The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 45

I’ve heard stories about people getting flustered after a surprise kiss while flirting.

But has anyone ever been flustered by a surprise finger-sucking—without even flirting?

My heart’s racing out of control, and I can’t seem to pull myself together.

The reason is stuck right next to me, pressing for more like it’s no big deal.

Wearing a blinding white bikini that barely covers what it needs to.

“This is amazing. Show me something else!”

She’s like a cute little niece who just watched a magic trick on YouTube and wants more.

“Can I walk on wine?”

[You changed the water, so yes, it’s possible. You should tell that woman to try walking on it. Wouldn’t she like it even more that way?]

“Can someone else walk on it too?”

So it’s not just my unique miracle.

[When God’s son walked toward a boat on the Sea of Galilee where his disciples were, one of them asked if he could walk on water too. 

He told him to try with faith, and the disciple did walk on water. 

But near the end, he got scared, started doubting, and fell in.]

So just like how Team Leader Baek Hakyung saved his family—if you believe, you can experience a miracle.

[This isn’t a lake, so even if you fall in, it’s not a big deal.]

True enough.

I got up from the sunbed and slowly walked across the water, now turned into wine.

They were even more amazed and full of admiration than when I turned the water into wine.

“Wow, wow, you’re really walking on water. This is incredible!”

“Do you want to try it too, Soyeon?”

“Huh? Can I walk on it too?”

“If you believe in the gift from God, you can walk on it. You’ve experienced the gift of healing thanks to Him, right? Believe in that and walk toward me. But be careful—if you doubt even a little, you’ll fall in.”

“Don’t worry. I believe in His gift more than anyone else.”

She cautiously took a step forward.

As she stepped onto the water with a splash, a bright smile spread across her face.

“Wow, I’m not sinking! Juwon! I didn’t fall in!”

One step… two steps.

As her confidence grew, she began running across the water like a child, laughing out loud.

She bounced like a freshly caught fish—it was heartwarming to watch.

[Not even the slightest bit of doubt in her heart. She’s a unique human.]

‘I think I understand why God saved her.’

She grabbed my arm and begged me to run with her.

And just like that, a playful “catch me if you can” date on the water went on for a while.

*****

“Team 5’s been quiet lately.”

Chairman Park Beomjun was reviewing the progress reports from each team.

“Please don’t go through every report one by one. The kids hate it when someone from the top checks every little detail,” said Director Yoon Sangho as he watched the chairman clicking through internal documents.

“I’m just taking a look. I never say anything during meetings anyway. Where else do you find a chairman who just sits quietly like this?”

At the chairman’s retort, the director just brushed it off with a shrug.

“I already told you about the contract with Chie. Now they’re looking for the fifth member. I heard they got the trainee lists from Teams 3 and 4.”

“Knowing Juwon’s personality, he’ll find a way to get all five no matter what… So, what happens next? Do we release a mini album?”

“We can’t just hand it to them. If the company gives them an album, then it’s not a trial.”

“You and your obsession with trials. Wasn’t putting them in Team 5 right after joining the company already a trial?”

“A real trial doesn’t end after one round. Once you pass one, the next one has to be even tougher.”

“Wow, Director. You’ve got a hidden sadistic side. What kind of trial are you giving them this time?”

“I’m planning a bet with Juwon. If he agrees, I’ll let you know. If he wins, I’ll reward him handsomely—combining it with the previous one. If he loses, I’m not planning to give him any penalty either. How’s that sadistic?”

“You’re still making him work hard. Enjoying watching that is sadistic, isn’t it?”

“I’m refining him to be a real asset. That’s good for him too. There’s nothing better for a company employee than being recognized by the company.”

“Fine, fine. Then polish him up well, Director.”

*

As soon as I arrived at work, the director called me in.

“How’s the Red Blossom member recruitment going?”

Park Team Leader must’ve already reported it, but he asked me directly anyway.

“We’re working hard to find the right person.”

“I heard about the audition with Chie from Team Leader Baek. He rarely gives compliments, but the results were very positive. Great job.”

“Thank you.”

“You could go with four members, but since they originally had five, there’s no need to cut them down. Once you have five, what do you think comes next?”

“I understand the plan is to make an album and have them come back.”

“Right. They’re singers, so of course they need an album for a comeback. The company is thinking of a mini-album.”

A mini-album refers to an album with 3 to 4 songs, fewer than a full-length album (10 or more songs).

In K-pop, it’s a commonly used term, similar to an EP (Extended Play) overseas.

It’s more sincere than a single (1-2 songs), but less costly than a full album, so many groups release a mini-album to test the waters when making a comeback after a while.

“Once the album order comes down, the A&R team sets the concept based on the planned direction and starts collecting demos. 

Even for a mini-album, it’s normal to go through dozens or even hundreds of songs.”

Only after the title track and the rest of the tracklist are decided can the next stage begin.

“Red Blossom failed to nail the concept and choose the right songs for both of their first two albums. 

When the first button is buttoned wrong, you don’t even need to check the rest.”

Of all the many songs they released, only Love Connect made it onto the charts—that says it all.

Their avant-garde concept was such a disaster that even the handful of remaining fans turned away.

“I know how talented Team Leader Baek and the producers under him are, but they’re overloaded as it is. 

If we throw Red Blossom on top of that, we won’t get the output we’re hoping for. 

It’s a rare chance for a comeback—you guys don’t want to waste it either, right?”

Why is he building up to something with this long setup…?

“So I want you to help out Team Leader Baek.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. You don’t have to stick to the order of concept first and then track selection. If you can pick solid songs, a concept can come from that.”

“…….”

“Have Team 5 handle the title track and B-sides. Just getting those done will take a huge load off the A&R team.”

“But Director, we don’t have any composers or producers in our team…”

“I said ‘team,’ but I’m putting my hopes on you. Based on what you’ve done these past two months, I think you can pull this off. Don’t you?”

His eyes were glowing like a madman about to place a huge bet.

This guy—he’s trying to gamble with me.

“The system failed them through their first two albums, so I figured we need to do something different. 

I know you’re not trained in A&R, but you’re doing great even in a role like casting manager, which you’ve never done before.”

“Picking people and picking songs are two totally different things.”

“That’s true in general. But if you were just a typical employee, I wouldn’t even ask.”

The chairman trusts his gut, and the director gambles… Is this company okay?

“I’m not just dumping this on you. It’s a tough job, but there’ll be proper rewards—for both you and Red Blossom.”

“Red Blossom too?”

“Yeah. You know they’re still in the red even after their second album, right?”

For idols, even if they generate revenue, they only get paid after repaying the company for all the initial investment during trainee days, production costs, promotion expenses, etc.

Some groups earn tens of millions in a few months, while others make only a few hundred thousand won even after years.

Even that’s considered lucky. 

For a flop group like Red Blossom, who barely makes any money, debt just piles up.

I don’t know the exact number, but they probably owe hundreds of millions of won.

“I was planning to disband Team 5 and kick them out of the dorm. 

Since they hadn’t made any money, I couldn’t tell them to pay off their debt—was just going to count it as the company’s loss. 

Then you showed up.”

“So even if this comeback succeeds, it just ends in paying off their debt, huh?”

“That’s how it was going to go, but after seeing their efforts and what you’ve done these past two months, I’ve changed my mind. 

If the comeback succeeds with the songs you bring in, we’ll give them the full revenue—no expenses deducted.”

“What?”

“Why are you so surprised? Do you know how hard it is to pull off a successful comeback for a flop group? You need to have at least that level of motivation. Don’t you think?”

He really is trying to gamble.

The stakes: Red Blossom’s mini-album revenue.

All the profits from digital streams, album sales, and events—he’s saying it’ll all go to Red Blossom.

If it goes well, each member could make hundreds of millions of won.

“It’s good for the company too. If they succeed with the comeback, they’ll keep promoting. That’s the only way we can recover the investment that’s still in the red.”

“It really does sound like a gamble.”

“More like a bet than a gamble. A bet between me, representing the company, and you, representing Red Blossom.”

“If we win, Red Blossom makes money… and if we lose?”

“Then things will go as originally planned—Red Blossom will disband. Soyeon will handle the living arrangements. We’ll dissolve Team 5, and you and the rest of the members will be reassigned to other teams.”

“So we won’t be fired?”

“I know I’m asking a lot. I also know how disadvantageous your situation is. I made this decision taking all of that into account, so don’t worry about what comes after. Just focus on saving Red Blossom.”

He didn’t say what I’d personally get out of this, but I didn’t ask.

Because if we succeed, Red Blossom will shine—and being able to witness that brilliance up close is the greatest reward I could ask for.

That alone is enough for me.