Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Average monthly salary was around 3 million won, with thirty employees. That meant about 100 million won went to employee salaries every month. Double that, and it’s 200 million a month.
Since Jung Jin-woo had signed contracts worth a little over 2 billion won, just his contracts alone could cover a year’s worth of salaries. On top of that, the company had been struggling just to pay interest on its massive debt, but then Seonggi Sung Private Equity invested 38.5 billion won, wiping out the debt entirely. With no outgoing expenses, they were able to give employees a 100% salary raise.
Still, it wasn’t much for each person.
Thinking back, the company had managed to survive even before Jung Jin-woo arrived. But now, with 28.5 billion won of debt cleared and 2 billion won in contracts secured, it was like a starving pauper suddenly becoming wealthy.
“Team Leader Jung! Haha! This is amazing. You’re the best!”
“It’s all thanks to Team Leader Jung.”
Jijeong, Assistant Manager Lee Mi-seon, and other employees, some of whom he only knew by face, were expressing their gratitude to Jung Jin-woo.
“Oh, it’s nothing… hahaha.”
He had only been pretending to do work. Since the company was his anyway, he had just unified the internal systems. No need to be so touched…
“Team Leader Jung! We couldn’t let someone like you languish as a team leader, so I discussed it with Director Gi Dong-chan. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be promoted to Department Head.”
“Excuse me?”
“Since the founding of Gi-seong IT thirty years ago, there’s never been a promotion like this! You’re the only one to become a Department Head less than a month after joining!”
“Then… does the salary increase too?”
“Of course! Just like all the other employees, your salary doubles.”
“That’s not a raise because I became Department Head.”
“Alright, alright! I’ll personally add an extra million won just for you….”
Director Gi said it as if he were being generous.
Doubling everyone’s salary and adding just one million more to make him Department Head?
“No, then I’ll just stay as a team leader.”
“No! You’re a Department Head now!”
“You don’t have to promote me just for a title with no real value.”
“It’s already a company decision, so just go along with it….”
It wasn’t like he was being tricked. They were just showing off with a title that barely came with a raise.
“Why am I even getting promoted?”
“To make sure Jijeong gets a team leader position!”
“Ha…”
Ah, that’s it. To make Jijeong the team leader and get work done properly, he had to be promoted first. Since he had already been introduced as the team leader to clients, it would’ve looked awkward to have two team leaders.
“Alright. I’ll do it. Fine.”
“Congratulations, Department Head Jung!”
“See? Department Head Jung… you’re really smart.”
What was this? Even in a messy company, he had been told to be a team leader on the day he joined, and now less than a month later, he was being made a Department Head.
“Our company doesn’t follow seniority! It’s merit-based! That’s why it’s possible, haha.”
“That’s right! Gi-seong IT is merit-based, hahaha.”
President Choi Tae-min laughed, and Director Gi Dong-chan followed suit.
‘Tch, these guys really…’
For a moment, he felt the urge to cut them off completely, but he resisted.
If anyone else had invited him, he wouldn’t have come to this kind of event. But since it was for his only friend, Park Kyung-tae, it was different.
This was basically a pre-wedding gathering for friends of the bride and groom. Three came from the bride’s side, and Jung Jin-woo was the only one on Park Kyung-tae’s side. Kyung-tae valued quality over quantity in friends, much like Jung Jin-woo.
“Jung Eun! Your face is glowing. Congratulations on your marriage.”
“Thank you… Cho Min… no, Jung Jin-woo.”
Lee Jung-eun, the bride-to-be, had met Jung Jin-woo a few times before. He had watched her grow her relationship with Park Kyung-tae, her fellow elementary school teacher after graduating from the education department. She seemed kind and decent even to Jung Jin-woo.
“So… where will you live after the wedding?”
“Shh, we’ll rent near the school.”
“Starting with a rental is going to be tough… isn’t that in Gyeonggi-do?”
Of the three friends from the bride’s side, two seemed fine, but one clearly didn’t approve. All three appeared to be college friends of the bride.
“Kyung-tae! Your father is a company president, right? Starting with a rental in Gyeonggi-do makes no sense.”
“Hahaha… sorry. My previous company went bankrupt, so things were a bit complicated….”
“Too bad. There were so many rich men who liked our Jung-eun…”
She went overboard to defend the bride, crossing the line. The cheerful atmosphere quickly turned awkward, yet Choi Kyung-sun didn’t stop.
“You can save gradually and buy a house as you go!”
If the bride had said that, it should have stopped there.
“This girl is so naive. No matter how much you save, housing prices will go up! Kyung-tae, isn’t your father a construction company president? Can’t the company get you an apartment?”
“Dad’s company focuses on civil construction… they do build apartments, but… haha, sorry, haha.”
“Still, that’s too much. The man should at least be responsible for the house.”
“Kyung-sun… stop….”
“Am I wrong? Isn’t it common sense that the man provides the house?”
“Sorry… haha…”
Annoying type. She knew all about Kyung-tae’s family situation. His father’s previous company went bankrupt, leaving them with some debts. They rented with the money Kyung-tae and Jung-eun had saved to avoid burdening their parents.
A friend who had lived diligently was being painted as a reckless man who steals brides.
“How much has your friend saved?”
“Excuse me?”
“Kyung-sun… what are you saying to a friend?”
“I’m just curious about men these days… your friend is a Department Head. He must have saved some money at his age.”
Come to think of it, Jung Jin-woo hadn’t saved money himself. It was all inherited from his father.
“I just started working, so I haven’t saved much yet….”
“But you’re a Department Head? You must have worked at the company for at least seven or eight years.”
“Uh, haha….”
Right, less than a month had passed. His previous work at SG Global had been just three years. Explaining that a newcomer became a team leader and then a Department Head in under a month would be impossible.
Wait, with the Gold Coin launch, he made 70 trillion won. But that didn’t count as saved money?
“Men these days… they seem so irresponsible. What about the honeymoon?”
“We’ll go to Southeast Asia.”
“Southeast Asia?”
Choi Kyung-sun shot a look at Park Kyung-tae.
“Kyung-tae, isn’t that too little? Who goes to Southeast Asia for a honeymoon these days?”
She clearly intended to cause trouble. He couldn’t understand why someone so unreasonable was a friend of the bride. But Jung Jin-woo had prepared something.
Buying a house was easy, but that wasn’t necessary.
“Kyung-tae, can we extend the honeymoon a bit?”
“Yeah, I can probably adjust it.”
“I got a gift somewhere… I’m busy and don’t need it, so I think you should use it.”
Jung Jin-woo placed a card on the table.
“What’s this?”
“Mediterranean cruise ticket.”
Park Kyung-tae’s eyes went wide.
“Crystal Ocean Cruise… suite room….”
“Crystal Ocean Cruise? That’s for the wealthy? Suite room means the top floor, right? That must be expensive….”
“At least 100 million won. I’m giving it as a gift.”
Knowing the price, Choi Kyung-sun glared at Jung Jin-woo.
It was a 14-night, 15-day cruise visiting the Mediterranean’s beautiful port cities, five-star hotels onboard, meals prepared by Michelin-star chefs, and all facilities included—a level of service for royalty.
“Jin-woo… I hate such extravagant gifts.”
“Forget it. I got a gift too. If you don’t use it by the date, it’s wasted. You can’t ride a cruise right after joining the company. It’s not for you, it’s for Jung-eun. Just use it!”
He would have to tell Hyoyeon Construction to build a new apartment. Employees could get the first pick, so Park Kyung-tae could too. Or maybe have the CEO’s family live there first to ensure quality construction.
“T-thank you, Jin-woo.”
The bride-to-be was smiling brightly.
“No, Jung-eun! Kyung-tae, I guarantee quality for 30 years. If anything goes wrong, just tell me.”
“Hahaha… after 30 years?”
“Well, fix it or abandon it then, right?”
“Hahaha.”
“Hahaha.”
The friends who had looked pityingly at the bride’s face were now envious and jealous.
Why was Park Kyung-tae so confident? The bride looked like the happiest person in the world.
“I think I’ve done two things right in my life: asking Jung-eun to date me, and keeping Jin-woo, this loser, as a friend. Thanks, Jin-woo! Worth keeping you by my side all this time.”
Jung Jin-woo didn’t mind. He was a good friend who had always been there.
“You said you don’t have a girlfriend, right?”
Park Kyung-tae offered to treat them to dinner, moving to a Japanese restaurant where they naturally had drinks. The problem was Choi Kyung-sun clinging to Jung Jin-woo.
If it weren’t for Park Kyung-tae, he would have left long ago. But he couldn’t. This was a friend’s gathering.
After a few drinks, she smiled and flirted with him.
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
He thought of Oh Se-eun. She was the closest to that title.
“No girlfriend.”
“You’re pretty though.”
A polite answer. He couldn’t risk ruining the atmosphere. She was genuinely quite attractive.
“Sorry I didn’t recognize you?”
“Huh?”
“You’re wearing a fake watch and ordinary clothes, so I didn’t recognize you.”
“F-fake… haha…”
Unbelievable. A 2 trillion won watch as a fake? To ordinary eyes, maybe.
“What’s your number?”
She was persistent. There was a method to deal with someone clingy like her. The same trick he used with Oh Se-eun.
“I’m divorced.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve been married before.”
“Ahhh….”
Disappointed. Normally, she would have stopped there.
“These days, there are many like me. But it’s fine, maybe breaking up early is better.”
She didn’t give up. He had to make her leave. Park Kyung-tae had asked him because he was the only friend who could handle it.
“I also became Department Head less than a month after joining. I was a new employee until recently.”
“Wha… how is that possible? Which company?”
“Gi-seong IT! You know? It used to be famous but is now a failing company.”
He felt bad for colleagues who took pride in their work. But he had to do this to shake off a clingy pest.
“Gi-seong IT isn’t failing yet? Ahhh… so that’s why you’re a Department Head.”
Choi Kyung-sun’s expression turned to one of understanding, frowning.
“Be careful. Usually after such a sudden promotion, people get scammed.”
“S-scammed?”
“They make you co-sign loans. Ah, Mijeong, remember what you said back then!”
She tossed the topic and moved on. Clear in her communication. Useful ones she clings to; useless ones she abandons. Thanks to that, he got rid of a nuisance.
Next time, he’d need another excuse. Making Gi-seong IT look bad felt a little guilty—they were working hard after all.