* * *
“I don’t think I’m qualified to handle such a task.”
This was the best resistance Junhee could muster.
“Oh, why? Are you too busy right now? Should I reassign some of your tasks?”
“No, that’s not it. It’s just… as you know, I haven’t received formal training or a college education, so I’m worried I might inconvenience others.”
“Assistant Manager Yoo, you do tend to overthink. Just stick to what you’re good at.”
“What I’m good at…?”
“You’re bad at criticizing but also bad at lying, aren’t you?”
Junhee momentarily lost his words. Was that a compliment or an insult?
Seeing his ambiguous expression, the CEO chuckled softly.
“You’re reserved but also a little picky. Oh, don’t get me wrong—it’s a compliment. You’ve made suggestions about the matchmaking program before, right? The executives know that, which is why they think you’re the right person for the job. There’s always a reason behind their choices.”
“Well…”
All Junhee had done was draft reports as required each quarter.
Later, he realized others barely filled out the forms, but it wasn’t like he had gone above and beyond.
He had just compared their app to competitors, suggesting improvements in UI, convenience, and additional features.
“They’ve been paying attention to you. Sometimes the work we do seems meaningless, but management notices. Just give honest feedback as a user and identify areas for improvement. How about it?”
Junhee stared at his untouched, now-cold cup of coffee, lost in thought.
He could see the faces of colleagues who had belittled him and the supportive members of his team floating on the coffee’s still surface.
Watching Junhee hesitate, the CEO added, “Oh, and of course, there’ll be project incentives, plus funds for team dinners and additional allowances.”
“I’ll do it.”
The CEO’s face lit up instantly.
Junhee’s reasoning was simple.
Whether it was to distance himself from critics or to strengthen his allies, he needed to step away from his current position.
Staying with Team 4 forever wasn’t an option.
‘…Asking about the allowance amount would be inappropriate, right?’
Plus, with unexpected perks added to the offer, he had all the justification he needed.
“Great. Having you onboard is a relief. Oh, by the way, any other issues bothering you?”
“What kind of issues are you referring to?”
The CEO’s expression became vague, as if they were testing the waters.
Had word about lunch reached the CEO, or was this about Ki Taeryu?
Or maybe it was about something else entirely.
“Well, you know, just in case you have any grievances. I can’t fix everything, but if it’s you, Assistant Manager Yoo, I might be able to help out.”
“Thank you for the consideration, but I don’t have any major issues.”
“That’s good to hear. Oh, and just so you know, don’t bother with the Team 5 kids’ drama.”
“…”
So, the CEO was aware of that, too.
“Employees who consistently disrupt the workplace and create negativity will face penalties in some form.”
“…Understood.”
“Just keep doing what you’ve been doing, okay?”
Junhee caught the underlying message in the CEO’s smile: ‘Keep managing Ki Taeryu well.’
Junhee instinctively started to speak, beginning with his usual phrase, “I’ll do my best…”, but quickly corrected himself.
“I’ll make sure to deliver good results, as you’ve entrusted this task to me.”
Why was this happening?
That damned alpha seemed to have seeped into every corner of Junhee’s habits before he even realized it.
“If there’s anything you’d like me to do, please let me know. If it’s something I can handle, I’ll do my best.”
Even that final memory lingered.
‘Kiss me.’
A fresh-faced young man approached Junhee, practically bouncing with energy.
“Excuse me, sir, what’s the current model of your phone?”
“I was using an N30, but it’s completely wrecked now, so I’m here to get a new one.”
Right after work, Junhee had come straight to the mobile carrier store inside the supermarket.
For some reason, he couldn’t trust the street vendors hawking deals outside.
A store inside a supermarket seemed more legitimate.
“Oh, I see. That’s a pretty recent model. Your installment payments probably aren’t finished yet, right? Must’ve been frustrating to have it break like that.”
“…Yeah.”
The employee’s overly enthusiastic demeanor was a bit much, but his politeness made it hard to dislike him.
“Do you remember how much you paid for it?”
“Uh… I think it was about this much.”
Junhee jotted down the estimated amount on the blank piece of paper the employee handed him.
The employee’s jaw dropped as he exclaimed, “Whoa! Where on earth did you pay that much for it? That’s insane!”
Still staring at the paper, Junhee replied quietly, “…Here.”
“Wait, what?”
The employee quickly adopted a more solemn tone, stumbling over his words.
“Oh, uh, I mean, if I’d been here back then, I could’ve gotten you a much better deal! You know what I mean, right? Please don’t misunderstand, sir.”
“Ah, sure.”
Though Junhee nodded, he was already halfway misunderstanding.
He’d visited this same store for the same reason before, and back then, they’d acted like they were giving him some extraordinary discount…
Despite his doubts, Junhee decided to at least hear out the sales pitch since he’d already made the trip.
“Since you were using an N30, how about upgrading to the new N33 that just came out this year? Honestly, if you’re getting a new phone, you should go for an upgrade. Downgrading isn’t a good look, don’t you think?”
“No, just recommend something practical.”
Last year, he’d been convinced to splurge on the latest model, buying into the idea that it’d be worth it in the long run.
And yet, the phone hadn’t even lasted the full installment period before meeting a brutal end.
The memory of it tumbling down the staircase still burned fresh in his mind, making his chest tighten.
“Ah, so you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, got it. But, sir, with the discounts available these days, the price difference between new and older models is almost nonexistent. In fact, the new models often end up cheaper thanks to various support programs!”
“…How much are we talking about?”
“Please, have a seat. I’ll calculate the absolute best deal for you!”
The employee seated Junhee and began typing furiously, clicking the mouse around like a maestro conducting an orchestra.
After a flurry of keystrokes and button presses, the employee spun the calculator toward Junhee with a flourish.
Junhee’s eyebrow arched slightly as he read the number displayed.
“…300,000 won? You’re telling me the latest model is really just 300,000 won?”
“Yes! Since you’ve previously used our store, I’m offering this as a special service! Honestly, I might get scolded by my manager for this…”
The employee’s words trailed off as he flashed a sheepish grin.
Junhee glanced back and forth between the number on the calculator and the employee’s eager face.
“Come on, sir, you don’t trust me? I’m sacrificing my own incentives to slash the price for you!”
How much trust could he possibly place in someone he’d just met?
Even if the employee felt untrustworthy, Junhee wanted to believe in the number on the calculator.
“So, this is truly the price for the N33? Including the cancellation fee?”
“Yes! I’ve applied the maximum discounts and even factored in our store’s special promotions. You won’t find this price anywhere else in the country, I guarantee it!”
When Junhee nodded slightly, signaling agreement, the employee promptly laid out several forms in front of him.
“Just fill out the sections I’ve marked, and you’re all set!”
The employee claimed it was straightforward, but Junhee wasn’t so easily swayed.
He’d been burned by unfair contracts before and wasn’t about to let it happen again.
Carefully, he began reviewing the documents. His eyes stopped on a particular section.
“What’s this?”
“Oh! That’s just a standard clause about the contract duration. As long as you don’t cancel within the term, there’s no issue. You’ll be using the new phone for a while anyway, right?”
“Still, a 48-month contract seems excessive.”
Four years? He couldn’t even predict what would happen 48 hours from now, let alone commit to something for 48 months.
“Come on, sir. If you cancel early, I’ll cover the penalty fee for you! How’s that? Now, if you could just sign here—”
“And what about this? A 5.5% interest rate on installments, plus a mandatory 70,000-won monthly plan?”
“Ahaha, sir, those are just formalities! I can explain everything—”
Thunk.
Junhee set the pen down firmly on the table, fixing the employee with a cold stare.
As the employee gulped nervously, Junhee spoke in an icy tone.
“Do I look like a fool to you?”
When Junhee left the store, his steps were light, a new phone in hand.
He’d settled on a reasonable price, taking only the standard government subsidy.
There was no need to buy a new SIM card since he’d kept his original carrier and simply upgraded the device.
“I almost got duped again.”
The contract with someone like Ki Taeryu might’ve been unavoidable, but this time, Junhee had stood his ground and defended his rights.
The satisfaction of victory filled his chest, making his stride that much brisker.
As he made his way to the grocery section to pick up something for dinner, a familiar voice called out to him.
“Oh? Junhee?”
* * *
…
Thanks