Chapter 2 : Celebrity-Level Presidential Candidate

“Then, let’s go with Director Bong’s suggestion, and we’ll finalize the details in the next meeting.”

The general direction was roughly decided.

As Director Bong suggested, they would go with a “cute” concept.

Not everyone agreed with the idea.

They just didn’t have a better alternative.

‘A cute president? This is going to be a disaster…’

‘I should’ve run when New Wind Party invited me to join!’

‘I’m screwed!!!’

With these mixed feelings, the party members left the conference room.

The private strategy meeting concluded at 9 a.m.

Chief Secretary Han Seoyoung slumped into her chair.

Now that the crisis was over, exhaustion washed over her.

‘Running to the hospital in the morning, preparing materials, dealing with the senior members… I feel like I’m going to die.’

It felt like her brain was slightly melted.

As she sighed, Kang Jiwoo came into her view.

****

Suddenly, Kang Jiwoo looked like a little girl in elementary school.

Sitting alone in the empty conference room, she was intensely focused on something.

As Seoyoung peered closer, she saw Jiwoo playing with her hands.

She was using her index and middle fingers like human legs, making them “walk” across the table.

“Shooong~”

Her finger-human jumped between desks, making sound effects with her mouth.

‘She’s acting like a complete kid.’

TS Syndrome, they said.

Even Seoyoung found it hard to believe.

If the hospital hadn’t confirmed it was the same person, she would still have doubts.

Grumble—

An embarrassing sound echoed in the conference room.

Jiwoo shrugged her shoulders and clutched her stomach.

“Candidate-nim, shall we go get some breakfast?”

****

Jiwoo averted her eyes like a shy child.

“Candidate-nim?”

“…B-burger.”

She mumbled softly like a little kid.

Seoyoung frowned slightly, feeling a little impatient.

“What did you say?”

“Ha-hamburger… Can I have one…?”

Her heart skipped a beat.

‘Cute!’

Her fatigue and frustration melted away in an instant.

If there were such a thing as a human marshmallow, it would feel like this.

She almost felt like pinching Jiwoo’s cheeks.

But doubts crept in.

‘Could her previous personality have disappeared completely?’

Seoyoung decided to test Jiwoo.

“Jiwoo, little one. Did you want a hamburger? Should I get you a kid’s meal?”

“I’m not a kid; I’m the candidate…”

“Hmm. Candidate-nim—no, Jiwoo sunbae. Are you really still in there?”

Jiwoo’s lips started to quiver as she pouted.

She looked like she was about to cry.

‘Did I push too hard?’

Suddenly, she remembered the doctor’s advice.

Not to dig too deeply into issues of identity.

They warned that it could have adverse effects on the patient.

‘I’m sorry, sunbae. But you’ve become so cute that I can’t help but wonder.’

Seoyoung patted Jiwoo’s head gently.

Holding her small hand, they left the conference room.

“Let’s go get some hamburgers. Since you’re a kid, you can get a kid’s meal. It even comes with a toy.”

“…I don’t need a toy.”

‘Is she sulking?’

Until yesterday, she had been the chief secretary to a presidential candidate.

Now, after just one night, she felt like an aunt entertaining her niece.

‘Her hands are so soft and squishy. Just holding them is therapeutic…’

She squeezed Jiwoo’s hand.

This change wasn’t entirely a bad thing.

Kids love McDonald’s because it gives out toys with the kids’ meal.

Of course, Seoyoung didn’t suggest burgers just for the toy.

As an adult, she didn’t play with toys.

If she had any hobby, it was thinking about policy.

But why…why couldn’t she take her eyes off the toy?

“Candidate-nim. If you want to play with the toy, you can.”

“N-no… I don’t want to…”

“You’ve been staring at it since we got here, so it’s hard to believe that.”

Seoyoung quickly assembled the toy and placed it in front of Jiwoo.

It was a wind-up dolphin toy that flapped its tail.

“Feel free to play with it.”

“I’m fine…”

“Well, I’ll leave it here for whenever you feel like it.”

The toy sat in front of her.

Seoyoung really was pure-hearted.

Even though Jiwoo had turned into a kid, she wouldn’t actually play with such a cheap toy, right?

“Now, as you eat, listen up. As you heard in the meeting, we’ve decided to bank on your cuteness. It’s ridiculous, right? I think so too.”

Creak, creak.

It really was ridiculous.

But Jiwoo could understand the party members’ thoughts.

They had no other options.

“We’ll discuss the specific strategy in tomorrow’s meeting. For today, I’ll help you get acclimated. The only clothes you have are the T-shirt and shorts we quickly bought, so let’s get some more outfits and fix up your hair…”

Creak, creak.

Betting on her cuteness.

For Jiwoo, once nicknamed the “Debate Gladiator,” it was a truly humiliating idea.

‘But I don’t have a choice.’

For now, she decided to go along with it.

This wasn’t the time to cling to her pride.

In this body, she couldn’t control much at all.

Yes, just like that wind-up dolphin toy.

She couldn’t control her actions and words; they moved on their own as if wound by a spring.

“We’ll go to a nearby shopping mall. If you feel unwell or notice anything unusual, let me know right away.”

Creak, creak.

The dolphin toy kept flapping its tail.

Coincidentally, both the dolphin and her hair were pink.

It was kind of cute, just like her.

She felt a strange sense of kinship.

Was it possible this cheap toy was growing on her…?

Creak—

“Candidate-nim. Are you listening?”

Creak, creak.

“Candidate-nim.”

Creak—Creak, creak—

“If you don’t pay attention, I’ll take the toy away, okay?”

“Eeek!!”

She quickly grabbed the dolphin and clutched it to her chest.

It wasn’t because she was afraid of losing the toy.

‘When did I even start winding this dolphin…?!’

She was shocked to find herself unwittingly engrossed in the toy.

She had sworn not to touch it.

But when she came to, she was winding it up again.

Ugh. How embarrassing.

“Pfft. It’s that precious to you?”

“D-don’t take the dolphin…”

“Alright, I won’t.”

Seoyoung was laughing at her.

Or…was she?

Her eyes were practically sparkling.

Well, she did like kids.

Honestly, even Jiwoo thought she was unbearably cute right now.

‘That’s why this is so hard to adjust to…!’

It made sense why Bong Soohee wanted to emphasize her cuteness.

Whether it would actually work was another matter…but for now, there wasn’t much choice.

“Then, let’s go buy some clothes.”

“…^.”

The word “clothes” made her mumble instinctively.

“What did you say?”

“D-dress… Can I buy one…?”

Haha. A dress?

The great Kang Jiwoo, wanting a dress?

Her kid-like fashion sense was ridiculous!

Seoyoung led Jiwoo to a large shopping mall near their office.

It was fairly quiet since it was a weekday morning.

Perfect.

‘The doctor advised us to avoid crowded places and unwanted attention.’

An employee crouched down to Jiwoo’s level.

“Oh my~ You’re so pretty. What’s your name?”

“…o.”

“What? I couldn’t hear you.”

“Ka-Kang Jiwoo!”

Jiwoo had become much more shy.

To the extent that she’d need speech lessons just to perform her duties as a presidential candidate.

‘It feels like I’m a parent raising a child.’

She had once dreamed of this.

A happy life with a loving husband and adorable children.

But she never expected that child to be her candidate.

“Candidate-nim, do you like this?”

Jiwoo nodded slightly.

She had picked out a dress.

‘Does she really want to wear this…?’

It was a design with poor breathability, a huge cartoon character, puffed shoulders, and a skirt that looked cumbersome.

It was hot pink and glittery, almost blinding.

Definitely too flashy for everyday wear.

“Are you sure you want this? It’s too shiny and a bit much for daily clothes.”

“No… I like it…”

Seoyoung wasn’t sure what she saw in it, but it was clear Jiwoo loved it.

‘Let’s just buy it. I’ll get some other casual clothes as well.’

Honestly, her budget wasn’t looking great.

People assume politicians have a lot of money, but unless you take bribes, it’s a tight life.

Still, it didn’t feel like a waste.

Jiwoo was just too cute.

“I’ll pay.”

As Seoyoung was at the register, people started gathering around Jiwoo.

“Isn’t that kid so pretty?”

“Maybe she’s a child actress?”

“I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere.”

At first, people whispered among themselves.

But as more people gathered…

“Why is there such a crowd?”

“I heard she’s a child actress.”

“Wow. She definitely has the looks for it.”

“She has such clear and dainty features.”

“Should we ask for a photo?”

The crowd grew, and people became more assertive.

“Are you her mom? She’s so cute! Can we take a picture?”

“No, I’m not her mom…”

“I’ve seen her on TV, right? I’m a huge fan!”

“No, actually…”

“What’s your name, sweetie?”

“Please, could you step back a bit?”

Seoyoung was single.

Handling a child was already challenging enough.

Now, with a growing crowd, she was truly flustered.

So, she ended up responding a bit aggressively.

“Please, no photos! Step back a bit!”

The mood around them cooled.

‘Great. That backfired.’

It was a minor incident, really.

But for a politician, every single vote mattered, so any misstep could become a future liability.

“I mean, this child isn’t an actress…”

Just as she tried to salvage the situation, a familiar face appeared.

Her big sunglasses couldn’t hide her impassive expression.

In a T-shirt and shorts, she was casually sipping coffee.

‘Director Bong Soohee?’

It was their publicity advisor, Director Bong.

With smooth, eel-like movements, she slipped through the crowd.

Then, standing by Jiwoo’s side, she called out.

“Due to scheduling constraints, we’ll allow photos for only 10 minutes. If you’d like to take pictures or videos, please line up in an orderly fashion.”

“Wow! She’s letting us take pictures!”

“Let’s hurry! Only 10 minutes!”

“She must really be a celebrity if her schedule is that tight.”

The crowd quickly formed a line.

Incredibly, Bong Soohee managed to control the scene with just two sentences.

Still, Seoyoung was displeased.

She whispered in Director Bong’s ear.

“Director Bong, how could you just allow this without consulting me?”

“What?”

“People think Candidate-nim is a celebrity. It might cause issues later.”

Slurp—slurp

Slurp…

Bong Soohee loudly finished her coffee.

After a beat, she replied, a few seconds too late.

“Isn’t it even better if they misunderstand?”

“…?”

A presidential candidate so cute they thought she was an actress!

Bong Soohee had a gut feeling.

This could be a huge viral moment.

The next day, the internet exploded.