Real Man

Chapter 93

After a brief silence, Executive Director Jo Chan-young spoke.

“Let’s settle this matter as this team leader suggested.”

“…”

There was no word of apology, as expected.

He didn’t even hope for that.

No, then he should at least do his job properly.

This was clearly a case of being outplayed by Lee Kyung-hoon, the director’s political skills.

It was the outcome he anticipated, but the process was too disappointing.

He couldn’t lead this big organization properly with that attitude.

When Yoo-hyun sighed inwardly, he met eyes with Song Ho-chan, the assistant director, who was glaring at him.

There was no reason to avoid his gaze, so Yoo-hyun responded with a relaxed smile.

‘Just wait and see.’

He saw him grinding his teeth.

He hoped he wouldn’t misunderstand.

This was only a favor for Manager Choi Min-hee.

Next time, he would make him pay back with interest.

A while later.

The outdoor terrace on the 20th floor.

Manager Kim Hyun-min leaned his back on the railing and spat out a chuckle.

“Wow, that kid Yoo-hyun. What would have happened if you didn’t play the recording then?”

“I told you. Yoo-hyun is not the kind of person who would cause such a problem.”

He said with a paper cup in his hand, sitting on the bench in front of him.

Kim Hyun-min made an awkward expression and said.

“I know. But they were pushing so hard from the sales team. What could I do? I just listened to them for now.”

“…”

“Hey, I’m sorry. I’ll grab them by the collar next time. Okay?”

“Is Yoo-hyun okay? Song Ho-chan’s eyes looked like he was plotting something.”

Park Seung-woo, the assistant manager, asked worriedly. 

Kim Hyun-min’s eyes changed completely.

“He’ll be fine. He’ll have to watch his back after this incident. Even if he steps up, I won’t stay still either.”

“How can you stop someone who relentlessly goes after someone who has crossed him?”

“Trust me.”

Stop Song Ho-chan?

That was nonsense.

There was no one who survived among those he had targeted openly.

This time, he might have let it go, but next time he would surely find a bigger flaw to exploit.

“Sigh.”

Park Seung-woo just sighed.

The coffee swaying in the paper cup seemed to reflect his restless mind.

He was crumpling the bottom of the paper cup with his fingernail. Kim Hyun-min laughed dryly.

“Are you worried? About your mentee getting hurt?”

“Yes. He has enough potential to rise up. Unlike me.”

“Then make him do that.”

“Huh? How can I?”

Park Seung-woo asked. 

Kim Hyun-min told him how.

“Just do it boldly. If you win the contest and make your product, who can say anything here? The mobile phone division is giving you full authority.”

“Oh…”

“Give it a try. And get an award and make your product. Then you can raise him up.”

“…”

Thud.

Park Seung-woo put down his paper cup and stood up abruptly.

Then he looked at Kim Hyun-min with a burning gaze.

“I’ll do it. No, I’ll do it and definitely raise him up.”

“That’s good. Your attitude is good but…”

“I’ll go in first then.”

Park Seung-woo left before Kim Hyun-min finished his sentence.

He was so serious that it was hard to tell if he was joking or not.

“What’s his concept?”

It was funny to see a senior who was willing to sacrifice himself for his junior in trouble.

He acted like a protagonist of a boy’s comic book.

It was a sentiment that didn’t suit a company worker who lived in a cruel reality.

“Well, it’s nice to see.”

He might even like those two people because of that.

Kim Hyun-min’s lips curled up slightly.

Choi Min-hee took Yoo-hyun to a coffee shop near the company.

It was for having a quiet conversation.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course. I’ll enjoy the coffee.”

Yoo-hyun answered with an indifferent expression, but the shadow on Choi Min-hee’s face didn’t disappear.

She should be worried about her own mistake at this time, but she seemed more concerned about her junior.

“It was all thanks to you that we solved this problem.”

“No way. It would have been hard if you hadn’t stopped them.”

“No. I’m sorry for taking you on a business trip for nothing.”

She even apologized.

There was no need for that at all.

“Hey, why are you sorry? I’m really fine. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Right. You didn’t do anything wrong. You did so well that you deserve praise.”

“Then it’s settled.”

Yoo-hyun smiled lightly and Choi Min-hee laughed feebly.

It was definitely his help that corrected the meeting that was going in the wrong direction.

If she had gone alone, she wouldn’t have even received a confirmation email.

Wait.

She recalled the meeting.

The more she thought about it, the less she understood the current situation.

They didn’t seem to know that they were using Ilseong Electronics’ navigation.

How did that happen?

She asked Yoo-hyun with a hint of suspicion.

“Yoo-hyun, this is just a question, okay?”

“Yes. Please ask.”

“I understand that they used Ilseong’s navigation because theirs was late. But the assistant manager Jo Chi-hoon didn’t seem to know about it.”

“That’s right.”

When Yoo-hyun nodded, Choi Min-hee continued quickly.

“How is that possible? They must have agreed to use Ilseong’s beforehand because of the schedule.”

“Do they have to agree?”

“Of course. How can they develop without agreeing? The schedule wouldn’t work. And they even changed the specs in the middle.”

“Isn’t Ilseong Electronics making the navigation too? Then the panel shouldn’t be a problem.”

“We changed the specs because the car interior design itself changed to wide. But now they’re trying to fit it to Ilseong’s?”

Choi Min-hee was so immersed that she forgot that he was a new employee.

It was her usual self when she saw only work.

Yoo-hyun pretended not to know and asked back.

“Can’t they change the interior design to match the navigation?”

“That’s impossible. That’s connected to other products. The navigation has to match them.”

“I see.”

“Yeah. And what about Hyunil Automobiles? They wouldn’t stay still if they did that. It’s like hitting everyone who’s developing on the back of their heads.”

“I don’t know much, but I guess they don’t have much to say since their development was delayed.”

This question and answer was to broaden her thinking.

It was up to her to find the answer.

And that time didn’t take long.

“Could it be…that Hyunil Automobiles’ higher-ups secretly matched with Ilseong Electronics?”

“Then what about the design?”

“They could have separated the navigation-equipped model. Or, they could have changed the size of the navigation frame.”

“That’s possible.”

Yoo-hyun shrugged his shoulders.

Choi Min-hee seemed to think it was plausible as she rolled her eyes around.

“I see… None of the people in the meeting knew about it. That makes sense.”

She muttered to herself and nodded.

“Then what should we do…”

She racked her brain to find a solution.

“…”

Yoo-hyun silently watched her.

It was a project that others would have given up long ago.

She endured all the unreasonable changes from the customer and comforted the disgruntled development team.

She was the one who brought it this far.

She worked passionately.

Then, her phone on the table rang.

“Yoo-hyun, just a moment.”

She turned her head and answered the phone. 

She soon got up and headed to the corner.

He didn’t mean to listen.

“You do something about it! You’re also Euchan’s dad. A parent. Do you think anyone in the company is not crazy?”

He accidentally heard the content because her voice echoed in the space.

“…”

Yoo-hyun was speechless for a moment.

He had forgotten.

Female employee. Childbirth. Leave.

Those words that had held her back were still acting as shackles of reality.

She had been running with those shackles on.

She had been struggling to make it happen.

How hard it must have been.

When Yoo-hyun was lost in thought, Choi Min-hee came back.

“Sorry. Did you wait too long?”

“No. Are you okay?”

“What? It’s nothing.”

“…”

She smiled as if nothing had happened.

She didn’t have to hide her hardship.

“I just have some work to do. I think I have to go first today. What should I do?”

“You should go, of course.”

“I feel like I’m leaving a mess behind.”

“Don’t worry.”

He felt sorry instead.

“Thank you. I’ll sort it out tomorrow.”

“…Thank you, Manager.”

“Thank you for what? Let’s go.”

She thanked him and acted calm.

She soon got up and walked away with confidence.

-This is probably the last time I see you like this. I’m rooting for you.

Her back overlapped with the past when she had turned around and asked for a handshake.

The day she left the company.

She was sad more than anyone else, but she was calm that day too.

Just like now.

When Yoo-hyun came back, the office was empty.

Assistant Manager Kim Young-gil and Lee Chan-ho were on a business trip.

Assistant Manager Park Seung-woo went down to the research information room for data research.

With Choi Min-hee gone, there was no one left around Yoo-hyun.

No, there was one person left.

It was Manager Kim Hyun-min .

He sat on Park Seung-woo’s chair.

And he grumbled to Yoo-hyun.

“We should have a dinner or something on a day like this, but everyone’s gone.”

“We can do it next time.”

“Hey, you’re supposed to cheer up when you’re depressed.”

“Are you depressed?”

Yoo-hyun asked and Kim Hyun-min shook his head.

“Me? No? I’m worried about you.”

“I’m fine.”

Yoo-hyun shook his head too.

He was annoyed by Song Ho-chan, but he didn’t care that much.

He just had to pay him back several times more than he received.

He was confident enough for that.

“Well, everyone’s strong. Choi Min-hee said she’s fine too. Oh, Park is only rolling his eyes.”

“Why?”

“Why? He’s worried about you. He said he’ll win the contest and raise you up.”

Kim Hyun-min’s words made Yoo-hyun smile wryly.

“Haha, thank you.”

“Everyone’s looking after you. Choi even asked me to take care of you when she left.”

“She did?”

Yoo-hyun asked in surprise and Kim Hyun-min raised his voice.

“Of course she did? I saw her standing up for someone for the first time today. She was amazing.”

“It’s an honor.”

Yoo-hyun recalled his business trip with Choi Min-hee.

She showed him many unexpected sides of her.

Especially, it was surprising to see her express her emotions actively when she was always stiff.

That’s why he kept noticing her.

Kim Hyun-min brought up Choi Min-hee again.

“Now that I think about it, she’s amazing too. How much did she suffer? She didn’t even want to take maternity leave at first, right?”

“No. I didn’t know that.”

He really didn’t know that fact.

He knew she was passionate, but he didn’t know she was that desperate.

“Oh. But her child was sick. That’s why she took a break. Otherwise, she would have come to work even if she was hurt.”

“…I see.”

“So she’s still not well. It must be hard for her.”

“…”

So that’s how it was.

And yet, she acted strong.

Yoo-hyun remembered the smile she had made earlier.

It kept overlapping with her last moment.