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chapter 17
“Yes, Chairman.”
Nam Do-hyun met his gaze steadily, without wavering.
“What do you think should be done to overcome this crisis?”
“To overcome the prolonged recession, I believe improving the shopping experience is most important.”
“Improving the shopping experience… specifically?”
“By actively utilizing SNS markets rather than relying solely on the existing online mall.”
“SNS markets?”
Chairman Kwon furrowed his brows with interest.
“Currently, the influence of social media on fashion consumption is growing rapidly. Especially on TikTok, short but powerful trends like ‘○○-core’ are constantly emerging, and young consumers are already responding strongly to the flow of social media.”
Chairman Kwon quietly nodded.
“Recently, major platforms like YouTube and Instagram have been strengthening their commerce functions. For teenagers and people in their twenties, SNS has already become ‘the shopping gateway.’”
“And so?”
“We should introduce an SNS-based shopping platform. For example, Pinterest uses its own commerce function where AI curates customized products for consumers. If we also strengthen personalized recommendations and product-focused content in a similar way, we’ll be able to effectively boost purchase conversion rates.”
When Nam Do-hyun finished his explanation, the conference room sank into silence.
Soon, the executives’ eyes darted around busily.
They seemed quite surprised that a low-ranking employee—whom no one had paid much attention to—had shown such impressive analytical skills and insight.
In Chairman Kwon Jin-man’s eyes, looking at Do-hyun suddenly reminded him of Dong-hoon in his youth.
A son who had been smart, ambitious, and above all, possessed exceptional insight.
He remembered vividly how his son had fearlessly voiced his opinions at meetings, how he analyzed thoroughly, judged coolly, and grasped situations faster than anyone else.
And now, before his eyes stood a young man with the very same gaze.
Do-hyun’s firm expression, steady voice, and logically organized answers—
It was as if Dong-hoon in his younger years had come back to life.
Chairman Kwon’s eyes lingered on Do-hyun, unable to move away.
“I’ve heard your opinion well.”
“Thank you.”
Uncharacteristic for his age, Nam Do-hyun bowed politely. His confident yet dignified gaze left a strong impression.
“Manager Jung Sung-tae.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
Straightening his posture nervously, Jung Sung-tae stood at attention.
“Revise this proposal again, referring to Mr. Nam Do-hyun’s ideas.”
“Yes, understood.”
As Chairman Kwon rose from his seat, the long meeting finally came to an end.
Like escaping from hell, the executives all let out sighs of relief at once.
Then—
Bang!
A loud thud shook the table as a report was slammed down hard.
The room froze instantly.
It was Vice Chairman Jo Seok-jin.
His face flushed red, he slammed the report onto the table, not caring as the papers inside scattered across the floor.
“Manager Jung!”
“Yes, Vice Chairman!”
Jung Sung-tae hurriedly rushed over.
The vice chairman’s anger was boiling to the top of his head.
“If your brain is useless, at least do proper market research! What kind of pathetic proposal is this?!”
“I—I’m sorry.”
“If next season’s sales drop, you’ll take full responsibility! Understood?!”
After lashing out harshly, Jo Seok-jin shot Do-hyun a sour glance just before leaving. His eyes mixed discomfort with wariness.
Then he slammed the door behind him and disappeared.
The remaining executives exchanged uneasy looks, coughed awkwardly, and began trickling out of the room one by one.
“Are you alright?”
Do-hyun asked cautiously.
Jung Sung-tae forced a weak smile.
“What’s there not to be alright about? Don’t worry.”
But anyone could tell the smile was forced.
At that moment, Deputy Manager Yang Hyun-oh, who had been watching from the side, spoke up discontentedly.
“Manager, aren’t you upset? It was the Vice Chairman himself who ordered us to revise the proposal we’d worked on for weeks.”
“What can we do? That’s the sorrow of being a salaryman.”
Jung Sung-tae gave a bitter smile.
It wasn’t the first time he had revised proposals under Vice Chairman Jo’s orders.
After recklessly expanding into the resort business and ruining it, Jo Seok-jin lost Chairman Kwon’s trust. To make up for his failure, he began interfering heavily in the fashion business.
But his orders, as someone ignorant of fashion, were far removed from market trends. Whenever Jung Sung-tae carefully voiced objections, Jo would snap back, “Are you trying to belittle me?”
“If he dares to order us to change everything again this time, I won’t just sit still.”
“What, are you going to take it up with the Chairman?”
“W-why not? I could.”
Though his words were bold, Deputy Manager Yang’s eyes wavered slightly.
Noticing this, Jung Sung-tae gave his shoulder a light pat.
“Still, thanks—for at least saying it.”
*
Standing in front of a full-length mirror, Yeon-ha had been agonizing for thirty minutes over what to wear to the housewarming.
She liked the white dress, but its short length might make it uncomfortable to move around in. The beige pantsuit was comfortable but felt a little too plain.
Torn between looking pretty or feeling comfortable, Yeon-ha finally picked up the white dress.
Before leaving, she checked herself in the mirror once more, smiled with satisfaction, and stepped out her front door.
Then she headed toward the apartment across the hall.
Ding-dong. Ding-dong.
She steadied her nervous breath and pressed the doorbell. A moment later, she heard movement inside, and then the door swung open.
“You’re here?”
Seeing her at the door, he greeted her with a bright smile.
In that moment, all the thoughts she had obsessed over—the outfit, the nerves before ringing the bell—vanished into blankness.
Dressed in a blue shirt paired with dark navy chinos, he looked neat yet stylish.
“Please, come in.”
When he opened the door wide, Yeon-ha, who had been standing dazed, belatedly came to her senses and handed over the gift she was holding.
“This is for you.”
“What is it?”
“A candle. I bought it because it has a really nice scent.”
“I love candles. Thank you so much.”
Seeing how pleased he was, Yeon-ha felt relieved that her days of fretting over what gift to buy had been worth it.
As she slipped off her shoes, she heard the door close behind her. Her attention was entirely drawn to his presence.
But as she stepped inside, she suddenly noticed how unusually quiet and empty the living room seemed.
“Have the others not arrived yet?”
“No one else is coming.”
At his words, Yeon-ha’s eyes widened. She had assumed others had been invited as well.
“But you said it was a housewarming.”
“That’s right.”
“Then why am I the only one…?”
“Because you’re the only person I wanted to invite, Team Leader.”
He shrugged casually.
Yeon-ha couldn’t hide her bewildered expression.
Seeing the confusion on her face, he gently added,
“Does it feel burdensome, being here alone?”
Yes. Very much so.
Ever since he had moved in, Yeon-ha had tried hard not to be too conscious of him.
Every time she opened her door to leave for work, she found herself sneaking glances toward his apartment. Every time she pressed the elevator button, she grew strangely tense, worried he might step in.
He was always nonchalant, but she was the one constantly aware, which only made it harder.
That was why she had hesitated dozens of times today.
Should I go? Should I make up an excuse not to?
But since it was just next door—and he said he had prepared food—she reluctantly decided to attend.
And now, it turned out she was the only guest.
“If I had known I was the only one invited, I wouldn’t have come.”
“That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you.”
At his candid reply, Yeon-ha couldn’t decide whether to get angry or to walk straight out.
“I won’t keep you long. Just have dinner and go. I started cooking from dawn… if you leave now, I’ll have to throw it all away.”
“You didn’t order the food?”
“I don’t really like delivery.”
From dawn?
Yeon-ha, who had been about to excuse herself after just handing over the gift, closed her mouth at that.
“While I set the table, why don’t you look around the place?”
Sensing her hesitation, he smiled brightly and disappeared into the kitchen.
