Chapter 60
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Manager's Downfall (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Good work."
We'd finished our schedule and climbed into the van. As soon as I sat down, I leaned back against the seat and gazed out the window. The sunset landscape came into view.
I glanced around, and everyone seemed exhausted, silently staring at their smartphones.
Then, not long after, the manager's voice started up with his usual nagging, just like always.
"That's why you guys shouldn't get cocky right now—you need to work even harder. You get what I'm saying, right?"
I leaned against the window, staring outside, then closed my eyes. Normally, I'd have shot back something, but I didn't feel like it.
Anyway, in a few minutes, I'd be saying goodbye to the manager forever.
I took a sip of my iced Americano and looked at the members.
They'd all gotten used to his bullshit by now, barely paying it any mind.
With a long sigh, I opened my mouth.
"I've got something to say."
At my words, all their eyes turned to me.
Baek Si-woo, who had been yawning with his mouth open, whipped his head around.
"What's up?"
"I've got to talk with the section chief today, but I think it's better if we all hear it together. How about we head straight to the company after the schedule?"
Cha Jae-hyun's expression hardened at that.
"Is it serious?"
"...Yeah."
"Something you can't say here?"
I nodded silently.
Seeing my reaction, the members exchanged looks like they had no choice and started chiming in one by one.
"Alright. If it's serious, let's go hear it out."
"So we're not going straight to the dorm—we'll stop by the company first?"
No sooner had the words left than the manager's annoyed voice barked from the driver's seat.
"Shit. What now? You guys can't catch a break for one damn day. I was gonna drop you at the dorm and head home, but now it's a hassle."
"......"
"Not some girlfriend drama, is it?"
I stared quietly at the back of the manager's head as he chuckled, then looked away.
'Yeah, laugh it up while you can. This is the last time you'll be grinning in front of us anyway.'
I turned on my smartphone without a word and started typing a message to the section chief.
[Jeong Eun-ho]
Section Chief, it's Jeong Eun-ho. Any chance we could meet today? I want to talk about that black box footage from last time.
A few minutes after sending, a reply came from the section chief.
[Section Chief]
Sure? What's the issue?
He'd probably faint if he knew.
[Jeong Eun-ho]
It's a big deal, hard to explain over text. Can we talk in person?
[Section Chief]
Okay. You coming alone?
[Jeong Eun-ho]
The members are coming too.
[Section Chief]
Got it. I'll be waiting.
After finishing the chat, I set my phone down.
Then I pulled out the USB from my coat pocket and looked at it.
'It's almost over.'
* * *
Inside the DIEN section chief's office.
The section chief set down coffee cups in front of us on the sofa and sat.
"So, what's this serious issue?"
The section chief had a friendly, amiable face, but he was fidgeting like he was worried it might be something annoying.
Baek Si-woo, lounging with his legs stretched out on the sofa, spoke up.
"We don't know the details either. Eun-ho said there was a problem, so we came together."
"Ah, got it... So Eun-ho, go ahead and explain what it is."
The section chief and members all looked clueless, no idea what I was about to say.
In the silence, I spoke.
"While watching the black box footage, I heard the manager on a call that sounded like he was dealing with a sasaeng fan."
My unexpected words put exclamation marks on everyone's faces.
"Huh?"
"From the call, it seemed like the manager was selling us out to the sasaeng for money."
"Wait, is that for real?"
"Yeah. Even Kim Bit-na getting into our dorm was all possible because of the manager's help."
A chalk-scratching squeak came from the section chief's slightly open mouth. He snapped out of it and said,
"Huh, really? So the manager...?"
Thud—
I took the USB from my pocket and placed it on the table.
"Here's the evidence footage."
Cha Jae-hyun's face darkened as he looked at the USB. Our eyes met for a moment, and he mumbled like he wanted to say something, but in the end, just turned away silently.
"Good. All set."
I glanced over, and the section chief had already plugged the USB into his laptop.
He cleared his throat a couple times and clicked play.
Soon, the manager's voice flowed from the video.
Everyone stared at the screen.
[Hello? What? What's up.]
[Why'd you call? I'm on schedule right now. What? You want more info? I already gave you the dorm details. What do you want this time?]
The members' expressions slowly hardened as they watched. Like they'd spotted a pile of trash dumped on the street.
The video switched to the next one, showing the manager on another call.
[Dorm number key? Hey, that's pushing it for me to give. You're just gonna go in and out? Fine, but you gotta pay big this time. Hey, without me, you couldn't even follow these guys. Right?]
When the video ended, the section chief glanced at us and slowly spoke.
"I'll get you a new manager."
"You're switching him?"
"Yeah, of course. After seeing this, how could we keep working together? Feels too gross. I wouldn't either."
Cha Jae-hyun, who'd been listening silently from the sofa, spoke up.
"What about punishment?"
"Hm?"
"The manager's been in contact with a sasaeng, causing us all this damage. If it's true, shouldn't he face proper consequences?"
"Uh... Punishment, huh..."
The section chief trailed off.
He rolled his eyes, scanning our faces, then said,
"Well, it might be hard to punish him based on just this."
"Why?"
"It's tough to conclude he sold info to a sasaeng from that call alone. He didn't even specify it was your dorm. What if an investigation shows it's some other place?"
Seeing our expressions sour, he hurriedly added,
"Ah! Don't get me wrong. I'm just saying this for your sake."
I almost burst out laughing at that.
'Acting like he cares.'
If word got out that the manager was taking money from sasaengs to sell his artists' info, it'd go beyond him—it'd drag the company down.
People might say stuff like, "What was the company doing while the manager pulled this?" or "Where does DIEN even find these managers?"
The company would want to keep it quiet, fire him, and call it a day to avoid the damage.
"It might be tough for punishment, but I'll take responsibility and switch managers, so don't worry too much!"
All while acting like he was doing us a huge favor.
With a sigh, I slowly opened my mouth.
"Section Chief, there's more evidence besides this."
He froze mid-reach for his coffee and looked at me.
"More?"
"Yes."
"What?"
"You'll see when you look."
He rolled his eyes wildly and checked the USB folder again.
His pupils started darting around.
"What the—there are tons of folders?"
As he scrolled through the files, his eyes narrowed more and more.
I went to his side and pointed out each one, explaining.
"This is a photo from the manager's secret Instagram. He brought his girlfriend onto the company van and got all lovey-dovey."
"......"
"This is malicious comments he left on Instagram. Not just personal attacks on us, but he spread baseless rumors too."
"Uh-huh. I see."
I glanced sideways—members frowning at the screen.
I hadn't wanted to show them this filthy stuff.
'Last one now.'
I clicked to bring up the decisive screenshot.
"Finally, this is the Twitter feed where the manager traded with the sasaeng. He was getting paid via regular subscriptions for schedule info."
The section chief stared at the file, silent.
He knew too. No way to wrap this up with just firing now.
Before he could speak, I cut in.
"I want to file a lawsuit."
At my words, he squeezed his eyes shut.
'If I want to sue, what can the company do? They can't just let this slide after seeing it.'
Right after I finished, the other members jumped in.
"I want to sue too. Can't just let this go after seeing this."
"Ugh, that guy's a total scumbag! Our Yu-bin got hurt because of that bastard—no, the manager!"
The section chief, ruffling his hair with both hands, let out a massive sigh.
"Alright, we'll talk to the manager first. He's in his car, right?"
"Yes. Should I call him?"
"No, stay put. I'll call him."
Not long after the section chief messaged him to come up, the office door opened.
The manager stood there, clueless.
"Hey. Hello, Section Chief. What'd you need?"
Seeing him standing there all relaxed, oblivious to what's coming, made me want to laugh.
The section chief, forehead in hand and head bowed, slowly lifted his face. Anger simmered on it.
'Even a guy who hates everything this much is pissed off that bad? It's over.'
All we had to do now was grab some popcorn and watch him get torn apart.
I silently unwrapped a candy from the table and popped it in my mouth.
I offered one to Song Yu-bin next to me.
"Want one?"
Song Yu-bin shook his head with a smile.
"Hey, what'd you call me for?"
The manager, still clueless, grinned back and forth between the section chief and us.
'Impatient as ever. If he'd just wait, he'd find out why.'
The section chief exhaled a long breath, suppressing his rage, then slowly spoke.
"Take a look."
"Pardon?"
"This your account?"
He turned the laptop screen to the manager.
The manager's face drained to pale blue as he saw it. Like he'd watched a horror movie.