Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols

Chapter 181: Love for Colleagues

Jeong Seongbin’s question, ‘Is filming very difficult?’, was perplexing.

“No. Why?”

I pretended nothing was wrong and asked him back. Jeong Seongbin laughed awkwardly and replied,

“Hearing you ask that made me wonder if there’s a lot of hazing on set.”

He asked such a transparent question. I thought he wouldn’t notice at all, but I must have underestimated them.

“Hazing? From who!? Hyung, you only have two lines!”

“Calm down. And those two lines might be a big deal to someone, that’s why it’s like that.”

Kang Kiyeon calmed Lee Cheonghyeon down with reasonable words. But Lee Cheonghyeon wouldn’t quiet down so easily.

“They shouldn’t do that to someone who auditioned after receiving an offer. If they’re going to complain, shouldn’t they complain to the person who offered the role to the idol and the person who made the final casting decision? That’s just bullying the weak!”

“Why are you so angry?”“Because I had a frustrating meeting recently, that’s why!”

I told him to make a business-like drama OST, but now he was burnt out by the office politics. I’d need to refresh him soon.

“I know that there are people out there who are desperate for any opportunity, so I’m doing my best not to embarrass myself. You don’t have to worry about that.”

“No one’s worried about that. What’s the next problem?”

Kang Kiyeon asked, resting his chin on his hand.

“There’s someone who isn’t very happy about my casting.”

“Meaning they’re f*cking unhappy about it.”

“Jeho, what happened to our agreement about using proper language?”

“I just translated it according to the normal standard.”

Choi Jeho then turned his gaze towards the other members.

No one refuted Choi Jeho’s words. He became even more smug. Damn it, it’s infuriating.

“Yes, there’s someone who isn’t happy about it. I thought this was a natural phenomenon in the entertainment industry. But it seems that’s not necessarily the case.”

“If it were a natural phenomenon? Would you just let it happen?”

Lee Cheonghyeon glared at me intensely. I felt like my face was going to melt.

“I won’t. I’m tired of just sitting around and taking it.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Lee Cheonghyeon folded his arms and slumped back against the backrest.

Jeong Seongbin, who had been lost in thought, finally spoke.

“Hyung.”

“Yeah.”

“This is just my opinion, but regardless of the genre or field, there will certainly be a general reaction, but I don’t think it’s absolute.”

General reaction, huh.

I was definitely struggling. Between the dissonance of ‘changing jobs’ in the society I knew and ‘changing fields’ in the entertainment world, I was struggling with which side and how I should adapt.

Jeong Seongbin was saying that the boundaries of this ‘change of field’ were not absolute.

“There will be people who want to help someone from a different background, and there will be others who think that person lacks professionalism. When that happens, I think the best approach is to adapt gradually, with the support of good people.”

It was pleasant to hear. If you twisted his words, some might call it naive.

However, I realized after hearing his following words that Jeong Seongbin had given this a lot of thought.

“There might be difficult people now. But there will definitely be good people, and there will be more and more good people around you, hyung. Everyone likes you.”

It was a little, no, extremely embarrassing, but.

“You’re not exactly the type of person people wouldn’t want to like.”

The words I said to Jang Junhoo the day I got his apology.

Jeong Seongbin returned them to me with a smile.

What a strange guy. He knew perfectly well how difficult I could be, and yet he still said things like this. His personality had changed since ‘Genre-Swap’.

***

“You guys have been getting along well lately?”

As the members who had come to see me off returned inside, our manager spoke up.

“They’ve always gotten along well.”

“No, I mean, they seem exceptionally close lately.”

This was all because those guys would yell, ‘Spark’s charming and kind CEO! Have a great shoot!’ every time I left for my In My Office filming. They seemed to want to boost my confidence, but all it really did was increase my embarrassment.

“You’re on set all day today, right?”

“Yes. There’s a conference room scene in the afternoon and a company dinner scene at night.”

That was more than eight hours of work. Shouldn’t I be asking for the four major insurances at this point? With the end of the year approaching, I was seriously considering joining any company just to get my year-end tax adjustment sorted out in one go.

At least, in the conference room scene, I only had to say ‘Yes’ twice, which was fortunate. The production company probably regretted having to pay me a per-episode appearance fee for that.

But I’m sorry. I also need to earn my keep. I have to at least show the top of my head on screen.

The conference room scene, focused on the two main characters, wrapped up without any issues.

The scene where the product jointly developed by the two main leads generated enormous profits also went smoothly. Gu Jahan stumbled over his lines a couple of times, but since the fund’s name was ridiculously long, everyone was willing to let it slide.

‘Mai New Vision Dynamic Securities Investment Trust,’ it must have been hard to memorize.

Perhaps because the main characters’ romantic storyline had reached a turning point, the atmosphere on set was more cheerful than usual. It also helped that the supporting actors appeared alongside Gu Jahan and Ha Seomyeong, balancing the mood.

‘I wish every day could be like today.’

I was picking up the paper confetti we had scattered while filming the ‘Our profits are huge!’ scene with the assistant directors when someone tapped me on the shoulder.

I turned around to see the members of Team Leader Gu’s team standing there, each holding a drink.

“Mr. Iwol, thanks for the coffee!”

“Huh?”

I only picked up paper here; I didn’t buy any coffee?

Seeing my bewildered expression, Ha Seomyeong pointed outside and said,

“Your members sent a coffee truck! I guess they wanted to surprise you?”

“A coffee truck?!”

I put the collected paper on the table and dashed outside like lightning. No wonder the Spark behind-the-scenes camera staff member was here today; they also ended up hurrying after me.

There really was a small, cute gray coffee truck parked there. The staff members were receiving coffee in front of the truck.

“…….”

I was speechless.

[Younghwan, we support your life at Mai Asset Management!]

The banner at the top of the coffee truck was shocking enough…

[Sponsored by Employee Do! Sunbaenims, recharge your caffeine!]

…and the banner next to it was equally shocking.

‘This must have cost a fortune!’

Even coffee trucks sent to music video filming sets easily cost over a million won.

And they sent a coffee truck to a drama set with several times more people? These guys who hadn’t even received their payments yet?

‘I’m going to… oh, right, I don’t have my phone.’

The behind-the-scenes staff member, seeing my expression turn blank as I checked my pockets, covered their mouth and laughed.

“Should I lend you my phone?”

“I would be very grateful if you would.”

If I called my manager, he’d pass the message along. As soon as I explained the situation, I was immediately connected to the members, who were in the middle of practice.

─ Hyung! How’s the color of the coffee truck? Do you like it?

Lee Cheonghyeon chattered excitedly, oblivious to my inner turmoil. I felt a throbbing headache coming on.

“Did you guys do this?”

This question was loaded with meaning. It was a plea for them to answer, ‘The company paid for it!’ like with the return gift last time.

However, Spark dashed my hopes.

─ Yeah. We pooled our money.

As always.

“You haven’t even received your payments yet, where did you get the money to do this?  You must be busy and have no time, so who even placed the order? Did you write the messages on the banner yourselves? I told you to tell me beforehand when you’re doing something this elaborate….”

─ I can’t take this hyung’s nagging anymore. Anyone want to take over?

I could hear Lee Cheonghyeon groaning in disgust on the other end of the line.

─ Hyung, it’s me.

“Okay, Seongbin. Let’s try to have a rational conversation.”

─ I think you’re the only one being irrational right now, hyung.

Kang Kiyeon grumbled in the background.

As far as I’m concerned, none of you are in your right minds. Why would high schoolers send a multi-million won coffee truck?

“Seongbin, whose idea was this?”

─ Joowoo came up with the idea, and the majority voted in favor.

“So there was someone who opposed it? Who was that sensible fellow?”

─ Jeho hyung.

Choi Jeho!

He was absolutely useless in meetings!

All he ever did was sit around and spout nonsense!

But at least, as the oldest, he had tried to rein them in.

For the first time since knowing him, I actually felt grateful.

It would have been better if he had a little more authority. From now on, I’d give him a little more power so he could maintain balance with Jeong Seongbin while I was away…

─ Jeho hyung suggested we send a pack of natural mineral water since you only drink lukewarm water, but we thought that wouldn’t be appropriate, so we decided on the coffee truck amongst ourselves.

…So much for that. You little s*it, you’ll never get a chance to speak in any non-work-related meetings ever again.

─ Shouldn’t we give him what the main lead drink?

I could hear Choi Jeho muttering in the distance. You… Just wait until we get back to the dorm.

─ Joowoo also found the vendor. Kiyeon made the cost estimate, and I wrote the banners. Oh, and Cheonghyeon edited the photos!

─ Didn’t I do a great job removing the background? Background removal tech is so advanced these days!

“And Choi Jeho? Was he just drinking water on the side?”

─ He took on the important task of talking to the vendor’s owner.

Lee Cheonghyeon said solemnly. Right, no one could have done that better than Choi Jeho. No one would dare scam him over the phone with that voice.

─ Hyung, why are you so worried? You know I get composing fees. Kang Kiyeon and Jeho hyung get choreography fees. You think the five of us can’t split this?

Lee Cheonghyeon laughed.

It’s good that you guys are talented and make a lot of money.  But…

“Your money…”

Why would you spend it on something like this? You guys usually don’t even spend money.

─ Don’t make it sound like we’re being wasteful. That would hurt our feelings.

─ That’s right. We did this to support you, and if you scold us, what are we supposed to feel?

─ Seongbin’s right! You should just shower us with love instead…!

Without considering my feelings, they all chattered like a choir. This behind-the-scenes footage would be a nightmare to subtitle.

I suppressed the sigh that was about to escape. Then I looked alternately at the coffee truck and my phone.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

My words were met with cheerful laughter from the phone. They shouted in unison,

─ Take a hundred pictures in front of the coffee truck!

After hanging up, I received a peach iced tea from the coffee truck.

And I took a picture of the coffee truck. I took a few more pictures in front of it with the help of our manager, but I just wanted to take a picture of the truck itself.

After successfully taking the proof shots, I returned to the set, sat in the warm seat designated for Do Younghwan, and drank my iced tea.

On the cup holder, my own smiling face stared back at me.