Chapter 373: Devoted Fan (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 373: Devoted Fan (1)
≫ Thanks, guys. I don’t think I even need to go see the Nakhwa-nori festival anymore.
≫ What a world we live in, getting such high-quality close-ups of a traditional festival.
└ Mi-heon’s glorious return.
└ Ha, honestly, I was just going to take a quick peek and leave, but the boys... this is truly a modern interpretation of traditional culture. Haha, wow.
Forgetting her recent struggles with Parte’s fandom, Neydas, Baek Hae-won basked in a moment of pure bliss. The "real-time bait"—the fresh content she was consuming—tasted far more savory than the tteokbokki she’d had yesterday.
It was a bit puzzling that Spark had come in second. She simply chalked it up to some strategic maneuvering behind the scenes regarding the rankings.
Being pelted with stones during the early stages of a program was an experience she’d had enough of back in Season 1; she had learned that, eventually, those who were meant to recognize talent would do so. If anything, Hae-won felt the current trajectory wasn't bad at all.
‘Just don’t let them exploit you, boys.’
I love how you give your all to everything, but I hope people don't just suck the life out of you!
Whether Hae-won’s wish would reach them was uncertain, but at the very least, the boys on the screen looked happy, which was a relief.
By the time I finished scouring the comments—half heartwarming, half subtle—it was 3:00 AM. Knowing this comment section would turn into a battlefield in three weeks when the first competition aired, I felt compelled to take it all in now.
Just as I was about to plug in my overheating phone, I heard the sound of the electronic door lock opening. The only person who hadn't returned to the dorm yet was Jeong Seong-bin.
"You're back?"
"Yes, hyung. You're still up?"
"I was just about to head to bed."
Seong-bin gave me a look that said he didn't believe me for a second before grabbing a change of clothes and heading to the bathroom. A moment later, he returned to the room, radiating steam as hot as my phone.
"Do you have a moment?"
Seong-bin asked, glancing at me tentatively.
"It’s probably too late, right? Tomorrow, when you have time..."
"It’s fine. I’m totally free. I’m open twenty-four hours."
"I’d prefer if you closed for at least eight of those!"
Despite his playful retort, Seong-bin sat down quietly on his bed.
"It’s nothing major, but I was wondering if I could get some advice on... social conduct."
"From me?"
"Yes."
"You’re doing perfectly fine. I’m curious to know what’s weighing on your mind."
"If you keep praising us like that, we’ll get spoiled."
"Not everyone has what it takes to be spoiled."
Seong-bin laughed, thinking I was joking. I was being serious, though. No matter how much someone tries to live recklessly, there are those who can cross the line and those who simply can't.
"Tell me. I’ll try to listen objectively."
The story that followed could be summarized in three points.
First, Han Ga-un from Parte was taking very good care of him.
Second, while he didn't have good feelings toward the group Parte itself, he felt grateful for Han Ga-un’s character.
Third, he was reflecting on whether thinking this way was arrogant or a betrayal of the fans.
‘Have I been pushing them too hard to keep their distance from Parte?’
I had made the kid overthink things. I learned during the daycare experience that an adult’s anxiety is transmitted directly to children, so one must be careful!
"It’s something to be grateful for that a senior is looking out for you. You don't need to intentionally ignore those feelings of gratitude just because of what I’ve said or the general atmosphere."
"Is that so..."
Seong-bin gave a bitter smile. With the fans engaged in emotional warfare, it must be hard for him to fully accept my words.
"The reason I told you to keep your distance from the seniors was because I was worried that, since you debuted at a young age, you might find yourselves in an awkward position regarding interpersonal relationships. Now, I trust that you’ll communicate well if you need help, so I’m not as worried anymore."
In the past, most of them would have run away from home or suffered in silence, but the Spark members now have quite healthy mentalities.
Even if a problem arises where I can't see it, they’ll probably tell me right away. I don't need to watch over them as intensely as I did when they were trainees. Seong-bin himself was opening up to me right now, wasn't he?
The one thing that bothered me was Han Ga-un’s position.
Based on what Seong-bin said, it seemed Ga-un was living like an isolated island within his own team. Because he knew better than anyone that they had copied MYTH’s concept, he seemingly couldn't bring himself to look Seong-bin in the eye.
This is the problem when the higher-ups do stupid things. It only makes things difficult for the subordinates who actually have a conscience.
Even if Han Ga-un had opposed it, could he really escape the guilt of doing something wrong once it was actually put into practice? The way this industry works is toxic to the core.
"Why would caring about that be overstepping? It just means you’re a good person, Seong-bin. Don't think of it as being presumptuous. We just have to show the fans that we’re doing our jobs well."
I spent a good thirty minutes soothing and coaxing Seong-bin. You meet all sorts of people in life. I didn't want him to get stressed out over a decent person for no reason.
Fortunately, Seong-bin finally lay down, thanking me for listening to his concerns. I could see the worry had eased from his expression.
To avoid disturbing him, I also huddled under my covers and lay down.
But sleep wouldn't come. Han Ga-un’s face floated before my eyes. The image of someone whose situation was pitiable, yet someone I couldn't quite get close to.
‘If it had been Berion, I could have empathized with Seong-bin much more.’
It was a different issue from whether or not we were friends. It was also separate from my dislike of Parte.
Han Ga-un made me uncomfortable.
A person with a kind heart who, contrary to his own will, was exerting a negative influence on those around him, yet knew how to feel sorry for it.
Han Ga-un resembled the "Seong-sil-han" he had portrayed in Act On...
[Unnie, the cup holders turned out so well!
The whole world needs to know how talented you are ㅠㅠ]
...And he looked exactly like Nam Ju-a.
‘Assistant Manager Kim, come to my desk for a second.’
I remember Department Head Nam calling me over when I hadn't even been with the company for a week.
On Department Head Nam’s monitor was the face of a celebrity I’d never seen before.
‘My daughter says she needs to get the yellow tones out of this photo. It doesn't look that hard, but it’s frustrating watching her struggle with it for hours.’
Department Head Nam’s affection for his precious only daughter was famous within the company.
‘I heard his daughter was sickly when she was young. That’s why he dotes on her so much. He’s desperate to do everything for her, from A to Z.’
‘He won't even let her fold her own laundry. He lets her do whatever she wants.’
When I first helped with these personal tasks, it wasn't entirely uncomfortable.
Part of it was because I didn't know the ways of the world, but I also thought, ‘So this is what a father’s love looks like.’ I wondered if it wouldn't have been nice if my sister had a father like that. Even though I knew that adults acting like family men in public wasn't always the truth, I still felt that way.
But the favors didn't end as mere favors. Department Head Nam didn't want his daughter to do a single cumbersome thing. He wanted her to get a good job where she wouldn't have to suffer much but could earn enough to support herself after he and his wife passed away. To achieve that, Nam Ju-a had to devote her limited physical strength entirely to her studies.
‘You got her another tutor?’
‘Our girl doesn't have the stamina to go to an academy. It’s breaking my back, but what can I do? A father has to do at least this much.’
‘I thought you said you were only going to have her prepare for the civil service exam?’
‘Haven't you seen the articles about civil servants suffering because of malicious complainants? Our Ju-a would collapse if she had to deal with that. She’s fragile.’
Department Head Nam, who didn't have the wealth to leave her a massive inheritance, did his best for Nam Ju-a within his means.
However, because he lacked that wealth, he squeezed from places he shouldn't have. Specifically, by exploiting the people around him. After all, there was a limit to the money Department Head Nam could spend on his daughter.
Everyone in the office thought that kind of affection was suffocating, but Nam Ju-a was a devoted daughter. She shattered the prejudice that she would be selfish because she was raised like a princess. I heard she was bright, kind, had great relationships with her peers, and took the lead in things she could do.
The story of how she did her best for her kind father, who worked so hard for her, reached my ears whenever I was about to forget it.
Perhaps Nam Ju-a felt she shouldn't rebel against such immense affection.
Department Head Nam’s love for his daughter, who never once rebelled like other people’s children and didn't even seem to go through puberty, deepened with each passing day.
‘Assistant Manager Kim, you know how to edit videos, right?’
‘Only at a basic level.’
‘Watch a few idol videos and study up. The company supports employee education costs. I’ll approve it, so sign up for an online editing course and watch it in your spare time after work.’
Affection built on a delusion turned into an order for me, his subordinate, to do it instead because his daughter didn't have the "leisure" to do such things.
‘Won't your daughter find it strange?’
‘I’ll just tell her I asked someone I know. That’s what I did last time.’
Even though Assistant Manager Hwang took my side, it had no effect. As if angry that I dared to question him, Department Head Nam looked displeased, so I stepped in to stop Assistant Manager Hwang.
I don't know how much he told her he was paying this "acquaintance" to do the work. Judging by how the requests were getting increasingly complex, I could only assume the Department Head was doing quite a bit of boasting at home.
The requirements became more specific over time. Eventually, Department Head Nam stopped relaying the messages and just started forwarding Nam Ju-a’s emails to me directly. Whenever I saw an unread email with "FW:" in the subject line, I would involuntarily swallow hard.
‘She’s not a child if she’s in middle school, Assistant Manager. You have no idea how polite students are when they’re being fans. There’s no way she doesn't know this is a power trip.’
That’s what Supervisor Song, who had experience being an idol fan, said. She said that among fans, they actually recognize each other's hard work. Instead of being grateful for making their idols look pretty and promoting them, she said it was strange to treat that devotion as unpaid labor.
Since I had no reason to contact Nam Ju-a directly—and doing so would likely just result in more overtime—I didn't attempt anything new.
Then, one day, as I was wasting away.
‘Assistant Manager, have some snacks.’
A special snack arrived at the office. It wasn't the dried pollack or nut bars that were piled up in the pantry because no one touched them, but a set of high-end baked goods. One box was filled with madeleines, and another with at least ten financiers.
‘What’s the occasion?’
Since there was no reason for wedding favors to be coming in, Assistant Manager Hwang explained cautiously as I hovered nearby.
‘...Apparently, the Department Head’s daughter sent them. To eat with the people her dad works with.’
It was a source that made it impossible to put the snacks in my mouth. No wonder both Assistant Manager Hwang and Supervisor Song weren't touching them.
I said it was fine and intentionally picked up a madeleine. I didn't want others to feel uncomfortable because of me.
‘Assistant Manager Kim, throw this away.’
On the other hand, Department Head Nam, who didn't want to see me comfortable, quickly called me over, shaking a large shopping bag that seemed to have held the snack boxes.
Even though there were trash cans at every desk, it was always my job to throw away bulky trash or food waste that smelled.
I put down the snack I had picked up and headed toward Department Head Nam.
Inside the shopping bag was a small envelope. Since I never knew when a torrent of verbal abuse might fly my way if I threw something like this away carelessly, I tucked the shopping bag under my arm and opened the envelope.
A handwritten letter, far exceeding my expectations, popped out.
[Unnie, hello! This is Nam Ju-a!
I’m sending a letter for the first time after only sending emails through my dad!]
It was a message from Nam Ju-a to her "fandom buddy," Kim I-wol, whom she had coincidentally met through the connection of working in her father’s department.