Chapter 2

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 002

Chapter Title: Green Tea Leverage

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But come on, with a power like this, wouldn't it be a waste to just live a honest, hardworking life?

The overall evaluation, which had called it unstable right after bumping it up to A-, changed immediately.

And then.

-♪~ ♪♬~

She belted out a clear high note.

Shin Ye-rin effortlessly hit the part she hadn't been able to touch for nearly three months, and the four LUNIQUE members broke out in goosebumps at the unexpected success.

Shin Ye-rin herself hadn't anticipated it either, so she let out a hollow laugh, glanced at the empty green tea bottle I'd picked up, and flashed a bright, puppy-like smile.

"Whoa... I should thank the Department Head for this, right?"

That night.

For the first time in ages, I sent the LUNIQUE members home without Shin Ye-rin's usual hysterics.

Maybe because it was the first time seeing her not complaining—it almost made me think she was sick or something.

"Well, it's all thanks to the status manipulation, huh? Damn, this thing's powerful."

I pulled up the status window to check Shin Ye-rin's info.

"Her vocal stat's back to normal, but she's still anxious. Probably scared it'll go haywire again anytime. ...Not my problem."

Whether Shin Ye-rin was anxious or not.

My head was filled with the certainty that this ability would let me enjoy a cushy manager life.

If I just maxed out my idols' stats, they'd bring the results to me on a silver platter, right?

"This is some insane idle game in real life."

Independence?...

"...Yeah, no chance."

Honestly, not everyone with talent makes it big, so going independent is probably a pipe dream.

Still, while at Novia Entertainment, I could suck on the sweetest honey jar with a straw, no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠doubt.

"But seriously, with a power this good, wouldn't it be a loss to just live honestly?"

My eyes drifted to Shin Ye-rin's physical specs in the info window.

"...Fuck, yeah, this is it."

At that moment, sleazy thoughts slammed into both sides of my brain, and without realizing it, my lips curled into a smirk as I slapped my thigh.

Yeah, fuck, Sung-woo.

This changes things. Huh? A bit, fuck. Huh? Yeah?

The next day.

The black van carrying LUNIQUE was speeding down the highway.

They had a university festival gig today.

Ever since her throat issue, LUNIQUE had been doing lip-sync stages.

Fans let the first few slide, but after nearly three months, every performance sparked skill controversy headlines in entertainment news, dragging their reputation through the mud.

That's why Ye-rin desperately needed to overcome her vocal injury.

'What do I do?'

-Tap tap tap.

Among current-gen girl groups, LUNIQUE led in pure innocence.

As their main vocalist, she had to sing to wash away the dishonor her members had endured.

Her desperate efforts had finally restored her to normal yesterday.

She'd even gotten a clean bill of health from the hospital as a precaution.

But this morning.

'What's wrong this time...!'

Before heading out, she'd practiced alone in secret, and the problem cropped up again.

Her vocal cords were wrecked again.

Back to that hellish state from the past three months.

'If this keeps up, we'll have to lip-sync again...!'

-Tap tap tap tap.

Ye-rin, huddled in the innermost back seat of the van, gnawed at her nails.

She had to fix her throat somehow, but how?

'...Ah! The green tea!'

Suddenly, she remembered the green tea from yesterday.

Her stubborn throat had cleared up like magic after drinking the one Kim Sung-woo brought from the Department Head.

Maybe that's why it flared up again today—no tea. She grabbed her smartphone and started dialing.

"...Yes?"

Soon, Ye-rin blinked in confusion, looking like a pitiful puppy.

Kim Sung-woo watched her through the rearview mirror.

We arrived at the university festival site.

"I'll let the staff know LUNIQUE is here, so everyone wait here."

I got out of the van, leaving the girls behind.

Then,

-Click.

-Slide.

"?"

As I closed the driver's door, the van's door slid open.

Turning around, Shin Ye-rin had hopped out, door still open.

Yeah, she was that desperate.

I smiled kindly and asked,

"Why'd you get out? Need something?"

"What the hell?"

"What?"

"That tea from yesterday. What is it?!"

Shin Ye-rin snapped right away, startling the LUNIQUE members in the van, who peeked out at us.

I feigned surprise, and she jabbed a finger at me, loaded with layered rings.

"The green tea you gave me yesterday—you said it was from the Department Head? I called, and they said what?!"

"Ah..."

I scratched the back of my head sheepishly, barely holding back laughter inside.

I'd seen her on the phone from the rearview on the highway.

I'd dropped her vocal grade back to B- early that morning, and realizing her throat was wrecked again, she'd frantically tracked down the tea in her panic.

The members in the van buzzed at her words.

"Ye-rin, what do you mean?"

"Sounds like the manager oppa fed us some lie..."

"Whoa, uh, um."

"..."

One by one, they sided with her, eyeing me suspiciously.

Chae-rin, don't look at me like that.

Sure, I was scheming some bullshit, but I didn't want that gaze from you.

I sighed helplessly and explained sheepishly.

"Truth is, I figured you'd be uncomfortable if I said I picked it up, so I fibbed. But it's legit tea recommended by a miracle herbalist back home. And it worked right away, didn't it?"

"..."

She fed you that precious tea because your shitty attitude forced a white lie—not to screw you over—and you're still pissed? I softened it nicely, and Shin Ye-rin's anger eased a bit.

Just in case, I checked her info window.

'Well, well.'

Shin Ye-rin, who moments ago was painting me as the world's biggest asshole, now held 'expectation.'

Probably betting I didn't have more tea. Shameless bitch.

I clicked my tongue inwardly, and she asked dubiously,

"Got any more of that tea?"

"Brought some just in case. Want it?"

"...Yeah. One more cup."

"Hold on."

I pulled the prepped green tea from the passenger seat bag and poured it into a paper cup.

Shin Ye-rin gulped it down like she hadn't seen water in days, and in that gap, I tweaked her status.

Right as she drained the paper cup, Shin Ye-rin tested her throat.

-♪~ ♪♬~

The high notes soared perfectly, just as she hoped, and the members' eyes lit up in wonder.

Lee Ha-neul, sitting right by the door, grinned wide at me.

"That's amazing. Manager oppa, can I have a cup too?"

Her accent oddly awkward.

She only pulled that Zainichi act when begging for favors.

Half-Japanese, but belt out mid-tempo ballads crystal clear at coin karaoke—pure Korean vibe. Who you fooling?

"Ah! Me too!"

"Sung-woo! Give us some!"

"Playing favorites with Ye-rin!"

Starting with Ha-neul, the others clamored for theirs.

Girls who ignored her double curses usually now cozying up—softies, all of them.

"Sorry, only brought one cup. It's over twenty thousand won a pop, bought with my salary... Can't cover everyone."

Before they could whine like usual, I apologized quick, but Ye-rin handed me the empty cup.

Not chucking it like always—why?

Ah, image control?

"Thanks. I'll pay for the tea."

?

Did I hear that right?

Thanks? She said thanks?

"Eek!"

"Ye-rin's acting weird."

"Our unnie's different."

"Must be super effective... Wow..."

The LUNIQUE members couldn't believe their ears either.

Hell, more shocked than me.

I kept a straight face and seized the moment of their shock to explain further.

"The tea Ye-rin drank helps temporarily when you're off, but it doesn't fundamentally fix your throat. Won't do much for the rest of you."

"...Temporarily?"

"Yes. Temporary."

At 'temporary effect,' Shin Ye-rin froze.

'No helping it.'

Temporary meant lifelong dependence on that tea. More importantly, a reason to suck up to me.

Only my tea would keep her throat from tanking again.

She seemed to connect the dots, standing rigid.

I left her there with, "Gonna check with staff," and walked off.

Still monitoring her status changes.

LUNIQUE's stage at the university festival wrapped up flawlessly.

-♪~ ♪♬~

Shin Ye-rin nailed the high note finale, and they bounced offstage light on their feet.

Mics off, the most excited member—Shin Ye-rin—spoke first.

Her long blonde hair drenched in sweat, looking like a total mess.

Shin Ye-rin beamed at her members.

"Tomorrow's new album recording? I feel like we'll crush it!"

Yeah. No.

You won't.

'She thinks I'll keep her condition up, of course. Dumbass potato head.'

What I wanted was her right in that overconfident moment.

'Whoa. Dopamine.'

Dopamine just flooding. Wow. Wow.