Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols - Chapter 66
Only Krnovel
| Episode 66. New Year’s Wishes (2)
The story of the untimely sunrise viewing was as follows.
Lee Cheong-hyeon, who had been looking for someone else’s room for a moment to borrow something from Kang Ki-yeon, found Park Joo-woo, who was having a healing time watching a temple video.
The two people, who had no sharp differences and got along well, sat side by side and talked, as they often did, with deep interest in each other’s activities.
Those who were glued to the small air conditioner screen and watched temple tours in Korea, nature searches in the city, etc. were led by the algorithm to the ‘Top 10 New Year’s sunrises you’ll regret not seeing’.
The New Year’s sunrise, which was said to be the beginning of a new year and was burning bright red, left a strong impression on Park Joo-woo, who did not go out much, and Lee Cheong-hyeon, who only studied during his childhood.
Now that we’re about to debut, I wish we could all go see the sunrise together.
How great would it be if we could all strengthen our teamwork while enjoying the beautiful scenery together!
The two people thought about that. And then they ran to the leader, who had the decision-making authority on group activities.
Jeong Seong-bin, who heard this story, is said to have agreed, saying it was a really good idea. Kang Ki-yeon said that she would go if all the members went.
“… … What did Choi Je-ho say?”
“Jeho hyung is good!”
“Him? Are you kidding?”
“Yes. I heard you’ve been feeling under the weather lately.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon’s words were shocking in themselves.
He said he would gladly participate in group activities that weren’t even for work. And he said he went because he wanted to loosen up. For someone who danced all sorts of dances, it seems like his dance training up until now wasn’t enough.
While I was being dumbfounded, Lee Cheong-hyeon started selling while openly showing me a picture of himself.
“How about here, bro? It’s a little over 2km, don’t you think it’ll be okay?”
Dude, you think 2km in the mountains is the same as 2km on the plains?
Suddenly, I thought that it would be great if this young friend could collect the 200 famous mountain stamps. I should tell him to try it next time.
Anyway, if everyone wanted to go see the sunrise, they should have avoided the temple that Lee Cheong-hyeon chose. The view there wasn’t that great.
‘You really have to be lucky to see the New Year’s sunrise.’
Even though Chief Nam had been following me around for several years, he had never seen a sunrise that was as spectacular as this.
Because of that, I had to go down the mountain with my shoulders feeling like they were going to burst from carrying Manager Nam’s share of cup ramen and a thermos, and my eardrums were already burst from hearing three hours of bad words about how I had come so many times but never seen a single sunrise.
I told him in advance how much luck it takes to see a sunrise, and that we all know that there is no difference between the sun rising on December 31st and the sun rising on January 1st, so that this young soul would not be hurt.
Then Lee Cheong-hyeon answered like this.
“We’re going to see that rare sunrise for the first time this time? That would be awesome, hyung!”
That’s why it’s not like it comes out that way.
My chest feels heavy, like I’m chewing on a cold piece of dry bread. I’m already tired before I even start hiking.
The only silver lining was that this hike was with the younger generation who were used to searching.
These guys are young, so unlike the other guys, they’ll figure out what they need. At least I won’t have to go to the shopping mall and collect information about hiking sticks.
Indeed, Jeong Seong-bin and Lee Cheong-hyeon had already started searching for mountaineering equipment and courses on the Internet.
“It must be very cold since it’s winter. Is there anyone who doesn’t have a scarf?”
“I only have these sneakers for practice, but it might be a bit weird to wear practice sneakers up a mountain, right? I’m not going to go up high, so maybe I can wear Converse?”
They seemed very excited, as if they were taking my lack of response as permission.
Aside from the guys’ enthusiasm, there were more than a few things that bothered me in that short conversation, but I didn’t bother to get involved.
Watching the sunrise has nothing to do with the KPI of becoming an idol.
Why should I volunteer to look after the guys outside of working hours… … .
“Kang-Gyeon, are you going to wear a padded jacket?”
“It’ll be hot when we go up. Let’s wear thin clothes.”
Wait a minute. I think the two youngest ones were having a rude conversation somewhere.
“Just bring a hot pack.”
“There’s no place to throw away trash on the mountain, so why are you packing so much? Lee Cheong-hyeon, you don’t even feel the cold that much. Just dress appropriately.
“What do you mean, dress appropriately? Do you want to catch the flu? Do you want to debut on stage in front of a pharmacy?!”
A loud shout escaped my mouth without me realizing it. Then the members opened their eyes wide and looked at me.
What should I do with you, you young geezers who don’t even know the cold of this winter mountain…
* * *
At dawn on January 1st, we all climbed the snow-covered mountain under the guidance of our manager.
The cold air that felt like it was biting my flesh could be felt even through the padding the manager had lent me. My vision was blurred by his breath.
“Wow, if I hadn’t listened to Lee Wol-hyung, I would have frozen to death… … .”
Lee Cheong-hyeon, armed with a neck warmer, underwear, and a hot pack, said as he swept his arms.
Of course. Don’t you think we have to wait an hour or two for the sun to rise?
Standing still for hours in the dark winter mountains is no ordinary task. Apart from physical strength, you also have to deal with the cold.
I constantly supplied warm honey ginger tea from the dorm to the precious vocalists so that their throats would not get hurt by the cold wind.
The guys’ boots were filled with crampons that I had ordered the day the sunrise sounded.
In their hands, they each held a hiking stick that I had personally ordered and found for myself.
Aren’t you overly geared? It’s a hundred times better to be heavily armed than to have someone twist their ankle on the mountain before your debut. From now on, you should just sign up for a membership at a mountaineering gear shopping mall or something.
“When does the sun rise?”
Kang Ki-yeon asked. His gloves were covered in snow, as if he had just finished building a nice stone tower with Lee Cheong-hyeon.
“It’ll be sunrise soon. Did you even build a stone tower so that you could make a wish when the sun rises?”
“Lee Cheong-hyeon threatened that if you ask twice, it will come true twice.”
How fresh.
But the world isn’t that easy. I prayed every day for Hanpyeong Industries to cut me off, but it didn’t happen.
Just as I was about to indulge in memories of the past when I was praying for the 100th day, Choi Je-ho, who was sharing fish cake soup with the manager, called us over.
“Hey, isn’t that the sun rising?”
“huh?”
No way.
A proper sunrise is harder to see than you might think.
Even if the day is just a little cloudy, the sun is hidden behind the clouds, and there are countless instances where the day dawns before anyone knows it.
Besides, even if the weather is clear, it’s still too early to see the sun.
“Oh, really!”
“Brother, come quickly… … !”
Jeong Seong-bin and Park Joo-woo shouted at us loudly. A faint crimson sunlight was shining on the guys’ faces.
I told you not to get thirsty in the cold.
Even though they were told not to run in the mountains, Lee Cheong-hyeon and Kang Ki-yeon ran to where the members were.
It seemed like everyone needed some mental education.
But before that.
“How is it, Seongbin hyung? It was good that you came, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah. It’s really cool. Right, Joo-woo?”
“… … Yeah. It was good that you came.”
“Brother Jeho, please make a wish on behalf of everyone. You’re the eldest brother.”
“Kang Ki-yeon, why are you only picking on me? Tell Kim Yi-wol to do it.”
I spoke to the guys who were muttering amongst themselves in the midst of the crowd admiring the rising sun.
“Okay, make a wish before the sun rises. That’s what you guys wanted to do, right?”
At my words, Jeong Seong-bin and the three others closed their eyes. Except for Kang Ki-yeon, the three of them even put their hands together.
I approached Choi Je-ho, who was standing next to him with his arms crossed, and asked him.
“Why don’t you make a wish?”
Then Choi Je-ho made a disgusted expression.
I also thought you wanted to make a wish since you followed me so obediently.
Choi Je-ho, who had been looking back and forth between my expression and the wish-seeking younger siblings, closed his eyes and stood there awkwardly as if he was going to keep up the rhythm.
I borrowed my manager’s cell phone and took a picture of five boys standing in a row with their eyes closed, making a wish in the morning sunlight.
And while the guys were praying without any wishes, I quietly watched the rising sun.
wish.
It’s a wish.
The only wish I ever had in life was to quit my job.
I celebrated the first sunrise I saw on a mountain I had climbed so many times, and for the first time, I made a wish other than retirement.
‘I hope you’re happy until we meet again.’
… … he said.
As expected, as soon as I made my wish, Lee Cheong-hyeon came running and asked me.
“Brother! What did you wish for?”
“I prayed that no one would make a sound out of the first room.”
“Huh… I wish I had that too.”
So, I walked down the snowy path with the five troublemakers I would have to part ways with once my wish came true.
* * *
As long as you don’t miss a few days of practice, you will never be able to dance as well as you used to.
Naturally, the goal of practicing dance right before debut was not to improve on the parts that were lacking, but to increase perfection.
The song was similar, as was the practice of looking at the camera and the team chant.
If everything was a concept of reinforcement to make it look better, there was only one thing that had a different personality.
“Seongbin hyung, can we eat dinner early tonight… … .”
“Kiyeon, are you hungry… …?”
An idol’s lifelong homework is dieting.
Spark guys are pretty good at taking care of themselves.
These guys’ self-care hasn’t gone off track in the past seven years. Even in the news photos of the dismantling article, their jawlines were still alive.
This also led to the idea that the guys were always in extreme physical condition.
Kang Ki-yeon had been eating chicken breast for dinner until now because he needed to grow taller, but now that his debut is just around the corner, he has to eat only grass without any side dishes.
Lee Cheong-hyeon, next to him, had an expression that seemed to have seen everything in the world. Be thankful that thanks to me, you have the option of exercising and controlling your diet.
“I want to eat chicken… … fried chicken… … .”
“Then I’ll have chicken… … .”
Next to Lee Cheong-hyeon, who wanted to eat chicken, even Park Joo-woo, whose appetite was approaching 0, muttered something strange.
I approached the two kimchi makers and said.
“Just eat chicken and exercise more.”
“Chicken has so many calories! It won’t take even an hour or two to get rid of all that?!”
“I know. Then bear with it.”
“If you stab my real brother, instead of blood, pus will come out.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon grumbled as he immediately got up from his seat.
‘It’s about time we reach our limits.’
It didn’t make sense that these guys, who were supposed to be eating well in the first place, would hide and not eat a single snack.
The group is comprised of everyone from Mr. Park Joo-woo, who has no seasoning, to Kang Ki-yeon, whose motto is definitely, “Even a ghost that died after eating is pretty,” so it seems like they’ve been able to tolerate each other well up until now.
I also couldn’t remember the last time I had jjolmyeon.
It’s a shame, the seasoning sauce from that house was really tasty.
“I’m hungry because I eat less and move less.”
Jeong Seong-bin smiled awkwardly.
This is a big deal. For a guy who rarely complains to do something like that was like saying his stomach was stuck to his back.
Then Jeong Seong-bin scratched his head and laughed.
Looking at that guy, I suddenly remembered my childhood when I was hungry every day.