Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols

The beginning of the meeting was literally like a skit.

 

Yoo Hansoo explained the data I had researched all night long as if it were his own work. The content did not deviate one bit from the explanation I had written in script form.

 

The ideas I had worked so hard to come up with were instantly transformed into Yoo Hansoo’s project with just a few words from him. He was practically a linguistic alchemist.

 

I couldn’t help but feel impressed by Yoo Hansoo’s audacity and confidence, he even made it look natural.

 

‘No wonder there are so many reviews about Yoo Hansoo stealing ideas from the staff.’

 

It was fortunate that my job was an idol. If I had been on the same team as Yoo Hansoo, I would’ve already been enraged.

 

The atmosphere changed when the CEO interrupted the PT for a moment and asked a question.

 

“Can the graph really come out like that? Is the highest proportion really from two years ago?”

 

Yoo Hansoo was visibly flustered by the CEO’s question.

 

“Some figures might be missing, but the graph itself should be correct, CEO.”

 

No. That graph was all wrong.

 

This happened because Yoo Hansoo misunderstood the main point.

 

‘To create the data you’re asking for, a full survey would be required, but it’s realistically impossible, PD-nim. It’s hard to investigate every idol debuting in the country unless we’re a statistics agency.’

 

‘Just inflate the numbers. Leave out the units and figures in the graph.’

 

I knew this would happen from the moment he said that nonsense.

 

In the idol market where trends change every time, how can you get meaningful data just by multiplying a few numbers? If you don’t know, then don’t commit fraud.

 

If this were Hanpyeong Industry, I would’ve stayed up all night or pleaded with Yoo Hansoo through tears to provide decent data.

 

Even if I got scolded by Manager Nam, as long as it passed through the executives, I’d get fewer scoldings that day.

 

But this time, I had no intention of doing that.

 

I gave him a chance once, but he didn’t listen, so I was certain that I couldn’t work with that guy.

 

I sat at the far end of the conference room, watching how flustered Yoo Hansoo became.

 

Then I made eye contact with Yoo Hansoo.

 

Yoo Hansoo suddenly made a stern expression when he noticed me and said.

 

“Iwol, did you check this data?”

 

Oh. Are you going to shift the blame like this?

 

It was not an unexpected move.

 

Manager Nam was an expert at getting away with things like this.

 

Thanks to him, I got a full taste of the bitterness of society.

 

Here…

 

‘Ah, yes. I put in exactly what you asked for, PD-nim…’

 

…If I said that.

 

‘When did I ever say that, sigh… I’m sorry, CEO. It seems there was a mistake. Iwol, let’s have a word later.’

 

…It was obvious that he would pretend as if he had never given such an instruction.

 

Let’s stay calm.

 

“Ah… I’m sorry. I think I put in the wrong data.”

 

Don’t panic, calmly pretend to act ‘flustered upon discovering your own mistake’.

 

“There were some changes, and I didn’t reflect all of them. I’ll correct it.”

 

While inserting words enough to get nitpicked.

 

It was best not to make mistakes.

 

However, mistakes could happen as long as you were human.

 

Furthermore, I was twenty years old on the outside and hadn’t even started my social life. My mistakes could be tolerated to some extent.

 

Then what about Yoo Hansoo, who was more or less twenty years older than me, had long been in the industry, was in a position to manage me, and was presenting his own project?

 

“Alright, Iwol, please correct the data after the meeting. PD Hansoo.”

 

“Yes, CEO.”

 

“You can continue to the extent of explaining the general flow, right? Please continue.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

There was no way he could.

 

Yoo Hansoo couldn’t have drawn any meaningful conclusions from the raw data.

 

If he had actually read the data, there was no way he would’ve come up with such garbage logic.

 

‘He can’t read when given the file, rejects ideas when presented with them, doesn’t even review when materials are made…’

 

As a superior, he scored zero points.

 

I watched with interest as Yoo Hansoo broke into a nervous sweat.

 

“What are you doing? Aren’t you continuing?”

 

“I’m sorry. The numbers suddenly got mixed up in my head…”

 

Without missing a beat, he lied through his teeth. Even though there was nothing going on in his head.

 

The CEO rested his chin on his hand and tapped his fingers on the desk a few times.

 

“Hmm…”

 

An agonizing silence filled the conference room.

 

How many seconds passed like that?

 

The CEO, who had been watching Yoo Hansoo silently fumble with the materials, called my name.

 

“Iwol.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Do you roughly remember the data that should be included here?”

 

At the same time, Hansoo’s gaze turned to me.

 

Don’t worry. I don’t plan on acting as a talented genius trainee with an excellent memory. I can’t even act anyway.

 

“I can’t remember, but I brought all the files I used to create the data.”

 

“Good job. Let me see those.”

 

The CEO held out his hand to me.

 

I walked straight to the CEO and handed him the printed Excel document.

 

The CEO flipped through the file, read it, and asked.

 

“Why is there ‘estimate’ in front of the summary here?”

 

“Since it’s an estimate… I put it there.”

 

I answered carefully as if my previous mistake earlier was bothering me.

 

“Estimate? Didn’t you say it was a complete survey?”

 

“Um…”

 

When I hesitated, the CEO made a face that seemed like he didn’t understand.

 

I tried not to let my gaze turn to Yoo Hansoo, who was turning pale over the CEO’s shoulder.

 

Then I spoke with the corners of my lips that were about to go up firmly fixed.

 

“I adjusted the sample survey values, so I marked it that way for PD-nim to verify.”

 

“Adjusted? Is that how statistics work?”

 

“…”

 

The CEO’s brow furrowed.

 

Even without turning my head, I could feel it. The atmosphere in the conference room was becoming uneasy.

 

It was now up to the CEO to decide who would be held accountable.

 

Even if I alone had inflated the data, I’d be satisfied with just giving the impression, ‘Did PD Yoo Hansoo not even check his own project?’

 

It would be best if they decided that ‘It’s still a little too early to give PD Yoo Hansoo full authority.’

 

If the rumors spread around the company, it would be even better if they reached the vocal teacher’s ears.

 

That teacher had been keeping a close eye on me every class ever since I used my brain a little during the monthly evaluation.

 

It seemed she was curious about just how far ahead I was thinking…

 

Hopefully, she’d hear this story and thought, ‘Iwol, huh. Making such a rookie mistake, he really is just a kid.’

 

Anyway.

 

I waited for the CEO’s next words while trying my best to look as apologetic as possible.

 

“Iwol.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“Leave the data and head out for now. We’ll continue the meeting with the staff.”

 

It might look like I was being dismissed, but it was essentially a declaration of innocence.

 

You’re leaving now and we’re going to take care of Yoo Hansoo, that was what they meant!

 

There was no more satisfying outcome than this.

 

I smiled inwardly and, in a subdued voice, said,

 

“Yes, understood. I’ll be more careful next time.”

 

Then, I quietly left the meeting room, relishing the refreshing sensation that washed over me from head to toe.

 

It felt like the dark circles that had built up because of Yoo Hansoo were being washed away all the way to the basement practice room.

 

* * *

 

Not long after the meeting ended, I was called up to the rooftop.

 

The atmosphere wasn’t much different from the time I was called to the break room in the past, so I stood politely with my hands clasped.

 

Yoo Hansoo stood there and lit his second cigarette. Then he took a deep drag.

 

“Hey.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You sure know how to respond well, don’t you?”

 

‘Assistant Manager Kim.’

 

‘…Yes.’

 

‘Our Assistant Manager Kim is great at responding, huh?’

 

How come our boomers always have such identical repertoires?

 

The only difference with the Hanpyeong Industry era was that I was summoned to the break room instead of the rooftop, but the conversation that followed was not much different.

 

I bet the next line would be something like, ‘Kim Iwol, are you trying to make a fool out of me?’

 

“You almost made me look like a complete fool, Iwol. You know that?”

 

Told ya.

 

What was the point of having the system? It never gave me things like ‘Read your boss’s mind!’ as hidden tasks.

 

Honestly, I half-expected it, but of course, the system didn’t even bother to show its nose.

 

“It wasn’t intentional. I’m sorry.”

 

I’m not sorry at all, but whatever.

 

Still, I apologized politely because I humiliated him in front of everyone.

 

Yoo Hansoo flicked his cigarette ash near the tip of my shoe. Should I be grateful that he didn’t blow smoke to my face?

 

“You’re still young so you don’t know this, but when someone asks you to do something, you really have to check it thoroughly and do it. Do you understand?”

 

True. But did you even pretend to listen to my suggestions?

 

Do you know how much I’ve agonized over intentionally making that mistake, when I’d never made one during my entire tenure at Hanpyeong Industry?

 

I fought the instinct to refuse such a ridiculous task and did exactly what he asked, yet he still had a lot to say.

 

“Aren’t you going to answer?”

 

“Yes, I’ll make sure to remember that.”

 

“See? You’re good at responding.”

 

He hated if I answered and he hated if I didn’t answer.

 

I’d always wondered, what did people like this really want from me?

 

“If I hadn’t handled it, you would have been in deep sh*t. Be grateful.”

 

I almost clapped when he said he managed to handle it. This guy was really something. I wondered how he wiggled his way out of that mess.

 

‘It did feel like things got resolved a bit too easily, though.’

 

Given that he’d survived in his career purely through office politics, I figured he’d know how to escape, but something felt off.

 

Regardless of whether I was deep in thought or not, Yoo Hansoo kept puffing on his cigarette and said,

 

“The CEO likes you, so I’m letting this slide, but screw up again, and you’re out. If you don’t want to be cut loose, stay sharp.”

 

“Yes.”

 

I wanted to disagree with the part about the CEO liking me.

 

It was not that he liked me; it was more like I’d gained a tiny bit of trust. About as much as my salary bump from last year.

 

Seeing my head bowed seemed to please Yoo Hansoo, and he added,

 

“If you think you can’t handle it, just give up early.”

 

I could tell without even looking. That son of a b*tch, the corners of his mouth were probably twitching.

 

I raised my head as if I had really been disciplined.

 

Sure enough, I saw the corner of Yoo Hansoo’s mouth twitch.

 

“Yes, PD-nim. I’ll work hard!”

 

“Good. Take it to heart and go practice.”

 

Yoo Hansoo patted my shoulder a couple of times as if encouraging me, and then squeezed hard.

 

This amount of power had nothing on me.

 

I’d seen Choi Jeho crack a walnut with his bare hands live.

 

I glanced at Yoo Hansoo, who clearly hoped this intimidation would work, with a bit of pity, then left the rooftop with a light heart.

 

A few days later.

 

I opened the door to the practice room, carrying the hot news I received from the planning team.

 

“We’re sticking with our original concept!”

 

“Really?!”

 

Jeong Seongbin, who usually never raised his voice, shouted, while Lee Cheonghyeon jumped up in excitement behind him.

 

I didn’t bother trying to calm Lee Cheonghyeon down.

 

+

 

[SYSTEM] ‘Task’ completed.

 

▷ Reward: Exp (20)

 

▷ Total exp: 20

 

▷ Total point: 0

 

+

 

As long as my experience points were safely delivered, that was all that mattered.

 

I was enjoying the feeling of satisfaction when Lee Cheonghyeon approached me.

 

“Feels like that took off ten years of our group’s life. Right?”

 

“Indeed.”

 

You guys didn’t even last 10 years, you disbanded after 7 years. Who are you trying to kid?

 

“It really feels that way. Now that the debut lineup is confirmed, when I go home this time, my Mom will ask if the debut preparations are going well… Ugh, if we had stuck with that concept, I wouldn’t be able to proudly say things are going well.”

 

Lee Cheonghyeon grimaced.

 

“It’s confidential anyway, so you couldn’t really explain anything to her.”

 

“But there’s still the matter of feelings, you know!”

 

Then Lee Cheonghyeon grinned ear-to-ear. He seemed quite excited.

 

“By the way are you going home? When?”

 

“What do you mean when? It’s Chuseok next week.”

 

Chuseok.

 

When did time… fly by so quickly?