Vol. 1 - Ch. 4 - Handshake at the End of a Long Negotiation

The timing was uncanny. Right as he was about to go down to the subway station, Jae-Yoon saw the text message pop up, and hesitated for a moment.She’s a perfect employee, except for the fact that she cries at important moments. She’s the only person in the company that I, Jae-Yoon, can trust and leave work to. I wonder what she wants to talk about. I’m quite curious what Manager Yang will say.

“Team Leader!”

“You got here quick?”

“I followed right after you left, Team Leader. Ugh, I really hate Managing Director Oh. Doesn’t the title ‘Managing Director’ make you cringe?”

Jae-Yoon smiled as he watched Manager Yang shudder. They were only a year apart in age, but Manager Yang treated Jae-Yoon as if he were a department head with twenty years of experience.

Without even looking at the menu, she called for an employee. “Auntie! Over here!”

“Chicken feet and steamed eggs. Add bean sprouts to the chicken feet, right? One beer and one cider.”

“Wow. Auntie, you’re really good at your job. My dream is to open my own grill pub someday, and when I do, I’ll scout you. The top, top spot.”

“Oh, what a sweet talker, pretty lady. I’m in a good mood, so I’ll give you a free rice ball.”

Manager Yang Si-Hyun. She was smart and knew how to take care of herself. After seeing this rascal today, she would definitely hand in her resignation letter tomorrow. Or, maybe, she already submitted it today.

If you took away the tendency to be overly emotional, she would be a coveted employee. Especially since she had the thoughtfulness and attention to detail that Jae-Yoon lacked. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say they had been complementing each other’s shortcomings and operating OhGa Kitchen together all this time.

Whether Yang Si-Hyun knew Jae-Yoon’s thoughts or not, she muttered as she put down her spoon, “You’re completely out of it today, Team Leader. Honestly, I wish you would quit soon.”

“Why? So you can take over my position?”

“Ugh, that’s the last thing I want. You don’t belong in a place like this. You should be somewhere better. Tonight’s on me. I felt bad for making you squeeze me in this morning. I’m deeply sorry.”

Manager Yang bowed deeply, almost touching the table with her head. A lavender scent wafted in the air as she shook her ponytail.

“Why the hell are you crying? Do you have to cry no matter what? You’re perfect if you take away the crying.”

“Oh, geez. I don’t know either. Why do the waterworks open first whenever something big happens?”

“Every time you cried, it felt like my insides were being ripped apart.”

“Were?”

“Were, since I will not see your tears from now on.”

“Wow, I feel neglected. Don’t tell me you’ve already found a new job? Where is it? Home shopping? An online platform? With your capabilities, you would get a free pass to any big company.”

Yang Si-Hyun crossed her arms on the table and looked at Jae-Yoon. She was a mysterious person. At first, Jae-Yoon had wondered if she was the president’s hidden daughter, given how dedicated she was to the company.

The day she first came for an interview, she didn’t even notice the shabby office. Jae-Yoon had been impressed by her bold attitude and wanted to work with her. There was substance to her every word, and she never said anything wrong.

“Let’s eat.”

“No kidding. With Team Manager Jae-Yoon’s personality, you would not simply resign without a compelling reason. What is it? Just tell me a little.”

Jae-Yoon thought as he poured Manager Yang a glass of soju. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NøvᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Maybe, just maybe, like something out of a fairy tale, the thought crossed his mind that he could take the offer from the man he had met earlier and become a real chaebol. Maybe it was because he had had a drink. Among the offer details, the equity transfer item made his heart flutter.

That was not just an empty shell. I don’t know how many shares Min Ho-Jun has, but at least I’ll be able to put my name on it as a shareholder.

“What were you going to give me?”

“Um... It’s nothing special.”

Manager Yang handed him a small zipper bag containing a USB drive.

“What’s this? You’re turning into a corporate spy?”

“I’m a little relieved to see Team Leader making a lame joke. Not sure if you remember, but this is something you instructed me to do two years ago.”

“Um, me? If I instructed you, I wouldn’t forget it. Why are you giving it to me two years later?”

“I’ve been organizing it, wondering when to report or give it to you, but now that it’s time to actually hand it over, I feel a bit reluctant.”

Yang Si-Hyun smacked her lips, as if she was making a big decision, and urged him to take it quickly, fearing she might change her mind if he hesitated.

It was a cute product with a Hello Kitty head dangling from it. Even the USB drive was like Manager Yang. It was covered in fingerprints from long-term use.

“You seem somewhat reluctant to part with it?”

“I would not give this away even if someone paid me.”

“Then, what is it that makes it so precious?”

Manager Yang lowered her voice as if she was afraid someone might hear, “It’s a summary of the major home shopping sales and hit products for the past two years. Although, there are some gaps here and there because I didn’t work on it on days you scolded me.”

“That’s so like you.”

He did not mind her sticking out her tongue and pouting her lips. Two years’ worth of data. Manager Yang handed over her own treasure as if she knew that Jae-Yoon would become a home shopping executive.

“It’s true Team Leader Jae-Yoon pioneered online and home shopping. Just between us, if you had not started that brand back then, we would not even be having this conversation while still stuck at that company.”

“I knew you were meticulous, but I didn’t know you were this prepared.”

“I don’t know about anything else, but I listen to what you say. Do you remember what you said back then? You said that you never know what will happen in life, so you have to be prepared for the future. This is that preparation and weapon, or something like that.”

“Thanks, really. This is valuable information. Did you include It’s Home Shopping as well?” Jae-Yoon asked as he carefully put the zipper bag containing the USB drive in his pocket.

Manager Yang answered as if it was obvious, “If it’s a major home shopping company, It’s is obviously included. Thinking about what you did today, I don’t feel refreshed even if I drink a gallon of water... By the way, if you open the file, you’ll see that It’s Home Shopping is a little suspicious right now.”

“What’s suspicious about it?”

The expression ‘suspicious’ was’t an expression that could be taken lightly. Jae-Yoon became interested when he heard such an expression from Manager Yang, who always looked at all companies objectively.

“I’ve heard rumors that they’re changing their CEO.”

“Where did you get that information?”

“I follow stock forums. Those guys have solid inside scoops. They have a pretty good batting average.”

“But, how is a CEO change suspicious?”

As the auntie served the free appetizer rolls, Yang Si-Hyun explained while placing one on Jae-Yoon’s plate. Her explanation was straightforward, connecting to the articles Jae-Yoon had read that afternoon.

“The fact that he was transferred to It’s Home Shopping means that he’s a son that the group has given up on.”

“Huh? Given up? On what?”

“Oh, come on. You’re the team leader, but you’re so clueless about the business world. What that means is...”

Manager Yang’s explanation was simple. It was a continuation of the article that Jae-Yoon had seen in the afternoon. Simply put, the home shopping business was losing ground. The fact that the group transferred him to be the CEO of a home shopping company meant that they wanted him to take responsibility for the bad reputation of the failing company and turn it around.

Min Ho-Jun.

“It could rise to first place to spite them. People can be really vicious.”

“Oh, Team Leader Jae-Yoon is a bit naive.”

“Now, what else is there?”

“It’s Home Shopping. There’s talk within the group that they want to get rid of it; a thorn in their side. But, they can’t just dissolve it, so they’re making the black sheep, the youngest son, a scapegoat.”

“Then, we’ll just have to revive it.”

Jae-Yoon did not understand. There was no such thing as a company that was destined to fail or succeed. On the contrary, should he show them what he got? Suddenly, Min Ho-Jun seemed all the more feeble.

So that’s why he’s called a losing pitcher. What’s so scary about that? Whether he’ll be a losing pitcher or a relief pitcher, you won’t know until the game is over.

“It does not just happen because you say so. We can’t possibly know all the ins and outs of the chaebol families.”

“You sure do know a lot.”

“I just pick things up here and there. Some of it is speculation from internet forums, so take it with a grain of salt.”

“Thank you anyway. For the story and the USB drive.”

“Oh, I can’t thank you enough. If it weren’t for you back then, who knows what Manager Han would have done? Oh, just thinking about it makes me want to cry.”

“No need to bring out such old stories. Let’s finish our cider and head out.”

Jae-Yoon felt awkward when he heard Manager Yang bringing up the old story again. Sexual harassment in the workplace. For months, nobody noticed. It had been harassment disguised as concern. Jae-Yoon’s radar picked up on the slimy and sticky gestures.

He was disgusted by the fact that Mr. Han was doing that to a young employee who was ten years younger than him. That was the only reason. He felt disgusted to be in the same office as that subhuman trash. Moreover, if things grew bigger and word spread externally, it could have distorted all his plans.

“It’s not easy to get involved in others’ business like that. That’s when I decided, ‘Ah, I must be loyal to Team Leader Jae-Yoon.’ Loyalty, lo-yal-ty.”

“You did more than enough. I’m grateful, too.”

Manager Yang reached out her right hand and said, “You’re going to do great, Team Leader. I have a good feeling about this.”

“I sincerely hope your instincts are correct. You will excel wherever you go as well.”

“Without you, I’m only half as good; but, I’ll make good use of what I’ve learned. Even if you need to take a break, don’t stop.”

She was a feisty girl, even though she was kind-hearted.

“If you’re ever truly out of options, maybe try applying to It’s Home Shopping,” Jae-Yoon joked. It was definitely the alcohol talking. He would never have said it if he were sober.

“Pfft. You make it sound like you can just put me in.”

“Who knows?”

“I will engrave it in my memory. Even when we resign, let’s wrap up properly before leaving. The president was good to us.”

“I’ll try my best.”

Jae-Yoon shook Manager Yang’s hand firmly and got up from his seat.

“Do as you wish. Sometimes... Without overthinking, the actions you take blindly turn out to be the right choices. Bye.”

Jae-Yoon thought as he watched Manager Yang wave her hand vigorously, Right. Sometimes, you have to do things without thinking. It’s not for nothing that they say you should shake hands at the End of a Long Negotiation.

Jae-Yoon was halfway convinced. When he got home, he took a longer shower than usual.

What is with that blasted oil heater? Today, I will indulge in a bit of luxury. Letting the hot water soak me lethargic for thirty minutes, and ease up my mind a little.

‘Let’s open the USB drive.’

He was curious about how the data was organized. If it was two years’ worth of data, it must be valuable data that one couldn’t even buy with money.

2020 Home Shopping Integrated Sales Data.xls

2021 Home Shopping Integrated Sales Data.xls

2022 Home Shopping Integrated Sales Data.xls

[ Galaxy Home Shopping ]

[ It’s Home Shopping ]

[ Luna Home Shopping ]

[ Knotty Home Shopping ]

[ TS Home Shopping ]

… Wow, Manager Yang is quite something.

Not only did she compile the overall sales data, but she also meticulously organized it by home shopping channel, including hit product sales volumes, show hosts, success factors, and failures.

Jae-Yoon just skimmed through the data, but he was starting to get the hang of it. Just as he was about to turn off the PC, two Excel files titled ‘Important’ caught his eye. He opened the files without hesitation.

Community, online cafe IDs, and passwords.

Log in when you need data. It might be more useful than you think.

I have another truly important piece of data...

One of the remaining files was password-protected.

Is she trying to make a deal with me?

Jae-Yoon thought that maybe this was the real reason why Manager Yang wanted to give him this USB drive. He turned off the power, lay down on the bed, and was about to turn off the stand light when his cell phone vibrated. It was Managing Director Oh.

[ President’s son: Lee Jae-Yoon, are you serious? I’m asking you one last time. ]

[ Yes. ]

He replied without hesitation, switched his phone to silent mode, then pulled the covers over his head.