Chapter 18: Manager Kim Jang-bung!! If you’re going to work like this, then quit!!!

Jangbung’s phone buzzed as he sat at his desk.

“Author, this is Manager Kim Jangbung. How are you?”

“Yes, yes. It’s because our company is holding a contest. I was contacting you to see if you’d be interested in participating.”

“Yes, yes. Oh, preparing for the final round. Too bad. If you’re interested, our door is open, so please consider it. Yes, thank you.”

Another call.

“Author, this is Manager Kim Jangbung. I’m calling to say hello and check on your e-book release.”

“Yes. We appreciate it. Oh, and are you thinking of serializing your next work in our contest?”

“I heard you’re doing it on a new platform. It’s quite popular these days. But we have a big prize this time. Yes, yes.”

“That’s too bad.”

Another call.

“Author, this is Manager Kim Jangbung. How are you? It’s because you finished your work and haven’t had any new serials recently. If you don’t mind, would you like to participate in our contest…”

“So you quit writing and work as a delivery person? Oh… If you’re still interested, please come and visit our contest. Take care.”

Jangbung sighed.

“Author…”

Manager Kim overheard.

“Author!”

Jangbung muttered.

“I’m trying hard. I’m trying hard.”

Manager Kim frowned.

“Manager.”

Jangbung turned.

“Does that mean the writers will come? It’s just a thirsty person digging a well. It’s always the desperate who will come.”

Manager Park nodded.

“That’s right, Mr. Jangbung. If you keep making calls like that, strange rumors will spread that our company is in crisis.”

Jangbung shook his head.

“I think there won’t be many male-oriented writers participating in this contest.”

Manager Kim waved a hand.

“Okay. Once you’re done contacting them, I’ll upload a list of the Belso Topple launch works.”

Jangbung nodded.

“I’ll just send a text message to all the writers.”

Kkattok

His phone pinged with a KakaoTalk message.

“Why the KakaoTalk messages…”

[Manager]
[I don’t plan on going to that platform again, so please don’t contact me again.]

In the meeting room, Manager Kim held up a document.

“This is how the winners of this contest will be decided. Are there any objections?”

Jangbung spoke up.

“No matter what, I think we should award at least one male-oriented work in this contest.”

Manager Kim sighed.

“Manager Kim.”

“Yes, Manager.”

“Hasn’t that conversation already ended?”

Jangbung pressed.

“But Manager, this was the only proof that our company has been pushing male-oriented novels, but if we only award female-oriented novels like this, I think public opinion will turn against us.”

Manager Kim raised an eyebrow.

“If we award one male-oriented novel, will public opinion improve?”

Jangbung fell silent.

Manager Kim continued.

“Manager Kim Jangbung.”

“Yes, Manager.”

“We want to give an award too. Even if you look at it, Manager Kim, who was in charge of judging male-oriented novels this time, you’d know that there are only embarrassing awards, so how can we give one?”

Jangbung tried again.

“But we can at least give one small award, right?”

Manager Park chimed in.

“Manager, you’re right, Mr. Jangbung. Isn’t it especially important to be selective and focused in times like these? If male-oriented readers are leaving, wouldn’t it be better to boldly push female readers to fill the void?”

Manager Kim nodded.

“Manager Park is right. Manager Kim, in the last contest, male customers were leaving, but you gave awards for male-oriented works to hold on to them, so they didn’t leave? They all left.”

Jangbung countered.

“Still, there are still male customers who haven’t left our company.”

Manager Kim scoffed.

“Those customers just have no intention of leaving. No matter what I do, they are loyal customers who will remain.”

Jangbung persisted.

“Then for the sake of those loyal customers…”

Manager Kim cut him off.

“Enough. Manager Kim.”

“Yes, Manager.”

“This contest will have all the winning entries for women’s magazines. Rather than hoping that customers who have left will come back, it would be better to cultivate a new field.”

Jangbung nodded slowly.

“Yes, I understand.”

Manager Kim clapped.

“Okay. Let’s think of our company as focusing on women’s magazines for the time being.”

Jangbung handed a file to Manager Park.

“Manager Park, I’ve compiled the candidates for the romance fantasy novel Topple launch, so please take a look.”

Manager Park didn’t look up.

Jangbung tried again.

“Manager Park?”

“I’m a little busy, so I’ll take a look later.”

“Even if you’re busy, I need you to take a look now because the materials need to be uploaded right away… Ah~, please take a look at the online shopping mall later.”

Manager Park blinked.

“Huh? Right now? Manager Park, are you looking at the online shopping mall?”

“Oh, no. I’ll take a look now.”

Jangbung nodded.

“Okay. Please take a look quickly.”

Manager Kang from the next department waved.

“Manager Kim Jangbung! Let’s go have coffee together.”

Jangbung blinked.

“Huh? Manager Kang? What’s going on in the next department?”

“I just want to have a cup of coffee with Manager Kim. Manager Kim, I’ll take you for a moment~ Let’s go.”

“Okay, I understand.”

At the café, Manager Kang leaned in.

“Manager Kim Jangbung.”

“Yes, Manager Kang.”

“What did you say to upset Manager Park today?”

Jangbung frowned.

“Huh?”

Manager Kang sipped his coffee.

“There’s a close friend of Manager Park in our department. During lunch, I heard so much complaining about you.”

Jangbung sighed.

“This morning, I told her to stop looking at the online shopping mall, but it wasn’t exactly a scolding.”

Manager Kang nodded.

“That must be it. The manager overheard and gave her a look. She got flustered.”

Jangbung shook his head.

“I only said something because she was shopping instead of working when things were urgent.”

Manager Kang chuckled.

“Why would someone gossip over something like that?”

Jangbung muttered.

“Exactly. If she had something to say, she could’ve told me herself. Why go through you?”

Manager Kang shrugged.

“That’s how it is.”

Jangbung scoffed.

“She’s not even doing her job right…”

Manager Kang leaned forward.

“She’s a deputy manager, and you’re a junior manager. It probably stings that you called her out.”

Jangbung rolled his eyes.

“That’s ridiculous.”

Manager Kang sighed.

“Ridiculous or not, you’ve got to play along with annoying superiors to make a living. You know you’re on thin ice lately, right? Buy her a coffee, apologize, and smooth things over.”

Jangbung exhaled.

“Haa~”

“What’s with the sigh? Don’t want to?”

“No, I’m just fed up.”

“I get it. I do. But unless you’re quitting, you’ve got to keep them happy. If you get on their bad side, their clique will spread rumors and make a mess. Just think of it as keeping the peace and buy the coffee.”

Jangbung nodded.

“Thanks for the advice.”

Back at the office, Jangbung set down a tray of coffees.

“Manager Park, have a coffee.”

She blinked.

“What’s this?”

“I’m treating. I got some for the director and manager too. Help yourselves.”

Manager Kim looked up.

“Coffee? Alright, put it there.”

Manager Park frowned.

“What’s with the coffee? I’ll drink it, thanks.”

Jangbung started.

“Manager, about earlier, I was too—”

Manager Park cut him off.

“Forget it. I’m not drinking it.”

Jangbung blinked.

“Huh?”

“I’m on a diet. Don’t you know? Bringing high-calorie stuff like this, are you trying to make me gain weight?”

Manager Choi chimed in.

“Huh? Manager Park, if you don’t want it, can I trade with you? I haven’t touched mine.”

“No, Manager Choi. I’m just not in the mood for coffee. Kim, just drink both.”

Jangbung forced a smile.

“Haha, Manager Park, I bought the expensive stuff. They say tasty things are zero calories, right?”

Manager Park scoffed.

“Nah, I don’t think I’d enjoy it. Take it away.”

Jangbung muttered.

“Yes…”

Manager Kim called out.

“Kim Jangbung, come here.”

“Yes.”

“Why haven’t you sent the materials I asked for today?”

“I sent all the work for today.”

“I told you to send the meeting schedule for the women’s platform.”

“That’s Manager Park’s responsibility.”

Manager Park spoke up.

“She said you agreed to do it.”

Jangbung turned.

“Huh? Manager Park?”

“You agreed to take it on a few days ago.”

“No, I only handled the contacts. I organized the available meeting dates and shared them.”

Manager Park insisted.

“You said you’d finalize the dates too.”

“When did I say that?”

Manager Park gasped.

“What? Are you saying I’m making things up?”

Manager Kim raised his voice.

“Enough! The schedule’s tight, and you don’t know the final dates?”

Jangbung lowered his head.

“No…”

Manager Park smiled.

“I’ve got a rough draft prepared. I’ll send it now.”

Manager Kim nodded.

“Good. Manager Park’s always thorough. Kim Jangbung, if you didn’t do it, just say so. Why argue about who’s right or wrong?”

Jangbung bowed.

“I’m sorry.”

Manager Park snickered.

“Pfft~”

Jangbung shot her a look.

“Manager Park!”

She blinked innocently.

“What, what?”

Manager Choi laughed.

“Oh my, Kim, you’re about to crash into Manager Park.”

Dring dring

Jangbung’s phone rang.

“I’ll take this call. Yes, this is Kim Jangbung.”

[Hello, this is the company you applied to.]

“Oh! Hello! Yes, yes. Really? Of course, I can do that. Yes, absolutely. It’s hard to set a date right now, but I’ll call you back.”

Manager Kim shouted.

“Kim Jangbung!”

“Yes, Director.”

“What kind of attitude is that toward your superior while you can’t even do your job right!”

Manager Park added.

“That was a bit scary, Kim~”

Jangbung stood silent.

Manager Kim glared.

“You think this company is a joke?”

Jangbung stayed quiet.

“If you’re going to work like this, just quit!”

Jangbung nodded.

“Yes.”

Manager Kim blinked.

“What?”

“Here’s my resignation letter. I’ll hand over my tasks and leave immediately.”

Manager Kim stammered.

“Hey, Kim, Kim Jang…”

Jangbung stood firm.

“Kim Jangbung, I’m resigning.”