Our Glamorous Time( A Vsoo adaptation novel by Ding Mo)

Chapter 12(Standing Firm)

Taehyung remained silent.

Although Jisoo was present at the meeting as an observer and minute taker, she still felt great pressure hearing Mr Gong Yoo’s words. It was true that she had been too optimistic about the project, only considering the benefits that the project could bring and its ability to save Layover. The realistic difficulties brought up by Mr Gong Yoo, to which she hadn’t given any serious consideration, were actually vulnerable points in marketing: a late start, no network, and no money. On what grounds could Layover compete against the others?

At that moment, the vice CEO in charge of production and technology, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke up.

His name was Liu Tong. About 50 years old, he was a long-term employee and had been the number one aid to Layover’s Chairman Lee Hyukjun in the inception of Layover. Sitting in front of Kim Taehyung, he didn’t appear cautious or tentative like the others. Instead, he looked open, candid, and even a little paternalistic.

“Mr Kim,” he said, “I don’t agree with getting involved in the Ming Sheng project and opening a new market. Was Layover not ruined by this type of idea? Are we going to repeat the same mistake? As a company dealing in luggage and bags, our biggest market should be with millions of domestic end-users. Since the market has been taken by others, we need to get it back. The government or enterprise procurement is utterly inadequate to solve our problem, as it usually requires high standards and low prices in their orders. I don’t agree with accepting that kind of order. I side with Gong yoo. We should make a solid effort to re-establish the end-user market!”

A straightforward man, he spoke with dignity and determination. Most people nodded as his words resonated with them.

But Jisoo frowned.

And Taehyung still remained silent even though it was obvious that he had been targeted by Liu Tong. He had a strong, authoritative presence even when he was quiet, and no one knew what he was thinking. The meeting seemed to be in deadlock.

Jimin looked around and exchanged a glance with the vice CEO in charge of the functional divisions. The latter then broke the silence, trying to smooth things over. “Well, I think Mr. Kim has heard our opinions. Maybe we should allow some time for Mr.Kim to think them over, and we can discuss our priorities and future development next time?”

Others nodded. Jisoo thought, That might be the best way.

Everyone looked at Taehyung again. Trying to make it clear that it was nothing personal, Liu Tong added, “Mr Kim, I’m straightforward. I hope you don’t mind it and take my words into consideration.”

Unexpectedly, Taehyung nodded at Liu Tong; he looked around and said in his low, calm voice, “I don’t need any time for further consideration.”

Everyone, including Jisoo, was surprised.

He continued to say, “I made my decision at noon: Get the Ming Sheng project at all costs.”

...

Later that afternoon, Jisoo sat in her cubicle, sorting through the minutes of the meeting that had just ended, feeling a bit unsettled.

That was probably because of what Mr Kim had said: “I made my decision at noon.”

For Jisoo, the key phrase was “at noon.” At that time, they had been eating a hot-pot when she had suggested he get the Ming Sheng project.

Does it mean that my words had a great influence on him?

Excited as she was, Jisoo was under unprecedented pressure.

He had spoken so firmly in the meeting that the atmosphere in the room had become awkward. Liu Tong’s gaze had changed instantly; Mr Gong Yoo had remained silent; the administration vice CEO had looked surprised. But before anyone could speak up, he had added, “Our company is in turmoil and we must work together. As the representative of the absolute shareholder, I have veto power. So, from now on, there may be numerous voices before I make a decision, but there can be only one after I make a decision. The meeting is over.”

At this moment, his office door was closed. Mr Park and Liu Tong were inside with him. Jisoo had no idea what the three bosses were talking about. At first she could hear Liu Tong speaking fiercely, but then nothing could be heard at all.

After a while, the door finally opened. Jisoo stood up at once and saw Liu Tong walking out with a sullen look, followed by Mr Park, who looked calm. It was hard for Jisoo to tell how they felt. They didn’t pay attention to her but went directly back to their own offices.

Jisoo waited for a while before entering Mr Kim’s office to show him the minutes of the meeting she had just sorted out.

She thought, There is no doubt that his behavior at the meeting today will cause quite a stir in the company. What will the managers and employees think of him? Authoritarian, paternalistic, and impersonal? Or will they think of him as determined, independent, and confident?

For Jisoo, she hadn’t quite expected that he, who usually appeared cool and quiet, could be so assertive and decisive.

When she entered the office, the sun was setting, giving a touch of gold to the room.

Taehyung was sitting on the sofa in the middle of the room. A little different from his cool, upright posture as usual, he rested his hands on his lap and seemed to be lost in thought. On the coffee table in front of him were two steaming-hot teacups that had been left by Liu Tong and Mr Park.

She walked briskly towards him and said, “Boss, these are the minutes of the meeting.”

He looked up at her, his gaze calm and steady, took the minutes, and started reading.

It was quiet in the room. Only the sound of his page-turning and the gurgling of the water in the goldfish tank could be heard. Unsettled as she was, Jisoo spoke up.

“I think the opinions of Mr. Gong Yoo and Mr. Liu today were profound and well-grounded.”

Taehyung looked up at her again. He was so close to her that she could see his sharp facial features more clearly. He said with a cool look in his eyes, “Are you wavering?”

Jisoo realized that while the boss talked to people in a succinct and concise way, he always directly got to the point—so directly that you had to wait a moment before you could react.

She had wanted to speak tactfully, but now that he had asked so, she shook her head. “No,” she answered, “I’m not wavering. What I meant to say is that their analyses are complete and well-grounded, but they focus too much on the inside, such as how to solve our inner problems and how to improve ourselves. Nowadays, the outside competitions are so severe that unlike years ago, we might not win the market even if our products and staff members are high-quality. That’s because the competitors can do just as well as we can.

“I have been insisting on the Ming Sheng project not because I believe we can definitely succeed in the project, but rather because I don’t think the traditional way can work any longer. I’ll make an analogy, which might not be appropriate: If New Bori and SMQ are like elephants, Layover is like a lamb. Can a lamb defeat an elephant by improving itself? I don’t think so. The only chance for it to win is to carry out a surprise attack.”

She spoke freely and openly. When finishing, she looked up at Mr Kim. His eyes were bright and fixed on her, but he still looked calm and cool.

Then he replied to her long speech with only three words: “I trust you.”