Crazy Match, Crazy Guy - CHAPTER 4 - Part 3

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As always, interviews are always nerve-wracking.

No matter how experienced you are, the tension was the same. The white wallpaper, light gray marble floor, the dark gray desk, and the black titanium-rimmed glasses of the interviewer sitting in front of her – it all came together to create a tense atmosphere.

Handing over her portfolio, the interviewer, a woman in her early 40s, took off her glasses. She had a short cropped haircut, and her glasses suited her face well.

Does she dislike them?

As she looked at the expressionless face of the interviewer, Wooyoung narrowed her eyes. After scrutinizing Wooyoung’s designs for a while, the interviewer finally looked up.

“I’ve looked at them carefully. Your designs are simple and minimalist.”

“Thank you.”

“But, they are quite distant from the design style we pursue at Shihong.”

“If you can point out the shortcomings, I can work on improving them.”

“And most importantly, our company cannot tolerate extreme behavior.”

“Excuse me?”

“This field is quite narrow.”

Seeing Wooyoung’s puzzled expression, the interviewer continued.

“Vasell’s team leader, Yeom Sang-hoon, and I were classmates when we were studying abroad.”

Vasell’s Yeom Sang-Hoon, that jerk?

The moment the name Yeom Sang-hoon came out of the interviewer’s mouth, Wooyoung’s hand clenched involuntarily.

“I can’t tolerate a design thief. I don’t know what audacity made you apply to Shihong, but…”

Thud. Wooyoung hit the table with her fist as she stood up.

“Team Leader Yeom, or rather, that son of a bitch, is accusing me of stealing designs? No, it’s the opposite. That bastard stole my designs first! Do you even know the whole story? Don’t just listen to one side and jump to conclusions.”

The interviewer’s eyes widened at Wooyoung’s tone.

“Wh-what kind of disrespectful behavior is this?”

“Would you remain composed if your own designs were stolen?”

She left her previous company because of that. She didn’t want anything to do with Sang-hoon ever again. But now, she found out that the Shihong interviewer had a connection to him. At this rate, even if Shihong offered her a position, she wouldn’t want it.

“Please sit down.”

She lost her cool for a moment, but she doesn’t regret it. Even if Shihong doesn’t hire her, she didn’t want to grovel and work there.

Seeing Wooyoung slinging her bag over her shoulder, the interviewer exclaimed.

“The interview isn’t over yet.”

“You’re not going to hire me anyway.”

“…….”

“If I knew you had a connection with Team Leader Yeom, I would have never applied here in the first place.”

Wooyoung took her portfolio from the interviewer and stepped back.

“Even if I didn’t know the whole truth, that doesn’t justify your behavior.”

“I apologize for my actions. However, it was your assumption that pushed me into a corner.”

“This industry is narrow. You have already been branded as a design thief. Even if you apply elsewhere, your resume won’t be of any use.”

This is all because of that bastard Yeom Sang-hoon. Afraid his own wrongdoing would be exposed, he set her up by stealing her designs and accused her of plagiarizing his designs that he’s made her look like the bad guy.

“Thank you for the advice.”

After leaving that place, Wooyoung went down to the 1st floor to find a restroom.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she sat on the toilet seat with the lid down.

“Dammit.”

The world seems to never be generous to those who endure.

The result of avoiding dirtiness ultimately turned her into a sinner.

Wiping the tears off her cheeks with the back of her hand, Wooyoung clenched her teeth.

“I won’t let that bastard Yeom Sang-hoon get away with this!”

Taking out cosmetics from her handbag, Wooyoung wiped away any traces of tears and left the restroom. She headed to the parking lot where she had parked her car. She headed to Vasell, the place she had recently quit. Thankfully, the security guard at the entrance recognized her, allowing her to enter the building without any trouble.

After parking her car, Wooyoung went up to the 5th floor where she used to work to find Yeom Sang-hoon.

Perhaps due to the lunchtime, there were no people in the office.

With no other choice, Wooyoung went back down to the 1st floor and waited for Yeom Sang-hoon.

After waiting in the lobby for about 30 minutes, Wooyoung spotted Yeom and his team entering. When he saw Wooyoung, he seemed startled for a moment before quickly putting on a brazen expression and approaching her.

“Who is this? Isn’t this Song Wooyoung who quit for plagiarizing designs?”

Yeom Sang-hoon purposely raised his voice as if he wanted everyone around him to hear.

Not to be outdone, Wooyoung also raised her voice.

“You were the one who plagiarized my design.”

“What? Are you using informal language with me now?”

“You’re not my team leader anymore.”

Seeing her former colleagues looking at her with concern, Wooyoung lifted her head resolutely to face Sang-hoon.

“I came to receive an apology.”

“Apology? What are you talking about?”

“For stealing my design without my knowledge.”

“You’re being ridiculous. You stole the design, not me. Where are you trying to defame me?”

As expected, Yeom Sang-hoon’s reaction was just as she had anticipated. She had hoped he might show even a hint of remorse, something that might make her relent a little, but with his attitude, it was hard to bear.

“I’ll see if you can still say that in the conference room.”

“What?”

“If you’re so sure of yourself, let’s clarify the truth in a formal setting.”

“Hey!”

“Hey, did you say ‘hey’? Keep your composure.”

“So, now that you want to see how it plays out, I’m supposed to feel intimidated?”

Seeing Yeom Sang-hoon react so agitatedly to the mention of a formal setting, she felt that coming here had been a good idea.

She had grown tired of this dirty fight, and even though she had resigned and walked away from it, her experience during the interview today had made her realize that she had been too naive. On this playing field, the only way she could stand up for herself in this field was to remove the label of a plagiarist. She couldn’t afford to back down.

“It’s not that easy to just reveal the truth. But wouldn’t it be unfair if I was the only one who suffers?”

“What did I do wro—”

“That’s enough!”

A sudden unfamiliar voice intervened.

Wooyoung and Sang-hoon’s heads moved to where the voice came from. When Wooyoung turned, she saw the face of Jang Tae Jin standing behind the Vasell’s CEO. Wooyoung’s body jerked in surprise.

Why, why is that guy here?

As Vasell’s CEO approached them, Wooyoung was getting increasingly flustered. Before her resignation, the founder of Vasell, Han Cheol Joon, had stepped down and his son, Han Ji-wook, had taken over. The arrival of the young CEO had stirred up the company for a while.

Naturally, discussions about Han Ji-wook became the topic of interest among the employees. Various stories about him were constantly circulating on the company bulletin board, sparking heated debates.

“What’s going on?”

With a stern expression, Ji-wook asked the question, and Sang-hoon quickly intervened.

“It’s a trivial matter. It’s not something you need to be concerned about, CEO.”

A swift change of tone, quite sly.

Wooyoung lips trembled, and she spoke up.

“Yeom Sang-hoon stole my designs, but he made it look like I stole it. I want an investigation by the ethics committee.”

“Oh, no! There must have been a misunderstanding. Song Wooyoung, I just handled the matter so that you’d leave…”

“To have such an indecent event in my company is disappointing.”

Ji-wook gestured, and the secretary standing nearby quickly approached and stood by.

“Yes, CEO.”

“Call the head of the HR department.”

“Yes.”

Sang-hoon rolled his eyes in surprise at the strange turn of events.

“CEO, it’s nothing really significant for the HR department.”

Jang Tae Jin, who had been observing them from behind, chimed in.

“That’s something we’ll have to wait and see. I didn’t know Song Wooyoung was an employee here.”

She had heard that Song Wooyoung was a designer and currently unemployed, from her father Song Soohyuk, who was the chairman of the Sooseong Foundation. He didn’t bother to hire someone to look into her background because he would know about her naturally.

But he didn’t realize she was an employee under Han Ji Wook’s supervision.

The world was indeed vast yet small, and the current situation seemed to confirm that.

“Mr. Jang Tae Jin, what are you doing here…….”

“As you can see, I’m here for business.”

“I see.”

Ji-wook’s gaze shifted toward the two of them, engaging in conversation.

“You two know each other?”

“Actually,…”

The employees around them murmured, wondering what was going on.

Suddenly realizing that all eyes were on them, Wooyoung opened her mouth, thinking she needed to get out of there.

“I’ll leave you to judge and determine the truth. I’ll go.”

“Go up to the office first.”

“I…”

“I want to hear the full story of what happened. Come with me. President Jang.”

As Ji-wook was about to head off, Sang-hoon appeared in front of him.

“CEO, should I come along with you?”

“Team Leader Yeom, wait in the office. Stay focused on your current tasks until you’re called to the conference room.”

“CEO, I’m unjustly accused. I truly didn’t do anything, it was Song Wooyoung who did it.”

The sight of Sang-hoon desperately trying to put on an act in front of the president sent a shiver down her spine.

As Wooyoung’s pointed eyes turned to him, Jang Tae Jin passed in front of her and said in a small voice.

“Relax your eyes and let’s go upstairs.”

With the CEO of Vasell, Tae Jin, and Wooyoung, along with the secretary, walked away from the scene, a string of curses escaped Sang-hoon’s mouth.

“Damn it, are you trying to screw me over? You better be prepared to leave this place forever if you start talking shit about me in the conference room, do you hear me! And who the fuck is that tall guy? Damn it, he looks like a parasite’s illegitimate child with that appearance.”

Passing them, the head of HR Department spoke up.

“Mr. Yeom, you’re in trouble now.”

“What?”

“The man you mentioned, he’s the head of Geo Home Shopping. He’s also the sole successor to Chairman Oh of Geo Group.”

Sang-hoon and nearby employees were left speechless. Seeing their reactions, the head of human resources lips curled with a trace of satisfaction.

She had always had an unfavorable opinion of Sang-hoon, so this was a major blow to him.

“Well, what can we do? He’s not even our company’s CEO.”

“But there’s one thing you don’t know too, and that’s that Song Wooyoung isn’t an easy opponent to deal with.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Wooyoung asked me to keep it a secret, so I’m only telling you now, but Song Wooyoung’s father is none other than the chairman of Sooseong Foundation. In other words, she comes from a wealthy family.”

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“Because I think you were underestimating Song Wooyoung because you didn’t know much about her.”

Damn it, telling me this now is practically telling me to eat shit.

Sang-hoon’s mind spun rapidly. Should he apologize now? But the situation had spiraled out of control to a point where it was too big to handle, and he wasn’t sure what to do.

“Ah, damn it, this is messed up!”