The Manager Is a Gangster

27 – Let’s Live Like Family (2)

1.

As the two left, leaving Jang Baro alone, he touched his forehead and let out a deep sigh.

“Sigh····· Why does it have to be like this.”

It was a sigh filled with self-blame.

As Jang Baro couldn’t know the circumstances of Choi Ha-an, it was unfair, but unfairness didn’t make the mistakes disappear.

For whatever reason, it’s wrong to touch the other person’s trauma.

“Shouldn’t have made a mistake. Ughhh…”

Even if he didn’t consider it a mistake, there was a high chance of getting involved with that person, so Jungbaro could only blame himself.

Exhaling repeatedly and blaming himself, Jungbaro went beyond self-blame and started mocking himself.

“By the way, family. Living comfortably like a family is good. No matter how desperate, is that really something you’d say now, Jungbaro? Nothing has changed, how.”

What comes to mind is the betrayal of colleagues who lived like a family.

The entertainers and coworkers who turned the once high-flying genius producer Jungbaro into an unemployed bum in an instant were the ones he called family, and they were the ones who betrayed him.

“All because of those bastards who lived like a family, messing up my life, trying to start over recklessly, and almost losing everything, for the sake of family?”

hahahaha!

The uncontrollable laughter echoed in the empty office.

“hehehe… Huh.”

After laughing for a while, Jungbaro suddenly stopped laughing and remembered the cold expression on Chwi Ha-an.

Although he was originally expressionless, the fact that he solemnly reacted to the word “family” indicates that something must have happened to the family.

And it surely wouldn’t be something good.

It could be inferred from the words of not liking the family and especially wanting to kill the uncle.

“Maybe Uncle was betrayed or… something worse happened to him. Something dramatic enough to change the genre of life.”

In that regard, we’re alike. My life’s genre also changed because of those damn bastards.

Before and after betrayal, Jungbaro’s life genre changed from modern fantasy to regrettable wreckage (himself), extreme in its polarity.

If he hadn’t been saved by the person planning to establish an agency after hearing the request for separation, Jungbaro would have ended up on the beach with a lightened heart, facing a bad ending.

“Come to think of it, did those two go to the abandoned factory today?”

To be precise, Kang Jinhyuk followed Choi Ha-an to the lowest point. And he returned without a single wound, while Choi Ha-an, who had been refusing all along, suddenly decided to become an idol. That means… Choi Ha-an, like me, received salvation at the last moment.

And it was from Kang Jinhyuk, the younger brother of his reason.

“Heh, hehehehe.”

Jung Baro, who was carefully piecing together information about Choi Ha-an, suddenly felt a sense of affinity with her.

From being betrayed by someone he treated like family to almost facing a dangerous situation at Wild Boar Capital.

If you look at the details, the lives of these two people were not so similar, but Jung Baro himself thought that he had lived a life similar to Choi Ha-an’s.

Upon realizing this, a chill ran through his whole body. It was because meeting Choi Ha-an today felt like destiny.

“Is it fate? Is Choi Ha-an’s coming to our company a divine command for me to start over?”

Even if he received salvation from his reason and accepted the offer of becoming the CEO of the agency, Jung Baro’s life was no different from what it had been until now.

The celebrities he raised with all his efforts, who were like family, the ones he started from scratch with and grew the company with, eventually becoming one of the top three agencies in South Korea.

And he himself, who made the greatest contribution to achieving all of that.

These were the things that made up Jung Baro, the former genius producer who was once called a genius. And in an instant, he lost everything and ended up living a life no different from a recluse.

Although he was asked by his benefactor, his reason, to come to the office and diligently attend work, it was only for appearances. His time had stopped on the day he was betrayed by everything that made him who he was.

“If that’s really the case… I should start. If heaven has given me a gem like Choi Ha-an, it would be a sin to just sit still as a producer.”

But now, in the moment he faced Choi Ha-an, Jung Baro’s time started moving again.

“If that’s fate…”

Of course, it wasn’t really fate, and the feeling of affinity or whatever that Jung Baro was feeling towards Choi Ha-an was something he alone was experiencing.

In reality, the reason Jung Baro was able to meet Choi Ha-an was solely because of Kang Jinhyuk, who solved all the problems she had and restored her happiness!

“I will accept fate. It’s time for me to return as genius producer Jung Baro!”

Regardless, it was a good thing.

2.

“Are you upset, Haan?”

“Upset? No.”

“But what the boss said could be a bit sensitive for Haan, you know…”

Under the pitch-black winter night sky that followed a short day, I was walking alongside Haan, keeping an eye on her expression.

For Haan, the concept of family was the source of despair, something she had to sensitively accept as herself.

What if she got angry at the boss’s statement and decided not to pursue being an idol anymore? Haan is indispensable in my manager life.

However, contrary to my concerns, Haan looked genuinely unaffected, flashing me an indifferent expression.

“No, really. It doesn’t bother me at all. Whatever a stranger says, why should it matter? I just felt a bit down for a moment, and now I’m truly fine.”

And with an indifferent tone, she replied that she was fine.

Wow, she really seems unaffected.

I was worried about how to handle the boss if Haan didn’t like him and decided not to become an idol, but it’s reassuring that she’s fine.

Relieved by Haan’s indifference, I steered the conversation to the main topic.

“So, are you willing to be an idol?”

“Yes. Of course. That way, I can be by your side, Manager-nim. I can only be happy if I’m with you.”

It’s really good that her intention to become an idol hasn’t changed, but it still seems a bit risky.

No matter how much I’ve shattered Haan’s despair, that doesn’t mean her life will be bound to me.

To convey this fact, I opened my mouth to Haan.

“Haan, you won’t find happiness just by being by my side. The world is vast, and there are countless ways to feel happiness. So,…”

“There’s nothing like that.”

“What?”

“I said there’s nothing like that. It’s only you, Manager. The one who can make me happy.”

However, as Han’s cold voice firmly settled in, I felt pressed by that momentum and could only nod.

“······Yes.”

Well, it was too early to discuss happiness with Han, considering it had been less than a day since I emerged from despair.

Anyway, I would have to go through the trainee period before debuting as an idol, and there would be enough time during that period. As time passed, I might find happiness not only in myself but also in other things.

For most problems people face, time is the solution unless there’s a reason for them to worsen.

The obsession with Han’s happiness would also improve as I continued as a trainee.

Probably.

Believing so, I turned my head and looked up at the steep stairs as if they were carved.

“So, Han’s house is at the end there?”

“Yes. It’s the cheapest at the top. Debt collectors can’t easily find their way up here.”

“······.”

Han had an impressive talent for making tarrula. Even in her living situation, there was such a sad story.

Although I heard about her past from her own mouth, it surely wasn’t everything she had been through.

I should be careful not to end up like the former CEO to avoid making the same mistakes.

“Well then, Manager, let’s go.”

As I reminded myself to be cautious with my words, Han started climbing the stairs.

And what I saw was an enormous, uneven staircase made by carving into the mountain.

The place we’re aiming for is Haan’s house, located at the end of those stairs.

For an ordinary person, just looking at it would take their breath away, but I was fine.

Compared to Everest, this is nothing.

“Yes, let’s go.”

And so, I followed Haan up the stairs with determination.

※※※

“We’ve arrived.”

“It really is the top.”

“Yes.”

Even though I climbed these high stairs without resting, I couldn’t help but nod at Haan’s appearance, slightly out of breath.

Haan’s house was at such a high altitude that all the other houses were beneath our feet.

Living in a place like this, I wouldn’t even be out of breath after running like that yesterday.

I was quite impressed by Haan’s sturdy physique and surprisingly good stamina in such an environment.

Climbing up and down these rugged stairs will surely be a great help even when I become an idol in the future.

Just as I was satisfied with discovering the source of Haan’s stamina, and about to say my farewell, Haan said something unexpected.

“Here we are. My house. Please wait a moment.”

Wait? What’s going on? Is he going to entertain me as a guest?

I had already taken care of the gangsters, and I had asked my brother to assign a bodyguard just in case of any unforeseen events, so I felt relieved.

And besides, it was already strange enough that I was living in the same house as my manager and idol, so I planned to drop him off at home and leave.

But now he’s treating me like this.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

I waited for Haan to enter the house to tidy up, anticipating the hospitality Haan would extend to me.

It wasn’t material things I was expecting, but rather the experience of being treated as a guest by Haan, who would become the future’s greatest idol.

With an excited and fluttering heart, expecting all of this, the door creaked open in less than a minute, and Haan came out.

“······Haan? Is that a pillow in your hands?”

“Yes, it’s a pillow.”

In one hand, she held a pillow that looked incredibly soft.

Her appearance with the pillow, as I awaited guest treatment, brought both cuteness and surprise.

What’s going on? Haan holding a pillow is so cute······ Why a pillow, though?

In this awkward yet cute situation where I felt both surprise and cuteness, I stood still, and Haan, holding the pillow to her chest, opened her mouth as if explaining.

“Well, Manager-nim’s house is great in every aspect. But, I prefer using my own pillow. That’s why I brought it.”

······Oh?

“And since I told the landlord that I’m taking a room, you don’t have to worry. It’s a monthly rent without a deposit, so that’s a good thing.”

Uh-huh?

“Anyway, now that I’ve brought the pillow, let’s go. To my house.”

Uh-uh-uh-uh-huh????