BRF Chapter 7

Inside the smooth, satin-like envelope was a card with “Thank you” written in gold lettering. It was a mystery who would express their gratitude to Eunseong in such an extravagant manner.

Unfolding the card, a message scrawled in a flamboyant script caught her eye.

Reporter Kang Eunseong, this is Cheon Sarang from Seocheon Group. Thank you for your compassionate report on the workers of Chageon Electronics, a subsidiary of Seocheon Group. We also acknowledge our grave responsibility for failing to properly manage our subsidiary. I would like to personally apologize for the violent actions of the former employee of our subsidiary towards you. If you could spare some time this evening, I would like to treat you to a warm dinner as a token of my gratitude. I sincerely hope you can make it.

Cheon Sarang of Seocheon Group was the youngest daughter of Chairman Cheon Soo-an, the founder of Seocheon Group. And, though they weren’t close, she was also Eunseong’s college classmate.

A friendly message from Sarang was added at the end of the card.

I know we know each other well enough to just be classmates, but not close enough to be friends. Let’s have a casual dinner together. We can become friends through this opportunity.

Eunseong called Sarang’s personal cell phone number, which was written on the card.

– Eunseong, is that you?

As if she had been expecting Eunseong’s call, Sarang answered the phone in a sweet voice.

Sarang had been a prominent figure in campus. Not only was she a chaebol¹ heiress, she also possessed a sharp mind and striking beauty, making her a popular announcer at the university broadcasting station.

Though it was rumored that she would become a broadcast announcer, after graduating, Sarang joined Seocheon Group and was now in charge of Seocheon Media, a comprehensive content company.

“Yes, it’s been a while. Why did you send this?”

– I was so grateful, I had to do something. Did you receive it? Do you like it?

As if to prove the saying that those who have everything are well-rounded, Sarang was known for her kind heart.

“Yes, the flowers are beautiful. But Sarang, I can’t accept this. I’ll have to return the flowers. I’m sorry.”

– Why? Because of the Anti-Graft Law? Can’t I even send flowers to a friend?

Sarang’s voice was as soft as a flower petal.

“It could put both of us in a difficult position. I’ll return them.”

– I put a lot of thought into choosing the flowers, specifically for you. I should have sent them to your home. Could you give me your address? I’ll send them again. Okay?

Although her tone wasn’t pushy like a typical chaebol heiress, it was still burdensome, even if it was out of consideration for a former classmate.

“No, I’ll really have to return the flowers. I’m sorry.”

If it weren’t someone she knew, she wouldn’t have bothered apologizing. She would have simply sent a text message about the Anti-Graft Law violation.

– Okay, return the flowers then. But have dinner with me, alright? It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. Haven’t we seen each other since graduation?

They hadn’t seen each other that often even when they were in college.

– Eunseong, are you going to do this to me, too? I’ve lost contact with almost everyone I knew from college. They said they thought we were in the same world back then, but after graduation, they felt like we lived in different worlds. They said it to my face. It really hurt me. You wouldn’t do that to me, would you?

Sarang had a knack for appealing to people’s soft spots. Eunseong suppressed a sigh. A sense of camaraderie, a desire not to become like the people who had ostracized Sarang, began to stir within her.

“Let’s each pay for our own meals. If that’s okay, then I’ll meet you. Otherwise, I can’t.”

– Kang Eunseong, you’re so meticulous.

Anyone else would have criticized her for being fussy and difficult. But Sarang simply laughed affectionately, calling her meticulous.

– Okay. We’ll each pay for our own meals. It’s so hard to even buy a friend a meal these days. I’ll find a place and let you know. And by the way, there are exceptions to the Anti-Graft Law. Gatherings to promote friendship between people who have known each other for a long time are allowed.

Eunseong almost pointed out how often that ambiguous clause was abused.

– Choose a day next week, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. I’ll adjust to your schedule.

Sarang presented her with options, making it difficult to refuse.

“Anyway, I have to go back inside. Talk to you later.”

After ending the call, Eunseong called a courier to pick up the flowers, watched them leave the ABS building, and then returned to the newsroom.

Jeong Ga-in, the weather forecaster, rushed over to Eunseong as she returned to her desk.

“What about the flowers?”

News of Eunseong receiving a flower delivery had apparently spread throughout the broadcasting station. Seeing even Ga-in, the weather forecaster, come running, it seemed everyone would be asking her about the flowers.

“Don’t tell me you threw them away? You ill-tempered reporter! You should have given them to me! Who sent them that you would throw them away?”

Ga-in, who had been in the high school broadcasting club with Eunseong, was working as a contract weather forecaster. She was so popular that she even had a fan cafe, thanks to her cute looks and charming voice.

“I had to return them. It was from someone I shouldn’t accept gifts from.”

Ga-in pouted and huffed, seemingly disappointed.

“I was excited, thinking my girl was finally dating.”

“Didn’t you just call me an ill-tempered reporter?”

Eunseong glanced around and teased Ga-in in a lowered voice. Ga-in seemed to have finally realized she had used such harsh language in the newsroom full of reporters.

“It’s fine. At least I didn’t call you a giregi². Whether we’re a good or a bad reporter, it’s not like it’s the first time we’ve been lumped together and criticized.”

Taeyoon stretched languidly, trying to lighten the mood with his playful remark.

“Everyone has a different perspective on the world. So being a reporter means you’re bound to be criticized.”

News director Lee Dongha, who happened to be passing by the office, joined the conversation.

“What one person considers a positive social phenomenon, another might see as negative, and what one person considers negative, another might consider positive.”

Leaning his elbow on the partition, Director Lee looked around the newsroom, gauging the atmosphere. The reporters who met his gaze quickly looked away, afraid of being reprimanded.

“Yes, a reporter sitting in the office might have something important to do. Perspectives differ, so that’s understandable. But you see, personally, if I see a reporter glued to their chair, I assume ‘Today’s news is doomed.’ The news is the most important thing to me, but I wonder if it is to them.”

Director Lee didn’t hold back his criticism as he looked around at the few remaining reporters in the mostly empty office.

“Kang Eunseong? Reporter Kang, come see me for a moment.”

The reporters who had been looking for an opportunity to escape, pretending to be busy with their desks, glanced at Eunseong and breathed a sigh of relief. They seemed grateful and relieved that she was taking the bullet for them.

“Yes, Director!”

Eunseong quickly followed Director Lee toward his office. He asked, without turning around, his voice tinged with amusement,

“I heard you received a flower basket?”

“I returned it.”

“Why?”

Director Lee stopped abruptly and looked back at Eunseong over his shoulder. Seeing her pursed lips and troubled expression, he gestured with his chin, indicating that she should follow him to his office.

Inside his office, Director Lee lowered the blinds on the glass wall and closed the door firmly.

“Who sent the flowers that you sent them back?”

“It was a flower basket from Director Cheon Sarang of Seochen Group, the parent company of Chageon Electronics. She said she was grateful for the article supporting the workers and apologized for their mismanagement of the subsidiary.”

“Bullshit.”

Director Lee spat out the curse.

“Why is Chageon Electronics in that state? Isn’t it because of Seochen Group’s bullying? Mismanagement, my ass. Those are the same bastards who created a code of conduct for their subsidiaries, monitored their subcontractors’ emails, and tried to silence the media when they sensed a piece of news would break…. But…”

Director Lee tilted his head, as if puzzled, and narrowed his eyes.

“Why Cheon Sarang, of all people? What does Seochen Media have to do with Chageon Electronics?”

Cheon Sarang was the CEO of Seochen Media and also held a director position at Seochen Group.

“Director Cheon Sarang and I were classmates in college. She contacted me after seeing the news yesterday.”

Director Lee nodded as if he understood to some extent.

“Don’t get involved in anything complicated, and do well.”

“Yes, Director.”

It seemed like there was a specific reason he had called her in, but Director Lee hesitated, not getting to the point.

“Is there something you wanted to say…?”

“There’s going to be an anchor audition for Everyone News 8.”

Everyone News 8 was ABS’s (All-round Broadcasting System) flagship evening news program.

“I’ve heard about it.”

“Don’t you want to audition?”

Taken aback by the unexpected question, Eunseong lowered her chin and frowned slightly.

“No.”

“Don’t just reject it outright. Think about it.”

Director Lee waved his hand dismissively, telling her she could leave. As she walked out of his office, a sense of unease settled over her.

And that unease was followed by a mysterious phone call. The number flashing on her phone was unfamiliar. A reporter couldn’t just ignore unknown numbers. Every call, whether spam or phishing, had the potential to become a news story.

“Hello?”

Eunseong answered the phone in a low voice as she walked down the quiet hallway.

– Is this Reporter Kang Eunseong’s cell phone?

The low, captivating voice made Eunseong stop in her tracks.

“Yes, it is. Who is this?”

The voice sounded familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it. Eunseong squeezed her eyes shut, trying to recall the voices of people she had met recently.

– I was next to you at the cafe yesterday, Reporter Kang.

Her eyes snapped open. The man’s swift movements, subduing the former Chageon Electronics employee like a paper doll with one hand while shielding her with the other arm, flashed vividly in her mind.