Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Who doesn't know that counting your chickens before they hatch is a bad idea?
But I still do it anyway.
Because drinking that 'chicken soup' is more refreshing than waiting for the facts.
I called the kids over, who were resting after practicing.
They hadn't cooled down yet.
Seeing them panting is a bit of a turn-on, but.
I'm planning on doing something even more arousing than that.
"You guys. Do you know Nampodong Nuclear Fist?"
"Yes?"
All four of them shake their heads at the same time.
"Is that some famous gangster? Why?"
"Is he coming to 'take out' our Team Leader-nim?"
"If that's the case, I'll handle it."
It's reassuring in a different sense.
But in another sense, they are truly innocent kids.
I mean.
Would these kids even be interested in a composer's name?
"Hmm. Then, do you at least know these songs?"
I started playing the songs composed and written by Nampodong Nuclear Fist that I had already bookmarked.
"Oh!"
"Of course we know this song."
"Wow. This was a practice song back in my day."
Seong Se-ri jumps up and starts dancing naturally.
Next to her, Gil Min-seo follows suit, happily bobbing her shoulders.
Hee-ju and Da-young just stare blankly at the two of them.
"The person who composed these songs is a guy called Nampodong Nuclear Fist."
"Oh. That's amazing. All these songs are famous. Did one person compose all of them?"
"Yup. Honestly, he's an amazing composer-nim. They say if you lined up all the agencies and idol groups that want to get a song from him, the line would wrap around the Earth."
"Waaah!"
Seeing the kids clapping and admiring it.
Ha.
I really understand why people get so obsessed with idols and can't get out.
Even though I'm the Team Leader who sees them every day, I'm happy every day.
Now, if I brag that this amazing composer might take on our song, that's the climax.
I'm already happy just thinking about how shocked the kids will be.
That's why 'drinking the chicken soup' is so good.
Because you can exaggerate, package it, and be happy about it beforehand.
"That amazing compo—"
It was the moment I was about to take a refreshing gulp of the chicken soup I had been brewing and brewing.
"Hey. Team Leader Kim."
"Ack!"
I bit my tongue.
Fuck.
Even though it's been a while since I heard it, the moment I heard it, my body reflexively got goosebumps.
"Team Leader-manager-nim. Are you okay? Should we call an ambulance?"
"Do-doesn't it get better if we kiss? Is your tongue cut off? Oppa? A-are you going to the hospital?"
"No. It's. It's fine. Calm down."
You guys overreacting is the scariest thing.
What's with the ambulance.
And what's with the kissing.
I really need to pick a day and teach these kids some common sense.
'How is it that they sometimes feel dumber than kids who have only been trainees for over 5 years?'
Even Hee-ju. And Min-seo graduated from high school.
"Successful idols are supposed to be a bit dumb at this age."
"You too. You need to study a bit."
"Ah. But it's true."
Seong Se-ri isn't someone to trust either.
Is Lee Da-young the only reliable one in times like this?
"Ah, shit. That fucking bald guy is here again."
"......."
It's damn hard to break a habit formed at age three. Fuck.
I don't know who it is, but if I ever meet Lee Da-young's family, I want to give them a piece of my mind.
How much swearing did they do in front of a young child for her to turn out like that?
"What brings Team Leader Park here again?"
I made eye contact with Park Ju-yong, who I hadn't seen in about a month, but whose face alone still made my nerves tingle.
The more I see him, the more I hate him.
He showed up at such an artistic timing, too.
'No. Should I just say it in front of this bastard?'
No.
You have to pick and choose when to 'drink the chicken soup'.
If I drank it in front of this bastard, I'd definitely get indigestion.
"The CEO even gave you a warning. It's a bit problematic for you to come here like this."
"Oh my. Team Leader Kim."
Good grief.
"It was just that he didn't want to see us fighting. And are we one or two-year-old toddlers? Why would we fight just by seeing each other's faces? And that, what was it."
What could it be, you fucker.
I was just staying still.
You're the one who had a seizure every time you saw me, so don't try to frame it like I was the one acting crazy now.
'Ha. I'm really going to go crazy.'
I finally understand why there are lines of people quitting good jobs just because they met one bad boss.
The stress is indescribable.
"We are Team Leaders. We're in charge of kids who are about to debut."
"Yes. Well. That's true."
"Then, instead of raising our voices at each other, we should show it through results."
"Yes, yes. That's right. That's correct. And honestly, well. It's a bit awkward to say this now, but we're all family eating from the same pot, so wouldn't it be good if we all did well?"
Since he was being unusually soft today, I tried to play along.
But.
"Ah. That's not it."
This son of a bitch.
He doesn't listen. He doesn't listen at all.
Is he a wall? What is he?
"Even if we eat from the same pot, we are rivals. We aren't here to help each other."
"If one side does well, you could help them a little. Does one side have to fail if the other succeeds? It's not our lives. It's the lives of young kids with bright futures."
"You'll fail if you live with that pathetic mindset. Just like you."
"......."
Deep breath. Another deep breath.
I swallowed my anger thirty-forty-five times and sent the kids away first.
Because I felt like some harsh words were about to come out.
"Team Leader-manager-nim."
"It's okay. Go."
I even pulled Hee-ju, who was sticking to me until the end, away and entrusted her to Se-ri.
"Sending them away so quickly. Are you scared because we're talking alone?"
"Yes. Well. I've been sworn at by you once or twice. I'll live a long life. I think my lifespan has increased by about ten years because of you."
"What? You?"
Look at him getting worked up again.
Fine.
I'd rather he have a seizure so I can show it to the CEO one more time.
I'll even record it and snitch on him.
"I don't know if you've heard, but the CEO decided to get a song from Nampodong Nuclear Fist this time."
"Wow, that's an amazing composer-nim. A good opportunity has come."
And he's debating whether to give it to our team or Oasis.
Looking at the form lately, unless you're an idiot, you could tell who the CEO's heart is leaning towards.
It's definitely me.
It's definitely us.
We formed a team with unparalleled, unique kids.
The CEO, who pretends not to be but has huge desires, wouldn't have given it to Team Leader Park unless he had lost his mind.
Really.
Absolutely.
One hundred percent.
That's what I thought, but.
"Originally, ahem. Oasis was supposed to get it."
"Yes?"
Someone please tag me.
Ice tag. Fuck.
"But I had a change of heart. I thought, isn't that a bit wrong? Team Leader Kim's team is also preparing for debut. My conscience hurt a bit to let them snatch such a good opportunity. Still, aren't we family eating from the same pot?"
"......."
"So, there's about a week left until the monthly evaluation. I suggested giving it to the team that does better there. At first, it seemed like he said no, but in the end, he nodded. And I came down here to kindly deliver that to Team Leader Kim myself. Be grateful."
I stared at Park Ju-yong for a moment, blinking.
I held my breath for a second.
"Ha. Hahaha! Hahaha!"
A hollow laugh burst out.
"Wow. Seriously."
This is some next-level bullshit.
"Why are you laughing, you fucker? I'm giving you a good opportunity."
"No. It's just. Ah, people."
I was just amazed at how shameless he could be.
"You're truly amazing. Team Leader Park. Thinking that you asked the CEO while considering us, I'm on the verge of being hit by a tsunami of emotions."
To be precise, he probably appealed to the CEO, who was trying to push us, with crazy sentimentality.
He would have said it's insane to give it to our team, who hasn't even been practicing for long.
He would have pushed and pushed, saying it's better to give it to Oasis, and that if it's Oasis, they'll succeed for sure if they just release a good album.
'And the CEO bastard who allowed that is just, fuck.'
Team Leader Park Ju-yong. CEO Cheon Tae-o.
Just thinking of their names makes me dizzy.
'Phew. So these are the kinds of bastards who end up rising to the top.'
People who are considerate, smart, and have clear self-reflection feel ashamed of themselves and step back quickly.
But the one in front of me.
This bastard who doesn't know what shame is, doesn't know how to step back.
Because he's always living a life where he is the correct answer.
"Hahaha. Haha. Hahahaha."
"Why are you laughing? You bastard! Are you ignoring me now?"
"That's not it."
Having finished my thoughts, I nodded and grabbed Park Ju-yong's hand to shake it.
"Thank you so much for giving us a good opportunity. Ah. And let's have a good competition."
Park Ju-yong, who roughly shook off my hand, gives a rotten smile.
"Competition is good. Well. I think the outcome is already decided, but don't be too disappointed if you lose."
Look who's talking. Seriously.
"Yes. Well. Let's do that. Thank you for coming to tell me the good news."
It's a good thing I drank the chicken soup alone.
"Is the conversation over, Team Leader-manager-nim?"
"Hee-ju."
"Yes."
"Go get some salt. I need to get it on my hands, and I need to sprinkle some in the practice room."
"Yes. I understand."
Swoosh-.
I returned to the dorm, changed into comfortable clothes, and gathered with the kids to talk.
"So it's decided by the monthly evaluation whether we get the song or not. From the composer of the song we heard earlier."
"Yeah."
"So that's why you played the song earlier. To get us motivated. Because it's a good opportunity."
It's a good thing I drank the chicken soup alone.
"That's right."
"One week until the monthly evaluation, huh. Hmm. That's intense. It's hard for the performance shown at the monthly evaluation to be the same as regular practice."
"I'm sorry. For telling you late."
On the other hand, since Oasis is preparing for their debut as soon as they get the song and choreography, as far as I know, they have trainee stage performances.
I know they often have that kind of time, like the impromptu performance we saw when we went out for drinks before.
That's not something only our agency does.
Since they usually have that kind of schedule to prepare for the real thing when they are trainees, we will also do it often when we get closer to our debut later.
We'll go watch street busking and things like that a lot.
So, looking at the monthly evaluation itself, it was true that we were at a disadvantage.
"If it were another team, it might be tough, but if it's us, I think we can do it. Min-seo's positive energy is amazing, and Da-young's eye for detail is so good that we can find and fix all the shortcomings or problems within a week. Lastly, Hee-ju is our secret weapon, so to speak."
"Secret weapon?"
"Secret weapon?"
Hee-ju and I tilt our heads in unison.
Seong Se-ri chuckles and grabs Hee-ju's cheeks, shaking them wildly.
Hee-ju, who was expressionless regardless, carefully leans her head on my shoulder.
Seeing that, the corners of Seong Se-ri's mouth widen further.
"She's doing well now, but actually, Hee-ju has the most untapped potential."
"Really?"
I didn't know that. Was there something like that?
"What's the way to unleash it?"
I asked, giving up on trying to push Hee-ju's head off my shoulder.
"That's a secret."
Ah, shit. She knows how to make people curious.
"Tell me."
"You'll find out in a little while."
Having said that, Seong Se-ri immediately pulled Eun Hee-ju, who was clinging to my side, away and ran into the room as if escaping.
"What the hell does she mean? Fuck."
Scratching the back of my head, I went into the room that serves as the dorm's closet and my sleeping quarters and laid out the bedding.
And while I was closing my eyes, thinking about what I could do to help with the monthly evaluation.
Knock knock-.
The problem is that there are too many women coming to visit in the middle of the night.
Lee Da-young. Gil Min-seo. Seong Se-ri.
Who is it today?
"Team Leader-manager-nim. I'm coming in."
It was Eun Hee-ju.