The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 60

“Light…?”

I was secretly surprised. 

I never expected someone other than Cha Soyeon and Yeoreum to be able to see the light. 

“Didn’t you know? There’s a faint light shining from behind, like a spotlight. Oh, it’s getting brighter now.” 

From her expression, it wasn’t a lie. 

Could this woman also be connected to me somehow? 

“If it’s visible to me… Ah.” 

She looked flustered, like she had said something she shouldn’t have. 

Her gaze grew darker than before, and she headed toward the meeting room. 

What was she about to say? 

* 

The first impression of former agency CEO Park Seungho was that he was a cheerful person.

“As I get older, I don’t even know what’s trendy anymore. 

I only knew about that video because PD Shin told me to watch it. 

Just looking at the screen made me dizzy, how did you even think about stopping it? 

So now, if we run into any wild animals during filming, should I just trust you, Juwon? 

Hahaha.”

“Please lower your tone, CEO. I’m much younger than you.”

Park Seungho, in his early 50s, looked at least 10 years younger, likely because he took good care of himself.

“Hey, I’m not the CEO anymore. It’s been ages since I left the company. So, let me speak casually, and you can just call me senior.”

“Yes, senior. I look forward to working with you on the filming.”

“I’m the one who should say that. You’ll be doing a lot of hard work, I’m sure. PD Shin, this is my first broadcast in a while, so go easy on me.”

“Don’t worry, senior. Compared to the comedy shows you did, this is nothing.”

PD Shin answered with a smile.

“By the way, senior, you were invited as a guest, so why are you insisting on cooking?”

“I haven’t been on a broadcast in a long time, and I feel like it won’t look good if I just get fed. And I’m cooking? With someone like Yeoreum here, who’s so good at it.”

He pointed to Yeoreum.

He added that he was impressed after watching the video.

“Thank you, senior.”

Yeoreum bowed her head with a shy expression.

In this warm atmosphere, Min Ahyoung joined the conversation.

“I also saw that video. You were much faster than the chefs on Cold Noodles. How do you make it so quickly? You have to show me when we go.”

“Yes, senior.”

“Senior…”

“Ah, you don’t like me calling you senior?”

“It’s just… it makes you seem older… Yeoreum, how old are you?”

“22.”

“You’re only two years younger than me. Can’t you just call me unnie?”

“I’d be happy to. Then, you stop being formal with me, too.”

“Okay, I will.”

“I’ll introduce you to the others. This is Song Sera, the main vocalist. And this is…”

Once the titles and hierarchy were sorted out, everyone quickly became friends.

They would spend the next few days together, and I was glad that everyone seemed to get along well.

The pre-interviews were mostly about introductions, how they felt when they were contacted, and what they wanted to try during filming.

Since it was early on, they didn’t touch on sensitive topics like failures.

Our kids did even better than expected, and the two who had been on a long break from broadcasting also skillfully kept the conversation flowing.

“I told my wife to go down and farm, and it actually turned out well. 

I didn’t even know the names of vegetables before, but after following her around, now I can recognize them as soon as I see them. 

Remember I told you there’s a garden? 

I’ll take care of that, so you get the dome. 

Let’s make spicy soup with it… Mmm!”

Watching Park Seungho lead the conversation so comfortably, I started wondering why he failed.

There were rumors of power abuse when the company split, but he didn’t seem like the type of person who would do that.

“I didn’t do much variety when I was active, so I’m not sure if I’ll do well. But with three younger ones around, as long as I stick close to them, I don’t think anyone will notice if I’m not good at it.”

Min Ahyoung also skillfully lifted the mood and naturally joined the conversation.

When the topic of suicide came up during the conversation about the prophecy, I carefully observed her, but she didn’t seem like someone who would harm herself out of despair.

After filming, PD Shin approached me.

“Wow, Yeoreum and Rina are perfect for variety shows, huh? 

Especially Rina, I really like how she bounces in such unpredictable ways. 

If we capture this well, we might have something new to go into next year. 

Make sure to do well then too.”

“Of course, we’re happy about that. Thank you for the positive feedback, PD.”

By next year, Red Blossom will have made their comeback, so PD Shin’s new variety show will be the perfect promotional opportunity.

I couldn’t help but smile at the unexpected gain.

It felt like everything would go well once we made our comeback.

“Juwon, the color of the light changes depending on your mood. It looks like it’s swaying more too…”

Min Ahyoung murmured to herself while observing the light beside me.

Not knowing how to react, I neither confirmed nor denied it.

If I denied it rashly, it could cause problems later when I have to reveal my connection with the prophecy.

‘But I can’t just agree to it easily… This is tricky.’

[The bond with your master will bear fruit in some form, whether it’s trust or affection.]

‘If it’s trust, that’s fine, but if it’s affection, that’s a problem. I’m not some harem king.’

[The deity never prohibited multiple partners. 

Humans acted in ways that couldn’t be managed, so restrictions were placed in those groups. 

Someone as responsible as you doesn’t need such limitations. 

You also have enough energy, so feel free to indulge.]

‘Is that something a spirit should be saying? What about the feelings of the women who share a man?’

[At least the women who look at you won’t think like that.]

I realized continuing this conversation would lead nowhere, so I kept silent.

“…You handle the women yourself. Since it’s your prophecy, they’ll gather on their own.”

The words the deity said when saving me kept swirling in my mind.

*****

“Min Ahyoung?”

“Yes. I met her at the broadcast station today.”

After finishing the pre-interview, Ryu Yeoreum called Cha Soyeon.

“PD Shin got his wish. He always liked Ahyoung.”

“Really? PD Shin?”

“Yes. PD Shin is a huge fan of fusion historical dramas. As you can see, Ahyoung’s face is perfect for that.”

Ryu Yeoreum recalled Min Ahyoung’s delicate features.

“Ahyoung was a big fan. He was so upset when her acting career derailed and she disappeared.”

“By the way… about her relationship with men…”

“This person? PD Shin is in his 40s. He has a daughter in elementary school, and his wife is really beautiful.”

Ryu Yeoreum’s face, which had seemed relieved, stiffened again.

“Sounds like you’re disappointed?”

“Yes, I thought it would be lucky if she had that kind of relationship with PD Shin.”

“Why?”

“Because the way the manager looks at her seems unusual.”

“What kind of answer is that? Aren’t you worried? What if you suddenly start liking the manager?”

“That’s not going to happen, so it’s fine. It’s not like Juwon is the type to fall in love at first sight, right?”

Ryu Yeoreum then thought about the reliable face of Shin Juwon.

“That’s true. But why did I fall in love at first sight… huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Sister! That’s it! You and I were both attracted to the light that the manager gives off!”

“Right.”

“What if Ahyoung also saw that light?”

“Ah.”

At that moment, Cha Soyeon’s tone changed.

There was logic to Ryu Yeoreum’s words.

“That could be it. Even if we don’t know much about Juwon, we could definitely be drawn to that light.”

“It was suspicious how she kept going to the manager whenever there was a chance during the pre-interview. Maybe she was attracted to that light.”

“It’s not certain, so pay attention during the shoot. Let me know if you find anything.”

“Got it, sister.”

It seemed like Sherlock Holmes had possessed Ryu Yeoreum.

*****

On the day of the shoot .

We had to arrive at Mokpo Port Ferry Terminal by 8 AM, so we left early in the morning.

The fast ferry to Manwoldo only runs twice a day, so if we missed the morning ferry, we’d have to wait until 2 PM for the afternoon one.

“I’ll meet you and the staff in front of the terminal, and we’ll head out. The camera will take care of itself, so just greet naturally.”

I barely slept, checking the menu and coming up with conversation topics. 

It was my first broadcast, and the others were going on a variety show for the first time in two years, so even if there was time, we probably couldn’t get proper rest because we were too excited.

As expected, as soon as we got in the car, the kids passed out in the backseat.

“You should lean back and lie down too. We’ll need to fish right when we get there.”

Onyu, the senior driving, said.

Onyu will take us to Mokpo, and then he will head back immediately.

“Yeah. I hope we catch something, anything. It’ll be boring if we just walk around with fishing rods.”

“You’ll probably catch a big fish like a grouper, right? But they say you can catch things well with a trap. The octopus there is delicious, so do your best.”

After chatting with Onyu about this and that, I slowly drifted off to sleep.

I’m not someone who usually sleeps in cars, but I must have been really tired.

How long had I been asleep?

When I opened my eyes, I saw the coastal road.

The blue sea was spread out comfortably outside the window.

It had been a while since I had seen the open sea, but… something strange passed by.

“Huh?”

“What? Is there something outside?”

“No, it’s just… a whale passed by.”

“A whale?”

“Yeah, you know, the big whales you see in documentaries.”

“Hey, get a grip. Why would there be a whale on the west coast of our country? You need to sleep, we still have two more hours to go.”

Onyu gave me a puzzled look.

‘This is strange. I definitely saw it…’

But, of course, such a big whale wouldn’t be in our country.

Maybe I hadn’t fully woken up, so I leaned back in my seat again.

But… I hadn’t seen it wrong.