Chapter 7
"What would you like to drink? Soda? Coffee? Green tea? How about you, miss?"
"I'll have green tea."
"Ah, I'll take a soda..."
Chae-young handed us our drinks, then grabbed a canned coffee for herself before returning to her seat.
"It's been a while. The last time we met was before I quit, so it's been a little over four years?"
"Five years. You left at the end of the year."
"Ah, right... And who's this? Your girlfriend?"
Chae-young's sudden remark made Yu-mi choke on her drink.
"Cough cough! N-no...!! We're absolutely not that kind of..."
"There she goes, talking nonsense again."
"Then who is she?"
"Our team's PM."
"PM? Did ND Soft have such a pretty PM?"
"Didn't you hear? I transferred to Enson GT recently."
At my words, Chae-young scratched her head and said with an embarrassed expression:
"I've been deliberately avoiding that industry since I moved to broadcasting."
"Well, at least you know now."
"Yeah, now that I look at you, your face has improved a lot."
"You too, Senior. How's the broadcasting work? Is it manageable?"
"People's lives are the same everywhere. It's not particularly satisfying, but..."
"Senior, you don't really like your current job, do you?"
Chae-young frowned at my sudden question.
"What are you suddenly on about..."
"Come on, we've known each other for ages. If you really liked it, you'd be all excited, bragging about your broadcasting life. Am I wrong?"
"......"
"Be honest. From what I know, broadcasting schedules are tight, and work guidelines are strict. Are you telling me you're satisfied working in such an environment?"
"......"
"If I remember correctly, even when you were working at the game company..."
"So, what are you getting at, Ho-jin?"
Just as I felt I was making progress and was about to push further, Senior Chae-young's question cut me off.
"I've always told you, get to the point."
Feeling a bit disappointed at Chae-young's now composed demeanor, I handed her a project proposal.
"It's the first project I'm handling after transferring. We need a director to oversee all sound-related work—BGM, OST, sound effects, the works."
"Hmm... So you want me to take on the Sound Director position?"
"That's right."
At my proposal, Chae-young began to scrutinize the project proposal closely.
She read through it with a furrowed brow, as if deep in thought. After about five minutes,
Seeming to have reached some conclusion, Chae-young put down the proposal and crossed her arms.
"So, what's in it for me if I join this project?"
"What do you mean?"
"Even if it's a director position, we both know that in the sound department, you could be cut loose at any time if the project tanks. It's a precarious position."
I couldn't argue with Chae-young's matter-of-fact statement. Sound was indeed a lower priority role that could easily be outsourced if needed.
"So if you want to bring me back to a game company, you need some decent bait, right?"
"What do you want?"
At my words, Chae-young raised her middle finger as if she'd been waiting for this moment.
"First, I won't even ask for remote work, but I want guaranteed flexible hours for my 5-day work week."
"That's not too difficult... but why the flexible hours?"
"I'm the type who can't be productive at all if I'm forced to sit at a desk on days when I'm not feeling it."
"Well, that's not a big deal..."
"And second! I want full authority over my work until it's completed."
"Isn't that a given?"
"I thought so too when I was at the game company, but after experiencing the broadcasting world, I realized it's not. Let me have control until it's finished."
"This isn't difficult either."
"Lastly! I promise it won't interfere with my work, but..."
Chae-young, who had been speaking confidently, suddenly looked troubled and avoided my gaze, continuing in a small voice:
"Is it... okay if I drink a little... while working?"
"......"
For a moment, I couldn't control my emotions and shot Chae-young a look of contempt.
"No, no...! Hear me out!"
"Go on."
"...When working at the broadcasting station, I naturally ended up doing some work from home due to the heavy workload. I found that sipping on beer or low-alcohol drinks while working significantly improved the quality..."
"So you want to drink while working?"
"...Yeah."
It was ridiculous, but I could understand Chae-young's argument to some extent.
She wasn't talking about getting wasted on high-proof liquor like whiskey or cocktails while working,
And if her claim about improved quality when drinking was true, there seemed no reason to forbid it.
"Senior, from my perspective, it doesn't seem like a big issue, but..."
"Really?!"
"However, it's not a minor enough matter for me to decide alone. Let me step out and make a phone call."
"Alright, I'll wait here."
***
After explaining the situation to Su-yeon over the phone in the break room,
[What's the problem? Tell her it's all possible.]
[I think so too, but... is it really okay?]
[Half the developers are already secretly buying alcohol from convenience stores for late-night coding sessions anyway. If anything, getting a proven professional with these conditions is a steal.]
[Okay, I understand.]
With Su-yeon's instructions to recruit her at all costs, I returned to the recording studio to find the two chatting.
Despite their age difference, they seemed to be getting along surprisingly well.
"Is the company treating you well? Working on Ho-jin's team must keep you busy."
"Hehe... The project just started, so I'm not sure yet..."
"Remember, game companies aren't the only companies in the world. If it gets tough, consider changing jobs like I did."
"Ah, y-yes..."
"Stop trying to corrupt a perfectly good employee."
"Corrupt? I'm giving her valuable life advice."
Shaking my head at my senior's shameless response, I returned to my seat.
"I made the call, and they said all your conditions are fine."
"...Really?"
"Why would I lie to you about something like this?"
But for some reason, despite her conditions being accepted, Chae-young didn't seem happy.
It looks like Senior's decision paralysis has kicked in again while I was out making that call...
Judging by Chae-young's expression, it seemed unlikely we'd get an answer today.
"I'm sorry."
"I figured as much."
"No matter how I think about it, it's not appealing enough for me to give up my broadcasting career."
"Can't be helped. We can't force you to come."
Seeing Chae-young's apologetic expression, I stood up.
"I have a tight schedule, so I'll be heading out now."
"You don't need me to see you out, right?"
"I wasn't expecting that. Just keep in touch. Oh, and..."
I took out a business card I had prepared and placed it on the desk.
"If you change your mind, call this number."
After tapping the business card on the desk, I left the recording studio with Yu-mi hurriedly following behind.
"Senior, is this really okay? Didn't the Producer say to bring her in no matter what?"
"Don't worry. I left my card, didn't I?"
"Still..."
"That senior has a rebellious streak. If we push too hard in one direction, she'll go the opposite way."
"Ah..."
"So we just need to wait."
My prediction came true the very day we met Senior Chae-young.
Before the date even changed to the next day, I received a call from her.
Through the receiver, I could hear the noisy clinking of glasses, probably from a bar.
And amidst the noise, I heard Senior's voice, slurred as if she were completely drunk.
"Ho-jin, I'm sorryyy! I made a hasty decision earlier today..."
Chae-young sobbed.
"Please take me with you...!!"
*
"Well, well, look who's living it up."
Whispers echoed through the 5th-floor corridor of Enson GT.
The team leaders of the PC game development teams, gathered in the hallway after finishing their morning work, were staring at the elevator.
The elevator they were watching was being loaded with various sound-absorbing materials and audio equipment for a recording studio.
"Did you guys hear? That project the mobile game team is working on, it's apparently a do-or-die project for the new president."
"That's why they're getting all kinds of support. This is why parachute appointments are a bad idea."
"As if they could make money from games running on those little phone scraps. The parachute president must be desperate for new business results."
After criticizing the mobile game development team and the president for a while, the team leaders could only end their conversation with sighs.
"Whatever happens, those 6th-floor guys are the power players right now, so let's keep quiet for now."
"Yeah, eventually, even the president will realize which side made the right call."