Chapter 222. An Unexpected Attack (4)

***

A huge photo of DiaTeen was hung up on the Siyan Department Store’s 12 stories tall front wall.
At the same time, Siyan, Hayas, and numerous other department stores started a period of discount sales.
This staked DiaTeen’s introduction into China, and for Siyan, they were at an essential junction of whether they could leap into the top 5 or not.
Inside a meeting room at the Siyan Department Store.
President Choo ManJi kept smiling because he found it funny the more he thought about it.

“Kang ShiMyoung, that dude should be quite stumped right about now, eh?”

KangYoon shrugged his shoulders. He shouldn’t have predicted a competition against another Korean artist. Both Hayas and Yerang should be stumped.”
“Hahaha.”

President Choo ManJi felt very refreshed.
Even though Kang ShiMyoung managed to drive DiaTeen out of the picture, the one who got attacked in the end was Kang ShiMyoung himself.
Meanwhile, KangYoon’s fingers were busy typing on his phone.

– I’m about to go into a meeting. What are you doing?
– I’m jogging in Hangang. *^^* You’re having a meeting again? T^T
– Yeah… Can you take my place instead?
– That… sounds impossible. sorry~

When KangYoon typed on his phone with a grin on his face, President Choo ManJi asked with a joking tone.

“Oho, President Lee. Why are you having so much fun? Is it your girlfriend?”
“Does it look like it?”
“Yes. The expression you’re making isn’t possible if it isn’t the person you like.”
“Hahaha. Is that so?”

KangYoon didn’t deny his claim.
Seeing that, President Choo ManJi laughed in an even louder voice.

“Good times. Yeah, dating is when it’s the sweetest. Just dating, of course. Why are women cute like rabbits before marriage, but turn into elephants after marriage?”
“No way. Other men will be angry if you speak like that. We all know who your wife is.”

KangYoon found it absurd.
President Choo ManJi’s wife was an ex-actress and her hot body figure caused quite an issue a few times throughout her career.
However, President Choo ManJi didn’t seem to care about all that and shook his head.

“President Lee.”

President Choo ManJi whispered to KangYoon with serious eyes.

“Do you know who the prettiest woman is in the world?”
“What?”
“It’s another’s woman.”
“Whaaat!?”

KangYoon blinked several times and that made President Choo ManJi laugh again.

“Hahaha. You’re quite conservative, President Lee. I don’t know who it is, but she’s quite blessed. You’re capable, you’re a romanticist, and… Oh I wonder who it is.”
“Sheesh, president. You’re making comments that might make the readers stop reading.”

President Choo ManJi’s joke made KangYoon shrug.
Not long after that conversation, the staff members of the Siyan Department Store entered the meeting room.
They compared the sales of the same discount event period they held last year and told the two people that the total number of transactions had almost doubled, praising KangYoon and President Choo ManJI.
It was a little pity that they didn’t have accurate data to see if they actually entered the top 5. Still, comparing the number of guests and the sales numbers, it was clear that the guests visiting Siyan’s Department Store outnumbered the guests that visiting the Hayas Department Store.
The building was filled to the brim with people, so maybe that was an indication.
Moreover, their model, DiaTeen, sometimes showed up at the department store, so the effects were multiplied.
The one in charge of this marketing promotion, Managing Director Ding Hanwei gave KangYoon, and President Choo ManJi glances of satisfaction after finishing his presentation.

[We had never seen such a significant effect from using models since our department store’s founding. Moreover, we received an additional promotion from the models’ visits, so the reactions are explosive. If we keep going like this, entering the top 5 in the industry will no longer be just a dream.]
[We’re glad to hear that you’re expecting good results.]

President Choo ManJi replied with a satisfied smile.
Managing Director Ding Hanwei spoke with the people of his company before speaking to the two of them in a serious expression.

[We believe that DiaTeen is creating Youke (游客 – Chinese tourists). The cosmetics of K-House that DiaTeen featured in has tourists buying their products in bulk.]

The products of K-House that DiaTeen modeled for before were mostly out of stock.
Thanks to modeling for the department store, the products of K-House had two truck shipments of products per week.
The way the customers were buying products was similar to how the Youke bought products in Korea.
The companies that these tourists visited were screaming in joy as they bought out products in bulk with their huge budget.

[I’m thankful that you…]
[….]

President Choo ManJi was about to thank them, but KangYoon quietly grabbed his hand.

‘What is it?’
‘I think we should keep listening. The important part has yet to come.’

As KangYoon predicted, Managing Director Ding Hanwei spoke about the important part with a calm tone.

[We asked DiaTeen to model for us for this season only, but this time, we’d like to ask for a formal contract to have them model for us exclusively. I hope we can continue our excellent relationship.]
For President Choo ManJi, this was an excellent deal.
This was the same as saying that DiaTeen could start off with wings in China!
He was about to accept without a second thought but KangYoon grabbed his hand.

‘I think it’s better if we should probe them more.’
‘President Lee.’

President Choo ManJi was shocked at KangYoon’s guts.
Actually, they were the ones in an inferior position in this contract.
However, KangYoon was saying the two of them should ask for more despite being in an inferior position.
President Choo ManJi met eyes with KangYoon before saying dejectedly.

[…Thank you for your words. However, I think we will have to consult ETM Entertainment’s side before deciding.]

Hearing that, Managing Director Ding Hanwei nodded his head.

[Well. This is an important matter after all… I look forward to a positive reply from you.]

Like that, the meeting ended and the two of them returned to ETM Entertainment.
Inside the car, President Choo ManJi asked why KangYoon told him to reject the contract.

“If we delay the contract, someone else might take credit for our work. Like what Kang ShiMyoung did. Although I did listen to your words, I do want to listen to your explanation.”

Hearing his words, KangYoon replied while driving.

“Like what you told them, there is the fact that we should consult ETM before we come to a decision, and we also must look at the conditions of the contract first. Here, we can only protect ourselves. Their offer is good, yes, but I feel like you were too rushed President Choo, so I put the brakes on.”
“Hm… I think that was a good enough proposal to rush into. If they’re mentioning Youkes, they’re saying that they only have us in mind. That means…”
“For me… I think that they’re probing us out with that proposal today.”

Hearing KangYoon’s words, President Choo ManJi fell silent.

“I felt like you were being dragged into their pace, so I put the brakes on. If we get caught up in their pace, they might try to shave down the value of DiaTeen and try to get a low price for our work. They already saw the effects of DiaTeen, so they can’t go with anyone else.”
“……”
“You are the one with the knife. Why are you trying to hand it over to them? I get that you’re in a rush due to the matter with Yerang, but I hope you can be more rational.]

KangYoon’s advice seemed to have worked and President Choo ManJi closed his eyes.
He was silent all the way until they arrived at ETM Entertainment, and he only spoke after entering the parking lot.

“…Now that I think about it, you are right, President Lee. It looks like Yerang was on my mind. This is a fight that I already won.”

After parking, KangYoon pulled out the car keys and handed it over to President Choo ManJi.

“It’s not that surprising. We have many people we are responsible for… there’s a lot of pressure on our shoulders, so it’s no wonder that many things will get to your mind.”
“Hahaha. Looks like I got to learn something from you today. You really are a person who’s worth learning from.”
“Not at all. I also learn a lot from you, President Choo.”
“Oho? Really? Like what, for example?”

KangYoon made a joking smile.

“Like how another man’s woman is the prettiest?”
“Pffft.”

Getting off the car, President Choo ManJi lightly hit KangYoon’s shoulders.
Although they had some trouble between them thanks to business matters, they got on even closer terms.

***

“…Haa.”

Leaving the director’s office, President Kang ShiMyoung clutched his aching head.

“What the hell do they want from me at this point?”

Grumbling in Korean so that the secretary wouldn’t be able to hear him, he bit his lips.
He wasn’t confident in holding himself back unless he vented his frustration somewhere.
The sales of Hayas Department Store certainly saw an increase after using Wincle as a model.
However, Siyan Department Store, located next to them, was dubbed ‘the department store that Youkes go to,’ and saw an unprecedented number of guests.
Without even looking at the graph, it was obvious who was doing better.
After this week, the staff’s gazes that looked at him started turning strange, and by now, they found him very disturbing.

“Yeah, I don’t like you either! Duh!”

Leaving in his car, President Kang ShiMyoung shouted.
Just where did it all go wrong?

“They managed to sign a contract with another department store in such a short time? Is that even possible?”

Hayas Department Store was already talking with Yerang not long after Yoonseul decided to work with them, so it wasn’t surprising there. Just how did Siyan Department Store work to get that result?
Looking at a business proposal alone would take days.
From creating a team to signing the contract…
It would take at least a month to get things ready.

“It just doesn’t make sense. The times don’t match at all! No wait, was their proposal god-sent? A proposal that would capture the hearts of those that read it? And a perfectly timed calculation? No way, how is that even possible?”

If the proposal suited the department store’s tastes entirely… then it was possible.
That was easy to say.
Not only must the proposal be extremely captivating to the one in charge, but they also needed to have a team already working on a similar project. There was also a matter of budget as well. Unless the one that planned this was someone exceptional, it was pretty much impossible.
But then, the impossible… actually happened?

“…It looks like I was thoroughly defeated by President Choo this time. No, wait, this wouldn’t be that man’s doing. Who is behind this?”

As a reflection of his turmoiled heart, the car he drove also roughly drove on the road.

***

After successfully finishing his business in China, KangYoon returned to Korea.
President Choo ManJi saw him off himself and shouted to him as he saw him off.

“This Choo ManJi will never forget what you’ve done for me! Next time, we’ll see in China!”

KangYoon waved his hand back awkwardly because his words were a little too cheesy.
When he returned to Korea, it was already the middle of the night.
He just came out of the arrivals gate, and a familiar figure, wearing a hat to cover her face, approached him.

“Y, you!”

KangYoon’s eyes widened.

“…You just got into an accident not too long ago.”
“It’s fine. Let’s go.”

KangYoon hurried to the parking lot, worried that someone might recognize her.
When they arrived at the parking lot, he was greeted with a foreign car shaped like a beetle. It was a car that the ladies liked.
He was putting luggage in the back and the lady decided to sit in the driver’s seat which made KangYoon widen his eyes.

“MinAh. This car… wait, you learned to drive?”

Taking off her hat, Jung MinAh replied with a bright smile.

“This is basic stuff. I’m actually quite good at driving.”
“…I’m a little worried now.”
“Trust me on this one.”

The car that housed the two slowly left the parking lot.
However, even after entering the motorway, the car didn’t speed up at all.
The cars behind them all overtook the car they were in.

“Don’t you think you should accelerate a little?”
“…I, I know!”
“……”

Hearing that, KangYoon felt a shiver running down on his back.
Two hands on the wheel, leaning forward.
She was a stereotypical beginner driver!
Moreover, the skies were dark.

“MinAh, you should turn the headlights on.”
“Lights, yes. Wh, where was it again?”
“…That’s the wiper.”
“Whoaa? Ahjussi!”

KangYoon tried to calm Jung MinAh down since she looked like she was about to panic.

“It’s fine, so calm down. The knob for the headlights is on the other side of the one for the wiper.”
“Y, you mean here?”

Jung MinAh made the mistake of putting the left blinker on and turning it off again before finding the correct dial.

“I found it!”
“Good. Now try to speed up a little more.”

KangYoon ended up having to do a driving lesson for Jung MinAh, who was a little more confident now.
Although it took some time, the car the two of them were headed to Seoul.
After getting used to driving a little, KangYoon could have a conversation with her.

“Don’t you feel pain anywhere?”
“Of course! Who do you think I am?”
“Don’t be so confident of yourself and tell me if you feel hurt anywhere. You won’t know when the aftermath will kick in after a traffic accident.”
“Yes.”

Jung MinAh was excited to talk with KangYoon.
The car was a space for just the two of them.
It was worth having come all the way here without telling Lee Hyun….

“I told the director specifically not to come to pick me up today. How did you know I was coming?”
“Uhm, I … sneaked a peek at the director’s phone.”
“What? How?”
“The director is quite vulnerable. She doesn’t lock her phone with a password.”

KangYoon sighed.
He only told Lee HyunJi the time of his arrival and no one else.

“I’m thankful that you’re here, but I hope you don’t do dangerous things like this in the future. Please.”
“I don’t want to.”
“MinAh.”

Then she should keep receiving from him?
She couldn’t do even a little thing like this?
She pouted

“…How am I supposed to get progress if I keep receiving?”
“What? I didn’t quite get th… whoaaaa? MinAh, up ahead!”
“Whoaaa!”

The road home was filled with 10% warmth and 90% thrill.

***

The next day.
KangYoon came to work at a very early time.
He had many things to do since he had been absent for a while.
He turned the lights on in the empty office and found a file on his desk.

‘Huh? What’s this score about?’

KangYoon found a score titled ‘Composed by Lee HyunAh, arranged by Lee HeeYoon’ and a USB. He plugged the USB in immediately.

‘Oho?’

When the speakers showed him white light, KangYoon’s eyes narrowed.