“… What, are you offering to scout?”

“That’s it. Business is a bit difficult to do alone, isn’t it?”

At Kang Tae-han’s words, Chief Hwang glanced around. No one was there, but it was still inappropriate to say in a place where other masseuses would come and go.

“First… Would you like a cup of tea?”

“Good.”

When Director Hwang pointed to the hallway with his thumb, Kang Tae-han nodded.

* * *

After a while, the two were sitting facing each other in the office, and between them was a tea set prepared by Director Hwang.

“therefore… … .”

Handing over the first cup of moderate brewing, Director Hwang opened his mouth first.

“Taehan is going to open a store, and he wants me to work there?”

“yes that’s right. First of all, there aren’t many stories that have been decided yet, but to tell you things that have been decided… … .”

The location and approximate date of completion of the building, the fact that a sauna and a hotel will come in above and below the store floor, and that you will own the store, not rent it.

When he told me this far, Chief Hwang’s expression was literally jaw-dropping.

“… Does that make sense?”

To be honest, Director Hwang didn’t worry that Kang Tae-han’s store would go out of business. Even if you start all over again from an unfamiliar area, if you have Kang Tae-han’s skills, you will quickly become a regular customer.

A massage parlor is a place where you go to get a massage.

Therefore, the skill of a masseuse is the absolute criterion for success, and Kang Tae-han’s massage skills are on a completely different level, to the point where no one can compare them.

But what if the rent problem was solved in a commercial district like that… … . It makes no sense for the store to go bankrupt.

“Something like interior cost… Maybe I should ask.”

If you set up a shop in a place like this, the cost would be quite high, but… However, it is not at a level comparable to the ownership of a commercial store itself.

Wouldn’t the person who was willing to give it away would solve that much? Sure enough, Kang Tae-han nodded lightly at Chief Hwang’s words.

“There is something I received as an investment money.”

‘The shop is to pay off my father’s debt, so I’ll pay off my debt with the initial business expenses.’ Park Ho-yeon said that and tried to just hand over the huge amount of money.

No matter how much it was, I thought it was a bit excessive, so Kang Tae-han changed it to an investment name.

“It seemed so.”

At that, Manager Huang nodded.

It was a situation that I had only heard about, but there seemed to be no big problem until the opening of the business as long as the completed building did not collapse.

“… But if it’s a place like that, a lot of smarter people would want to come, so why would you want to take me?”

It’s not that I don’t want to go, it’s a pure question. And Kang Tae-han answered Hwang’s question honestly.

“As far as I know, the most reliable and knowledgeable person in this industry is Director Hwang.”

What he said was not an exaggeration. Actually, when working here, Kang Tae-han was able to focus on the massage without worrying about other parts.

It sounds natural at first glance that a masseuse only focuses on massage, but in order to do so, it is necessary to precondition that all other parts are resolved satisfactorily.

Managing equipment used, keeping facilities clean, managing guests, coordinating schedules between masseuses… Other than that, all of the small but troublesome parts were managed by Hwang himself.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that Director Hwang did the work alone, and there were some other employees, but in the end, it was Director Hwang who led everything and made things go smoothly.

‘Because I’ve never seen a particular problem arise.’

I had never seen him work in earnest, but it was rather proof that he was doing well on a daily basis.

Although there have been claims due to the mistakes of the masseuses, there have never been any claims due to other problems.

Mr. Hwang had the ability to run a store that was bigger than this, and if this store was Mr. Hwang’s store, it would have been larger than it is now. But that didn’t happen… … .

“Your relationship with the boss isn’t good these days.”

“… what.”

At Kang Tae-han’s words, Chief Hwang put on a puzzled expression for a moment, then smiled bitterly.

“Did you know?”

“Roughly.”

The story was simple. After Kang Tae-han came in, customers flocked to the store and sales continued to rise, so Manager Hwang wanted to expand the massage shop further… The president was in a position to ask if it was necessary to do so.

“I’m a nobleman who made a big investment in a shopping mall before and went bankrupt. I understand why, but it’s frustrating.”

Other than that, there were quite a few things that we didn’t agree on, such as changing the interior or the terms of the contract with the masseuses. It was for this reason that Kang Tae-han’s conditions were not immediately raised.

“Are you close friends in private?”

“close… not until It’s just a relationship that we formed while working together a while ago.”

Director Hwang took a cup of tea and took a sip of tea.

With the aroma of tea in his mouth, he pondered for a moment. The worry didn’t last long, and he opened his mouth again before long.

“Actually, this is what I’m saying now, but when Taehan leaves, I thought I’d leave too.”

“Somehow, I thought you would.”

Kang Tae-han nodded slightly and said. It was also the reason why he brought out this proposal to Chief Hwang, since he had a hint of it in the first place.

“For someone like Taehan to come in, it’s like a truly unique opportunity rolled into my feet… You’re not using that opportunity properly. There is no future in such a place.”

Director Hwang said in a serious voice that seemed to emanate from long-term worries, which he doesn’t usually do.

It was not because of affection or loyalty with Kang Tae-han, but from a long-term perspective, it was his judgment that there was no need to stay.

“Then, have you thought about where you will move to?”

“It was vaguely thought out, but there were a few. There were some people who wanted to work together. By the way… … .”

Director Hwang put down the teacup he was holding. And looking at Kang Tae-han, he had a shallow smile.

“There’s one business that’s probably the most damned thing I’ve ever heard of, and that’s where the offer came in. Is there a star then? I have to go there.”

Kang Tae-han smiled and replied to Director Hwang’s smile.

“I haven’t even seen the contract yet, so can I say that?”

“Taehan will take care of it, well. No, should I call you ‘President Kang’ instead of Taehan?’

“… Just call me Taehan.”

It’s very awkward and I feel condescending for nothing. Kang Tae-han shook his head with a disgusted expression on his face and quietly took a sip of tea.

* * *

“Ah, no matter how much you are about to leave, you have to do the remaining things properly, Mr. Taehan. know?”

“Isn’t that natural?”

Kang Tae-han replied as if it was absurd.

“I just said it out of old age, well.”

Manager Hwang smiled and went back to the counter.

As he said, nothing will change right away. It’s just that no more reservations are added. The day went by, not much different from usual. only if there is a difference.

“Stop, sir!”

“Yes? What are you doing?”

“What are you doing all of a sudden? You’re not going to quit, are you?”

This is the reaction of the guests to Kang Tae-han.

To be exact, after getting a massage as usual, I’m trying to make the next reservation… This was the reaction of guests who were told that they could no longer make reservations.

“You can’t quit… … .”

A voice full of urgency.

At the thought that the oasis of life that I have been looking for is disappearing, it feels like I am making an appeal beyond a request.

“haha… I am not quitting.”

Kang Tae-han said while looking around with a sidelong glance.

Sure enough, the eyes of the other guests in the lobby were focused in this direction. Last time, ‘Teach me the Tao.’ It was a scene similar to the incident, which somehow made me feel deja vu.

“I have to move to another place.”

But things were a bit different then and now. It was embarrassing at the time, but now it was an opportunity to use it appropriately.

Kang Tae-han said so with a light smile and a voice that was easy enough for the other guests to hear.

“Somewhere else? Where are you going?”

“I’m going to Dangsan-dong… It’s hard to say anything because the name of the store hasn’t been decided yet. I’m not quitting though, so don’t worry too much.”

Kang Tae-han left those words and entered the waiting room.

And the remaining guests in the lobby naturally began to hum.

“What is it, Mr. Kang Tae-han, are you moving the store?”

“Ah, for some reason they said they couldn’t make reservations anymore… … . So you can’t make new reservations anymore and only accept reservations that have already been made?”

“Whoops, I already have a reservation for 3 weeks.”

“But then where are you going?”

“I didn’t hear… Dangsan-dong? I think I heard you were going that way. Isn’t it the neighborhood next to Yeouido?”

“The name of the shop has not been decided yet, so it must be a new massage shop.”

“A new massage shop opened in Dangsan-dong around the time Mr. Kang was nowhere to be seen… As soon as it opens, I go to make a reservation right away.”

The word “quit” caught the attention of the customers, and then, after Kang Tae-han’s words, each of them began to think about which store they would be moving to.

* * *

7:10 pm.

Normally, Kang Tae-han would have already left work or soaked in hot water in the bathroom, but today he was still in the waiting room.

It’s not because there are other guests who will come.

“I’m leaving work first, Taehan.”

“Okay, go carefully.”

Since this has happened several times recently, Choi Seong-hyun, who was suspicious, left work first without much thought. How many more minutes were there?

“It’s been a while, Taehan.”

“Welcome, madam.”

Chae Seo-yoon, Shin Jun-ho’s wife.

The joint pain caused by the aftereffects of childbirth was roughly finished at that time, but the pelvis and spine could not be reversed at once, so I promised the next one.

And then came up to Seoul today to get a massage. Kang Tae-han led her down the hallway and spoke to her lightly.

“Who is the new boss?”

“My husband went to a kids cafe with my son. I plan to play for an hour or two and then come back.”

“Your son came with you too?”

“I’m too anxious to be left alone at home. Whoops.”

“Well, that’s how it is.”

Kang Tae-han opened the door in response to her words and pointed to the bed inside.

“Oh, is there a hole in the bed?”

“You can put your face there and lie down.”

“It’s so much better than a yoga mat.”

Kang Tae-han burst into laughter at her words.

I remembered the last time I had a massage on a yoga mat in the living room.

“The physical condition… You have improved a lot.”

“Yes? After the teacher looked at it, the joint pain was almost gone. How about sometimes?”

Is it the feeling that the vitality does not dry up in the body?

Originally, I had to take a break from time to time during housework, and after I finished washing the dishes in the evening, there was a feeling that spread slightly… Now, even after doing all the housework, I still have strength, and I am even doing Pilates, which I have been taking a break for a long time.

“I’m glad you saw the effect.”

“It’s beyond the level of luck. Because it tastes like flesh.”

Kang Tae-han smiled lightly and began to loosen her body. The clogged blood and tight muscles had been released the other day, so the intensity of the acupressure was moderate.

“Ah… It’s also cool and nice.”

Refreshment without pain!

Unlike the customers who screamed due to the pain of acupressure, Chae Seo-yoon was enjoying the massage with a very calm expression just like last time.

Has it been that long?

By the time I entered the rough finishing stage.

“Ah, but I have something to give you, Mr. Taehan.”

“You mean now?”

“Yes, because I can’t give it to you after I fall asleep later… … .”

Then she rummaged through the wallet she had brought with her, then picked up an envelope and handed it to Kang Tae-han.

“This is a gift from our husband and wife.”

“What is it?”

Kang Tae-han took out the contents of the envelope without much thought. There were three sheets of paper in it… … .

“… check?”

“I heard that Taehan-san is going to open his own store.”

Chae Seo-yoon smiled and said to Kang Tae-han, who looked a bit flustered.

“It will take a lot of money at the beginning of a business, so I thought it would be nice to add some to that.”