Chapter 65: New Year's Wish (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 65: New Year's Wish (1)
The Planning Team Leader called out Min Ju-gyeong’s name.
No further words were exchanged. The Team Leader simply took my report and left the room. I assumed they had communicated how to handle the situation with just a glance.
I kept my eyes glued to the desk, waiting to hear what would be said next.
Then, Min Ju-gyeong reached out and took both of my hands, which were resting on the table.
“You must have been overwhelmed, just getting settled and then jumping straight into debut prep. You’ve done a great job.”
“……Pardon?”
The unexpected words caught me off guard. I was supposed to apologize for doing something I wasn't asked to do, but I missed my window to speak.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn't have stepped in when I don't know the full story….”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“I felt like I was being disrespectful to those who have worked here much longer than I have. And I think the Team Leader was angry because of me.”
“That’s not it, I-wol.”
Min Ju-gyeong was gentle yet firm.
“The Team Leader left because this is a very serious issue. He went to report it to the higher-ups immediately. Thanks to you, the company found out before any real damage was done, so there’s no need to feel sorry at all! Do you understand?”
“……Yes.”
“And, about what happened between you and Yoo PD.”
Min Ju-gyeong let go of my hands.
I took it as a signal—a sign that the conversation was about to take a different turn.
‘So what do you want me to do? The HR Team is under Management Support, is it really that hard to do a few favors for the Department Head?’
‘Assistant Manager Kim, you’re so naive. Immature, even. You should realize there’s a reason your superiors act the way they do. Honestly, how much real-world experience do you even have?’
The words I’d heard back at Hanpyeong Industry seemed to echo in Min Ju-gyeong’s voice, one by one.
However, Min Ju-gyeong continued to defy my expectations.
“We weren't attentive enough. It’s embarrassing that the Management Team failed to catch something like this. I’m sorry.”
Min Ju-gyeong bowed her head in apology.
What was I supposed to say in a moment like this?
I didn't know because I had never received an apology like this before. I could only hope that UA wasn't the kind of company that forced its employees to apologize profusely whenever a problem arose because they were unforgiving of mistakes.
Unable to bear the unfamiliar atmosphere, I hurriedly excused myself, saying I had to go practice, and ran out of the meeting room. I felt strange.
When I swung open the practice room door, five heads turned toward me in unison.
Jeong Seong-bin, not even thinking to turn off the upbeat dance track playing in the background, asked, “How did it go…?”
I gave them a thumbs-up and replied.
“I spilled it all.”
“Whoo!”
Lee Cheong-hyeon pumped his fists and let out a shout. Between his reaction and the background music, the room felt like a festival.
“What did the company say?”
Kang Gi-yeon asked, wiping away sweat.
As soon as he spoke, the others fell silent and stared at me, as if they hadn't been making a racket just a second ago.
“Nothing’s been decided yet. But we won't have to work with him for the time being.”
“Is that even possible? You said there wouldn't be any major action since we’re so close to debut.”
“I was worried about that, so I reported the corruption too. Before he tries to lecture us again, he’ll probably have to go through some re-education himself.”
“Corruption?!”
Their eyes went wide. It wasn't exactly a pleasant story to tell in detail, so I didn't elaborate.
“So, let’s focus and get back to practice. Seong-bin, Ju-woo, you two are going to make up properly after practice, right?”
At my words, Jeong Seong-bin gave a slight smile and replied, “Of course.” Park Ju-woo was also wearing a faint smile.
At that moment, a system window glowed above Jeong Seong-bin’s face.
+
[SYSTEM] ‘Quest’ completed.
▷ Reward: Experience Points (50)
▷ Cumulative Experience Points: 100
▷ Cumulative Points: 1
+
The 50 EXP was a clear indicator of just how much of a piece of trash Yu Han-su really was.
Still, thanks to overcoming that difficult hurdle, I was able to increase my Dance Proficiency.
Furthermore, I noticed that while I wasn't looking, my Vocal Proficiency, Self PR, and Organizational Adaptability had each gone up by one.
+
Performance Evaluation (100)
— Vocal Proficiency: 8(▲)/20
— Dance Proficiency: 7(▲)/20
— Self PR: 13(▲)/20
— Attendance Management: 18/20
— Organizational Adaptability: 11(▲)/20
+
There was another change.
With the completion of the Yu Han-su mission, the ‘Cumulative Experience Points’ entry at the bottom of the resume had disappeared.
It seemed the function vanished naturally once my proficiency reached the limit of what could be raised manually.
Peace returned to the practice room after Yu Han-su was ousted.
To cut to the chase, Yu Han-su wasn't fired. Instead, he was disciplined.
Additionally, he was completely barred from any involvement in UA’s Idol Business Division.
As long as he stayed at UA, he would likely spend the rest of his life planning music videos for Jang Jun-hu—the very artist he took so much pride in.
The Production Team Leader was relieved of his position. He was demoted to Assistant Team Leader, and the Team Leader position remained vacant. I only hoped the vacancy would be filled quickly.
While it was a satisfying conclusion for me, the others didn't seem to see it that way; I heard them grumbling quite often for a while.
Jeong Seong-bin and Park Ju-woo were careful with their words since they had fought so much, but Lee Cheong-hyeon and Kang Gi-yeon held nothing back.
Whenever they returned to the dorm, they took turns venting their frustration about how Yu Han-su’s punishment was far too light.
“I mean, if someone hits another person, shouldn't they be fired immediately?”
“At least we don't have to work with him anymore. Do you think companies hand out disciplinary actions that easily?”
Just when I’d finally managed to soothe Lee Cheong-hyeon…
“He doesn't seem like the type to reflect just because he had to write a letter of apology.”
Kang Gi-yeon would immediately find something else to complain about. It was non-stop from both sides.
“On the surface, it might just look like a letter of apology. But since he was officially disciplined, his salary will probably be frozen or cut next year.”
“Hyung, you didn't just look into stuff like that while you were doing your reference checks, did you?”
Lee Cheong-hyeon asked, giving me a suspicious look. Hey, this is all I learned from my time at Hanpyeong Industry, okay?
I told them to go to their rooms and play, then focused back on my work.
With Spark’s debut imminent, I had to write the press releases to be distributed to media outlets.
Since it didn't grant EXP, I was going to let UA handle the press releases, but…
When I saw they were about to include everything from the members’ useless awards to details about the music video that hadn't even been released yet, I decided to just do it myself. If you want something done right, do it yourself.
I was used to writing this kind of stuff. Back when the management was embroiled in lawsuits, I had mechanically churned out press releases like ‘Hanpyeong Industry Selected as one of the TOP 1,000 Best Small-Time Agencies to Work For’ to bury the negative news.
I still have no idea who on earth called a shitty company like Hanpyeong Industry a "best workplace."
Maybe there are 70 million companies even worse than Hanpyeong Industry out there. Whether it’s the former or the latter, it’s a mystery.
Just as I was typing ‘UA Dives into New Business Venture,’ someone suddenly hugged me from behind.
“Hyung! Hyung, do you have plans for January 1st?”
“Whoa, you scared me…!”
The culprit behind the back hug was, as always, Lee Cheong-hyeon.
I clutched my chest and started nagging him.
“Cheong-hyeon. Do you know I’m the type of person who gets startled by the smallest things, or not? What if I’d accidentally hit you with my arm?”
“That’s why I gave you a super strong hug of love. My grip was no joke, right?”
“Would you still say that if I’d hit your chin with the back of my head?”
“I will be extremely careful from now on.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon covered his chin with his hand. You should have done that from the start.
“I don't have plans for New Year’s Day. But why?”
“Oh, then let’s all go see the sunrise together!”
The sunrise.
Why does this sound like someone suggesting a company workshop at the start of the year?
Hiking.
The hobby that has become the very soul of superiors, driving department heads across the country to climb a mountain today even if the world were to end tomorrow.
A devilish collective activity that exerts its influence from the interview stage all the way to post-employment clubs.
This hiking craze had inevitably swept through Hanpyeong Industry as well.
To make matters worse, Department Head Nam added fuel to the fire, leading the Hanpyeong Industry executives to create a bizarre organization called the ‘Health/Teamwork Recovery Committee.’
And I, forced to become one with the organization leaders, had to follow them from mountain to mountain every weekend, carrying two 1.5L water bottles.
The committee was doomed from the moment they made me carry all that water when it wasn't even for me to drink.
Unfortunately, contrary to my wish for the ‘Health/Teamwork Recovery Committee’ to disband quickly, it persisted for a long time.
I thought we were just crossing mountains, but later they even went across the sea to Jeju Island.
Of course, I was the one who booked all the ferry tickets. Paying out of pocket first and processing the budget later.
It got to the point where the only goal I actively set for myself at Hanpyeong Industry was ‘Abolish the Hanpyeong Industry Hiking Club.’
The only joy I found in the process was getting the certification stamps for the 200 Famous Mountains series….
“Hyung? Why did you suddenly stop talking?”
But.
I was so shocked by Lee Cheong-hyeon’s question that I couldn't even answer.
My mountain stamps.
The only driving force of my weekends without freedom, the thing that made me rationalize it all by saying, ‘Well, at least collecting stamps is fun,’ even as I dragged myself along on those godforsaken hikes.
Those stamps, which could be called the sum total of my life at Hanpyeong Industry, suddenly came to mind.
Should I ask the system? If my stamps are still there?
As soon as I had that thought, the system appeared.
The response time was so impressive I wondered if they had a dedicated customer service team….
+
[SYSTEM] A work order from the ‘Person in Charge’ has arrived.
▶ That ballpoint pen on Assistant Manager Kim’s desk, is it something you cherish? I used it because I was in a hurry, but it broke. Buy a sturdier one next time.
[SYSTEM] As ‘Party B’ has moved to the past, all achievements previously attained by ‘Party B’ are nullified.
+
…Not.
Damn it, give me back my certification stamps!