Chapter 62 (1/1)

Chapter 62

Park Youngsu, the manager of the purchasing team, had been changed into someone who was totally different from the past . He was full of confidence, encouraged by his mastery of his own work, and didn't hara.s.s his staff . But his sense of authority was still there . Whenever he found someone who didn't follow his instructions, he gave them a good scolding on the spot, regardless of anyone's presence there . In particular, he didn't like those who were too slow . He had the mindset that if anybody was ineffectual, he or she must be hard-working to make up for it . ”Everybody, come together . ” His team members quickly gathered around him as soon as he said that . ”As you know, we go to an orphanage at the end of the year for a charity event . We're having one this year, too . We have decided to visit the 'House of Happiness' on Dec . 29 . ” The House of Happiness was one of the biggest orphanages in Ansan city . Though he had never done volunteering work there, he had heard some things about its location and activities . ”You don't have to partic.i.p.ate in the event like before . Accordingly, we don't have anyone a.s.signed for that event . Only those who really want to go willingly will be there . So, volunteer if you want it,” said Park . Hyunwoo got interested suddenly . Actually, he had helped lonely old men and students in financial stress in his neighborhood in the past, but he had never done any volunteer work by visiting an orphanage . 'How do I offer my services at a place like that?' Thinking like that, Hyunwoo slowly raised his hand . ”I want to volunteer . ” Park smiled brightly because he had been worried about it in his heart . If it was mandatory to have two or three from each team a.s.signed to the event, obviously there would be some volunteering in one way or another, but there was a strong possibility that n.o.body would come forward if it was voluntary . So, he was looking at his staff with sharp eyes to pick someone if n.o.body volunteered . As soon as he said that, however, Hyunwoo raised his hand . Almost at the same time Minsu did so as well . ”I'm going to volunteer, too,” said Min Suji . ”Oh . you, too, Suji?” Originally, Park wanted two volunteers, and if there were no volunteers, he was determined to single out two of them by himself . However,, as two had already volunteered, Park was more ambitious now . He looked around other team members and fixed his eyes on one . His target was Oh Sangsu, the new hire with Min Suji and Jang Hyunwoo . ”Anybody else? If you volunteer on an occasion like this, you get noticed by the president, don't you? How about you, Mr . Oh?” ”Me? Yes, you're right, but I've got to fly to the United States then…” ”To the United States? I understand your parents are here in Korea . Do you have a secret sweetheart there?” ”No, sir!” said Oh hastily . As his relations.h.i.+p with Minhye, the president's daughter and manager of the PR team, was going sour these days, any strange rumor could give him a big trouble . Oh just felt troubled at the thought of her . When Oh got hired by Aurum, Minhye was almost like his wife . She listened to anything Oh said, and they shared a hotel room a couple of times at least every week . But recently, he hadn't dated her, and it was more than one month that he hadn't had an intimate relations.h.i.+p with her . He just presumed that she must have been disappointed at his failure to outperform Kim Yonggu or Jang Hyunwoo . In a situation like this, a rumor like a secret sweetheart was something terrible . ”Why are you flying there then? I don't think you're going there for travel, right?” Actually, Oh's purpose was travel . He already made an appointment with his college alumni . If he could meet a pretty girl during travel, he could enjoy a one-night stand . He was planning to travel secretly without informing Minhye, and as he was in an icy relations.h.i.+p with her anyway, he could fly to the United States freely . Now, as the team manager had come to know it, it looked like Oh had to cancel his trip appointment, and Park was now explaining why he had to volunteer . ”Minhye is also supposed to visit the orphanage . Aren't you a couple? I think you've got to act together . ” If Minhye goes there, Oh would have to . Oh felt that might be a good occasion to mend fences with her . ”Alright, sir . I can postpone my travel plans until next year . I'm going to volunteer, too . ” ”Okay, then . Anybody else?” ”Me, too,” said Yonggu . His volunteering was only natural because Minhye was his wooing target . It would be like giving her up if he was absent from such an occasion . Park seemed satisfied . He might have invited misunderstandings from others if he had singled out new hires only, but with the addition of Yonggu, his volunteering team was a good mix now . ”Very good . I think the teamwork of the purchasing team is the best . ” Dec . 29 . The volunteering members of Aurum gathered before a company bus bound for The House of Happiness . There was a total of 17 including president Park Daebong and three senior managers . Manager Park publicly announced in the morning that he would partic.i.p.ate but changed his mind in the afternoon, with an excuse of an important appointment . The volunteers from the purchasing team were four, more than the PR team that included Park Minhye . They got on the bus to head to the orphanage . There was much more stuff they had to do than they had thought . There were a lot of piled-up laundry and repair work at the old orphanage . They decided to repair outdated chairs, desks, cabinets, etc, as they were from a furniture company . And as for those broken beyond repair, Aurum decided to exchange them with new replacements . But there was a small problem out there . In the past, not only volunteers but also field workers from Aurum were also mobilized for the job . But this time, there were only volunteers, with not a single field worker . And that was the start of the problem . They knew more about the furniture than ordinary people but not as much as the field workers . Field workers could have solved the problem in ten minutes while the volunteers could not even for an hour . ”Phew . . why can't I pull out this screw?” ”Wow, this screwdriver doesn't get anything as the screw has been worn out completely . What should I do?” ”I don't know . ” They were just confused until the morning when some problem popped up . But in a couple of hours, the atmosphere began to change . They knew there was a troubleshooter among the volunteers . ”a.s.sistant manager Jang, I can't unscrew this . ” ”What is it?” ”The screw head has been too worn out . ” Hyunwoo was a walking dictionary . Whenever they had a problem, he came up with the proper solution very easily . Hyunwoo brought a rubber band and then put it above the screw head . He then slowly spun it with a larger screwdriver . Finally, the screw head came out as it had not been tightly screwed down . The volunteers clapped their hands . ”Wow! What a nice way to do that!” Hyunwoo twisted it with a long nose plier and pulled it out, saying, ”If it's tightly screwed down, you can't pull it out even if you put a rubber band . In this case, you have to use the screwdriver reserved for this type of thing . ” ”Ah, you used to work a lot in the field, didn't you? Now I understand why you're so nimble when doing it . ” Now, they just called Hyunwoo when they had a problem . ”Mr . Jang, which direction should I pull it out?” ”d.a.m.n it . The wheel was pulled out . How can I put it back? Call for Mr . Jang . ” Because of their constant requests, Hyunwoo couldn't take any time for a break . Even before he solved one problem, someone had already arranged for him to solve another problem in advance . ”Can you stop that and come here to help me?” ”I'm ahead of you, man . ” ”Then, after you…” Though Hyunwoo was becoming busier, other volunteers were not . If they ran into any problems, they just waited for him to come over to fix it . They didn't initiate to find out any other work to do . In fact, they were there half-heartedly because they knew at least one member of their team should be a.s.signed for this event, even though the management had said that it wasn't mandatory . ”What time is it?” ”Noon . ” ”It's only noon? Phew… when can we finish this?” Most of them just wished that the day would pa.s.s by quickly . In the meantime, there was some friction between the orphanage staff and them . The disciplined staff of the orphanage didn't allow them to idle away gossiping . ”There are a lot of work to do . What are you doing here? If you can, please help us . There is so much laundry stuff,” said one staffer . ”Do you want to do laundry?” ”You're here to volunteer, right? Then, just help us with laundry . ” The staff was tough . He a.s.signed them to various work as if the boss was ordering his men . They followed his orders reluctantly but with blatant complaints . ”Why is he so strict to us?” ”You bet . He had better treat us well since we're volunteering with a good heart like this . ” ”Isn't he paranoid?” But Hyunwoo had a different take . He could understand the feelings of the orphanage staff more than enough . In fact, this was only a stop-over place for volunteers, but this was their own house . Who would love the idea of some stranger visiting one's own house? And some of the volunteers just make a simple visit to show-off, not for genuine 'volunteering . ' They pretended to volunteer by doling out some stuff and then taking fake pictures with the orphans before returning . While going through such experiences, sometimes the orphanage staff had an unfavorable perception of the volunteers . Oh was one such type . He slipped out of the place before they knew it and was chatting with Park Minhye . ”Why are you so mean to me?” demanded Oh . ”What did I do?” said Minhye . ”You don't take time out for me and try to avoid me when I ask to meet you . Are you upset about me over something?” ”Nothing like that . I'm just busy . As you know, we're trying to expand our market in j.a.pan . ” ”Is that the only reason?” ”What are you talking about? Do you wish I had some other reason?” The more they talked, the sharper Minhye's tone was becoming . Though Oh had come here to reconcile with her, it seemed his feelings toward her had become even worse . Oh dusted his hands as if he wanted to stop arguing with her . ”No, that's enough . ” ”By the way, what are you doing here? Don't you see that the other volunteers are busy?” Oh turned his eyes to the side Minhye was pointing . The volunteers were hanging a large blanket on the clothesline . Oh opened his eyes wide, asking, ”Do you want me to do that kind of work?” ”Then, why did you come here? For play?” ”Because of you . I didn't want to send you alone here . How could I do that work? I don't even do that at home . ” Minhye stared at him sharply . At the moment, both heard one volunteer talking to Hyunwoo . ”a.s.sistant manager Jang, didn't you finish that yet? Please come this way . ” ”Yes, I'm almost done . I'll be there in a minute . ” ”Mr . Jang . This is urgent . Come here first . ” Minhye pointed her finger to the place their voices were heard . ”Do you think they're living like that at home everyday? They're offering a service because they're here . Don't you feel any responsibility like them?” ”I do feel it, of course . ” ”Then, don't stand still like that and move . Just go and help them like Mr . Jang . ” Minhye sharply turned back and then walked away as if she was upset . Oh scratched his head, talking to himself, 'd.a.m.n it . Why should I do that?' But he could not stay idle . He had to do something to prove to Minhye that he was involved . 'Okay, let me pretend to help them . ' Oh visited Hyunwoo . n.o.body was seen around . Only Hyunwoo was busy, holding a hammer . ”Can I help you?” Hyunwoo thought he had come at the right time . Actually, he was about to pull out a large wood table, and he wanted someone else's help because he couldn't move it alone . ”Oh, you came at the right time . Let's hold it together . We need to move it outside . ” Suddenly, Hyunwoo felt a bit worried . 'Hummm… this is rather heavy . ' But Oh was already holding the other end of the table . It was too late for Hyunwoo to say, ”Hey, this is so heavy . Let me ask for someone else's help . ” Hyunwoo lifted the table suddenly, holding the opposite end of the table, and then Oh also lifted it on his end . At that moment, Oh's face became distorted . Though he lifted the other end of the table, he felt that he couldn't hold it long enough . Only then did Hyunwoo ask him to step aside . ”I'm afraid you can't do this . Just put it down if you feel it's too heavy . Let me ask for someone else . ” Oh's face was all the more distorted because he saw Minhye looking at him . Now, this was a matter of pride . ”No problem . Let's move it . ” His voice trembled a lot because he was flexing his arm with all his strength . Hyunwoo got worried all the more . 'He has to move it to a place far away from here . '

Park Youngsu, the manager of the purchasing team, had been changed into someone who was totally different from the past . He was full of confidence, encouraged by his mastery of his own work, and didnt hara.s.s his staff . But his sense of authority was still there . Whenever he found someone who didnt follow his instructions, he gave them a good scolding on the spot, regardless of anyones presence there . In particular, he didnt like those who were too slow . He had the mindset that if anybody was ineffectual, he or she must be hard-working to make up for it . Everybody, come together . His team members quickly gathered around him as soon as he said that . As you know, we go to an orphanage at the end of the year for a charity event . Were having one this year, too . We have decided to visit the House of Happiness on Dec . 29 . The House of Happiness was one of the biggest orphanages in Ansan city . Though he had never done volunteering work there, he had heard some things about its location and activities . You dont have to partic.i.p.ate in the event like before . Accordingly, we dont have anyone a.s.signed for that event . Only those who really want to go willingly will be there . So, volunteer if you want it, said Park . Hyunwoo got interested suddenly . Actually, he had helped lonely old men and students in financial stress in his neighborhood in the past, but he had never done any volunteer work by visiting an orphanage . How do I offer my services at a place like that? Thinking like that, Hyunwoo slowly raised his hand . I want to volunteer . Park smiled brightly because he had been worried about it in his heart . If it was mandatory to have two or three from each team a.s.signed to the event, obviously there would be some volunteering in one way or another, but there was a strong possibility that n.o.body would come forward if it was voluntary . So, he was looking at his staff with sharp eyes to pick someone if n.o.body volunteered . As soon as he said that, however, Hyunwoo raised his hand . Almost at the same time Minsu did so as well . Im going to volunteer, too, said Min Suji . Oh . you, too, Suji? Originally, Park wanted two volunteers, and if there were no volunteers, he was determined to single out two of them by himself . However,, as two had already volunteered, Park was more ambitious now . He looked around other team members and fixed his eyes on one . His target was Oh Sangsu, the new hire with Min Suji and Jang Hyunwoo . Anybody else? If you volunteer on an occasion like this, you get noticed by the president, dont you? How about you, Mr . Oh? Me? Yes, youre right, but Ive got to fly to the United States then… To the United States? I understand your parents are here in Korea . Do you have a secret sweetheart there? No, sir! said Oh hastily . As his relations.h.i.+p with Minhye, the presidents daughter and manager of the PR team, was going sour these days, any strange rumor could give him a big trouble . Oh just felt troubled at the thought of her . When Oh got hired by Aurum, Minhye was almost like his wife . She listened to anything Oh said, and they shared a hotel room a couple of times at least every week . But recently, he hadnt dated her, and it was more than one month that he hadnt had an intimate relations.h.i.+p with her . He just presumed that she must have been disappointed at his failure to outperform Kim Yonggu or Jang Hyunwoo . In a situation like this, a rumor like a secret sweetheart was something terrible . Why are you flying there then? I dont think youre going there for travel, right? Actually, Ohs purpose was travel . He already made an appointment with his college alumni . If he could meet a pretty girl during travel, he could enjoy a one-night stand . He was planning to travel secretly without informing Minhye, and as he was in an icy relations.h.i.+p with her anyway, he could fly to the United States freely . Now, as the team manager had come to know it, it looked like Oh had to cancel his trip appointment, and Park was now explaining why he had to volunteer . Minhye is also supposed to visit the orphanage . Arent you a couple? I think youve got to act together . If Minhye goes there, Oh would have to . Oh felt that might be a good occasion to mend fences with her . Alright, sir . I can postpone my travel plans until next year . Im going to volunteer, too . Okay, then . Anybody else? Me, too, said Yonggu . His volunteering was only natural because Minhye was his wooing target . It would be like giving her up if he was absent from such an occasion . Park seemed satisfied . He might have invited misunderstandings from others if he had singled out new hires only, but with the addition of Yonggu, his volunteering team was a good mix now . Very good . I think the teamwork of the purchasing team is the best . Dec . 29 . The volunteering members of Aurum gathered before a company bus bound for The House of Happiness . There was a total of 17 including president Park Daebong and three senior managers . Manager Park publicly announced in the morning that he would partic.i.p.ate but changed his mind in the afternoon, with an excuse of an important appointment . The volunteers from the purchasing team were four, more than the PR team that included Park Minhye . They got on the bus to head to the orphanage . There was much more stuff they had to do than they had thought . There were a lot of piled-up laundry and repair work at the old orphanage . They decided to repair outdated chairs, desks, cabinets, etc, as they were from a furniture company . And as for those broken beyond repair, Aurum decided to exchange them with new replacements . But there was a small problem out there . In the past, not only volunteers but also field workers from Aurum were also mobilized for the job . But this time, there were only volunteers, with not a single field worker . And that was the start of the problem . They knew more about the furniture than ordinary people but not as much as the field workers . Field workers could have solved the problem in ten minutes while the volunteers could not even for an hour . Phew why cant I pull out this screw? Wow, this screwdriver doesnt get anything as the screw has been worn out completely . What should I do? I dont know . They were just confused until the morning when some problem popped up . But in a couple of hours, the atmosphere began to change . They knew there was a troubleshooter among the volunteers . a.s.sistant manager Jang, I cant unscrew this . What is it? The screw head has been too worn out . Hyunwoo was a walking dictionary . Whenever they had a problem, he came up with the proper solution very easily . Hyunwoo brought a rubber band and then put it above the screw head . He then slowly spun it with a larger screwdriver . Finally, the screw head came out as it had not been tightly screwed down . The volunteers clapped their hands . Wow! What a nice way to do that! Hyunwoo twisted it with a long nose plier and pulled it out, saying, If its tightly screwed down, you cant pull it out even if you put a rubber band . In this case, you have to use the screwdriver reserved for this type of thing . Ah, you used to work a lot in the field, didnt you? Now I understand why youre so nimble when doing it . Now, they just called Hyunwoo when they had a problem . Mr . Jang, which direction should I pull it out? d.a.m.n it . The wheel was pulled out . How can I put it back? Call for Mr . Jang . Because of their constant requests, Hyunwoo couldnt take any time for a break . Even before he solved one problem, someone had already arranged for him to solve another problem in advance . Can you stop that and come here to help me? Im ahead of you, man . Then, after you… Though Hyunwoo was becoming busier, other volunteers were not . If they ran into any problems, they just waited for him to come over to fix it . They didnt initiate to find out any other work to do . In fact, they were there half-heartedly because they knew at least one member of their team should be a.s.signed for this event, even though the management had said that it wasnt mandatory . What time is it? Noon . Its only noon? Phew… when can we finish this? Most of them just wished that the day would pa.s.s by quickly . In the meantime, there was some friction between the orphanage staff and them . The disciplined staff of the orphanage didnt allow them to idle away gossiping . There are a lot of work to do . What are you doing here? If you can, please help us . There is so much laundry stuff, said one staffer . Do you want to do laundry? Youre here to volunteer, right? Then, just help us with laundry . The staff was tough . He a.s.signed them to various work as if the boss was ordering his men . They followed his orders reluctantly but with blatant complaints . Why is he so strict to us? You bet . He had better treat us well since were volunteering with a good heart like this . Isnt he paranoid? But Hyunwoo had a different take . He could understand the feelings of the orphanage staff more than enough . In fact, this was only a stop-over place for volunteers, but this was their own house . Who would love the idea of some stranger visiting ones own house? And some of the volunteers just make a simple visit to show-off, not for genuine volunteering . They pretended to volunteer by doling out some stuff and then taking fake pictures with the orphans before returning . While going through such experiences, sometimes the orphanage staff had an unfavorable perception of the volunteers . Oh was one such type . He slipped out of the place before they knew it and was chatting with Park Minhye . Why are you so mean to me? demanded Oh . What did I do? said Minhye . You dont take time out for me and try to avoid me when I ask to meet you . Are you upset about me over something? Nothing like that . Im just busy . As you know, were trying to expand our market in j.a.pan . Is that the only reason? What are you talking about? Do you wish I had some other reason? The more they talked, the sharper Minhyes tone was becoming . Though Oh had come here to reconcile with her, it seemed his feelings toward her had become even worse . Oh dusted his hands as if he wanted to stop arguing with her . No, thats enough . By the way, what are you doing here? Dont you see that the other volunteers are busy? Oh turned his eyes to the side Minhye was pointing . The volunteers were hanging a large blanket on the clothesline . Oh opened his eyes wide, asking, Do you want me to do that kind of work? Then, why did you come here? For play? Because of you . I didnt want to send you alone here . How could I do that work? I dont even do that at home . Minhye stared at him sharply . At the moment, both heard one volunteer talking to Hyunwoo . a.s.sistant manager Jang, didnt you finish that yet? Please come this way . Yes, Im almost done . Ill be there in a minute . Mr . Jang . This is urgent . Come here first . Minhye pointed her finger to the place their voices were heard . Do you think theyre living like that at home everyday? Theyre offering a service because theyre here . Dont you feel any responsibility like them? I do feel it, of course . Then, dont stand still like that and move . Just go and help them like Mr . Jang . Minhye sharply turned back and then walked away as if she was upset . Oh scratched his head, talking to himself, d.a.m.n it . Why should I do that? But he could not stay idle . He had to do something to prove to Minhye that he was involved . Okay, let me pretend to help them . Oh visited Hyunwoo . n.o.body was seen around . Only Hyunwoo was busy, holding a hammer . Can I help you? Hyunwoo thought he had come at the right time . Actually, he was about to pull out a large wood table, and he wanted someone elses help because he couldnt move it alone . Oh, you came at the right time . Lets hold it together . We need to move it outside . Suddenly, Hyunwoo felt a bit worried . Hummm… this is rather heavy . But Oh was already holding the other end of the table . It was too late for Hyunwoo to say, Hey, this is so heavy . Let me ask for someone elses help . Hyunwoo lifted the table suddenly, holding the opposite end of the table, and then Oh also lifted it on his end . At that moment, Ohs face became distorted . Though he lifted the other end of the table, he felt that he couldnt hold it long enough . Only then did Hyunwoo ask him to step aside . Im afraid you cant do this . Just put it down if you feel its too heavy . Let me ask for someone else . Ohs face was all the more distorted because he saw Minhye looking at him . Now, this was a matter of pride . No problem . Lets move it . His voice trembled a lot because he was flexing his arm with all his strength . Hyunwoo got worried all the more . He has to move it to a place far away from here .