episode_0029
by admin
#29
In a corner of the broadcasting station. Eun-chae called me into what appeared to be an unused storage room.
“Here.”
“…Thank you.”
Without saying a word, I quietly placed the performance outfit I’d be wearing today in a shopping bag and handed it to her.
Behind a makeshift partition, Eun-chae hid herself, extending only her hand to take the bag. But even from a distance, the faint, lingering dampness in the air made it clear the clothes were still wet.
“Did you… fall or something?”
I knew exactly why, but for Eun-chae’s sake, I played dumb—giving her an easy way out.
“…Yes.”
“You’re not hurt, are you?”
“No. I’m fine.”
Eun-chae answered softly before carefully shifting her body.
*Rustle. Snap. Snap.*
The sound of her removing the clothes she’d worn on her way here.
Though I couldn’t see her from where I was standing, the faint silhouette and the sounds were unmistakable.
The slight glimpse of her lifting a leg to step out of her pants.
The temptation to push aside the partition and look was unbearable, but as a manager, there were lines I couldn’t cross.
The reason I’d lasted six years as a girl group manager—rising all the way to team lead—was precisely because I upheld those boundaries.
Most didn’t.
Like the guys who’d claim to be loading equipment but instead tried sneaking photos of the girls. Or breaking into the dorm…
I’d seen all kinds of scumbags.
*Slide.*
Of course, even just this silhouette—the way her ample chest and hips swayed—made restraint anything but easy.
But I held back.
Because I had dreams to fulfill with .
I couldn’t throw them away over something as base as lust.
……And yet, right now, I wasn’t so sure.
“Manager.”
“Hm?”
I instinctively glanced back toward Eun-chae.
The silhouette… showed no trace of clothing.
From behind the partition, the wet clothes she’d discarded were visible—even her underwear.
Though not directly, the sight of her lifting a leg to step into fresh panties flickered into view.
“Manager… What would you do if… something tempting were right in front of you?”
“……”
It was a sudden question—but I knew exactly what she meant.
“…Hard to say.”
“If… if it got so unbearable you felt like you weren’t even yourself anymore… What would you do then?”
To an outsider, it might’ve sounded like she was confessing to drug use—but Eun-chae wasn’t that type.
“Are you… struggling with something?”
“Don’t ask what.”
“Fine. I won’t.”
I already had an idea anyway.
The real question was how I should respond.
After a brief pause, I finally spoke.
“I know you’ve been holding back a lot—because you’re an idol.”
“…Yeah.”
An idol couldn’t just indulge freely—not just in one area, but even basic appetites like food or sleep were tightly controlled.
“Of course, as your manager, my job is to tell you to endure it.”
“Right.”
“But… *sigh*. I can’t give you a clear answer. I know ‘just endure’ sounds cruel.”
“……”
“As long as it doesn’t interfere with ’s activities… I don’t think it’s wrong to ease up a little. Everyone has their limits.”
“…You think?”
“In the end, it’s your choice. As long as comes first… I don’t think it’s bad to pursue what you want after that.”
“……”
“You’re an adult now. Not the kid who used to talk about dropping everything and running away.”
“…Why bring that up now?”
“Just… crossed my mind.”
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.
“…Thank you.”
“Did it help?”
“Yes. …Really.”
Whether what I’d said was objectively right, I wasn’t sure.
But in principle, this was the best I could do.
“Shall we go?”
Eun-chae had already stepped out from behind the partition, now dressed in today’s stage outfit.
A bright, spring-themed look: a white knit top that emphasized her chest slightly, paired with a shorter skirt—the concept was a girlfriend heading out on a date.
Her makeup had smudged a bit, but it couldn’t hide her beauty.
Even in this state, just appearing on stage would’ve been enough to earn thousands of new fans.
“Give me the bag. I’ll carry it.”
“…Ah, no. It’s fine. I’ve got it.”
Eun-chae tucked the shopping bag behind her back.
Understandable—inside were her wet clothes, even her underwear…
I’d have to stash it in a corner of the waiting room.
“How much time’s left before rehearsal?”
“About two hours. With makeup factored in, we should start preparing now and wait.”
“…Sorry for making you miss greetings earlier.”
“Huh? No, it’s fine. The other members took care of them.”
“I’m… sorry. It won’t happen again.”
There was something resolved in her voice as she said it.
“Let’s go. The waiting room.”
Knowing there was no point dwelling further, I quietly followed Eun-chae out of the storage room.
Near the waiting room, a figure stood in the hallway.
A middle-aged man in a suit, arms loaded with items.
His face was familiar. He noticed me and bowed slightly in greeting.
“Ah! Team Leader! You’ve been working hard!”
“‘Love♡Forever’*. Nice seeing you here. Thank you for coming.” *(T/N: Fan’s online handle, styled as ‘Sarang♡Forever’ in Korean.)
One of Sa-rang’s biggest fans—and a core member of her fan club.
By day, a department head at a major corporation. Here, just another passionate fan.
“Oh! Eun-chae too! It’s an honor!”
He bowed excitedly to her as well.
Eun-chae instantly switched on her idol persona upon realizing he was a fan.
“Hello☆! I’m Eun-chae of ☆!”
The speed at which she flipped the switch never ceased to amaze me.
“What brings you all the way back here…?”
“Ah! Today’s ’s comeback music show, right? Us pooled together some fan support gifts! I came as the rep to deliver them, but we can’t enter the waiting room…!”
Naturally, fans were barred from the waiting area.
Had he thought he could just waltz in? No wonder he’d been fidgeting in the hallway.
“Still, meeting you here was lucky. Here, please take these.”
The sheer volume was staggering.
Six shopping bags, plus gift boxes, plastic sacks, and a carrier loaded with coffee cups.
“Ah! The coffee’s for the staff too. And there’s snacks!”
…Honestly touching.
Just knowing fans cared this much about —proof their efforts hadn’t been wasted.
“You shouldn’t have… We should’ve prepared something in return, but—”
“Not at all! Just appearing on music shows must keep you busy. ’s performances are reward enough!”
“Thank you☆! We’ll work hard today☆!”
“Eun-chae’s gratitude alone is an honor. Haha!”
Though primarily Sa-rang’s fan, he wasn’t the toxic solo type—he supported all members warmly.
If only Sa-rang could’ve personally thanked him, but according to her earlier message, she was still in hair/makeup—likely stuck for another hour.
As ‘Love♡Forever’ chuckled at Eun-chae’s greeting, he suddenly glanced at me and lowered his voice.
“Team Leader… Actually, there’s something I wanted to discuss. Could we speak privately?”
“Oh? Of course…”
No clue what about, but keeping it from Eun-chae suggested fan-led preparations—not uncommon.
“Eun-chae, you’ve got makeup soon, right? Why don’t you take these ahead to the waiting room? I’ll catch up.”
“Ah, yes! I’ll take the bags☆ Thank you! I’ll make sure the others get theirs☆!”
Arms now full of shopping bags and plastic sacks, she bowed before scurrying off.
Only once she’d vanished did ‘Love♡Forever’ hesitantly speak.
“Team Leader… It’s not exactly…”
He struggled to continue.
This didn’t seem like fan event prep.
His expression wasn’t just serious—it was grim.
“I actually work at a securities firm. In a fairly senior position.”
“…Really?”
I knew he was corporate, but not in finance.
“I think… there might be trouble at the agency. I wanted to share some information—see if you knew.”
“…Trouble?”
My brow furrowed.
This didn’t feel like a joke. Nothing about him suggested he’d do that.
He seemed to be choosing his words with immense care.
“*Sigh*… Your agency’s stock has nearly tripled in the past month.”
“…Isn’t that good?”
“No. Without major positive news, a spike like this means someone’s manipulating it.”
“Meaning…?”
Admittedly, I knew little about stocks. His explanation barely registered.
But one thing was clear—whatever this was, it wasn’t good.
“Rumors are circling… They say a specific individual—not a corporation—has been aggressively buying shares. Already holds considerable stake.”
“An individual?”
“Yes. If this continues… worst case…”
I didn’t grasp the full implication, but the unease was undeniable.
“…The company could change hands. The CEO might be replaced.”
0 Comments