Chapter 30
30. Even if you give all you have 2021.08.11.
One day passed, then another, and another, and another. Yena's birthday passed, the weekend passed, and Monday came again. Fortunately, the first proposal sent to Tawon Liquor last Friday came back with a positive response. They requested that storyboards be prepared based on the first proposal, and that product package mockups be prepared. Jeong-o, who had suffered the day before, was comforted by Mi-ran. If Mi-ran hadn't soothed Jeong-o well on Friday, Jeong-o might have really decided to run away from the company. Jeong-o's virus-infected laptop also came back. She thought she would receive it on Wednesday, but she was able to receive it on Monday. It seemed that the employee had hurried because of Ji-heon's special request.
“This doesn’t seem to be something that happened by chance due to bad luck, but rather someone planted a virus.”
The employee in charge of IT revealed. Jeong-o also had similar suspicions. It was strange that the computer, which she had received not long after joining the company, and should have been relatively clean, was infected with a serious virus. Anyway, it was fortunate that she was able to fix the laptop safely because it contained not only Tawon Liquor data but also Competitive Presentation preparation data. The IT employee said it was a very difficult task and shook his head as if he didn't want to experience it again. After the overtime work on Thursday, Jeong-o had no chance to face Ji-heon. She came to the company even on the weekend, but she couldn't see Ji-heon. She was relieved because she didn't want to face him for a while because she hated him so much, but on the other hand, she wanted to face him and argue fiercely because she hated him so much. And on yet another hand, she was a little worried. Whether he was okay, whether there was a problem with his safety. While working overtime on Yena's birthday, Jeong-o muttered all sorts of curses inwardly because she hated him so much. I hope he's been sick for three days straight and hasn't eaten, I hope he's been starving for three days and barely got up because he was hungry, but there wasn't a drop of water in the house, I hope he didn't have the strength to buy water and called his friends, but all his friends went out to play, she thought. Because she put quite a bit of sincerity into the curse, she thought that the curse might have worked properly. But that didn't seem to be the case. He came to work this morning looking perfectly fine and seemed to be working quite diligently. Several members of Division 1 were called to Ji-heon's office and given different assignments. Some came out of the office feeling good, while others walked out listlessly as if they had lost their souls. One of them was Song Gi-hun, an employee of Jeong-o's team.
“Assistant Manager, I want to die……”
Gi-hoon looked blankly at the paper he had received from the office and let out a deep sigh.
“Why. Why. Why.”
“What on earth is this?”
Gi-hoon handed Jeong-o the paper he was holding.
“Director Jeong showed me how to do it…… but I don’t know what this is.”
It seems to be a promotional webtoon for the home camera brand that Gi-hoon is in charge of. What did this man do to the paper……. Jeong-o's brow furrowed as she looked closely at the picture.
“What, is this a terrible artist?”
“This isn’t just a terrible artist. It’s an awful artist.”
When Jeong-o honestly evaluated it, Gi-hoon also revealed his feelings and lamented. Jeong-o looked more closely at the strange picture. Jeong Ji-heon, this man……. Did you draw a dog or a bird? If you can't draw, don't draw. Why are you acting up, losing your dignity, and making your employees suffer…….
‘I wondered why Yena drew so many imaginary animals, but it was all genetics.’
She felt even more upset as she seemed to see Yena's art score in 10 years. Seong Mi-ran, the team leader who came over to see what was going on, burst out laughing.
“Team Leader, you shouldn’t laugh. I’m serious.”
“Ah, Gi-hoon. Sorry, sorry. The director seems to have insights, but his drawing skills are completely terrible.”
“So, should I draw a dog or a bird based on this?”
When Gi-hoon asked, the laughing team members became quiet. Jeong-o, who had been thinking hard, stepped forward.
“Leave it to me.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I have to screw him over in the same way.”
“……Screw him over?”
“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. A dog-bird for a dog-bird.”
Just you wait, Jeong Ji-heon. She wanted to seize the opportunity for revenge. Jeong-o, who had answered, looked at Mi-ran. Mi-ran sighed and nodded. It meant that she would trust Jeong-o.
* Ji-heon, who received the weekly work report at the team leader meeting hosted by the head of the division on Monday after a boring weekend, called some employees separately and gave them assignments. Until a month ago, he had no fun in his work or life, but after being appointed to Max Planning, he felt like he was having a little fun at work. But the unpleasant feeling from Thursday night hadn't improved. After being stood up when he offered to give Lee Jung-oh, who had become prickly due to overtime work, a ride, Ji-heon looked for an opportunity to talk to Jeong-o again, but failed. He still hadn't been able to give her what he had bought on Friday to feed Lee Jung-o. Jeong-o kept leaving her seat and was with someone. The most annoying person among them was Song Gi-hoon. Ji-heon, who examined Gi-hoon's work, called Gi-hoon to his office separately and threw him some work. He thought that Gi-hoon's satisfaction would be high because the work itself was fun enough for them to want to take on each other's work, even though they would be busy. However, he clearly gave Gi-hoon the work, but when it was time to receive the report around dinner time, the team members of Production Team 2, Lee Jung-oh and Assistant Manager Go Eun-ju, came in closely following Song Gi-hoon. It was annoying that Lee Jung-oh was sticking close to Song Gi-hoon, but he was also satisfied that he could see her face like this.
“I gave the work to Song Gi-hoon?”
“Yes. We came together to explain because we were able to help Gi-hoon with the parts he was worried about.”
Jeong-o said energetically. Is she trying to protect Song Gi-hoon in case he gets scolded? Ji-heon looked at the three people with suspicious eyes. Assistant Manager Go Eun-ju put a tablet PC on Ji-heon's desk. The three people, moving closely together like people in a three-legged race, looked very funny.
“The director’s insights were very, very, very innovative, so we decided to use them as is.”
Jeong-o opened the door.
“What insights are you talking about?”
“This one right here.”
Jeong-o pointed to the character on the screen. Ji-heon narrowed his brows and brought his eyes closer to the screen, wondering what this was. It was the dog he had drawn for Gi-hoon in the morning. They copied and pasted the picture and brought it as is.
“Since it’s unclear whether the character is a dog or a bird, we’ll call it ‘dog-bird’ for now.”
Only then did he realize why the three of them had come together. Lee Jung-oh had brought two more team members to make fun of him. While Jeong-o was explaining about the promotional webtoon, Assistant Manager Go Eun-ju's face, which had only shown a stiff expression, contorted several times. She couldn't hold back the laughter that was about to burst out. Song Gi-hoon was trembling at the end of his lips. He seemed to be nervous because he was scared of Ji-heon's reaction after being so amused by Jeong-o's explanation. Lee Jung-oh was very brazen. She had such an angry face on Thursday, but now she had a variety of expressions as if she was possessed by an electric storyteller from the Joseon Dynasty. Ji-heon knew he was being made fun of, but he was quite amused. He ended up looking only at the shape of Jeong-o's mouth rather than the webtoon in front of him.
“The webtoon is well done, but is Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh trying to play with me right now?”
After listening to the informative explanation, he asked with a cold smile. Since the other side attacked first, he had every right to throw a fastball as well. But Lee Jung-oh was different. She asked in a voice that wasn't intimidated at all.
“Huh……? What do you mean, Director?”
She was very brazen. Her expression of acting like a flustered employee was excellent.
“I bet Lee Jung-oh incited you to bring the picture I drew for Gi-hoon as is.”
“To be honest, I had no choice. I really couldn’t tell. Whether it was a dog or a bird.”
Jeong-o continued to speak very brazenly.
“Please tell us, Director. Then we’ll fix it. Whether it’s a dog or a bird.”
“……”
“Whether you drew a dog or a bird.”
“……”
“Or is it just an imaginary animal?”
Pfft. Assistant Manager Go Eun-ju couldn't hold back her laughter and finally burst out.
“Dog.”
Ji-heon stared intently at Jeong-o and answered.
“Ah, a dog. I understand. A dog.”
Jeong-o nodded greatly like someone who had gained a profound realization. Ji-heon turned his head and looked at Eun-ju.
“Assistant Manager Go Eun-ju. Have you finished laughing?”
“Hmph. I’m sorry.”
“No. I should be sorry for drawing the picture badly. But thanks to you, I had a very pleasant time too.”
The three musketeers were all surprised by the unexpected reaction. Ji-heon stood up from his seat with a strangely chilling soft smile.
“Song Gi-hoon, quickly revise the character and contact the writer, and Lee Jung-oh, stay for a moment.”
The three musketeers were surprised once again. Just before entering the office, Jeong-o, Gi-hoon, and Eun-ju had formed an alliance. To not be left alone with Director Jeong Ji-heon, to stay by each other's side. If Gi-hoon was called, Jeong-o and Eun-ju would follow, and if Jeong-o was called, Gi-hoon and Eun-ju would follow. They had promised that, but this unfortunate event happened as soon as they met Jeong Ji-heon. Gi-hoon and Eun-ju couldn't move from their seats. It was an awkward situation because Ji-heon had specifically told Jeong-o to stay.
“But Assistant Manager…….”
Gi-hoon couldn't finish his sentence and looked at Ji-heon awkwardly. Inevitably, Jeong-o had to send the two away with dignity.
“Go first. Assistant Manager Go, Gi-hoon.”
Ji-heon, who watched the three people's tearful farewell with blurred eyes, offered Jeong-o a seat after Gi-hoon and Eun-ju left.
“Sit over there.”
Jeong-o sat down sullenly. Ji-heon didn't sit directly across from her and turned around. And he brought a box placed next to the office desk. Something big again this time. Ji-heon opened the box in front of Jeong-o. What is all this……. Jeong-o's mouth slightly opened at the diverse composition inside the box. It was a bundle of various cookies and chocolates neatly packed. Jeong-o's brow furrowed in bewilderment.
“You said to call you if I was going to throw away food.”
Jeong-o recalled what she had said on the spur of the moment sometime ago. She had once told him to give it to her if he was going to throw away food in the future.
“……So, are you saying you’re throwing this away now?”
“Since it turned out this way, take it.”
Jeong-o gave a shallow laugh. It was obvious that he had bought these things somewhere and was now spreading them out, nonchalantly explaining that he was ‘throwing them away.’ Was this his way of apologizing? Did he feel even a little bit sorry towards me? She looked at him across the silence that had fallen with the cookies. She couldn't read any apology in his expression. It was just… an arrogant look that seemed to say, ‘Here, I’ll give you this, so cheer up.’ Jeong-o retorted sharply.
“I don’t want it. I’ve changed my mind. You were going to throw it away anyway, so just throw it away.”
“Then Assistant Manager Lee can throw it away. I did what Assistant Manager Lee asked me to do.”
“I don’t want to do that either. Then I’ll get going.”
Jeong-o stood up straight away. Ji-heon sat with his arms crossed, looking up at Jeong-o. This woman, she’s still sulking. He had figured out her nature of holding grudges.
“Were you that unhappy about having to work overtime once?”
“Of course.”
“Everyone works that much overtime.”
“I asked you, didn’t I? I was incredibly desperate. I said I had to go home that day. I even said I’d come back in two hours if it absolutely couldn’t be helped.”
Jeong-o felt as if she had returned to that desperate moment. She felt wronged again, and tears welled up slightly in her eyes.
“So, what kind of family matter was it anyway? I need to know that to understand Assistant Manager Lee’s feelings.”
It was your daughter’s birthday! Unable to shout it out, she felt as if she had swallowed a stone, her chest tight.
“If I tell you, Director Jeong will arbitrarily judge the importance of that family matter. Even if it’s something incredibly important to me, Director Jeong might not think so.”
At her bold retort, Ji-heon also stood up. The distance between them was getting closer and closer. Jeong-o flinched, but she didn’t back away.
“If you’re doing this because you feel uneasy about what’s happened, you should apologize directly instead of offering cookies.”
“What do I have to apologize for?”
Had she brought up the word ‘apology’ for nothing? He seemed to know nothing. But now that she had brought it up, she couldn’t take it back. Jeong-o spoke honestly about the things that had disappointed her.
“Pretending to be my dad in front of the convenience store the Thursday before last, and making me work overtime last Thursday while sitting next to me.”
“The Thursday before last, you were the one who was fooled. And last Thursday, I was just doing what I had to do as a superior. The overtime pay was already agreed upon when you signed the annual salary contract. Why should I apologize for that?”
“Because I was fooled. And because I begged you so desperately, but you completely ignored me. Because I had to feel emotions I shouldn’t have felt because of Director Jeong.”
Someday I might regret saying this. But I have to speak my mind. Because I am dignified.
“How could you imitate my deceased father? You shouldn’t do that even as a joke. And as for the overtime, I would normally do it. It’s my responsibility, so I should stay up all night to fix it. But I begged you desperately then. It was something I could have done at home, and I asked you because you could have received it by email. I even said I’d come back in two hours if it absolutely couldn’t be helped.”
Of course, he was just doing his job as the head of the department. It’s not that I don’t know that. But he didn’t make any effort to understand the employee’s situation. We could have thought of alternatives together, but he only forced his own answer. That’s not right.
“And, if you’re watching over us like that while we work, the employees’ efficiency drops. I think I could have finished the work much faster last Thursday if Director Jeong hadn’t been there.”
“……”
“So, I’ll accept your apology if you give it.”
“What if I can’t?”
He retorted shamelessly and coldly. His expression didn’t waver in the slightest. At his lofty pride, a hollow, helpless laugh escaped from between Jeong-o’s lips.
“If you can’t, then you don’t have to, I guess.”
Jeong-o also ended up giving up. She might not have known before being reminded, but if he couldn’t do it even after being directly told what he should apologize for, then she had no choice but to give up too. Jeong Ji-heon, that is.
“You might regret it a little someday, but it doesn’t seem like not apologizing now will particularly affect Director Jeong.”
It’s easier for me if I give up. She felt a little relieved. Jeong-o, who had bravely taken a step closer to Ji-heon, said in a low voice.
“You think what you have is really great, don’t you?”
“……”
“I wouldn’t trade my everything for everything you have.”
My everything. Thinking of Yena, of my family, her nose tingled. I decided to keep working at this company because of you, so if I give up on you, there’s no need for me to be here either. If you’re that kind of person, I can’t show you Yena. I can’t let Yena meet you and get hurt. I want my daughter’s world to be warm.
“Let’s quit, then.”
At her declaration, his eyes widened for a moment.
“I’m going to quit everything. This damn company.”
“……”
“The moment I open this door and walk out, it’s over. Do you understand?”
Speaking boldly, Jeong-o took a step back and grabbed the doorknob. The door opened. At that moment. Ji-heon, taking a big step forward, urgently covered her hand with his own. The door closed again. Jeong-o’s shoulder was trapped inside his chest. His embrace was seethingly hot. He was looking down at her with eyes that were burning fiercely.
