Chapter 33
Enson Korea's headquarters, which I was visiting again after half a year, hadn't changed much.
As if to prove its status as one of Korea's top three developers, there was a spacious first-floor lobby, security gates leading inside,
a generously sized information desk that could easily accommodate four people, and information staff.
Being the headquarters, the overall interior felt similar to Enson GT.
As we entered the first-floor lobby, I felt numerous gazes upon us.
Most of them were directed at Su-yeon.
Su-yeon seemed to interpret the attention differently, chuckling before whispering quietly so only I could hear.
"Looks like our Director has become a celebrity too? People are starting to recognize you."
"You're mistaken. They're all looking at you, CEO."
"Do you really think so?"
"Of course. Why would people be looking at me?"
Honestly speaking, how famous could a director who had just one hit mobile game under his belt be?
Ignoring Su-yeon's incredulous look, I headed towards the information desk.
The most senior-looking of the four staff members at the desk came out to greet us personally.
"Hello, I'm Kim Chae-ran from the Chairman's secretariat. You must be CEO Jo Su-yeon and Director Ji Ho-jin?"
"Yes."
"I've confirmed both your identities. Please follow me, I'll take you directly to the Chairman's office."
After a brief verification process, Chae-ran began to guide us.
We followed her into an elevator that went straight to the Chairman's office.
As the elevator doors closed, Su-yeon suddenly seemed to remember something and asked Chae-ran:
"Is Hyun-seo on vacation? She usually handles these duties."
"Hyun-seo left last month, so I've taken over her responsibilities."
"Is that so? I didn't know."
Whether she truly hadn't known or was just disappointed, Su-yeon's reaction was cut short as the elevator arrived at the 15th floor.
As the arrival announcement played and the doors opened,
instead of an empty hallway, a pair of a man and woman stood waiting.
Since I didn't recognize them, I glanced at Su-yeon to see if she knew them, but contrary to my expectations, her expression was a mix of annoyance and irritation.
"Su-yeon. What brings you here?"
"You could at least give us a call if you're coming, you brat. How could you not even make one phone call?"
"Su-hwan Oppa, Su-a Unnie... Why are you both here...?"
Judging by the atmosphere, these must be the older brother and sister Su-yeon had mentioned yesterday.
"Since we're all here, why don't we chat in the conference room instead of standing around? It's been a while since all three of us siblings met."
At those words, Su-yeon nodded reluctantly and headed towards the conference room.
After confirming that Su-yeon had entered the conference room, Su-hwan asked Chae-ran:
"Chae-ran, we'd like to talk among siblings for a bit. What time is Su-yeon's schedule set for?"
"10:20 AM, sir."
"Well, it's about 9:50 now... We'll be back here by 10:10 sharp."
"Understood, I'll keep that in mind."
*
Inside the conference room on the same floor as the Chairman's office.
You'd think a family conversation would create a warm atmosphere,
but currently, only awkwardness filled the room.
Su-hwan, the eldest, sat across from us, sipping his coffee.
Su-a, the second child, sat next to Su-hwan, nagging Su-yeon.
"It's not that we're avoiding you, Su-yeon. You're the one avoiding our calls. We've tried to contact you so many times."
"..."
"It's the same with family gatherings. Father begged you to attend, but why do you always leave early by yourself...?"
As the nagging continued, I glanced at Su-yeon.
You'd think she'd show some irritation or emotion at this level of nagging, but Su-yeon just looked indifferent.
"Su-a Unnie, that's enough."
"What?"
"Let's be honest, we're not the kind of family to sit here and have a cozy chat."
"What are you saying! Oppa, say something!"
"Right. Su-yeon, you've gone too far this time."
Su-yeon smirked at their reactions and said:
"Stop with the act and just say what you want. Do you want to talk to Ho-jin directly? Should I leave?"
Surprised by her unexpectedly aggressive statement, I turned to look at Su-yeon and saw an expression I'd never seen before.
A look of contempt and aggressive emotional expression.
Considering how skilled she usually was at controlling and hiding her emotions, this felt distinctly out of character.
Something must have happened between them...
Feeling that the situation might become irreparable if the atmosphere worsened any further, I decided to act.
Since any noticeable action seemed impossible while the three were arguing, I first grabbed Su-yeon's hand under the table.
"Eep...?!"
Startled by the sudden contact, Su-yeon flinched, her expression softening.
With that reaction, the tense atmosphere in the conference room instantly crumbled.
Sensing this was the right moment amidst the now unsettled atmosphere, I spoke up.
"I'll take the CEO out for a moment."
Leaving those words behind, I led Su-yeon out of the conference room.
I heard voices saying something behind us, but I ignored them.
Where should we go...?
After some consideration, I took Su-yeon to the terrace.
I thought getting some fresh air outside would be better than resting indoors.
This choice seemed to be the right one, as Su-yeon's expression brightened somewhat.
"...I'm sorry."
"Pardon?"
"At this age, I can't even control my emotions... I showed you an unsightly side of me."
"..."
Su-yeon looked at me while tidying her wind-blown hair.
"You look like you have a lot of questions... You can ask if you're curious."
At Su-yeon's words, I cautiously asked:
"Is there a specific reason why you don't get along with those two?"
"The reason we don't get along? It's simple. I've lived my whole life having everything taken away by my sister and brother."
A secret she couldn't tell anyone.
Su-yeon's expression looked relieved as she revealed it.
"To be honest, thinking about it now, I'm not sure. It's been so long since I've lived having things taken away for being the youngest that I don't even know if I should be angry about it anymore."
"..."
"Of course, I know they didn't do it with malicious intent, so I couldn't complain to anyone. In the end, it all piled up and turned into resentment towards those two."
After pondering Su-yeon's confession for a moment, I spoke up.
"I can't comment on your family matters, but I think I can easily resolve today's situation."
"You can easily resolve it?"
"Yes."
I discreetly explained the solution to Su-yeon, who looked skeptical.
Su-yeon shook her head in disbelief and asked:
"Surely they'll promise you much better treatment than you have now, but you'd turn that down?"
"Yes."
"Why? I'm not doubting you, but..."
"You know about my previous workplace, don't you?"
"Previous workplace? Ah..."
Su-yeon seemed to finally understand why I spoke so confidently.
"I transferred to Enson GT to create the games I want with my own hands. If I wanted better treatment, I would have stayed at ND Soft in the first place."
"I, I suppose so..."
"So stop worrying and just get some fresh air here."
At those words, Su-yeon's face flushed slightly.
She seemed embarrassed that she had momentarily shown her emotions.
"I'll go back alone, talk to them, and come out."
"But... Wouldn't it be better if we went together?"
"It's better if I resolve this alone. If you return to the conference room, could you stay calm like you are now?"
"..."
Su-yeon was rendered speechless at that question.
"Well then, I'll be back."
*
"...You're saying you don't want to transfer even with this level of treatment?"
"That's correct."
"Is it because you feel you won't be able to make games as freely as you can at Enson GT?"
"That's right."
Su-a sighed deeply and shook her head, seemingly dumbfounded by my stubborn attitude.
In contrast, Su-hwan asked me once more:
"Are you absolutely sure you won't consider transferring under any conditions?"
"Yes, not at all."
"I see. Well then, you can go now."
"Oppa! Are you really giving up here?"
At Su-a's question, Su-hwan nodded as if he had no choice.
"He says he won't do it no matter what conditions we offer. What else can we do? Kidnap him?"
"Don't say such scary things. I'm just disappointed."
I heard them bickering behind me as I left the conference room, but I ignored it.
Then Su-yeon, who had been waiting near the conference room, approached and asked:
"How did it go?"
"I firmly rejected all their offers, and it seems both of them have given up."
"...Thank goodness."
As Su-yeon sat down in the hallway with a sigh of relief, I said:
"Let's get up for now. We still have one more thing to do."
"Ah, right..."
Su-yeon's face scrunched up as she realized she still had to meet her father alone.
"Can't we just go home for today...?"
"We can't."
In truth, the main event of today's schedule was the private meeting with the Chairman, so I didn't want to go either, but we had no choice.
When your boss says jump, you ask how high, right?
However, the actual meeting with the Chairman proceeded completely differently from what I had expected.
For instance, I had stayed up all night preparing answers for expected questions about game development practicalities, but they turned out to be useless.
The Chairman simply said, "It's right to leave the practical matters to the practitioners," and didn't ask anything further.
As Su-yeon had said, it felt more like he had called us in just to see my face in person rather than having any real business.
On the way back to the company after all the schedules were finished.
We collapsed in the back seat of the car, completely drained.
"Well, at least it's good that everything ended without any problems."
"Yeah..."