Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: New Member
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The handover process that Myunghoon and I had started was going smoothly.
The role of executive director wasn't really about tough tasks so much as shouldering responsibility from the start.
The only issue was the sheer volume of documents to hand over.
The schedules were mapped out months—no, nearly a year—in advance, so the stack of paperwork was beyond imagination.
Myunghoon Brother's face fell the moment he saw the pile of handover files.
"Whoa... Hojin, you really can't complain if Chaeyoung Director calls you a workaholic or something."
"Nah, come on, that's not fair."
I reflexively denied his words at the comparison to Chaeyoung.
Even so, comparing me to Chaeyoung Senior was a bit much.
This handover just felt overwhelming because we were cramming a full year's worth into one go—it wasn't like I was doing extra work.
But Myunghoon just gave me a pitying look in response to my rebuttal, saying nothing more.
His attitude left me a little dumbfounded, but I didn't push it and focused on the handover instead.
He would've reacted the same no matter how much I protested anyway.
"For the update-related docs that the next team lead will handle, you can just sign off on the ones up to six months from now—basically until April next year. I've already done the final checks and left them pending approval."
"No need to review them again?"
"Nope. I've confirmed them multiple times already. But after that, you'll have to review the drafts yourself, judge them, and give feedback. If you're ever unsure, just give me a call. I'll help out."
"Got it. Thanks."
"No problem. For collabs, I'd follow SFLAG's advice unless there's a good reason not to. And for the pop-up store in the first half of next year, make sure you visit the site in person before it kicks off to check the venue."
"Site check? In Japan?"
I nodded at Myunghoon's question.
"Yeah, Japan."
At that, Myunghoon nodded as if something had clicked, looking at me.
"No wonder you go on so many overseas trips."
"I could leave it to the publisher, but it just doesn't sit right with me."
Myunghoon nodded and jotted it down in his notebook.
Seeing his attitude, I could understand why the president treated Myunghoon Brother like an ace.
Even after reaching a level where he'd be respected anywhere, his drive to keep learning was impressive.
"There are a few more things I want to go over besides this, but how about we wrap up here for today?"
"Already?"
"I'd love to keep going, but it's already past 4 p.m."
"Really?"
Myunghoon glanced at the wall clock with a doubtful expression.
The clock on the wall pointed exactly to 4:30.
"We have plenty of time for the handover anyway, so no rush."
"Yeah, good work today, Hojin."
"You too, Brother."
As I watched Myunghoon gather the scattered handover documents from the table and head out, I thought to myself.
'Maybe it'll wrap up in about a week.'
I'd figured it would take two weeks or so.
But since Myunghoon was keeping up so well, it looked like we could finish faster than expected.
*
It had been five full days since I'd been handling executive director duties in the mornings and handovers in the afternoons.
In the middle of the handover with Myunghoon, my phone rang.
The caller ID showed Suyeon.
I excused myself from Myunghoon and took the call in the hallway. Suyeon's voice came through the smartphone.
[Hojin, you free to talk right now?]
"Ah, yes. I am."
[I've got something to discuss. Can you come up to the 7th floor now?]
"7th floor? Got it."
I hung up and headed to the 7th floor, where an unfamiliar scene greeted me—one that didn't match my memories.
In my recollection, the 7th floor was mostly empty except for a few rooms used as storage.
But now, it was buzzing with construction workers and staff from what looked like the management support team hard at work.
'What the heck is going on?'
I wandered around, exchanging greetings with the workers and staff, until I spotted Suyeon watching a group of workers installing partition walls.
Her wavy black hair fell to her waist,
paired with her petite frame and casual blouse-and-skirt outfit,
complete with a lollipop in her mouth.
If not for the employee ID around her neck, she could've easily passed for a student—no one with any tact would say it out loud, though.
Suyeon spotted me too and waved me over.
"Hojin! Over here!"
I approached, and she grinned, pulling out a lollipop.
"Want one?"
"Ah, sure."
I unwrapped the strawberry lollipop she handed me and popped it in my mouth.
The sweet strawberry flavor spread delightfully.
Suyeon watched me with a pleased smile and spoke up.
"This 7th floor under construction? It's going to house the new SM Division headquarters and studio offices."
"...Isn't it a bit too spacious?"
The 6th floor, where the mobile game dev team had been, included Chaeyoung's recording studio and break room, so the actual office space wasn't that big.
But this 7th floor, with partitions going up and no extra facilities, looked at least twice the size—maybe even more, if you exaggerated a little.
"Isn't that a good thing? We'll be spinning up more studios down the line, so we won't have to shuffle floors—just slap up some walls and done."
"True, that makes sense."
"Right?"
Suyeon flashed a cheeky grin.
For some reason, she seemed extra upbeat today.
"Something good happen today?"
"Huh? You can tell?"
"A little."
She cleared her throat at my response and continued.
"My dad called today. One of the execs in his inner circle must've leaked the board meeting details."
"Honestly, when I picked up, I thought I'd get an earful again. You know, 'Why'd you go off and make decisions on your own?' type thing."
"But nope. He just said in that gruff voice of his, 'You're doing well. Keep it up,' and hung up."
I stayed silent instead of responding to Suyeon.
She didn't seem to expect a reply anyway and kept going.
"Anyway, I'm really grateful to you, Hojin. From start to finish. None of this would've happened without you."
"I was just doing my job."
"We have plenty of diligent people here. How many do you think actually slack off at work?"
"......"
"Point is, do whatever you want going forward. I'll back you up as much as I can from behind the scenes."
I smiled and bowed my head slightly at her words.
"I'll keep giving it my all."
I could feel the workers glancing our way, but neither Suyeon nor I paid it any mind.
"Oh right, I almost forgot why I called you here."
"Hm?"
"You free tomorrow afternoon, Hojin?"
"Afternoon? Around what time...?"
"Around 2 p.m. Should take about an hour."
"Ah, yeah, no problem. But why...?"
"We have an interview scheduled tomorrow. The senior dev you've been hoping for."
"Hoping for?"
"A senior-level developer."
*
The next day, 2 p.m.
Right now, Suyeon and I were waiting in a 1st-floor conference room—the interview venue—for the candidate.
Yumi, who'd come with us, had set out refreshments and stepped out to guide the interviewee in.
Suyeon was on a call with work stuff, so all I could do was read over the resume of the person sitting in front of me.
Let's see...
Age 29, male.
Pretty young for a senior-level position.
His resume didn't seem to lean on years of experience, and the notes section below mentioned something flashy from the coding test.
The first thought that hit me after skimming it:
Why would someone with this level of practical skill apply to our company...?
Not to knock Enson GT or anything.
Objectively, it just wasn't the kind of place that would attract senior devs.
For example, this caliber could've gone straight to headquarters at Enson Korea.
I tilted my head, unable to make sense of it,
when Suyeon, who'd finished her call, looked at me with a smile.
"You can't figure out the resume either, huh, Hojin?"
"Ah, yeah. Pretty much."
"Not a bad problem to have, right? With skills like these."
"Purely on talent, he's perfect. The question is why he'd apply here."
"Eh, we'll find out in the interview. That's what it's for."
"Fair point."
Right on cue, as our chat wrapped up, there was a knock at the conference room door, and Yumi poked her head in.
"Mr. Lee Taesun, the interviewee, is here. Shall I send him in?"
"Please do."
I glanced sideways, seeing Suyeon nodding with a smile.
Yumi, who'd caught our looks, left the room. Moments later, the candidate entered.
"Hello. I'm Lee Taesun, applying to Enson GT. Thank you so much for this opportunity."