WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Potter
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Regressed Assistant Manager Kim Can Read Minds ◈
Chapter 8
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Whole Cow Hobak Restaurant.
The members of Overseas Sales Team 2 sat around a long table.
By the time I arrived, the meat was sizzling on the grill, and everyone had already had a drink.
“Assistant Manager Kim, over here.”
Park Soyeon moved a bag off the seat beside them.
As soon as I sat down, Oh Sangcheol pushed an empty glass toward me.
“How can the person paying tonight be the last to arrive?”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“Never mind. Sit down. Now that Assistant Manager Kim’s here, let’s have another drink!”
Even at a team dinner, the members of Team 2 weren’t much different from usual.
Manager Han Gyeongsu drank in silence, while Choi Yeongjin filled up on meat.
As Park Soyeon led the conversation, Im Jaeho watched Oh Sangcheol’s glass to make sure it never stayed empty.
Only Kang Minho was stuck at the grill, barely getting a chance to eat.
“Kang, you should eat some, too.”
“I’ll eat after I finish grilling this.”
Only then did Kang Minho pick up a piece of meat.
After filling Oh Sangcheol’s glass, Im Jaeho took the tongs from Kang Minho.
Oh Sangcheol raised his glass.
“Right, Assistant Manager Kim’s paying tonight, so let’s drink until we can’t see straight!”
Even while eating, I kept checking my phone.
I hadn’t sent Han Ara a single text since we’d exchanged numbers.
I’d typed and deleted messages several times, unsure what to say.
Park Soyeon didn’t miss it.
“Assistant Manager Kim, are you talking to someone?”
“Why?”
“You’ve been looking at your phone this whole time.”
“Have I?”
Oh Sangcheol shook his head, his face flushed.
“Don’t go saying things like that. How long has it been since Assistant Manager Kim broke off his engagement? He can’t be seeing another woman already. This is the time to focus on work. You need to make manager, don’t you?”
Once Oh Sangcheol started drinking, he never stopped talking.
By the next day, he wouldn’t remember most of what he’d said. There was no need to take him seriously.
“Assistant Manager Kim, forget about women now and keep pushing forward. I’ll be up there helping you along.”
[If he could just do as much as Manager Han, my life would be easier.]
It didn’t matter that his words and thoughts were different.
Now I knew which one to believe.
“And you don’t need women anyway. Did I tell you? My wife’s in Canada with our daughter. Honestly... she’s a money-eating monster. It’s killing me.”
That part was sincere.
At some point, Oh Sangcheol really had started telling everyone never to become a goose dad whenever he got drunk.
“If you ever... if you ever date another woman, make sure she has money of her own. This is hard-earned advice from someone who’s lived longer than you. You know what I mean?”
“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
I mostly let it go in one ear and out the other.
By the time we’d finished the second round of meat, Manager Han Gyeongsu took their cigarettes and went outside.
I got up too, ready for a break from Oh Sangcheol’s drunken rambling.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going out for a cigarette.”
“All right, go ahead. Assistant Manager Choi, order another bottle of soju! Don’t leave your glass empty.”
Han Gyeongsu was smoking in the alley beside the restaurant.
When I stood beside them, they handed me a lighter.
“Tired?”
“I’m fine.”
We both smoked without speaking. I could faintly hear our teammates laughing inside the restaurant.
Come to think of it, I didn’t know much about Han Gyeongsu. We’d hardly ever talked about anything other than work.
“Assistant Manager Kim, don’t you want to join Team 1?”
“I haven’t really thought about it.”
“Everyone else seems to want to.”
It wasn’t a question out of nowhere.
Choi Yeongjin and Park Soyeon wanted to transfer to Team 1 as soon as they got the chance. Everyone knew that relying on Oh Sangcheol would get them nowhere.
“What about you, Manager Han?”
“I’ll pass. It’s too tiring over there.”
Han Gyeongsu let out a long stream of smoke.
“It wouldn’t be bad to keep managing my accounts like I do now, then move to a partner company later.”
In fact, a few years later, Han Gyeongsu had moved to a partner company and stayed until retirement.
They lacked ambition, not ability. A large share of Team 2’s sales came from their accounts.
That was why Department Manager Oh Sangcheol couldn’t push them around, even when Han Gyeongsu acted stiffly toward him.
“You know Deputy General Manager Seo Jeonguk, right?”
“Yes, I do.”
“It sounds like they’ll be leading a big project for the company soon. I heard they’re putting together a task force with people from each team.”
Han Gyeongsu tapped the ash off their cigarette.
“So I recommended you.”
“Me? Why?”
“Because you deserve a recommendation.”
They said it as though it were nothing special.
“You’re working on contracts with other clients besides Gwangjin Precision, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“You come in early, too, and it’s good to see you teaching Kang the job.”
None of it was particularly difficult for me.
I remembered most of the companies that would do business with Taeseong Trading in the future.
Since I could even hear their thoughts, approaching them first and agreeing on terms was easier than before.
I’d also been coming in early every morning to study stocks, not to do company work.
Han Gyeongsu seemed to have taken all of it in the best possible light.
There was no reason to clear up the misunderstanding.
Still, it was unexpected.
‘Wait, more importantly, they knew about all of it?’
I’d thought Han Gyeongsu cared only about their own accounts, but they even knew I was finding new clients and looking after Kang Minho.
Now I thought I understood why Seo Jeonguk had suddenly asked me to smoke with them.
After hearing Han Gyeongsu’s recommendation, they’d checked me out in person.
‘Was that conversation on the roof a test?’
“Thank you. I didn’t realize you were looking out for me like this, Manager Han.”
“People who work hard should be rewarded.”
Even after throwing away their cigarette butt, Han Gyeongsu didn’t go straight back inside.
“Assistant Manager Kim, can I give you a piece of advice?”
“Yes. Please do.”
“As you move up, you’ll see plenty of ugly things. Being good at your job won’t always earn you praise. Sometimes, who you work under will matter more than your results or the work itself.”
They were talking about office politics.
Oh Sangcheol had risen higher than his abilities deserved because he had a quick eye for that sort of thing.
Han Gyeongsu, on the other hand, simply worked in silence. Even when an opportunity came along, they stepped aside if it meant competing with someone.
“Don’t just look at the paperwork, Assistant Manager Kim. Pay attention to people, too. In that sense, Deputy General Manager Seo isn’t a bad person. They’re strict, but they look after capable people.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“When an opportunity comes, take it. I made the recommendation, but going there and proving yourself is up to you.”
Han Gyeongsu started toward the restaurant, then looked back at me.
“Still, judging by how you’ve been doing lately, I think you’ll do well.”
[Unlike me.]
Only then did I understand why Han Gyeongsu had brought up Team 1 in the first place.
People often said they’d never intended to take a path after missing their chance to follow it. I’d endured plenty of days by telling myself the same thing.
Han Gyeongsu didn’t want me to back down as they had.
* * *
The next morning, Head of Sales No Seungpil came down to the Team 2 office in person.
They held a list of members for a new business task force.
Oh Sangcheol was the first to push back his chair and stand when he saw the division head.
“What brings you here, Division Head No?”
Instead of answering, No Seungpil looked around the office for me.
“Who’s Assistant Manager Kim Seongjun?”
“Assistant Manager Kim, come over here!”
When I got up and approached, No Seungpil looked me up and down.
Then they handed me the thin folder they’d brought.
“You’re joining the task force starting next week.”
[Direct Import and Long-Term Supply of Green Coffee Beans for Domestic Coffee Franchises.]
[Task Force Leader: Deputy General Manager Seo Jeonguk, Overseas Sales Team 1.]
The member list included employees from Teams 1 and 3.
I was the only one from Team 2.
“The first meeting is next Monday. Before then, review the background materials and the potential suppliers.”
“Yes.”
“Each team will give a ten-minute presentation. Come prepared with a list of what we should check when choosing a supplier.”
No Seungpil turned to Oh Sangcheol.
“Department Manager Oh, give the task force priority when scheduling Assistant Manager Kim’s work.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes. I’ll do that.”
[Why did Seo Jeonguk choose Kim Seongjun? Since when did those two know each other?]
After No Seungpil left, Oh Sangcheol checked the list in my hand again.
“Assistant Manager Kim, how long have you known Deputy General Manager Seo?”
“I don’t know them well.”
“And they put you straight onto the task force?”
Oh Sangcheol scanned the list once more, looking puzzled.
[Why Kim Seongjun instead of Manager Han? Seo Jeonguk isn’t the type to choose just anyone.]
“I’ll learn as much as I can.”
“Good. It’s a great opportunity, so make the most of it. Haven’t I always said you were meant for bigger things?”
That was the first I’d heard of it, but I didn’t bother arguing.
Oh Sangcheol was already talking as though he’d been the one to send me to the task force.
“I’ll adjust your schedule, so just focus on this project.”
“Thank you.”
My eyes met Manager Han Gyeongsu’s. They gave me a single nod without saying anything.
I returned to my seat and opened the folder.
The business involved importing green coffee beans and supplying them to domestic coffee franchises under long-term contracts.
The contracts were large. If it succeeded, Taeseong Trading would have an opportunity to expand its product range, starting with coffee and moving into other food ingredients.
The names of the people behind the project were written on the first page.
[Overall Project Supervisor: President Cha Myeongguk.]
[Budget Approval: Vice President Baek Seungwon.]
That single sheet laid out the current power structure at Taeseong Trading.
After the former chairman passed away, Cha Myeongguk had taken a firm grip on sales, while Baek Seungwon controlled the money and administrative departments.
Han Myeongcheol was treated as a figurehead with nothing but shares and the chairman’s office.
But the person who would eventually push both of them out and take control of Taeseong Trading was Han Myeongcheol.
I turned the page and found information on five potential overseas suppliers.
Two were in Vietnam, with one each in Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia.
My eyes stopped at the last company’s name.
[Cambodia: Mekong Green.]
It was the name that had stalled Seo Jeonguk’s career for years.
Their prices were the lowest of the five. The quantities they claimed they could supply were more than enough, and the samples they’d sent to Taeseong Trading had received good reviews. On paper, they were actually the most attractive choice.
That was why Taeseong Trading had chosen Mekong Green in my previous life.
The problem came after the actual shipment arrived.
When the sacks were opened, damp green coffee beans poured out, mixed with old beans.
Taeseong Trading rushed people over, but it was already too late. The Cambodian office was empty, and the representative and staff had disappeared with the money.
The blame fell on Seo Jeonguk, who had led the project. That single incident had caused them to be passed over for promotion for years.
I knew what Mekong Green would do.
The problem was that they hadn’t done anything yet.
The samples were fine, and there were no flaws in the paperwork.
To prevent the failure, I needed evidence everyone could accept.
Suddenly, I thought of Han Ara and the way she talked about coffee without hesitation.
Every page of her coffee books was packed with notes.
‘Ara might be able to help.’
As it happened, I had a coffee class on Saturday.
I took out my phone and sent Han Ara a text.
[It’s still okay for me to come learn about coffee on Saturday, right?]
A reply arrived a little later.
[Yes. You’re more than welcome.]
Footnotes:
A “goose dad” is a Korean term for a father who remains in Korea to earn money while his wife and children live abroad, usually for the children’s education.
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