Three years had passed, he wasn't the vice manager but now the Manager. The glasses ma—No! Mr. Moon Hyo seop who was the manager before him, was now the Vice president.
Mr. Park Hyungmin, the foul mouthed old man with a foul looking face–a face only his mother would pity– had lost his job as the vice president months after Haneul started as the vice manager. The man was arrested for workplace harassment, the man went around harassing good looking guys, his mission to make their work life hell.
Jang Haneul had also been a victim for awhile but Wang Naneun was always there to back him up. Effortlessly. Like swatting a fly with a nuclear missile.
Mr. Park might have hated Jang Haneul –and Wang Naneun even more– but he knew he couldn't cross someone under the boss's protection. He also tried to scam a big name who was a frequent visitor with his wife. Of course he would get arrested, He was a walking HR violation.
She had always been weird—but in the way a thunderstorm is weird. Beautiful, terrifying, and something you pretend not to notice while praying it doesn't notice you.
When the dust settled, she promoted him.
No long meetings. No formal interviews. Just a post-it on his desk that read, "Congrats, Manager." Smiley face included. In glitter gel pen. Almost like it was natural and she'd expected this to happen.
He couldn't believe that Wang Naneun-ssi would promote him to the manager position, she could have easily hired some Seoul university elite with ten certificates and Zero emotional range to fill the gaps.
Jang Haneul had been looking down on himself. After all, he studied at Harvard. He was already an elite from Harvard with many certificates,he just didn't fit into the 'zero emotional range' category or the cold, calculative and lifeless type corporate usually preferred.
Mr. Moon had told him not to worry and told him to seek him if he needed help. And he meant it. The man had supported him all through these years and they had become close friends.
There was just one strange thing while all of these things transpired.
Jang Haneul was alone in the break room, chewing convenience store kimbap in silence. The vending machine hums. The microwave beeps. He looked deep in thought.
Wang Naneun walks in with her usual unnerving confidence, clutching a canned grape soda. She instantly notices him and walks to his seat.
"Have you considered saving the world yet?"
This. This is what is strange.
Haneul without even looking up. He merely picked at his food as he replied to her.
"Have you considered seeing a professional?" He took a bite of the kimbap.
Wang Naneun's brows scrunched as she considered his question. "Not necessary. I've been medically cleared."
Haneul raised his head, his eyes wide in disbelief. "By a real doctor?"
Wang Naneun completely ignores the jab, she didn't care about it. Her face took on a serious expression. Taut and grave.
"There's still time. The realm of Esdros is weakening. We need someone… competent...with hotel management experience..." The last part sounded like gas. How unbelievable!
Jang Haneul laughed, "Right. Because interdimensional demon lords are really concerned about bed linens and online reviews."
"It's more about logistics and crisis coordination. And you don't panic easily. Even when I ask weird things." More and more lies. Jang Haneul knew how to tell if a person was crazy or not.
"That's not calm. That's resignation." He chuckled.
She places the soda down in front of him, like an offering.
Na-neun turned around to leave. "I'll ask again tomorrow."
"Of course you will."
He watched her leave. Untouchable. Glorious. Completely insane.
Who would have thought that the infamous President M of Pinnacle Hotels—shrouded in mystery and known to be ruthless—was just a crazy cult worshipper?
He chuckled.
He remembered the day of his interview like the back of his hand.
FLASHBACK
The door clicked shut behind Mrs. Kim, and the echo of her heels faded down the corridor.
Wang Na-neun didn't move. She stood still, arms folded, her sunglasses now resting atop her head. Her gaze lingered on the space Mrs. Kim had just vacated, unreadable but far from idle.
Silence bloomed in the room, dense and electric.
Haneul sat stiffly, unsure if he should speak. The interview had been strange from the start, but now—now it felt like the real test had just begun.
Na-neun's voice cut through the silence. Cool. Measured. Dangerous.
"She doesn't like me," she said, half-amused. "Most people in this building don't."
Haneul said nothing. He sensed it wasn't a complaint—just a fact.
"They obey me because I own the chessboard they're playing on." She walked slowly toward the table, her fingers brushing the polished wood like it was a familiar creature.
"But people like Park Hyungmin?" She scoffed. "They hate losing control. They hate people like you. Bright, clean, untouched by rot."
She stopped in front of him, leaning slightly forward, meeting him at eye level.
"Congratulations," she murmured, "you've just made your first enemy."
Haneul inhaled through his nose. "Do I... have your support?"
Na-neun tilted her head. "No."
A beat of panic, quickly buried.
"You'll have to earn it," she added. "Loyalty's expensive around here."
She turned away. Just as she reached the door, she paused—then glanced at him over her shoulder.
Her voice dropped.
"Are you interested in saving worlds, Jang Haneul?"
He blinked. "What?" ..."...Like customer service training?"
Naneun (smiling faintly): "Something like that."
Wow. She's really pretty. ...And possibly crazy.
He shook it off. She was the CEO. She probably just liked weird metaphors.
Don't develop a crush. Be professional. ...Wait did she just say 'a realm on the verge of collapse' again?
She smiled, slow and subtle. "Good."
Then, like a whisper across the room: "I'll be watching you."
He stood up suddenly. "Wait—why me?"
Na-neun merely chuckled, "well let's just say that I like your face.." she turned like she owned gravity.
"Oh—and Haneul-ssi?" she said smoothly, "Next time someone underestimates you... don't explain yourself. Just prove them wrong."
The door shut behind her, leaving only the cold hum of the air conditioner and the faintest trace of jasmine in the air.
END OF FLASHBACK
When Haneul thought about himself from back then, he felt like dunking himself underwater. A crush? On his cult-obsessed boss? Him?
God forbid he experiences that crush again. His princess Diane couldn't be a crazy person like Wang Naneun-ssi. What kind of weird name even is Wang Naneun? "I am king" ?
what were her parents even thinking while giving her such a self absorbed name.
Wang Naneun was strange woman, cult and self absorbed, had a weird name. Possibly insane to boot.
But not a bad person.