Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols-Chapter 287: Freeman: Qualifications

Spark’s existing emergency contact network was all connected to Ms. Min Jukyung.
However, after Manager Daeyeon joined, the channel for communicating with the members’ legal guardians was changed to Manager Daeyeon.
Not long after Manager Daeyeon introduced himself and provided his new contact information, Lee Cheonghyeon’s father asked for my number.
“For the sake of privacy, I did tell him that I couldn’t provide personal contact information, even to a member’s family. Still, I thought you, as the person involved, should know.”
Manager Daeyeon kindly explained the company’s response method as well. It was a perfect response. Because if he had said, ‘I’ll ask Mr. Iwol and get back to you!’, the person who had to decide whether to refuse or not would have been shifted to me, regardless of my will.
“Thank you. I know it’s a bit of a hassle, but would you mind asking if I could have the father’s contact instead? I think it’d be more appropriate for me to reach out first, since he’s an elder.”
“It’s not difficult to ask, but you’re not obligated to contact the members’ families, Mr. Iwol. Just in case you think you have to.”
The manager said, sounding worried. To prevent the manager from giving up on exchanging contact information for the consultation out of excessive consideration for me, I did my best to put on an act, saying that it wasn’t burdensome at all and that I had been feeling regretful for not having been able to greet Lee Cheonghyeon’s parents.
After sending Manager Daeyeon off.
I returned to my room and began to think seriously.
‘Why did the subject of the consultation change from Jeong Seongbin to me?’
In the past, Lee Cheonghyeon had introduced Jeong Seongbin to his family as a good hyung he trusted and followed. That was why Lee Cheonghyeon’s father had called Jeong Seongbin out and asked him to persuade Lee Cheonghyeon. Because he knew how much Lee Cheonghyeon relied on Jeong Seongbin.
But the target of this persuasion had changed to me?
There was no doubt. That Lee Cheonghyeon punk, he was not showing it, but he must have some dissatisfaction with Jeong Seongbin and talked less about him to his family. Just look at the resentment the Lee Cheonghyeon in the past data had.
It was my fault for not even noticing this while living under the same roof. I wouldn’t even be able to hand out my business card as an HR employee anywhere now. How could I handle people when I was so clumsy at grasping interpersonal relationships?
Swallowing a sigh, I activated a system feature I hadn’t used in ages.
What was the name again? The Stick of Friendship?
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[SYSTEM] Would you like to use the ‘Stick Function’?
▶ Yes / No
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So it was just called the ‘Stick Function.’ Why did they put all sorts of titles on the other functions but make this one so simple?
Until now, I had tried not to use the stick function if I could help it. I had used it early on when I hadn’t know better, just trying to keep the group from falling apart, but I figured it was rude to read someone’s mind without permission.
I decided to make an exception this time. Lee Cheonghyeon acted so perfectly normal around Lee Seongbin.
Without knowing Lee Cheonghyeon’s inner thoughts, if I carelessly asked him, ‘Cheonghyeon, what do you think of Seongbin?’, who knew what kind of disaster it might trigger.
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[SYSTEM] Please write the combination name.
▶ [ ]
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And without fail, the time for naming had returned.
This is why I hate using this. I suck at coming up with names. Do you know how many times I was rejected last time?
I lightly wrote ‘Spear and Shield,’ and as expected, it was immediately rejected. The reason was that it was too generic.
As I was racking my brain, Lee Cheonghyeon asked from outside the room.
“Hyung, what are you doing in your room?”
“I’m in the middle of a creative activity. Please let me be alone for a moment.”
“Okay~.”
Beyond the closed door, I could hear the sound of his footsteps leaving to find another member to play with.
You don’t even know what’s on my mind. Well, I’m doing this because I don’t know what’s on your mind either…
After being rejected about 79,000 times this time as well, I was finally able to get a new combination name approved.
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[SYSTEM] The combination name is confirmed as ‘Arctic Dandelion.’
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Honestly, at this point, the system must be fed up and had given up on me. If it was going to give up anyway, it should have let me go sooner. Would’ve saved us both the pain.
After all that worry, the inner thoughts of the guys I looked into were unexpectedly peaceful.
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[Jeong Seongbin ─ A cute, all-around talented person → Lee Cheonghyeon]
[Lee Cheonghyeon ─ I wish he would rely on me sometimes, but even so, he’s always so reliable and such a great, cool leader hyung → Jeong Seongbin]
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I thought they had fought or something when I wasn’t around, but that wasn’t the case. It was a relief that they were on good terms, but this was shocking in its own right. And Lee Cheonghyeon’s thought was too long.
Then what on earth could be the reason why Lee Cheonghyeon’s father chose me?
I got chewed out by Manager Nam even when I had intel—I couldn’t face a crisis with so little information.
First of all, the possibility that Lee Cheonghyeon had talked about one of us was very low. Unlike the past when he had long rest periods and many opportunities to visit home, the current Spark was very busy.
In a situation where it was difficult to find out about the relationship between Lee Cheonghyeon and the members, the easiest way to figure it out was by searching online.
His father probably looked up the Spark members to some extent. Including things like platform profiles, public opinion, and reputation.
And if he made it to the wiki…
Education
― Accepted to S University, Department of Business Administration (Admission canceled due to declining the offer)
…this information came up.
Inferring from what I’d heard from the guy so far, it was clear that Lee Cheonghyeon’s father contacted me because of this.
It was not difficult to guess the atmosphere of Lee Cheonghyeon’s household. Because of what Lee Cheonghyeon usually said.
They valued social standing, and because the couple succeeded and established themselves through academia, they believed that it was the only valuable path. Therefore, they forced this path on their children.
The attitude of looking down on Jeong Seongbin, which I saw in the past data, probably came from that as well. Because that stance didn’t come just from age.
‘He’ll come at me with the expectation that he can communicate with me to some extent.’
Once I understood the situation, the attitude I had to take was also sorted out. And the role I had to play in the consultation.
I’d taken plenty of beatings from my manager before, but I’d never had to shatter a parent’s expectations.
Swallowing a sigh inwardly, I checked the manager’s message.
Manager Daeyeon
[Mr. Iwol, the father said if you tell him your free times and the office location, he’ll come to meet you nearby. I’ll give you his contact information, so you can reply with a convenient time.]
Me
[Thank you! As I mentioned earlier, please keep it a secret from Cheonghyeon for now…!]
A confirmation emoji was added to my message. Thinking that I might really get splashed with water this time, I stole a towel from the dorm and put it in my bag.
* * *
The day of the appointment dawned. Warm sunlight streamed in through the window.
But the moment I opened the front door and stepped outside, a fierce winter wind would surely whip me. Society was cold and merciless…
“Hyung, are you going out?”
Perhaps awakened by the bustling noise, Jeong Seongbin rubbed his eyes and asked.
“I’m going to PT.”
“What?”
Jeong Seongbin blinked.
“In those clothes?”
Today’s outfit was chosen from Gu Jahan collection. That was because in the past data, Lee Cheonghyeon’s father had appeared in a very formal look.
He already had a negative image of idols. If I showed up in my usual semi-casual streetwear, I’d lose points from the very first impression.
So I put on everything, from the shirt Mr. Gu Jahan bought me to the pants and coat Mr. Gu Jahan bought me. Shout-out to Mr. Gu Jahan. I wish you success in your next work.
I even slicked my hair back with Choi Jeho’s wax. I couldn’t ask to borrow it since the guy was in Gwangju, but since the wax was about to expire, I decided to just buy him a new one when I got back.
“Do I look weird?”
“No, it’s just the first time I’ve seen you go to a workout dressed like that, hyung…”
Haha, look at this innocent lamb. He thinks PT just means working out.
I had no intention of clarifying. If I did, he’d make a fuss, asking if I was going to work.
“I’ll be back.”
I hurriedly rushed out of the dorm before Jeong Seongbin could ask anything more. The winter wind, as sharp as Lee Cheonghyeon’s father’s eyes, brushed against my face.
Manager Daeyeon took me to the appointment location. I carefully set foot in a cafe with a solemn impression, one I had never been to before, yet was familiar.
It wasn’t unusual for events to shift when the subject changed. If the people or timeline changed, something was bound to be different.
Nevertheless, Lee Cheonghyeon’s father had chosen the same time and the same place as in the past. To a person like this, meeting his son’s friend was just one of his daily tasks, which meant it was an event that had no room for change.
If it were up to me, I would want his father to acknowledge and support his son, but.
A goal must be set clearly, within the realm of possibility, and without losing sight of what was most important.
So I braced myself as I climbed the stairs, determined to gain his approval for Lee Cheonghyeon’s career.
In a quiet seat on the second floor, that person was waiting, just as the old Jeong Seongbin had faced him.
* * *
An impeccable outfit, a sophisticated luxury watch without a single scratch, and an upright posture. Lee Cheonghyeon’s father was the textbook image of a socially successful middle-aged man.
“Hello, I’m Kim Iwol, who works with Cheonghyeon.”
“Yes, have a seat.”
As I bowed, his father gestured for me to sit. The act of calling a waiter to have me order a drink was also the same as back then.
If there was a difference, it was that unlike with Jeong Seongbin, he used polite language with me.
An unnoticeable gaze scanned me from my head to my upper body. I pretended not to notice, smiled, and looked around the cafe.
“The atmosphere is really nice. It’s my first time in a place like this.”
“It’s not a place for young people to come.”
“Thanks to you, sir, I get to experience something new. I appreciate you inviting me here.”
If Manager Nam was a person who valued formalities, the person in front of me valued ingrained habits and decorum.
A type like Manager Nam started with a rock-bottom first impression of others and raised their score based on their attitude towards him.
On the other hand, this person gave a moderate score at first and watched, and if something came up, he deducted points. It was the so-called demerit system.
Every attitude, every remark became a subject of scoring. I was used to this kind of scrutiny, but how harsh must it have been for Jeong Seongbin, and furthermore, for his son, Lee Cheonghyeon? I swallowed a sigh inwardly.