The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 57

It’s a small room cluttered with monitors and equipment.

I’ve seen a room like this at the company before.

It’s an editing room.

Someone is sobbing in front of the monitor, letting out choking sounds.

It’s PD Shin Dongho from the tvM variety department.

“I… I killed them… Why, why did I call them out!!”

On the screen, someone is smiling brightly while cooking.

A beautiful woman with elegant features immediately catches the eye.

She looks familiar, but I can’t quite remember.

Next to her, another woman is smiling and explaining something—It’s Yeoreum.

What is this?

Why is PD Shin Dongho crying while watching a video of those two?

The screen changes to what looks like a break room.

Two men are sitting with serious expressions.

“So… was it an accident? Or suicide?”

“I’m not sure. Some say she slipped, others say she jumped on purpose.”

“Sigh, how could someone die so meaninglessly like that? That bastard Dongho really messed up in the end. Even though the CP told him not to do it.”

“Yeah. Poor Ahyoung. Why’d he call a quiet kid like her to a place like that island, seriously.”

Ahyoung?

“What about the girl group members who were cooking? They were just there to promote and ended up caught in the mess.”

“Right? Guess flop idols just can’t catch a break no matter what.”

Flop idols… Red Blossom? 

What on earth happened?

*

The sun hadn’t risen yet, so the sky outside the window was still dim.

The dream had been so vivid that when I opened my eyes, I thought I was somewhere else.

Looking around, I confirmed that this was indeed my rooftop room.

How could a dream feel so real?

[It’s not a dream. It was a precognitive vision.]

A precognitive vision?

[Yes, Master. While you were sleeping, your gift of prophecy was triggered. The future appeared to you as a dream.]

You could’ve shown me when I was awake. 

Why wake me up like that?

[The god said it was boring showing it the same way every time, so the method was changed.]

What a fickle god.

The cooking scene, Yeoreum, PD Shin Dongho.

It was a tvM variety show.

Something happens there, and a woman named Ahyoung dies.

Naturally, the program won’t be aired.

Then, isn’t this a place I should avoid entirely?

[Avoiding it isn’t the answer. The fact that the prophetic gift reacted means there’s someone you can save. It’s your divine mission to save those who carry burdens, remember?]

Now that I think about it, the prophetic visions usually show someone I need to save.

Looks like this time, it’s the woman named Ahyoung.

The woman I saw in the dream was just as striking as Yeoreum.

Since she cooked next to Yeoreum, she must be an entertainer chosen by PD Shin.

I searched online for a celebrity named “Ahyoung.”

There’s no way I could forget the face I saw through the prophetic gift.

Min Ahyoung.

An actress who once enjoyed fame rivaling Cha Soyeon.

She’d even won several awards at film festivals for her acting.

But at some point, she began to struggle with immersing in roles, and her acting became a topic of controversy.

After a series of failed projects, she disappeared from the spotlight.

That was around mid-last year, and after that, she vanished even from search results.

She withdrew from the entertainment world.

It wasn’t exactly a downfall, but it was a fall from grace—and with the added stigma of her “bubble of talent” bursting, she was undoubtedly a failed celebrity.

Being ignored by the public is the greatest failure for someone in showbiz, after all.

So… is this woman tied to my fate too?

[Of course. Because your dream to make someone shine is the top priority.]

So I guess I have to save this woman and help her shine.

Or maybe she’ll help me shine somehow.

*****

“You look tired. Something happen?”

“Yeah, Hajin wouldn’t let me sleep. He was especially restless last night. My whole body’s sore.”

“No wonder. I was wondering why you were taking this call from bed.”

Han Sora grinned as she looked at Cha Soyeon’s face on screen.

“I’m curious when our dear Soyeon will finally get to experience the good stuff. That manager of yours looked pretty strong.”

“You’ve really turned into an ahjumma. Talking like that to a single woman.”

“This is the privilege of being an ahjumma.”

Cha Soyeon gave her a look like she was fed up with Han Sora’s shamelessness.

“So what’s up? What’s got you calling your tired unnie?”

“I did what you said, and Yeoreum started showing interest. I’m ready to move on to the next step.”

“That girl Yeoreum’s just like Yujin. If someone pushes her along a bit, she’ll fall easily.”

“I’ve felt this for a while, but you’re like the puppet master sitting on top of both Yujin unnie and hyungbu.”

“In order for the three of us to live in peace, someone needs to maintain balance from above. One day, that’ll be your role.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“And one more thing.”

Though she was speaking seriously, Han Sora was still smiling.

“From what you told me, that manager guy sounds just as clueless as Hajin. 

With guys like that, you need to take the initiative. 

With Hajin, I had to sit him down on the bed and start undressing before he did anything. 

I bet it’ll be the same with this guy.”

“I already told Yeoreum that. I said, stop just showing off your legs and make a stronger move.”

“What if she loses her first time?”

“I told her kissing is okay, but nothing more. You said the same thing.”

“That’s because I gave in to Yujin. You don’t have to. Do you just really like Yeoreum?”

“That’s part of it… But I only care about being the first to enter Juwon’s heart.”

“And you were scolding me for being an ahjumma. You’re worse.”

“What’s the problem? You’re the only one I’m telling this to.”

“Haha, well, if it’s for balance, then it’s not a bad idea. Good luck.”

“Thanks.”

*****

I gathered the girls and talked to them about the tvM variety show.

“I know the concept’s a bit iffy, but I think this could be a great opportunity. 

PD Shin Dongho is well known for making quality variety shows, and after meeting him in person, I can tell he’s incredibly passionate. 

Since it’s a pilot show, the timing is perfect. 

It’ll probably air around the time your comeback is being discussed.”

“I’m in. It’s not like a flopped idol group like us gets offered shows all the time. Plus, if it involves cooking, I’ve got confidence.”

“If oppa says it’s good, then it’s a yes for me.”

“Whatever it is, if it airs on TV, we should be in it no matter what.”

“Let’s catch a sea bream with a shrimp.”

“What kind of proverb is that?”

“It means to get big gains with little effort. Like, we just go on a trip and serve some food, and we get free promotion in return.”

Chie’s pouch of proverbs showed no signs of running dry today either.

As he was about to leave, Yeoreum followed him out to the entrance.

“Um, Manager…”

“Yeah?”

She fidgeted with her fingers, then spoke with difficulty.

“You remember what you said last time…? That if Jeongah struggled with her diet, you’d take us out to eat something good…”

“I did say that. Is there something you want to eat?”

“Not food—alcohol, please. I’ve been holding back because of the others, but now I’m really craving a drink.”

“Alcohol sounds good. When?”

“I’m fine with today, even…”

“Yeah? Then go change and come down. I’ll be waiting in the parking lot.”

A bright smile bloomed on her face, dazzling enough to blind.

If she showed that on stage, the whole crowd would melt.

He waited in the car for Yeoreum to come down. 

Since it might look bad for a manager and a girl group member to drink near the agency, they planned to go somewhere by car.

He’d just call a designated driver later to stop by the dorm and then head home.

Yeoreum got into the passenger seat, wearing a casual jumper and a cap pulled low.

“Wear a mask when we go into the bar. Someone might recognize you.”

“Who’s gonna recognize a failed idol? And besides…”

She took a breath, then spoke carefully.

“Um, I actually found a place for us to go. Would you… be okay with that?”

“Oh yeah? I was wondering where to go, so that’s great. Send me the location.”

The place Yeoreum suggested was a high-end bar in Hannam-dong.

*

From the parking lot to the entrance, a red carpet was laid out.

They confirmed their reservation at an entrance styled like a luxury hotel concierge and went inside.

Yeoreum whispered something to the staff, and their attitude immediately became even more polite.

The place they were guided to was a private room where, honestly, you could probably do anything without anyone knowing.

“How do you know about a place like this? Doesn’t seem like somewhere just anyone can reserve.”

“Well… Soyeon unnie actually booked it for me. She said only members can get in. When I told her I’d be drinking with you, she told me not to just drink anywhere and made the reservation herself.”

It was definitely the kind of place where a celebrity could drink undisturbed.

Yeoreum, now sitting beside him, took off her jumper.

He hadn’t noticed when she got in the car, but she was wearing a mini skirt and an off-shoulder knit that fully exposed her shoulders.

It was the kind of ultimate outfit that made her already sleek figure stand out even more.

“There’s plenty of space on the other side too…”

Her outfit was dangerous for his heart, so he tried to create some distance.

“But it’s easier to toast this way. The table’s too wide.”

Rejected instantly.

On top of her provocative outfit, a subtle fragrance tickled his nose.

Even though not a single drop of alcohol had touched his lips yet, he already felt tipsy.

“You must’ve gotten pretty close to Soyeon. Doesn’t seem like she’d reserve this place for just anyone.”

“Yeah, we’ve gotten pretty close. 

At first, I thought she was scary because she didn’t show any expression, but once we talked, she turned out to be a really nice unnie. 

And now… I think we’re about to get even closer over something else.”

“Something else?”

“It’s… something like that.”

Just then, a waiter came in with drinks and snacks we hadn’t even ordered.

They were so luxurious that even I, who came thinking about a simple soju-beer mix, was taken aback.

“Let’s make a toast.”

At some point, Yeoreum had poured the drinks and was holding up her glass.

For some reason, I felt like I was getting swept along by both of them.