Chapter 128: Han Minyeong (11)
“Looks like it wasn't from the official fan club. Manager Noona took the phone number to verify it.”
“Whoa~ So there's official and unofficial stuff too, huh. Makes sense with all these fans. So it's okay to eat, right?”
“Yeah, sure...”
The staff were already digging into the food truck, coffee truck, and snack truck. It was way past the point of stopping them. Hell, telling them not to eat when a food truck shows up would just be ridiculous.
Click, click.
I asked Minyeong Noona to snap some photos and sent them to Manager Noona. I even added a message expressing condolences for her having to work on her day off.
“Aigoo.”
With the work dumped on Manager Noona, my mind eased up, and I could finally enjoy the food truck.
“The quality is insane.”
“Tastes insane too. Try this.”
The staff were beaming, marveling at the luxurious menu as they scarfed it down. Minyeong Noona, hauling over a massive steak, kept raving about how good it was and went back for seconds—and thirds.
“Alright, enough eating. Time to get back to shooting. How long are we gonna stuff our faces?”
“Uuu~”
“It's already been an hour and a half! Let's work!”
“If we just had more time!”
If the director had given us a bit longer, we could've demolished the whole truck. Everyone stuffed themselves silly and actually seemed motivated to work afterward.
I'd already finished eating and was chilling elsewhere when I went over to the chef cleaning up the food truck.
“What happens to all the leftovers? There's a ton still here.”
“They're getting donated to a nearby orphanage.”
“Oh, really?”
I'd felt a bit uneasy not knowing who sent it, but hearing the leftovers were going to an orphanage lifted a weight off my chest.
“Isn't it a bit too little for an orphanage donation? The staff ate a bunch, but if it's short, can I chip in extra cash?”
“No worries. Check inside—there's plenty more ingredients stocked. Even if all this was gone, it'd be fine.”
“So there were separate donations prepped for the orphanage? But the truck's heading there as-is?”
“Yeah, I heard it's being donated to the orphanage in your name, Haesol-ssi.”
Whoever sent it had some serious scale. Imagining a line of food trucks emblazoned with my name parked at an orphanage made me flush with embarrassment.
“I didn't even do anything...”
“That's just how fans are. They want you to succeed.”
“That puts my mind at ease. Oh, and thanks so much for the amazing food today. Your cooking is top-notch.”
“Thank you. And...”
And?
“I'm a fan, so... could I get an autograph?”
“Of course. Photos too if you want.”
“Whoa! Thank you!”
The chef called over the snack truck staff too, and they all got autographs and pics with me.
“Back to shooting!”
With bellies full, we dove back into the chase scene filming.
I found out who sent the food truck the next day when Manager Noona came in.
“A personal fan sent it?”
“Yeah. I passed on the photos you sent. They promised not to post on SNS.”
“And that's okay?”
“Yep. I gave 'em a stern warning, so no repeats. Told 'em it's a huge hassle sending stuff like this unannounced. They apologized right away, said it was pure goodwill and no intent to cause trouble.”
“Makes sense from someone donating to an orphanage in my name.”
“Even if issues pop up, I recorded the call, so we're covered. Don't sweat the food truck.”
“Oh, cool. Thanks—feels better now.”
“Yeah, yeah. Aigoo~ Can't leave for one day without everything going to hell. No talent pool out there. And now with your solo stuff starting, managers are stretched thin.”
The road manager's sudden bolt left Manager Noona in a bind. Someone had to cover his schedules, but the two hired road managers were slammed with other members. She ended up drawing the short straw.
Hiring a new one wasn't instant, so she started shadowing all my schedules.
The fallout hit me too.
“What's the deal between you two?”
“...”
Manager Noona had sniffed out my thing with Han Minyeong. Not my slip-up. Minyeong Noona, the newbie at this romance game, was broadcasting it loud and clear.
But I get it. You can't hide a sneeze or love.
She was burning hot with it.
“You two are dating, right?”
“Would you believe me if I said no?”
“Tsk!”
“Haha, it showed, huh?”
“You were fine, but Han Minyeong couldn't keep it together.”
“Erm...”
I should've reined it in sooner, but nah.
“I get it's prime dating age in your twenties—can't stop that. But what's your plan? Parading it like that? Won't end well.”
“I'll be careful.”
“But seriously, is this for real?”
Her loaded words. Eyes screaming she couldn't believe I'd date someone like that. Wait till she sees the glow-up later—she'd eat those words.
“Does love need a reason?”
“Wow.”
Manager Noona clapped in mock awe.
“World needs more guys like you. Otherwise, us ladies are stuck sniffing for man-scent.”
“Hahaha.”
“Or does Minyeong have some hidden charm I don't know?”
“That's for me to know.”
“Jealous!! Damn it.”
She lamented ever finding a guy like me, then continued.
“From now on, I'll teach you how to date without getting caught—tips, pitfalls. Ears open, no in-one-ear-out-the-other.”
“Pitfalls? That's it?”
I'd wondered how the agency would react to my dating. Threats to break up, or exploiting it. Never dreamed Manager Noona would coach me.
“Surprised? Expected yelling or breakup ultimatums?”
“You know me. Thought you'd flip or something.”
“Treating artists like that is third-rate crap. And even if I said break up, would they? Some might, but most?”
“Nah, doubt it'd stick.”
“Exactly. They hide deeper, act sneakier. Know what happens?”
“Scandal breaks.”
“Bingo. Unprepared blowup? Agency panics. No point forcing breakups and breeding resentment. Help 'em stay hidden, let love fizzle naturally—they break up clean.”
She even handles messy breakups tidy-like.
“Photos are the killer—delete messages regularly. Secret SNS hacks leaking pics? Worst case. No impulse shots, even if tempting. Use Minyeong's account if you must—less hack risk. Early days, you wanna flaunt couple stuff? Skip matching outfits, rings. Caught like that? Disaster. Fans track that shit like hawks.”
Fans have insane detective skills—never underestimate obsession, she hammered.
“You're building face-recog, pulling fans hard. Random dating rumor now? Fans bail. No regrets later—play smart while hot.”
“Got it.”
“Keep it from other members too. You're slick, but don't stir drama. Bad influence.”
Honestly, members suspect I have someone. They see me glued to my phone, constant chats. Plus vanishing for calls. But they shrug it off.
They think it's just endless texting and calls.
I crash out sometimes, but mostly fake sleep in dorm with items. So they figure even if I've got a girl, I don't prowl much. Worry if I sleep too much instead.
“Don't want group drama. I'll watch it.”
“Good. You're not the love-blind type—lucky.”
She spilled wild idol dating rumors. Skipping sick girlfriend schedules? Check. Sulking on-air post-fight? Yup. Bragging kissy pics to friends? Real too.
“Crazy.”
“Love-struck idols defy logic. Hate to say it, but keep it sensible. Too hormonal, go extreme. Funny part? 99.9% burn out and split.”
0.1% exists?
“That's the ones who knock her up and retire.”
“Whoa.”
Hearing her out, I bowed my head. Managers earn their keep. Low pay, pure grit to survive this industry.
“Noona, you know I'm always grateful, right?”
“...Feels like dogeza, but thanks. Anyway, just don't do the forbidden stuff. Not banning dating.”
“Yep.”
If she knew my full harem, blood pressure spike incoming. She saw the tip, thought that was it, relaxed.
Condolences in advance, Noona!! Sorry!!
“Won't tell the company.”
“For real?”
“Keep secret for now. If you're serious with Han Minyeong, we'll talk then.”
“We are serious.”
I'd sunk coins tuning her looks to my taste. Dump that? Absurd.
But Noona snorted.
“Love hard as you want—fades with time. Seen none last in this biz. Feels forever now? Nah, changes later.”
She didn't know 'coin' value—my puppy love seemed naive. Better her knowing over company, so I took the ribbing.
Time'd convince her.
“Fine. Prefer you knowing over company anyway.”
“But tell me everything if shit hits. Pregnancy, pap pics, fan threats—y'know.”
“...Why so grim examples?”
“That's the game.”
Dark future ahead. No coins, I'd be screwed.
Should've negotiated better.
If drunk-contract with Poni made me chaebol heir instead? Way easier girls. Regret that boozy night hard.