Seungho ran his palm lightly over the long conference table before him.
The rich wood surface felt luxuriously smooth under his hand.
The formal atmosphere of the large conference room was exactly as he’d seen in TV dramas.
At the front of the open, elongated space was a large LED screen, and a U-shaped table stretched down the middle.
Because of the room’s size, each seat was equipped with its own microphone.
On the walls adorned with oversized paintings, rows of high-back chairs were neatly arranged.
Choosing one of the elegant leather chairs that seemed like it was meant for executives discussing serious company matters, Seungho sat down, glancing around the room with wide eyes.
“They didn’t forget about us being here, did they?” asked Kim Jiyeong, one of his fellow new hires, sitting at the end of the table.
“I hope not,” Seungho replied with a small laugh.
After getting off the shuttle and passing through security at the main entrance, he had been met by an employee who escorted him into the building.
They had walked through a maze of hallways before arriving at this conference room.
Inside, two of his fellow new hires were already waiting.
The staff member had asked them to wait before leaving and closing the door behind them.
It had been 30 minutes since then, and no one else had arrived.
Even in the company of peers in the same situation, Seungho couldn’t shake his nervousness.
He wiped his slightly clammy palms on his thighs, feeling the soft fabric of the new suit his mother had bought for him to celebrate his employment.
“Why is this so nerve-wracking?”
“I feel the same way.”
Fiddling with the ID card hanging around his neck, Seungho noted the word “Visitor” prominently printed in the center.
Soon, he would receive his official employee badge—one that read “Seo Seungho, SY Electronics.”
Just imagining it made his heart race.
The open recruitment for new hires at SY Electronics was a massive event for job seekers.
Knowing the fierce competition, Seungho hadn’t dared to expect much when he applied.
When he got the call informing him of his acceptance after the final interview, he had pinched his cheek to make sure it wasn’t a dream.
Even during the two-month wait for his placement after the orientation, he had been plagued with anxiety that the offer might be rescinded.
When the official notification to report to work arrived, his mother expressed disappointment that he was assigned to a factory in Gyeonggi Province rather than the headquarters.
But Seungho felt nothing but relief and gratitude.
The company-provided dormitory meant he didn’t have to find housing, and commuting would be a breeze.
“I wonder which departments we’ll be assigned to. It’d be nice if we’re placed near each other.”
“Yeah, this complex is huge. If we’re too far apart, we might never run into each other.”
If his mother could see the scale of the business complex in person, she wouldn’t have been so dismissive about it being outside Seoul.
The vast site, with its neatly paved roads and towering buildings evenly spaced, felt more like a city center than an industrial area.
It was big enough that wandering around aimlessly could easily get someone lost.
In this unfamiliar and intimidating company, having a fellow new hire working nearby would be a great comfort.
“Where did you come from this morning, Seungho?”
“Oh, I stayed at the dormitory last ni—”
Before Seungho could finish, a soft knock interrupted him.
The conference room door opened slightly, and a person exchanged a few words with someone outside before stepping in and closing the door.
The man, who had his back to them as he shut the door, turned around.
Seungho instinctively straightened his posture, clenched his teeth, and lowered his gaze slightly, trying to maintain a composed demeanor.
Beneath the table, his hands clasped tightly together as he stole a glance at the man’s face.
The tall man, dressed in a sharp charcoal-gray suit that accentuated his strong build, glanced at the wall switches and brightened the room’s lights.
Holding several document envelopes, he approached the group of seated new hires.
His measured footsteps echoed in the quiet room.
The man’s employee badge hung from a blue lanyard around his neck—the kind coveted by every job seeker.
As Seungho’s eyes traced the lanyard upward to the man’s face, his eyes widened in disbelief.
He followed the man’s movements with an astonished gaze as he stopped in front of the table.
“Welcome. I’m Moon Chaehyuk from the HR team,” the man said in a low, steady voice, making brief eye contact with each new hire.
When their eyes finally met, Seungho’s lips parted slightly, almost involuntarily.
It was him.
The man from this morning—the one who had sat next to him on the shuttle bus and had been subjected to an unfortunate mishap.
“Good morning,” Seungho stammered awkwardly, forcing a polite smile.
Chaehyuk returned a faint smile, his gaze lingering knowingly. It was clear he remembered.
If only Seungho hadn’t messed up earlier that morning, their reunion might have been less mortifying.
Perhaps they could have exchanged pleasantries instead of this awkward tension.
“For now, I’ll go over some key information and guidelines you’ll need to remember before heading to your assigned departments. It might be a bit formal, but please pay close attention.”
The new hires seated in front of Moon Chaehyuk nodded in unison, answering “Yes” like obedient kindergarteners.
Seungho, however, only gave a half-hearted nod, lowering his gaze slightly.
He had heard that the office complex housed thousands of people, with an HR department consisting of more than a few staff members to manage them all.
Yet, of all people, why did he have to show up here?
The unfairness of the universe hit him hard.
His faint hope that the man wouldn’t remember him was shattered almost instantly.
He clearly remembered.
“During arrivals and departures, you must pass through the main gate security checkpoint. Bags and personal belongings will be subjected to X-ray screening, and all results will be logged. Therefore, I recommend avoiding carrying anything that could cause issues in advance. Occasionally, some people show their passion for work by taking company documents home, but no work-related materials may leave the premises. What about personal storage devices?”
“Uh… I don’t think that’s allowed.”
“Correct. But, if you’re eager to have a friendly one-on-one chat with our security team, feel free to try. For exceptions like business travel, you must obtain prior approval.”
The one relief was that, after their initial interaction, Moon Chaehyuk didn’t seem particularly interested in Seungho.
With a blend of seriousness and humor, he continued his explanation and picked up a document envelope from the table.
“Everything I’ve explained so far is detailed in the guidebook inside this envelope. Please review it thoroughly when you have time. Now, shall we wrap up the briefing? It’s hard to ignore those curious eyes wondering where you’ll be assigned.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve already checked. All three of you will work in this building, so you’ll see each other often. The envelope contains your assignment letters. Go ahead and check the contents.”
With slightly trembling hands, Seungho accepted the envelope.
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