episode_0104

“Just move with one car. We’re going to call a driver later anyway once we start drinking.”

I nodded at Manager Kang’s words and opened the door to my car.

“Let’s take my car.”

I needed the car anyway to pick up Kim Taehyun and go to work tomorrow morning.

“Is that so?”

Manager Kang opened the passenger door without any hesitation.

“Just sit in the back.”

“I’m not here to play boss. Just drive already.”

Manager Kang is someone who separates work and personal life.

In other words.

“Are the kids doing well these days? Our kids might end up failing because they don’t study. The cost of private education keeps rising, but why isn’t studying as effective as the cost? Ugh.”

Someone who used to be quiet at work becomes talkative in private settings. The way of speaking changes from a formal business tone to a casual neighborhood style.

“Well, is studying the only answer? I’d be happy if our kids just grow up healthy…”

“Isn’t that just self-deception? Your kids are good at studying.”

“Well… they’re not bad at it, but…”

As a parent, it’s inevitable to feel proud when your children work hard and do well. The saying “children are fools” exists for a reason.

“Look at this. And they look like you, pretty… no, handsome… well, they have good personalities, right?”

“Well, I guess so.”

“Haha! See, by acknowledging that, you indirectly praised yourself. Get it?”

“So, are you not fond of me, Manager?”

As the traffic light turned red, I turned to look at him.

We locked eyes. A moment of silence. And his face turning redder.

“You, you little… you’ve become a complete monster?”

“Oh, so you don’t like it?”

I said, taking my hands off the steering wheel and gently supporting my face with a smile, a gesture known as a face pillow.

My friends or children might think I’m crazy, but after 15 years of being under Manager Kang’s supervision at work, this was nothing.

Well, that’s how close we are to joke around like this.

-Click!

“Wow, it turned out great. This will be the talk of the company’s intranet tomorrow.”

The problem is, Manager Kang knows my personality and has his own way of dealing with it.

“Oh, Manager Kang, no, Jinhyuk. That’s embarrassing!”

Manager Kang pointed ahead without even looking at me.

“Hey, the light changed. Drive.”

But I still pleaded while looking at Manager Kang.

“No, please delete it…”

-Bang!

In the end, I had to start driving due to the honking of cars behind me, but my attention was still on his phone.

“Delete it when you have something nice to say.”

“Yeah, who poses like that? This guy is starting to take advantage of his good looks, can’t you see?”

“Taking advantage? And honestly, you were good-looking even before the transformation. You even asked why you came to the development department instead of the sales department when you joined.”

“I didn’t know back then that you would become such a jerk… well, TS disease isn’t all bad. You used to hate exercising, but now you’re taking body profile pictures?”

Manager Kang, who usually nagged me about my chubby belly, was now questioning my sudden change. Well, he did take care of my health, but if the listener perceives it as nagging, then it’s not just nagging.

Anyway, seeing how he reacted to my starting to exercise, it’s clear that he’s grateful to me.

“I’m excited. I wonder how the atmosphere on the intranet will be tomorrow… hehe.”

Oh, I take that back. I might have a lifelong love-hate relationship with that guy.

***

When we arrived at the dinner venue, only about half of the seats were taken. Apart from Manager Kang and me, the other four people were from the sales department.

Why is it that there are more people from other departments at my promotion celebration? The development department consisted only of me and Manager Kang. Team 2’s Manager Song Hyun-sik couldn’t attend today because he had something to do at home, and Quality Management Team Manager Oh was in self-isolation due to being in close contact with a confirmed case.

Well, to be fair, it was quite surprising that there were actually 10 people attending the sudden dinner gathering that was arranged just two days ago.

“Oh, you’re here? Come over here and have a seat.”

As Manager Kang and I entered the reserved room, we were warmly greeted by Manager Yook. Sitting next to him was Manager Kim.

Not too long ago, I couldn’t imagine being in the same room with Kim Tae-hyun without any negative feelings due to his work, but here he was.

“Oh, welcome. Manager Jung… no, Assistant Manager Jung. Congratulations on your promotion, even though it’s a bit late.”

Indeed, it was surprising to see Manager Kim congratulate me without showing any hint of her true feelings, as if she genuinely meant it, despite our recent history.

“Thank you, Manager Kim.”

“Well, it’s nice. Seeing colleagues from different departments getting along so well. It’s rare for female team leaders to get along so well.”

Manager Yook smiled broadly.

Doesn’t that man even have Jung Do-hyun in his mind? After working together face to face for over 10 years? It’s a bit disappointing, to be honest. Both Jung Do-hyun and Jung Do-yeon are me, but the years of experience make the male identity stronger.

Anyway, we followed their guidance and took our seats in the room.

I sat directly across from Manager Yook.

“Oh, how nice. It’s an honor to sit in front of today’s protagonist.”

Nice my foot. He clearly intended it that way. That guy’s so obvious.

Well, I guess you can’t think about work without alcohol and women in the sales department. There’s a reason why the culture of entertaining clients exists.

As Manager Kang and I sat down, the rest of the group arrived one after another, and the room soon became lively.

With three managers, two assistant managers (including me), and five managers, the group was complete.

As the table was set with food and drinks, one of the hosts and the highest-ranking manager, Manager Yook Jung-hyuk, stood up to start the gathering.

“Thank you all for coming. The gathering turned out to be a bit larger than expected, but anyway, this is a celebration of Assistant Manager Jung’s promotion in the development department. How about Manager Jung giving a toast?”

Ugh, I can’t stand this atmosphere. But well, I haven’t been slacking off at work, so I stood up and spoke.

“Uh… First of all, thank you for attending this celebration of my promotion.”

I bowed deeply.

“Personally, it’s been quite a rollercoaster ride recently, but somehow I made it here. Although you all oversee various departments and teams, we are still one company, one family, right? Let’s not hold grudges against each other and continue to work together diligently and sensibly! Let’s communicate, harmonize, and have fun, shall we? Let’s call it ‘So-Hwa-Jae’ as a shortened version, meaning to communicate, harmonize, and have fun!”

“So-Hwa-Jae!”

Even I have to admit it was a neat toast. Especially for those in managerial positions. They seemed to enjoy it, being able to understand a few terms used by the younger generation.

How did I know that? Because I thought so.

Oh, am I still like that?

Anyway, the dinner started off in a lively atmosphere. Everyone began by congratulating me and then proceeded to ask about various things they were curious about.

It felt like I was back at a school reunion.

No, rather, since these people were closer to me than my old classmates, the questions about my current situation were more detailed, as they knew me better.

“Since your body has changed, have there been any changes in your taste or sense of smell? I’m curious if it might affect the development of the new product.”

Questions about the same work.

“Well, you know… I understand, but it’s a bit awkward to use the women’s restroom when all the company employees were male managers. But… every time Manager Jung suddenly comes into the men’s restroom, I get really nervous. Can’t I just use the women’s restroom?”

Petty complaints like this.

“I heard you took body profile pictures. Show me the photos.”

Even awkward requests like this.

It’s really awkward to be in the spotlight, isn’t it?

Especially during those tense moments.

“Here, Manager Jung. Try this.”

Assistant Manager Yook said as he placed something on my plate. I was worried he might do something inappropriate, but he seemed to have become a gentlemanly figure, trying to take care of everything, which made me feel burdened.

It would have been better if he had made a sexist remark, but since he was taking care of a subordinate from another department, no one could say anything. Even if his intentions were obvious.

“Would you like to switch seats?”

Assistant Manager Kang tried to help in the middle, but…

“Oh, Assistant Manager Kang. Your glass is empty~.”

Because of Assistant Manager Kim, who seemed to be targeting Assistant Manager Kang, it felt like we were being played against each other.

And then.

“Manager Jung, do you know how to eat hongeo?”

He asked, placing something on my plate.

“Yes, I do. I’ll eat it. Yes.”

I forced a smile and picked up the unfamiliar food with my chopsticks.

“What is this?”

Of course, I thought it was hongeo, but it was a completely different form that I had never seen before.

“It’s a delicacy. Eat it. I’m specially taking care of you.”

Inside was a deep red color, and the outside was the characteristic dull color of sliced hongeo, a part that was unfamiliar even to me, who occasionally ate hongeo.

Anyway, since it was served at the restaurant, I thought it wouldn’t be something inedible, so I put it in my mouth and chewed, finding the flavor unique.

-Swallowing hard-

“So, what is this, Assistant Manager Yook?”

To which Assistant Manager Yook, with his usual oily smile… no, with a somewhat lecherous? That kind of smile, answered.

“That? It’s hongeo testicle.”

– Spit!

This bastard… calling it hongeo testicle…

Am I… a joke?!