Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols
SS Chapter 38: Experience! The Scene of a Breakup (4)
Day/Night Mode:
Change Font Size:
TL: FoodieMonster007
spArk's youngest manager, Dong Euion, lived a very busy life recently.
Having experienced one promotion period, Dong Euion no longer froze up like he had before. He grew accustomed to the changes and wasn't flustered by the suddenly packed schedule.
He even adapted to the congested roads near broadcasting stations. His seniors helped by showing him good parking spots. Dong Euion was slowly but surely finding his footing without trouble.
Just when things seemed peaceful, an incident occurred. It was nothing serious, but the idol Dong Euion managed was showing strange symptoms.
When UtopiA confirmed his employment, Dong Euion diligently searched for manager reviews. The internet was full of sensational information and news stories about celebrities abusing their power.
Indoor smoking, excessive errands, and verbal abuse were common complaints. spArk's eccentricities were not like that.
"Manager Daeyeon isn't going to quit, is he…?"
Kim Iwol muttered this daily on the way home, staring out the dark window. Jeong Seongbin had explained it was part of a Main-d control for the music video shoot.
Kim Iwol and Jeong Seongbin explained everything in detail to prevent any misunderstandings. Dong Euion didn't fully understand the 'breakup guy experience project', but Kim Iwol looked so genuinely distressed that Dong Euion just played heavy metal songs one after another.
"Euion, quitting… it's your choice, of course, but I hope we can work together for a long time. If you have any complaints about the company, I can protest on your behalf…"
"You're not going to lie down in protest, are you?"
"Has the rumor spread all the way to you, Euion?"
Kim Iwol seemed unaware that his signature move had spread throughout UtopiA. Dong Euion had also thought it was a joke at first. He only believed it after Lim Chanyoung said they should lay a blanket on the practice room floor.
"Iwol must really like people."
"Iwol?" Kang Kiyeon questioned before nodding.
"He's always good to the people around him. He even has all the members' family phone numbers."
"You don't mean the emergency contacts the company has?"
"The company only has one family representative's number. That hyung has almost all of them saved. He even calls my dad sometimes."
Dong Euion was astounded. The first thing that surprised him after starting as a manager was the exponential increase in his contacts. He saved numbers for company staff, broadcasting officials, and even popular restaurants near the station and agency. His contacts grew by the hundreds.
The idol himself must have exchanged contact information with even more people, and the number would only increase over the years. Kim Iwol even seemed to have the takoyaki truck owner's number. It was amazing that he kept up with all of them.
"Doesn't he get tired? He has so much work."
"He says he's bored. He's always posting something in the group chat that's just for us."
Kang Kiyeon showed him the chat window. It was full of messages and emoticons. Everyone posted a word or two, but Kim Iwol and Lee Cheonghyeon's contributions were especially large.
"I thought you all usually just talked about business-related things!"
"That's because we decided not to chat in the room that includes staff. He said it would be a distraction if we posted trivial things when you're all busy working."
That sounded like something Kim Iwol would say. Dong Euion recalled the read receipts that appeared in real-time for every message. It reminded him of a high school friend who complained about group project members not reading their texts in college.
Come to think of it, I've never been frustrated because the hyungs didn't check their messages, huh?
However, Dong Euion never felt intense pressure to read messages right away. His phone was usually quiet outside of work hours. He had thought the work-only group chat felt bleak, but he now realized it had its advantages.
"Kiyeon, Kiyeon!"
As if he had heard them, Kim Iwol burst through the practice room door at the perfect moment.
"The restriction ends in three hours!"
His expression was far too bright for someone supposedly preparing to act like a man after a breakup.
"Hyung, you can just talk to Daeyeon again, but what did I do to deserve this? This is a universe where only I suffer a huge loss."
"How about asking Choi Jeho to draw the rest of the story?"
"Is there a reason he has to give all the female characters pigtails?"
The two laughed and chatted while preparing to resume practice. Meanwhile, Lim Chanyoung summoned Dong Euion.
"Hyungs, I'll be right back!"
Dong Euion greeted them energetically, and every member turned to look at him.
"Be safe!"
"Okay."
"See you later."
"Be back soon…"
"Yeah."
"Hurry back."
Greetings poured in even though he was just stepping out for a moment. Dong Euion smiled awkwardly and hurried on his way.
With Manager Daeyeon back, my era of success began once more. I overflowed with confidence. With a complete, dedicated team, there was nothing to fear.
Comeback preparations were in their final stages, with nothing left to tweak. I just had to practice singing and dancing and take care of my skin.
While my office work decreased, something else increased. It was the promotional schedule an idol naturally has before a comeback.
spArk still accepted almost every schedule that came their way, unless there was an unavoidable reason. When we went on site, we always did our best.
Because we worked hard, we frequently received offers to reappear. I heard 'Deserted Rest Island' alone sent constant love calls after we hit it big with the homeless idol and smoked house episodes. If we weren't stuck in Korea for album preparations, someone would have been dragged off again. No, at least two people would have been. Choi Jeho and Kang Kiyeon…
A program called 'Concern Sharing Group' also consistently sent me appearance requests. I even set the record for most guest appearances. The viewers loved my unofficial 'labor-side spokesperson' character, so I was the only one who benefited. This time, 'Concern Sharing Group' was again among the programs being considered.
I should probably think of this as my last appearance.
The viewers and production team liked my comments, which deeply empathized with the stories of office workers. Guest Kim Iwol was loved for taking the employee's side more than anyone else.
However, as time passed, the 'assistant manager' in me began to fade. I was always on guard not to become 'management', but it was hard to stop my memories as an office worker from dimming. The life of Yeouido Securities Gray was ending. Since it was difficult to show the side of me the viewers wanted, I decided to leave while the applause was still loud.
To mark the finale, I decided to visit 'Concern Sharing Group' for this comeback and give my secretly final farewell. Today was that monumental day.
"We've received so many stories that seem like they were waiting for Iwol to come!"
The host even made a comment tailored for me. I felt like I could hear the cries of office workers from all over the country. Why were there so many suffering laborers in the world? So many people were still being exploited since my first appearance on 'Concern Sharing Group'. My heart ached.
"Before that, Iwol, do you happen to remember this story?"
A VCR started playing as soon as the host finished. It was a story from someone asking whether to quit a heinous company or endure it. I remembered opinions had been sharply divided. One side argued you'd spend all your earnings on hospital bills, while the other said you had to endure it to build a career.
I had told them to quit. It wasn't just because of my Hanpyeong Industry trauma. The submitter's company was quite terrible. Still, I believed in speaking with a sense of responsibility, so I commented diligently to help them make a careful decision.
≫★ When considering quitting, ask yourself three things★
— It's not like there's only one company in the world, so do you really have to build your career here?
— Do you think you'll have the same worries in a few months or years?
— Do you have a plan for after you quit?
└ Just a long string of correct statements
└ Is the company worth enduring? + If you're going to keep wavering anyway, it's better to plan your direction early + Do you have ample emergency funds and a plan to find a new job…the most important factors when considering quitting
I had also seen the summary comment on the Metube video. For story-based programs, the person involved sometimes leaves an update in the comments. I would occasionally check the videos for the stories I had handled, hoping they were doing well.
"This person, just recently! They successfully transferred to a new job."
"Really?!"
"They sent an email to our 'Concern Sharing Group' writer to say thank you."
A job transfer meant they had prepared for a new job while still employed, yet they sent their thanks to us. People can listen to your worries or offer opinions, but they can't provide practical help.
In the end, the decision was theirs alone, yet they gave the credit to others. How could I not be moved?
"Aigoo, you must have gone through so much…"
"They said it was thanks to Iwol's advice!"
"What did I do? It's all thanks to the submitter's excellent preparation!"
When they asked if I wanted to record a video message, I immediately looked for the camera. I left a message of support, wishing good fortune for the submitter who was busy applying for jobs and interviewing while still working.
The set had started warmly with good news, but it soon filled with sighs. There was no end to the heart-wrenching stories.
"You're debating whether or not to return to your previous workplace…?"
A story came in from someone who had quit their job due to interpersonal issues and now wondered if they should go back.
No one was telling me to go back to Hanpyeong Industry, but I felt my world collapse.
"Iwol, cheer up! You have a comeback around the time this airs!"
"My comeback isn't what's important right now. I want to pack a lunch and go stop this person."
"Is it that serious?"
"Of course. There may not be any good companies on Earth, but there can be better ones!"
My worries about the soul of the businessman dying were all for naught. To me, it sounded like Deputy General Manager Ahn, who quit Hanpyeong Industry, was now considering rejoining. It sounded like Assistant Manager Song was choosing Hanpyeong Industry over other companies.
I sincerely, with all my might and my whole heart, desperately prayed that the countless story submitters would prioritize their own well-being in their choices.