NAME 9

There are three sales teams in total at Samin Electronics. The Sales Teams 1, 2, and 3 operate in a structure where they compete with one another, drafting goals every quarter and preparing corresponding proposals to submit to the upper management. Overseeing the team proposals is, of course, the responsibility of the Team Leader, but the actual practical work is handled by those at the Assistant Manager level like Seowon. Furthermore, since they form groups of three or four within the team to compete against each other, writing a proposal was effectively similar to doing a university group project.

However, Sales Team 3 failed to submit a proper proposal last quarter. It was due to the impact of the Team Leader suddenly resigning. Therefore, after Baek Kanghyun arrived, Sales Team 3 approached their work with a completely new mindset. Because Baek Kanghyun was particularly ambitious, an atmosphere was created where the team members naturally followed his lead.

“Let’s have a brief meeting.”

On a busy morning like any other, Baek Kanghyun suddenly declared a meeting. Everyone was in the middle of a hectic workload, so their expressions were not very good at having to set aside separate time. However, because Baek Kanghyun had already entered the small conference room, everyone stood up from their seats hesitantly. One by one, the team members gathered their laptops, tablets, notes, and pens and headed toward the conference room.

“What is the status of the analysis data for the Chinese domestic market?”

Baek Kanghyun threw out the question immediately without any preamble.

“We are currently analyzing the data. The analysis of competitors like Misia and Xiaowen is complete and we are in the process of drafting the document, and we are also investigating the sales direction of those companies for this quarter.”

The goal set by Sales Team 3 for this third quarter was to attempt a rebound in the Chinese domestic market, which had failed to escape a slump in the first half of the year, and Seowon was in charge of the market analysis portion that served as the foundation for the proposal. Since it was still in the beginning stages and there were many parts that had changed from last year, the progress was somewhat slow.

“Is the analysis only that far along? What is the method for the market analysis?”

“It is based on the SWOT analysis method. For customer analysis, I intend to use STP. In the case of the Chinese domestic market, Guanxi is important, but the influence of Wanghong is significant when it comes to sales…”

Although it was a gathering of all team members, the session mainly consisted of Baek Kanghyun asking and Seowon answering. Occasionally, questions were aimed at Manager Park or other assistant managers, but they were at a plain level compared to the questions Seowon received.

Throughout the meeting, detailed and persistent questions were aimed at Seowon to the point where one might wonder why on earth Baek Kanghyun was acting that way. No matter how much he said it was still under analysis, Baek Kanghyun asked Seowon again and again as if he could not be convinced.

“Assistant Manager Jeong, don’t you think the progress is too slow? Only when the analysis is finished can concrete measures come out regarding which product to put forward as the mainstay and how to cooperate with other departments.”

“I’m sorry. It is because it hasn’t been long since we started. I will wrap it up as quickly as possible.”

The slow analysis was by no means because Seowon was slow. Due to Baek Kanghyun’s excessive ambition, the direction of the planning had been revised several times over the past two weeks, and in that process, the target market itself had changed. Seowon, who until just a few days ago had been analyzing US statistics, had been analyzing Chinese data since two days ago. Since the volume was so vast that it was something Seowon could not possibly do alone, another employee and Assistant Manager Lee were attached to the task as well, yet Baek Kanghyun specifically picked out Seowon to ask.

“Please wrap up the Chinese market analysis within this week. Assistant Manager Jeong, report the current status of how domestic competitors are conducting marketing in that country by the end of today.”

‘By the end of today’—it was a statement that snapped him to attention. Does he think a status report is something that just pops out of nowhere? Because he wanted to avoid clashing with Baek Kanghyun if possible, Seowon had let most things slide by saying yes, yes. He had even endured Baek Kanghyun mixing informal speech only when talking to him, but a report due by the end of the day was truly out of line.

“Team Leader, doing it by the end of today is difficult. Because the data varies by quarter…”

Seowon could not finish his sentence. It was because he caught the faces of the team members who looked clearly fatigued and the cold eyes of Baek Kanghyun. For the sake of the team members who wanted to finish the meeting quickly and go out to work, he had to ensure the conversation didn’t drag on any longer.

“…I will try to do as much as I can for now.”

“I said by today.”

Emphasizing the deadline once more, Baek Kanghyun stood up from his seat. The guerrilla meeting had ended.

After he left the small conference room, the other team members also tidied up their spots one by one. This was clear slander and revenge. After having that showdown in the small conference room last time, Baek Kanghyun had acted sharp as a blade. And only toward Seowon.

No matter how slow-witted one was, it was impossible not to notice that Baek Kanghyun was picking on and grilling Seowon. Even Manager Park kept his mouth shut and just shook his head. Letting out a deep sigh, he walked out of the conference room, and Assistant Manager Seo Jiyeon patted Seowon on the shoulder.

“Assistant Manager Jeong, will you be okay?”

“Well, if I’m told to do it, I have to.”

“I wonder why the Team Leader is really being like that. Anyway, hang in there, Assistant Manager Jeong.”

“Comfort is fine. Could you just work with me instead?”

Seo Jiyeon did not answer and, looking extremely sorry, hurried out of the conference room. Seowon tidied his spot with a light laugh. He hadn’t even finished the work he was currently doing, and now a new task had been added. Even if he hates me, is it right to hold a grudge this way?

Part of him wanted to let out a loud shout. He was so angry he was at his wit’s end. However, because he knew that venting his anger that way wouldn’t change anything, he only let out a sigh.

“Sigh…”

Even so, Seowon did not regret the fact that he had talked back to Baek Kanghyun that day.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

Returning to his seat, he first organized his tasks step by step. He repeatedly swallowed dryly to push down the hot emotions that surged up occasionally. Even if he worked through lunch, the probability of working overtime today was 100%.

What kind of method should he use to leave work by today? He sent a message to a colleague in Sales Team 2 to see if they had the data Baek Kanghyun requested and rummaged through the team’s shared folder to collect files that might be helpful.

‘Jackpot!’

Fortunately, the colleague in Sales Team 2 shared some valuable data. Seowon sent a bunch of exclamation marks and emoticons saying he was truly grateful. See, they say a person should live kindly. The colleague whom Seowon had shared data with a few times in the past had repaid the favor. Thanks to the 25-page PDF file, Seowon was able to save nearly two hours.

“Assistant Manager Jeong, what about lunch? Even if you’re busy, eat before you work.”

“I’ll just finish what I’m doing. You go down first.”

“Alright. Don’t starve yourself!”

He said those words to Seo Jiyeon, but in reality, Seowon intended to skip lunch. Just in case his fever had risen in the meantime, he held a thermometer in his mouth like a piece of candy and busily tapped at his keyboard.

“Huh?”

But the thermometer was strange. There should be a beep sound when the temperature measurement is finished, but no sound came out. He wondered if the battery had run out or if it was broken. He unbuttoned his shirt and sniffed. Based on how he felt, it seemed there was no fever, but he checked closely to see if pheromones were leaking.

‘It seems okay, but…’

He felt like there was a sweet scent, and then felt like there wasn’t. Whether the pheromones leaked or stayed quiet, it was a worry either way.

He pressed his eyes closed, which had become dry from looking at the monitor, and then opened them. Since he couldn’t starve completely, he took a protein bar out of his drawer and put it in his mouth.

If things go well, I might be able to go home before 9:00? Who else is working overtime today? Should I suggest we order chicken for dinner?

Rumble…

Just because he thought about food, a thunderous sound came from his stomach. He roughly stuffed the half-eaten protein bar into his mouth. His puffed-up cheeks moved busily.

Having finished one chapter that way, he was standing up and stretching his arms and legs out when he made direct eye contact with Baek Kanghyun, who had just entered the office.

“…”

He wondered if the man had already eaten and come back or if he was just heading out now. However, he didn’t bother to ask. Whether Baek Kanghyun eats or not, what does it have to do with me. Glaring at him with sharp eyes so it wouldn’t be noticed, he moved his gaze back to the monitor.

‘I should drink more coffee.’

He craved the strong coffee sold at the first-floor cafe, but the time spent going back and forth was a waste, so he just went to the breakroom.

He took out a packet of instant coffee and put water on the electric kettle. While waiting for the water to boil, he wrapped one hand around his neck and turned his head this way and that. He was massaging his stiff shoulders when his mobile phone rang.