Chapter 287: Free Man: Qualifications
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 287: Free Man: Qualifications
Spark’s existing emergency contact network had all been linked to Min Ju-gyeong.
However, after Manager Dae-yeon arrived, the channel for communicating with the members' legal guardians was changed to him.
Not long after Manager Dae-yeon had introduced himself and provided his new contact information, Lee Cheong-hyeon’s father asked for my number.
“I told him that for privacy reasons, I couldn't give out personal contact information, even to a member's family. Still, I thought you should know, I-wol.”
Manager Dae-yeon kindly explained how the company had handled it. It was a perfect response. If he had said, ‘I’ll ask I-wol and get back to you!’ the burden of deciding whether to decline would have shifted to me, regardless of my will.
“Thank you. If it’s not too much trouble, could you ask for his contact information instead? It feels right that I should be the one to reach out to an elder first.”
“It’s not hard to ask, but you aren't obligated to contact the members' families, I-wol. I just didn't want you to feel like you had to.”
The manager spoke with concern. To ensure he didn't give up on the exchange out of over-consideration for me, I did my best to act as if it wasn't a burden at all, making up an excuse about how I’d been regretting not being able to greet Cheong-hyeon’s parents properly.
After seeing Manager Dae-yeon off.
I returned to my room and sank into deep thought.
‘Why did the target of the meeting change from Jeong Seong-bin to me?’
In the past, Lee Cheong-hyeon had introduced Jeong Seong-bin to his family as a good older brother he trusted and followed. That was why Lee Cheong-hyeon’s father had called Seong-bin out to ask him to persuade Cheong-hyeon—because he knew how much Cheong-hyeon relied on him.
But now, the target of this persuasion had changed to me?
There was no doubt. That brat Lee Cheong-hyeon wasn't showing it, but he must have some grievance with Jeong Seong-bin and had stopped talking about him to his family. Even in the past data, Lee Cheong-hyeon had harbored so many pent-up feelings.
It was my fault for not noticing this despite living under the same roof. I wouldn't even be able to show my face as a former HR employee anymore. How could I handle people if I was this clumsy at reading interpersonal relationships?
Swallowing a sigh, I summoned a system function I couldn't even remember the last time I’d used.
What was the name again? The Friendship Stick?
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[SYSTEM] Would you like to use the ‘Stick Function’?
▶ Yes / No
+
It was just the ‘Stick Function.’ Why did they give every other function some bizarre title but keep this one so simple?
I had tried to avoid using the Stick Function until now. In the beginning, I’d used it blindly to stop the group from imploding, but reading someone else’s heart without permission felt disrespectful.
However, I decided to make an exception this time. Lee Cheong-hyeon was acting so perfectly normal toward Jeong Seong-bin.
If I asked him, ‘Cheong-hyeon, what do you think of Seong-bin?’ without knowing his true feelings, I had no idea what kind of disaster might strike.
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[SYSTEM] Please enter a combination name.
▶ [ ]
+
And, without fail, the time for naming had returned.
This was exactly why I hated using this. I’m terrible at this stuff. Do you have any idea how many times I was rejected last time?
I tried typing in ‘Spear and Shield,’ but it was immediately rejected. The reason: it was too cliché.
As I was racking my brain, Lee Cheong-hyeon called out from outside the room.
“Hyung, what are you doing in there?”
“I’m in the middle of a creative endeavor. Give me a moment alone.”
“Okay~.”
Beyond the closed door, I heard his footsteps fading as he went to find another member to play with.
He had no idea what I was going through. Well, I was doing this because I didn't know what was going through his head either…
Only after being rejected about 79,000 times was I finally able to get a new combination name approved.
+
[SYSTEM] The combination name has been finalized as ‘Arctic Dandelion.’
+
Honestly, at this point, the system probably just got sick of me and gave up. If it was going to give up anyway, it should have let me go sooner. It would have been easier for both of us.
After all that worry, the inner thoughts I peeked at were unexpectedly peaceful.
+
[Jeong Seong-bin ─ Cute all-rounder → Lee Cheong-hyeon]
[Lee Cheong-hyeon ─ A cool leader hyung who I wish would lean on me sometimes, but is always reliable and wonderful → Jeong Seong-bin]
+
I thought they’d had a falling out behind my back, but that wasn't it. It was a relief they were on good terms, but this was shocking in its own way. Also, Lee Cheong-hyeon’s thought was way too long.
Then why on earth did Lee Cheong-hyeon’s father choose me?
It felt like only yesterday I was getting beaten down by Department Head Nam despite knowing my enemy and myself, so I couldn't face this crisis with zero information.
First, the possibility that Lee Cheong-hyeon had talked about one of us was very low. Unlike in the past, when there were many breaks and he went home often, Spark was currently incredibly busy.
In a situation where it was hard to gauge the relationship between Lee Cheong-hyeon and the members, the easiest way to find out was to search.
His father had likely done a decent amount of research on the Spark members. Including their platform profiles, public opinion, and reputation.
And if you go over to the wiki…
Education
— Accepted to S University, Department of Management (Admission canceled due to withdrawal)
…This information comes up.
Deducing from what I’d heard from him so far, Lee Cheong-hyeon’s father had definitely contacted me after seeing this.
It wasn't hard to guess the atmosphere of the Lee household. Cheong-hyeon had mentioned it before.
They value social standing, and because the parents achieved success and established themselves through academia, they believe that is the only valuable path. Consequently, they force this path onto their children.
The attitude of looking down on Jeong Seong-bin in the past data must have stemmed from that. It wasn't a stance taken simply because of age.
‘He’s coming out with the expectation that he’ll be able to communicate with me to some extent.’
Once I understood the situation, the stance I needed to take became clear. So did my role in this meeting.
I’d only ever had my expectations crushed by a department head; I’d never crushed a father’s expectations before.
Swallowing a sigh, I checked the manager’s message.
Manager Dae-yeon
[I-wol, his father said if you let him know a time when you don't have a schedule and the company's location, he’ll come to the vicinity. I’ll give you his contact info, so you can reply whenever you’re free.]
Me
[Thank you! As I mentioned earlier, please keep this a secret from Cheong-hyeon for now…!]
A confirmation emoji appeared on my message. Thinking that I might actually get doused with a glass of water this time, I swiped a towel from the dorm and tucked it into my bag.
The day of the appointment dawned. Warm sunlight streamed through the window.
But the moment I opened the front door, the harsh winter wind would surely lash at me. Society was cold and merciless, after all…
“Hyung, are you going somewhere?”
Jeong Seong-bin asked, rubbing his eyes as if woken by the rustling noise.
“I’m going to do a PT.”
“Huh?”
Jeong Seong-bin blinked.
“Dressed like that?”
I had chosen today’s outfit from the Gu Ja-han Collection. This was because Lee Cheong-hyeon’s father, as seen in the past data, dressed very formally.
He was already someone with a negative image of idols. If I went there in my own clothes, which were semi-casual at best, I’d lose points from the first impression.
So, I layered up in a shirt Gu Ja-han bought me, pants Gu Ja-han bought me, and even a coat he bought me. Shout out to Mr. Gu Ja-han. I hope your next project is a success.
I even slicked my hair back with Choi Je-ho’s wax. I couldn't ask to borrow it since he was in Gwangju, but since the expiration date was coming up, I decided to just buy him a new one when he got back.
“Does it look weird?”
“No, it’s just… I’ve never seen you go to a workout looking like that.”
Heh, look at this little lamb. He thinks PT means personal training.
I had no intention of explaining. If I did, he’d make a fuss about me going to work.
“I’ll be back.”
I hurriedly dashed out of the dorm before Jeong Seong-bin could ask anything else. The winter wind, as sharp as the gaze of Lee Cheong-hyeon’s father, brushed against my face.
Manager Dae-yeon drove me to the meeting place. I carefully stepped into a cafe I’d never been to before, yet which felt familiar with its dignified, heavy atmosphere.
There were many cases where an event changed because the target changed. When the person or the timeframe changed, something was bound to shift.
Nevertheless, Lee Cheong-hyeon’s father had chosen the same time and the same place as in the past. To a man like him, meeting his son’s friend was merely a task in his daily routine, something that didn't even warrant a change.
In my heart, I wanted the father to acknowledge and support his son.
But goals must be set clearly, within the realm of possibility, and without losing sight of what’s most important.
To ensure I could secure Lee Cheong-hyeon’s continued activities from such a man, I steeled my resolve and climbed the stairs.
In a quiet seat on the second floor, that man was waiting, just as Jeong Seong-bin had faced him long ago.
Attire without a single crease, a sophisticated luxury watch without a scratch, and a perfectly upright posture. Meeting Lee Cheong-hyeon’s father in person was like seeing the textbook definition of a socially successful middle-aged man.
“Hello, I’m Kim I-wol, I work with Cheong-hyeon.”
“Yes, please, have a seat.”
When I bowed and greeted him, he invited me to sit. Calling the server to order drinks was exactly the same as back then.
The only difference was that, unlike with Jeong Seong-bin, he used formal honorifics with me.
An inconspicuous gaze swept over me from my head to my torso. I pretended not to notice and smiled as I looked around the cafe.
“The atmosphere is really lovely. I’ve never been to a place like this before.”
“It’s not really a place for young people.”
“I’m getting to experience this thanks to you, sir. Thank you for inviting me.”
If Department Head Nam was someone who valued empty formalities, the man before me valued ingrained habits and etiquette.
Types like Department Head Nam start their first impression of others at rock bottom and then raise the score based on how the person treats them.
On the other hand, this type gives a decent score at first and then watches closely, deducting points whenever an issue arises. It’s a so-called deduction-based system.
Every gesture, every statement becomes a subject for grading. I was used to such scrutiny, but how harsh must it have been for Jeong Seong-bin, and even more so for his own son, Lee Cheong-hyeon? I swallowed a sigh inwardly.