Lee Hyuk's expression hardened as he swept his gaze over the three of them with clear displeasure.
"It seems having the three of you work together is causing confusion."
He folded his arms, eyes sharp.
"From now on, Yoon Dong-ha and Han Yoojin will handle tasks individually. If either of you has questions, ask Senior Yoon Sun-young."
The expressions of all three twisted subtly.
Splitting the interns meant the onboarding program's structure was effectively broken. For Sun-young, it meant her workload as a mentor practically doubled.
Seeing their unsettled faces, Lee Hyuk's mood loosened a little.
He called over the partition.
"Manager Koo Ji-hoon!"
Still suffering from a brutal hangover, Manager Koo rushed over immediately.
"Please review the container list that Senior Sun-young emailed yesterday, check which orders have production-line issues, and inform the factories and sales."
"Yes, understood."
Though he held the same rank as Lee Hyuk, Koo obeyed without protest—Lee Hyuk was the team lead.
Yoojin couldn't hide her surprise.
The instruction Lee Hyuk just gave Manager Koo was identical to what Sun-young had explained yesterday.
How can a 2-year staff member's process be exactly the same as a department lead's?
Her curiosity grew even deeper.
"Dong-ha, Yoojin—let's go make the rounds."
Lee Hyuk rose from his seat. Sun-young and Manager Koo returned to their desks, and the two interns followed Lee Hyuk down to the 4th floor.
4F — The Sales Department
The floor was split down the center: domestic sales on one side, overseas sales on the other.
Domestic handled the companies' SPA brands like SPO, Cadil, and Ion.
Overseas Sales was divided into Teams 1, 2, and 3—U.S., Europe, and Japan respectively. Naturally, Team 1, which handled the company's largest clients, had the most employees.
As soon as they stepped onto the floor, yelling erupted from Overseas Sales Team 1.
"So are you saying you missed the order? Explain properly, Assistant Manager Oh!"
"No, I gave the purchase order to the buying team. They didn't place it!"
Assistant Manager Oh Myung-joo was adamant, insisting he had done nothing wrong as he spoke to Team Leader Yeo Jin-cheol.
In front of them stood the pregnant Team Manager Kim Se-hee and Buyer Kim Jang-woo, whose face twisted in frustration.
Unable to hold back anymore, Jang-woo snapped.
"When did you give it to me? I was organizing samples today and found a piece of paper shoved behind my desk. Turned out to be the additional PO from your team! How am I supposed to process an order you don't even hand over properly?"
His face burned red with anger.
Lee Hyuk's eyes glimmered—he smelled entertainment. He tugged the two interns forward.
The sales staff quickly glanced up at the glowing halo rumored to surround the interns—and the predatory aura radiating from Lee Hyuk.
Everyone's eyes silently said the same thing:This is not going to end well.
They hurriedly turned back to their monitors.
"What's going on here?"
Jang-woo flinched when he saw Lee Hyuk. Sure, today he'd get away with it—but once this was over, Lee Hyuk's disdain would follow him.
"Assistant Manager Oh, speak."
"The buying team missed the order."
Oh Myung-joo avoided eye contact.
At the mention of his name, Yoojin remembered Sun-young's blacklist.
Oh Myung-joo — the one who always blames others.
"It wasn't a missed order," Jang-woo countered angrily.
"The issue is that the PO wasn't delivered properly!"
"Then what was that PO on your desk?" Oh shot back.
That was the breaking point.
"How do you expect me to process a PO you just toss near my desk like trash?"
Jang-woo exhaled sharply, face suddenly calm—like someone who had finally given up.
"I'm done. Three years in Overseas Buying, and every season it's the same mess. I'm sick of it."
He spun around and strode out of the office.
Team Manager Kim Se-hee instinctively reached out but froze when she caught Lee Hyuk's icy glare. This was her mess to fix.
She turned to Assistant Manager Oh.
"How many unplaced orders are there?"
"Eight? No—nine. I should check again."
At that, Yoojin couldn't stop the incredulous sound that burst from her lips.
"Hah."
All eyes snapped to her.
Her face flushed, and she bit her lower lip.
Lee Hyuk's jaw jutted sharply.
"What was that sound?"
Yoojin frowned slightly, then answered bluntly before she could stop herself.
"He keeps insisting there were unplaced orders, yet he doesn't even know how many. It struck me as strange, so the sound just came out."
Oh Myung-joo's face darkened—red, then nearly black with humiliation.
Lee Hyuk slid his tongue along his lower lip, then addressed Team Leader Yeo and Assistant Manager Oh.
"Let's overlook the comment. She's only been here two days. She doesn't know any better."
At that, heat flared across Yoojin's cheeks.
Doesn't know any better? A mistake?
"Anyway, the issue exists. Assistant Manager Oh, confirm every unplaced order and re-deliver the POs."
Oh stiffened but didn't argue. To insist otherwise would only embarrass him further.
Team Leader Yeo's expression turned glacial.
"Handle it today. I'll report to Division Head Hwang Ji-yeon afterward."
At the mention of Hwang Ji-yeon—the hawk-eyed head of Sales, currently in Europe overseeing major deals—the entire floor tensed.
"I'll handle the report," Yeo snapped, locking eyes with Lee Hyuk.
He was right—sales should report to their own chief. Lee Hyuk let out a faint mocking laugh.
"Sure."
He turned and walked out. The interns and Manager Kim followed.
After delegating tasks, Manager Kim went to look for Jang-woo.
Lee Hyuk led the two interns toward the stairs to the 3rd floor.
Before opening the door, he suddenly stopped.
He turned sharply toward Yoojin, voice low and hostile.
"Hey, Han Yoojin. What makes you think you're so special?"
"What…?"
Shock widened her eyes. Dong-ha's eyes flashed dangerously.
"No matter how wrong Sales is, who told you to call it out in front of everyone? You've been here two days. How dare you talk like that to another department?"
He ground his teeth.
Yoojin realized she must have hit a nerve—though she didn't know exactly what. Apologizing was the only option.
"I spoke without thinking, Sir. I apologize."
Her bowed head only made Dong-ha's expression darker. His fist clenched, muscles swelling threateningly.
"You think being from a top university and coming in through the group's official recruitment makes everyone beneath you?"
"No, Sir. I'm sorry."
As she bowed again, Dong-ha stepped between them.
"And what are you supposed to be?" Lee Hyuk snapped.
Dong-ha kept his voice controlled—but his tense frame radiated threat.
"Sir, I also thought it was strange that the sales team didn't even know how many orders needed to be placed."
Lee Hyuk glared up at Dong-ha—who stood a full head taller.
"And what if it was strange? What exactly can you do about it? You're newcomers who know nothing. Just shut up and do the tasks you're given!"
Something flickered through Dong-ha's eyes—sharp, cold.
"Yes, Sir. I'll remember. I know I'm new and ignorant."
Lee Hyuk found his controlled tone irritating. He blew out an angry sound and shoved open the door to the 3rd floor.
Dong-ha watched him disappear with a frigid gaze.
Yoojin, lips pressed tight, couldn't speak at all after the harsh scolding.