Episode 81 – Workplace Manager Authority

– Tadaktadaktadak

Only the sound of employees frantically typing on their keyboards echoes in the office. Thanks to Hyun-woo, who got the report approved instead of Choi Go-eun, the Organizational Innovation TF team’s project is running smoothly.

The team members were also satisfied with the current situation. They can feel a sense of accomplishment even when they are busy because the business is progressing rapidly. Reviewing and reviewing again because they couldn’t get approval from above is an experience they really don’t want to go through again.

“Team Leader-nim, the data you mentioned this morning is all written.”

“Ah… Thank you for your hard work, Section Chief Jung-ssi. Just leave it there, I’ll check it later.”

However, unlike the enthusiastic team members, Team Leader Choi Go-eun had a hard time concentrating on work. If it were her usual self, she would have urged the team members to proceed with the project quickly, but instead, she didn’t even read the written data and piled it up on her desk.

“Section Chief Jung-ssi. Don’t you think Team Leader-nim is a little strange these days?”

Deputy Manager Kwon Yong-chan asks Section Chief Jung, who just submitted the data to Choi Go-eun, in a whisper.

“I know, right… The data that Assistant Manager Park Hye-soo put up earlier was also left on her desk without being read.”

“She’s been like that all week. Could there be a problem with the progress?”

“No… We’ve already received confirmation from the management and all we have to do is proceed quickly.”

Like Section Chief Jung-ssi said, it was time for the TF team to move forward, rowing when the water came in. But the team leader at the forefront was sitting down.

“Could something personal have happened?”

“She never talks about personal matters, so I have no idea…”

Deputy Manager Kwon and Section Chief Jung, who were whispering in case Choi Go-eun heard, return to work without finding a pointed solution. The two of them putting their heads together couldn’t solve Choi Go-eun’s worries.

The cause of her problem was none other than Lee Hyun-woo.

* * *

‘How long is she going to be like that?’

Hyun-woo also began to feel frustrated with Choi Go-eun’s uncharacteristic passive attitude. As he had to win her over within a set period, he eventually decided to make time for just the two of them again to advance their relationship.

“Assistant Manager Park Hye-soo-nim. Just a moment.”

Hyun-woo calls out to Assistant Manager Park, who is sitting next to him.

“Deputy Manager Lee-ssi, what’s going on?”

“Team Leader-nim and I have a business trip to Seoul today. Please apply for the business trip.”

“Huh? Team Leader-nim didn’t say anything about it.”

Hyun-woo immediately uses [Work Cooperation] in the employment contract of the work system to Assistant Manager Park, just like last time.

[1 Employment Contract will be consumed.]

“I think Team Leader-nim has some worries right now. That’s probably why she forgot about the business trip schedule.”

“Ah, I see. Okay. I’ll process the business trip for the two of you today.”

“Thank you. Assistant Manager Park-ssi.”

Assistant Manager Park never just let it go without using [Work Cooperation] unless she thought of Hyun-woo. In the end, he had to consume one employment contract to convince her.

The night he came out of Choi Go-eun’s officetel without doing anything, the precious employment contract acquired from Eun-seol’s officetel disappears.

[Remaining Employment Contracts: 4]

‘Ah, it’s a fucking waste.’

Hyun-woo only regrets the one employment contract he used on Assistant Manager Park. However, even though employment contracts are precious, he couldn’t just stand by and watch Choi Go-eun’s worries any longer. It didn’t seem like the situation would change if he waited any longer.

‘[Psychological Message] is still the same… What the hell is she thinking?’

[User: Choi Go-eun]

[Psychological Message]

[Satisfaction] that her abilities have been recognized

[Expectation] for the company’s successful innovation

[Contempt] for incompetent employees

[Disgust] for insecure opposite sex

[Trust] in team member Lee Hyun-woo – Amplification Activated

[Sorry] to team member Lee Hyun-woo – Amplification Activated

After taking Choi Go-eun to her officetel without anything happening, she began to treat Hyun-woo as if he were invisible. So, he expected something to change in her [Psychological Message], but her emotions remained the same even after checking several times.

A thirsty person digs a well, so in the end, Hyun-woo, who was frustrated, had no choice but to take the lead.

– Uuuuuung

Hyun-woo puts Choi Go-eun in the passenger seat and starts the company car.

“…”

Choi Go-eun, who is looking straight ahead without saying a word in the passenger seat. She doesn’t even look like she’s reading a report or organizing a schedule like she did on the last business trip.

‘What the hell is her condition…’

Hyun-woo is just frustrated by Choi Go-eun’s behavior. The two of them kept a long silence without saying a word for several hours. That moment that didn’t seem like it would ever end

“Deputy Manager Lee-ssi.”

Choi Go-eun broke it first.

– Heumchit

“Yes! Team Leader-nim. Please speak. I’m listening.”

Surprised by her sudden call, Hyun-woo waits for her next words.

“I don’t have the talent to beat around the bush, so I’ll say it directly. Deputy Manager Lee. I’m uncomfortable and bothered by Deputy Manager Lee right now.”

“Yes?”

An unexpected 150-kilometer fastball comes flying in for Hyun-woo.

“Thanks to that, it’s hard to concentrate on work and work efficiency has also decreased. In order to complete the Organizational Innovation TF project that all the executives, including the CEO, have expectations for, I need to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

“…Does that mean you’re kicking me out of the team?”

“No, no… That’s not what I mean.”

– Gulppeok

Hyun-woo, who has to be fired if he fails to win over Choi Go-eun, grips the steering wheel tightly, perhaps nervous about her words.

“Then what do you want from me, Team Leader-nim? Are you saying that I should work harder because my work skills are lacking?”

“Haa… No. Deputy Manager Lee is doing well right now.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I… I don’t know either. I’m not an all-purpose problem solver, am I?”

‘Why am I doing this?’

She was the one who hated people who couldn’t make rational judgments because they were swept away by emotions the most. The same goes for people who only complain without trying to solve the problem.

In fact, she was so disappointed in herself for acting like a child and complaining to Hyun-woo, who had done nothing wrong.

“First… I’ll pull over for a moment.”

Sensing that Choi Go-eun’s condition was unusual, Hyun-woo pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned his head to look at her face.

– Gulppeok

“First of all… Yes. I should apologize to Deputy Manager Lee first. At first, I couldn’t understand why someone like Deputy Manager Lee had a good reputation among the employees. So, without realizing it, I evaluated Deputy Manager Lee with colored glasses. Judging without even experiencing it. It’s my clear fault.”

Did she find the answer herself after thinking about it for several hours? Choi Go-eun calmly reveals her true feelings.

“Deputy Manager Lee made the blocked project breathe, as if to shake off my negative prejudice. In fact, even I couldn’t find a suitable method. From that moment on, I thought I could trust Deputy Manager Lee as a team member.”

“And…”

Choi Go-eun, who has never shared personal matters with her employees, looks a little nervous, as if it’s awkward.

“I’m ashamed to say that I was so drunk that I couldn’t even control my body… I’m really grateful that you took care of me until the end.”

At that moment

[User: Choi Go-eun]

[Psychological Message]

[Gratitude] to team member Lee Hyun-woo – New!

A new emotion towards Hyun-woo emerges.

[Sorry], [Trust], and [Gratitude]. These were the emotions that Choi Go-eun felt for Hyun-woo. Thanks to Hyun-woo amplifying the first two emotions with the work system, she had no choice but to accept the huge wave of emotions helplessly.

It created a huge ripple in Choi Go-eun’s mind, which was always as calm as a still lake. The amplification of unfamiliar emotions was the reason that made her worry.

After telling Hyun-woo everything, she feels somewhat relieved, but the emotions are still swirling in her heart.

‘What the hell am I supposed to do with these emotions?’

“Then… Is that the end? What you wanted to say?”

“Yes, that’s all I wanted to say.”

Choi Go-eun, who has never been interested in men in her life, feels her heart flutter slightly at the face of Hyun-woo, who is just ordinary looking at her.

– Seueuk

Hyun-woo’s face is approaching her after unfastening the seat belt. Choi Go-eun would normally react quickly to something, but now her body doesn’t move because of the emotions swirling in her head.

– Jjok

She feels something moist and lukewarm. Only then does Choi Go-eun realize the meaning of Hyun-woo’s actions towards her.

“Ah…”

Hyun-woo’s body slowly moves away from her, as if he has achieved his purpose. And

[User: Choi Go-eun]

[Psychological Message]

[Satisfaction] that her abilities have been recognized

[Expectation] for the company’s successful innovation

[Contempt] for incompetent employees

[Disgust] for insecure opposite sex

[Affection] for team member Lee Hyun-woo – New!!!

Choi Go-eun’s psychological message is newly updated.

* * *

There was one thing that Hyun-woo overlooked in winning over Choi Go-eun. It was that she had never felt [Affection] for the opposite sex until now.

He can’t know exactly what kind of life Choi Go-eun has lived. But what is certain is that people who have eaten meat know the taste, and you can feel affection if you are interested in the opposite sex.

Perhaps Choi Go-eun has missed out on the natural emotions of a woman because of her intense desire for work. That was what he confirmed at her officetel.

‘Hahahaha…’

Hyun-woo feels a sense of futility when he realizes that. When you think about it, isn’t [Affection] for a certain object a complex of many other emotions?

Belief, trust, gratitude, apology, excitement, and many other emotions come together to create the concept of [Affection].

In Choi Go-eun’s case, it was a special case, and her awareness was delayed because she had never felt [Affection] for the opposite sex.

If she were a normal woman, she would have immediately felt the emotion of [Affection] from the [Sorry], [Trust], and [Gratitude] that Hyun-woo amplified.

‘Should I think of her as pure… or ignorant…?’

And Hyun-woo was sure. The +1 attached to Choi Go-eun’s charm is the fact that she is a virgin.

‘She’s a block of wood who hasn’t even felt [Affection] for a man, so of course she’s a virgin.’

Kim Hye-ri at the age of twenty is one thing, but Choi Go-eun at the age of 33 is really a virgin… Especially with this body that is violence itself.

“Hehehe…”

What man doesn’t hate virgins? Hyun-woo smiles unconsciously, thinking of Choi Go-eun’s body that no other man’s hands have touched.

“Deputy Manager Lee, why are you suddenly smiling stupidly? Concentrate on driving. We almost had a big accident last time.”

“Keup… Ah, yes…”

As the various emotions of [Trust], [Sorry], and [Gratitude] were integrated into [Affection] with Hyun-woo’s kiss as an opportunity, Choi Go-eun has now regained her usual appearance, as if her mind has been organized.

Her sharp eyes that seem to pierce through the other person and her unique poker face. Her unwavering posture with her chin pulled in and her back straight.

‘Team Leader Choi Go-eun. She’s back.’

She clearly feels [Affection] for him, but she has returned to the way she was when they first met. Hyun-woo checks her condition again with an uneasy feeling, but clearly

[Psychological Message]

[Affection] for team member Lee Hyun-woo – Amplification Activated (New!)

Choi Go-eun is currently feeling affection for him.

While Hyun-woo is embarrassed by Choi Go-eun’s perfectly restored appearance

‘Hehe…’

She was smiling inwardly without showing any expression on the outside. It was an emotion that even she couldn’t understand the reason for, but Choi Go-eun didn’t hate it.

※ Work Order (Deputy Manager Level)

[Using the psychological message, complete the capture of female employees with a charm point of 8 or higher. It must be completed within 3 months from the date of the work order.]

[Remaining Days: 20 days 16 hours]

Hyun-woo, who finally gained Choi Go-eun’s [Affection] with less than 3 weeks left until the completion of the work order.