Episode 50. Officiant (1)
Around 11:30 AM.
Just as Kang Dae-oh was about to leave his office, he happened to run into Executive Director Yu In-seok, who was talking with Director Shin Young-jun in the hallway.
“CEO. Where are you going?”
“Are you going for a meal?”
It was about time to eat.
Kang Dae-oh gave a short nod.
“Yes. I’m going to grab a meal with Seojun.”
“Are you going to Store No. 1?”
“Yes. I also have something to tell Seojun. I’ll get going first. If anything urgent comes up, please contact me anytime.”
The two replied that they understood and saw Kang Dae-oh off.
Kang Dae-oh got into his car, started the engine immediately, and drove out of the underground parking lot.
Amare Store No. 1 is located near Namseol General Market.
Several months ago, after a large fire broke out in the market, Kang Dae-oh had been going back and forth there for a while due to the restoration project.
Lately, the market had stabilized, so he hadn’t visited recently.
But today, he headed there for a different reason.
Kang Dae-oh parked his car and immediately walked towards Store No. 1.
The store was already bustling with customers who had finished their lunch early and came for a cup of coffee.
About a fifth of them were merchants working at Namseol General Market.
“Hello.”
“Oh? It’s CEO Kang!”
“What brings you here at this hour?”
The owner of the laundry shop, who was sitting and spending time with the other merchants, asked him on their behalf.
Kang Dae-oh pointed to Lee Seojun, who was frantically busy dealing with customers, and said,
“I have something to discuss with Seojun. But there’s another branch inside the market…”
A new store had opened so close that you could almost touch it with your nose if you fell. Was there really a need to come all the way to Store No. 1, which was a bit of a distance away? That’s why he asked.
There was a reason why the merchants came all the way to Store No. 1.
“The store inside the market is already full of customers. Whenever we try to go there to rest, there’s never any space.”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
“And since we’re used to this place, it’s better for us all to come here, chat for a bit, and then leave. We can walk, so it’s also good exercise.”
While it was good that so many customers flocked to the market, such side effects also existed.
However, the market merchants didn’t have much to complain about.
Store No. 1 had always been their regular spot.
And there was no reason for the merchants to dislike the large number of customers visiting the market.
Kang Dae-oh not only provided a lot of help in restoring Namseol General Market but also offered a space where merchants could rest for a while.
Their gratitude towards him grew day by day.
“사장님 Kang. If you ever have a hard time later, don’t hesitate and tell us anytime. If 사장님 Kang asks for help, we’ll definitely come to help you!”
“Thank you, 사장님.”
Kang Dae-oh chuckled softly at the laundry shop owner’s spirited words.
Then, the laundry shop owner’s wife, sitting right next to him, strongly poked him with her elbow.
“What is this man saying? What difficulties could 사장님 Kang possibly have? His daughters grew up well, his wife is beautiful and earns well. 사장님 Kang also has a lot of money. What could he possibly lack?”
“Still, you never know what might happen in life.”
If asked whose words were right between the two, Kang Dae-oh would choose the latter.
No matter how much one possesses, life is full of uncertainties, and you never know when or what might happen.
Even Kang Dae-oh’s daughters, who came from the future, couldn’t perfectly predict what would happen next.
A prime example was the fire incident at Namseol General Market.
A single small change can trigger an unexpected wave in the future.
That’s why Kang Dae-oh, despite having his daughters as a cheat code, never intended to let his guard down no matter what he did.
“Thank you, 사장님. If something like what you mentioned happens later, I will definitely tell you without hesitation.”
Having such warm-hearted acquaintances around, in a way, wasn’t it a blessing?
Kang Dae-oh felt this thought strongly today.
About 20 minutes after arriving at the store.
Lee Seojun approached Kang Dae-oh, who was sitting alone at a table, drinking coffee and passing the time.
“I apologize, CEO. You’ve waited a long time, haven’t you?”
“It’s alright, it’s alright. Have you finished all your work?”
“Yes. Now, later this afternoon, I just need to go to the Namseol General Market branch and hand over various things to the new manager who will be coming.”
“Did you say they’re starting right away today?”
“Yes. I heard they came from working at the Sangam branch.”
“Right, that’s what it was. Sangam branch. I know that place gets a lot of customers too.”
“They came to this market once before. They said the number of customers doesn’t seem much different from where they used to work.”
“Really? Then they’ll adapt quickly.”
“I’m expecting that too.”
Of course, you won’t know until you see for yourself, but it might be better than someone who transferred from another store.
“When that person comes, you’ll be a bit more comfortable, won’t you?”
“That’s right. Even if the distance between them is close, managing two stores by myself is tough.”
“I’m sorry. I should have looked for someone sooner.”
“It’s alright. You were busy back then too. And it’s better for someone who knows about Namseol General Market to establish the system for that store first, so that the person who comes later will be more comfortable.”
In fact, he had deliberately made this unreasonable request to Lee Seojun because he wanted this.
Lee Seojun also immediately understood Kang Dae-oh’s true intentions, so he accepted the task without resistance.
This synergy, which they had developed since Amare was a small neighborhood cafe, remained unchanged from then until now.
“But why did you suddenly ask to eat together?”
“Because you’ve worked hard all this time. I wanted to buy you a meal as a token of my gratitude.”
“No way. You’re not trying to kick me out, are you?”
“Me? Why?”
“Before a company lets an employee go, their superior often buys them a nice meal out of guilt, you know.”
Unexplained kindness often causes anxiety.
However, in Lee Seojun’s case, there was no need for such worry.
Because Kang Dae-oh had a clear reason.
“Actually, I have something to ask of you. That’s why I wanted to see you.”
“No way, you’re not going to ask me to manage another store, are you?”
Kang Dae-oh shook his head, denying Lee Seojun’s guess.
“It’s not that, so don’t worry.”
Compared to that, it was a simple request that felt rather trivial.
“Actually, my second daughter got a role this time. It’s a barista working at a cafe.”
“Barista?”
“Yeah. So she’s been learning coffee extraction and various things from me since last week. But teaching at home and having her practice directly at the store feel very different, don’t they?”
“That’s right.”
“So, I was wondering if she could work part-time under you for a few days next week. I wanted to ask you that favor, which is why I asked to see you separately.”
Only after hearing the inside story did Lee Seojun show a relieved expression.
“If it was something like that, you should have told me earlier. I was so scared, thinking you were trying to kick me out, just like I said earlier.”
“Are you a bit relieved now?”
“Phew, of course! Leave Yebin’s matter to me. I’ll teach her well, from A to Z.”
Since Lee Seojun had known the daughters since they were young, he was even more trustworthy.
As a small token of appreciation, Kang Dae-oh asked him,
“What do you want to eat? Today, I’ll buy you anything you want, so feel free to say it.”
“Really? Then, I’ll really say anything?”
“Yes. Just say it.”
It was a meal bought to ask him to take good care of his daughter. What couldn’t he buy?
Buying Lee Seojun an expensive meal was nothing for a father.
As Kang Dae-oh requested Lee Seojun, Kang Yebin’s not-so-part-time job began today.
Kang Yebin’s limited-time part-time job was not a surprise event officially promoted by the company. So, it wasn’t separately announced on the website.
Perhaps because of this.
Customers who habitually visited Amare Store No. 1 without much thought were startled to see Kang Yebin, dressed in a uniform, greeting them with “Welcome.”
“Isn’t that, Yebin-ssi?”
“Why in the world are you here…”
Kang Yebin smiled and briefly explained to calm the surprised customers.
“I wanted to learn a bit about cafe work.”
“Oh, really? Then how long will you be working?”
“All this week. The hours… aren’t really fixed.”
Since she had her original schedule, it wasn’t easy to fix her working hours at the cafe.
Saying this beforehand would prevent customers from flocking in according to Kang Yebin’s working hours.
Meanwhile. Lee Seojun chuckled, seemingly amused by the customers’ startled reactions every time they encountered Kang Yebin.
“Customers must think it’s a hidden camera.”
“Perhaps.”
Kang Yebin found it amusing to see the customers consistently showing the same reactions, but she also felt sorry for surprising them.
However, Kang Yebin hadn’t done anything bad to the customers.
There was no need to feel sorry, but she couldn’t help but feel a bit concerned.
Just then, a young woman who came to the store alone was also greatly surprised, just like the previous customers.
“Oh my, Yebin-ssi! Hello!”
“Welcome. This is Amare. Can I help you with your order?”
“Um, that…”
Despite being asked if she wanted to order, the woman looked troubled.
Kang Yebin didn’t quite understand why she was reacting this way.
It was common to visit a cafe to order drinks or food.
From Kang Yebin’s perspective, she had just said something very natural, yet the woman continued to hesitate.
At that moment, Lee Seojun, who had briefly left his spot, greeted her familiarly as soon as he saw her.
“You’re here?”
“oppa!”
Kang Yebin looked back and forth between Lee Seojun and the woman, tilting her head.
“Seojun oppa. Do you know her?”
“Yes. She’s my girlfriend.”
“Oh, really?”
Kang Yebin had known for a long time that Lee Seojun had a girlfriend with whom he had been in a long-term relationship.
However, today was the first time she actually saw her.
Jo Seoyoung, Lee Seojun’s girlfriend, seemed as if it was still a dream to be facing Kang Yebin at such a close distance, and she looked at her with eyes full of wonder.
Lee Seojun gave an awkward smile at his girlfriend’s reaction.
“Seoyoung is actually your fan. She’s usually very talkative and active. But it seems she’s very nervous because she’s in front of you.”
“oppa! Why would you say that!”
Jo Seoyoung slapped Lee Seojun’s arm.
Watching the two in their harmonious interaction, Kang Yebin instinctively felt it.
That they were a well-matched couple.
