Chemistry

ell at the very least we have sufficient proof that he’s gifted enough to be sought by Jaegil Yoon.
And if he is anything like Professor Chun, then receiving Project Grants like this, or making commissions… this won’t be the end of it.”

After watching Songu think deeply for a moment, Yoonseok added another idea that just occurred to him.

“This Intern is going to participate in the Proposal Assessment this afternoon.
Would you like to attend?”

Normally, only the representatives of the Centers, as well as the Training Managers, attended such events.
Songu took a look around at the Heads of Centers who were still bickering energetically among themselves as he said, “I suspect it will get as rowdy as now.”

“I will inform the Training manager now.”

[Scene Change]

Jungwu sat on the chair next to the Vending Machine staring at the laptop screen.
He had the PT file for the Proposal Assessment open and was thinking about what he should say during the presentation for the past hour.

‘It’s really nerve wrecking now that the time has come.’

The purpose of the Project Assessment that his Sunbaes had suggested during last Friday’s Company Outing was a little different than what he had initially predicted.
Instead of making a real project proposal to be selected for new research, it was more used to appeal the good sides of the presenter, like saying ‘here are my strengths so please come and pick me’.

There was the Fundamental Elements Lab, Electronics Development, Information Electronics, Component Sciences, and Pharmaceuticals.
And finally, the Central Research Center which combined all of these Centers.

In terms of the military, it was like the Soldiers being lined up before the commanding officers.
The Temporary Researchers prepared for the specialization they hoped to enter with their projects.
And each of them checked each other’s work to try and maximize their scores from the representatives of the centers of their choices.
For three whole months.

‘I guess technically I had 3 days?’

His condition wasn’t the best due to not having a good rest last night.

“If I keep thinking negatively, things will go poorly for sure.
Let’s believe in myself… or Professor Chun,” he mumbled to himself before returning his attention to the PT file.

“You’re working hard.”

Jungwu knew exactly who it was without having to turn thanks to the bright and energetic voice.

‘Boyoung Sunbae.’

She walked up to Jungwu while yawning.

“I came by to take a quick coffee break, would Jungwu ssi like a cup too?”

“For free? Without any strings attached?”

“Of course.
Were you tricked all your life?****”

Because he kept getting tricked, he thought of trying to guess her intentions and closely inspected Boyoung.
But she who stood before the Vending Machine looked especially plain.

“Don’t stare at me like that.
I have to go back to the Microbe Lab shortly so my self-confidence is pretty low.”

“Self-confidence?”

“Oh, Sunbae won’t let me put on cream on my face worried that the particles of makeup might alter the readings.”

“You don’t seem all that different from usual though?”

Boyoung smiled widely when she heard this.

“I’m so~oo pretty even without makeup, is that what you mean?”

“It means you’re the same with or without makeup.”

She gave him a withering look when he cleared up the misunderstanding.
Shortly after, Boyoung handed him a paper cup containing coffee before sitting next to him.
Jungwu took a sip before asking, “What kind of research is going on in the Microbe Lab?”

“It’s a long-term project for Lab 1.
It’s a Rural Revival Project that’s done jointly with the Agricultural Environments Researchers.
It’s not particularly difficult but it’s a project given by the country so there’s a lot of things we have to keep in mind.”

“I see that it’s a noble work for the purpose of improving agriculture.”

“What kind of nobility is there in working with fertilizers? I can’t wait until I’m not the one that has to be doing that work.
The smell of the Compost is just…”

Boyoung grimaced and said, “Bleagh” when Jungwu realized something and asked Boyoung just in case.

“Do you have to do it because you’re the newest to the Lab 1?”

Boyoung nodded with a sad expression.
“I need a Hoobae to come quickly so I can push off this work.”

A Research on putrid deposit forced onto the newest member of the lab.
It was a piece of info that made him hope he would get assigned to anywhere other than Lab 1.*****

“Jungwu ssi, what’s your topic for the presentation? I thought it was on Synthetic Resin last time I took a glance at it.”

“It’s on Stronger-than-Steel Plastic.

“Eh? The one Professor Chun…”

“Yes.
I want to inherit the project and develop it.”

Jungwu laughed when he saw Boyoung’s expression which clearly showed her desire to take his laptop and see the next page on the PT document.

He got Coffee out of it, and she hasn’t asked about the whereabouts of Professor Chun or other difficult questions the last few days.
So he couldn’t help but feel that he should just let her see the material.

‘She didn’t sit here on purpose for that reason, right?’

But she was not a Sunbae with such a conniving personality.
It was more likely that she would unabashedly demand to see it.

“Sunbae nim.”

“Yes?”

“Could you please take a look at it to make sure I did a good job?”

Boyoung’s face brightened up and she nodded enthusiastically.
While checking the PT file using the directional keys on the laptop, she couldn’t help but exclaim ‘wow’ from time to time.

“It looks like you already finalized the concept for solidifying over 90% of plastic then?”

“I used the early mechanism of Polymer Crystallization as a point of reference.”

“But this could be applied to over half of the products that need strong but light material; Car dashboards, to food containers.
There’s no reason why this project wouldn’t be picked.”

As it was a topic he had picked specifically because it would immediately benefit and bring profit to KG Chemicals, Boyoung’s reaction could be considered normal.

‘As long as it passes the verification…’

But whatever may happen, Boyoung’s elated response helped alleviate some of his fears.

“I want to see more of this, how about a lunch together?”

“Um… That’s after you go into the Microbe lab, right?”

“Yes that’s true, why?”

When Jungwu gave her a ‘are you really asking why’ face, Boyoung looked backed feigning ignorance.

“I’ll eat alone.
I’ll be busy.”

“That Compost, you know, smells pretty savory after a while.
And also, are you downplaying the noble sacrifice of one researcher who is selflessly working for the benefit of Farming towns? You looked like you were about to cry earlier.
I’ll just send this file to your email.”

“Sure, why not.”

Boyoung put the Milk Coffee cup against her mouth and drained it until the last drop before she jumped to her feet.

“You promised!” she declared with a sunny smile before walking towards the offices.

Jungwu shook his head, thinking maybe he should have accepted the invitation to have lunch together.
He strangely felt like he was being dragged along to her pace since yesterday.

‘Let’s focus, concentrate.’

But Jungwu’s focus did not last even 1 minute before being interrupted.
It was due to the screams coming from the direction of the Temporary Researcher’s offices.

“What the hell, the Chief is coming? And because of that, all the Heads of Centers as well?”

“But it’s not like these presentations are meant to have any impact on the good of the future of the Research Centers!”

The fact that the entire upper echelon of the Research Center will be showing up and be present to the event where newbie researchers of less than six months of employment are to give presentation of their pitiful greenhorn ideas was also shocking to Jungwu.

‘What? Suddenly why?’