It was after the end-of-work song rang out.
Yoo-hyun stepped outside and took out his phone.
Swipe.
On the screen, there was a message from Vice President Shingyeongwook that had arrived a little while ago.
-Can I see your face for a bit?
They hadn’t contacted each other since their confrontation last time.
It wasn’t because they had grown distant.
Yoo-hyun had waited for Shingyeongwook to sort out his thoughts.
He watched his movements from afar, guessing his feelings.
He thought he would contact him when he was ready, and that was today.
What was he feeling right now?
He had an idea, but he wanted to confirm it himself.
He was more curious about that than the result of today’s executive meeting.
But.
“What’s this, why do you want to see me here?”
He tilted his head as he checked the location in the next message.
The meeting place was a rice soup restaurant located in the food alley of Hansung Tower.
With a round metal table between them, Yoo-hyun faced Shingyeongwook.
He blinked his eyes as he saw him in a rather casual outfit.
“Is it okay for you to come here?”
“What’s wrong with it? Everyone comes here.”
“Still. You didn’t like showing your face to the employees, did you?”
“I didn’t dislike it. I just avoided it because I thought it might make them uncomfortable.”
Shingyeongwook’s words made Yoo-hyun ask again.
“Still, you didn’t want to create any awkward situations, did you?”
“Look around. There’s no one we know here.”
Shingyeongwook lifted his head and scanned the surroundings.
None of the people who filled the place cared about him.
Noisy.
“Our company made a lot of money this year, shouldn’t they have given us something for the end of the year?”
“Give us? That all goes into the owner’s pocket.”
“Don’t talk nonsense, how did your performance evaluation go? Did you get an A this time?”
“If I did, do you think I’d be drinking soju? I’d be drinking whiskey.”
“Come on, don’t be so gloomy. Cheers!”
“Good. I’ll pay for this, so drink up.”
Everyone was drinking and chatting loudly.
Some of them were gossiping about the company.
Did they not recognize Shingyeongwook’s face?
No.
They just couldn’t imagine that he would show up here.
Of course, his hairstyle and outfit, which were different from what he had in the newspaper, contributed to that situation.
Yoo-hyun hid his embarrassment and answered.
“That’s... true.”
“Why? Don’t you like it here?”
“Of course not. It’s my favorite place.”
Shingyeongwook revealed his true feelings to Yoo-hyun, who was waving his hand.
“I just wanted to have a drink with you without any formality, like the other employees.”
“How did you choose this place?”
“Park Manager told me. He said you can get a sharp critique from the restaurant owner here. I wanted to try it once.”
-Park Director, you’re healthy and you’ve been drinking a lot of American water, why don’t you have a girlfriend? Don’t tell me you have a problem somewhere? rá
The restaurant lady was very straightforward.
She would sometimes join the drinking parties and liven up the atmosphere with her witty comments, like she did to Park Seung-woo Manager a while ago.
That was one of the charms of this restaurant.
How would Shingyeongwook react?
“I’m curious too.”
“Park Manager told me to be prepared.”
“It won’t be that bad.”
Yoo-hyun chuckled at Shingyeongwook’s words.
That’s when the restaurant lady came over and grabbed Yoo-hyun’s hand.
“Yoo-hyun, you said you were in Yeouido, how did you come all the way here?”
“I came to see you, auntie.”
“Ho ho! You’re so good at talking. But who is this? You look familiar...”
As the restaurant lady looked over Shingyeongwook, Yoo-hyun quickly made an excuse.
He couldn’t lie, so he didn’t mention his specific position.
“He’s my boss.”
He was looking at the same place as his precious colleague.
Yoo-hyun poured him a drink.
“Here, let me pour you one.”
Shingyeongwook looked closely at Yoo-hyun’s hand.
The label of the soju bottle was perfectly hidden.
“You won’t get scolded by the restaurant lady.”
“I have to do this to survive.”
Shingyeongwook chuckled at Yoo-hyun’s wit.
They exchanged drinks with a smile, and the mood became lighter.
They ate delicious food and filled the gap between them.
The topic naturally flowed to the executive meeting that happened today.
“What do you think the result will be?”
Yoo-hyun told him his guess.
“Display will support you, and Electronics and Technique will hold off.”
“Right. It’s not easy to change them.”
“It can’t be helped. They all have their own situations.”
Hansung Electronics and Hansung Technique’s presidents were both loyal to the royal family.
They wouldn’t gamble on Shingyeongwook.
Shingyeongwook looked surprised at Yoo-hyun’s calm reaction.
“I thought you would be disappointed.”
“But you have a solid test bed now.”
“You think they will follow if you change Hansung Display first.”
“That’s what I’m preparing for. If we change one by one, one by one, won’t the whole thing change eventually?”
Shingyeongwook hadn’t met the group operating director yet.
Yoo-hyun seemed to have already made up his mind.
Shingyeongwook gave a hollow laugh.
“You don’t think you can change the whole group at once.”
“It would be nice, but it won’t be easy. But I believe this process itself will have a great meaning in the future.”
“It might.”
“Getting this far is really amazing. Thank you.”
“...”
Shingyeongwook swallowed his words at Yoo-hyun’s sincerity.
He looked thoughtful.
That’s when it happened.
Clang.
A woman opened the door and entered.
She walked briskly towards the kitchen, but stopped when she saw Yoo-hyun.
“Hey, Yoo-hyun oppa!”
“Yeseul, long time no see.”
Yoo-hyun was surprised too.
He didn’t expect to meet Jung Yeseul, the daughter of the restaurant owner and his junior from school.
She was a grown-up woman now, and she smiled brightly and sat down on an empty chair.
“Can I sit here?”
“You already did.”
“I have to sit for a while or mom will catch me. But who is this? Your boss?”
Yeseul ignored Yoo-hyun’s words and looked at Shingyeongwook.
Yoo-hyun nodded and introduced her to him.
“Yeah. This is Jung Yeseul, the daughter of the owner here.”
“She’s beautiful. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too. But you look familiar...”
As Yeseul greeted Shingyeongwook, she made a suspicious face.
Then she suddenly clapped her hands.
“Ah! This is great.”
“Yeseul, why?”
“Oppa, I got my business card today. Wait a minute.”
Business card?
Yeseul left Yoo-hyun behind and rummaged through her handbag.
Soon she took out a stiff business card and handed one to each of them.
“Here, Yoo-hyun oppa first, and your boss too.”
“Our Daily?”
Shingyeongwook said, and Yeseul shrugged her shoulders confidently.
“Yes. I’m an intern. But they said I can join right after I graduate. I think I’ll be in charge of Hansung. I’m studying hard about Hansung.”
“You’re following Reporter Oh Eun-bi?”
Four years ago, when Yoo-hyun showed Yeseul around the school, they met Reporter Oh Eun-bi by chance.
That connection had lasted until now.