Real Man

Chapter 79

He felt like he was being pushed into the PDA project for no reason.

Yoo-hyun quickly passed the ball to Park Seung Woo before he could say more.

“Actually, I didn’t do anything. I just followed what Park told me.”

“Haha, you sound like you have a lot of affection for the PDA panel.”

The atmosphere was not easy to get out of, so Yoo-hyun decided to go along with Jo Chan Young’s wishes.

“It’s true that I was very interested in the PDA project because it was such an important project.”

“Really?”

“But, I’m still not done with OJT, so I want to learn more from Park Seung Woo.”

He didn’t want to be on the same side as Jo Chan Young.

But Jo Chan Young persisted.

“You could learn more from Manager Shin, don’t you think? And do what you like at the same time.”

“I know that Manager Shin Chan Yong is an amazing person and I have a lot to learn from him, but I want to work more with Park Seung Woo. I think it would be very meaningful for my career.”

“You might be missing a good opportunity, you know?”

“It’s okay. I think working under Assistant Manager Park is a better opportunity for me.”

“Huh, you’re too loyal to your mentor. That’s not all there is to it…”

Jo Chan Young was disappointed.

Yoo-hyun turned his head and met Park Seung Woo’s eyes.

His eyes were shaking violently.

He felt a mix of affection and guilt.

He hoped he didn’t misunderstand him.

He really didn’t want to go to Shin Chan Yong.

“What a waste…”

Jo Chan Young was about to say something else when Park Seung Woo raised his voice.

“Sir, I really want to keep him.”

As he suddenly expressed his will, Oh Jae Hwan Team Leader frowned and intervened.

“Assistant Manager Park, the sir is talking.”

“Oh, it’s okay. It’s okay. Hmm…”

“…”

Then Jo Chan Young brushed his chin and stopped him.

He thought for a moment and then spoke to Yoo-hyun again.

“I’m saying this because I think highly of you. The start of your career is very important, you know.”

“I understand.”

“Park is great, of course, but it would also be a big help to see how a major project is completed from the sidelines.”

“I feel like I would be a nuisance to Manager Shin. But if he ever needs a hand, I’ll do my best to help.”

Park Seung Woo was surprised and looked at Yoo-hyun.

He didn’t need to worry.

Manager Shin Chan Yong was not someone who would accept him.

He was someone who had to take everything for himself.

He could see his twisted mind without even looking at it.

Then Jo Chan Young’s gaze shifted.

“Well. Manager Shin’s opinion is the most important. What do you think?”

“What can a newbie do to help?”

“Huh, that’s true, but still, Yoo-hyun is pretty smart, you know.”

“It’s fine.”

Manager Shin Chan Yong flatly refused, and Jo Chan Young said no more.

What could he do if the person himself didn’t want him?

Yoo-hyun met Park Seung Woo’s eyes again.

Only then did his eyes curve like crescents.

A little later.

The situation was turning around.

-HPDA3 panel handover.

It was what was written in Park Seung Woo’s work section during the team weekly report.

It was rare to hand over a project that was going well unless someone quit in the middle.

So the team members were curious.

Oh Jae Hwan Team Leader crushed their curiosity with one word.

“It’s a decision made by the sir to put more effort into the PDA side, so just know that. Manager Shin will have to work hard from now on.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I guess part 2 will have a lot of trouble. Deputy Manager Choi, please support Manager Shin  well.”

“Got it.”

Oh Jae Hwan Team Leader turned his gaze to Park Seung Woo.

He still looked sorry.

“You’ll have some free time now, right?”

“Well, I’m thinking of developing a low-cost full-touch phone panel as one of the backup plans for PDA.”

“The contest you mentioned before?”

“Yes, sir.”

Team Leader Oh Jae Hwan looked displeased.

He didn’t like him doing something that wouldn’t work in the first place.

“Okay. Give it a try.”

But he gave him a positive answer anyway.

It was because of the remaining bit of guilt he felt.

There was no reason for him to feel that way at all.

The PDA project seemed like it was done, but it was still a ticking time bomb.

It was the result of Yoo-hyun unconsciously planting the idea that ‘HPDA3 is a huge hit’ through the seminar and the Channel Phone 2 demo.

The team members’ reactions were the same.

They had no interest in the contest.

It was impossible, and even if they got lucky and won, that was it.

No one envied Park Seung Woo for getting the chance to prepare for the contest as an official task.

They just looked at him with pity.

Maybe that’s why?

After the weekly report, words of consolation came from everywhere.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

Park Seung Woo answered cheerfully, but people shook their heads and patted his shoulder before passing by.

Some people shook their heads sadly.

They thought he was holding back.

“Really, I’m fine… Do I look that pitiful?”

“A little.”

“Right, huh? A little?”

Park Seung Woo got up belatedly, but Yoo-hyun had already left the meeting room.

The pork soup restaurant in front of the company.

At the place where all the part 3 members gathered, Manager Kim Hyun Min chuckled at Park Seung Woo.

“It’s all because that kid’s face looks so wronged.”

“Hey, Manager, are you making up stories again?”

Park Seung Woo grumbled, but Manager Kim Hyun Min didn’t stop at all.

“Right. What did the team leader say to me? He asked me to take care of your performance evaluation at the end of the year. He said he was sorry. What a funny guy. Why does he ask me to do that?”

“What can’t you take care of?”

“Hehe, I’ll have to treat you well to take care of you. You can’t be an emotional leader like that.”

“Team Leader.”

“Huh? Look at this kid. He’s making a wronged face again. Oh dear, I’m sorry.”

Manager Kim Hyun Min kept teasing him, and Park Seung Woo’s face turned red.

It was a bit too much, but Park Seung Woo’s face really looked wronged.

“Puhahaha.”

Kim Young Gil, who was close to Park Seung Woo, laughed so hard that he held his stomach.

The others also tried to hold back their laughter that was leaking out of their mouths.

They looked happy and lively, but in fact, it was the first time that all the part 3 members attended the dinner.

It was because Manager Kim Hyun Min was a very laissez-faire style and didn’t force them to go to dinner.

Thanks to that, the atmosphere was relaxed.

But because they didn’t meet often, there was also a wall between them.

Ironically, that wall started to crumble when the PDA project moved to part 2.

It was a result of sympathy for Park Seung Woo and resentment for part 2.

There was also pity for Yoo-hyun.

Manager Choi Min Hee asked carefully.

“Is Yoo-hyun okay? He seemed like he wanted to do it when I saw him at the seminar.”

“I’m fine. I like working with Park better.”

“Come on, make some sense. What’s so good about that big guy?”

Manager Kim Hyun Min intervened and Park Seung Woo joined in.

“Manager, you always ruin the mood. Do you think he’s doing it for no reason? He’s doing it because he’s worth it.”

“That’s why it’s weird, you bastard.”

Manager Kim Hyun Min smiled sarcastically and gave him a jab.

Manager Choi Min Hee ignored the noise around her and focused on Yoo-hyun.

She thought Yoo-hyun was different from Park Seung Woo.

He was quick-witted and smart, and knew how to appeal himself.

He could easily succeed here if he had a little ambition.

He could have more opportunities than others, and get better evaluations even if he failed the same way.

She had been like that in the past, and Manager Shin Chan Yong was like that now.

She thought Yoo-hyun would be like that too.

‘No, different.’

If she were in the same situation, she would have chosen the project instead of the weak mentor.

The company evaluates people by their performance after all.

But Yoo-hyun chose the person over the visible performance.

It didn’t explain his career so far if he did it because he was a newbie and didn’t know better.

‘Then why?’

Then Manager Kim Hyun Min suddenly cut in.

“Choi Manager, why are you so serious?”

“Huh?”

“Manager Choi doesn’t understand why Yoo-hyun follows Park around either?”

“No. I was just curious. Yoo-hyun looked happy.”

“Yeah. What are you laughing about all the time? Is your work fun?”

Manager Kim Hyun Min poured alcohol into Yoo-hyun’s glass and said.

Yoo-hyun covered his glass with his hand and turned his head to drink it before putting it down on the table.

Thud.

The eyes of the people around him gathered for a moment.

Yoo-hyun looked at each of them in turn and answered.

“I’m happy.”

“What makes you happy?”

“Just everything. It’s fun to talk with you seniors like this, and it’s fun to have a cup of tea at work.”

“What’s that?”

“I really enjoy meeting people and laughing and talking at work. I also feel fulfilled when I feel like I’m helping a little bit.”

Yoo-hyun was sincere.

When he decided to work again, he didn’t have any intention of finding joy.

He only thought of correcting his past mistakes.

But as he fixed the wrong things little by little, something he hadn’t seen before came into his sight.

How much Park Seung Woo took care of him.

Why Manager Kim Hyun Min was so laissez-faire with his part members.

Why Manager Choi Min Hee had to leave early.

What kind of effort Kim Young Gil was making.

What Chan Ho’s troubles were.

The more he learned about their stories, the happier he was.

From then on, the time he spent with them became more meaningful.

He laughed with them, got angry with them, felt sad with them, and enjoyed with them.

He shared their joys and sorrows and created stories with them.

He was no longer a loner who had no one to confide in.

He gained good people who couldn’t be bought with money.

How could he not be happy now?

Manager Kim Hyun Min, who wouldn’t understand even if he died and came back to life, said mockingly.

“This kid is really funny. What’s so fun about that? Getting paid is the most fun.”

“I’m still a newbie, so I don’t know much. I’ll be waiting for quitting time soon.”

Kim Young Gil also laughed it off.

They nodded their heads as if they agreed, and held out their glasses.

They said that, but they all had wrinkles around their eyes.

They didn’t mind having a junior who enjoyed being with them.

Clang.

Manager Choi Min Hee, who had been sparing her alcohol, offered a glass to Yoo-hyun.

When Yoo-hyun took it, she poured him a drink and smiled brightly.

“I hope you stay happy like this for a long time.”

“Thank you. I’ll try to do that.”

“You have to enjoy your work to do that.”

Manager Kim Hyun Min cut in again.

He could have let it go, but Yoo-hyun wanted to plant a seed here.

“I enjoy working on the contest with Park.”

“That’s not work.”

“Why not?”

“There’s no point in winning the contest. There’s no product to back it up.”

Even in the same part, the evaluation of the contest was different.

It was obvious that it wouldn’t work.

Yoo-hyun asked as if he didn’t understand.

“Can’t we make one if there isn’t one?”

“We can’t make it. The phone business unit has to say they want it for us to make it.”

It was a reasonable thing to say.

How could they make a product without a customer?

No matter how good the panel was, it was useless if there was no phone to use it right away.

But he had to change his perspective now.