Regressed Assistant Manager Kim Can Read Minds - Chapter 19

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Potter

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◈ Regressed Assistant Manager Kim Can Read Minds ◈

Chapter 19

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“Could you handle just the Thailand business for us, Manager Kim?”

I didn’t answer Choi Dongsik’s request right away.

Segwang Pump was Team 3’s client.

If I accepted without checking the situation first, I could be accused of stealing another team’s client.

“I’ll need to look into the current situation first. Could you send me your company profile and the materials on your progress in Thailand?”

“I’ll send them right now.”

The email arrived while we were still on the phone.

I opened the attachments and found photos of Segwang Pump’s factory and products.

There was a long list of deliveries to construction sites in Korea, as well as Vietnam and Malaysia.

The problem wasn’t the products. It was finding a way into the Thai market.

“How many units are waiting to be shipped?”

“Three hundred.”

“Is there a reason you chose Anantakul as your first target customer in Thailand?”

“They’re continuing to build more hotels and resorts. If we can supply pumps for their construction sites or facility maintenance first, it’ll be easier to sell to other hotels.”

In other words, they needed a big name as their first client.

Once they could say they had supplied Anantakul, even local distributors would treat them differently.

“We’re confident in our products.”

It wasn’t a bad plan.

But Team 3 had spent half a year standing at the same closed door.

“I only just heard that you deal directly with Anantakul, Manager Kim. It’s not that we don’t trust Taeseong Trading, but... Team 3 keeps telling us to wait a little longer.”

Manager Shin Jaeuk of Team 3 was in charge of Segwang Pump.

If I agreed with that complaint, I’d be putting down people from my own company in front of a client.

When I said nothing, Choi Dongsik sighed.

“If you can’t help us either, Manager Kim, we’ll have no choice but to look for another trading company. The sales expenses keep adding up, too.”

“Sales expenses?”

“At Team 3’s request, we’ve covered airfare and accommodation for every business trip. We’ve also paid separate funds to support local sales. Those costs alone have become quite a burden...”

Overseas sales cost money.

But it was a different story if they had kept spending a client’s money for six months without getting a single request for a sample.

“What results have there been?”

“The reports say they met with local companies, but none of those meetings have led to a request for samples or a quote. When we ask for details, they just say it’s how things work locally and tell us to wait.”

“Do you have records of the payments and the business trip reports from Team 3?”

“We’ve kept everything.”

“Please email them to me. I’ll contact you after I’ve reviewed them.”

More documents arrived after I ended the call.

While looking through the expense records, I found a map showing the planned sites of Anantakul’s new hotels and resorts.

A few marks on the outskirts of Bangkok and in central Thailand caught my eye.

Thailand had a long rainy season, and Bangkok and the central region were low-lying, so water didn’t drain easily after heavy rain.

Construction sites were especially vulnerable before drainage systems were installed. Once they flooded, it was hard to resume work without water pumps.

If my memory was right, this area would suffer several major floods in the years ahead.

Anantakul’s hotels and resorts would need portable water pumps, both for drainage during construction and for dealing with flooding after completion.

‘These will sell.’

* * *

The next morning, I took the documents from Choi Dongsik to Oh Sangcheol.

“Huh? Isn’t this Team 3’s client?”

“They’ve asked me to handle only the Thailand business.”

“Just Thailand? You think Deputy General Manager Jang will sit quietly and let that happen?”

[If Jang finds out, there’ll be a huge fuss about us stealing a client. Ugh, what a pain.]

Oh Sangcheol tried to hand the documents back.

I pulled out just the business trip reports and expense statements and placed them in front of him again.

“If this were just a client issue, I’d let it go, too. But something seems wrong.”

“What?”

Oh Sangcheol reluctantly turned the pages, then stopped at the third one.

Everything was listed, from flight and hotel receipts to the names of local companies and meeting dates.

Yet despite all those trips, there wasn’t a single page proving any actual results.

“Are these really the reports Manager Shin submitted?”

“Yes. The amounts match what Segwang Pump paid, too.”

“All they show is money being spent.”

Oh Sangcheol went through the documents again from the beginning.

[All those trips, and not a single request for a quote? Those stupid bastards. Have they been pulling something with the client’s money?]

Instead of calling Deputy General Manager Jang to demand an explanation, Oh Sangcheol neatly gathered the documents to one side.

“Call Team 3 in and talk to them first. If you can’t reach a decision, send it upstairs with both sides’ positions and these trip records.”

“Yes, Department Manager Oh.”

“There’s no point fighting and wearing ourselves out. We’re going to win anyway.”

The sales team meeting room.

Jang Taeho and Shin Jaeuk sat across from Oh Sangcheol and me.

Choi Dongsik took a seat between the two teams.

Team 3’s business trip reports from the past six months were laid out across the table.

The company names varied, but the conclusions were always the same.

[Assessing local response.]

[Further discussions planned.]

Jang Taeho spoke first.

“We haven’t been sitting idle, Mr. Choi. We’re still in talks with three local companies.”

“Have any of them even asked for a quote?”

“Overseas deals don’t produce results overnight. The local companies have also asked us to wait a little longer...”

“I’ve been hearing that for six months.”

Choi Dongsik closed the last page.

“I want purchase orders now, not reports. Please let Manager Kim handle Thailand, since that’s where things are stuck. If even that isn’t possible, I’ll find another trading company for the Thailand business.”

Jang Taeho glared at Shin Jaeuk, face stiff.

“Manager Shin. What exactly have you been doing for six months? You’ve made Mr. Choi come all the way here.”

“...I’m sorry.”

[Deputy General Manager Jang, you piece of trash. You enjoyed all those sightseeing trips yourself, and now you’re trying to dump the blame on me?]

Choi Dongsik said nothing.

Jang Taeho cleared their throat and turned toward me.

“Tsk. Then Manager Kim can introduce us to Anantakul, and Manager Shin can handle the negotiations afterward. They’re our client to begin with, so that’s only right.”

[All we need is the contact information for the person in charge. After that, we can just submit the reports under Manager Shin’s name.]

“If I’m going to hand the deal over to Manager Shin, there’s no reason for me to take it on.”

Jang Taeho’s expression hardened.

“What?”

“Team 3 can keep handling the existing business. But any new sales I generate in Thailand will stay with Team 2.”

“So you’re splitting up a client for the sales credit.”

“Mr. Choi is the one who asked to change the person handling Thailand.”

Jang Taeho glared at me and raised their voice.

If Choi Dongsik hadn’t been there, Jang might have thrown the documents at me.

“You’ve been doing well lately, and now you think you can look down on your superiors?”

Out of arguments, Jang was trying to pull rank.

I didn’t need to answer back.

I had a problem child beside me who was more dependable than anyone, as long as we were on the same side.

“Deputy General Manager Jang. Is something wrong with your ears?”

“Pardon?”

“Why are you raising your voice without considering where you are or what’s going on?”

“No, that’s not what I...”

Before Jang Taeho could continue, Oh Sangcheol gathered all the reports.

“Enough of the pointless talk. We’ve heard what Mr. Choi wants, and both sides have had their say. Let the higher-ups decide who handles it.”

“...You know how sensitive client issues between teams can be.”

“I do. That’s why I’m saying we should let the higher-ups decide.”

Looking annoyed, Oh Sangcheol sorted the documents and placed the trip reports and sales support expense records on top.

“We’ll include the trip schedules and expenses so far, too.”

“Is it really necessary to send up the trip records?”

Jang Taeho suddenly sounded urgent.

Oh Sangcheol stopped turning the pages and looked up.

“Why? Got a guilty conscience? It’s not as if you went there to have fun, right?”

“Of course we wouldn’t do that.”

[Damn it. Things will get complicated if they check the money we spent in Pattaya, too.]

Jang Taeho couldn’t argue any further.

Oh Sangcheol clipped both teams’ positions together with the trip records and sent everything upstairs.

Since the matter also involved negotiations for more latex concentrate from Anantakul, the report went to the Management Planning Office.

Two days later, Planning Office Director Jeong Eunho called in Teams 2 and 3.

Jeong Eunho quickly turned through the trip reports, then stopped at the expense statements.

They were packed with flight and hotel receipts.

There were no replies from local companies and no requests for quotes.

“Is this all you have to show for six months?”

“Well, since we’ve been trying to find new clients...”

Instead of answering, Jeong Eunho pulled out the expense statements.

“The Planning Office will check how the money was spent separately. Team 3 will keep the existing Southeast Asian business, and Manager Kim Seongjun will handle new business in Thailand.”

“Director Jeong, we’ve been working on this for six months.”

Jeong Eunho looked steadily at Jang Taeho over the top of his glasses.

“Deputy General Manager Jang. Do you really want us to dig into everything you’ve been doing?”

Jang Taeho couldn’t answer.

“We’ll leave it at that. You may go.”

“...Yes, Director Jeong.”

Deputy General Manager Jang and Manager Shin shot me fierce looks at the door before turning away.

They were taking out their anger at Jeong Eunho on me because I was an easier target.

As we left the meeting room, Oh Sangcheol picked at an ear.

“See? I told you there was no need to raise our voices.”

Getting the desired result without once getting your own hands dirty was a talent in its own way.

Back at my desk, I called Lalita.

I said I was planning to visit Thailand to discuss additional quantities and had one more product to show.

“Another new deal? What is it this time?”

“Portable water pumps.”

“Water pumps after latex? You’re selling something different every time we meet, Mr. Kim.”

“I’m a salesperson at a trading company.”

Lalita laughed on the other end.

“How about next Tuesday? I’ll be in Bangkok that day.”

“That works. I’ll see you then.”

“Yes. See you in Bangkok.”

After the call, I checked the calendar.

Next Tuesday, September 12.

[Military coup in Thailand.]

I couldn’t remember the exact date.

But I clearly remembered what happened after the coup.

Afraid it might turn into a war, some overseas companies dealing with Anantakul delayed their contracts and gave up their scheduled quantities.

In reality, the chaos in Bangkok didn’t last long.

When others grew frightened and gave up their contracts, I would stay by Anantakul’s side.

What I wanted was the supply they would give up.

* * *

The weekend before my business trip to Thailand, I went on my second date with Han Ara.

As promised in Pimatgol, I chose the restaurant this time.

It was a Korean set-menu restaurant in a renovated traditional house, tucked into an alley in Jongno.

I liked its peaceful atmosphere and often came here with clients.

As I waited outside, Han Ara walked toward me.

“Seongjun!”

She wore a white dress, with her hair neatly tied back.

She was using the hair tie I’d bought her.

“Does it look good on me?”

“Yes.”

Han Ara smiled and touched the ends of her hair.

Beyond the main gate was a well-kept garden.

White and pink flowers bloomed on both sides of the path.

“Wow. They’re so pretty. What kind of flowers are these?”

Round flowers bloomed like little balls at the tips of slender stems.

“Globe amaranth.”

“Even the name is pretty. What do they mean in the language of flowers?”

“Want to guess?”

“Hmm. Globe amaranth... Waiting? Longing?”

“Unchanging love.”

“That’s lovely. Do you believe love never changes, Seongjun?”

I shook my head.

“People’s feelings can change in an instant. I don’t believe love stays exactly the same forever.”

“Hmph. You’re not romantic at all.”

I gave a small laugh.

“But I do believe in something that lasts longer.”

“What’s that?”

“Even on days when your heart doesn’t race like it did at first, you still wonder if they’ve eaten. You worry when they’re sick, and when things get hard, you want to be the first person on their side.”

Love could change.

The excitement of the beginning could turn into familiarity, and sometimes even dislike.

“But that doesn’t mean you stop caring about each other. I think eternal love is when those feelings stay with you for a long time.”

“Hmm. It’s a little difficult, but I think I understand.”

Han Ara lifted her head after smelling the flowers.

Standing among all those blossoms, she looked like a flower herself.

“Shall we go in?”

We crossed the small courtyard and entered a room.

The window seat I’d reserved gave us a full view of the garden.

Soon, the table was filled with side dishes and warm soup.

The food was good, but Han Ara was quieter than usual.

Several times, she looked at me with her chopsticks in hand, then looked away.

[I should tell him, right? Juhye was right. I can’t keep seeing him while pretending there’s nothing to tell.]

I already knew what Han Ara wanted to say.

[What if he finds out and says it’s too much for him, and he doesn’t want to see me anymore? No, he might think I’ve been deceiving him all this time.]

That would never happen.

The person I liked wasn’t the chairman’s daughter. It was Han Ara.

[Should I tell him later, once we know each other better? But what if Seongjun finds out first...?]

“I’m going to Thailand on business next week.”

Han Ara put down her chopsticks.

“Thailand? How long will you be there?”

“I’ve planned for about a week to start with. It could be longer, depending on how things go.”

“That’s longer than I expected.”

[I won’t get to see him for a whole week. We’re not even officially dating yet. Would it be too much if I said I’d miss him?]

“Then keep in touch. And don’t overwork yourself like you did in Cambodia.”

“I’ll contact you as soon as I arrive, and often after that, too.”

“Really?”

“I’ll want to know what you’re doing, too, Ara.”

Han Ara turned red right up to the tips of her ears.

[When you say things like that so casually, you keep getting my hopes up.]

She turned away for no real reason and looked at the flowers swaying in the breeze.

Instead of the flowers, I watched her profile.

After our meal, we moved to a nearby café.

I took a sip of the coffee Han Ara had ordered. A familiar nutty flavor left a gentle sweetness behind.

“It’s nutty, with a sweet finish. Brazilian beans, right?”

“All my hard work teaching you has paid off.”

“A great student under a great teacher.”

Han Ara let out a small laugh, and the tension she’d carried since the restaurant eased.

We left the café and walked slowly toward the place where I’d parked.

Holding her bag strap with both hands, Han Ara tried to speak several times, only to stop herself.

[I can’t keep wasting time worrying like this. Let’s tell him.]

She stopped walking.

“Um, Seongjun...”

“Yes?”

“Actually, there’s something I haven’t told you yet.”

“Is it something you have to tell me today?”

“Not exactly, but...”

“Then could we take our time and talk about it after I get back from Thailand? If it’s important, I’d rather not hear it in a rush just before I leave.”

Han Ara didn’t know that I already knew her secret and still liked her.

“But there’s something I’d like to say first, too.”

“You too, Seongjun?”

“Yes. It might surprise you...”

Han Ara looked up at me, her face tense.

I met her eyes as I spoke.

“Would you like to be my girlfriend?”

“...What?”

“There’s still a lot we don’t know about each other, but let’s keep taking our time, just like we have been.”

Han Ara’s lips moved as if she were repeating the words “taking our time.”

I waited for her answer.

Only after a moment did she manage a reply, her face red.