Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Manager-nim, Will You Join Us...? (2)
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Hong Jae-pil stepped into the practice room, and the members bowed deeply in greeting.
"Hello, Manager Hong!"
Every single one of them greeted him with utmost politeness.
The harmonious atmosphere they'd been practicing in froze over like Siberia in an instant.
I glanced across the others' faces.
They were stiff and uncomfortable—anyone could see it.
It was a far cry from how they acted around CEO Oh.
Both were high up in the company, but if anything, CEO Oh was higher—and yet, they seemed more intimidated by Hong Jae-pil.
"You all practicing well?"
"Yes, Manager-nim."
"Good. Then show me. Real singers have to nail the live performances."
Hong Jae-pil demanded a choreography demo right off the bat.
Leader Park Su-rim glanced awkwardly at the members before nodding.
"Yes. We'll prepare right now."
Showing the choreography itself wasn't hard—we'd been practicing nonstop.
But being told to dance out of the blue in this tense atmosphere, without any mental prep? It was disorienting, honestly.
High-ups dropping in for surprise checks happened often at TL, but this just felt off.
"Alright, let's start. Get ready."
Park Su-rim called for prep and hit play on the demo track. We moved as we'd practiced.
Hong Jae-pil stared us down with sharp eyes, like a snake eyeing prey.
Maybe it was my imagination, but it felt like he was looking at me more.
"Good. Now line up single file."
Once the choreo ended, Hong Jae-pil lined us up in front of him like it was the most natural thing.
Then he called us out one by one, listing our flaws.
"First, Su-rim. You're doing well. But you know it yourself—you're the most iffy one here, right? What do you think?"
"……Yes."
"We made you leader 'cause you've got the most experience, but you're still lacking a ton. Step it up—dance, vocals, whatever."
"Yes. I know."
"Right. Next, Tae-hee. I told you we picked you for your face."
"Yes."
"But there's a limit. You slacking on practice lately?"
"No."
"Shape up. You're the eldest, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Next, Jae-oh……"
He probably thought he was giving feedback, but it just burdened us more. Hong Jae-pil didn't seem to get that.
What era's boot camp bullshit is this?
He called Lee Jae-oh's and Teddy's raps too stiff, told Kim Kwang-myeong and Go Eun-young to practice dance more, then finally turned to me.
"Last, Ha Jae."
"Yes."
"You've... improved some. But compared to the others, you're still way behind. Especially that ass-less dancing—what's that? Come on, shape up. We picked you for debut twice; you gotta work for it."
"Yes. I'm working hard."
"……Right. Work harder, then. Keep practicing. I might drop by anytime, so treat it like the real deal—tense, intense, always. Got it?"
"Yes."
"Speak up! That mumble gonna cut it?"
"Yes!"
He kept up the pointless military drill to the end, then left the practice room.
The second Hong Jae-pil was out, Han Tae-hee spoke up.
"Ugh, hope that jerk stays away. Comes every time to piss us off."
"Tell me about it. Total buzzkill."
"Hong Manager's scary as hell."
"Hey, Kwang-myeong. Can't you step up with a diss rap or something?"
"Then I'd get fired."
"Exactly."
"Ugh, Tae-hee."
"Yeah, love you too."
The complaints poured out like a tidal wave the moment Hong Jae-pil left.
Looked like more than a day or two's worth of grudges.
They'd all been trainees long enough. They'd endured that crap for a while.
Even Park Su-rim rubbed her tired face with her hands and plopped down.
"Let's take a break, guys. We're drained anyway."
I watched them slump to the floor, chugging ion drinks with exhausted faces, and made up my mind for sure.
Hong Jae-pil had to go.
No matter how capable he was, having a boss like that would only drag us down.
"Jae-ya, where you going?"
"Oh, bathroom quick."
"Alright. Go on."
Real Ha Jae might've gone to confront him about what he did, but I had zero intention.
I checked my phone quick, then hurried out of the practice room.
I dashed down the hallway toward the elevator.
Luckily, Hong Jae-pil hadn't gotten on yet.
"Manager Hong."
"What."
He turned at my call.
Hong Jae-pil eyed me standing there with clear distaste, tilting his head.
"Got something to say?"
"……Seems like you do—to me, Manager Hong."
Ding! The elevator doors opened and shut, leaving silence in the hall.
Hong Jae-pil looked puzzled.
"No idea what you're on about, Jae-ya. I already said everything to you earlier."
"You said everything?"
"……What else would I have to say to you?"
His mouth curved in a smile, but his eyes were sharp.
Like he was probing.
I met Hong Jae-pil's gaze head-on.
Can't back down. Backing down means it's over.
"You should. Have something to say."
"……"
"If you have even a shred of conscience."
A shred of conscience. His face soured the instant I said it.
"I remembered. Why I lost my memory. Coming to the practice room jogged it."
"……"
"You hit me. That's why, right?"
"No clue what you're talking about, Jae-ya."
But he was playing dumb for now.
Hong Jae-pil forced a smile, fiddling with his watch.
"No evidence, just accusing people? Must be a mix-up."
"There's CCTV in the practice room. Wanna check?"
"That got deleted lo——"
Gotcha.
He realized his slip-up mid-sentence, face twisting.
I stared him down.
Then he showed his true colors.
"Ha…… Jae-ya. Would've been better if you'd stayed clueless. Why dig up memories and cause this mess?"
"……"
"Let's just let it slide nice and easy. No good reddening things with me. We've got a long road ahead together. You wanna debut or not?"
"……"
"Think it over, Jae-ya. I'll push you right from now on. See…… Yeah. Center. I'll give you center over Teddy. Your dancing's improved lately……"
"I'm telling CEO Oh."
I shut down his silver tongue hard as he sensed danger.
The second CEO Oh left my mouth, Hong Jae-pil switched tactics.
Face furious, he shoved my shoulder.
"Ha……. Tell Oh what? Think he'll do shit? Oh Woong-jae's a fucking figurehead, you punk. I dress you up, paint your face, sell you—that's all me. Think this company runs without me? Oh Woong-jae, that songwriting hack—nothing without me, the fucker. Who you gonna trust? Go tell him. See if he listens to one word. Who believes a trainee with no proof? You think anyone's buying your bullshit, fucker?"
Pathetic. I snorted inwardly.
Memory-Hong had begged Ha Jae not to tell CEO Oh, groveling low.
Meaning it'd be bad if it reached CEO Oh's ears.
Yet here he was, trying to bully me silent. Despicable.
I stared silently.
Guess my look pissed him off.
"But who the hell you glaring at?"
"Ow!"
He'd been shoving my shoulder lightly, but put force into it. Hard enough I lost balance and hit the floor.
Come on, hands are cheating.
"Tsk. Annoying……"
Hong Jae-pil clicked his tongue, straightened his suit lapels, and hit the elevator button.
Stepping in as doors opened, he warned me.
"One more time: you can't do shit. So pretend you forgot—best for you. I can end your career, your life. Got it?"
"……"
"Today's nothing. Next time, act clueless. You get me? Jae-ya's smart, right?"
"……"
"Answer."
"……Yes."
I nodded with slumped shoulders, playing defeated.
Satisfied, he grinned down at me.
Pretty intimidating.
"Good. We're calling it nothing, got it? That's how I take it. One word out there, and you're blacklisted forever. Know that."
"……"
"This is a warning. Burn it in."
With that, the doors shut, and Hong Jae-pil vanished.
I whipped out my phone from my pocket the second he was gone.
Saw the screen and sighed in relief.
"Good. It worked perfect."
Hong Jae-pil's right.
What can one trainee do against a company manager?
No proof, just my word based on experience? No chance.
Truth or not, power washes it out.
But with solid evidence? Changes everything.
"Why no proof? He spilled it all himself."
I hit stop recording, smirking.
Proof secured.
That's why I approached that bastard.
He left without patting me down—didn't suspect a recording.
Sorry, Hong. Should've been more thorough.
Next step was clear.
Can't do it alone? Convince someone who can. Use every means, tie up loose ends.
I dusted off my butt and stood.
Guess I had somewhere to go tomorrow.
Time to have it out with our company head, CEO Oh Woong-jae.