Chapter 11
Some time had passed since the bus got onto the highway.
Outside the window, the gray cityscape had given way to green mountains and fields.
Word had already reached us that buses 2 and 3 were in an uproar.
"Hey! Turn on the mic!"
"Assistant Manager Seo Young-rak! Sing us a song!"
"Woooo!"
The lively atmosphere continued.
I even heard that one of the buses had hooked up the tour bus's microphone and was using it like a karaoke machine.
It seemed everyone was already getting into the spirit of the workshop.
By contrast, the atmosphere on Bus 1 was quite different.
Unlike the noisy buses, it was very quiet.
With the CEO riding the same bus, the employees probably felt uncomfortable making as much noise as they wanted without worrying about how it might look.
That didn't mean things felt awkward or uncomfortable, though.
Some people were leaning against the windows, fast asleep.
Some were listening to music with earphones in.
Others had gathered in small groups with their friends, chatting quietly, and so on.
Everyone was passing the time in whatever way they found comfortable.
Kang Tae-seong was no exception.
"Mr. CEO, do you still work out every day?"
"Yes."
"Wow... That's impressive."
"It's become a habit."
Unlike his usual demeanor at the office, Kang Tae-seong was answering the employees' questions with a much more relaxed expression.
Watching him, Park So-young suddenly felt a little amazed.
'If this had been before...'
The employees starting a conversation with him...
And Kang Tae-seong responding so calmly...
It would have been hard to imagine either of those things happening.
Even so, it was hard to believe this change.
"Mr. CEO!"
Just then, a bright, cheerful voice rang out.
It was Lee Ju-hee.
She was a social butterfly among social butterflies, always leading the conversation wherever she went.
She wasn't the sort of person to let an atmosphere like this pass her by.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
Lee Ju-hee leaned forward with a big grin.
"What's your ideal type, Mr. CEO?"
As soon as Lee Ju-hee finished speaking, the bus fell quiet.
Even an employee wearing earphones discreetly pulled one out to listen.
An employee looking out the window also slyly turned their gaze this way.
'She's asking him that?'
'I can't believe she's asking the CEO something like that... Assistant Manager Lee really has no fear.'
'Oh... I might actually be curious about this.'
The woman who'd asked the question looked completely unfazed.
Her eyes were simply sparkling with what seemed like genuine curiosity.
Park So-young found herself looking at Kang Tae-seong, too.
...For some reason, she wanted to hear his answer.
Kang Tae-seong rested his chin in his hand and thought for a moment.
"...I've never really thought about it."
At the same time, his brow furrowed slightly.
It was a habit of his whenever he was thinking something over.
But his features were so intimidating that even that slight frown turned his face into something monstrous.
"...!"
The employees around him all flinched at once.
'I-Is he angry?'
Kang Tae-seong quickly returned to his usual calm expression.
"I'm sorry. I really haven't thought about it before."
The tension on the bus slowly eased.
"Aw, how boring!"
Lee Ju-hee pouted.
"How can you not have an ideal type?"
"Hmm... In that case, give me a little time to think."
Kang Tae-seong said with a faint chuckle.
"In exchange..."
His gaze naturally settled on Lee Ju-hee.
"What kind of person is your ideal type, Assistant Manager Lee?"
"...Pardon?"
The sudden counterattack caught Lee Ju-hee off guard this time.
Soft laughter broke out around them.
"Nice one!"
"The CEO's got a good sense of humor!"
"We have to hear this."
The male employees in particular perked up their ears while pretending not to care.
After all, Lee Ju-hee was famous as one of the company's three beauties, along with Park So-young and Choi Yu-ri.
Plenty of people had a quiet interest in her even normally.
"I..."
Lee Ju-hee tapped her chin with a finger.
"Someone who's good at their job."
"Oh."
"I think competent people are attractive."
Everyone nodded.
Kang Tae-seong nodded too, then naturally turned his gaze to the side.
"What about you, Ms. Choi Yu-ri?"
"H-Huh?"
Choi Yu-ri jumped in surprise at the sudden mention of her name.
"M-Me?"
"Yes."
"Hehe... I didn't expect you to ask me, too."
After thinking for a moment, Choi Yu-ri smiled shyly.
"I like someone dependable."
"Dependable?"
She nodded, then added cautiously,
"How should I put it... someone with a bear-like vibe?"
"...A bear?"
Kang Tae-seong looked puzzled, and Choi Yu-ri gave an embarrassed smile.
"I like watching animal documentaries. My ideal type is someone dependable, like a bear."
"Ohhh."
"That's unexpected."
"But he has to take good care of himself, too! I don't mean I like fat guys!"
Laughter rippled through the bus.
Then, naturally, everyone's gaze turned to Park So-young.
"What about you, Assistant Manager Park?"
"...Me?"
Park So-young blinked at the sudden question.
'An ideal type...?'
Lee Jun-ho suddenly came to mind.
'Come to think of it...'
She hadn't started dating Lee Jun-ho because he was her ideal type.
He was handsome, and he kept making the first move.
Somehow, they'd ended up becoming a couple.
That was all there was to it.
'There wasn't anyone she could really call her ideal type...'
No one.
But saying, "I don't have one," would probably bring the mood down.
'Hmm...'
Park So-young quickly racked her brain.
'Someone who smells nice...?'
A certain scent drifted through her memory.
A faint scent of soap.
The smell of fabric softener.
And a familiar scent that somehow put her at ease.
'...Ah.'
No, that wasn't an ideal type.
Park So-young hurriedly pushed the thought away.
'Then...'
Another scene came to mind.
Before they got on the bus.
-Assistant Manager Park."
-Yes?"
-I heard you get motion sickness easily."
-...? Yes.
-Did you bring motion sickness medicine?"
-...Ah. I forgot to bring any.
-If you didn't bring any, take this."
Kang Tae-seong, handing her motion sickness medicine with a calm expression.
'......'
"...Someone considerate."
"Ohhh, someone considerate."
"A kind man is nice."
"...!"
The moment the words left her mouth, even Park So-young herself flinched.
'What did I just say...?'
Her face turned bright red in an instant.
"Ooh~."
Lee Ju-hee gave her a knowing smile.
Park So-young tried to act nonchalant and shrugged.
"I just said the first thing that came to mind."
"Hmm."
Lee Ju-hee rested her chin in her hand and stared intently at Park So-young.
'...Wait a minute.'
Come to think of it, that had been this morning, before they got on the bus.
She'd definitely seen Kang Tae-seong personally hand motion sickness medicine to Park So-young, who got carsick easily.
'No way.'
And lately, she'd heard bits and pieces about the CEO walking Park So-young home whenever she worked overtime.
At the time, she'd thought nothing of it.
She'd simply assumed the CEO was looking out for an employee.
But...
'...So-young and the CEO?'
Lee Ju-hee narrowed her eyes.
A rather improper thought briefly crossed her mind.
'No, that can't be right.'
But she quickly chuckled and shook her head.
No matter how she thought about it, the two of them made no sense together.
Besides, So-young had a perfectly respectable boyfriend named Lee Jun-ho.
'I must be imagining things.'
She tried to brush the thought aside, but...
Lee Ju-hee's gaze kept moving between Park So-young and Kang Tae-seong without her realizing it.
*
After winding along the mountain road for quite some time, a large resort came into view.
A mountain resort surrounded by dense forest.
The fresh air and cool breeze welcomed the employees.
"Wow!"
"This place is amazing!"
"Let's take pictures!"
One by one, the employees got off the buses and looked around excitedly.
It was a view rarely seen in the city.
A dense pine forest stretched behind the resort, and the faint sound of a stream could be heard a little way off.
"The air's so clean."
Even the employees who usually came to work looking half-dead were excited today.
*
"All right, everyone! Let's take a group photo first!"
The broad lawn in front of the resort.
The employees set down their luggage and began gathering on the lawn.
A range of green mountains stretched out behind them like a folding screen, and a huge banner fluttered in the wind in front of the resort building.
[KJ GROUP NEW START WORKSHOP]
The words announced KJ Group's new beginning.
The photographer set up a tripod and waved.
"Tall people, please stand in the back!"
The employees began moving around in a rush.
"A little closer together, please."
"Anyone for the front row?"
Rows formed in no time.
Kang Tae-seong paused among the crowd for a moment.
Normally, it would have made sense for the CEO to stand in the center.
But today, the employees were the stars.
With his height and broad build, it was obvious everyone would feel uncomfortable if he took up the middle for no reason.
And the photo wouldn't look balanced, either.
'The back would be better.'
He was just about to head toward the back row when...
A short distance away, Park So-young was looking at Kang Tae-seong.
She hesitated for a moment, then opened her mouth as if mustering her courage.
"...M-Mr. CEO."
Her voice was too quiet for Kang Tae-seong to hear.
It was completely drowned out by the employees' laughter and chatter.
Park So-young tried to call him once more.
"...Excuse me."
But before she could...
"Mr. CEO!"
A clear, bright voice rang across the lawn.
It was Choi Yu-ri.
She waved at him with a smile as sunny as a puppy's.
"There's a spot open here!"
Kang Tae-seong's gaze naturally turned in her direction.
"Oh, is there?"
"Yes!"
Choi Yu-ri pointed to the spot beside her.
"They asked the tall people to stand in the back."
Kang Tae-seong glanced at the empty spot and nodded.
This seemed like a fine place to stand.
"Then, excuse me."
Without giving it another thought, he walked over to Choi Yu-ri.
"..."
Park So-young quietly closed her mouth.
If only she'd called a little louder, he might have heard her.
The hand she'd been about to reach out with had fallen limply to her side.
'...Too late.'
She bit her lip slightly for no reason.
Why had she tried to stop him in the first place?
Because she'd wanted Kang Tae-seong to stand beside her for the photo?
She couldn't even explain the reason to herself.
All she could do was quietly watch Kang Tae-seong pass by her and take his place beside Choi Yu-ri.
"Ms. Yu-ri, a little farther to the right."
"Oh, okay!"
Choi Yu-ri stepped to the side.
That brought their shoulders naturally closer together.
"Mr. CEO, you can stand here."
"Thank you."
Choi Yu-ri smiled, feeling oddly pleased with herself.
She'd only called him over because he seemed awkward standing there, but they'd found their places more naturally than she'd expected.
"All right, we're taking it!"
Once everyone was in place, the photographer called out loudly.
"One! Two! Three!"
Click.
With everyone's bright smiles, the first group photo commemorating KJ Group's new beginning was captured.