Chapter 67
While sipping a green tea frappuccino at the café where I had experienced regression and taking care of some minor tasks, I suddenly had to witness Manager Seok Hyun-woo of Jinkang about to kneel and bow his head.
“Please! Team Leader Seon! Let me join TwoBear!”
“Wait, what about Jinkang? Why are you saying this all of a sudden?”
How many companies treat their employees better than a major corporation’s planning department? Why would he want to change jobs like this?
“…I want to help Jin Yeoreum. But with my new trainee life, it’s become difficult. My duties have completely shifted from secretary work to planning and finance. I can’t help her like this anymore.”
Well, it’s natural that his tasks changed since you can’t exactly have a secretary for her while she’s stuck in accommodation doing trainee stuff.
I asked with a hint of concern.
“Shouldn’t that be considered a demotion?”
“If we must be technical, it’s more like a promotion. I’ve been given the title of Manager this time.”
“…Congratulations.”
…What a pointless worry that was.
For a conservative place like Jinkang to hand a manager position to someone still in their early 30s was quite a significant deal. Naturally, he’d have the ability, but it seemed they had a high evaluation of his long-term support for Jin Yeoreum.
Considering his unusually rapid promotion, it seems like his future is shining bright.
“That’s great. The new tasks won’t be easy, but I trust you, Manager Seok… no, Manager Seok Hyun-woo, will do well. Well then, I’ll be on my way…”
“Team Leader Seon! I realized something. What’s important to me isn’t a higher salary or better treatment!”
“Then what is so important?”
Is there anything more vital than those things when choosing a workplace?
“It’s about protecting Jin Yeoreum.”
“…I think the security personnel will handle that, right? Our company isn’t one to skimp on safety.”
We had received investment funds; cutting corners on safety might lead to Jin Baek-ho actually tossing someone into a drum barrel.
Our TwoBear isn’t the kind of company with the complacency to risk losing something bigger just to save a little money.
“That’s not the kind of safety I’m talking about. This is about emotions.”
“Emotions?”
Manager Seok Hyun-woo looked at me with earnest eyes and said.
“I’m worried. About the future that fragile girl will have to face. It won’t be easy for her. Being an idol means she has to face the public opinion she’s been avoiding all this time.”
In a plain yet steadfast manner, he revealed his true feelings.
“I think I need to be there for her during those toughest moments. My strength may be small, but having even that small strength by her side can help her endure better.”
His feelings resembled a father’s heart, just as he had said before.
Seok Hyun-woo was truly a good-natured person. Almost frustratingly so, from where I stood.
It was a bit frustrating to observe from the side.
…But I liked such a person.
“I understand Manager Seok’s words. Personally, I find that mindset quite appealing. I also think it would be great to work with Manager Seok.”
This was just my personal preference. I liked people who seemed less likely to betray me, like Seok Hyun-woo.
But there was something he overlooked.
“Why are you asking me to help you find a job? It seems like you’ve overlooked something—I’ve only been with TwoBear for less than two months. With everything I’ve experienced, even I sometimes forget I’m still a newbie. Manager Seok.”
“If you really want a job, then go through the proper channels. Manager Seok has more than enough capability to make that happen, right?”
As far as I knew, he had a fierce resume that could not even be compared to mine, as a high school graduate unemployed. Plus, he had years of experience working in Jinkang’s planning department, so if he set his mind to it, he could easily switch to any ordinary job.
I couldn’t understand why he was clinging to me.
“Manager Seok. I’ve been really busy lately, so I’m feeling a bit pressured. Please understand.”
“I wanted to, but TwoBear Entertainment isn’t hiring at all.”
“…?”
Wait, even now, I’m doing the work of three people, and they say they aren’t hiring?
Our president must be out of his mind…
…But then again, it’s not that he’s out of his mind, but his sense of smell must be gone.
Lee Hyerin was also someone connected through acquaintances.
Song Johan was just someone I brought along.
None of this was related to any normal hiring process.
Thinking that a company suffering from a labor shortage only has hiring via acquaintances hit me hard.
“Please! Accept me into TwoBear!”
Seok Hyun-woo appeared again.
To me, he was not just someone requesting a favor; he was my savior who would help distribute my shattered workload.
With his elite-level skills, he was the best person I could ask for.
I grabbed his shoulder and said, “I’ve understood Manager Seok’s sincerity. As a fellow man, I can’t ignore such feelings!”
“…Team Leader Seon! Then?”
“However, I’d like to get a slight glimpse into Manager Seok’s determination.”
“Determination?”
I didn’t think he was that kind of person, but I felt the need to confirm whether he would bolt or not.
“The salary will be considerably lower than what you’re currently receiving. If you want to be closest to Yeoreum, you’ll need to take on the role of road manager.”
“I don’t care at all. I have no place to spend money anyway.”
“The workload may also be significantly more strenuous than your current job. Once activities start, it’s better to erase the term ‘work-life balance’ from your memory.”
“It’s best to erase the word ‘work-life balance’ from your mind when starting a project.”
“Since Ms. Yeoreum has to handle a schedule like this, I obviously have to as well. It’s actually what I wish for.”
“Wow, I’m really impressed.”
“I understand your determination well. Then, I’ll do my best to ensure Manager Seok can join TwoBear.”
Seok Hyun-woo spoke with a grateful expression, bowing his head.
“Thank you! Team Leader Seon!”
“What are you thanking me for? I should be the one thanking you.”
“Come here, my little slave.”
*
“How does it smell?”
Considering the calm demeanor Seok Hyun-woo usually displayed, I thought he would definitely pass the scent detection test by the detection dog Cheon Aram, but I felt a bit uneasy too.
Throughout this journey, I realized my judgment of people might be a bit off. She might catch a whiff of something unpleasant from Seok Hyun-woo.
While I was feeling slightly tense, Cheon Aram expressed her amazement and said,
“Wow, Team Leader Seon, where did you find such a person?”
“Is there a bad smell?”
“No? There’s not a single smell. He’s on the level of Soo-yeon.”
Cheon Aram continuously burst out in admiration, saying,
“I’ve never met ten people as clean as him in my life. What an impressive guy.”
It seemed Seok Hyun-woo had completely passed Cheon Aram’s smell test. I was very satisfied.
“He worked at Jinkang for eight years and even reached the rank of manager? Why would someone like this want to be a road manager? Honestly, it’s not a well-paying job, right?”
“I think he sees Ms. Yeoreum like a daughter. So he wanted to do a job where he could protect her closely, even if it meant giving up his previous work and salary.”
“Hmm… He’s quite a good-minded guy.”
Cheon Aram nodded and said,
“I won’t just think of him as a simple road manager. I’ll make sure he gets decent treatment. It might be lacking compared to his previous job, but he won’t feel too disheartened… I think it would be good to nurture this person for the long run.”
“That’s the best choice, President Cheon!”
As I was about to convey the good news to Seok Hyun-woo, Cheon Aram stopped me.
“Wait a minute, Team Leader Seon, I have something to say.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
“You decided to have Gyeoul participate in Girl 100 last time, right? The PD wants to meet regarding that. Would you take care of it, Team Leader Seon?”
“I would absolutely do it if you ask, but are you okay with that?”
Since this was a task connected through Cheon Aram’s network, I thought it would be more fitting for her to handle it.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I told you I’d hand over the scheduling part to you, right? It’s just that the timing has sped up a bit. Just keep the policies the same as we decided in our meeting, so don’t think of it too complicated.”
“Don’t worry. Not thinking of it as complicated is exactly what I’m best at.”
“It’s a job.”
“…I’m starting to regret this suddenly.”
*
“I’m Seon Taeyang, the team leader at TwoBear Entertainment.”
As I handed over my business card and greeted her, the woman replied.
“I’m Kim Seon-ye. Just call me Kim PD.”
“Yes, it’s an honor to meet you, Kim Seon-ye PD.”
“Well, that’s an honor for you. I’m not just an AD; I took the initiative here.”
“….”
With Kim Seon-ye’s somewhat rude response, I just smiled, and she snorted as if to dismiss me before getting to the point.
“We don’t have much time, so let’s get straight to it… I made time for this, but I don’t have high hopes for your company. You’re just a rookie agency that hasn’t even debuted anyone yet, right? The level is pretty obvious. If I hadn’t received a tip to check you out, I wouldn’t even have glanced at your agency.”
From her perspective, this was a pretty objective judgment.
Of course, if you looked deeper, it was a company filled with three once-in-a-lifetime geniuses.
“Still, considering the good intentions of the person who contacted me, I’ll be blunt. The trainees we want here aren’t those with abilities or charisma.”
“What kind of trainees are you looking for then?”
“We need supporting roles that can elevate the kids who are meant to shine. If you offer to send an average kid who will steal their spotlight, I’ll look for another agency.”
Kim Seon-ye spoke while checking her phone, looking quite bored.
“You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”
Oh, of course I do. You want me to send someone to play background support because you’ve already decided who to promote, right?
I’ve got a video that would make you happy.
I put on a friendly smile and said.
“Yes, I believe I understand. You want someone who can subtly support the main act, right?”
“For someone from a rookie agency, you’re quite quick on the uptake.”
“Haha, it’s how I survive. By the way, I have a suitable trainee in mind. What do you think of this person?”
I showed her a video of the devilish Gyeoul, the troublemaker I had previously showcased to Cheon Jong-hoon. It was a glimpse of the time when she was gaslighted by Yeji.
Kim Seon-ye watched the brief video and chuckled.
“Hmph, this is funny. With this level, I could probably feature her for about three minutes in a variety show. Exactly the kind of cheapness I was hoping for. It might even give a decent boost to the ratings.”
“Thank you. I’ll show you even more than you’re expecting.”
“You don’t need to thank me for that; I’m not expecting much anyway.”
No, this was something to be thankful for.
You’re planting the seeds that will turn the entire broadcast upside down yourself.
I’ll showcase Gyeoul’s devilish talents that will eat up the eleven pre-chosen ones.
*
And time passed until the first recording day of ‘Girl 100’ arrived.
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