In Severance Season 2 Episode 6, Milchick mentions somewhere called “Wintertide” as he’s speaking to Miss Huang – and this finally explains why she joined Lumon.

Ever since Severance returned, questions have surrounded Miss Huang, the strict deputy manager of the severed floor… who also happens to be a child (and everyone loves to point that out).

We know she plays the theremin, and Episode 5 seemed to reveal she isn’t severed; she told Milchick he shouldn’t let the MDR team have a funeral for Irving because it would make them feel like “real people.”

Until Season 2 Episode 6, that was about it (besides her occasional habit of playing games at her desk). However, a frosty conversation with Milchick reveals some key information about her backstory.

In Episode 6, Milchick calls Miss Huang into his office after his performance review. Remember, Mr Drummond cited two complaints against him: improper application of paper clips and his incessant use of big words. Miss Huang is the only person who would raise those concerns (probably out of spite).

“I feel I should remind you, you cannot graduate from this fellowship until I have deemed you Wintertide material,” he tells her.