Chapter 60<ol start="9"><li>A month in the life of a chemicalpany team leader(5)</li></ol>


    Day 8  Fragrance Room


    Its been two weeks since I took charge of the project.


    I wasnt filled with great enthusiasm as I set out for work. Its just a job, after all. The number 0 in my bank ount, where my paycheck from a few days ago was deposited, automatically led my footsteps to thepany.


    Its the charm of a sry-earning worker, relying on that 0 at the end. Rain or snow, you still have somewhere to go.


    As I swiped my card at the entrance of the fragrance room, I entered without much thought and saw Cho Sung-hwan sitting upright in front of a neatly organized table. I paused for a moment.


    You came early?


    Jang Sung-hwan turned her head and greeted me with a warm smile.


    Its be a habit, so I end up punching in before 8 oclock. Im curious about what well be doing today.


    Its currently 8:55 AM. Seeing Cho Seong-hwan, the only team member and also hade early and already prepared, made me feel a twinge of emotion in my heart.


    It was as if the passion for being a team leader, which had been buried, hade alive again, worth three digits of 0.


    Lets get to work!


    [Solvent-Based Synthetic Fragrance  Currently 94.5% Simr to Natural Extracts]


    [Production: Audrey Project Han Jeong-woo]


    Jeong-woo felt a sense of pride as he skimmed through the project records in the central research institutes material library.


    The significance of having the name of the creator who secured the original technology recorded.


    Once registered, this synthetic fragrance can be used by anypany, including other departments, subsidiaries, and even by paying royalties if necessary.


    Audrey Corp, which funded all the development costs, would practically provide it for free. However, now that Jeong-woo had gained some knowledge about the fragrance industry, he also knew that the expected added value from this was substantial.


    Considering that apany producing a natural jasmine fragrance called Hedion generates annual sales of over 100 million dors.


    If Audrey Corp gains poprity with this fragrance, it will be an advertisement in itself.


    While it might not bring money directly into his pocket, just imagining the number of zeros in the revenue made Jeong-woo hum a little tune. Call him materialistic, but with so many 0s involved, it felt exciting.


    Team leader, this reagent is showing no reaction at all.


    At the sound of Jeong-woos co-worker, Cho Seong-hwan, he turned his head.


    The newly added aromatic molecules to the synthetic fragrance, which showed a 94.5% simrity, were not bonding properly.


    As Jeong-woo was analyzing the original fragrance, he wiped his eyes and looked at Seong-hwans test tube.


    The reagent was deficient in free electrons, and it was filled with [+]-charged cations, making it difficult for the reagent to amodate the new molecules.


    Using a molecr perspective to infer which reagent should be used, Jeong-woo had not exined the approach to save time, which seemed to be causing Seong-hwan some trouble.


    We should consider a substitution reaction rather than an addition reaction. Substituting the benzene ring itself. Lets try adding a derivative with two methyl groups attached to benzene.


    Xylene?


    Yes, thats it.


    As Seong-hwan swiftly rearranged the reagents, Jeong-woo began jotting down the new molecr structure to try.


    Analysis  Experiment  Trial and error  Retesting  Drawing conclusions.


    This research process continued with each addition of new molecr structures to increase the simrity.


    Whether to synthesize it using petrochemical substances, transform it through microbial enzyme reactions, or blend it with extracts from alternative nts, various improvement methods for finding the simplest process were added. The final touch toplete the synthetic fragrance would be the preparation for mass production.


    After immersing himself in the research for a few days, Jeong-woo had a clear picture of the entire process in his mind.


    With another ten days like this, the first synthetic fragrance would bepleted.


    Got it!


    Seong-hwan eximed as he looked at Jeong-woo.


    How did you determine the structure of this reagent among all those possibilities?


    Well It started with the analysis. If you remove a few carbon and hydrogen atoms from acetophenone, which is in the solvent, it bes benzaldehyde. So, I chose benzaldehyde as the base reagent. We just needed to find a way to add carbon and hydrogen back.


    The story about this chemical deduction continued for about 15 minutes. Seong-hwan kept nodding along, asionally asking for rification and taking notes to understand it better.


    By the end of the afternoon, the simrity rate increased by 0.7%, reaching 95.2%. As it approached 100, the speed could only decrease, as there were difficulties in perfectly replicating a single naturalpound artificially.


    Just like human DNA varies, the hundreds of flowers contained in the extracts also showed subtle differences in aromatic molecules. The extract was a collection of all of them.


    Jeong-woo spected that once it reached around 98%, the work speed would significantly slow down.


    Feeling sluggish after lunch, he was stretching his body when the door to the fragrance room opened.


    Thump.


    Three members of the fragrance centers microbial management team entered the fragrance room.


    Hello.


    After a brief greeting, the three individuals picked up fragrance samples disyed on the wall and gathered around the analyzer, engaging in conversation.


    Recently, the fragrance center had been extremely busy with research on a new deodorant series based on chaffrine, so everyone was deeply engrossed in their research.


    -Mr. Lee. Were causing the scents to clump together and be rather repulsive. The fragrance team is under immense pressure.


    -So what are we supposed to do? Release it without the suppressor? Then tell people to use the old one?


    -If the smell isnt good, theyll me us andin to the department head.


    -Who?


    -Mr. Yoon Hyeong-seok.


    -Mr. Yoon, that guy.


    Even though Jeong-woo disliked hearing their conversation, he couldnt help but overhear.


    They were experimenting with fragrance by adding microbial suppressors.


    From a molecr perspective, the microbial suppressors and fragrance molecules were notpatible; they seemed to be engaged in a chaotic battle. Especially in some molecr systems, the fragrance molecules were either powerless, getting consumed or evaporated.


    It was fine for them to kill mold and bacteria, but when it affected the scent itself like this, Jeong-woo could understand the concerns of the Fragrance Design Team.


    That analyzer, Seong-hwan, need to use it soon.


    Jeong-woo didnt need it, but Seong-hwan needed a chemical sense and knowledge of the molecr world to understand it. It was crucial, as the more Seong-hwan understood, the faster their work would progress.


    Excuse me.


    Feeling that it was his duty as a team leader, Jeong-woo approached them.


    Its benzylisothiazolinone, right? The suppressor?


    A temporary worker named Lee Bong-chan turned his head slightly, giving Jeong-woo a questioning look.


    The curious look asking, Why? caught Jungwoos attention. He was reminded of Shin Ki-joons guarded demeanor.


    I wont be able to work with this center in this life anyway.


    Jeong-woo disregarded any surprise or remarks from others about his chemically induced sense, triggered by AF-12, that would made fun of him.


    This is a lily extract fragrance, you know. Benzyl salicte from olives would be much morepatible than this. Try mixing it as a base with olive fragrance at a 13:1 ratio. The current lily fragrance with a ratio of 20:1 wont hold up for long.


    After finishing his exnation, Jeong-woo turned and walked away. He could hear grumbling behind him, but soon, he saw them taking out the olive fragrance from the cab.


    A whileter.


    -Huh?


    -The scent seems fine.


    -Yes, indeed.


    The three peoples gazes turned to Jeong-woo. With a look that said, How did you do that? Jeong-woo calmly smiled and pointed to his nose.


    Thump.


    While they rushed towards the Fragrance Teams researchb, Jeong-woo was joined by Seong-hwan.


    Did you enjoy your lunch?


    Yes, its the first time since the public exam period that Ive had such a rxing lunch.


    As Seong-hwan sat down next to him, Jeong-woo spoke carefully.


    To reach 96%, we need to work overtime today


    What now? We can still get a good nights sleep.


    Day 10  Fragrance Room


    On Wednesday morning, Jeong-woo opened the door to the fragrance room and was surprised to see someone unexpected sitting with Cho Seong-hwan.


    Bae Ki-tae?


    Bae Ki-tae, the top recruit, stood up abruptly and walked towards Jeong-woo.


    I sent you an email yesterday, but you didnt see it, so I came in person.


    An email?


    Its about applying for the project. It changed to permanent recruitment.


    Well, thats true


    Seeing Jeong-woos sudden change of mood, Bae Ki-tae gestured towards Cho Seong-hwan.


    Seong-hwan keeps boasting too much. Saying theres so much to learn.


    Cho Seong-hwan scratched his head. Bae Ki-tae sighed as he spoke to Jeong-woo.


    When I finished the public exam and came to the center, I thought Id be doing something significant. But all Ive been doing for the past six months is following the supervisor around, trying to get used to the centers atmosphere. When I see it, youre much more skilled than that supervisor. So, the answer is obvious.


    Bae Ki-tae held Jeong-woos hands together and pleaded.


    Please ept it, Team Leader Han Jeong-woo. Even if its just running errands, Ill be grateful to participate.


    Moved by Bae Ki-taes request, who was exhausted from running errands for an ipetent supervisor, Jeong-woo nodded willingly.


    It was already challenging to find enough people for reconsideration.


    Ill work hard!


    [Synthetic Fragrance  96.3% Simrity]


    After updating the fragrance records in the material library, Jeong-woo turned his gaze to the two people working.


    Although it was a bit judgmental, unlike Cho Seong-hwan, Bae Ki-tae, as the top recruit, had a fast understanding speed and worked well in his assigned tasks.


    He managed to show respect to his seniors without being overly submissive, and because of that, he often praised Jeong-woo with encouraging words.


    Seriously, these fragrance center researchers are something else. Yesterday, they even asked me to rbine deodorant ingredients.


    They kept chattering next to me.


    They should get recognized by the New Product Development Team, right? Chaffrin was the name, I think. Its quite catchy.


    Enough already.


    As Jeong-woo turned his head back to the monitor, the fragrance room door opened, and Park Jung-ho, the assistant of the Fragrance Centers Container Design Team, entered.


    Are you Team Leader Han Jeong-woo?


    Yes?


    Park Jung-ho rushed to Jeong-woo and said, I contacted KG Industries regarding the improvement of the air propulsion agent, and they said Assistant Director Gong Kyung-ho told me that you would know much better.


    Assistant Director Gong?


    He said that during the fire bid, Assistant Director Gongbined some chemicals on the spot and blew away the propulsion agent.


    It seemed like Assistant Director Gong, who they asionally kept in touch with, had praised them a bit.


    Its fine to ask for help, but it would be inconvenient if it takes up too much time.


    This is aplicated issue, so it might take some time.


    Alright then. How about the Design Team temporarily assigns us two people to support us for today? Someone whos good at what they do.


    That wouldnt be difficult.


    Jeong-woo said to Bae Ki-tae, We have some pending experiments onpoundbinations, right? If theye to support, lets start with that.


    Understood.


    The two of them brightened up at the thought that they might not have to work overtime today.


    Assistant Park, what inquiry do you have?


    Here it is.


    Jeong-woo looked at the data regarding the diffusion rate problem of the Nitrogen Synthesis Injection that Assistant Park handed over.


    At first nce, it was evident that the issue arose because it did not integrate well with otherpounds developed by other teams for the new product. The same goes for the previous suppressor and yesterdays deodorant. They were all the same.


    The Fragrance Center is good at division ofbor, but they arecking in overall management.


    Pardon?


    Oh, I was just talking to myself. This is one of the deodorant ingredients. It contains cyclodextrin, right? Extracted from corn. It seems like it sticks too much, causing this problem. If we use castor oil, it might help it spread better.


    Day 11- KG Life Health nning Headquarters


    Team Leader Cha Jin-seong was surprised when he looked at the Chaffrin Project report that Assistant Yoon Hyeong-seok submitted.


    How did the evaluation test jump from 70 to 87 in just 3 days? Did the research team collectively bribe the reviewers?


    Thats what it may seem like.


    Assistant Yoon quoted the reports he heard from each team leader.


    Microbes, deodorants, and design teams have all improved, and the surfactant dedicated team didnt mention if they received it or not, but they suddenly requested a change in ingredients to hydrogenated castor oil.


    Cha Jin-seong let out a sigh of disbelief.


    Thats definitely Han Jeong-woos doing, right? It came from the Fragrance Room.


    Thats correct.


    He had been contemting not making any personnel decisions regarding the Audrey Project, but in reality, he concluded that it was all because of Jang Tae-suns stubbornness.


    However, Han Jeong-woos capabilities in the Fragrance Center, particrly regarding the new fragrance product, surpassed any other researcher that Cha Jin-seong had encountered during his time at thepany.


    Oh, there was one person.


    What?


    Never mind, just talking to myself. Dont mind.


    Three years ago, during the development of Chaffrin, the problematic Dr. Cheon Seung-guk, who had been invited as a quality inspector, amazed the entire center with his skills.


    Is Team Leader Han Jeong-woo in the Fragrance Room right now?


    He should be. They practically live there day and night.


    Cha Jin-seong walked down the hallway and arrived at the door of the Fragrance Room. Before opening the door, he nced inside through a transparent window.


    -Seong-hwan, the percentage is still stuck at 97.


    -Just wait. Team Leader is contemting it.


    -The closer it gets to the margin of error, the more the match rate fluctuates with just one drop of additive. No matter how unique Mr. Jeong-woos intuition is, will it work?


    The two individuals engrossed in conversation seemed to be new team members.


    ncing at Han Jeong-woo in the corner, Cha Jin-seong quietly observed him as he scattered dozens of fragrance bottles and pondered incessantly.


    He judged that he shouldnt disturb him when he was so focused on his research. There would be time to express gratitude for the helpter.


    -I found it!


    -Really?


    -How did you do it?


    -For now, Ki-tae, set up the cumtion reaction experiment, and Seong-hwan,e with me to the material library. We need to search through all the hexanol derivatives.


    -Yes!


    With a click, the door opened, and Cha Jin-seong took a step back.


    Oh? Team Leader, hello.


    Han Jeong-woo greeted with a slight bow and hurriedly left the hallway with Seong-hwan.


    Cha Jin-seongs eyes lit up as he smiled at the cheerfulness of the two as they ran.