Aurelia did not return to her office immediately after the meeting ended that afternoon. Instead, she went down to the operations floor because there were several figures in the distribution report that she felt needed to be checked firsthand, especially after finding discrepancies between the central data and the warehouse records. She was not the kind of manager who was satisfied with reports sitting on her desk; if a figure did not make sense, she would trace it back to the source before making a decision.
"Ms. Aurelia?"
Yubi, who was standing in front of a document shelf, turned when he heard approaching footsteps.
"What is it, ma'am?"
"I want to see the eastern-region shipping report you corrected yesterday."
Yubi took a folder from the desk.
"This one?"
"Yes."
Aurelia accepted the folder and opened it while standing. "Do you still remember why these figures were different?"
"One branch hadn't entered two shipments that had already been received. After I contacted them, they updated the data."
"And you were the one who contacted them?"
"Yes."
Aurelia nodded. "Good. I like people who solve problems all the way back to the source."
Yubi smiled faintly. "I just didn't want someone else to have to repeat the same work."
That answer made Aurelia look at him for several moments. She was beginning to understand that Yubi had a different work ethic from most new employees. He did not try to look impressive, but neither did he avoid responsibility.
"Then come with me."
Yubi looked slightly confused. "Where?"
"To the discussion room."
"What for?"
"I want to see how you explain this report."
Yubi nodded and followed Aurelia.
In the discussion room, Aurelia placed three reports on the table. She then asked Yubi to explain the discrepancies without reading the notes he had already made. Yubi explained everything in order, from the input error and shipping time to the reason the central figures had been updated late.
Aurelia did not interrupt.
When he finished, she said, "You have strong analytical skills."
"Thank you."
"Why did you choose operations?"
Yubi was silent for a moment before answering. "Because I want to understand the work from the ground up."
"With your educational background, you could have applied for a higher position."
"I don't have enough experience yet."
Aurelia looked at him seriously.
"That's a reasonable answer."
Yubi gave a small laugh. "I thought you were going to say I was selling myself short."
"I don't like people who sell themselves short without a reason. But I like people who think they're great just because they have a degree even less."
For a few seconds, they looked at each other.
Their relationship could not yet be called close, but that conversation began to lessen the professional distance between them. Aurelia no longer saw Yubi as merely a new employee who happened to be related to the company's owner.
She saw a man rebuilding his life through his own abilities.
That afternoon, Yubi was assigned to assist Aurelia in reviewing a report from one of their distribution partners. The work was not technically part of his regular duties, but Aurelia had deliberately asked for his help because she needed someone who understood the field data.
They sat across from each other in a small conference room for nearly two hours.
"Do these figures make sense to you?" Aurelia asked.
Yubi studied the table.
"If you look at the amount of merchandise going out, yes. But compared with their warehouse capacity, no."
Aurelia raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"That volume is too large for a single warehouse with the capacity they've reported. They may be using an additional warehouse."
"And if that's true?"
"Then their distribution costs should be different."
Aurelia smiled.
"That's what I thought too."
They went on to examine several additional documents.
Every so often, Yubi offered his opinion while Aurelia took notes. The work remained serious, but the atmosphere was no longer as stiff as it had been during their first meeting.
When they finally finished, Aurelia closed her laptop.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"You haven't eaten?"
Yubi glanced at the clock.
It was almost seven in the evening.
"Not yet."
"Me neither."
Aurelia stood.
"Let's eat first."
Yubi hesitated.
"At the cafeteria?"
"It's already closed."
"Then..."
"There's a small restaurant behind the building."
Yubi looked at her.
"Are you sure?"
Aurelia nodded. "We're still discussing work. Don't get the wrong idea."
Yubi laughed.
"I wasn't thinking anything like that."
"Good."
They walked out together.
Neither of them noticed that Kenan had just come out of his office at the end of the corridor. He watched Aurelia and Yubi walk side by side toward the elevator.
Raka, standing behind him, immediately noticed where Kenan was looking.
"Want to come along?"
Kenan shook his head.
"No."
"Even though they're eating together."
"That's work."
Raka smiled.
"Right. You can tell the difference now."
Kenan did not answer. Yet after the elevator doors closed, he remained standing there for several seconds before returning to his office. . .
His relationship with Yubi was still cold.
But strangely, he no longer felt the need to watch his cousin's every move.
Maybe it was because, for the first time, he saw that Yubi had a life of his own.