Chapter 108

Of course, Si-Jin did not mind. He seldom understood the desire for a married life, but it was their freedom, their happiness. That said, for a company whose business was advertising, design was its face and image. It was impossible for Si-Jin to be satisfied with a substitute hired off the cuff after submitting both of their maternity leave.

Therefore, although there was no need for a new designer, it was a good pretext to consider hiring one ahead of time – a backup plan for any impromptu maternity leave. It was difficult to trust the objectivity of the client, but Si-Jin decided to at least take a look at Na-Yool’s portfolio.

He tended to show an open attitude to the outside world, beyond what his subordinates could imagine. Although his motto in the company was ‘Don’t start something that cannot be done’, to outsiders he appeared open-minded, changing it to ‘Look before you leap’. Since trust was impossible initially, the conclusion was set, but he nonetheless expressed his gratitude to the client by commending his discerning eye.

After all, her portfolio, her interview… he still had many ways left to nitpick.

As it happened, Na-Yool’s resume, which he read only with the intention to reject her, was in fact surprisingly ordinary. In one company, she had worked over and over only on making package design, in another company, only interface for websites, and in another, only print ads… she did not seem to have mastered any specialty over a long time.

There could only be one reason out of two: Either she was moderately good at everything or bad at all of it.

Fortunately, Na-Yool was the former. The type who was moderately skilled with any kind of design. She is a reliable designer who is moderately sensible, with a moderately popular but moderately unique and sophisticated style, moderately functional, who has a moderately high level of understanding and is not picky about the likes and dislikes of the client.

Si-Jin thought one look at Na-Yool’s portfolio and it would be over, but he could not resist inviting her for an interview. As if she had been looking forward to it, the woman came to his office the next day.

After leading the way for Na-Yool, Hyung-Wook had left quickly, leaving the two alone. Si-Jin greeted her for the first time with what seemed a friendly attitude. It was frequent that anyone who believed in this pretense would come to feel betrayed.

The woman politely bowed her head. Washed-out, light-colored skinny jeans, red pointed toe pumps, a boxy sweater faintly revealing her shoulders, a height slightly taller than average, and a makeup neither too light nor too heavy. It was a simple but clean impression.

However, it certainly was not an alluring look either. Si-Jin did not really care about people’s appearance to begin with. If he wanted to see flawless features, just looking in the mirror was enough. He generously eyed up Na-Yool, but as soon as their eyes met for the first time, she shyly lowered hers.

Just as he was about to lose interest, she lifted her head back up.

“Hello, I am Kim Na-Yool.”

The blushing cheeks were not for him. She did not even show any signs of pondering whether to make eye contact with him or not.

“This is my additional portfolio. If you are interested, I would be honored if you would take a look at it as well. Would that be alright?”

A well-spoken voice reached Si-Jin’s ears. He nodded lightly in consent, and Na-Yool laid out her portfolio on his desk and sat down close to him.

“I am really sorry for the previous portfolio I submitted, but I had not properly heard from Director Kim about what kind of company Ethical Communications is… So I simply compiled general works, and only heard afterward of your company’s activity. I sincerely apologize, and I think the content I showed you was a bit lacking.”

“I already thought it was appropriate, though?”

“……”

“I called you here Ms. Kim Na-Yool because your portfolio was good.”

When Si-Jin said so with a smile, a faintly deeper blush appeared on Na-Yool’s already flushed cheeks. She seemed to be vulnerable to praise.

The sight of her fair skin reddening and of her head slightly hung low caught his eyes anew. Na-Yool spoke up without raising her head. While she nonetheless remained very well-spoken.

“…Thank you very much for your kind comments, but I think the works compiled in this additional portfolio are more aligned with Ethical Communications. These works fall within a field that I have never dealt with in my previous jobs, but I have been personally interested in it for a few years…”

Others may say Si-Jin was being presumptuous, but he had a fairly strong conviction. A conviction which would rise the moment he smote a woman, or the instant when this moment clearly caught his sight: this woman will end up liking him.

There has never been a time when Si-Jin felt thrilled or exhilarated by such conviction. Beyond boredom, he rather felt sick of it. He had faced countless such ‘moments’. Just like now, with Kim Na-Yool accurately exuding this same smitten impression.

Being born with good looks was probably a sin, but it was inevitable to get tired of it. He had way more to do than parade his handsomeness! As he looked at Na-Yool’s newly brought portfolio, he almost missed it, but her eyes were seriously filled with enthusiasm.

Well, I guess it’s okay, if she doesn’t privately pester me.

Anyway, the illusion would soon be shattered. Si-jin was an expert at nipping feelings in the bud. You can tell by the fact that none of the women who pictured a relationship with him made it come to fruition. It would not be long before disillusion filled Na-Yool’s clear eyes too.

The industry being what it is, she should be familiar with the overwork abuse of employees. And if she was not, money would get her used to it. In this industry, the more comfortable a job and the lighter the workload is, the more it will gnaw at your mental sanity for a low salary. And if the job is uncomfortable and you slave yourself away, even then you will occasionally receive a wretched pittance. As for Si-Jin, his principle was to pay a high salary to a worthy person to suck them bone-dry. His company was made up of capitalists who supported that very principle.

Of course, even Si-Jin had a minimum of conscience. To warn and inform. To state the fact that the salary she negotiated was not all that this company can give her. So to say, clearly state his inner thoughts as they were.

“I like to spend money on valuable people, it’s more economical than paying low wages to hire lots of worthless people.”

“……”

“Everyone knows that one person doing their job properly is better than a bunch of stupid ones. But when anyone considers hiring a person, they think about the minimum cost. They want to save money, reduce the number, and then actually make the person work for much more worth than what they are paid.”

“……”

“All the flaws of this industry come from there. Personally, I’m sick of it, so my principle is to find someone valuable like Ms. Kim Na-Yool, pay you a worthy amount, and grind you down at equal value.”

Faced with an upgraded salary offer and Si-Jin’s alluringly good-looking face turned towards her continuously jabbering things, Na-Yool was naturally too bewitched to pick up what was being said.

Anyone would. Be it men or women. In general, their frantic brain would stop at ‘someone valuable’. And of course, so did Na-Yool.

Gawking at this new employer who said to her face that he would grind her down right from their first meeting, her whole expression was as if she was about to melt.

He had warned her, and she had agreed. Si-Jin casually asked when she could start work, and Na-Yool answered it would take about a month to hand over her former job. He said he could of course wait that long, and she blushed again for who knows what reason.