Hyena-nim Will Show You What She's Capable Of (2)
"Secret room? You're taking there? Ha... Choi Hyena's moving up in the world."
Choi Hyena looked excited. It seed everyone wanted to visit the secret room at least once. I went there with her.
After a bit of ti, the man with the long hair arrived. It was Kang Dae-hyun, a deputy from the HR team. He greeted us in his characteristic slick manner.
"Thank you for accepting my request, division director."
He went straight over to the window overlooking the the park and said,
"I've missed this view. Unless you invite , division director, I can't co here at all."
He gave Choi Hyena a smile that could have been called charming. Choi Hyena showed no change of expression. But I could tell: Choi Hyena didn't like Kang Dae-hyun.
Kang Dae-hyun spoke, still wearing his smile.
"The 115km issue is causing a stir at Next Planet once again. Division director, you really are a whirlwind of a person."
"Isn't it beautiful to see everyone working hard in friendly competition? But honestly, I prefer a gentle breeze to a whirlwind. Anyway, why did you ask to see ?"
"I want to hear your vision and maybe offer a bit of advice as well."
He was truly full of ulterior motives. But I couldn't deny that he'd always been helpful to .
"It seems the executive vice president's side is preparing a lot for this 115km issue as well."
"That's right. That risk-averse executive vice president..."
"Who's also incompetent."
That wasn't speaking—it was Choi Hyena.
Choi Hyena and Kang Dae-hyun exchanged glances and nodded.
"There's so much fat on their bellies."
"The oil is running down their faces, too."
These two are strangely in sync in unexpected ways.
But I'm not here to badmouth the executive vice president.
"Deputy Kang, let's get to the point."
"Sure. This ti, the executive vice president's team is mobilizing all the core mbers from each team for the 115km project. Even the External Business Division is incredibly motivated."
The External Business Division, Next Planet's third division, was actually small in scale to call a full-fledged division. But since they handled public business and needed to secure deals, it had been elevated to division status. Its division director, Lee Ji-young, was the only female division director. The catch was that she was openly in the vice CEO and executive vice president's camp.
"No matter what the other side does, we walk our own path. The executive vice president's strategy is: they saved one billion won, so they'll try to maximize the project with that money. Isn't that right?"
"Walking your own path... it's a nice phrase. But this ti, you really need to keep your guard up."
His tone was aningful. It was too serious for to ignore, even if his voice didn't sound that grave.
"It seems you have more to say. I'm listening."
Kang Dae-hyun lifted the corner of his mouth.
"For a mont, I was almost disappointed. I thought division director was getting arrogant."
Arrogant? ?
It felt like I'd been struck in the head. Maybe I had beco conceited: thinking, what could those stuck-in-the-past, negative-thinking vice CEO and executive vice president types possibly accomplish? I had convinced myself that since I'd gotten the chairman involved in the eting, beating them wouldn't be hard.
But they are seasoned veterans of the corporate world. Now that they've gotten the city of Nonsan involved, they probably feel there's no turning back. And I'd made the mistake of thinking that, since the chairman would be at the eting, beating them would be easy. I'd beco complacent, assuming 115km was closer to us and would automatically take our side.
I gave Kang Dae-hyun a small bow.
"Thank you for making realize this. I think I underestimated them."
"That's what I really like about you, division director. Having worked in the HR team, I've learned most people rarely admit they've made a mistake. Yet, breaking through that psychological barrier is the key to doing even more."
Kang Dae-hyun began explaining.
"I wasn't directly involved since I'm in the HR team. But according to our team leader and others... It seems there have been evaluations from stakeholders saying the 115km project plans are top-notch. And apparently, these aren't just the usual sycophantic assessnts from the executive vice president's subordinates, either. Besides, the External Business Division director has been visiting 115km every day to make business proposals."
I see.
If 115km sides with the External Business Division, even bringing the chairman to the eting will be aningless. The chairman would just end up disappointed in .
Even if 115km's relationship with us has been good so far, if the opposition shows real sincerity, they could win them over. Sincerity has a way of reaching people's hearts.
I'd better go see 115km again.
"Division director, I'd like paynt for the info."
"My vision, you an?"
"Yes."
"Why do you want to hear it?"
He glanced out over the the park again.
"Because I'm here for this view. But if you're not soone who can protect it, maybe I should reconsider my commitnt?"
He wasn't blindly on my side.
"I don't have any remarkable vision."
"Then maybe I'll be disappointed."
"I'm bringing the chairman to the upcoming eting for the 115km project."
"Wow!"
Deputy Kang looked utterly surprised. He was soone who always appeared so unfazed... The presence of the chairman truly was sothing.
"Until you spoke, I thought just having the chairman at the eting would ensure victory if I asserted my ideals and plans. But you changed my mind. Since you're in HR, let ask you: What kind of person do you think could move soone like the chairman?"
Deputy Kang scratched his cheek with a troubled look.
"Please don't test . I have no idea about soone at that level. I'm just a re deputy."
"I believe I'm soone who moves forward. I'll be sure to show that at this eting. That's my vision."
"I'm looking forward to your vision, and your ability."
Ability.
At those words, I patted Choi Hyena on the shoulder.
She had once said:
[Division director, I'm supposed to at least provide ideas to spark your inspiration. But every ti this happens, I start to wonder—should I say it? It almost feels like I'm losing my sense of purpose.]
I'd always relied on Choi Hyena's help. Because she was by my side, I'd been bold enough to make daring moves until now.
But saying her sense of purpose was lost? That was nonsense.
"It won't be , but Hyena-nim who will demonstrate ability."
I really have so many people to thank. Recently, Lee Yunjung has helped emotionally, and right now, Kang Dae-hyun had offered practical help.
Choi Hyena stared at , mouth half open.
"M-? Is there anything I can do? Other than assisting you, division director, I don't think I have a role..."
"No, there is."
I said it firmly.
Kang Dae-hyun clapped his hands and spoke.
"I hope this ti, division director, you really crush the executive vice president's side. That would an a lot."
"Is there a aning I'm unaware of?"
"If you win again, the executive vice president's side will likely take extre asures—a risky move. They need to please the vice CEO but keep failing."
Suddenly, Choi Hyena's eyes sparkled. She poured out her words, excitedly.
"If it's a risky move, then for the executive vice president to get rid of the division director, things like corruption or threatening employees are likely. And if they do, we have a high chance of catching their slip-up. Is that what you an?"
"Oho... Hyena-nim, great perspective. That's right."
"When that happens, if we counterattack with their mistake and wipe out all those who made the risky play—!"
"We might not catch the executive vice president directly, but your influence as division director will beco even greater."
"Deputy, you'll use your connections to gather evidence of suspicious activity, right? Or even better, set a trap for them?"
"That's right up my alley. I'm getting excited just thinking about it."
Unbelievable. Why do these two click so perfectly when it cos to sches and plots? Let's take it easy. This is supposed to be a the park full of love and dreams, not a den of scheming and treachery.
Kang Dae-hyun gave Choi Hyena a wink.
"We communicate so well. How about dinner tonight? A nice restaurant..."
"I'm busy."
Choi Hyena cut him off, flat.
It was the first ti I'd seen Kang Dae-hyun's face crumple like that. When it cos to relationships, these two don't click at all.
***
I t Han Sang-il, the leader of 115km.
"Yes, the External Business Division director has been visiting every day. Since we're part of the sa company, I think it's okay to show you..."
Han Sang-il brought out a proposal. It included plans for a 'Your Touch' thed zone in the the park and rchandise production. It was definitely a step above the previous projects the executive vice president had pushed. This felt like a project where the whole vice CEO faction had united under executive vice president's command.
Han Sang-il mussed his own hair as he spoke.
"To be honest, I never expected Next Planet to take such a big interest in us."
"With hits like 'Your Touch', it's only natural for us to have high expectations for 115km."
"I just... I don't know what to do with myself."
Now it was ti to start the awkward conversation.
"The the zone and rchandise are both top quality."
"Yeah... They really are. To be honest, I have to say I'm tempted by the proposal."
I could understand why. That level of dedication—visiting every day—and the promise to make his music into fantastic content... It was impressive.
What was interesting was that, although the executive vice president was supposed to be leading the project, in reality, the driving force was the External Business Division director.
Lee Ji-young, the External Business Division director, beca a division director in her early forties, the youngest ever appointed. Of course, that was before . On that alone, she seed extrely competent. But according to Choi Hyena and Deputy Kang Dae-hyun, she wasn't quite as underperforming or neglectful as the vice CEO or executive vice president.
Instead, she got by with decent results and took care of her own interests. Apparently, her ability to flatter the vice CEO was considered even greater than the executive vice president's.
The fascinating thing was, the ideas or direction for this project weren't all that original, but the detail and quality were exceptional.
There were two hypotheses for why this was possible. The first: there was a highly capable subordinate under Director Lee Ji-young. But I scrapped that—every other project they did was diocre at best.
The second was...
"It seems Director Lee Ji-young is a passionate fan of 'Your Touch'."
"Yes... To be precise, she's a bigger fan of the ani than my songs. That's probably why she's so keen to make this project succeed."
As expected...
Fans are truly powerful in the content industry. 'Sanrio', famous for 'Hello Kitty', once appointed the founder's grandson as CEO while he was in his early thirties—a so-called parachute appointnt.
At first glance, it sounded like a recipe for disaster for Sanrio. But surprisingly, that 'parachute' CEO created the success of characters like 'Cinnamoroll,' 'Kuromi,' and 'Pompompurin,' causing Sanrio's explosive growth. The secret was, the CEO was a superfan of his company's characters. Sotis, when a fan devotes themselves to what they love, remarkable results follow.
Director Lee Ji-young, as a huge fan of 'Your Touch', would be a tough opponent. But she's not a fan of the parks. I, on the other hand, am a superfan. Plus, I have another weapon.
"I heard you're trying to write lyrics for a new song but struggling because there's sothing hard to put into words."
"Huh? How did you find out..."
I glanced at Choi Hyena.
"Hyena-nim saw it on the 115km fan café."
"Ah..."
"Hyena-nim, since it's your idea, why don't you take the lead?"
"Eh? ?"
Choi Hyena was startled.
I'd already said it in front of Deputy Kang:
[It won't be , but Hyena-nim who will demonstrate ability.]
I believe in her. If it's Choi Hyena, she can win back 115km for us, even when they're starting to lean toward the executive vice president's side.
Choi Hyena's gaze sharpened.
"You've entrusted , so I'll do it. I've checked every song and music video 115km ever released. There's a concept that matches 115km's sentintality perfectly, but they've never tried it before."
My weapon is Choi Hyena's analytical skill. That's sothing Director Lee Ji-young doesn't have, for sure.
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