episode_0128

As the photo appeared on the screen, everyone turned their heads to look at me.

Yook, the team leader, who had been watching the scene with a satisfied expression, quickly shifted the focus back to himself to refresh the atmosphere.

“Ahem, then please continue with your explanation.”

“Wait a minute!”

“Why, Deputy Director Jung?”

“No, no. What are you trying to casually brush off! What is that photo?!”

I pointed at my photo still displayed on the screen and asked.

But Yook, the team leader, seemed unfazed.

“What’s the big deal? You took a body profile photo this time. Isn’t that it?”

“I’m not asking about that…! No, wait! Where did you get the photo from?”

As if he had anticipated the question, Yook pointed the laser pointer attached to the PPT remote control somewhere. Following the laser pointer with my gaze, I noticed the source of the body profile photo that had not been clearly visible before. In one corner of the screen, it said ‘Source – OO Fitness Center.’

And now that I think about it, was it the day before yesterday? I did receive a call from Trainer Kwon Young-soo. He mentioned that they were going to start promoting using the body profile photo I took, so he wanted me to be aware of it.

If the call came the day before yesterday, the distribution should have started yesterday. How did they already know about and obtain that photo so quickly?

“Ugh, my head hurts.”

Rubbing my throbbing head and sitting down, I noticed Kang, the deputy team leader, sitting next to me, stifling his laughter with a ‘chuckle, chuckle.’

“Did you know about this, Director?”

“Oh, sorry. I only found out about it hastily yesterday. Let’s continue for now.”

Yook had told Kang about it yesterday… Since I couldn’t quite grasp how the situation was unfolding, I decided to observe and judge based on the current situation.

As I quieted down, Yook proceeded with the PPT presentation.

“Now, please take a look at this.”

The screen changed, displaying an internet article.

– Successful conclusion of the ‘Solo Rider’ premiere. Who is the mysterious woman?

Under the headline of the article, a photo caught my eye.

“Phew, it’s me again…”

I had been feeling anxious ever since I was called onto the stage during the premiere and heard the sound of cameras clicking. And as I suspected, they had used my photo without permission for the article. At least they could have contacted the person involved… but I guess they wouldn’t have my phone number.

Reading through the article, it mentioned how a woman with remarkable beauty had become a hot topic among the actors at the premiere of Solo Rider, sparking controversy on social media about her identity.

Yook then pressed a few buttons, revealing a screenshot of social media posts with comments like ‘Who is this person?’, ‘Is she really married? Wow! This is me!’, ‘She’s not a celebrity? Seriously? Even though she looks like one to everyone? Compare her to the tier-1 actors next to her, she’s not inferior at all.’

“As you can see, she’s a familiar face. Although she’s wearing sunglasses, the woman in the photo is none other than Deputy Director Jung Do-yeon sitting right here.”

Once again, everyone turned to look at me. Feeling extremely self-conscious, I hurriedly covered my blushing face.

“So, what’s the point of all this? Are you suggesting that we gather the four of us here now to discuss using a professional advertising model from our company, and not even from the marketing department, but from the development department, for promotion? Is that what you’re trying to say?”

Manager Gong Jiyoung sharply criticized me. She was a woman who had risen to the position of executive in a mid-sized company with her female body. She must have faced many hardships, especially feeling the wall commonly referred to as the glass ceiling regarding gender. As someone like her, wouldn’t it be quite absurd to bring me in as a promotional model, specializing in the profession of celebrities?

Moreover, I am in the same development department as her. Although I used to be a man, now that I have become a woman, it was only natural for me to feel uncomfortable with the practice of other departments’ personnel taking away a colleague from the same department who had changed genders.

“I agree with that. Director Jung?”

Manager Go Jaewon agreed with her and called me.

“Yes, sir.”

“You are currently overseeing the development of the remaining four menus, correct?”

“Yes, the first six were completed by Manager Kang Chan here, and the remaining four are three menus that our team was already working on, with one menu being developed by another team, so I was asked to finish them all.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Haha, not at all. I am learning a lot.”

Seemingly pleased with my response, Manager Go Wonjae and even Manager Gong Jiyoung smiled subtly.

Upon hearing my response, Manager Go Wonjae, with his raised eyebrows, continued speaking to Manager Yook, who had lowered his head and was now expressionless.

“Director Jung is not idle at the moment, and she is even overseeing everything. Whose idea is it to hire a promotional model? Is this company a joke?!”

Suddenly raising his voice, Manager Go Wonjae reprimanded Manager Yook. Manager Yook, perhaps feeling intimidated, shrank his neck and body, prompting Managers Kwak and Park to step in to cover for him.

For reference, Manager Go was in the CEO line, while Managers Kwak and Park were in the executive line. The CEO started as a field worker close to the development department, while the executives specialized in marketing, leading to a tendency for factions to form among departments.

Nevertheless, as the power game continued through the debate among the managers, Manager Gong Jiyoung, who had no faction, intervened.

“Alright, everyone, we don’t have much time, let’s proceed quickly.”

Upon her words, the managers stopped their quarrel and focused on the presentation slides again. It almost felt like there were no politicians present. After all this, they would probably go out for drinks and laugh together.

“Ahem, please listen until the end before making a judgment, thank you.”

Manager Yook continued speaking.

“Although Director Jung is a talent in our company and a key figure in the current project’s development department, I am well aware of that.”

– Swish

While speaking, Manager Yook glanced at Manager Go Wonjae several times. It seemed like he was quite good at reading people.

“However, please understand that I am not making this suggestion lightly.”

As the presentation slides changed.

“I have run simulations on how to promote each model candidate and what strategy to use.”

Next, the screen displayed promotional materials and portfolios (illustrated).

First, they showed promotional materials using actress Go Eun-ah as the model, and well,

“It’s ordinary.”

“Yes, it’s conventional. To put it bluntly, it’s bland.”

Pictures of her in a youthful college student outfit eating our product or holding the product in cute poses.

Well, if we are going to continue with that strategy, we will need to refine it further. That was the basics of marketing. Moreover, using illustrations instead of the actress herself made it look even more bland.

“Yes, it’s a fail-safe formula. Internally, we believe that Go Eun-ah, the actress, will be able to handle her role well based on her past performances. However, since we heavily rely on the abilities of the actress and the photographer, we see it as a disadvantage that our involvement is limited.”

As he said, to avoid becoming a cliché, the key to successful promotional material lies in how deeply the actress immerses herself and how well the photographer captures the shots.

“Next.”

The screen transitions. The next draft appears.

A woman, who looks a bit more mature than before, is cooking with a meal kit in hand.

Hmm, it’s hard to tell from what I’ve seen so far.

Next draft.

She is holding out a lunchbox (due to its size, her arms are stretched out, emphasizing a certain area) with a compassionate smile. Perhaps the contents inside the lunchbox are the meal kit she was cooking earlier.

– Made with a mother’s love.

Suddenly, this caption appears above the illustration.

“A fresh college student model? Good. There’s a low chance of failure at least. However, as soon as I thought of this concept, I realized that no other idea could surpass it.”

Then, Manager Yook’s grand explanation follows.

“In the harsh modern society, for college students living alone in dorms or apartments away from their parents, a mother’s touch will always be a source of longing. That’s why, once, a lunchbox made by a famous celebrity became a hit, and the catchphrase ‘it’s a bargain’ emerged. Trends come and go. Now it’s time to use the stale advertising title of a mother’s touch.”

“Wait, what does that have to do with Jung Do-yeon, the assistant manager?”

When Manager Kwak interrupts and asks a question, Manager Yook becomes even more excited and continues to speak.

“Great question! Now, a mother’s touch! If mothers are truly portrayed as mothers of their age like the former celebrity, wouldn’t it be boring? Look here!”

He flips the screen. Numerous animation characters, all female, appear. They exude a quiet charm, looking like they’re in their 30s.

And as he flips to the next page, women who seem to be taken from webtoons are shown. Similarly sophisticated, but perhaps more provocative than before, indicating they might be from adult webtoons.

But suddenly, animation and webtoons? What’s going on here?

“These are the images of married women or mothers that the younger generation perceives nowadays. Keep in mind that they are more familiar with animations and webtoons than our generation.”

“I… What exactly are you trying to say?”

Embarrassed, Manager Go Won-jae asks, his face turning red.

“I mentioned that I decided on the direction of the promotion with ‘a mother’s touch’ as the keyword. Now, look at Assistant Manager Jung Do-yeon!”

Everyone turns to look at him.

“As far as I know, Assistant Manager Jung Do-yeon’s two children are currently in middle and high school, right?”

“Yes, yes.”

Feeling overwhelmed by his presence, they stutter their response.

“There isn’t much of an age difference between them and current college students. Yes. The external conditions are clearly suitable for a mother figure!”

The others nod in agreement.

“Furthermore, as pointed out by Director Go Won-jae earlier, since he is currently overseeing the menu and developing the recipes himself, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that even if he makes it himself. So, currently! If we use Director Jung Do-yeon as the promotional model for the project led by Director Jung Do-yeon, it’s inevitable that she perfectly fits the image of a mother’s cooking. That’s why I want to utilize her as the promotional model! And above all else!!!”

His PPT, reaching its peak, finally headed towards the finishing stage.

It was a single picture that would appear on the screen next.

It was a scene of handing over a lunchbox in the same composition as before, but this time with a blush on the cheeks, tilting the head slightly to the side while looking straight ahead. It was a picture that clearly conveyed the intention of wanting to feed the lunchbox made by oneself to the one they love, who seemed embarrassed but willing.

“With this, even the professors’ wallets can open!”

For the older generation, what does home-cooked meal, a meal made by one’s wife, mean? Wasn’t the original purpose of Vice President Yook’s passionate appeal to fry even the saliva, for this moment?

Despite my thoughts, those who are currently living such a life. Except for Executive Director Gong Ji-young, the other men (including three directors and even Manager Kang) stood up from their seats and applauded as if possessed.

What kind of life are you all living?

While thinking that, I…

“That’s… convincing!”

-Applause!

I stood up and joined in the applause.

It seems I, too, was an unavoidably lonely head of the household in this new era.