The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 105
“Hahh…Hng…Manager-nim….”
Summer and I are making out passionately in the car.
Summer is sitting on top of my thigh.
When I asked if she liked kissing from above, she said sitting on my thigh makes her feel the heat rising, getting her excited.
After unintentionally giving the kids a pep talk, Summer followed me to the parking lot, and we got in the car.
On days when we return to the dorm, spending intimate time like this has become routine.
“Is your arm really okay?”
Since she was worried, I took off the cast and showed her my arm.
“The doctor did this. If it healed perfectly in just a few days, people would get suspicious.”
But Summer’s attention was elsewhere.
She traced the area previously covered by the cast and marveled.
“There’s no scar. Didn’t you have surgery?”
I guess she assumed there’d be a scar since I had emergency surgery while unconscious.
“The spirits took care of it as a service. They erased everything.”
“Hmm… So that’s why your skin is so smooth now.”
She kept stroking it.
Her touch was sticky with desire.
“I trust your abilities, but ‘what ifs’ exist, you know? What if you couldn’t use your arm… It’d be hard to hold me with just one… Hard to move on top… Should I climb on you every time… What position wouldn’t be uncomfortable… I was worried about all that.”
Listening to her, it was all about that.
She’s just as switched on as Cha So-yeon.
Did I gain some kind of charm that drives women wild?
[You don’t have a blessing related to mating. You’ll have to hone those skills yourself.]
‘I didn’t need you to tell me that.’
[You don’t need to worry, Master.]
‘How do you know?’
[I’m synchronized with your body. You’re sturdy, so don’t worry. The women should be the ones concerned.]
Judging by what’s happening right now, I don’t think there’s any need to worry.
KBC Headquarters —
On Music Bank recording days, KBC headquarters is packed from dawn.
Fans flock to catch a glimpse of idol groups arriving—the so-called “commute scene.”
The cheers, applause, and camera flashes that erupt whenever an idol appears also serve as a measure of popularity.
MBS and SBC have standalone buildings, and since artists mainly use underground parking, there’s no good spot for fans to wait.
That’s why the commute scene has become Music Bank’s unique signature.
“They should be here by now….”
A handful of Red Blossom fans stand right behind the security fence.
A few carry DSLR cameras, but compared to other groups’ fans, their numbers are pitifully small.
Some home fans (dedicated fans) casually set up ladders and climb up to get a better angle.
They’re professional “commute photographers” who specialize in airport arrivals, broadcast entrances, and everyday sightings.
“I thought there’d be more since they topped the charts.”
“You think streaming from bed is the same as showing up at dawn?”
“If they win on Music Bank, more will come.”
“I hope that Superman manager comes too.”
“He got seriously hurt, though. Will he even make it today?”
They chatted while waiting for Red Blossom to arrive.
The kids sit nervously in the van.
They woke up at dawn and should be exhausted, but their eyes are sparkling.
Their expressions mix excitement and tension.
“What if no one recognizes us?”
“That happened with our second album too.”
“It’s different now! Oppa risked his life to promote us!”
Anyone hearing that would think I sold my body.
Their makeup is full but subtle—natural-looking for the commute scene.
Though not an official event, since so many people film it, even an unflattering shot could haunt them online forever.
That’s why they sacrifice sleep to visit the salon at dawn.
“Manager-nim, you look great today.”
“Thanks.”
Since a PD requested an interview, I put in extra effort.
I wore a suit Cha So-yeon picked and subtle makeup.
I’m already broad, but with the cast and suit, I looked like a bodyguard injured while stopping a terrorist attack.
“Thinking about it, we don’t have to worry about applause. Oppa’s here.”
“What about me?”
“You think people won’t clap when a civic hero steps out first? You saved over a hundred lives.”
“Right. With Manager Oppa here, we worried for nothing.”
(Nods)
They chimed in one by one, their expressions relaxing.
If this helps them shake off their nerves and shine on their comeback stage, I’m glad.
The commotion outside suggests a famous group just passed.
I wasn’t even this tense when I stormed that cult’s hideout alone.
“Wait here. I’ll open the door first.”
After a few deep breaths, I opened the car door.
—
A large van pulled in, and the front door opened.
Those craning their necks gasped and held their breath.
A man with an athlete’s build stepped out.
A stylish suit, a cute design on his cast,
and an awkward smile—it was the hottest manager right now.
Instantly, cheers and applause erupted from all directions.
Flashes burst, and shutter sounds filled the air.
Despite not being an idol, the crowd cheered more passionately than ever.
“His body is insane….”
“Who knew a suit and cast could look that good together?”
“Didn’t they say he was badly hurt?”
“That looks like a minor fall.”
“He really is Superman….”
When I opened the door, Red Blossom members stepped out, looking dazed.
At the same time, Bloomings (Red Blossom’s official fandom) in the front row twisted excitedly, welcoming them.
The members, stunned, rushed over, tears in their eyes, and grabbed their hands.
Flashes went off nonstop to capture this reunion-like moment.
—
At the photo zone by the fence, they greeted fans.
““Hello! We’re Red Blossom, bright as spring sunshine!””
Requests for various poses flooded in amid applause.
Despite the chaos, they effortlessly struck photogenic poses.
Fans asked me to join, so I awkwardly posed for pictures too.
Red Blossom’s Waiting Room —
Only after entering our assigned waiting room did we relax.
Unpopular groups or unnoticed rookies get cramped or shared spaces, but thanks to the PD’s consideration, ours was spacious.
“See? I told you we didn’t need to worry with Manager Oppa here.”
“Bloomings came! I really thought no one would show.”
“I think the ahjussi is more popular than us.”
“Obviously. We’re flop idols, but Manager-nim is a civic hero.”
“Stop calling us flop idols. What flop idol tops the charts?”
The cue sheet placed us toward the end but not last.
PD Hyun Jung-il must’ve arranged this too.
Following staff directions, we went straight into dry rehearsal.
The kids wore casual clothes with large name tags as they rehearsed.
It was a single-camera rehearsal to check performance flow and choreography.
‘They’re good.’
They were never untalented.
Their timing was awkward, their concepts strange, and luck never favored them.
But as Sera said, given the chance, they’re soaring now.
The PD and staff watching the camera looked satisfied.
After rehearsal, we hydrated and visited other waiting rooms to greet seniors.
Some welcomed us warmly, others half-heartedly before returning to work—reactions varied.
Even as a manager, this was my first Music Bank recording, so everything felt new.
“Huh? The civic hero… Wow, it’s really him.”
“The news made it seem way worse. That’s all you got hurt?”
“Can I take a selfie with you?”
I kinda felt like a celebrity.
Every time a female singer or idol chatted with me, Summer glared.
“I’ll remember all their names and tattle to So-yeon unnie.”
“What’s tattling to So-yeon gonna do?”
“Unnie will eliminate them without a trace.”
“You know your face looks evil right now, right?”
Bickering with Summer, we returned to the waiting room.
Though there was time before camera rehearsal, our schedule was packed.
Red Blossom had interviews with entertainment channels, webzines, and magazines, while I had one requested by Music Bank’s PD.
Red Blossom’s comeback was so dramatic that interest surged after they topped the charts.
“First time seeing a manager leave for an interview. You live long enough, you see everything.”
Song, the department head, and Onyu sunbaenim laughed as they said this.
Team Leader Park would join later due to another schedule.
“I’ll talk a lot about Red Blossom, so hold the fort here.”
“Don’t worry, go ahead.”
The interview was for a segment on KBC’s dating show.
“I climbed the railing thinking it’d be a good vantage point when an accident happened at the intersection. A truck flipped and was sliding right toward us, so I jumped down. I thought it’d fall off the bridge and told people to move, but I didn’t expect it to be so heavily loaded….”
I delivered my prepped answers with “appropriate” clumsiness.
I’ve gotten decent at acting like a normal person in these situations.
Maybe I’m the only one who thinks I can’t act?
“If I hadn’t slipped, I could’ve avoided it, but luck wasn’t on my side. Still, getting wedged between steel beams and debris meant fewer injuries than expected.”
“…I didn’t think at all. The stage was right below, and if it fell, our kids wouldn’t be safe. My body just moved on its own.”
The VJ seemed pleased, smiling and thanking me.
And so, we took another step toward Red Blossom’s comeback stage.