WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Potter
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Regressed Assistant Manager Kim Can Read Minds ◈
Chapter 13
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“Would you like to join Team 1 once you make manager?”
It was a tempting offer.
If I moved to Team 1, I could handle major clients and stay involved in the green coffee bean business.
I would also have a secure position after my promotion.
But was that the right choice?
I looked again at the contribution assessment on the desk.
My name was still listed under the on-site inspection and verification, but Team 1 and Team 3 had already divided up the suppliers and domestic franchise accounts.
Even if I transferred, I would simply be joining a major business led by Seo Jeonguk.
Meanwhile, as more staff focused on the green coffee bean business, the clients and inquiries those two teams pushed aside would come to Team 2.
Others had dismissed them as work that would barely count toward their sales figures, but I clearly remembered which of those companies would grow several times larger.
Joining Team 1 meant handling major accounts right away.
Staying in Team 2 meant being the first to secure future major accounts under my own name.
For me, Team 2 was actually the greater opportunity.
“Thank you for the generous offer. But I'd like to stay in Team 2 for now.”
Seo Jeonguk's eyebrows rose slightly.
“Why?”
“This project gave me a great opportunity. But it wasn't a deal I landed myself.”
“You want to bring in your own clients?”
“Yes. I'd like to grow a little more before I move.”
Seo Jeonguk studied me.
“Grow a little more before you come over?”
[This one's something special. I like him more by the minute.]
A faint smile crossed Seo Jeonguk's face.
“All right. Let me know if you change your mind.”
“Thank you.”
When I returned to Team 2, Oh Sangcheol tapped a palm against the folders on the desk.
“Come on, everyone. Stop treating these like a nuisance and divide them up. They all count toward our sales.”
The desk was piled high with accounts and work passed over by Team 1 and Team 3.
Choi Yeongjin picked up the folder on top.
“Department Manager Oh, aren't these the clients even Team 1 gave up on?”
“They didn't give up on them. They let us have them.”
Park Soyeon flipped through a few pages.
“Some of them have stopped responding.”
“Why all the complaints? You should've done a better job bringing in sales before now, then!”
As Choi Yeongjin put the folder down, Oh Sangcheol pointed at me.
“Assistant Manager Kim, you look through them first. You've had good instincts lately. Pick out the promising ones and divide them up.”
“Yes, understood.”
If I could choose first, this was actually good news.
I brought the folders to my desk and checked the company names.
Comparing each one against my memories of the future, I divided them into two piles.
On the left were companies that would stay the same size or see their sales fall.
On the right were companies that needed a lot of attention and were difficult to handle now, but would grow significantly in a few years.
At a glance, the left pile looked far easier.
All they needed was someone to manage their existing suppliers, and they offered steady sales right away.
I split the left pile in half and placed the folders on Choi Yeongjin's and Park Soyeon's desks.
I pulled everything on the right toward me.
For now, they were small accounts passed over in thin folders. But in a few years, these companies would multiply my sales and performance figures.
Manager Han Gyeongsu pushed up a pair of glasses while looking at the folders piled on my desk.
“Can you handle all that?”
“Yes. I'll be fine.”
With only a few folders left, a familiar name caught my eye.
[Mongsil Latex]
[Inquiry about the supply of natural latex concentrate for mattresses.]
[Please respond with samples and unit pricing.]
‘Found it.’
Both the name and the size of the company were still rather cute.
But in a few years, it would become a leader in Korea's latex mattress market.
It had the technical expertise and was firmly committed to its products.
The inquiry had come in a month ago.
I flipped through to the last page, but all I found was a note saying they were checking suppliers.
There wasn't a single record of any contact after that.
It wasn't hard to understand why.
The expected order was small, and they would have to find a new overseas supplier first.
Team 1 must have decided it would take more effort than the immediate sales justified.
I found the concentrate Mongsil Latex wanted in Lalita's product list.
The quality and quantity met the requested conditions. There was also stock left over that had been intended for Cambodia, so the unit price seemed worth negotiating.
I called Mongsil Latex right away.
“Hello. This is Assistant Manager Kim Seongjun from Overseas Sales Team 2 at Taeseong Trading.”
“Oh, hello. What can I help you with?”
“I'm calling about your earlier inquiry regarding natural latex concentrate. Are you still looking for a supplier?”
“Yes, we are, but...”
The response was lukewarm.
That was only natural after a month's wait.
“Since it's taken us so long to get back to you, I'd like to visit in person. Is the expected quantity still the same?”
“Yes. But if the amount we requested is difficult to supply, a little less would be fine.”
“No, I think we can supply the full amount.”
“The full amount?”
The subdued voice rose a pitch.
“Yes. I'll bring the delivery schedule and terms.”
“Sounds good. I'll see you at eleven in the morning, then.”
After ending the call, I wrote my name in the blank space for the person in charge.
I was about to open the next folder when my phone rang again.
“Is this Kim Seongjun? Lee Jeongsuk's biopsy results are ready.”
* * *
The gastroenterology consultation room.
The doctor pointed to one side of Mom's stomach on the examination image displayed on the monitor.
“Do you see this small growth? It's called a gastric adenoma. It can develop into stomach cancer if left untreated, so we need to remove it.”
“But I haven't felt sick or anything.”
“Most adenomas don't cause symptoms. It's fortunate we found it before it grew any larger.”
In my previous life, it had only been discovered after it developed into cancer.
This time, it was still at a stage where it could be removed through an endoscope. The doctor said a two-day hospital stay would be enough, and recovery would be quick.
As soon as we left the consultation room, we scheduled her admission.
“Next Monday, then.”
“Yes. I'll bring you that day.”
The following Monday, Mom went into the procedure room, leaving Dad and me in the hallway.
Dad opened a newspaper, but stared at the same page for a long time.
When the door opened, he stood up first without even folding it.
“We've completely removed the adenoma.”
“Is she all right now?”
“We need to examine the tissue we removed once more, but there's no major cause for concern at this stage. She just needs to keep up with her regular checkups.”
Coming out of the anesthesia, Mom slowly opened her eyes.
“Seongjun.”
“Yes. I'm here.”
“Is it over already?”
“Yes. They said they removed it all without any problems.”
“Really? That's a relief.”
Mom closed her eyes again, then struggled to open them.
“Have you eaten?”
“Not yet. I wanted to see you wake up first.”
“Goodness. I lie down for a bit, and there's no one to make sure you eat. Go and get something.”
The moment she came around, she worried about our meals before her own health.
Dad spoke gruffly beside her.
“Just worry about getting your strength back.”
“Oh, I'm perfectly fine.”
“Fine, my foot.”
Despite his gruff words, Dad pulled her blanket up to her chest.
Mom's birthday fell during her recovery in the hospital.
Suyeon came after school with a small cake and some skincare products.
“Well, here's a first. A birthday party in the hospital.”
Dad picked out a single candle and placed it in the middle of the cake.
Once it was lit, Mom blew it out in her hospital gown.
Suyeon clapped the loudest, and Dad joined in, pretending to be reluctant.
“Mom, don't save these for later. Use plenty.”
“Goodness, where did you get the money to buy something like this?”
“No talking about money or nagging today!”
“Will this get rid of my wrinkles?”
“Of course. Celebrities use it, too.”
While Suyeon put the skincare products away, I took out the box I had placed under the bed.
“This is my present.”
Mom unwrapped it.
Her hands paused when she saw the shoes inside.
“Shoes?”
“Yes.”
“How could I wear something this lovely every day?”
[I couldn't even bring myself to wear the shoes my mother bought me when I got married. They seemed too precious.]
That single thought brought back the memory of the almost-new shoes I had found among her belongings after her death.
“I'll buy you a pair every birthday from now on, so wear them without worrying.”
“Oh, what a waste of money.”
“Mom, I said no nagging about money today.”
I helped Mom put on the new shoes.
She turned her feet from side to side, studying them.
“How are they? They're not uncomfortable?”
“They're comfortable. A perfect fit.”
The next day, after I finished the discharge paperwork, Mom pointed under the bed.
“Seongjun, get my shoes for me.”
With her new shoes on, Mom looked at me and smiled.
Once we left the hospital room, her steps grew quicker.
At the entrance, she stopped and turned to me.
“Thank you, son.”
“Thank you, too.”
* * *
A few days later.
I dressed neatly and headed downtown.
Today was the day I would buy Han Ara the meal I'd promised her.
As I approached our meeting place, I saw her standing beside a street tree.
Instead of the apron she wore at the café, she had on neat cotton pants and a blouse.
Only her clothes had changed, but she gave off a completely different impression.
‘She's beautiful.’
Han Ara was looking at her phone.
A moment later, mine rang.
[Traffic must be bad on the way here. Take your time. I've only just left, too, so I'm still on my way.]
She was already at our meeting place, but she was pretending she'd only just left so I wouldn't feel bad.
I was about to walk over with a smile when a man stepped in front of her first.
“Excuse me... You're so pretty. Could I get your number?”
“I have a boyfriend.”
The man tried speaking to her again, but Han Ara didn't respond.
In the end, he backed off.
Only then did she spot me and look startled.
“Seongjun?”
[How long has he been watching? Did he hear me say I had a boyfriend?]
Her cold expression quickly broke into a smile, and she hurried over to me.
“When did you get here?”
“Oh, just now.”
“Why are you sweating so much? Are you hot?”
As her bright smile drew closer, my heart started pounding with terrible timing.
“Yes. It's a little... hot.”
“Then let's hurry. The restaurant I want to go to is close by.”
Han Ara took my arm and pulled me along as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I found myself being careful, worried she might feel my pounding heartbeat through our touching arms.
We entered a narrow alley crowded with old shop signs.
It was Pimatgol.
In a few years, redevelopment would erase this place, but for now, every restaurant was full of life.
In my previous life, I hadn't even thought of visiting this alley. This time, I was walking through it with Han Ara.
Even so, I couldn't spare any attention for our surroundings.
Every time I caught the faint scent of shampoo from her as she walked half a step ahead, my arm tensed against hers.
“This is your first time here, right?”
“Yes.”
“I think you'll like it, too.”
Han Ara smiled and stopped in front of a restaurant.
[Cheongjangok]
Despite the early hour, there were plenty of customers inside.
“This is the place you wanted to come to?”
“Yes. I felt a little embarrassed about coming alone.”
Once we sat down, Han Ara barely needed to look at the menu.
“I'll have the blood curd hangover soup. What about you?”
“The same for me.”
“Then shall we order a savory pancake and have some makgeolli rice wine, too?”
“Sounds good.”
Han Ara tied her long hair back tightly.
Soon, the blood curd hangover soup arrived, steaming in earthenware bowls.
“Wow, that smells good.”
She scooped up a spoonful of broth and blew on it.
Her eyes widened the moment she tasted it.
“Try it, Seongjun. It's really good.”
The hot broth was rich and savory, without any unpleasant smell.
Han Ara placed a piece of pancake on my side plate. I filled her empty cup with makgeolli in return.
After a cup each, her cheeks were already turning red.
“Ah, this is nice. What do you think?”
“Me, too. The food's delicious, and I like the atmosphere.”
Han Ara's expression relaxed a little.
[What a relief. I was worried the food wouldn't be to his taste.]
“Next time, let's go somewhere I know.”
“Really? You're asking me on another date, right?”
“Yes.”
With a little makgeolli in her, Han Ara grew more talkative.
From the time she'd mixed up orders during a rush at the café to the fact that a customer had actually asked for ssanghwa herbal tea, her stories kept coming.
I sipped my makgeolli and listened.
Strangely enough, I enjoyed hearing about those little things.
[Oh, I've been getting excited and talking all by myself. Why do I talk so much around Seongjun?]
Han Ara belatedly checked my expression.
“How was Cambodia?”
“Hot and humid. The junior colleague who went with me and I had a rough time.”
“Was the company all right?”
“It turned out to be a scam.”
“Really?”
“Yes. But thanks to the material you sent me, I managed to stop it.”
Han Ara smiled in relief.
Looking at her face, I found myself smiling, too.
“Why are you smiling? Is my face really red?”
She hurriedly searched her bag for a hand mirror.
I shook my head.
I could hear Han Ara's feelings without doing a thing.
But unless I spoke, she had no way of knowing mine.
Today, at least, I wanted to share my feelings honestly, too.
“It's not that. Today...”
“Today?”
Han Ara lowered her mirror and looked at me.
I didn't look away from her wide eyes.
“I'm happy.”
She blinked for a moment.
Even during all the years I'd lived with Yun Hyejin, I'd never properly said anything like this.
I'd never asked how she felt, and I hadn't gone out of my way to share my own feelings, either.
But now, I wanted to talk.
I wanted to tell her everything, right down to why I was happy and what had made me feel that way.
“My mother had a health checkup recently. They found an adenoma in her stomach, and she had a procedure to remove it.”
“Is your mother all right?”
“Yes. They caught it early and removed it completely. She's resting at home now.”
Han Ara breathed a sigh of relief.
“I'm so glad.”
“I also bought her a pair of shoes on my way back from Cambodia. I told her to wear them instead of saving them.”
I remembered Mom walking down the hospital hallway in her new shoes.
“When she wore them out of the hospital, it made me feel really good.”
I paused, then added honestly,
“And I like sitting here talking with you, too, Ara. That's why I said I was happy.”
“I see.”
[Seongjun really is a good person. How am I supposed to stop liking him more and more?]
“You're a good person, too, Ara.”
For a moment, she looked startled, as if I'd read her mind. Then she smiled shyly.
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