The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 99
The face-to-face meeting with the PD to determine music show appearances is one that staff members cannot attend.
For large agencies, team leaders attend, while for small to mid-sized agencies, it’s the CEO.
“I wish it was always this smooth. The PD mentioned that the director insisted Red Blossom must be featured no matter what. The variety department director isn’t someone even the chairman can easily influence—I wonder what’s going on.”
Team Leader Park Chan-hyuk, who had just returned from the KBC Music Bank face-to-face meeting, tilted his head in confusion.
We thought it would be easy since PD Hyun Jung-il was favorable toward us, but with the director stepping in, it practically became a free pass.
“Last-minute changes often happen because of the CP, but with the director blocking them, it’s 100% confirmed. Luck’s on our side this time.”
It’s not luck.
I swung a fork and even chased away ghosts for this.
KBC Music Bank
MBS Show! Music Power
SBC Music Core
N-Net N Countdown
This is the first week’s lineup for Red Blossom’s comeback stages.
Since it’s our first time on music shows, the team leader briefed us.
“We meet at the recording studio by 7 AM. Hair, makeup, and styling take time, so wake the kids up at 4.”
We have to wake up even earlier than we did for the showcase.
“At the studio, we’ll do a dry rehearsal—blocking camera angles and movements with just one camera. In the afternoon, there’s a camera rehearsal, which is a full run-through identical to the live broadcast.”
“What do we do in between? There’s about four hours of downtime, right?”
“Popular groups fill that time with other schedules, but since we don’t have any, we’ll just wait. If there’s a pre-recording, they’ll let us know—just follow the staff’s instructions.”
After the camera rehearsal, it’s more waiting until the live broadcast.
Broadcast times vary—the earliest is at 3 PM, the latest at 6.
“At the studio, check the cue sheet first. The later your slot, the better.”
“Not earlier?”
“Viewership rises as the show goes on. If we’re appearing, we want as many eyes on us as possible.”
The later slots go to popular comeback groups or those with connections to the CP or PD.
Even rookies can snag those spots if they’re paired with a famous celebrity.
“KBC will take care of us, but don’t expect the same from MBS, SBC, or N-Net. Just getting to perform is a blessing for Red Blossom.”
Even Mando Entertainment’s premium status doesn’t help here.
So, for the past two weeks, we’ve been visiting music show PDs and staff at MBS, SBC, and N-Net, handing out albums and drinks.
Like with KBC, the PDs recognizing me helps, but since I’m not the one performing, it’s hard to say how much they’ll support Red Blossom.
This time, we’ll settle for KBC Music Bank’s push.
At least Music Bank is the flagship of music shows—that’s a relief.
Digital Release Day —
The new song drops at 6 PM (18:00).
Real-time charts update at 7 PM (19:00), since they’re compiled hourly.
In the dorm’s living room, Red Blossom’s members and Haram-hyung are gathered.
“Haram-hyung, long time no see.”
“Right? We’re in the same company—why is it so hard to run into you?”
“You’re always holed up in the studio. Do you even see sunlight? Team Leader Baek said he’s never seen a workaholic worse than you.”
“Team Leader Baek actually drags me out sometimes to buy me stuff. He tells me to ‘go photosynthesize’ when he calls.”
The kids giggle at the idea of a person “photosynthesizing.”
With his pale, sun-deprived skin, it’s not a bad comparison.
“But seeing songs with my name on them keep coming out feels amazing. I can’t believe I survived under CEO Choi Ho-seok.”
“After suffering for over five years, it’s time to shine. Red Blossom’s 3rd album is in your hands too.”
“Of course, but we need this mini album to do well first. I’m confident in the songs, but now that results are coming, I’m insanely nervous.”
We’re all here because of those results.
At 7 PM, the music charts will update.
Everyone’s eyes are glued to their phones, restless.
“Where did the title track from the 2nd album peak?”
“Love Connect? Hmm… I only remember it charting at 98th initially. Unnie, do you know?”
Rina asked Yeoreum.
“I think it climbed to 91st before disappearing. It was gone by the next morning.”
“Wow, unnie remembers so well.”
“It was our only charting song.”
If I hadn’t met them, that would’ve been Red Blossom’s final achievement.
“It did reverse-climb to 76th later. At the very least, we should aim to beat that.”
Haram-hyung looked at me as he spoke.
During the bet, the division head only required a chart entry—no specific rank.
Even 98th, like Love Connect, would mean we won.
‘After all the struggle to get here, settling for 98th isn’t an option.’
“Should we make a bet? Guess the rank. I’ll cover the prize.”
“Hyung, what money do you even have?”
“I haven’t touched a single penny of the five years’ worth of royalties from Studio Muse. I never had time to spend it. I’ve got enough for this.”
Viper kept his promise—instead of royalties, he gave composers exploited by Choi Ho-seok severance pay equivalent to what they were owed.
Haram-hyung, who worked the longest, broke down crying in front of me when he saw the amount in his account.
“I’ll count guesses within ±3 ranks as correct.”
“I say 50th.”
“35th.”
“25th.”
“20th.”
“15th….”
No one guessed within the top 10.
Honestly, even this would be enough for Mando to be called “resurrected.”
“Juwon, what about you?”
All eyes turned to me.
“I….”
For a moment, everything around me froze.
It was the gift of prophecy.
It was an accident scene.
A trailer loaded with steel bars had overturned in a traffic accident, sending bars crashing onto the street below a bridge.
A busking performance was underway beneath the bridge, with a sizable audience.
Cameras were set up—likely a filming session.
Half the spectators were crushed under the steel.
The performance area was obliterated beyond recognition.
The performers couldn’t have survived either.
Screams, bodies strewn across the ground, pools of blood, distant sirens—it was chaos.
‘We were just talking about chart rankings—why am I seeing this…?’
The surroundings wavered, and I was back in the dorm’s living room.
“Why aren’t you answering? What’s your guess?”
Haram-hyung asked again.
The kids looked curious too.
“I….”
I’ll think about the accident later.
“…think we’ll hit 1st.”
Their eyes went round.
“Manager-nim, as much as you believe in us, 1st is a bit….”
“Oppa, you’re overselling us.”
“It’s more of a hope.”
“Sitting takes half a tatami, lying takes a whole one.”
A Japanese proverb about knowing when to be content.
To Chie, who guessed 20th, 1st must seem greedy.
“That’s our Juwon—dreaming big! I’ll take those bets.”
The winner gets to request a gift from Haram-hyung.
He’ll set the price range—he promised something surprising.
“One minute left. Everyone, ready!”
Silence filled the living room.
Everyone stared at their screens, refreshing the charts repeatedly.
“Why isn’t it showing? Not updated yet?”
“I’ll check from 100th up.”
“Wow, the top 17 are locked in. How are they not moving?”
“I’ll watch from 1st down.”
“Rina! Stop muttering, it’s driving me crazy.”
“I’m just saying the ranks out loud! Why are you only picking on me?”
Rina grumbled in protest.
Honestly, I’ve been muttering too.
‘Wait… Butterfly, Butterfly….’
I can’t remember if it’s in English or Korean.
The further I scrolled, the more anxious I got.
We lined up four songs and even clinched a music show win.
Was this one of the possible futures? Did we take a different path?
Did we sweep the charts from 1st?
Did an unknown butterfly effect happen?
“Found it!!”
Jeong-ah’s booming voice snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts.
Tears welled in her eyes as she showed everyone her screen.
[51. Butterfly / Red Blossom]
A split second of silence—then everyone erupted in cheers.
My heart shrank violently before swelling back up.
“Laptop, laptop… I want to see it on the big screen.”
“Jeong-ah, pinch my cheek.”
Jeong-ah, strong as ever, mercilessly pinched Rina’s cheek, making her yelp and roll on the floor.
“Hng, huuu… We charted. 51st!!”
“Sera, don’t cry… sob.”
They clung to each other, crying.
Yeoreum, phone in hand, bowed her head, shoulders shaking.
One drop… two drops… tears hit the floor.
“Sniff… Manager-nim, what do I do? My heart—it’s… it’s going crazy.”
A funny way to say she’s overwhelmed.
“Don’t worry about it staying inside. From now on, it’s all surprises—brace yourself.”
I patted her head.
Her face turned red before she lunged at me, hugging me tightly.
She nuzzled my chest—it felt like kneading dough.
The others piled on, hugging me too.
Sobbing, they drenched me in tears.
Like animals marking their new home.
By the last chart check before midnight, Butterfly had climbed to 33rd.