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Chapter 5
“I understand what you mean. Don’t forget this mindset you have now.”
“V-Vice President…”
“Go ahead and get inside before anyone reports this.”
Sehee, who had been momentarily stunned, finally came back to her senses.
Yuwon had already turned around briskly after finishing his words.
She didn’t know why… but was this a good ending?
As Sehee absentmindedly stared at Yuwon’s retreating figure,
“Oh, and one more thing.”
Yuwon, who had been walking away casually, suddenly turned back.
“If I may give you one piece of advice, from now on, don’t recklessly hand over your decision-making authority to others.”
“Huh?”
“There are assholes everywhere just waiting to expose your desperation, so if you don’t want to be used, don’t show weakness.”
“Ah… Yes, Vice President.”
Sehee blushed.
She admitted her approach was crude. Luckily it ended well; otherwise, she would have had to leave the organization.
Lost in her own thoughts, Sehee didn’t notice Yuwon’s smile—the very example of a sly bastard.
“I’ll remember that. And…”
After a moment of hesitation, Sehee added softly, her voice lacking confidence,
“Thank you for your concern.”
He really was concerned, right?
Yuwon raised one eyebrow as if to say, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
Fearing he might lash out with his sharp tongue again, Sehee quickly finished speaking.
“Thank you also for taking the time. I’ll work hard going forward.”
Yuwon gave a customary smile, then turned and disappeared.
Sehee stood frozen for a while, replaying the stormy moment.
Charging at that man so suddenly…
It was really crazy.
She thought she wasn’t impulsive by nature… but maybe that was a mistake.
Feeling dizzy as the realization hit, Sehee covered her cheeks with her hands.
She could feel her heart pounding faster than usual.
As usual, the Strategic Planning Office started work early in the morning.
“Well…”
Yuwon’s first reaction, after listening quietly throughout the report, was very brief.
The feedback after a long, detailed report was only “Well…”?
His unfavorable response made the Strategic Planning Team 2 staff tense.
Instead of immediately speaking again, Yuwon tapped the polished wooden desk rhythmically.
After a moment of silence, he looked around the room and smiled like a blooming flower.
A chillingly bright smile.
A warning that his tongue would slash like a knife.
As always, the bad feeling did not miss.
“The precision of the duty-free customer type analysis is lacking. Especially, reinforce the credibility of the FIT (Free Independent Traveler) arrival forecast and the downtown duty-free attraction rate.”
“Yes, Vice President.”
“The forecast analysis for the influx of Daigongs (overseas Chinese shoppers) also has many gaps. Simply relying on brokerage commissions or cost-cutting cannot justify the current profit estimates.”
“We will re-check and update it.”
Executive Director Kim, responsible for the report, smiled weakly, sweat on his brow. The Strategic Planning Team 2 staff sitting beside him looked deeply discouraged.
“I also like hopeful and beautiful forecasts. I’m willing to be persuaded if it’s convincing. So please just back it up properly. Make it believable. Understood?”
“I understand. We will reinforce it as quickly as possible.”
“Thank you.”
Yuwon smiled gently, as if encouraging the deflated Kim. To an outsider, it would have looked like praise.
Duty-free, distribution, hotel, leisure, food and beverage, and even the entrusted business of Woosung Group.
The man who saw through the entire business scope of MW Hotel Group did not accept anything half-hearted.
Yuwon was not a boss who cared about formalities. He did not care about the format of reports, even if they were a mess full of typos.
But he would not tolerate gaps in logic—especially decisions based on inertia, intuition, or experience—which he absolutely hated.
It was not easy to meet the high expectations of a man who worshiped data like a religion.
That was why the staff’s faces grew more and more drawn day by day.
To smile after reporting to Vice President Koo Yuwon was the mark of a first-class employee.
According to a catchphrase someone jokingly made up, all MW Hotel Group people so far were third-rate.
“Manager Han.”
Among them, the most suffering third-rate, Sehee, lifted her head sharply.
Yuwon asked lightly, as if checking on her.
“What was the operating profit margin forecast from management?”
“This year is 3.2%, next year 4.5%, and the year after 5.2%.”
“And the exchange rate?”
“Based on current figures, this year is set at 1,230 KRW, first quarter 1,270 KRW, and the first half at 1,250 KRW.”
“The drop in the second half is larger than expected.”
Yuwon nodded and remained silent. His sharply shining eyes suggested he was quietly running complicated calculations in his head.
“Executive Director Kim.”
Yuwon’s attention shifted from Sehee to Kim.
Relieved to be out of his line of questioning, Sehee quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
She had answered properly this time!
A secret joy appeared in Sehee’s eyes as she stared at her laptop screen.
It was rare she answered Yuwon’s sudden questions immediately, so this small success felt very rewarding.
Three weeks ago.
The day after she had forced an apology to Yuwon, Executive Director Jo summoned Sehee and Haejun early in the morning.
“From now on, the two of you will assist the Vice President as principal staff.”
“Is that really true?”
“Me… me?”
While Haejun was genuinely happy, Sehee was confused.
Executive Director Jo also seemed unsure why she was selected, but said it was a good thing and smiled.
“Since the Vice President personally chose you, please do your best. Assisting him will also be a great opportunity for you two.”
She had thought she had only shown pathetic incompetence…
Maybe the chaotic, law-breaking, disorganized, and rough plea she made was impressive?
Like a chaebol who falls for a woman who slapped him, maybe he was curious about such a hopeless employee.
Whatever the reason, Sehee was genuinely happy.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make up for her embarrassing mistakes.
Determined to do her best and never be broken by any hardship…
But reality was more like blazing hell than a thorny path.
Stress, nervous gastritis, loss of appetite, anxiety, insomnia, nightmares, sleep deprivation.
Her will to do well was still strong, but the reality was much worse than she expected…
She felt like she was going to die.
In less than a month, the dark circles under Sehee’s eyes grew noticeable. She glanced up quietly.
Haejun across from her looked no better. The handsome young man, once fresh as early summer sunshine, now looked wilted like overwatered leaves.
Even those who once envied or competed with them now looked at them with pity.
Still, it was a relief not to be alone.
In a short time, Sehee and Haejun had quickly become close.
While suffering together, a camaraderie-like friendship blossomed.
“Let’s endure well together today too.”
“Yes, manager. You too, hang in there.”
They solemnly gulped caffeine as if performing a ritual, and just knowing there was a colleague who understood their pain through eye contact gave Sehee great comfort.
So, it wasn’t all bad.
Probably…
“Let’s wrap it up here for today.”
While Sehee was trying to stay positive, Yuwon, who had piled up a ton of work, smoothly ended the meeting.
The Strategic Planning Team 2 members left the office looking weary and disheartened.
“Manager, you worked hard since morning.”
Haejun quietly whispered beside Sehee. She smiled and lowered her voice in return.
“You too. Did you get home late yesterday?”
“No, I finished earlier than usual. But you said you had a meeting after work?”
“That’s right, but it ended earlier than expected. Before nine.”
“Wow, you left work right on time. That’s humane.”
Haejun’s playful reply made Sehee chuckle. He looked at her with a faint smile and suggested,
“If you have time, want to go grab a coffee? It’s on me.”
Haejun always looked out for Sehee like this.
At unexpected times, he brought her favorite snacks, and when Yuwon scolded her, he worried even more deeply.
Haejun was truly a good person.
Unlike someone whose veins seemed to run numbers instead of blood.
“That sounds great. I wanted coffee anyway. But this time, I’ll pay.”
“No, I…”
“You always buy for me. Let me return the favor sometimes.”
As they exchanged friendly banter,
“Manager Han Sehee.”
Yuwon suddenly appeared from inside the office.
Startled, the two turned reflexively.
His indifferent gaze brushed close past their arms.
“Come inside for a moment.”
