Chapter 69: Ambitions and Alarms

At lunch, Ah Young elbowed Kwak Sun Woo in the ribs. He yelped dramatically, “Ouch!” then turned to me.

“Anyway, since we’re close, heads-up: the HR team leader might pull something dumb.”

“What kind of dumb?”

“No clue. But he’ll probably be a pain. After his bad eval last time, he’ll cling to you hard.”

Coming from the guy currently annoying me, it was almost funny. I half-listened, brushing it off.

But he was right. A few days later, the HR team leader called me to his office.

“You wanted to see me, sir?”

“Oh, come on, no need for formalities between us. Speak casually. Coffee or tea?”

“I’m… fine.”

His sudden deference threw me off. Did he eat something weird? As I sat on the plush sofa, he clasped his hands and started.

“I’ll be honest—when I first saw you, Seung Hyun-nim, your sharpness, demeanor, and eyes told me you’d be someone big. Not to take credit, but I pushed hard for you during your interview.”

“…Please, speak casually.”

“You too! No need for stiffness between us.”

What are we, exactly? This is uncomfortable…

“Anyway, you stood out among the candidates back then. I still remember how impressed I was. You’re the hope and future of our company, aren’t you?”

“…Thank you.”

“So, about next month’s open recruitment.”

“Yes?”

“I was thinking, what if you joined as an interviewer? I wanted your insight, so I arranged this meeting. I’d have done it over dinner, but with others watching, I didn’t want you to feel pressured…”

“What?”

My jaw dropped. Is he serious?

Despite the company’s streamlined ranks, I’m roughly a deputy manager. Why would I sit in on executive interviews? That’s for VP-level people like Seung Hee, at least.

“With your keen eye, picking future colleagues yourself would be great, no?”

I frowned slightly. He’s playing the loyal aide to a future leader, thinking he’s Zhuge Liang. Too bad I’m not Liu Bei.

“That’s too much for me. I’m not an executive. Thanks, but I’ll pass.”

As I stood, he scrambled up.

“Wait, wait! You’ll lead the company someday—wouldn’t it be good to get involved now?”

His tone turned… servile. I tsked inwardly. Clinging to me won’t get you anywhere. This was another downside of my identity being exposed. Smiling politely but firmly, I said.

“HR will pick great talent. It’s not my place, and I don’t want to be accused of meddling. I’ve kept things quiet so far, and I don’t want my intentions twisted.”

I bowed and turned. He stood, mouth agape, gesturing at the air. I had a feeling more of this was coming, and I was already tired.

I called Grandfather again, stressing that no info about me should leak. Thanks to that, the HR team leader didn’t bother me again.

Surprisingly, his suggestion resurfaced a month later through someone else—my department’s team leader, Kim Ju Hyun, a 17-year veteran I respected. She suggested I join the first-round interviews.

“Me?”

“You’re senior-level now, Seung Hyun. Discussion interviews involve practitioners picking future teammates. It’s good experience. It’d be one HR person, me, and you. What do you think? It’ll take time, but it’s valuable.”

“Hmm…”

It wasn’t a bad idea. Her reasoning held—other teams also had practitioners in first rounds, so it wouldn’t cause gossip. Still, I worried the HR team leader had said something weird.

Sensing my thoughts, she spoke first.

“You asked to be treated the same, so I am. Everyone in our team knows how hard you work.”

“…Thank you.”

“But life’s unfair. Good-looking, capable, and rich? How are the rest of us supposed to live?”

“Come on…”

Embarrassed, I squirmed. She laughed, and I agreed to be an interviewer.

The interview waiting room buzzed with tension and resolve. Watching applicants, I felt a pang. Five years ago, I was them—nervously reviewing notes, earbuds in, or muttering memorized lines. Some, oddly, wore serene smiles, as if enlightened. Why so calm before it starts?

Setting a tray of snacks and drinks on the table, I smiled and said loudly.

“Don’t be too nervous. Just say what you want, as you normally would.”

Awkward faces stiffened, responding with faint “Yes…” Even in business casual, pre-interview jitters were unavoidable.

I glanced around, pretending to prep. They looked fresh, full of potential. Those who passed would work with me, even briefly.

Turning left, I noticed a woman in the corner, hair neatly tied, wearing a leaf-colored brown jacket, light jeans, and a white blouse. Her side profile—large eyes lowered, pale skin, dark brown hair—vaguely reminded me of Do Yoon. I thought absently.

Pretty.

She looked young, barely out of college, if that. Her refined, elegant aura drew attention.

She could be an actress.

Realizing I was staring, I turned away. No need to make her uncomfortable.

The interviews began—first rounds for those who passed the resume and aptitude tests. Six applicants discussed a given topic, reached a conclusion, and presented it. Three interviewers, including me, observed.

Those who passed would do a four-week internship, then face an executive interview for final selection. When I joined, internships were two weeks; now they’re four.

The applicants varied. Some were overly eager, angrily dismissing others’ opinions. Some, when countered, blushed and stammered. Others stayed silent to avoid trouble, but that left nothing to evaluate. Though I had the advantage as an interviewer, their attitudes, eyes, and tones exhausted me more than them. As time dragged, my focus waned. Interviewing was as tough as being interviewed.

After one group left, we had a two-minute break before the next. Six new applicants sat three per side at a table.

As the youngest interviewer, I recited the script mechanically.

“In front of you is a jar with three topics. Discuss and pick one within 30 seconds, then debate it, reach a conclusion, and report to us.”

I spoke gently. Someone loudly replied, “Yes!” Startled, I looked—it was the leaf-jacket woman from the waiting room.

Spirited.

Most just nodded awkwardly, but her energy stood out.

Smiling warmly at her, my eyes drifted to her name tag.

I froze, doubting my eyes.

[Haewon E&M Marketing Division]

[Bae Ji An].