NLFSD Chapter 27

Chapter 27

The most important thing at hand was securing a contractor. Lee Jiwoon found out the company that had made the banners for last year’s event through Assistant Manager Min Hyekyung. She said that one of her close friends had handled that task back then.

“Oh, but I heard that it was pushed through because the team leader had a personal connection with the company, and insisted on using them last year too.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. Apparently, things ended without any major issues, but there were complaints about their attitude… Something about the team leader’s nephew being the CEO or something… Anyway, I’ll give you the company’s number.”

Lee Jiwoon felt a slight sense of unease in his heart. Still, work was work, and with little time left until the event, he decided to proceed with meticulous preparation.

To produce the banner, deciding on the right message was the top priority. After multiple rounds of gathering feedback from the team members, team leader, and department head, they finalized the catchphrase: “21 Years of Sehwa’s Journey, A Hundred-Year Dream Taking Flight.” The draft was then handed over to the designer.

After several rounds of revision, a refined and tasteful draft was finally completed. Lee Jiwoon had it printed and asked for it to be delivered two days before the event.

However, on the promised day, the company suddenly called. They said the schedule had been delayed and the banner would only be completed on the morning of the event itself, but that they could deliver it via courier directly to the venue.

“Sir, this is unacceptable. This is a very important event for us, and we must receive the banner in advance.”

—We’re not saying we won’t deliver it. We said we’d send it on the morning of the event by quick delivery, so what’s the problem?

Hearing the company’s unreasonable justification, Lee Jiwoon felt a strong sense of foreboding. He thought he finally understood what the previous employee had meant about their attitude.

And sure enough. Even on the day of the event, the delivery driver didn’t show up in the morning. He only arrived right before the ceremony began.

Amidst the chaos of receiving flower deliveries, Jiwoon had to run around frantically to meet the courier, sign the receipt, and deal with everything, sweating profusely the whole time.

When Jiwoon checked the banner in the hotel lobby, he nearly collapsed on the spot.

The font was—without exaggeration—tiny, like the size of a fingernail. It looked nothing like the draft, arriving in a cramped and petty form.

“Assistant Manager Lee! What is this? Are you messing with me?”

The team leader, standing with him in the lobby, pointed a finger at Jiwoon.

“If I assign you something, do it right! This wouldn’t have happened if you had prepared it properly in advance!”

The team leader’s voice rose, veins bulging on his bald head, drawing the attention of passersby.

“How do you expect me to face the executive director like this?”

Just as the team leader’s fury reached its peak, the lobby fell silent as if doused in cold water. Jiwoon instinctively looked up. Seo Taecheon was approaching with steady steps, looking at the banner with a detached expression.

“It doesn’t matter to me.”

“E-Executive Director!”

The team leader’s face flushed red.

“If the text is small, won’t that just make people focus more intently on it? Personally, I think it’s better this way.”

“I-Is that so? I’m sorry I didn’t consider your perspective, sir. My apologies.”

The team leader quickly changed his tone, bowing obsequiously.

“And don’t demoralize our employee.”

“Sorry?”

Both the team leader and Jiwoon looked wide-eyed.

“Right now, he’s not just a Marketing Team 1 employee. He’s part of our event task force. If anyone should be upset or scold him, it should be me, don’t you think, Team Leader?”

“Ah… y-yes, I suppose that’s true…”

“Assistant Manager Lee. Go put it up.”

Jiwoon looked up at Seo Taecheon, startled. Their eyes met, and Taecheon gave him a small nod.

“Go on. We’re running late.”

“Ah… Yes, sir. Understood.”

Hiding his flushed face, Jiwoon quickly headed to the main banquet hall. After installing the banner and climbing down from the ladder, he walked toward the emergency exit. He needed a place to calm down for a moment.

“…”

Office life is so exhausting.

There was no one in particular to blame. Before he could even think about holding anyone accountable, all the strength left Jiwoon’s body. Whenever he experienced something like this, a strong sense of disillusionment washed over him.

“Ha… I’m so tired.”

Still, he had to go back and check the flowers. Steeling his resolve, Jiwoon bit his lip and reached for the emergency exit door. But just then, someone was entering from the other side.

It was Seo Taecheon.

“Assistant Manager Lee.”

“Executive Director.”

A brief silence followed. Jiwoon lowered his head, carefully chose his words, then spoke.

“Thank you for earlier.”

“There’s no need to thank me. Forget about it.”

“…No, really. Thank you.”

Over the past week, Jiwoon had personally decided on the flower bouquet concepts, gone to the flower market at dawn, squeezed time to finalize the banner design, and ran around coordinating deliveries. Seo Taecheon knew all of that. It would be a lie to say that such effort would go unnoticed by someone living and working closely beside him.

“You did a great job. I know how hard you worked.”

“…Thank you.”

“Let’s head out. The ceremony’s about to begin.”

“Yes!”

Jiwoon felt comforted by Seo Taecheon’s words. It may have been his imagination, but it seemed like Seo Taecheon even smiled at Jiwoon’s spirited response.

Leaving the emergency exit a few moments apart, Jiwoon returned to the banquet hall. After taking his seat at a designated round table, the event soon began.

“Chairman Seo Hyeongho is entering.”

Following the host’s announcement, Chairman Seo entered with a solemn expression. The sound of applause from the employees filled the room.

Taking the stage, he soon began his speech.

He seemed quite different from the warm and gentle man Jiwoon had shared a home-cooked dinner with just recently. So this was what the dignity of a top executive looked like. Jiwoon listened intently to the chairman’s address, as if hearing a stranger speak.

“My dear Sehwa family. You’ve worked very hard over the past 21 years. Today, for the future of Sehwa—where we all thrive together—I would like to announce a new employee welfare policy.”

Welfare policy? What’s this all of a sudden? Jiwoon perked up his ears.

“Recently, the birth rate has dropped significantly. Our Sehwa family must be able to raise children with ease. I will immediately expand our company’s childcare facilities.”

Wow. That’s great. People all around whispered their praise for Chairman Seo’s initiative.

“And most importantly—maternity and prenatal protection! Sehwa will take the lead. We will implement early maternity leave so that employees can begin their leave as soon as pregnancy is confirmed!”

“Woooo!”

Thunderous applause erupted from the employees. In reality, workers often had to come in until they were visibly heavily pregnant, using part of their postnatal leave for time off right before birth. The emotional and physical burden of that situation was hard to express in words.

Seeing the chairman tackle that issue head-on, everyone couldn’t help but applaud. Jiwoon also clapped energetically, thinking how much this policy would help other omegas and female colleagues.

Of course, it wasn’t something he would personally benefit from by becoming pregnant.

 

After the speeches by the executive director and board members, as well as the commendations and awards, Jiwoon’s tasks finally came to an end. Having handed out over a hundred flower bouquets, he was famished. It almost felt like his stomach lining was staging a protest.

“Ugh… I’m starving.”

With such a large number of attendees, the meal preparations took quite a while. Finally, Sehwa Dazed Hotel’s pride—the Italian-style buffet prepared by the banquet team—opened.

Jiwoon had to fight the urge to bolt ahead and be the first to load up his plate, joining the long line instead.

Wow. This is totally my vibe. I loved Korean food this morning, but right now, pasta and tiramisu are my soulmates.

After heaping his plate with delicious-looking canapés and pasta, Jiwoon moved to the live barbecue corner. It was a popular station where chefs grilled steak on the spot and served individual pieces.

Oh, look at that juice. This is no joke.

As Jiwoon waited his turn, grinning in satisfaction, he overheard the conversation of the people standing right behind him.

“Is it true, though? The rumor about the Executive Director?”

“It’s true. I heard it straight from someone in my cohort.”

What about the Executive Director?

Jiwoon perked up his ears and focused all his attention on their conversation. From the unfamiliar voices, it didn’t seem like they worked in the same building.

“So, apparently, Executive Director Seo Taecheon asked for a full list of available dates at the wedding hall. And not through official channels—he asked the banquet team leader privately. Very discreetly.”

“Really?”

What are they even talking about? Why would the Executive Director be asking about wedding halls?

Jiwoon was baffled. The voices continued behind him.

“My guess is—it’s for his own wedding. He’s planning it in secret.”

“No way. If that were true, rumors would be flying already. There haven’t even been any dating scandals.”

“We’re just regular staff. What do we know? Just wait and see. I bet I’m right.”

It felt like an invisible hand had smacked Jiwoon across the head. What did I just hear? He’s secretly looking into wedding venues? Seo Taecheon… is getting married?

Plop. Roll.

A cherry tomato fell from Jiwoon’s plate and rolled across the floor.