episode_0103

Weekday evening at the office.

“Well then, Manager… I mean, Assistant Manager. I’ll leave first today.”

Kim Tae-hyun finished preparing to leave work and nodded his head.

“Oh, okay. Can you go in by yourself?”

It was a tone and question that could be used with our kids, but I didn’t feel any discomfort at all. In fact, he felt like a son to me, half my age.

“Haha, I’m not a kid… And I’ve been coming to work alone even when you’re not here, Manager. Of course, it might be a bit lonely going alone.”

“What? This guy…? What, did I chauffeur Tae-hyun around all this time just to be his buddy?”

Seeing my expression turn angry, Kim Tae-hyun quickly waved his hands in denial.

“Oh, come on. I’m always grateful. But… even though I don’t know about other things, I know about this, so I thought it might be a bit awkward going alone.”

Yeah, I felt a bit awkward driving alone these days. I’ve gotten used to having Kim Tae-hyun with me.

“Haha, just kidding. Anyway, be careful going in. I’ll check on you tonight and pick you up in the morning… No, I’ll check on you tonight and let you know.”

“Okay, then. I’ll go first. Assistant Manager, fighting!”

“Go ahead.”

Kim Tae-hyun went in first, and I sat back down, looking at the clock on the office wall.

The reason I let Kim Tae-hyun go first, unlike usual. That was because…

“Assistant Manager Jung. Have you been waiting long?”

A person entered the space of the Development Team 1 without giving me a chance to think.

“Oh, Manager Kang. No, I just finished.”

It was Manager Kang Chan-hyuk from the Food Development Department.

“Good. Let’s go.”

He said as he turned around and walked out of the partition. I quickly grabbed my bag and followed him.

“Let’s go quickly. The others have already left.”

It seemed urgent. And sure enough, Manager Kang’s phone rang.

“Oh, really? Already? Okay. We’ll leave now, so about 2, 30 minutes? We’ll try to get there as soon as possible.”

He hung up the phone and let out a deep sigh.

“Phew, these days, the mindset of MZs who consider company dinners as work is understandable, isn’t it?”

He said, shaking his head.

“Manager, technically speaking, I’m not a part of the MZ generation. It’s a close call.”

In Korean standards, the M generation starts from those born in 1985, and I was born in 1982, so it’s a close call.

“Haha! Oh, really? From what I see, you look more like a Z generation than an M.”

Even though I’m technically part of the M generation being born in 1982, well… I just laughed at Manager Kang’s words.

“Anyway, sigh. We’re done now, but some have already arrived? Huh, interesting.”

It’s not like there are only salary thieves… It’s now 6:10. In other words, it’s not that we’re late, but they finished too quickly and left.

“Well, what can we do. They live in their own world.”

“No, but it’s supposed to be a congratulatory event for my promotion to Assistant Manager.”

That’s right. I successfully got promoted to Assistant Manager this time. That’s why Kim Tae-hyun called me Manager earlier.

Anyway, on the day of my promotion to Assistant Manager, we had a dinner with the people from the Development Department, and I completed my promotion to Assistant Manager amidst many congratulations.

But if you ask what kind of dinner it was, I’ll just say it was a dinner that suddenly came up the day before yesterday.

It was during lunchtime the day before yesterday, on my way to a cafe after having lunch with my subordinates as usual.

“Oh, Manager Jung! No, now it’s Assistant Manager Jung. Haha.”

The familiar yet unpleasant voice echoed from behind, causing me to turn around. To my surprise, Manager Yuk Jung-hyuk from the sales department was smiling at me.

“Ahaha… Hello, Manager Yuk.”

As I greeted him as the representative, Deputy Manager Kwon and Kim Tae-hyun beside me also nodded. However, it seemed that Manager Yuk didn’t even notice. Well, he probably saw us but didn’t bother to acknowledge it.

Manager Yuk had a tendency to favor women… to put it bluntly, he was more friendly towards women and cold towards men. It’s not uncommon for a man to have such a preference, but it’s different to openly display that preference.

Manager Yuk had a particularly strong preference and wielded power, making it difficult to deal with.

What was it called that Dayoung used to refer to people like him…?

“Yeo… Yeo… Yeomi?”

Ah!

“Yeo-misae! (Crazy about women!)”

“What?”

Oh no! I blurted it out without realizing. What a huge mistake!

“What, what bird? What does that mean, Director Jung?”

Fortunately, Manager Yuk just chuckled, apparently not understanding the meaning.

It’s good that he didn’t understand, but how do I move past this?

Just as I was pondering, Kim Tae-hyun quickly intervened and made up an excuse, and thankfully Manager Yuk seemed to accept it with a nod.

Phew, that was a close call.

I breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Kim Tae-hyun with my eyes before turning back to Manager Yuk.

As I did, Manager Yuk took a step closer to me, placing his hand on my shoulder.

“By the way, as a congratulations for your promotion, I’ll treat you to a meal.”

As he said that, he casually brushed his thumb over my shoulder.

Ugh, it’s uncomfortable.

It felt like a bug crawling on my shoulder, that level of discomfort.

When you read about it in books, you don’t realize how it feels until it happens to you.

With great effort, I forced a smile and replied, “Haha, I appreciate the gesture.”

“Oh, don’t be like that. I’ll treat you to something nice. How about a meal this weekend when you’re free?”

He said, sliding his hand down my back.

Wait, aren’t you a married man! Why are you doing this to me, even if you are an attractive woman now, the real person you’ve worked with for over a decade is a man, right?

How would Kim Tae-hyun feel being treated like this by Manager Kim?

A mix of disgust and embarrassment rose in me, feeling like I was about to vomit.

Kim Tae-hyun said I saved him, but why don’t I have a boss like that?!

Help me, Manager Kang!

Even though I thought that, it actually happened.

Out of nowhere, Manager Kang appeared and quickly approached, standing beside me.

“Manager Jung is here too? Well, what brings you here to see Manager Jung?”

Despite being in his mid-40s, Manager Kang had a well-maintained physique. Even someone like me, who was used to being in a position of authority, still felt intimidated by Manager Kang’s presence. With Manager Kang being who he was, even if he was ahead in the hierarchy, Manager Yuk couldn’t stand up to him.

“Oh, uh… Manager Kang. It’s nothing. Just congratulating Director Jung on his promotion and suggesting we grab a meal sometime.”

“Haha, I see. But why the hand?”

“No, no. It’s not like that. I just gave you a pat on the back for encouragement.”

Mr. Kang turned to me as if asking if it was true. I cautiously nodded my head, not wanting to cause a scene, and we moved on with a nonchalant atmosphere forming.

Yeah, we must have just moved on nonchalantly.

And anytime there was an opportunity, he would have suggested grabbing a meal together for the same reason.

But.

“Since we’re already here, let’s have a congratulatory dinner with higher-ups. Nowadays, saying ‘Let’s grab a meal sometime’ is synonymous with ‘Let’s not eat’, so while we’re at it, let’s make some plans. Let’s invite people from other departments as well. Well, the dinner expenses… it’s to celebrate Director Jung, so our Development Department will cover it, right. Of course, the Sales Department, who said they would support us, will chip in too, right?”

Manager Yook, who was hoping for a quiet meal with just the two of us, couldn’t hide his surprise when the situation suddenly changed.

“Y-yes, of course. I’ll check with our department as well. Haha.”

And so, my promotion celebration unexpectedly grew into a big event, spreading through most departments collaborating with the Development Department through word of mouth. It turned into a dinner gathering with nearly 10 people, including 4 managers and 6 directors, which was quite a story to tell.

Oh, Mr. Kang. Please~ Aaaah! Why are you doing this again! This is increasing my workload, you know!

“Avoiding the wolf and ending up in the tiger’s den, huh. Haha.”

And so, I sat there, neither laughing nor crying, feeling only disappointment.

Be careful what you wish for, even if it’s a small one.