Gradually Moving Forward (2)
It was now 1 a.m.
Haven't we been drinking since 5?
Everyone was still full of energy. Of course, team leader Shin Miyoung, who had a family, left for home at 9.
"Division director, round four for us?"
Choi Hyena's speech was slurring so badly that I decided to ignore her suggestion.
She could barely walk on her own, so Lee Yunjung was helping her by the shoulder.
"Everyone, thank you for your hard work today. Don't forget you have to come in at regular hours tomorrow."
"That's so mean!"
Lee Yunjung's voice was tinged with complaint.
"Yunjung-nim, isn't tomorrow your day off...?"
"Hehe! I just wanted to complain a little."
She really became more playful when drinking.
After parting ways with the group, I returned home. By now, the night air had become pleasantly warm.
Summer was preparing itself for our meeting.
Everything felt good.
The fact that the whole team's effort had landed us the 115km project; being recognized once again by the chairman made me happy.
Watching Choi Hyena, who had worked the hardest, finally letting her burdens go and enjoying herself at the dinner made even me smile.
And last of all,
Being able to say that I was realizing my ideals through company life—
I was content with myself.
Returning home, I wondered if perhaps it was my excitement, because it somehow felt like a waste just to go straight to sleep.
I decided to play [Super Theme Park Tycoon], which I hadn't touched lately due to being busy.
As soon as I started the game, a familiar BGM played.
"How ironic."
The words slipped out.
When I worked at a game company, I loved this game so much—I played it every day.
Now that I worked at a company making theme parks, I no longer had time for it.
The game was still fun, but unlike the past, there were parts that I didn't find as enjoyable anymore.
It was probably because the theme park I was building in reality and the one I created while playing were growing increasingly different.
Though a slight sense of regret rose up, I was still okay with it. Because I liked who I was in reality.
There was still a mountain of tasks ahead for me at Next Planet.
I needed to cooperate with division director Lee Ji-young of the External Business Division and start pushing the 115km project in earnest.
At the same time, I had to create a top-class limited edition waffle while expanding our dessert lineup.
It was also time to launch the special tour.
On top of that, I had to make a space for parents with young children to relax......
"I want to do well."
No, it wasn't just that—I wanted to do even better! I wanted to do crazy well!
Perhaps because of this impulse, I loaded an old save file from a theme park I had built long ago.
It was the file from when I saw the game's ending for the first time.
I accomplished the ending condition: "Build the world's most famous theme park."
Looking at it now, it was full of clumsy points.
Why on earth did I do things that way?
There were dozens of parts I wanted to tear down and rebuild.
Maybe I was the same now.
Since it was my first time doing these things, I'd probably look back and find plenty I regretted later.
But that was fine.
Because I was walking toward the future.
With that thought, I drifted off to sleep.
***
"Ugh, I'm exhausted!"
Lee Yunjung laid Choi Hyena down on her bed and started to remove her makeup.
"Unni, you really worked hard today. I didn't see it firsthand, but I bet you were amazing."
"Thanks......"
Choi Hyena smiled softly, looking unreasonably happy.
"Living a heart-throbbing life... I really liked what the division director said today. Yunjung, I want to live like that from now on. I'll make Next Planet the best theme park in Korea. Honestly, it's a ridiculous goal. But I really want to try..."
"You're really impressive, unni. Even though you have so much work and you're dead tired. But do you still like it?"
"I devote myself to every single day......."
Choi Hyena seemed to have poured out the last of her energy; right after that statement, she fell asleep as if she'd fainted.
Lee Yunjung watched her and gave a small chuckle. A thought occurred to her, so she leaned in and whispered temptingly in her ear.
"Unni, what do you think of oppa Junho?"
"He's... cute......"
At that, Lee Yunjung's eyes sparkled.
'Maybe it's not a certainty, but this is definitely a good sign. I'll have to keep a close watch on the two of them.'
Lee Yunjung quietly slipped out of Choi Hyena's home.
As she walked home, she reflected:
'I really love working here. I wish this atmosphere, these relationships, would last forever. Almost like an endless school life.'
The corners of her mouth gently rose.
Time could not be stopped, and everything in the world had an expiration date: relationships, feelings.
Though she was still young, she understood this well.
'Yes, I'll give my best in each moment. Just like the division director... I should make my decision soon.'
Very soon, she'd have to choose her nationality.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that it was one of the biggest decisions in her life; she'd left her options open.
'I should get Korean citizenship. Dad will be disappointed, but...'
She reached out as if to grab the warming air with her hand.
'If I can't grab hold of time, I'll at least grab my desires.'
Her thoughts briefly turned to Lee Hyunmin. He was someone she looked up to.
Even as a younger person, she understood plenty.
She knew that there were a lot of people in the theme park who disliked Lee Hyunmin.
But Lee Hyunmin was boldly achieving the things he sought.
'I want to be a source of strength for the division director, just like Hyena unni. Offering just the ultra-premium strawberry waffle she asked for isn't enough. I have to take the next step. By my own strength. Since tomorrow's a day off, I'll think about it all day.'
***
Today's task was to visit 115km.
Normally, I would go with Choi Hyena, but today's partner was Kim Junho. The reason was simple: Han Sang-il, the leader of 115km, wanted to see him.
115km had invited us to their studio.
Han Sang-il greeted us with a bright smile.
"I feel bad that I couldn't invite you somewhere nicer. Our band just recently got some breathing room, so we don't have a nice house or a big personal studio to receive guests in yet."
"No worries. Does the meeting location really matter? Just being able to see 115km at work is an honor in itself."
"With this new song we're collaborating on with Next Planet, I believe we'll break out of our shells and soar. When that happens, we'll be sure to invite you to a studio of our own."
After exchanging well-wishes,
Han Sang-il looked at Kim Junho with shining eyes.
"Junho-nim, I really wanted to meet you. Sorry for calling you over when you must be busy."
"Ah... not at all. Honestly, I'm so happy just to be here right now."
To there, Han Sang-il peppered Kim Junho with all sorts of questions.
What inspired him, where his emotions came from—not just work stuff, but even his favorite foods, hobbies, daily routine, and other personal matters.
Honestly, I couldn't tell which of them was the star and which the fan anymore.
Once their star-fan meeting, with reversed roles, was done, Han Sang-il started to play the new song.
Since the concept for the song had been completely changed for us, he explained that it wasn't fully ready yet. So he simply played the melody on guitar while humming.
Perhaps because I already understood the concept and emotional line 115km wanted to capture in the new song?
With my eyes closed, I unconsciously imagined the story of a couple who started dating as teens and were now married.
Kim Junho looked genuinely moved.
"Division director, just listening to this song makes my heart ache. Maybe it's this tingling pain, but I suddenly want to get married."
"You got that far?"
Maybe that was too much? I was about to say something, but—
"It might sound over the top, but maybe it's because, aside from my grandmother, I don't really have any family."
"It's not over the top at all. I thought the same thing."
"You too, division director? Then maybe this song really does have the power to make people want to get married."
"Perhaps... yes."
I was forced into a quick turnabout.
I was even sweating nervously. That was close.
For me, the core concept of 115km's new song was: even in your thirties, even after having a child, those times could be just another moment in your youth.
But as I chewed over Kim Junho's words, I thought it might be possible to combine a "make you want to get married" message with the theme park content, too.
Isn't a theme park a symbol of romance, after all?
Though in this era of rapidly falling birth rates, it might be going against the times.
Still, as a concept for Next Planet, it's something seriously worth considering.
As he finished playing, Han Sang-il spoke.
"How was it, division director?"
"It was great. Junho-nim says it made him want to get married."
"Oh? Junho-nim and I really are emotionally in sync. I hadn't intended that, but I thought along the same lines."
I glanced at Kim Junho.
In looks and behavior, he was the image of a passionate young man, yet his sensibility was soft and gentle.
Maybe that contrast was his biggest strength.
Han Sang-il shook both of Kim Junho's hands tightly.
"I'll do my best with the new song. And, division director and Junho-nim, I'm thinking of posting a thank you message for Next Planet helping us out."
A day later, Han Sang-il uploaded a post to his own SNS. It was quite lengthy, with the sincere feelings of 115km evident in every line—it moved me.
The reaction...
It was explosive.
Maybe thanks to that, or maybe because of it—
Team leader Shin Miyoung from the Marketing & PR Team came to me and thrust her phone toward me.
"Division director, you saw this, right?"
"Yes."
"Did you expect this?"
"I... never expected it to this extent."
Amazingly, Next Planet's official SNS account exploded.
[Eh? Next Planet's collaborating with 115km? That matchup is so awkward. Ah! Next Planet even re-bought the copyright to Your Touch? What? You even inspired the new song? I'm running to Next Planet right now.]
[If 115km's new song gets released, can I bring the album and go ride the roller coaster?]
[The concept of the new song is to encourage couples... does that mean I can't go alone? I can't? I can't?]
Usually, getting ten posts in a day was considered a lot. Yesterday alone, thousands of posts were shared.
"I may be the team leader... but how should we respond to this?"
I didn't know either. How was I supposed to answer that?
Suddenly, Lee Yunjung came dashing up.
"Division director, this is huge! What on earth is going on?"
She also showed me her phone. The views on her personal YouTube video about making strawberry waffles had surpassed five million.
"My subscriber count shot up too. I barely even manage the channel—what should I do?"
Who would have guessed the 115km effect would reach this far.
Then even Choi Hyena came running over. Pushing up her glasses, she couldn't hide her excitement.
"Division director, our 1-day admission ticket pre-orders are up by 30%! I know it's probably temporary, but it's huge. No, it's ginormous!"
I was left utterly stunned. But as the division director, I couldn't let myself get swept up, too.
I straightened my outfit and spoke.
"Respond as usual. Just like Hyena-nim said, it's temporary anyway. Our job now is to make this momentum last for the long term. I'm off to a meeting to discuss how we'll do just that."
My voice didn't tremble, right? I didn't act awkward, did I?
After leaving my office, I made sure the hallway was empty—then clenched my fist and jumped.
"Yes!"
Then, as if nothing had happened, I walked on in perfect posture.
I headed for the secret room.
Deputy Kang Dae-hyun from the HR team was there waiting for me.
"I brought you coffee, division director—thoughtfully, of course."
"Thanks."
The reason I'd asked to see him here was because I wanted to know more about Lee Ji-young, division director of the External Business Division.
To make the 115km project a greater success than I'd planned, I would need her strength.
She was definitely sincere about "Your Touch," the IP belonging to 115km.
My personal feelings were one thing; business was business. Only with her help would the effect be maximized.
Kang Dae-hyun took a sip of coffee and looked out the window, a satisfied expression on his face.
"There must have been some sincerity in the texts Lee Ji-young sent you, division director."
"What do you mean, 'some'?"
"She's saying she wants to side with you."
Kang Dae-hyun shrugged and kept talking.
"She's definitely a key person for the vice CEO. Sometimes, it seems the vice CEO trusts division director Lee Ji-young even more than the executive vice president..."
"In terms of skill, do you mean division director Lee Ji-young is above the executive vice president?"
"That's true... but then again, since the executive vice president's ability is rock bottom, being above him doesn't mean much."
"As always, you're cynical."
"What does it mean, then, that someone as cynical as me believes in you, division director?"
Kang Dae-hyun playfully saluted me.
I shrugged just like him.
"For this matter, division director Lee Ji-young will absolutely help you, so don't worry. The vice CEO won't interfere directly with the chairman's involvement."
I nodded.
"If you're saying so, dae-hyun-nim, then it must be right."
I trusted his personnel assessments.
Now I could visit division director Lee Ji-young with peace of mind to push the 115km project forward.