Chapter 234: A Total Nuisance (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 234: A Total Nuisance (2)
“I’m opening the windows. I can’t stand the smell of cigarettes.”
“Vapes don’t even smell that much.”
“They do. Open the back windows, too.”
At Choi Je-ho’s words, Un-seop pressed the window switches. Only when the outside air rushed in did Je-ho feel like he could breathe again. Lee Cheong-hyeon’s coughing subsided as well.
Choi Je-ho was well aware that many managers smoked. However, it was rare to find someone with such a complete lack of basic manners.
It wasn't like he had told him not to smoke in the car because it was shitty; yet, Un-seop’s expression was sour. But did Je-ho care? He was the one feeling like absolute shit right now.
“I guess you don’t smoke, Je-ho?”
“No one in our team does.”
So get rid of the smell before you get in, fucker. The words climbed up to his throat, but he forced himself to swallow them.
As the mood soured, the car naturally fell silent. In the car Chan-yeong drove, Park Ju-woo would usually turn on some music and everyone would hum along, or the members would swarm like a cloud of bees to debate a topic brought up by Jeong Seong-bin.
Looking through the rearview mirror, he saw Lee Cheong-hyeon staring out the window in silence. Occasionally, Cheong-hyeon would brush off his clothes, seemingly worried the cigarette smell would cling to them.
Perhaps wanting to change the atmosphere, Un-seop spoke up.
“Do you not drink either, Je-ho? I’ve never seen Spark have a company dinner with drinks.”
“No.”
Choi Je-ho answered dismissively. He had no desire to keep the conversation going.
“It’s not like you look like you can’t hold your liquor. Why don’t you drink?”
“I can’t drink.”
Kim I-wol had once advised him that if anyone brought up alcohol, it was better to say he couldn't drink rather than saying he didn't like to. Choi Je-ho followed that advice to the letter.
Hearing Je-ho’s answer, Un-seop let out a smirk.
“Your tolerance goes up the more you drink. It’s only like that because you’ve made a habit of not drinking. You haven’t really experienced corporate drinking culture yet, have you? Right?”
Un-seop’s stubbornness wasn't limited to his own work.
He would give Park Ju-woo, who had a sensitive palate, a different drink than the one requested and force it on him, saying, “You have to try these things to know. Who knows? This might actually suit your taste.” He would buy fried rice for Kang Gi-yeon, who was on a strict diet, and excuse it by saying one meal wouldn't hurt.
Even though Je-ho was usually easygoing about food, his frustration with Un-seop’s behavior had been building up.
His true feelings slipped out.
“Why should I force myself to eat or drink something I don’t want to?”
“Is being a picky eater something to be proud of, then?”
“It’s not like I’m picking things out of my food every time I eat. Does not drinking alcohol really warrant being called a picky eater?”
The conversation turned sharp.
Un-seop didn't hide his displeasure as he drove. Choi Je-ho wasn't the type to go out of his way to smooth things over. Nor was he the type to act even more offended.
It seemed like the uncomfortable atmosphere would last all the way to the practice room.
That was, until Un-seop looked at his phone while driving.
It wasn't even a red light; the car was clearly moving, and there were people inside.
He’s not looking at the road? What kind of amazing message did he get?
Choi Je-ho’s gaze shifted to the phone. And with his excellent eyesight, he saw a screen he wished he hadn't.
“Are you playing a game right now?”
It was a poker game with cards flipping rapidly. Effects were bursting on the screen, showing how much Un-seop’s virtual wealth had grown.
“I was just checking it for a second. Just a second.”
“Does that make it okay?”
He could feel the thorns in his own voice.
Even so, Choi Je-ho didn't regret it, while Un-seop remained nonchalant.
“You’re being a bit much. I only did it once. You saw it too, Je-ho, since you were right there.”
“Does an accident only happen if you look away twice, but not once?”
“How can you say it like that?”
“Wait. Both of you, calm down.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon reached out between the driver and passenger seats to stop them.
“An accident isn't going to happen just because of this. I’ve been driving for years.”
“Ha.”
Choi Je-ho let out a hollow laugh.
“If an accident happens, I’ll take responsibility. Happy?”
“How? You’re taking a car accident way too lightly.”
“Ah, Hyung. Stop it now!”
Lee Cheong-hyeon, his face pale, tapped Choi Je-ho’s arm.
Cheong-hyeon probably knew in his heart that Choi Je-ho wasn't wrong.
But provoking the driver would only make the situation worse. Choi Je-ho was doing this because he wanted the man to focus on driving, but if things escalated like this, it would all be for nothing.
Choi Je-ho sighed and backed off. As if waiting for that moment, Un-seop muttered.
“You should really fix that temper of yours, Je-ho. You’re going to get cursed out if you act like that everywhere.”
In that moment, Choi Je-ho thought:
I don't want to travel with this man.
And that it would be better for everyone if he didn't.
As soon as they got out of the car, Choi Je-ho headed straight for the practice room, dragging Lee Cheong-hyeon along. Cheong-hyeon scolded him, asking if he was crazy, but Je-ho didn't budge.
“Why would you mess with someone while they’re driving? You could have said something later!”
“It’s better to say it now than to wait and see if an accident happens while he’s playing a game.”
“…….”
“Do you really think that guy should keep being a manager?”
“Of course not.”
“See?”
Having gained agreement, Choi Je-ho started walking toward the practice room again.
Or rather, he tried to. He only failed because Lee Cheong-hyeon grabbed him from behind.
“But will he actually get fired? I-wol Hyung said it’s not easy to fire people. It’s not like Manager Un-seop caused an accident like Yu Han-su did yet.”
“So we just leave him be?”
Lee Cheong-hyeon couldn't answer. It was a silent admission.
So, Choi Je-ho spoke honestly.
“Fuck, he kept looking at his phone while he was driving.”
“…….”
“Even if he gets a call, he should be using Bluetooth. Am I being oversensitive here?”
The moment he finished his sentence and turned his head, Choi Je-ho came face-to-face with Kim I-wol, who didn't have even a hint of a smile on his face for the first time.
Kim I-wol’s eyes were deep, dark, and cold, just as they always were.
“I think we need to talk to the company about this.”
Jeong Seong-bin said with a serious face. Kim I-wol held Seong-bin back as he tried to stand up. Then, I-wol left the practice room first. Park Ju-woo asked where he was going, but no answer came back.
Kim I-wol returned to the practice room not long after, holding a small metal chip.
“What’s that?”
“The dashcam memory card.”
While answering Cheong-hyeon’s question, I-wol kept his eyes fixed on his bag, busily rummaging through his backpack. A small object, looking like a portable battery, emerged from his fingertips.
No one dared to speak while Kim I-wol turned on the communal laptop, connected the device, and read the memory card. Kim I-wol’s aura was that different from usual.
With an expressionless face, he focused only on his earphones and the screen. Only the sound of rapid clicking as he fast-forwarded through the footage echoed in the practice room.
After a few minutes, Kim I-wol, having confirmed the facts, closed the laptop.
“I’m going upstairs for a bit. Someone copy the file for me.”
That was the end of his explanation. Before the members could stop him, Kim I-wol stormed out of the practice room.
The System flickered before my eyes the entire way up to the office.
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▷ The 'Negative Emotion Awareness Reduction' effect is currently active.
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Didn't I adjust this last time? Not that it matters right now.
He played a game while driving.
On the dashcam footage, I could clearly hear Lee Cheong-hyeon coughing and Choi Je-ho trying to talk to Hong Un-seop in a voice that was calm for him.
I can tolerate someone being bad at their job. I can endure someone being stubborn, even if it’s difficult. Everyone has a time when they are clumsy at work or acting out of youthful arrogance.
But a lack of basic common sense is a different matter. I cannot tolerate this, nor am I willing to wait for the person to improve.
He was messing around while driving a car. And with people inside, no less.
He forced someone to eat something they couldn't and acted like it was that person’s fault.
It’s so fucking annoying.
My head throbbed. I felt my blood pressure rising.
Normally, I would have asked for a meeting time and then visited, but even that felt like a waste of time. I went straight to Min Ju-gyeong.
“I-wol! What brings you here?”
Min Ju-gyeong welcomed me with a smile.
“Please change our manager.”
The office went silent the moment I finished speaking. Min Ju-gyeong hurriedly led me to a meeting room.
“Is it because you’re tired of Un-seop constantly missing announcements? Would it still be hard even if we made Chan-yeong the lead manager?”
Min Ju-gyeong asked.
I know how hard it is to find managers. I know it even better because I spent years hiring people myself.
You have to find young people who also have a driver's license, and the pay is low while the hours are irregular.
There are so many demands besides driving. Not many people are willing to step up for such a difficult job.
I know. I know all of that.
“I saw him looking at his phone while driving.”
“What?”
“He asked if an accident would really happen just from looking at it once.”
I don’t have to keep being considerate of the company’s circumstances forever, do I?
“I think it would be better if I just got my license and drove the kids around myself rather than entrusting the wheel to someone like that. I think the guys would feel safer that way, too.”
So, I have no intention of compromising on this. Even if I get cursed out for being disrespectful of someone else’s job or for being sarcastic.
If only for the sake of my older sister, who died because of bastards who drive like that.
Min Ju-gyeong summoned Hong Un-seop immediately. Furthermore, a huge commotion broke out as the dedicated team, Spark, and the Representative all gathered.
The hearing surrounding Hong Un-seop lasted for a full hour. I had to endure the tedious time spent cross-referencing facts and listening to excuses.
“Why was the file I-wol told you to deliver missing? And why did you lie and say you never received it?”
“I didn't lie.”
“You said you never received it. But the record is right here.”
Hong Un-seop poured out lies that would be caught instantly, without even blinking. Like a man for whom making excuses was a habit.
And when he was cornered, he immediately blamed others.
“I couldn't help it because I-wol explained it in a confusing way.”
“Are you saying this is the artist’s fault now?”
“I didn't mean it like that.”
“Un-seop, stop playing around and speak properly.”
At the Representative’s words, Hong Un-seop put on an aggrieved expression.
What could he possibly be so aggrieved about? He hasn't done a single thing right. Does he feel it’s unfair that everyone is calling him out in this situation?
If he was going to feel aggrieved by hearing just this much, he shouldn't have been so bold as to tell Choi Je-ho to fix his temper. He shouldn't have said things to others that he wouldn't want to hear himself.
I was exhausted. At this point, I felt like Spark could leave, and I was angry at the company for not saying a single word to let us go first. I was also angry at Manager Chan-yeong, who must have known this person was problematic but kept his mouth shut, thinking he could handle it himself.
Can’t they just let me not worry about this kind of thing for once? I already have so much on my mind.
As Spark becomes more famous and busier, the areas I can’t control will only increase.
I can’t cover every single difficulty they face.
I’m already anxious enough wondering if I’ll miss something, like I did with Kang Gi-yeon….
The future felt as bleak as if it were covered in fog.
With me sitting right in front of him, Hong Un-seop continued to make excuses until the very end.
“Like I said, it was only once….”
“Yoo PD hitting me over the head was also 'only once.' Is that why he got a second chance?”
Silence fell over the meeting room at my words.
They might think I’m being rude, but no one would be able to refute it. Not a single person in this room.
“……I think it would be best for the company to discuss what happens next, so we’ll be heading out first.”
With those words, I stood up. The members stood up in a swarm behind me. The meeting room grew noisy with the sound of chairs scraping against the floor.