1 month after Min hyun started applying strategy
The week began with a steady rhythm. Each morning, drivers arrived early, maps and route sheets in hand, and Min Hyun held a quick briefing in the office before vans rolled out.
"Check your maps, check your parcels, check your contact numbers," he reminded them. "Remember yesterday's adjustments. If anything seems off, call me immediately."
Driver Lee grinned. "We've got the hang of it now. Nothing can surprise us—right?"
Min Hyun smiled faintly. "You'd be surprised."
By mid-morning, the first hiccup arrived. Min-Soo radioed frantically: "Hyun! There's a broken traffic signal at Elm Street. All directions stopped!"
"Keep calm," Min Hyun instructed. "Turn left at the bakery alley, then take Oak Street. It'll add a few minutes, but we avoid the jam."
Min-Soo followed directions carefully, arriving at his stops with only minor delay.
Meanwhile, Lee found a delivery address that didn't match the one on his map. He called Min Hyun, who quickly checked his notes and confirmed the correct location. "Go to Pine Avenue, number 14," Min Hyun said. "Leave the package at the back entrance if they aren't in."
By the end of the day, all deliveries were completed successfully. Min Hyun gathered the drivers and reviewed the day.
"Small delays happen. What matters is how we respond," he said. "Today, you adapted quickly, followed instructions, and minimized problems. That's progress."
Over the next few days, the drivers became more confident. They started noting recurring issues—blocked alleys, difficult gates, or tricky customers—and reported them to Min Hyun, who adjusted future route sheets accordingly.
One afternoon, Lee laughed while unloading a parcel. "Hyun, remember when you first started telling us to check every tire and strap? Felt like overkill, but... it really does help."
Min Hyun nodded. "Attention to detail isn't overkill. It keeps us reliable. If a van breaks down or a package is damaged, it affects the whole operation—and our reputation."
By Friday, the café chain had already called to praise the punctual deliveries. The contract had run smoothly all week. Min Hyun compiled notes and prepared the plan for the following week: slightly longer routes, an extra van added, and a mini-training session on handling fragile items.
Jaeho leaned against the desk that evening. "I didn't think a small shareholder could actually change things this fast. The drivers are working with you, the clients are happy... maybe you're a bit of a miracle worker."
Min Hyun chuckled softly. "Not a miracle. Planning, observation, and making sure everyone understands why we do what we do. If we stay consistent, growth comes naturally."
As he reviewed the week's reports, Min Hyun allowed himself a rare smile. The company was no longer just a handful of vans and parcels—it was a living system improving day by day under careful guidance, and he could already see the next steps for expansion taking shape in his mind.
Three days later, the office air felt heavier than usual. The small fan on the counter hummed lazily as papers fluttered against the wooden desk. Jaeho was half-bent over a stack of invoices when Min Hyun walked in, a folder tucked neatly under his arm.
"Morning," he said, placing it down. "You free to talk about expansion?"
Jaeho glanced up. "Expansion? You mean... already?"
Min Hyun nodded. "The café chain's been steady for two weeks. It's time to look ahead. We can't stay comfortable this early."
Jaeho exhaled, leaning back in his chair. "You really don't rest, do you? All right, what's the plan this time?"
Min Hyun opened the folder and spread out three printed sheets—each bearing names of potential clients. "Local supermarkets, a stationery supplier, and a small bookshop network. All three handle regular deliveries in bulk."
Jaeho squinted at the list. "These are big names. You sure we're ready for that?"
"That's why we start small," Min Hyun replied. "We approach with trial contracts. Two weeks, limited routes. If we perform well, they'll extend. Simple math."
Jaeho chuckled. "You make it sound easy."
"It's not," Min Hyun said, voice even. "That's why I'm bringing it up now. We need to train the drivers properly before we take any of this on."
"Training?" Jaeho raised an eyebrow. "They already drive like they were born in those vans."
Min Hyun smirked faintly. "Driving isn't the problem. Efficiency is. They lose time between stops, they don't check parcels before loading, and some still rely on guessing directions instead of reading the maps properly."
Jaeho groaned, rubbing his face. "You're talking about Min-Soo again, aren't you?"
"I'm talking about all of them," Min Hyun said, crossing his arms. "If we want to look professional, we need consistency. That means route accuracy, parcel care, and discipline."
Jaeho sighed. "Fine. You handle the training. I'll start calls with the suppliers. But if they ask for guarantees, we can't overpromise."
"We won't," Min Hyun replied. "We'll promise exactly what we can deliver—and then deliver better."
The following morning, the drivers gathered in the depot yard. Min Hyun stood in front of a van with a whiteboard propped against it.
"All right," he began. "From now on, you check every parcel before loading. Match label numbers to your route sheet. No skipping steps."
Lee crossed his arms. "That'll slow us down, won't it?"
"Not when it becomes habit," Min Hyun said. "If a package goes missing, we lose trust. Clients don't care about excuses—they care about results."
Min-Soo raised a hand lazily. "What about lunch breaks?"
Min Hyun gave him a dry look. "You'll live without a detour to the snack shop."
Laughter rippled through the group. Even Min-Soo cracked a smile.
"Now," Min Hyun continued, "we're running a mock route today. No real parcels, just simulation. Accuracy over speed. Let's see how cleanly you move."
By late afternoon, they'd finished. Most did well, except one—Driver Han—who accidentally swapped two delivery slips.
Min Hyun didn't scold. Instead, he handed Han both sheets. "You see where the mix-up happened?"
Han frowned. "Here. I stacked them in reverse."
"Exactly. It's small, but it costs time later. Fix it now, and you'll never do it again."
Jaeho watched from the office doorway, arms crossed. "You're patient for someone who's trying to take over the world."
Min Hyun smiled faintly. "Not the world—just this street, then the next, and maybe the district after that."
Jaeho chuckled, shaking his head. "Ambition looks good on you. All right, I'll talk to the supermarket manager tomorrow. You better be ready to charm them."
"I don't do charm," Min Hyun said, gathering his notes. "I do structure."
"Then structure us into a bigger contract," Jaeho replied, grinning.
But two days later, their first trial deal went wrong.
The supermarket called at noon—half their stock hadn't arrived on time.
Jaeho slammed the phone down. "They said one of our vans never showed up! What happened?"
Min Hyun was already flipping through the delivery logs. "Route three... Min-Soo's shift. He left on schedule."
"Then where is he?"
"On his way here," Min Hyun muttered.
Minutes later, the van pulled in. Min-Soo jumped out, sweating. "I swear, I followed the map! But there was a blockade near the factory, and I had to reroute. Got lost near the bridge—no signs, nothing!"
"Why didn't you call?" Min Hyun asked sharply.
"My radio wasn't working!"
For a moment, silence hung heavy. Then Min Hyun exhaled slowly. "All right. We'll fix it. Lee, help unload the remaining stock and prepare for redelivery."
"But the client—" Jaeho began.
"I'll handle the client," Min Hyun cut in. "You handle the schedule."
He grabbed his coat and left for the supermarket personally, briefcase in hand. When he returned an hour later, his expression was calm.
"Well?" Jaeho asked.
"They weren't happy," Min Hyun admitted. "But I offered to deliver tomorrow's batch early, with a discount for the delay. They agreed to keep the trial contract."
Jaeho stared. "You talked them into that?"
"Not talked," Min Hyun said simply. "I showed them the plan for improvement. People trust structure."
He set his clipboard down, eyes sharp. "Next time, no broken radios. And no guessing roads."
That evening, as the drivers packed up, Jaeho nudged him lightly. "You really don't let anything slip, do you?"
"Slip once," Min Hyun said, staring at the van yard, "and you spend weeks earning back what you lost. I've learned that the hard way."
The fan hummed softly as papers rustled again. Outside, the sky turned violet over the depot roofs, and for the first time that day, Min Hyun allowed himself to lean back, tired—but knowing the business had taken another steady step forward.
Two weeks later, the office didn't look the same anymore. The wooden counter was cluttered with delivery receipts, new client contracts, and half-drunk mugs of coffee. The air smelled of ink, dust, and the faint sweetness of printed paper.
Jaeho leaned against the window, flipping through a local newspaper. "Well, look at this," he said, grinning. "Page six — 'Local Delivery Firm Expands Rapidly with Reliable Service.' That's us."
Min Hyun didn't look up from the ledger he was balancing. "They spelled the company name wrong, didn't they?"
"Yeah," Jaeho laughed. "Dohyun spelled as 'Dohyon.' But still — free publicity!"
Min Hyun sighed softly, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Publicity's only useful if we can keep up with it. We've already taken on two new contracts this week. I don't want us to stretch too thin."
"You worry too much," Jaeho said, tossing the paper onto the desk. "You know, people used to say this company wouldn't last another year. Now look at us. You've basically turned it around."
"Not me," Min Hyun corrected. "All of us. Drivers included."
Jaeho snorted. "Don't act modest. You're the brain of this whole thing. Even the drivers call you 'Boss Hyun' now."
"Let's hope they mean it respectfully," Min Hyun muttered, scribbling notes.
That night, they stayed late — the depot dim except for the yellow lamp above the desk. Paper maps were spread across the table, each marked with ink routes and small sticky notes.
Jaeho rubbed his neck. "I don't get you sometimes. You could've gone to one of those big trading companies. Made more money, less stress. Why build something from scratch with me?"
Min Hyun paused, pen hovering over a page. "Because this feels real. Tangible. I like knowing what I build, where it goes, who it helps."
"That's... almost poetic," Jaeho teased. "Didn't know you had that side."
"I don't," Min Hyun said dryly. "Don't quote me on it."
They shared a brief laugh, the kind that only comes when exhaustion meets companionship.
But when the laughter faded, Min Hyun's gaze drifted to the corner of the desk — to a small folded note tucked beneath his clipboard. It was old, creased from being carried around too often. Jihoon's handwriting still faintly visible on the edge.
He hadn't seen Jihoon in weeks. Every time he meant to visit, something came up — another delivery issue, another meeting, another night that ended too late.
"Hey," Jaeho said, noticing his silence. "You okay?"
Min Hyun folded the note again, sliding it back under the clipboard. "Yeah. Just... tired."
"Tired?" Jaeho leaned back. "You're the one who pushes me to stay till midnight."
"Guess even I have limits," Min Hyun murmured.
The following morning, the company received a call from a larger merchant group interested in their service. It was the kind of opportunity they'd been working toward — a district-wide delivery network.
Jaeho's eyes widened as he hung up. "Did you hear that? If we land this, we'll have to hire at least four more drivers. That's real growth, Hyun."
Min Hyun nodded, already sketching out potential routes. "We'll need to revise scheduling, expand storage, maybe rent another depot. But we'll manage."
"You sound calm for someone about to triple the workload."
"Calm helps," Min Hyun said. "Panic doesn't."
Jaeho laughed, shaking his head. "You and your rules. Sometimes I wonder what it'd take to actually make you lose composure."
Min Hyun smiled faintly. "A delayed truck. A misplaced parcel. Or Jihoon calling me right now."
Jaeho blinked. "Jihoon? You haven't mentioned him in a while."
"Yeah," Min Hyun said softly. "I know."
For a moment, the noise of the depot faded — replaced by the memory of laughter in a small apartment, Jihoon teasing him about his overorganized desk, the late-night coffee runs, the quiet warmth of shared silence.
It felt distant now, almost unreal — a part of life he'd tucked away beneath schedules and duty.
"Think he'd be proud?" Jaeho asked quietly.
Min Hyun looked at the rows of neatly stacked parcels waiting for pickup. "Maybe. But I think he'd also tell me to slow down."
Jaeho grinned. "Then he knows you better than I do."
"Maybe," Min Hyun said, smiling faintly. "But I'm still learning how to listen."
Outside, another van engine started, the sound steady and sure — much like the direction his life was moving. Yet, deep down, a part of him still ached for the days when things were simpler... when Jihoon was around, and work wasn't everything.
Success came right on time — but what if the heart he left behind refuses to wait any longer?