CHAPTER 57: MY GOD... THIS CAN’T BE REAL.

Suho leaned back in satisfaction. ’Excellent. Fen Su’s a genius at planning, and Jin Wu knows nothing about games. Together, they’ll sink this place faster than I ever could. A crouching dragon and a foolish chick—perfect for losing money.’

He clapped his hands. "Alright. Discuss the rest yourselves. I’ll leave it to you."

He turned to go, then paused mid-step. "Ah, one more thing. The desks and chairs here are ancient. Replace everything. Jin Wu, you know the supplier from last time. Order the same batch. Send me the bill."

"Yes, Boss!" Jin Wu answered instantly. He had bought things for Suho countless times; he knew the drill.

Fen Su’s eyes lit up. "Thank you, Boss Kim. Truly generous. Other companies never replace furniture unless it collapses."

Suho waved it off. "Employees deserve comfort." Inwardly: ’And I deserve an easy way to waste hundreds of thousands.’

After Suho left, Fen Su handed over several documents. "Director Jin, these are the company’s plans. Please review them and raise any objections."

Jin Wu coughed awkwardly. "Manager Fen, I don’t know anything about game development. I’ll just follow along and learn. You handle the planning."

Relief washed over Fen Su’s face. "That’s fine. And if you need anything, ask me directly."

"Well, there is one thing," Jin Wu said sheepishly. "I want to sit with the employees, watch what they do, and learn from the ground up. Will that disturb them?"

Fen Su laughed. "Not at all. In fact, your presence will motivate them. Study as much as you like."

Jin Wu nodded seriously. Mr. Kim had trusted him with this role. He would not betray that trust. Even if he knew nothing, he’d work hard to learn.

Several days passed in a blur.

Outside the Workshop

Kim Suho stood like a general surveying his troops, except his "army" looked more like survivors from a zombie movie. The workers stumbled through their morning jog with dull eyes and drooping shoulders. One tripped over his own feet and nearly face-planted into the gravel.

Suho frowned. ’One or two slackers I can understand—they probably stayed up late watching dramas or drinking cheap beer. But the entire damn factory? No way. Something’s rotten.’

When the jog ended, he beckoned Wonho with a curl of his finger. "Explain. Why does everyone look like corpses?"

Wonho wiped sweat from his brow, puffing his chest with misplaced pride. "Boss Kim, they’ve been working overtime these days. Probably didn’t rest enough."

Suho blinked. "Overtime?" He almost choked. "Who ordered overtime? I sure as hell didn’t."

Wonho puffed up further, like a rooster bragging about laying an egg. "Brother Jin worried about that million-dollar order. He said if we don’t finish on time, more orders will pile up. So I told everyone to stay late. Better to catch up early."

Suho’s smile twitched. Inside, he screamed, ’Overtime? OVERTIME?! In MY company? What are you trying to do, bankrupt me with profit? You dare to boost productivity without permission?!’

But on the surface, he put on his benevolent-boss mask. "Wonho, you mustn’t occupy employees’ private lives. After work, they should enjoy their time—go to movies, shop, eat fried chicken, and collapse on their beds. They are human beings, not sewing machines."

Wonho flushed, bowing his head. "Boss, I... I didn’t think it through."

"But what about future orders?" he added timidly.

Suho waved a hand. "Simple. Workshop and sales will coordinate. Cap daily production. If orders exceed the cap, reject them."

Inside, Suho smirked. ’Hah! Production throttled. Orders throttled. Two birds, one stone. I should win an award for creative bankruptcy.’

"But Boss," Wonho stammered, "this will limit sales commissions. The business side might complain—"

"That’s not your concern. I’ll handle it." Suho clapped his shoulder, smiling like a saint. "Now gather everyone in the lobby. Time for a meeting."

Company Lobby

Employees assembled, buzzing with speculation.

"Why’d Boss Kim call us?"

"Probably more welfare."

"No way, he’s already spoiled us too much."

"Don’t jinx it. What if it’s more workload?"

"Shut up, Boss Kim only brings good news!"

Suho strolled in with Cho Rin at his side, coffee in hand, as if descending from heaven itself. He cleared his throat. "Everyone, today’s meeting is about overtime and working hours."

The workers straightened, nervous.

"First—overtime. You all worked late yesterday." Suho paused dramatically. "I’ll have Jin Wu tally the hours. You’ll receive double pay."

Thunderous applause shook the hall. Some nearly cried. Suho’s fake smile widened while his inner monologue spat venom: ’Yeah, yeah, clap louder while I bleed money for overtime I never approved. At least I’m losing cash with style.’

"But," he raised a finger, "I don’t support overtime. I support efficiency. From now on, no more overtime in the workshop."

The applause was deafening this time. A few workers actually shouted, "Long live Boss Kim!"

Suho’s lip twitched. ’Long live? If you people keep bringing me money, I’ll die of stress before I live long enough to spend it.’

"Second—working hours. Previously, you worked 7am to 6pm. Effective today, it’s 8am to 5pm. With a proper lunch break."

The cheering grew louder. Someone stomped their feet. Suho could’ve sworn one guy wiped tears away. He clasped his hands behind his back, thinking, ’Cry harder. Every hour you don’t work is another hole in my revenue. Sweet, glorious deficit.’

"Third—rest days. I learned you had a so-called one-day holiday system. But if you used it, you lost your full attendance bonus. Ridiculous! That’s not a holiday; that’s blackmail!"

Workers exchanged uneasy glances. It was true, but no one had dared say it aloud.

"So I’m abolishing that nonsense. From now on: two days off every week, Saturday and Sunday. Statutory holidays too. And your full attendance bonus remains intact as long as you don’t take extra leave."

For a second, silence. Then—an uproar. Gasps, shouts, and raw disbelief.

"Did he say weekends? Real weekends?!"

"Statutory holidays? Is this... heaven?"

"My God... this can’t be real."

Some workers actually wept openly. One knelt like Suho was a divine savior. Another muttered, "I’ve worked in ten factories, and not one boss ever gave us a single proper holiday. This man... this man is different."

Suho stood tall, noble as a statue. Outwardly: "A humane workplace builds loyal employees." Inwardly: ’A humane workplace builds bankruptcy speedruns. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.’