episode_0094

On the opposite side of where we were standing. So, let’s walk towards the left side of the venue and as we did, the executives and directors who were looking from the other side started turning their heads towards us.

I never expected to be surrounded by superiors like this, getting attention from higher-ups after having a mid-level position and not even being at a major meeting or a presentation related to achievements. It was quite overwhelming to face them directly.

“It’s been a while. Director Go.”

Bowing his head to the highest figure in the group gathered around Director Kang, he greeted him first.

Director Ko Won-jae. A former head of our development department who held the position Director Kang currently has until five years ago. He is one of the pillars of the top two factions in the internal political circles, representing the management line. Roughly about 3-4 of the successful products in our company, including the current popular items, were developed by him. If we count the smaller projects, there would be even more.

Anyway, he is a capable and well-liked individual, earning the respect of many employees, including myself, who once considered him a role model.

In response to my greeting, he smiled warmly and said, “Oh, Manager Jung. I’ve seen you around the company a few times, but it’s the first time we’re meeting face to face since your return, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right. Haha. I should have greeted you first…”

“Oh, come on. You must have been busy catching up with work after your return. We just need to exchange greetings and catch up when we have the chance to meet like this. Haha. By the way… you’ve changed so much that I wouldn’t recognize you if I saw you outside. The chubby uncle has turned into such a lovely lady. I thought it was a joke when I saw it in the news, but seeing it in person is really something…”

“Haha, that’s how it turned out.”

Although calling someone in their 30s a chubby uncle seemed a bit harsh, it couldn’t be denied that, in reality, he had a protruding belly, typical of abdominal obesity.

“So, did Director Yook and Director Seo greet you separately?”

Turning to the middle-aged men standing next to him, Director Ko asked. Director Yook Jung-hyuk, the sales director with a sturdy body and a bald head, and Director Seo Dong-jae, with a slightly thin and frail appearance like a dried anchovy, were the ones he was referring to.

“No, haha, it’s the first time we’re exchanging greetings like this, just like Director Ko. We’re all so busy, you know. If Manager Jung didn’t have such a noticeable appearance, we might not have recognized him.”

Director Yook replied first, accepting Director Ko’s words and glancing at me with sticky eyes.

“That’s right. Manager Jung has become the most beautiful woman in our company since its founding, haha!”

Director Seo echoed Director Yook’s words, and his gaze was not much different from Director Yook’s.

“Huh? Are you saying that after getting married through an office romance? Shouldn’t you tell everyone about it?”

“Oh, Director. It’s just a joke. Of course, I’m excluding my wife. Haha.”

Seeing Director Ko’s awkward expression, Director Yook quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, it’s nice to meet in a social setting like this. I hope I didn’t inconvenience you by calling you here.”

“Not at all. I’ve been wanting to have the opportunity to greet you and the directors separately, but it hasn’t been easy to find the chance, so I’m glad it worked out. Actually, I’ve been watching you all since earlier, wondering when you would call me.”

I wasn’t particularly interested in office politics, but as long as I was living as a company employee, I couldn’t avoid getting involved in it. Some people say that life is all about politics, especially in a place where people gather like a company. Anyway, I may not be that interested, but I’m not bad at it either. That’s why I managed to climb up to the position of team leader without missing a promotion.

“Haha, this guy. Then you should come forward and greet me first.”

“Hahaha, I have my own style. I have to play according to my rank.”

The executives in front of me had at least 3 to 5 more years of experience than me, and this team leader had been with the company since its founding.

“You’ll be a team leader soon too. Don’t draw the line and call us old-timers.”

With that, the team leader Yook patted my shoulder. But his touch felt a bit slimy, and I didn’t like the way he was looking at me earlier.

Among the three ends that a man should be cautious of, Yook, the team leader, was one end. He was known for spreading rumors if you messed with his ego, but he was trusted by the male employees, so there was no problem as long as you didn’t cross him. However, I couldn’t help but wonder if he might snap one day. Despite living together for 15 years and seeing his face every day, he had suddenly changed his attitude, making him seem like a man driven by desire.

“Haha, I’m almost 40 now. Why draw the line and call me young?”

I forced a smile and gently pushed his hand away. Trying to hide my discomfort, I bit my tongue, but the team leader Seo, who was quick-witted, read my expression like a ghost and reprimanded Yook.

“Hey, this guy. Nowadays, you can get sued for touching people like that. You were surprised, right, Manager Jung? This guy is a bit like that. You know, right? Please understand.”

Seo said as he shook my hand and scolded Yook.

Ugh, you’re the disgusting one, to be honest.

I gritted my teeth and held back from saying that.

“Ahem, let’s keep it appropriate.”

The incompetent Director Ko intervened to stop them. Otherwise, the strict Director Kang might have given them a stern warning.

If that happened, Director Ko might face some political pressure.

Although Director Ko and I were in the same room, Director Kang, Director Yook, and Director Seo were each on different lines.

Among them, only Director Kang was on the same line as Director Ko, who was the CEO, while Director Yook and Director Seo were on the line of the executive director. I could technically say that I was on the CEO’s line, but as I mentioned earlier, I didn’t go out of my way to find a line. It just naturally flowed that my direct supervisor was Director Kang and Director Ko was from the same development team. So, even in Director Ko’s eyes, I didn’t have an impressive background.

Anyway, it was clear that Director Kang pressuring the other two directors in front of him would cause trouble for the other executives. At least among the executives present here, there were only two people on the CEO’s line, including myself.

Even though the CEO didn’t attend the wedding today, the executive director who was the head of the company did, so I felt like I had to be more careful in my actions.

That’s why they dared to do such reckless things in front of the executive directors.

And it seemed like their judgment was right, as just before I joined them, something happened, and the executives followed the executive director back into the funeral hall and walked towards us.

Approaching me, the executive director stopped right in front of me. The elderly man, who looked to be in his early to mid-60s, had lively eyes as he met mine.

“Oh, Manager Jung Do-hyun? It’s nice to see you. Hehe.”

His expression was kind, like a grandfather next door, but his sharp gaze made me feel intimidated.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Executive Director.”

Still, after working at a company for 15 years, it’s natural to become familiar with the faces around you. Back when I was a rookie, the current executive was just a junior manager.

“Yeah, I heard you went through a lot. I can’t imagine how much strength it took to come back to the company like this.”

It was a bit funny to hear such words from someone who had initially wanted to let me go, but I couldn’t express my true feelings, so I just nodded in response.

“Thanks to your concern, I was able to wrap things up well and come back. Thank you.”

“I didn’t do anything. You’re the one who pulled it off. Now that you’re back at the company, let’s focus and work hard again.”

“Yes, I will work hard.”

After exchanging a brief conversation like that, I passed by the executive and the assistant executives who glanced at me briefly. Since the executive had already greeted me, it felt awkward for them to approach me with any questions, so they just kept an eye on me. After observing them for a moment, I turned to Manager Kang and asked directly.

“Manager, it seems like it’s mostly over. Can I go back now?”

“Yes, there’s no need to stay longer. Say goodbye to the assistant executives and then you can go back.”

Here, the assistant executives are of course the senior assistant executives.

“Senior Assistant, I’ll go first to take care of the subordinates.”

“Oh, okay. Your subordinates must be waiting for you…?”

“Deputy Manager Kwon Sung-yeol is with me. Rookie Kim Tae-hyun is also here.”

“Oh, really? The whole team came together? Haha. It’s nice to see such a close team spirit.”

“Thank you for your kind words. Anyway, I’ll go first.”

“Sure. Let’s meet again at the company.”

After saying goodbye, as I returned to where our team members were, the ancestral rites were already over, and my parents-in-law were bowing. It was the end of the ceremony.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Deputy Manager Kwon looked at me with sympathetic eyes as I returned.

“Sigh, it’s tiring to deal with politics even at a time like this.”

As I shrugged my shoulders and tilted my head, Deputy Manager Kwon and Kim Tae-hyun chuckled.

After a while, when the ceremony was over and it was time to take photos, I led my team members out of the venue.

“Let’s go eat.”