The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 97

[Fine Enter, Mirinae Enter Acquisition… Set to Transform into a New Label]
[Fine Enter Launches New Label to Support Unique Artist Activities]
[Articube… The First Label Carrying Fine Enter’s Future]
[Articube… Home to Kai, Min A-young, Red Blossom, and Honey Pops]
[Fine Enter Anticipates Synergy Between New Label Launch and Red Blossom’s Comeback]

The new label was named "Articube," symbolizing artists and staff uniting tightly to create something new.

"We announced the label name first because we needed one. Merging offices and moving Honey Pops’ dorm will happen after the comeback, so for now, focus on the showcase."

The division head’s words clarified everything.

Thanks to this early reveal, Red Blossom’s name made it to the entertainment section before the showcase.

Their official SNS updated fans daily, teasing the comeback bit by bit.

Discussions about the new label (Articube) and Red Blossom began spreading, and when the MV teaser dropped, it instantly became a hot topic.

— The vibes are great
— There really are butterflies
— The song is fire, I’ll be streaming it alone
— The acting is insane, I’m hooked
— Delete the comment above
— A-young is so pretty
— Does anyone know where this was filmed?
— Came here as soon as I heard it was the Mackerel Abduction Squad
— This is the MV made from that absurd idea?
— Yep, first time in 7 years since "Silhouette"

Most comments on the MV teaser were positive.

Even the few calling it childish were drowned in replies praising it.

From the acting of the two trending child stars to Min A-young’s first appearance in two years, the premium of being produced by the Mackerel Abduction Squad was stronger than expected.

It hit 1 million views in just three days.

"Yes, let’s keep this momentum!!"

Red Blossom and I clenched our fists toward the ceiling, cheering.

The showcase venue was set at Yes26 Live Hall.

Top-tier girl groups usually book 500+ seats, but after deliberation, we settled on 200.

Applications for the showcase were open via the official community and SNS.

Popular groups often increase chances based on album sales, but for flops like us, that was unthinkable—so we stuck to a "clean" lottery.

Luckily, the competition ratio was about 3:1, so no seats were left empty.

"If it didn’t work out, I was gonna ask my mom to scatter them at her restaurant."

Please don’t.

It’s a baekban (Korean meal) place.

"Let’s add more seats now. Over 600 people applied!"

For the full album, we’ll book 1,000.

"Sniff… 600 people applied just to see us."

Sera, the most stoic member, teared up.

"I went to Play Girls’ showcase when I wasn’t chubby yet. This time, I’m on stage, not in the audience!"

Jung-ah, the secret weapon, was the most spirited, as expected of the youngest.

"It’s a golden opportunity for the demon."
"What kind of proverb is that?"

Another gem from Chie’s proverb pouch.

"It means even a strong forehead gets stronger. We’re invincible, especially with Super Manager oppa supporting us. We can’t fail!"

Like giving wings to a tiger.

I really hope so.

Showcase day —

Nervous, I woke up at dawn and spent the time lost in thought.

‘Will it succeed?’

[Their start may be humble, but it will soon flourish. It’s your work, after all.]

‘My work… Right.’

I hope they shine the brightest.

I hope they’re butterflies fluttering brilliantly on stage.

They’ve shed enough tears of sorrow—now, let them cry tears of joy.

And I’ll be there, clapping from the best seat, smiling brightly.

As the ambiguous time for sleep passed, I headed to the dorm to check on them one by one as they woke up.

Red Blossom’s dorm —

I quietly opened the door and stepped inside.

Tiptoeing toward the living room, I froze.

Yeoreum was sitting on the couch.

Her figure under the dim light was art itself.

The memory of Cha So-yeon’s secret bikini collection flashed in my mind, and I swallowed hard.

"Manager-nim…"

Surprised to see me at this hour, her eyes widened as she stood.

"Why are you up? Can’t sleep?"

"Yeah. I’m nervous about being on stage again after so long. I don’t know how the others are sleeping so soundly."

As the unnie who always supports the others, even she gets nervous when big moments loom.

There were still 40 minutes until wake-up time.

"Sit here. Having you beside me might calm me down."

As I sat on the couch, she leaned close, resting her head on my shoulder.

A faint tremor traveled through her into me.

It wasn’t just the chilly air.

"It’s the opportunity you made for us… I can’t mess up… If I get too emotional, it’ll be hard… What if there’s no reaction?… I couldn’t sleep because I kept overthinking."

"You’ll do great. It’s not your first time. Things are definitely better than during the second album. So don’t worry too much—trust yourself and the girls. I’ll cheer for you from the best spot."

"Please do. I’d feel too anxious if I couldn’t see you."

She nuzzled against my shoulder.

A pleasant sensation enveloped me.

I was supposed to comfort her, but I felt comforted instead.

"Want a massage? You always liked mine—said it loosens you up."

I steered the conversation to lighten the mood.

"Can you do something else instead?"

"Something else? Like what?"

"A kiss."

Even without the gift of prophecy, everything around us seemed to freeze.

No—it felt frozen.

The dorm, the place—none of it mattered. Only Yeoreum and I existed in this moment.

"I want to finish it."

Finish…?

"Since when did we ever kiss?"

"Only I did. That day we drank for the first time, on the rooftop… I kissed you while you were asleep."

Ah.

So that soft touch on my lips in my sleep was her.

"I was too nervous to do it properly. You were asleep. I want to do it right. Here. Now."

Her damp eyes looked up at me.

Her doe-like pupils held a longing directed at me.

"I don’t want my first kiss—the one unnie yielded—to be half-hearted. I want to do it properly, just you and me like this."

She looked so beautiful saying that, I instinctively caressed her cheek.

She held my hand, pressed her palm against mine, and exhaled a hot breath.

"Haa… I can’t hold back anymore."

She climbed onto my lap, cupping my face with both hands.

The loose boxy tee slipped off one shoulder, revealing smooth, pale skin.

The lamp’s glow made her flawless skin look sinfully sensual.

"I always wanted to kiss someone I love like this, face to face."

Without thinking, I gripped her slender waist.

"You’re pretty."

"You can touch me. I’ll be yours soon. Forever."

Her moist lips pressed against mine.

"Hahh… Mmm…"

A sweet fragrance spread, numbing all my senses.

A command to indulge only in Yeoreum’s lips wrapped around my entire body.

I pulled her waist closer and sucked on her lips.

When my tongue pushed in, she parted them shyly.

Before I knew it, our tongues coiled like mating snakes.

Has a woman’s saliva always tasted this good?

No matter how much I drank, the thirst wouldn’t fade.

From her lips to her gums, I licked every inch, leaving nothing untouched.

Her obscenely lewd moans soaked my ears, scrambling my thoughts.

A beautiful, terrifying violence—commanding me to think only of Yeoreum.

"Haa… Haa…"

A string of saliva formed between our parted lips before vanishing.

Her peach-like cheeks, ripe and sweet, were unbearably lovely.

"Sorry, Manager-nim. I’m wet."

"It’s fine. I have spare clothes in the car."

A road manager always carries extras.

Though I never imagined this would be the reason.

"I want more… but today’s important, so I’ll stop at a kiss."

Her eyes curved slightly.

A seductive gaze, unmistakable to anyone.

"Next time, it won’t end with a kiss. After you taste unnie first, come to me."

She hugged me gently.

A tingling shock ran through me, like being zapped by Pikachu.

"But, Manager-nim…"

"Yeah?"

"There’s one more thing you could do to really energize me for the showcase…"

"Tell me."

"It’s a kiss… but not as intense as before. I need something else."

She walked to the fridge.

What else is needed for a kiss besides lips?

What she brought back was a ripe cherry.

"I saw it in a movie… A woman holds a cherry in her mouth and feeds it to a man while kissing. It looked so enviable."

When I gave her a strange look, she hurriedly explained.

"Not that kind of movie! Just an R-rated romance."

"I didn’t ask."

"Ugh, just because!"

She bit the cherry lightly and brought it to my mouth.

As I took the rest, our lips met naturally.

Yeoreum’s lips and the cherry amplified the sweetness, the tart freshness heightening the pleasure.

Like this, we indulged in each other’s lips until it was time to wake up.