Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols

The company was proceeding to form the debut team.

 

In other words, if I slipped up here, I would fail to achieve the goal of debuting with Spark.

 

Since I knew almost nothing, I was in a position where I could only cry out, ‘Heaven, just grant me a little more time…’

 

But for some reason, even the Spark guys, the most talented men of the century, had dark expressions on their faces.

 

Seeing their expressions, Min Jukyung smiled sympathetically.

 

“Everyone, relax. Okay? You’ve all worked hard so far, so think of this as the time to earn your reward and do your best, okay?”

 

After Min Jukyung dropped this bombshell announcement and left, a moment of silence settled in the practice room.

 

Park Joowoo was the first to go into the vocal room, and Choi Jeho followed after grabbing an empty water bottle and heading out. Only then did the others slowly return to their spots.

 

For me, it was news, but these guys must have known that the evaluation period was approaching.

 

Seeing them so downcast made me wonder, ‘Just how harsh is this evaluation…’.

 

Failing the evaluation would be a huge problem.

 

However, even if I painfully made it through by the skin of my teeth, it was important to consider whether the Spark members, whose skills were leagues apart from mine, would accept me. Aside from my discomfort with them.

 

I was already getting ahead of myself when no one had even let me scrape through yet. I really did have a short-sighted way of thinking.

 

I wiped my dry face a couple of times. I could feel the dryness and fatigue that came with getting closer to the end of work.

 

When my confidence was so low, I needed a spell to cheer me up.

 

‘You worked like that for just that meager salary, so what wouldn’t you be able to do…?’ 

 

Moreover, the current reward was something that couldn’t be converted to money.

 

It was the opportunity to bring the dead back to life, so I shouldn’t complain. Besides, it was a chance to erase the hellish Hanpyeong Industry from my career.

 

Some people couldn’t get such an opportunity even if they wanted to. My worries were a luxury.

 

I wore a tight iron mask covering my face with a sense of responsibility.

 

Let’s brazen it out and go for it.

 

* * *

 

Jeong Seongbin, who was asked by Min Jukyung to help the new member, explained the evaluation process thoroughly and kindly from start to finish.

 

Jeong Seongbin went over everything, starting from the evaluation date to the typical preparations for new trainees and the guidelines.

 

“…That’s how you finish preparing for the evaluation.”

 

“There’s quite a lot to prepare.”

 

“Well, the rankings come out every time, after all.”

 

With a calm face, Jeong Seongbin spoke like Assistant Manager Ahn from the marketing team.

 

Assistant Manager Ahn always looked haggard from presenting metric reports every morning.

 

Jeong Seongbin’s face reflected a similar worldly burden.

 

I expressed my humble gratitude to Jeong Seongbin, who had even concluded the explanation by mixing in reassuring words

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“You must have a lot to prepare too, but you’re always helping me.”

 

Jeong Seongbin’s eyes widened as if he wasn’t used to hearing such words.

 

It was definitely something you wouldn’t hear often within Spark. Most of them preferred to try to do things on their own. 

 

In fact, aside from Lee Cheonghyeon, all Spark members tended not to be very expressive.

 

There was nothing to gain from withholding greetings and gratitude. It seemed I would have to make them say ‘I see’ at least once a day after the debut team was finalized.

 

Since I was in a position to rely on others, I should contribute something too for the give-and-take.

 

Jeong Seongbin’s warm words made my calculated thoughts seem trivial.

 

“It’s not just me. Kiyeon said next time if you mix up left and right again, he’ll tie you to the mirror and show you.”

 

“I’m so touched I’m tearing up.”

 

From a distance, Kang Kiyeon shouted, ‘What were you guys saying about me?’

 

“Uh, that you’re the best teacher.”

 

Hearing what I said, Kiyeon made a face like he didn’t know what I was talking about.

 

It seemed Kang Kiyeon needed an explanation, but I didn’t bother adding more.

 

Complimenting them sincerely already exhausted my daily quota of positive energy for Spark.

 

Up until that point, Kang Kiyeon and I had been at opposite ends of the practice room…

 

When I came to my senses, only Kang Kiyeon and I remained in the practice room.

 

UA’s practice schedule operated on a 9 to 10 system—it was a schedule that could get them reported to the Ministry of Employment and Labor at any moment.

 

On top of that grueling schedule, I did additional practice every day to make up for my lack of skills.

 

However, Kang Kiyeon, who was clearly on a different level than me, also didn’t seem to have any intention of going home today either.

 

If he was sick, he shoud have gone home early to rest. It was obvious he was making up for the practice he had missed.

 

It was mentally easier for me to remain alone in the practice room too. It was like how a student couldn’t study well with the teacher standing behind them during self-study periods.

 

Having to spend all my time with Spark was torturous enough as it was.

 

Because every time I saw their faces, I felt pressured.

 

Freedom needed courage.

 

I spoke to Kang Kiyeon cautiously, trying to secure the precious two hours of alone time I had each day.

 

“Kiyeon, aren’t you going home?”

 

“What about you, hyung?”

 

“The teacher told me to practice more.”

 

“You already practice for about half of the break times.”

 

“You made an effort to help me, so I have to at least put in the basics.”

 

Upon hearing what I said, Kang Kiyeon contemplated something for a moment and then answered.

 

“Then remember the parts you’re struggling with and tell me tomorrow. I also have more practice to do today.”

 

No, I’m telling you, go home. I want to be alone, you see?

 

It also bothered me that the sick person kept wandering around.

 

I still vividly remembered the scene where a manager from the accounting team collapsed due to a herniated disc.

 

To my eyes, Kiyeon’s ankle was a hazard itself. I didn’t want to see someone collapsing again.

 

“You injured your ankle. Shouldn’t you rest more?”

 

“They said it’s fine as long as it’s not too strenuous.”

 

His immediate response suggested he had asked about it thoroughly at the hospital. What a meticulous guy.

 

Before I could ask if it was okay for a minor to stay late, Kang Kiyeon moved to the opposite corner of the practice room.

 

Seeing that reminded me of a Spark magazine interview.

 

『Q. I heard there was a story about you being in charge of turning off the lights in the practice room?

 

Seongbin: It’s not just me. All our members did that. It seemed like someone was always doing extra practice. Everyone was diligent and wanted to improve. Most importantly, we really wanted to debut. (laughs)』

 

I remembered the reviews of Hanpyeong Industries I had read before returning to the past

 

To sum it up in one line…

 

‘It was said to be like a lighthouse where the lights never go out.’

 

At the very least, Hanpyeong Industry seemed to never have its lights off when viewed from the outside.

 

But this damn practice room was underground, so no matter how much the young trainees sang songs or danced all night, nothing could be seen from the outside.

 

Even after debuting from such grueling practice, Spark hadn’t managed to hit number one in over three years. It was hard to believe, but that was the reality.

 

The idol world Spark debuted into was a path of thorns, to the point that comparing it to an impromptu company dinner on a Monday evening would be rude.

 

If they fought that hard to debut, they should have been more intense with their promotions.

 

For me, who had to cover the monitoring duties, I was just grateful Spark didn’t promote too passionately.

 

But it probably didn’t look good to the fans.

 

What kind of group only turned on a live broadcast once during their activity period?

 

‘Well… Now is not the time to think about other people.’

 

I got up immediately. There was a long road ahead.

 

How much time had passed?

 

“Are you planning to stay longer?”

 

As I was wrestling with my reflection in the mirror, Kiyeon turned off the music and asked.

 

“It’s 11 right now.”

 

“11?”

 

Indeed, the clock was pointing at 11 p.m.

 

The last time I felt chased like this was when Manager Nam had told me to rearrange the office desk layout by tomorrow.

 

In this situation, going home would clearly just lead to more hardship.

 

Having grown into an adult who could foresee a little ahead, I decided to stay longer for the sake of tomorrow me and asked Kiyeon:

 

“What about you?”

 

“I plan to stay a bit longer.”

 

“Go home early. You won’t grow tall otherwise.”

 

The guy who had practiced to the bone only to receive nagging advice from the newcomer didn’t look too pleased.

 

But bear with it. But bear with it. I’m saying this because I know you won’t be able to exceed 180 in the future.

 

Your future self was super stressed about that.

 

Although fans called him the ‘King of Cuteness Kiyeon’ because he was a 173cm puppy, it seemed he was extra conscious about it since his group had a lot of tall members.

 

By the way, I too suffered quite a bit because that guy ended up being a lone midget.

 

140 characters would not be enough to explian how cumbersome it was to edit the SNS header because of him. Let’s just say I wanted to ban uploading vertical photos entirely.

 

Still, I couldn’t let a kid who had just graduated middle school walk home alone late at night. Especially one with a bad ankle.

 

Pushing aside my disgruntled feelings, I began cleaning up.

 

Outside the building after a full 14 hours, a biting wind was blowing.

 

The weather showed no sign of warming, so white steam came out every time I exhaled.

 

“How’s your ankle?”

 

“You ask me that a lot, hyung.”

 

“Your body is your asset.”

 

Hearing what I said, Kang Kiyeon seemed to want to say something but stopped himself.

 

These kids had no sense of caution regarding injuries. They probably didn’t know how scary medical bills were.

 

Overall, industrial safety and health education seems urgently needed among the trainees. If they took 20 lecture sessions, they’d manage themselves better even if they didn’t want to.

 

But I felt a bit bad about nagging him about growing taller by sleeping early.

 

Every working person knew that a superior’s every word could be grating.

 

Although my existence was more like a nuisance than a superior, I still felt apologetic.

 

I pointed to a convenience store that happened to have its lights on and asked Kang Kiyeon.

 

“Want to stop by the convenience store?”

 

Then, without waiting for his answer, I gently ushered him into the store, carefully considering his ankle condition.

 

Perhaps due to depleted stamina, Kang Kiyeon obediently shuffled into the convenience store.

 

“Pick whatever you want.”

 

“Why?”

 

“It’s an apology. For nagging you earlier.”

 

It was said that a sincere apology should come with monetary compensation.

 

Kang Kiyeon, whose nose was red from the wind, made a bewildered expression after hearing what I said.

 

“When… Oh, for telling me to go home early?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I gently nudged the hesitant Kang Kiyeon towards the fridge.

 

After a moment of deliberation, he picked out an ion drink.

 

I was about to tell him to get something more expensive but remembered that this guy was an extreme fitness fanatic who didn’t even put dressing on his salad. So, I paid for it without protest.

 

Even though my entire fortune was just this bloody 15 million won.

 

I figured my sister would understand if I bought a drink for a student who had been working hard until 11 pm. It was not like I was going to use that money for college anyway.

 

When I handed over the paid ion drink, Kang Kiyeon bowed his head.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“It’s just a 1,200-won drink. I should be thanking you for helping me practice.”

 

“More like I was rescuing you.”

 

“I suppose so.”

 

After that brief conversation, we walked towards the dormitory in silence. The walk felt as suffocating as commuting with a coworker.

 

After passing through a dark alley that felt as bleak as my future, we finally arrived at the entrance of the villa where the dormitory was.

 

I gestured for Kang Kiyeon to go inside.

 

“What about you, hyung?”

 

“I’m going to a karaoke place. Already got permission from the manager.”

 

“Why the karaoke room?”

 

“To practice.”

 

Kang Kiyeon made a contemplative expression.

 

Right. You must be unsatisfied too that the practice room isn’t open 24 hours.

 

I understood that feeling well, as I also preferred to stay up all night to finish work rather than let it pile up.

 

‘Well, I’m not just going to karaoke.’

 

Hiding my true intentions, I motioned for Kang Kiyeon to go inside quickly.