From Fan to Manager
The next day, as usual, I headed to the office. When lunchtime rolled around, I made a call to someone.
Ring ring ring. Click.
"Yes, this is Yoo Hyun-woo. Teacher, what can I do for you?"
The person I called was none other than Han Chairman's chief secretary, Yoo Hyun-woo. My contacts currently held two big numbers: the chairman's and the secretary's. I chose to dial Yoo.
I figured calling the chairman directly might come off as rude.
"Oh, it's nothing major—just a favor. You got a minute?"
"Of course, go ahead. If it's something Hanlim can handle, we'll do our absolute best to help."
"Perfect. So, about that thing I mentioned before..."
I spent a moment explaining my request to Yoo.
"That's no problem at all. I'll get back to you soon."
"Thanks a lot."
Yoo accepted my request without hesitation.
Connections are the best, huh. One reason I bothered dealing with these big shots at 10 billion won per session, despite my miracle cure-all powers. Building ties like this meant massive backup wherever I went.
Now I just wait.
The reason I'd asked Yoo for this favor boiled down to one thing: Jeong Ha-rin. Ever since seeing the news about her being an actress, a fun idea had popped into my head. Step one required meeting her, and Yoo's help was the bridge to make it happen.
Time to head back.
I finished the call in the break room and turned to return to my desk. That's when...
"Ah..."
"......"
I bumped into Kim Seon-ha right at the break room entrance. I gave an awkward smile to her blank stare.
"......Did you, uh, overhear the call?"
"No, it sounded like you were done, so I came in. Didn't catch the details."
"Ah, got it."
Good thing she had manners. Not that it would've been a huge deal if she had.
"Anyway, carry on."
"......"
I tried to slip past her to my seat. But then...
Swish...
"Huh...?"
"......"
Kim Seon-ha grabbed the hem of my shirt as I passed and tugged gently.
"...What's up?"
"No... nothing."
"......Is something wrong with your brother?"
Maybe some new issue had cropped up. But she shook her head.
"Oh, no, he's fine. Fully discharged. ...Thanks to you, he's perfectly healthy."
"Then what...?"
"Well..."
She glanced away at my question, then peeked up at me cautiously.
"Lately..., you haven't been touching them?"
"Pardon?"
I stared at her, dumbfounded, not grasping it at first.
"Your breasts. ...You used to every time in the break room."
"......"
She probably meant it casually, like 'You drink coffee every day.' But to me, it hit like a gut punch.
I sure did grope her a ton. If it were anyone else, I'd call them a pervert.
"Ah..., sorry about that. My bad."
"Huh? Oh, no. I wasn't saying it for an apology.... It wasn't a bad thing anyway."
"......"
Maybe spamming Enemy Reset was risky after all. Hell, if I bashed Team Leader Park Jae-jun's head with a keyboard daily and reset, would he start seeing it as a morning greeting?
"I just... wondered if you were upset about something."
"Huh...?"
"You said touching was a sign of closeness."
"Oh..., no, it's not that. Just... didn't want to bother you. That's all."
"It doesn't really bother me..."
"......"
"......"
An odd silence stretched between us. The awkward vibe made me force a grin and turn away.
"Really, it's fine. Don't worry about it. Get back to work."
"Okay..."
Back at my desk, I sank into my chair with a quiet sigh.
"Hoo..."
Lunchtime meant the office was dead quiet, empty. Just me and Kim Seon-ha in the whole place.
Could grope her all I want right now, if I felt like it...
I glanced at her silhouette through the break room's glass wall. Her feel was unreal. The kind no guy could forget. Hell, even now, part of me wanted to knead away.
But.
...If there was bad blood like before, sure. But now? Nah.
No matter if she saw it as a casual hello, I couldn't bring myself to do it to someone who'd struggled seven years for her comatose brother.
"......"
Clack, clack.
A moment later, our eyes met as she emerged. She flashed a small smile and sat down.
...Should I just go squeeze them now?
The rest of the day dragged with thoughts like that.
And the very next day.
Ring ring ring.
Phone buzzed during afternoon work. I stepped out to answer.
"Yeah, hello?"
"Teacher, Hanlim Group Chief Secretary Yoo Hyun-woo here."
"Ah, yes, Secretary Yoo."
"I've connected you naturally with Director Park as requested. Lucky for us, their CEO was eager to meet you."
"Really? That's fast. Thanks."
"Haha, no trouble. Call anytime you need anything. Chairman specifically ordered us to assist."
"Got it. Please pass on my thanks to the chairman. Talk soon."
Click.
Korea Inc. at its finest—blazing efficiency.
The favor wrapped in a single day. Not that it was tough, but borrowing a chaebol's muscle as a lowly office drone felt surreal.
They're coming today, right?
This wasn't just about fat stacks anymore. Feeling how mods reshaped everything, I grinned in anticipation of the meeting ahead.
"T-Teacher! Please! Whatever it costs, I beg you!"
"Uh, yeah..."
That evening, after work, I headed to the Korea University Hospital lobby as usual. Treated some folks, then followed the director's lead to the VIP lounge.
Waiting with desperate eyes was none other than the head of one of Korea's big three entertainment agencies: KV Entertainment CEO, Han Gyu-seong.
Whoa, meeting the real deal.
Weird vibe facing someone I'd only seen on news. But aside from that...
"......So, what's hurting?"
"Everywhere... vision's blurry, skin's shot, can't eat right... Teacher!"
"I see... You must cherish it a lot."
"Yes...! I can't live without this one! Please, I beg you!"
Han wanted treatment for his pet dog.
"Grrr..."
Lively for something 'sick.'
The tiny brown Pomeranian in his arms bared teeth and growled as I reached out. No way this was a 16-year-old senior pup. Clearly spoiled rotten.
Worried KV might not have anyone needing treatment... but a dog? Figures.
I'd asked Yoo to hook me up with the KV CEO. No intel on Han's health or family issues, so I'd figured it'd be tricky.
...Who knew they'd dig up his dog. Top-tier secretary work.
"CEO, you want this pup treated, right?"
"Yes, yes...! Money's no object!"
"Heard the price?"
"Yes...! 10 billion per session..."
"Make it 50 billion."
"......Pardon?"
"In return, I'll extend its life by at least 10 years."
"R-Really?!"
"Yep. If anything goes wrong in those 10 years, call me. I'll fix it anytime."
I couldn't literally extend lifespan, but 10 years of my care? Same difference.
Han's eyes went wide at that.
"If you can do that, forget 10—I'll pay 100 billion...! Please, Teacher!"
Casually greenlighting 50 billion like it was pocket change. Chaebol with 3 trillion assets vibes.
Beyond that, 10 extra years for a pet is huge.
Never had one myself, but I knew the bond. Pet loss syndrome was real. For owners, losing their fur baby was the worst fear—some'd trade years of their own life for it. Family, friends? Sometimes secondary.
So yeah, he'd bite on any terms.
"One more condition."
"...Yes?"
I stroked the pup's head in his arms as I spoke.
"You've got an actress named Jeong Ha-rin, right?"
"H-Ha-rin? Yes...?"
He answered warily, face uneasy.
I grinned and dropped it.
"Make me her manager."
"P-Pardon?"
His tense expression shifted to pure confusion.
"I can do that, no problem... but why would someone like you want to manage our Ha-rin?"
Made sense he'd puzzle. Why would a guy saving lives with a snap stoop to roadie for some actress?
"Just... big fan."
I flashed a bright smile.