The assistant manager who used to be an aspiring actress
Assistant Manager Kang Jiwon of A Food Company is a beauty.
Her head is perfectly rounded, and the line connecting her forehead, nose, and chin is close to the golden ratio. Her eyes, set beneath straight eyebrows, are deep and melancholic, and her physique boasts superior proportions that look like a real-life filter has been applied.
Even the slyest employees, who use compliments like "Wow, you're beautiful" as often as they say "Hello," couldn't help but be sincere when they saw Assistant Manager Kang Jiwon. She was, quite simply, a beauty.
Kang Jiwon had been that way since birth. Not only were the elders in her family captivated by her, but during her school days, students from nearby schools would often take the same bus just to catch a glimpse of her face. And as is often the case with those born with natural gifts, she didn't consider it special at all.
Naturally, Jiwon graduated from the Department of Theater and Film. She practiced acting, went to auditions, performed on stage, and underlined her scripts as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
However, the attention she thought would naturally follow did not come.
She stood before the camera a few times—as an extra without a single line. She stood on the theater stage a few times—as one of the background characters with exactly one line.
There was no progress, and she never had any backing to begin with.
So, she quit acting.
Fortunately, she found a job at a medium-sized company that was at least stable. It was easier to get scolded by a boss than to sit at home waiting for a call. It was better to bow her head at customer and client complaints than to sob over a rejection notice.
Predictable misfortune and predictable happiness. Kang Jiwon's life now can be explained by those two things.
The hot lights of the stage, the heartbeat echoing in her ears, the applause that followed, and the thrill, regret, and joy when the curtain fell. Though there is no intensity like that anymore,
It's a life worth living.
A Food Company was peaceful today as well.
Minor complaints like 'I cut my hand while opening the package with scissors, please refund me' and claims that could cause slight friction between departments like 'The frozen dumplings spoiled because there were no ice packs' were received, but it was no big deal.
Those were well within the predictable range. Weren't they things that happened every day?
Assistant Manager Kang Jiwon scrolled down the inquiry board. No problem. No problem. No prob— ...'Why is there meat in the hamburger steak?'
...What is this?
She sighed and placed her hands on the keyboard.
After offering a sentence that started with 'Hello, valued customer' and politely rephrased 'Are you an alien? Don't you know what a hamburger steak is?', it was already lunchtime.
The manager slowly stood up from his seat. The other employees also rose in unison and left the office like a pack of lethargic zombies.
Assistant Manager Kang Jiwon was the last to leave the office.
What should I eat today? Most of the concerns of an unambitious office worker were like that.
She walked slowly, taking in the signs of the shops. Dumplings, ramen, steak, pasta, sandwiches...
For a brief moment, she walked like someone who had lost their soul. The price for that was a collision.
Thump.
An impact that wasn't strong, but couldn't be ignored.
Only then did she snap out of it.
...Ah. I'm sorry.
The apology was reflexive.
I was just lost in thought for a moment... Are you okay?
Release Date 2026.10.03 / Last Updated 2026.10.03