Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols
SS Chapter 13: Winds of Change (1)
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TL: FoodieMonster007
There’s a saying that a healthy mind dwells in a healthy body. If I were to update that phrase for modern times, wouldn't it be ‘A ridiculously tight schedule dwells in a healthy body’?
"There's no time, no time!"
It was true. I was saying that because I was busy. As each comeback date neared, my day shrank from twenty-four hours to twenty-three, then twenty-two. Now it felt like it was only two hours long.
"I haven't even done anything, so why has the sun set already? I really don't get it."
"I can't really understand you either, hyung," Kang Kiyeon said, clicking his tongue.
I wouldn't feel so wronged if I had at least been playing around. The short vacation I took during our off-season felt like a past life.
I didn't want to complain about having a lot of work. Objectively, my workload had decreased significantly compared to my days at Hanpyeong Industry or our early debut. Broadcasts increased, but I wasn't naive enough to whine about hardship when Gawoon's staff handled everything. All I had to do was film my parts and leave.
My area of responsibility wasn't large either. After the restructuring, my position was limited to being a proposer. I enjoyed having no responsibility. My right to speak was guaranteed, but I didn't have to clean up the aftermath. That lasted for about two days.
The company not putting pressure on me and me wanting to meet the fans' expectations are two different problems.
So I put myself on a self-powered hamster wheel. My ambition fueled my motivation, which was great, but I went a little wild. When I came to my senses, everything the passionate Kim Iwol from three months ago had started was rushing at me with a deadline.
As a result, the group's 202X annual activity plan became this.
April: A fresh comeback~
July: A passionate comeback~
November: A comeback to wrap up the year~
To this, the solo debut of spArk's leader was added in June. It was spArk's first-ever solo album.
Since it was important news that had to be delivered to the person himself first, the company called in only Jeong Seongbin. After hearing the album release plan, Jeong Seongbin ran straight to me with a pale face. I also heard about the solo for the first time then.
"Hyung, can I please get some advice from you?!"
His complexion was so bad I thought he had an upset stomach. Fortunately, as befitting the leader of spArk, a group with the best physiques, he wasn't sick. If I had to pick a problem, it was his mental state.
Jeong Seongbin fretted that he was throwing a wet blanket on a time when they should focus on group activities. I told him several times that all of spArk's members had high recognition now. We needed to strike while the iron was hot before losing the demand from the OST, but his attitude remained passive.
"The members might find it strange…"
This guy even worried his colleagues would misunderstand and think he was the only one getting a push. He said it was common for a group's harmony to be damaged over a single solo album.
He had a point. An idol's enemies weren't only on the outside. Internal division was also a considerable threat to the team.
The main factor causing that division was different levels of company support. Who gets an advertisement, who gets to be the center more often, and so on. The potential for discord was overflowing.
The fandom also easily grew noisy when one member went solo. It wasn't common for an artist at this career stage to release a solo album. Since Sparkler had seen almost no disputes, Jeong Seongbin didn't want to ruin the good atmosphere.
Prioritizing group activities is a good attitude and the foundation for an idol. Ideally, the company should promote members in a balanced way. You also have to be prepared for the difficulty of getting fan support.
However, that wasn't a problem for spArk's Jeong Seongbin. There was no reason for him to worry at all.
I grabbed the worried leader's shoulders and shouted. "It's not like we're just throwing out a solo album to appease domestic fans after constant overseas tours. We're even releasing three team albums, so what's the problem! Do I look like a piece of trash who'd use you as a shield to deceive Sparkler?!"
"That's not it, hyung."
"Then what! Do the guys seem like the type to throw a fit just because you're releasing a solo album? Do they look like kids who'd protest to the company because you're the first to go solo? If so, Seongbin, you and I will have to have a long talk today, ranks aside."
I had no choice but to explain, point by point, the '101 reasons why Seongbin is the right person to release a solo album'. Perhaps not wanting that 'long talk', Jeong Seongbin looked like he was reluctantly eating mustard.
As expected, spArk sincerely congratulated Jeong Seongbin on his solo album. Jeong Seongbin couldn't easily lift his head. Kang Kiyeon worked especially hard to comfort his hyung, who felt embarrassed facing the younger members.
After receiving his younger brother's support, Jeong Seongbin became incredibly busy. He adopted the attitude of doing his best to meet expectations. He signed up for extra vocal lessons and left for them at dawn, even before the song was ready. Kang Kiyeon, now seeing his hyung off unlike their high school days, closed the front door and spoke.
"Isn't Seongbin-hyung the perfect person to be the first one to go solo? I'm reassured that he's kicking things off, but it seems Seongbin-hyung doesn't think so."
"I guess it's different when you're the one in that position. Kiyeon, want to find out for yourself if that's true?"
"No."
Kang Kiyeon, who had been standing there quietly, was soon summoned to the office.
He returned after learning he was spArk's second solo artist.
"What is all this?"
His question implied both bewilderment and doubt about the schedule's feasibility. His awkwardness could be a meaningful chance to understand Seongbin-hyung. As for the schedule, had he ever seen spArk cancel plans for being too tight? It was deplorable that he still didn't believe that once you start something, it somehow proceeds.
Besides, what would he do if it didn't work out? Every male idol with Republic of Korea nationality would inevitably face a military hiatus. That meant you had to work when you could.
Moreover, there was no guarantee their current popularity would last forever. You had to be grateful when people loved you. Becoming complacent, making entitled complaints, and taking offers lightly was a shortcut to ruin.
People in the industry and the fans are not fools. They watch from up close and are the first to know when your eyes become dull like a pollack's. That's why you have to approach everything with intensity.
"Hyung, I'm still…"
Even though he couldn't be unaware of this principle, Kang Kiyeon trailed off. His face was full of worry.
If Jeong Seongbin was conscious of the members and fans, Kang Kiyeon was concerned about his own skills. He wondered if his abilities were good enough for a solo career before his colleagues. How could these guys all be so lacking in ambition?
I finished the sentence for Kang Kiyeon. "Even if you're not confident, give it a try. I also think you're the right person for it."
"You're just copying what I said to tease me, right?"
"I'm serious. How do you think I could have known about your solo album in advance?"
Jeong Seongbin was the first to hear the news of his own solo. That was the usual procedure.
In Kang Kiyeon's case, however, I knew before he did. Kang Kiyeon seemed to notice this difference only after I pointed it out.
"Cheonghyeon worked on it for a really long time."
Lee Cheonghyeon generally made songs for spArk. However, he sometimes wrote a song that only suited one person or a specific season.
The songs created this way were neatly stacked in Lee Cheonghyeon's drive. The dormant music became another OST for Jeong Seongbin, a MISSION song for an audition program, or a track for a special concert stage.
This song was the same. Its owner was clearly decided. It was the best gift a composer could give a musician friend. It was a song he had held onto for a long time, just waiting for the right moment to release it.
"He's been holding onto it for a long time, saying he'd give it to you when the chance came. Why don't you accept it?"
How many people could refuse a gift from their best friend? Kang Kiyeon didn't have an iron heart, so he succumbed to his close friend's surprise.
In short, spArk was set for an incredibly hectic year. The other members wouldn't just sit back and play while Jeong Seongbin and Kang Kiyeon did their solo activities. We also had to go to music shows to cheer them on, post promotional content on 'In-byeol', and do the challenges. Even if it wasn't my album, there was a mountain of things to do.
Even just based on group activities, three comebacks a year was not a relaxed schedule. It was rare for a team at spArk's career level to have so many domestic comebacks. Usually, they would release one album and go on an overseas tour. It ended up this way because I couldn't forget Sparkler's resentful posts from the past, asking if it wasn't shameless to neglect domestic fans after debuting in Korea.
Without a magical scheduler that could change schedules with a single touch, the ordinary human Kim Iwol could do nothing. I had no choice but to rely on the superstition that superhuman strength would well up as the deadline approached.
I made a round of the office, received the meeting minutes, and met with Yuur to request desktops and dual monitors for the idol employees. Then I headed to Lee Cheonghyeon's studio. I was there to check on the mixing progress, but a surprise guest was there.
"What's Joowoo doing here?"
"Did your trip to the office go well…?"
"Yeah, but they said there are no plans to make a dedicated seat for me yet."
"If they made that, trucks would line up at UtopiA, so why would they…"
"You were quiet for a while, but your words have gotten aggressive, Joowoo? Have you been hanging out with Choi Jeho behind my back?"
Despite my reasonable suspicion, Park Joowoo feigned ignorance. Lee Cheonghyeon belatedly took off his headset and greeted me.
"Hyung! When did you get here?"
"Just now. Are you busy? I came to see if you needed anything."
"It's going smoothly. Is it because Cheonghyeon is so clever?"
"It must be thanks to the meticulous planning and solidifying the concept beforehand."
"This hyung has gotten so stingy with his compliments lately."
"Didn't you say you're not afraid of the bitter taste anymore?"
"That doesn't mean I've started to hate the sweet taste, does it?"
While retorting sharply, Lee Cheonghyeon handed a USB to Park Joowoo. Park Joowoo carefully put the USB into his bag.
"What's that?" I asked.
Lee Cheonghyeon's eyes rolled to the side.
Park Joowoo met his younger brother's gaze and spoke. "…It's a song I'm making."
"Your own composition?" I asked again, confused.
Is a composition assignment mandatory in the practical music department? The semester hasn't even started. Is he preparing to retake a class he got an F in?
Lee Cheonghyeon answered my unspoken question. "Joowoo-hyung said he wants to try making a hard rock song!"
"…What?"
No wonder the kid's mouth got so rough.
Our Joowoo had hit his rock-puberty.