The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 112
The whole drive back, I felt uneasy.
‘Why is he giving me such detailed information? Does he really think I can’t do anything about it?’
[Actually, isn’t that a good thing? He told you exactly what he’s planning to test you with. A demon wouldn’t say all that and then betray you or cross the line. It’s humans who act like that.]
‘So humans are worse than demons.’
[You think the saying “Satan got fired again today” came out of nowhere?]
How did humans end up being compared to demons?
[Satan loves setting up the board. He’s also extremely careful about timing. He’s doing all this to create a situation and timing where you have no choice but to bow before him. That’s what a demon is—someone who considers it natural to go to such lengths to claim the soul they’ve set their sights on.]
Setting up the board to create a situation where you have no choice but to fall.
Far more rational and meticulous than humans.
‘Shouldn’t we be doing something too?’
[Satan already told you. Grow quickly. Once comeback week is over, we’ll be moving labels, so you’ll need to build that up. Enough to stand against Satan.]
Starting next week, the organization will be restructured.
Team 5 will absorb Mirinae Entertainment and become an independent label called Arte Cube.
Departments will be adjusted, and the artists under them will change too.
We’ll have to move offices and secure a new dorm for Honey Pop.
‘It’s going to be chaotic. Not the time to be worrying about tests.’
With two companies merging, things will be messy at first.
With more artists, I might not be able to focus solely on Red Blossom like before.
I might even be involved in Min A-young’s comeback and Honey Pop’s single.
This isn’t the time to leisurely agonize over Satan’s test.
‘Let’s focus on what’s in front of us. That’s the only way to grow—or not.’
[Good thinking.]
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
KBC Music Bank determines rankings by combining digital streams (60%), broadcast count (20%), K-POP fan votes (10%), album sales (5%), and social media engagement (5%).
Broadcast counts are tallied even if the artist doesn’t appear live, as long as the song is played.
In their first week of comeback, the only thing Red Blossom could rely on was digital streams.
They couldn’t help the lack of live stages since it was their first comeback performance, and the rest—fan power—was hopelessly lacking.
At least they topped the digital charts and stayed within the top 20.
“First place nominee?”
Yeoreum’s eyes widened as she sat on my lap, about to kiss me.
She wasn’t wearing a bra, making the softness of her chest more pronounced.
I felt a little guilty toward Cha So-yeon, but this was a pressure only Yeoreum could make me feel.
“Yeah. Last week, we only had digital scores, but this week is different. Our song’s been played a lot on broadcasts, and the fandom’s grown like crazy. Tomorrow’s commute is going to be insane.”
“The girls are gonna lose it if they hear this. First place nominees?”
Tomorrow, we’ll lift that trophy.
Because I’ve already seen it with my prophetic gift.
From being a failing group, we’ve finally climbed this far.
“Let’s talk upstairs. Don’t get too excited now and mess up tomorrow’s stage.”
“Okay. But before that… Hah, slow down a little. You’re in such a rush.”
“Sorry, I got too excited. The feel is just too good.”
“Want to suck on them?”
She tempts me with a suggestive look.
“No. If I do that, I won’t be able to hold back. The car’s not the place for a first time.”
“Tch, then hurry up and finish.”
“When do I even have time? Looking at your schedule makes me dizzy. Do you know what time I get off work and when I have to be back?”
I haven’t slept more than four hours a day except on weekends.
Friday night was a five-round battle with Cha So-yeon, and by Saturday, I was completely drained.
Yeoreum hugs me tightly.
“I know. I know how hard you’re working for us. I’m always grateful. I’ll hold back until things ease up.”
Then she presses her lips to mine.
Meaning she’ll be satisfied with just this for now.
KBC Music Bank commute—
Despite the chilly weather, fans had gathered since dawn.
They took their places one by one behind the barriers set up by security.
Home masters who secured good spots skillfully set up ladders and adjusted their camera angles.
“It’s only been a week, but there are so many more people now.”
“Bluming’s membership exploded. There’ll be even more during the recording.”
“Red Blossom even has their own gallery now… Amazing.”
“Are they gonna win this time? I voted for them.”
“There are so many more home masters too. Last week, we barely saw any.”
Bluming (Red Blossom’s official fandom) huddled together, feeding off each other’s excitement.
—
I thought they’d be more relaxed since it was their second time, but the girls looked even more serious.
Any trace of ease vanished at the thought of being first-place nominees.
“If we really win, I think I’ll collapse.”
“You have to give a speech, why would you collapse? Aren’t you gonna thank Manager Oppa?”
“I will. Then I’ll collapse.”
“First place nominee… first place nominee…”
“No proverbs today?”
“My mind’s gone blank from nerves.”
They must really be tense.
If they forget the lyrics, we’re in trouble.
“I told you to get all your excitement out yesterday. What’s this now?”
“But! We messed up two albums and struggled for over a year before getting here. How can we not be excited? I couldn’t even sleep properly.”
They all looked exhausted.
Narae probably tossed and turned from excitement too.
“But the other nominee is Uptown, right? Their fandom’s no joke.”
A two-year-old boy group.
We might be ahead in digital scores, but fan power is another story.
Of course, we won’t know until the results are out.
“They’re easier opponents compared to Next Boys or Prominence. Don’t shrink back. Our buzz is just as strong as anyone’s.”
Yeoreum backed me up.
“You heard Manager-nim, right? He’s never been wrong when he says something will happen. It’ll be the same this time, right?”
She smiled at me.
A signal to wrap it up.
“Yeah. Trust me this time too. I’ve got a good feeling.”
““Really?””
Their stiff expressions began to soften.
I hope they bloom just as brightly on stage.
—
“Isn’t that Red Blossom’s car?”
Someone pointed, and all eyes turned in that direction.
The front door opened, and the manager in a cast stepped out.
Cheers and camera flashes erupted from all sides.
The response was almost on par with a top idol’s.
When the Red Blossom members appeared, cheers and shutter clicks overlapped.
Bluming, once a small fandom, now stood strong against others.
“Look this way, please!”
“Unnie, over here!!”
The impromptu photo zone in front of the barriers was packed.
Amid the shutter sounds, someone’s shout stood out.
“Manager-nim, stand with them too!”
The moment those words were heard, Ryu Yeoreum and Rina pulled Shin Juwon into the frame.
The members struck poses around a flustered Shin Juwon.
Fans chattered excitedly as they snapped photos.
Laughter broke out at someone’s comment.
“Beauty and the Beast!!”
The tension finally eased once we entered Red Blossom’s waiting room at the end of the hall.
“How many more times until we get used to this? It’s only our second time, so…”
“What if this is the last time?”
“Hey! Don’t jinx it!”
Yeoreum and Rina bickered.
Their way of shaking off nerves, I guess.
The others were surprisingly calm.
“I just remembered! A cucumber vine never bears branches.”
“What does that mean?”
“There’s a Korean proverb too. You reap what you sow.”
Everyone tilted their heads.
They got the meaning, but did it fit the situation?
“Manager Oppa planted us where we were meant to be, so today, we’ll bloom. A good result is certain!”
They say dreams are open to interpretation, but that’s a stretch.
“I agree with Chie. Before meeting Oppa, we were dying in barren soil. He replanted us and nurtured us carefully, and now we’ve come back to life. All that’s left is to bloom gloriously. And that day is today.”
“Since when did you, of all people, start making sense?”
“I can think when I want to!”
Now the tension was completely gone.
The girls’ faces had returned to their usual practice-room selves.
“We won’t know until the results are out, but if we win, have you thought about your speech?”
Since it’s a live broadcast, we can’t rehearse.
They’ll all cry, but for their first music show win, they should at least say something meaningful.
They all turned to Yeoreum.
“W-why me…?”
Stammering under the sudden attention.
“Unnie wrote a speech and memorized it all night. We’ll just cry in the back.”
“I-I did not! I went to bed early!”
“Then close the door properly next time. We all heard it. You wrote it well, so you should say it. You’re the leader.”
“I went to the bathroom and saw the light on.”
“I went to get water, and the door was slightly open.”
(Nods all around)
“Aaaah!”
Yeoreum fled to the corner, banging her head on the sofa in embarrassment.
She must’ve written it right after our secret rendezvous last night.
‘She said not to expect anything, but she prepared thoroughly.’
The time for Yeoreum’s heartfelt speech was approaching.
A perfect day to receive a trophy.