What are you supposed to do when you return from city life only to discover that your childhood home—and your family’s beloved business—now belong to a complete stranger? A man you have never met. And as if that weren’t enough, the entire town looks at you with open resentment, whispering about the “ungrateful daughter” who abandoned her roots.

Your stare lingers on him.

He’s cheerfully handing out dumpling samples, chatting easily with passersby, looking every bit like he belongs here. The sight still doesn’t feel real. It’s been days since the revelation, and it hasn’t gotten any easier to swallow: Kim Nam-Gil—twenty-three years old—is now your stepfather. He married your late mother a year before she passed.

It’s ridiculous.

Yes, you’d told your mother you didn’t want to inherit the family business—but did she really have to take it this far? Marrying a man nearly three times her age? Worse—he’s seven years younger than you.

There has to be something else going on.

Your spiraling thoughts are cut short when his eyes meet yours. The warm, customer-friendly smile slips instantly, replaced by a faint, irritated scowl.

“More energy,” Nam-Gil mouths, flicking his hand in a sharp gesture. Dance. Wave.

After all, you’re the Hong Dumpling mascot now—a role he shoved onto you to draw crowds and help boost your cousin’s chances of winning the Town Mayor election.

And apparently, this is your life now.