The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 321

After a brief greeting with those who were still out of it, I entered the head office director’s office.

‘Phew-. What a dazzlingly chaotic first day at work.’

I flicked my lips as if shaking off dust and checked Hong Gijun’s gift first.

I unwrapped the packaging, opened the box, and a heavy nameplate appeared.

「Future Strategy Division Head, President Son Jinhyuk」

This was the organization that was created for Hong Sujeong in the past.

The position Hong Sujeong held.

This time, Min Yongrak and other confidants were used to form the organization for Jinhyuk, and the position of division head was left vacant for over a year, with Kim Ido, the head of the strategic planning department, acting as the interim.

‘Seriously, why are they being so good to me?’

I was so overwhelmed I could cry.

Isn’t that right?

A guy who said he would take over the farm after his father is now the president of a flashy building in Yeouido [the financial district of Seoul]. It would be a world-shattering shock to anyone.

Still, my dream of becoming a farmer is still valid.

That’s what Teacher Lee Byeongse said.

He said that after exercising like crazy and losing all my strength, I could start farming then.

‘Using a driverless tractor for rotary tilling, and drones for fertilizing…’

I’m a bit worried about weeds if I use less pesticide, but what if they grow a little? Let’s live together for the sake of biodiversity.

It might seem like I’m daydreaming on my first day, but these are all things Jinhyuk had been planning.

Driverless farming for the emptying countryside.

To do that, I need inspiration from the sky-path project.

Toda-dak-.

My fingers danced on the booted-up laptop.

「Detailed subdivision of the national 3D grid and coordinates, automatic recognition of terrain features or pre-input of target areas…」

I typed as ideas came to mind.

This will become a mind map, the strategic planning department will shape the concept into text, it will go through the development support office, a project team will be formed, and it will bear fruit through the voluntary participation of researchers who are interested.

All future projects will proceed with this system.

Chairman Hong Gijun gave the two research institutes to Jinhyuk to do what he wanted.

Knock knock-.

The sound of knocking on the open door is clear.

The head office director’s door was not closed. It was meant to be open for anyone to come in comfortably.

‘Umm-. I didn’t get to properly greet you earlier…’

Seeing the middle-aged man hesitating at the entrance, Jinhyuk jumped up.

‘Ah! Please, have a seat.’

Following Kim Ido, the head of the strategic planning department, ‘real power’ Min Yongrak also stepped in.

It would be nice to have a frank conversation, but it wouldn’t be easy for Kim Ido, who had been through the mill of a long corporate life. Even if I’m young, I’m still his superior. Maybe it’s even harder because we’re from different generations.

I left the head seat empty and sat opposite Kim Ido. Naturally, Min Yongrak took the seat next to me.

‘Please call me Steve from now on. Leave out titles like President, Division Head, or Director. Please make an announcement about it too.’

‘I will take care of it right away.’

They answered with a smile without needing a detailed explanation.

They must understand that this decision is for the employees who might feel uncomfortable because of my young age and high position.

I’m really looking forward to working with these people. However, I didn’t show my excitement outwardly. Expressing excitement would also be a burden.

Kim Ido, who had pushed up his glasses with a bent index finger, asked.

‘Would it be good for other employees to make nicknames too?’

‘That’s not what I meant at all. It’s better for the corporate culture to be created voluntarily by the employees. The only thing I’ll control is matters that require the division head’s approval.’

There was no need for a detailed explanation.

If the conversation gets too long in a business setting, the message gets blurred and only fatigue accumulates.

Someone who is good at their job will ask follow-up questions about matters that require additional explanation. It’s the basics of working life, no, all social life.

‘There’s no secretary, but the secretary’s work is done by the planning team, ah- the planning department, right?’

‘Yes-, Steve.’

At Kim Ido’s answer, Jinhyuk’s lips curled up in a pleasant smile.

He’s quick-witted and adaptable. It’s the experience of someone who has risen to the position of department head at Se-in and has also served as the acting division head.

‘The person in charge will be Manager Min.’

‘Uhh-, Steve.’

Min Yongrak, who answered like that, rolled his eyes and rubbed his neck.

It was the behavior of someone who had taken a life-risking challenge.

Jinhyuk smiled and said.

‘Please keep calling me that.’

When we were together in the countryside, I kept a reasonable distance from Min Yongrak.

When he crossed the line, I would subtly show my displeasure.

Looking back, it was a power trip. I wanted to repay the debt of that time.

‘In the morning, I’ll greet the division staff, and in the afternoon, I’ll greet the employees of this research institute. Tomorrow, I’ll visit the Sakdo Research Institute.’

‘I’ll register the schedule. But Steve?’

Min Yongrak, who was taking notes, raised his head.

‘The chairman just contacted me to confirm if you need a female secretary…’

‘I’ll tell you when I need one. Isn’t the entire strategic planning department the division head’s assistant anyway?’

That’s also a trick of the sly Chairman Hong Gijun, you old man.

If he was really curious, he would have asked directly, why would he go through someone else?

From Yoo Myungseon to Hong Gijun, and Yoo Sera.

Jinhyuk was properly caught.

‘If I were in my right mind, I would be careful and stay single.’

Even if you don’t intend it, scandals break out, and even if you’re careful, you get talked about. The best thing to do is to simplify your movements and schedule, and reduce the time you spend alone to create a solid alibi. That’s the first step for a political human, Hong Gijun taught.

Department Head Kim Ido parted his lips as if he had something to say.

‘Since the organization you’re in charge of is large, if you give us a policy on how to proceed with employee reports, we will prepare accordingly.’

‘How many people are there in total in one division and two research institutes?’

‘There are 350 in our division, 400 in the Yeouido Research Institute, and 500 in the Sakdo Research Institute.’

That’s not that many. Jinhyuk put his chin in his hand and nodded.

I already knew it, but it was a question to understand Kim Ido.

‘Each research institute has about fifty teams, and under them, various sub-project teams are distributed. Project teams are formed freely, regardless of the organizational structure.’

‘Are there any teams without a team leader?’

‘No, there aren’t. We never work without a captain.’

Kim Ido unfolded the organizational chart and turned it so that Jinhyuk could see it easily.

This was also something I already knew, but I scanned it carefully with my eyes. I didn’t want to look arrogant or cocky.

Kim Ido smacked his lips and carefully started to speak. It was the attitude of someone who is careful when they have to repeat what they said.

‘I need to report the work assignments of the staff, so if you set the reporting order-.’

‘I’ll skip the reports. I’ll study the posts in the division’s portal data room. If I have any questions while understanding, I’ll ask the department heads. When I ask, just tell me who’s in charge and what the progress is. I hope there won’t be anyone hesitating.’

‘I will announce it.’

Kim Ido’s Adam’s apple moved.

It meant that the department heads should know the work of their department members.

The good old days of being the boss in a place without a tiger were over.

‘Our division hasn’t had any significant achievements so far, right?’

‘That’s true.’

Kim Ido unfolded another file and pushed it in front of Jinhyuk.

‘The development department had some achievements, but it was closer to assisting the research institute.’

‘Since there was no head of the development support office, the director of the research institute must have taken all the credit.’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

The director of the research institute had moved to the chairman’s office along with Jinhyuk’s appointment.

He would either take office as the head of another affiliate or spend his leisure time receiving OB [Old Boy, a term for retired senior employees] support after retirement.

‘Manager Min, please contact the personnel department and ask them to send the candidate data for each department head. At the executive level or higher. If there aren’t any, I’ll appoint them as I see fit.’

‘Yes! Steve!’

It would be nice to fill the positions with people who have worked together, but Jinhyuk is just starting out. In that sense, it was also too early to fill the positions with my own people.

Considering the unfavorable internal and external views, I had to fill the positions with personnel from within the group for the time being. This was also due to the political sense I had learned from Hong Gijun.

‘Our division will have a lot of work to do in the future.’

Kim Ido and Min Yongrak, who were each taking notes, raised their heads.

‘You don’t need to read my mind, and you don’t need my approval for minor projects. I’ll set the big direction. I guess that would be more comfortable for you.’

‘Yes. Honestly, it is.’

Kim Ido had a calm expression, but he couldn’t hide his shaking eyes. It was in contrast to Min Yongrak’s reaction, who had experienced Jinhyuk before and thought it was natural. No matter how free-spirited the division of an innovative company is, it was surprising that a rookie who had never worked in a company was speaking like a veteran who knew the organization’s physiology.

‘We’ll discuss the reorganization slowly. It doesn’t seem like something to talk about on the first day.’

I finished the first meeting simply by setting the direction and establishing a proper distance.

‘I, President, ah- Division Head, ah- Steve.’

Kim Ido shook his head twice to correct his title.

‘Since it’s the first day, I’d like you to have lunch with our department.’

‘I’m glad you can bring that up so easily. But I have an appointment today.’

‘If you have an appointment, I should know about it, Steve?’

Min Yongrak widened his eyes.

‘A senior from the design department who was my classmate said she’d buy me lunch.’

‘Ah-.’

Is it her?

Min Yongrak tilted his head.

The new recruit from the design department who went down to the lobby to greet Jinhyuk and boasted about buying him lunch. Her voice and laughter were so loud that the lobby echoed.

***

In the afternoon, after a brief introductory meeting with the employees stationed in Yeouido, I looked through the organizational chart and the employees’ personal information cards.

Min Yongrak sipped his coffee and watched Jinhyuk’s reaction.

‘Are you upset?’

‘Ah-. No, not really…’

Min Yongrak looked around as if someone might be eavesdropping.

‘Don’t be upset. Let’s just think of it as the chairman’s game, which is not fun. Even my father didn’t know.’

‘Oh, really?’

‘Only my mom knew.’

Jinhyuk chuckled.

I could hide it from my dad, but I didn’t want to hide it from my mom.

I can’t forget my mom’s expression when I secretly told her after promising to keep it a secret.

I knew my mom’s eyes were big, but it was the first time I realized that there were even more hidden pupils.

‘Wow- but, Jinhyuk- Steve.’

‘Yes.’

Jinhyuk, who was flipping through the documents, raised his head and gave a comfortable look.

‘Do you have to save a country in your past life? To be so successful?’

That’s what people in the world are really curious about.

What’s so great about him, and what kind of luck did he have to be on such an unbelievable path to success?

‘Is saving a country enough? I have to save at least the Earth.’

When Jinhyuk smiled warmly like a drunk, Min Yongrak waved his hand with a disgusted expression.

What Earth, are you Superman?

‘There are a lot of documents. I’ll have to look at them slowly.’

‘Okay, Steve. Today isn’t the only day.’

Min Yongrak changed his posture, understanding it as a signal to start the meeting in earnest.

‘But, Steve. I think we should have at least one secretary, whether it’s a woman or a man.’

‘Why? Manager, you’re taking care of my schedule. Is it too hard for you?’

‘Hard? What are you talking about-, you’re the president and division head, but you’re making your own coffee and doing your own copying, so the employees are actually uncomfortable. It’s better for the higher-ups to be as inconspicuous as possible.’

He had a point.

I thought they would feel comfortable with a young boss, but it seems that’s not the case for salaried workers.

‘The economy is good, and the division’s hiring budget is generous, so Department Head Kim also said that it wouldn’t be a big deal to create a few more jobs.’

‘I’ll make my own coffee and do my own copying. If there’s no other reason, let’s go with this. I need to see the employees often and get to know them so that it won’t be difficult for me to get along with them later, right? If I’m just locked up in this room, it’s like a prison. Especially for someone like me who needs to keep moving.’

‘Ah, yes-.’

Click-.

As Jinhyuk sat on the sofa, Min Yongrak opened his diary and clicked his pen.

‘Reports should be concise and to the point, and if it’s not a document that requires the division head’s approval, it should be approved by the department head.’

Min Yongrak nodded and moved his pen.

‘Tell the development department to do some computer development. Make sure that all project emails are sent to the division head with a blind carbon copy [BCC].’

‘You’ve already figured out the work to that extent? There are people who don’t know even after becoming a department head?’

What do you mean figured out, the way most companies work is obvious.

In the future, it’s something you would request from an IT service company, your own computer management, or the development team.

I’ve experienced it, so I can’t help but know.

‘There are no employees working overtime other than research and technical staff, right?’

‘Not many.’

‘It seems there are some?’

‘There are some stubborn people who say they work better in the quiet of the night.’

Jinhyuk was secretly taken aback.

He also had a higher concentration of work in the early morning.

From 10 PM to 1 AM, I feel a bit restless, but from 1 AM, my brain feels like it’s working at full speed. It’s something that everyone who has worked overtime knows.

I thought it might be the influence of the rhythm of living obsessed with studying.

‘We need to introduce a flexible work system.’

‘What’s that?’

Min Yongrak asked, moving his not-so-flexible waist.

‘It’s like a bullfrog doing yoga.’

Jinhyuk clenched his teeth.

Min Yongrak had returned to his old self, treating Jinhyuk comfortably.

Jinhyuk is also comfortable with that. I need to maintain a minimum level of formality for work, but I’m still uncomfortable with dividing people by rank.

‘Tell them to come to work and leave at a comfortable time, as long as it doesn’t negatively affect the project. Of course, it shouldn’t interfere with the work of their collaboration partners. If you leave it to their discretion, they won’t be able to do it because they’ll be worried about the department head, so make it a division head’s order.’

‘Will the personnel department stay still?’

‘In that case, unconditionally…’

Jinhyuk paused for a moment.

I needed to choose the next word appropriately.