Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols-Chapter 286: Stranger (4)

In the early days of their debut, Lee Cheonghyeon had attracted a flurry of interest. It was no exaggeration to say that at the time, half of the posts mentioning Spark were about Choi Jeho, and the other half were about Lee Cheonghyeon.
If there was a difference, it was that the posts mentioning Choi Jeho were mainly about his presence, while the posts mentioning Lee Cheonghyeon were mainly about his appearance.
≫ Honestly, if it were Lee Cheonghyeon’s level, even if he were just a filler member
He’d still be the visual in any group, snatch up an ambassador deal, and live easy
└ In the first place, with Lee Cheonghyeon’s face, there’s no way he’d just be a filler
└ Agreed, even if he did mumble-rap, he could totally be the main rapper
≫ If you’re born with a face like that, you can make a living without doing anything
└ Of course. Just look at Cheonggwang shooting solo ads
└ Cheonggwang is so lucky, life is easy for him
Sometimes, people who were excessively good-looking had their skills overshadowed.
That was the case with Lee Cheonghyeon. Due to the nature of the idol profession, his appearance made him stand out, but at the same time, it also obscured his abilities.
Lee Cheonghyeon didn’t blame such things. Even when the agency, which he joined by following a friend, left them unattended for months — to the point he wondered if they’d forgotten they existed — he tried not to dwell on it negatively.
Instead, Lee Cheonghyeon decided to increase the number of things he was good at. Thinking back on what he had mentioned in live broadcasts and such, it must have been around this time that Lee Cheonghyeon started learning composition.
I just want to be good at more things. That way, I can contribute more to the group. I have to try harder.
Lee Cheonghyeon’s stance wasn’t much different before and after I regressed. The timing was just moved up a bit.
To that kind of Lee Cheonghyeon, Jeong Seongbin openly declared. That his efforts were no longer needed, and that it would be better for him to leave the team.
This remark was enough to become a turning point for Lee Cheonghyeon to have extreme thoughts.
“If it was because I was lacking something, I could at least understand. No, I still wouldn’t understand. If there’s something lacking, you should tell me to fill it. Not just tell me to leave.”
“Lee Cheonghyeon, you need to cool your head for a bit.”
Kang Kiyeon grabbed Lee Cheonghyeon’s arm. Lee Cheonghyeon fiercely pushed him away.
“What is this, all of a sudden? Is it because it’s hard for the company to manage five people, so they told you to kick one out? Since I was the last one to join, you’re telling me to leave, is that it?”
“It’s not like that. I really, for you…”
“For me, what?”
Jeong Seongbin couldn’t open his mouth rashly.
His heart would want to hold onto Lee Cheonghyeon. It was just that his conscience and the pressure were dominating his mind. That was why, while taking on all the misunderstandings, he couldn’t say that it was Lee Cheonghyeon’s father’s fault.
And Lee Cheonghyeon was probably hurt by this attitude of his hyung.
He must have wanted him to resolve the situation by saying things like, it’s a joke, it was a hidden camera. Even if he knew it wasn’t, if there had just been a beat of hesitation, Lee Cheonghyeon would have been able to have a calmer conversation.
But Jeong Seongbin missed the timing to soothe Lee Cheonghyeon.
Lee Cheonghyeon’s sorrow, which had been building up for years, exploded.
“If there’s someone who has to leave, it should be the one with the least skill!”
In a very wrong way.
Because they didn’t know how to fight while staying true to the real issue.
Because they had no experience of honestly expressing their hurt feelings as hurt.
“Have I ever done worse than you in the monthly evaluations, except for the very beginning of my time at the company? When we had a schedule, who went on the most variety shows? When your throat was in bad condition, who was the one who covered for you!”
“Lee Cheonghyeon!”
Kang Kiyeon shouted at the screaming Lee Cheonghyeon.
“Are you picking a fight with me now too?”
Kang Kiyeon asked.
He, who had received a lower score than Lee Cheonghyeon in the monthly evaluation, who had camera fright and couldn’t go on many broadcasts and was criticized whenever he did.
Kang Kiyeon, who had injured his ankle not long after debuting and couldn’t even dance properly during that short promotion period.
Lee Cheonghyeon’s expression crumpled.
“…You know I’m not talking about you.”
“What are you going to do if it sounds like you are?”
Lee Cheonghyeon wiped his face with both hands.
“Kang Kiyeon.”
“……”
“Shouldn’t you be on my side?”
The guy looked miserable.
“You’re the one who brought me here.”
“……”
“Then you could have at least said something to hyung, like ‘why would you say that to him’.”
“……”
“You could have asked on my behalf, ‘isn’t Lee Cheonghyeon doing well, what’s the problem’.”
Lee Cheonghyeon sank to the floor.
“We’re friends, aren’t we…”
Kang Kiyeon couldn’t say anything.
Park Joowoo, who had been watching everything, knocked on a door with difficulty and went in. Choi Jeho was sitting on the edge of the bed.
Looking at Park Joowoo, who was hoping for someone to mediate, Choi Jeho said.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Hyung…”
“Anyone would be pissed off if they were suddenly told to get lost. Isn’t it natural for the atmosphere to fall apart?”
With those words, Choi Jeho turned his gaze away from Park Joowoo. Choi Jeho’s voice was clearly heard by the three in the living room as well.
The current Spark could draw out a conversation no matter who you put together. Because they shared topics and talked together every day.
On the other hand, the past Spark was not like that. It was true that Lee Cheonghyeon tended to liven things up, but he had his ups and downs, and there were also pairings that made the viewers more uncomfortable. Even Jeong Seongbin and Lee Cheonghyeon, who knew the flow of broadcasts, couldn’t create synergy when they were together.
‘I had wondered why.’
If something like this had happened, it would have been difficult for the two of them to show a good side of themselves on broadcasts.
The fact that it didn’t show openly was probably thanks to the long hiatus that followed. Should I call this a relief?
My thoughts grew complicated. In contrast, my consciousness was gradually fading. The past data seemed to be ending.
* * *
A ticklish feeling on the tip of my nose woke me up. Someone’s crouching body was right in front of my eyes.
“…You’re awake?”
Park Joowoo’s voice came from above my head. He withdrew his finger.
“You were sleeping for so long, hyung, so just in case…”
Park Joowoo quickly made an excuse. He must have been checking to see if I was breathing.
“What time is it?”
“11 o’clock.”
“Huh?”
I checked in surprise and the wall clock really was pointing to 11.
“Did you have breakfast? What about Cheonghyeon?”
“We ate, and Cheonghyeon is in his room writing a song…”
“Good.”
“Iwol hyung, you’re awake?!”
Lee Cheonghyeon was full of energy since the morning. Even though Park Joowoo and I had been talking in voices as small as ants, he had somehow managed to overhear us and burst out of his room.
“I was wondering when you’d get up. Are you upset I didn’t wake you up for breakfast?”
“Not at all.”
I quietly looked up at Lee Cheonghyeon. He stared at me with wide eyes.
“Cheonghyeon.”
“Yeah.”
“Were you making a song?”
Actually, I wanted to ask what he thought of Jeong Seongbin. Even though I knew the answer would be that ‘he’s a kind and good hyung’.
But I couldn’t ask. In case a different answer came out.
“Yeah. Why?”
Because I didn’t know everything about Lee Cheonghyeon. Just as I hadn’t known about their past.
“Can you let me hear it?”
As if it were no big deal, Lee Cheonghyeon headed to his room. Then he returned with his laptop.
“What do you want to hear first? They’re not masterpieces, but I have two fresh tracks…”
Lee Cheonghyeon played a song.
‘You could have asked on my behalf, ‘isn’t Lee Cheong-hyun doing well, what’s the problem’.’
I closed my eyes. A light, low-quality melody played quietly.
“It’s good.”
“What is? Number 1, or number 2?”
“Both.”
The current Lee Cheonghyeon, and the songs Lee Cheonghyeon had started to make in this life.
They were all good, but…
“Still, take some breaks while you work.”
“Huh?”
So you don’t get tired. So you can always enjoy it.
As much as you’ve lived giving up on fun things, have a few times more fun.
“Nag.”
Lee Cheonghyeon clicked his tongue and turned off his laptop.
The sunlight shone brightly into the living room.
Unlike the chilly dream, reality was warm. They said this dorm faced south. It must have been true.
* * *
Kang Kiyeon returned home two days later as scheduled. And as soon as he arrived, he had to comfort a sobbing Lee Cheonghyeon.
“Why on earth are you crying?!”
“Because I can now proudly use my pouch!”
Then Lee Cheonghyeon hugged Kang Kiyeon and started wailing again. According to him, they were tears of joy, but I wasn’t so sure. Kang Kiyeon could only sigh and pat his friend.
While they were having their one-sided tearful reunion, I slipped into my room.
And I reviewed the new task that had popped up a while ago.
+
[SYSTEM] A ‘New Task’ has been assigned.
▷ Family Consultation
+
This was no longer a simple consultation. It had become a crucial task where I had to go in place of Jeong Seongbin and persuade Lee Cheonghyeon’s father.
The past Lee Cheonghyeon was an adult, so his legal guardian couldn’t force a contract termination.
However, because I had moved up the debut, Lee Cheonghyeon was still a minor.
If I sent the company to meet him instead, it would become a business-like conversation between two adults—definitely not good. I’d be at a disadvantage in a negotiation like that.
First goal, to prevent Jeong Seongbin from being called to that meeting.
Second, to persuade Lee Cheonghyeon’s father so that he could remain in the group with a peaceful mind.
If I couldn’t achieve these two things, the group could face a crisis again, regardless of the task.
I seriously contemplated hiding Jeong Seongbin’s phone. Thanks to being roommates, I had plenty of opportunities. But I refrained, as there were things you shouldn’t do as a human being.
Then, a thought occurred to me. ‘How did Lee Cheonghyeon’s father contact Jeong Seongbin?’
Lee Cheonghyeon could have given out the members’ contact information, but the old Spark couldn’t use personal phones for a year after their debut. It meant that even if Lee Cheonghyeon had given out the number, it would have been difficult for his father to contact only Jeong Seongbin without his son knowing. Because everyone would have used the dorm’s shared phone.
The next logical method would’ve been through the company… UA seemed like the type to have handed over a member’s phone number to someone else’s father at least three times.
‘Should I give the managers a heads-up? Or Ms. Jukyung?’
I pondered how to say, ‘If a certain father calls, please keep it a secret from that friend and tell me!’ in the least suspicious way possible.
But there was no need for that.
“From Cheonghyeon’s father?”
Lee Cheonghyeon’s father had sought me out, not Jeong Seongbin. Directly.