Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols-Chapter 151: Handling Grievances

Only after witnessing my incredible plank did Jeong Seongbin allow me to accompany him. All that forearm training had paid off.
And on a peaceful afternoon, Jeong Seongbin and I visited an unfamiliar studio. It was the place Jang Junhoo had told us about.
Jeong Seongbin took a deep breath in front of the entrance.
It was understandable that he was nervous. It was impressive enough that he’d decided to come this far on his own.
“If you want to go back, it’s okay. He’ll always be waiting for you here.”
“Haha…”
I wasn’t joking. Jang Junhoo must be feeling like he was on the edge of a cliff right now.
Even though I’d given him an out, Jeong Seongbin chose to be brave.
We went to the studio door and rang the doorbell. The door opened abruptly without a word. Jang Junhoo, with a stiff expression, stood before us.
“Hello, sunbaenim.”
“Hello.”
Jeong Seongbin quietly echoed my cheerful greeting.
“…Right.”
Surprisingly, Jang Junhoo accepted the greeting. Jeong Seongbin’s eyes widened, as if it was a rare experience.
Jeong Seongbin and I sat side-by-side on the long sofa, and Jang Junhoo took a seat in front of his computer. No one spoke for a long time.
Before coming here, I’d given Jeong Seongbin one piece of advice.
‘You know the atmosphere won’t be comfortable, right?’
‘Yes…’
‘Don’t be intimidated. Don’t worry about what he thinks, and don’t try to force a pleasant atmosphere. You don’t have to smile if you don’t want to.’
It was the opposite of what I usually emphasized to them.
The situation was different now. I didn’t want the victim to be the one feeling small in front of the perpetrator.
Jeong Seongbin followed my advice well.
Instead of forcing a smile or worrying about Jang Junhoo’s mood, he sat quietly, very quietly.
Jang Junhoo’s gaze shifted between me and Jeong Seongbin.
This bastard still hadn’t learned his lesson. He wronged Jeong Seongbin, yet he was more concerned about my reaction?
I waited to see how long he’d keep his mouth shut, but eventually, Jang Junhoo spoke.
“I’ve been thinking. Maybe I was a bit too harsh on you.”
That was it. He didn’t say anything more.
Jang Junhoo looked at me again, his eyes demanding a response.
I chose to remain silent. Then Jang Junhoo started talking rapidly.
“I did it because… I cared about you. But I guess it must’ve felt difficult from your perspective…”
When I had told Jeong Seongbin to gather any evidence he had of Jang Junhoo’s harassment, Jeong Seongbin brought me everything, from text messages to unfinished diary entries. There were many painful stories within them.
How could someone treat a junior like that? How could it not be difficult, exhausting, and miserable?
If this bastard knew how many diary pages were curled at the edges from being wet with tears, could he still say these things?
Jeong Seongbin’s fists, resting neatly on his thighs, trembled.
I placed my hand over his, gently running my fingers over his clenched fists.
“Sunbaenim.”
“…”
“You’ve never written a proper apology before, have you?”
Both Jang Junhoo and Jeong Seongbin flinched. My left hand, still caressing Jeong Seongbin’s hand, gradually tightened.
“You haven’t even said you’re sorry.”
At my sneer, Jang Junhoo’s face contorted.
“Seongbin, do you want to wait outside?”
I suggested it, worried that the tense atmosphere might trigger bad memories, but Jeong Seongbin refused. Instead of leaving, he stared directly at Jang Junhoo.
“Just from listening to this, it sounds like you’re not even sure if you did anything wrong.”
“Don’t be sarcastic.”
“It’s obvious you’re just trying to sweep things under the rug and walk away, so how can I not be? I’m here as Seongbin’s guardian, after all.”
Jang Junhoo averted his gaze.
“As you know, Seongbin is kind. He’s talented, hardworking, innocent, and considerate of others.”
“…”
“If you wronged someone like that, and if you created this situation just to ease your own conscience, then at least make sure you apologize properly.”
There was no telling when Jeong Seongbin’s self-esteem, shattered by Jang Junhoo’s inferiority complex, would recover. All just because of one irresponsible adult.
Despite all that, Jeong Seongbin came here to give Jang Junhoo a chance.
So, if Jang Junhoo was truly remorseful…
“Isn’t that the least you can do for Seongbin, who came all the way here?”
Jang Junhoo lowered his head.
If he were the type to feel ashamed by a few words from me, he wouldn’t have done those things in the first place.
So, this must be a pose of ‘anguish’. He was agonizing over how to bypass me and receive Jeong Seongbin’s forgiveness.
Then, Jeong Seongbin got up and lightly grasped my forearm.
“Hyung, let’s go.”
Perhaps he couldn’t bear this atmosphere any longer.
Worried, I looked up at Jeong Seongbin, but his expression wasn’t one of fear or avoidance.
If anything, he looked resolute.
“I thought this meeting would be a step in a better direction.”
“Hey, Jeong Seongbin.”
Jang Junhoo called Jeong Seongbin hastily.
But Jeong Seongbin didn’t waver. Instead, he continued calmly,
“But it seems I was wrong.”
“…”
“If this isn’t the conversation I was expecting, I don’t think there’s anything more to say.”
Jeong Seongbin bowed and turned around without hesitation.
At that moment, a loud noise came from where Jang Junhoo was.
A chair crashed against the wall, and Jang Junhoo fell to his knees, bowing his head.
“I’m sorry.”
“Sunbaenim.”
“I was wrong.”
When I had collapsed from overexertion during practice and begged for forgiveness, Jeong Seongbin had desperately tried to lift me up.
He was different now. He just looked down at Jang Junhoo, prostrated before him, with a complicated expression, but didn’t do anything.
“I hope you can forgive me…”
Jang Junhoo’s hands trembled.
He was probably realizing how much Jeong Seongbin had changed.
But this wasn’t enough.
As an adult, as someone who’d made a mistake, he had to take responsibility.
With a ‘proper apology’.
“What exactly are you asking him to forgive?”
At my question, Jang Junhoo quickly raised his head. His eyes, glaring at me as if he wanted to kill me, were sharp.
“What should he forgive?”
I slowly emphasized each word.
Jang Junhoo looked up at Jeong Seongbin. Jeong Seongbin was watching with a shadowed expression.
“Cursing at you… throwing things. Hitting your head as I walked by. Nitpicking your recordings even though there was nothing wrong with them. I’m sorry for embarrassing you in front of others. I was wrong.”
Jang Junhoo stammered.
“Why did you do that?”
I asked again.
Jang Junhoo bit his lip. The tips of his fingers, pressed against the floor, turned white.
Jeong Seongbin stared at him for a long time. When Jang Junhoo still didn’t speak, just as Jeong Seongbin was about to turn away…
“Because I was jealous.”
Jang Junhoo’s words stopped him in his tracks.
“I was pissed because you’re much younger than me, no, that you are better than me. I was afraid of how much you’d look down on me if I admitted that a middle schooler was better than me.”
“…”
“I took it out on you. When things weren’t going well, taking my anger out on you was the quickest and easiest thing to do. I shouldn’t have done that. I wasn’t in my right mind.”
Ugly feelings of inferiority poured out. Jeong Seongbin’s expression as he listened was difficult to describe.
“I won’t do it again.”
“…”
“I promise. I’m begging you… please forgive me, just this once.”
Jang Junhoo added, his forehead touching the floor.
Jeong Seongbin ended the conversation by saying he’d think about it. Then, we left the building in silence.
He remained silent even after getting into the car. I didn’t force a conversation.
It wasn’t until we were alone in the elevator that he finally spoke.
“So, it really wasn’t my fault.”
His voice was dry. I pretended not to notice and replied while looking at the mirror,
“Of course not. Are you the type to go around causing trouble for others?”
Jeong Seongbin didn’t chuckle or act flustered lke usual. He just sniffled and lowered his head.
When the elevator doors opened, I led him to the emergency exit instead of the dorm.
As the metal door opened and closed, the surroundings became quiet.
Only then did Jeong Seongbin bury his face in his hands.
“You did well.”
I pulled him into a hug, gently rubbing his back.
He cried for a long time, until the metallic scent of the rusty hinges clung to our clothes
***
“Seongbin hyung is super busy these days.”
Lee Cheonghyeon muttered, watching Jeong Seongbin talk with the manager.
“He keeps organizing things in his room, too.”
Kang Kiyeon added. Park Joowoo nodded in agreement.
Ever since Jang Junhoo’s apology, Jeong Seongbin had been a bit brighter than usual. And he became much more proactive in everything.
“…I was worried he’d be down, but I’m glad.”
Park Joowoo smiled gently. He seemed to have been quite worried about his friend.
With a bright expression that would melt away any worries, Jeong Seongbin ran over to Park Joowoo.
“Everyone! Our schedule for this month has been set!”
“Oh! How many gigs?”
Lee Cheonghyeon peered over to see the paper in Jeong Seongbin’s hand.
“Well, we have to decide that now.”
“Hmm?”
Jeong Seongbin placed the paper he received from the manager on the floor.
The moment I saw the chart densely packed like a swarm of ants, I knew.
“There are some overlapping schedules, so we have to exclude some events and interviews. And for programs where only some members can participate, we have to decide who will go.”
That Spark had blown up in popularity.
And now… all that was left was to work like dogs.