Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols - Chapter 27



Only Krnovel

| Episode 27. Workplace Bullying (1)

“yes?”

“Like, you’re in a ridiculous accident and need to deal with it, or you’re dreaming of revenge because your scary school senior ripped you off.”

“That’s absolutely not true!”

Jeong Seong-bin, who heard my example, shook his head violently in shock.

Thank goodness I can’t be in the same boat with someone who has such scary thoughts.

I waited for Jeong Seong-bin to open his mouth first with a much lighter heart.

Before meeting Jeong Seong-bin, Choi Je-ho also kept his mouth shut and remained quiet because Jeong Seong-bin had made a promise to wait until he opened his mouth.

My mind was at ease after blocking the snout of fear.

“Before you guys misunderstand, there’s something I want to tell you first.”

Jeong Seong-bin spoke cautiously, despite his desperate actions.

“Well, we were supposed to debut in the same group. But the CEO asked me… … if I wanted to be the leader.”

It looks like it was going according to plan.

It was welcome news in the current situation where volatility is as great as Vice President Nam’s mood.

I was waiting for the next words with a satisfied heart, but Jeong Seong-bin just lowered his head and said nothing.

‘No way. Is this what you’re talking about?’

I don’t think Jeong Seong-bin would call only his older brothers to congratulate him on his appointment as leader.

When I looked to the side, Choi Je-ho had the words, ‘Is that all you have to say?’ written all over his face.

Spark guys, thank me. If I hadn’t shut Choi Je-ho’s mouth in advance, your seven-year boss would have been in trouble.

But if that was really all he wanted, then it was obvious why Jeong Seong-bin had called us.

There must be an older member of the team, and it must be embarrassing to be the leader.

There were also several people in Hanpyeong Industry who had difficulty taking on successors who were older than them.

It was common for the age difference, which could be somewhat overlooked until they were colleagues, to become apparent only after they were promoted.

‘Still… Don’t you think that there is no one else who can be the leader besides you?’

I recalled the dazzling faces of Spark.

Starting with the world’s best mouth fighter, Choi Je-ho, who causes discord just by talking.

Even in their own content, Park Joo-woo and fans have been keeping a record of the dates because they say five words is a lot.

Lee Cheong-hyeon, a flower garden that looks so bright and clear.

Even Kang Ki-yeon, a bright-eyed madman who shines in everything.

There was no one who could say in front of the public, ‘Hello, this is Spark! Please take care of me!’

There are five employees, but all five of them are only doing practical work, so should I say that there is no one to approve it?

In short, it means that the combination is a mess. That is, without Jeong Seong-bin.

“I also thought that if we were to choose a leader among us, you would be the best fit.”

I said my opinion honestly. But Jeong Seong-bin’s expression was still dark.

“I feel like it’s a bit… wrong for me to be the leader when my brothers are here.”

“Are you that obsessed with seniority?”

It was half a joke, half a serious question.

In the first place, I was concerned that among the trainees, only Jeong Seong-bin used extremely honorifics.

I thought that if I could just discuss it with Choi Je-ho, I would have to introduce an informal language system in the group as soon as possible.

Jeong Seong-bin’s shoulders were slightly shaking after he finished speaking. It seemed like he had really been worrying a lot on his own.

“I don’t know if Seongbin feels pressured to represent the members who are less social, but if he’s just being mindful of his age, then there’s no need to be.”

“I didn’t think the members were socially awkward… … !”

Jeong Seong-bin waved his hand.

He’s a really nice guy. I’ve been thinking about that.

“Then is the reason you’re worried really because of your age?”

“I think there’s a reason why the eldest member of most teams takes the lead. Compared to my older brothers, I lack leadership skills… … .”

I was surprised. I didn’t know that Jeong Seong-bin, who had a reputation as a leader with great character on the stone plate, would be so weak-hearted.

Among the anecdotes about Jeong Seong-bin from his school days that are well-known among the fandom, I remember there being many stories about him being a very sociable person who got along well with everyone.

It seemed that as the training period got longer, my self-esteem inevitably got lowered.

‘That doesn’t feel good.’

Unlike me, whose self-esteem had been eroded by being beaten up at Hanpyeong Industries, these kids were just kids before they even turned twenty.

It seems like this team prioritized restoring their self-esteem over debuting. Except for Choi Je-ho.

But apart from protecting self-esteem, if Jeong Seong-bin did not become the leader, this would also be difficult.

Even if I were to exclude those days when I am the type of person who doesn’t want to stand out.

Based on my years of monitoring experience, the Spark guys wouldn’t be able to open their mouths without Jeong Seong-bin.

Spark needed Jeong Seong-bin for the sake of those who desperately wanted to collect their favorite portions.

In times like this, the most effective way is to get them to say with their own mouths why they can’t be without you.

“Leaving everything else aside, Seongbin.”

“yes.”

“Do you think there is anyone else who can be the leader of our team besides you?”

Jeong Seong-bin paused at my words.

I knew it.

If you are a person who thinks a lot like Jeong Seong-bin, you must have imagined at least twenty times what it would be like if someone other than yourself became the leader.

“It doesn’t seem like a good thing for Choi Je-ho, who fights with all his heart even when his opponent is the youngest, or for me, who can’t tell the difference between a left turn and a right turn with words, to become a leader.”

“Why are you making a fuss even to me, who was just sitting still?”

“Are you denying what I’m saying now?”

“Continue with what you were saying.”

There were plenty of reasons why Jeong Seong-bin should become the leader, even if it wasn’t just because of his personality.

It was Jeong Seong-bin who led the practice and also took the most detailed care of the trainees.

It was an area that could not be explained simply by the word nature.

Because being willing to go to great lengths for others isn’t something that just happens by wearing a hat.

I added it after kindly explaining ‘When the younger siblings became leaders_despair.zip’.

“So, you don’t have to feel sorry to us or worry that the older brothers will be uncomfortable with the younger one becoming the leader.”

“brother…….”

“It’s okay for the other kids because they’re your friends or younger siblings, but if Choi Je-ho doesn’t listen to you later, then tell me. I’ll fight for him.”

“Why do you think I’m the only one who won’t listen? You could make Jeong Seong-bin explode.”

“I’m the type of person who bows down to those in power, so that wouldn’t happen.”

Jeong Seong-bin’s expression only then softened, perhaps because he misunderstood my words as a joke.

Oh, really. I’m being serious about this.

Although he kept picking a fight with me on every issue, Choi Je-ho also expressed his opinion in a roundabout way.

“In the first place, there was no one else who could be the leader other than Jeong Seong-bin.”

Sometimes, a single word from someone you don’t think would say anything can be more impactful than a hundred words.

Jeong Seong-bin, who had passed Choi Je-ho’s gate, only then smiled in relief.

‘It would be fortunate if the leadership position itself wasn’t burdensome… … .’

I thought we had overcome the big mountain while talking about grades. I was complacent.

Even after overcoming his ranking issues, it was difficult for Jeong Seong-bin’s self-esteem to continue to rise.

This was especially true when looking at the case of Kang Ki-yeon, who was already struggling with a loss of confidence.

I looked at the back of Jeong Seong-bin, who was leading the way to the practice room, and earnestly hoped that this wasn’t a side effect of me bringing forward my debut schedule, and that nothing bad would happen in the future.

But my prayers were shattered in exactly three days.

It means that it was completely shattered.

* * *

The incident occurred when I received a confidentiality agreement from my manager while I was on the phone.

+

[SYSTEM] ‘New task’ has been assigned.

▷ Take a photo with a confidentiality agreement

▷ Reward: Experience (5)

+

I should say that I was wondering about the work that was completely different from my previous work.

‘Did you tamper with the paperwork?’

Up until now, the system has never given tasks that were detrimental to idol activities.

At first, I thought there might be some kind of poison pill clause in the nondisclosure agreement. But there was no way I could have missed just a few poison pill clauses.

‘What’s particularly suspicious is not the pledge itself, but the photo containing the pledge.’

Just looking at the job description, it seemed like the pledge was being used.

In fact, even though I took a picture with the pledge centered, no notification appeared indicating that the task was completed.

‘What do you want me to do?’

I took about twenty pictures, placing the pledge in the left corner and in the air on the right.

So, only the tip of the pledge was shown, and the door to the break room located behind the pledge was captured on the screen for about three-quarters.

+

[SYSTEM] ‘Task’ has been completed.

▷ Reward: Experience (5)

▷ Cumulative experience: 60

▷ Accumulated points: 0

+

A completion notice appeared with a brilliant light.

‘You say it’s done even though you took pictures like this?’

I checked the last photo I took in my photo album.

The photo was so focused on a distant object that you couldn’t even see the words “Confidentiality Agreement.”

The focus was so strangely set on a place that the man and Jeong Seong-bin on the other side of the glass door of the break room were clearly visible.

‘……uh?’

I looked up from my phone screen and stared at the break room in front of me.

Indeed, Jeong Seong-bin was standing in the break room. His face was clearly tense.

The person sitting across from me also had a familiar face.

It was Jang Jun-hu, the owner of the song that was sung during the guided recording experience a while ago.

‘Were the two close enough to meet each other separately?’

I had my doubts, but I already knew it in my head.

As long as one side sits there peacefully and makes the other side laugh, the assumption that they are close friends should be thrown out the window.

As if to give me some confidence in my assumption, Jang Jun-hoo threw something near Jeong Seong-bin.

‘This crazy b*tch?’

I immediately knocked on the door to the break room and went in. The two people’s eyes instantly turned towards me.

“Seongbin, were you here?”

The faces of both people stiffened at my sudden appearance.

I looked straight at Jang Jun-hoo and greeted him like an immature rookie who didn’t even realize he had a senior colleague.

“Senior Jang Jun-hoo is here too! Hello!”

“… … Oh, oh. Is this a face I’ve never seen before?”

“I’m Kim Yi-wol, the new trainee, senior!”

After a long time, I heard the voice from the days when I was being disciplined in front of Manager Nam.

I glanced at the floor and saw a water bottle with a little water in it rolling around.

What the f*ck, what if the kid got hit?

My fist clenched on its own. I barely suppressed my primal anger and spoke.

“The manager is looking for Seongbin. If there’s something you want to talk about, should I wait outside? I’ll tell the manager in advance.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“thank you!”

I bowed 90 degrees like an unaware bird and pulled Jeong Seong-bin’s arm.

I wish I was overreacting, but if Jang Joon-hoo was giving Jeong Seong-bin a hard time, I was thinking of separating Jeong Seong-bin from here.

“for a moment.”

Just as we were about to leave the break room, Jang Jun-hoo called out to us.

Jang Jun-hoo’s gaze was on the cell phone in my hand.

“Don’t trainees not carry their phones around?”

Jang Jun-hoo asked while sitting awkwardly.

I answered with as friendly a smile as I could muster.

“I have some circumstances and am writing this with the manager’s permission.”

Then Jang Jun-hoo waved his hand at me.

“Bring it and see.”

The atmosphere instantly froze at Jang Jun-hoo’s words.

The hand holding the cell phone tightened.