyone. It just built up into resentment toward them."
After her confession, I thought for a moment before speaking.
"I can't comment on your family matters, but I think I can resolve today's situation simply."
"Simply?"
"Yes."
I hinted at my solution to her skeptical expression.
She shook her head in disbelief and asked back,
"They'd definitely offer you way better treatment than now, and you're turning it down?"
"Yes."
"Why? Not that I doubt you, but..."
"You know my previous company, right?"
"Previous? Oh..."
She finally seemed to understand my confidence.
"I transferred to Enson GT to make the games I want with my own hands. If I wanted better treatment, I'd have stayed at ND Soft."
"R-Right..."
"So don't worry—just enjoy the breeze here."
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
She must have been embarrassed about losing control earlier.
"I'll go back alone and handle it."
"Wouldn't it be better if we went together?"
"This is something I need to settle solo. If we go back now, can you just sit quietly like before?"
"......"
She fell silent, at a loss for words.
"I'll be right back."
*
"...You're really turning down this level of treatment?"
"Yes."
"Because you won't have the freedom to make games like at Enson GT?"
"Exactly."
Sua sighed deeply, shaking her head at my stubbornness.
Suhwan asked me once more.
"No conditions at all would make you switch?"
"None whatsoever."
"Alright, then you can go."
"Oppa! You're really giving up?"
Suhwan nodded helplessly at Sua's question.
"What can we do if she refuses no matter what? Kidnap you?"
"Don't say scary things like that. I'm just disappointed."
I ignored their bickering behind me and left the conference room.
Suyeon, waiting nearby, approached and asked,
"How'd it go?"
"I cleanly rejected everything, so they both seem to have given up."
"...Good."
She sighed in relief and slumped against the hallway wall.
"Get up for now. We still have one more thing to do."
"Oh, right..."
Realizing she still had to meet her father alone, her face soured.
"Can't we just head home today...?"
"No."
The main event was the one-on-one with the Chairman, so I felt the same reluctance, but no choice.
That's just office life—do it if you're told.
But the actual meeting with the Chairman unfolded completely differently from what I'd expected.
I'd stayed up all night preparing answers to potential game-related questions, but they were useless.
He simply said, "Leave the details to the experts," and asked nothing more.
As Suyeon said, it felt less like he had real business and more like he just wanted to see my face in person.
On the way back to the company after everything wrapped up,
we collapsed in the back seat, utterly drained.
"At least it ended without issues."
"Yeah..."