episode_0086

I was taken aback and turned around to see a familiar face.

“Oh, surprise. It’s Manager Song.”

Right next to us was the team leader of the Development Team 2, Manager Song Hyun-sik. He was two years older than me, and we were close like brothers in the company.

“Huh? Who are you to startle me like that…?”

The fact that I had become a woman had not been communicated to the company yet. More precisely, up to the director level, they knew that I had taken a temporary leave due to a minor illness. Furthermore, although Manager Song Hyun-sik and I were close, I had asked him to be careful with his words, so he had no way of guessing my true identity.

“Um…”

Thinking about how to reveal the truth, I suddenly had an idea.

“Ah!”

I handed him my employee ID hanging around my neck.

“What, what is this? A new employee?”

Manager Song looked at my ID.

“Yeah? Jeong… Dohyeon? Is this…?”

“It’s me. Manager Song. Just a moment.”

Saying that, I took out my phone and showed him an article about TS syndrome, then handed him the phone. He took it and read the article, his eyes widening in surprise.

“What? Oh, no. Wait. Is it really Manager Jeong?”

“Yes. It’s me. How have you been?”

“Are you kidding me right now? What’s going on? Did Manager Jeong ask you to do this?”

I had no reason to play such a prank. Of course, it would be strange if he believed me right away. Anyway, today I would have to have conversations like this with many people in the department. It felt more exhausting than work itself, and my head was starting to ache.

“Why would I play a prank like that, calling you ‘hyung’? It just happened.”

Taking the phone back from Manager Song’s hand, I patted his shoulder as if to say it was bothersome.

“Take it easy. Just think of it as a colleague who looks a bit different due to a minor illness.”

“This seems a bit beyond that.”

“Well, that’s how it is. Yeah.”

As if it was nothing, Manager Song shrugged and walked into the partition of Development Team 1. Just then, Deputy Manager Kwon and Kim Taehyun, who were sitting in their seats, greeted me.

“Manager, you’re here! I heard you were coming today, but seeing you in the office feels strange. Hehe.”

“Exactly. Even I felt unfamiliar coming to work. By the way, you’ve gained some weight. Deputy Kwon? You looked so thin when I saw you a month ago.”

“Haha, well, my wife has been saying she’s too skinny these days, so she’s been making a lot of stamina-boosting foods for me.”

For your information, Deputy Kwon has been married for less than a year.

“Is that so? Haha, good for you. Oh, Taehyun, it’s been a while.”

“Yes, Manager. It’s been a month. How have you been?”

“Oh, just taking a break.”

As we exchanged greetings and caught up with each other after a long time, Manager Song, who seemed to not understand, followed us all the way to my seat.

“Good morning, Manager Song.”

As Deputy Manager Kwon stepped forward to greet him, Manager Song waved his hand as if annoyed, then quickly approached me.

“No, really. Manager Jeong. Let’s say I believe you’re Manager Jeong, but can you explain in more detail? What exactly is going on…?”

At that moment, a handsome man entered the office and walked towards the partition where the Development Team was located. His familiar silhouette and gait.

He quickly approached the Development Department and stopped in front of me. After looking back and forth between my employee ID hanging around my neck and my face, he finally opened his mouth in disbelief.

“Haha, are you really Manager Jeong?”

“Ah… Yes. It’s been a while, Director Kang.”

The woman who appeared to be at least a head taller than me, standing at a height of 176cm, taller than the average height of Korean men by 3.5cm, was none other than my direct superior, Manager Kang Chanhyuk.

“Manager, are you here?”

Manager Song, who had suddenly appeared by my side, greeted Manager Kang with respect.

“Oh, Manager Song. Good morning. Are you so curious that you’ve come to the neighboring team this early in the morning?”

“Manager, did you know? Manager Jung has turned into a woman…”

“Oh, this person. When Chairman Jeong was debating whether to promote Manager Jung, I pushed for a sabbatical.”

“Haha, I appreciate that.”

Of course, with my experience, I could have moved to another company, but anyway, I should be grateful for being able to rest and receive money.

“Anyway, everyone else should know… Attention!”

At Manager Kang’s booming voice, everyone in the office, that is, everyone in the development department, turned their gaze towards us.

“Ah, I have an announcement regarding Manager Jung Dohyun’s return. You know about TS syndrome, right? It’s been a hot topic lately. Manager Jung took a 3-month sabbatical due to that and has returned…”

With those words, the eyes in the office began to widen, and the noise inside the office started to get louder.

– Murmurs –

Watching that scene for a moment, Manager Kang seemed to have expected this and left them alone for a moment before raising both hands as if to calm them down.

“Alright, I know it’s confusing, but we’re very busy and short-handed. Let’s get back on track and do well. Manager Jung, do you have anything to add?”

Manager Kang turned to me and asked. It was a sudden suggestion, so I hesitated for a moment, then looked around the office and spoke up.

“Um… I had some personal reasons for taking a break and coming back, but anyway, since Manager Jung Dohyun, the team leader of Development Team 1 that you all know, is the same person, please treat her kindly. Oh, she also changed her name to Jung Doyeon in relation to her illness, so please call her that. I look forward to working with you all in the future.”

With a deep bow and a greeting, Manager Kang started clapping, and soon everyone in the office followed suit with a brief round of applause.

“Alright, that’s the announcement. It might be chaotic, but let’s start this week with energy.”

With that short announcement, Manager Kang went back into his office.

“It’s hot. It’s getting heated.”

Manager Song, who was standing next to me, said, and I nodded in agreement.

“Yeah. It’s going to be noisy for a while. I didn’t expect this, but… it’s difficult.”

Well, if I had cancer or had just returned from a major surgery, I might have received sympathetic looks, but the curious gazes directed at me now were probably born out of curiosity. With a population of approximately 51 million in the country, only 20 people, which is about 0.00004%, have a chance of winning the lottery, which is only about 3-4 times higher than the 0.000012% chance of winning.

But what if the person who won that lottery was in the same company, in the same department? How could you resist that curiosity? Probably, if this were a school and not a company, everyone would have come running to me, asking all sorts of questions.

That’s why it’s fortunate. That this is a company.

“Want to grab a drink tonight? I have a lot to ask.”

Manager Song pretended to pour a drink while looking at me, but I gestured to decline.

“Sorry, but it might be difficult for a while. I’m on a diet.”

“Huh! What? The great Jung Dohyun? No, you said it’s Jung Doyeon now, right? Anyway, Manager Jung not only rejected alcohol but is also on a diet? Tell me honestly. Are you really Manager Jung?”

“I had some personal reasons. Maybe next time… I might be able to make it the week after next.”

“Sigh, what a shame. I had so many questions.”

“Haha, ask me later, ask me later. Let’s focus on work now.”

“Okay. Take care.”

After seeing Manager Song off, I returned to my seat and slumped down in my chair.

“Ah, already feeling tired.”

Excessive attention leads to excessive mental fatigue. I feel like my shoulders are stiff for no reason, so I take a moment to rest.

-Swish

“Excuse me, Manager? Would you like a drink?”

Someone approached me at my desk, and it was Kim Taehyun. As he came closer and handed me something, I shifted my gaze to see what it was.

“Oh, a Park X drink. Thanks, I’ll enjoy it.”

The refreshing taste of the drink, touted as a national fatigue recovery aid.

I accepted the drink from Kim Taehyun and quickly finished the bottle.

“Ah, that’s good.”

“Please give me the bottle. I’ll dispose of it.”

“Huh? Oh, I’ll throw it away. I’ll go to the break room and make some coffee.”

“Oh, I just made some coffee. Please have this. I’ll take the bottle.”

Kim Taehyun quickly went back to his seat, grabbed a paper cup, and offered it to me.

“Oh, how thoughtful of you.”

“Haha, I heard it from Manager Kwon. He always starts his day with a cup of coffee.”

“Anyway, let’s focus on work. Let’s not worry about appearances…”

As if displeased, Manager Kwon began to sarcastically criticize Kim Taehyun.