Chapter 39
Chapter 39
"Which dermatologist are you sending them to?"
"What, you punk."
Yoon Won-seok asks as he hands me an iced Americano, while I look like a leftover Churu packet sucked dry by a cat after having my energy drained by the kids.
"No. It's the Monthly Evaluation today, so the Oasis kids, the Team Leader's kids, and other trainees have all gathered."
"Yeah."
I wet my throat with the iced Americano; now I feel like I can live.
"They're all pretty and cute. But when you think of celebrities, you think of flawless skin, right?"
"True."
"But. Your team's kids have skin that's unusually glowing. You are sending them to the designated dermatologist, right? Since that's all processed as expenses. If you send them to some much better place or whatever, the, uh, budget team upstairs won't just sit by."
"I am sending them to the designated place. Don't worry about nothing. The reason their skin is exceptionally good is..."
Because they're covered in my semen every day. Eating it. Sucking it.
Since I can't exactly say that.
"It's just natural. Just consider skin a talent."
"Skin as a talent. I'm jealous. My acne's started coming back lately, anyway. Oh. Team Leader-nim. I bought this dacquoise while getting the coffee, but I forgot. Have this too."
"Dacquoise? What's that? Is it like a macaron?"
"......."
At my words, Yoon Won-seok, who was handing me the macaron-like pastry, looks at me with a dumbfounded expression.
"Team Leader-nim. Setting aside our ranks, aren't we the same age? How can you not know what a dacquoise is? Did you suddenly age when you became a Team Leader?"
"Shut up. You punk. Just eat it and you'll know what it is. You bastard. Do you know every single food on this planet? If I mention Indian food, would you know it?"
"That's not the same as this......"
"I'm the Team Leader, Won-seok-ah."
"I see."
Watching Yoon Won-seok quietly shut his mouth, reading the room, I shove the dacquoise he gave me into my mouth.
Strawberry flavor. Chocolate flavor.
Aren't they both incredibly delicious?
"This would be fine to give the kids. What about the calories?"
"I believe it's about 300 calories each."
"Fuck. Higher than a macaron."
Should I call this a natural conversation for a manager?
I want to feed the kids delicious things.
But I end up checking the calories first.
Weight management is mostly up to their own effort.
But you can't ignore the help from those around them.
"Anyway, thanks. I enjoyed it. I was feeling a bit peckish anyway. Coffee and even dacquoise."
"Ah. Why are you like this? You've bought me so many cups of coffee usually."
"That's true."
Still, being grateful is being grateful.
Actually, I didn't just buy coffee for Yoon Won-seok out of simple goodwill, either.
But since you have to receive some sincerity from the other person at least once if you buy ten times, that's just how it is.
People are like that.
Fickle creatures.
Even though it feels like a hassle, when I'm having a conversation with someone like this, I naturally get excited.
It's not like I'm a person with a loose mouth, either.
The act of conversing itself is just enjoyable.
"Ah. Team Leader-nim."
This punk definitely has a loose mouth.
"Why."
"Aren't you going to decide on a group name? Even a temporary one."
"Well. I do need to decide. Sigh. Thinking of girl group names is a real headache."
"Right. A single name can completely change the vibe of the girl group. Of course, there are definitely groups that are so talented they crush it regardless of the group name."
"But the name still needs to be at least average."
Girl group names.
This is another headache.
Frankly, just a pretty name you might have heard somewhere?
Prisia. Iris.
I have to consider things like that.
If not that, then more intuitive names like Girl Squad, Boys, etc.
You can't ignore those names either.
"Honestly, it feels like the decent names have all been taken by our seniors already."
Even though I'd feel like it was fine if a groundbreaking name popped up.
If I can't think of anything, it feels like the kids who have already succeeded in debuting have taken all the good names.
"When you think about it, look at White Pink or New Sera. How do they come up with such brilliant and pretty names? Maybe it's because I'm at the age where my brain is starting to harden. Nothing comes to mind."
"If it just popped into your head like that, people wouldn't be holding meetings to agonize over girl group names."
"Well, I can worry about the name later. For now, I'll put it off and focus on this Monthly Evaluation."
"Ah. Right. Speaking of the Monthly Evaluation."
Yeah, yeah.
What information did you bring this time? Won-seok-ah.
"That, what was it."
"Wait."
"Yes?"
"Let's stop using that way of speaking. Starting sentences with 'That'. It's a bit much."
"Ah. Now that I think about it, this was the Team Leader-nim's way of speaking. Wow. When did I catch that?"
I feel a slight sense of camaraderie.
Just how much have we been picked apart and bossed around by that human?
"You know the composer who was supposed to be assigned to Oasis and the Team Leader-nim for the Monthly Evaluation?"
"Yeah."
"Apparently, the CEO thought it looked like favoritism if only one side got one, so he managed to find another composer."
"Oh. Really?"
CEO Cheon Tae-o!
I didn't trust him at all, but.
That's a consideration I didn't expect?
"Anyway, both composers are coming to see the kids at the Monthly Evaluation today."
"Well, they have to see the kids and get a feel for them before composing, anyway. Plus, composers, executives, and trainers all participate during the Monthly Evaluation or evaluation season. More than that, I'm most curious about who it is."
"Well. Honestly, since Nampodong Nuclear Fist composer-nim is high-class, wouldn't they have matched at least a minimum level? If the gap is too huge, that would feel even more cruel."
"I guess so?"
Would that bastard of a CEO do something so cruel?
"Hello. I am the composer, Choi Ho-cheol, also known as Nampodong Nuclear Fist. Please treat me well!"
"Ah. Hello. I am the composer, STB...... Kim Gi-bok. Please treat me well."
The moment I face the anchovy who came with Nampodong Nuclear Fist composer-nim.
No, the person called Kim Gi-bok, I cursed the CEO in my head.
Fucking bastard.
STB is a composer I, who works in this industry, have never heard of, so I searched him up.
Should I call it a sexy concept?
He was a composer who specialized in songs with a somewhat erotic feel.
I guess he has some recognition in the underground scene, but.
Are idols supposed to be underground? Fuck.
I'll be lucky if no controversy arises.
"You really have to win this, Team Leader-nim."
"......."
"If you mess up, you could end up ruining the kids who have crazy talent that you've raised so beautifully, just by getting the wrong song."
Watching Yoon Won-seok poke my side and give me sincere advice, I wiped my face.
"......."
The Oasis kids, who don't even know who STB is, are already pale.
Is it a girl's intuition?
They've already sensed that the comparison is stark.
'I hate it too.'
How hard our kids have worked.
Of course, I know better than anyone how lewd our kids are, since I fucked them this morning.
But that's separate.
As idols, our kids weren't going to be doing sexy dances right away.
What era do they think this is?
Do they think it's the 2010s?
"STB. A composer who's really well-regarded in the underground scene. Perfect for your team. Perfect."
When did he get here? This bastard.
Because of Park Ju-yong, who suddenly popped up from the side, the dacquoise and Americano I ate earlier almost came back up.
I thought my heart stopped.
"I don't know."
Honestly, I want to provoke him more, but.
There are a lot of people watching today.
And since the CEO is scheduled to come down, I decided to just keep my mouth shut.
'But why is this bastard so relaxed?'
Unless his eyes are attached to his testicles, there's no way he wouldn't see our kids' insane radiance and potential today, right?
Or maybe this bastard is doing drugs behind our backs?
If that were the case, I could kick this guy I hate looking at out of the company right now.
[Unfortunately, it's not drugs.]
[Look.]
Huh?
Wondering what he meant by "look," I looked at Park Ju-yong again and was dumbfounded.
"Hey. Our Nampodong Nuclear Fist. The stylish Mr. Ho-cheol."
"Oh my. Like this again. No. It's been a while, Team Leader Park. Haha. Yesterday. No. Are those the kids you raised, Team Leader-nim? They're shining brightly."
"Not those kids. The ones over there."
"Ah. Those kids over there are super cute too. Just looking at them makes sheet music flicker in my head. Hehe. Since I have to see the kids' concept or vibe to work, I'll probably need to see them often. You know what I mean?"
Watching the two of them talking while rubbing shoulders as if they were too close, I'm losing my mind.
Even Choi Ho-cheol.
What did that pig bastard just say?
'Are they insane. Seriously.'
Not to mention what he said.
The way he's creepily scanning the Oasis kids doesn't look like he has good intentions at all.
'No. Fuck. I expected a lot since they said he was a famous composer. But it seems like his character is fucked?'
I'm going crazy, seriously.
Is every choice today a minefield?
Or is Nampodong Nuclear Fist, who has recognition and skill even if his character is trash, the answer?
'Looks like he's already been bribed?'
Since the CEO will be there too, even if it's not blatant.
Just looking at it, it seems like he's saying Park Ju-yong's team suits him better as a composer, blah blah blah.
It's not like I have the ability to see the future.
Why is the future already flickering before my eyes?
"Um. No. I'm sorry."
At that moment, even the trainers I'm somewhat acquainted with start sitting down after apologizing with expressions that make it uncomfortable to talk today.
Seeing this.
It's clear that Park Ju-yong has been whispering in the ears of not just the trainers, but everyone participating in the Monthly Evaluation today.
'Hey. You son of a bitch.'
He should have used that time to buy the Oasis kids some konjac jelly.
Fuck.
I don't even need to see it to know.
While the Oasis kids were starving so much in the middle of the night that they couldn't sleep and were licking ice, he was clearly out drinking with Nampodong Nuclear Fist.
'Novel. Give me an ability like Igieogeomsul (Sword Control Technique).'
[Do you think that's possible?]
Damn it.
If that doesn't work, Simgeom (Heart Sword) is fine too!
I need the power to pierce through the faces of those bastards.
[I'm asking if you think that's possible, Master.]
Tsk.
The moment I clicked my tongue.
The surroundings suddenly go quiet, and everyone stands up in unison.
I also immediately noticed and bowed my head.
"Hello. CEO-nim."
It was the appearance of CEO Cheon Tae-o.
He arrived wearing his usual high-end suit and sunglasses.
Even the way he puts his sunglasses into his chest pocket carries a different weight.
"Yes, yes. Sit. You're all prepared, right?"
"Of course."
Park Ju-yong sits to Cheon Tae-o's left as if he'd been waiting.
It seems he intended to seat Nampodong Nuclear Fist, Choi Ho-cheol, whom he considers his own side, on the right.
"Please sit, Team Leader Kim."
"Yes? Ah. Understood."
I, who was just going to stand in the corner and watch the kids, was surprised by Cheon Tae-o's call.
On one hand, I'm happy.
On the other, I'm a bit conflicted.
'Ha. There's going to be a hole next to me, fuck.'
Park Ju-yong, who had sat down by force.
Me, whom the CEO called first even though I was standing.
Unless you were a fool, you could tell which picture looked better.
You could tell who he was signaling he cherished more.
'It's not like being favored by a man is good for anything.'
Especially the interest of someone who brought a composer like STB as an alternative.
"Ah. I'll sit here."
"Yes, yes. Sit comfortably, Composer-nim."
"Ah. Thank you."
Tsk.
Still, if you look only at his character, was it STB?
Maybe Kim Gi-bok isn't all that bad.
Listening to him earlier, the song itself was actually quite decent.
"Let's begin."
"Yes! The prepared team, come out one by one."
While I was having these thoughts and those.
The Monthly Evaluation began.