Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 272

Trusting others, when there’s a basis for it, makes work more efficient.

There are even movies that portray the inability to trust others as a primal fear, and the social trust system established through currency has greatly influenced the development of civilization.

It’s such an important thing, trust, but it’s a pity that this damn society doesn’t always allow it.

“By the way, that photo, a company employee must have taken it, right?”

“If it were someone from the broadcasting station, I wouldn’t have grabbed you by the collar.”

I wonder when people became so docile, when they started trusting others so easily.

“Politics is your specialty.”

Ryu Iden is much more capable than I am at being at the center of rumors and gathering information from countless people.

I’m naturally cynical and experience negative stress when talking to strangers.

If I were in Ryu Iden’s role, I would have suffered from stress-induced gastritis and chronic headaches. I’m grateful for the work environment that allows me to focus on composing.

“I don’t know everything, though, *hyung* [older brother or male friend],” Ryu Iden said.

A human’s agony of weighing others’ expectations against their own abilities was evident on his face.

*But, you shouldn’t do that, Iden.*

“No. You have to know everything.”

Again, trusting others, when there’s a basis for it, makes work more efficient.

*But you can’t break one of the foundations I have with your own hands, Iden.*

Ryu Iden, who had been quietly looking into my eyes, wore a tearful expression. *You can’t trust this guy’s expressions.*

“…Maybe, office politics? It’s just a guess based on what I’ve heard here and there.”

It’s clear just by looking at him now, smiling as if nothing happened. If this guy cries, it’s definitely for political purposes.

“The main thing is that Team Leader 1 is pissed.”

“Why?”

“They’re planning to reorganize the company structure, merging two teams into the Production Planning Department, I heard.”

I just drank my coffee.

Basically, it means that two people were sharing power, but now they’re giving it all to one person.

“I heard that our team leader is going to be promoted to the head of department. That’s why Team Leader 1 is jealous.”

“…In the first place, it’s a natural consequence since there are no results.”

I heard that Team 1 mainly produced girl groups, but they didn’t have any hit groups.

The fact that TOT is the only senior in our company is probably due to that. It’s almost a tradition for capable and politically skilled people to gain power.

“They must have tried. Just incompetent.”

There’s nothing more pathetic than the jealousy of an incompetent person.

If you’re a capable person, that jealousy is even expressed as rivalry, but if not, only the bare face of the word ‘jealousy’ is revealed.

I put down my coffee cup and stared at the black screen of the turned-off TV.

Ryu Iden and my faces, chatting and placing our coffee cups on the table, are both extremely calm.

It’s hard to see us as the faces of people in a controversy; we looked like two old men playing Go [a strategic board game] in a senior center.

“It’s kind of ugly.”

It’s degrading just to imagine being so jealous of your colleague’s success that you try to find any flaw to exploit.

Even though feeling joy from others’ pain is close to instinct, if it’s this vulgar, I can only doubt their ability as a human being.

“Right.”

We both picked up our coffee cups at the same time and took a sip.

Being caught up in other people’s power struggles isn’t very pleasant, but we could be calm based on our trust in Team Leader Jang Haejin.

She will win on her own and pave the way for us.

“She’ll take care of it.”

“You’ve changed a lot too.”

“I’ve never changed this.”

It’s just that I have a basis for believing.

* * *

Jang Haejin felt a cold anger rising as she sat face to face with the man in front of her.

What kind of show did she put on alone for two days? The suspicion is clear, so all that’s left is to get the confirmation.

“I’ll ask you. Did you think you wouldn’t get caught?”

Jang Haejin smiled as she put the paper down on the table. The nuance was that she even had material evidence.

The youngest member of Planning Team 2.

She sent him to follow the kids’ performances, watch the stage, and learn about concept planning.

She’s relieved that the kids’ controversy was only that much; if even one of them had behaved improperly, she would have seen all sorts of things.

Neglecting the management of subordinates is her responsibility, so she’s annoyed that her position in the company is affected, but there’s something more important than that.

“Then shall we hear it?”

One of the team members grabbed another member by the collar.

This kind of incident doesn’t even count as a controversy. It’s only natural for idols to fight since they’re human.

But it’s a different story to publish this as an article.

Publishing such trivial news while other groups’ dating scandals are erupting in two consecutive hits can only be explained by some political purpose.

The intention is impure, you son of a bitches.

“What did you want in exchange for cooperating with the reporter?”

“I…”

“Before that, let me explain. You won’t be able to set foot in this industry again. I’m going to personally spread poison to other companies. Unfortunately, I have quite a wide network.”

“That’s…”

“That’s usually how excuses start. I hope you listen to me until the end. You may know this because you read it when you signed the contract, but it’s obviously a breach of contract. Of course, you’ll be fired, and our legal team will personally sue you. Then you’ll have a criminal record, so it’ll be difficult to go to another industry, right? Oh, what should I do? I’m excited to think about ruining someone’s life within the legal range.”

Amazing.

The man in front of her seemed full of embarrassment. Was it because he never assumed he would get caught?

No, at least he didn’t expect to be in this situation even if he got caught.

He must have thought someone would protect him. How can he be so naive? He’s an idiot; there’s no way they’d protect him.

“But, if you just tell me, I can make everything disappear. You’re a rookie! You can make mistakes! Just tell me who asked you to take those pictures. Was it someone from another company?”

Nietzsche Entertainment was a shitty agency before TOT became famous.

It’s still a bit short of being a large agency, but it’s definitely a well-known agency thanks to Jang Haejin’s good fortune in succeeding with consecutive hits.

Still, it’s a pity that the internal state of the company doesn’t seem so beautiful. She thought they were finally getting out of being just a large small-to-medium-sized agency.

“Or… someone from our company?”

*Not yet. To call this a scheme.*

When she becomes the head of department, she has to somehow send that person’s personnel evaluation to hell.

Knock knock.

A displeasing knock echoed in the tense room. Jang Haejin had realized how gullible the man in front of her was, so she could only feel regret.

“Yes.”

“Haejin! Can I come in?”

*Ah, our idiot is here! Coming to protect him.*

“We’re having a team meeting, Team Leader Joo.”

Bang. The door opened without permission.

Our company has a very good corporate culture.

“No, I asked the vice president! I asked him to let me handle the minor investigations because Haejin is busy!”

“That’s reasonable.”

“…Right?”

She smiled naturally, showing that she was annoyed.

It’s frustrating to see an incompetent person benefiting from being there since the beginning of the company.

“But what should I do? The matter will be over as soon as I visit the legal team.”

She got up from her seat with a refreshing smile.

Well, the vice president has never been interested in this kind of politics, always. She respects his personality, but it’s inconvenient in times like these.

“…Is that so?”

“…?”

As she listened to the dumbfounded sound, she decided to change her mind about grabbing the tail to check the body.

Yes, let’s just deal with the tail first. If she takes down the people connected to that person one by one, the tail, arms, legs, organs, and each one will fall, and the body will fall on its own.

It’s like using a butcher knife to kill a chicken, but it’s beneficial if she can control other chickens through it.

“Hey, the artist’s image was tarnished. It’s a natural thing.”

* * *

“…Team Leader, are you okay?”

When Ryu Iden asked cautiously, Team Leader Jang Haejin nodded while drinking coffee. It was a visual that would circulate as a spirit photograph if taken as a picture.

“Everyone, two announcements. There’s big news and small news, which one do you want to hear first?”

Chaemin, who was sitting next to her, was fidgeting with her unique nosiness, which vibrated through me, indicating that she was stressed.

“The small news first.”

“Yes, we will be filming an internal reality show for one night and two days.”

Unlike usual, she’s only delivering the core information without a single word of small talk, so she must be stressed.

“You promised skydiving as the first-place pledge last time, right? So, we’re going to expand the scale and film it as if we’re going on vacation. We’re planning to invite a PD [Production Director] to film it.”

“Oh, can you tell us who it is?”

“Well, let me give you a hint. He’s close to Donghwa.”

Oh my god. Why do I feel like I know who it is? It’s like it’s a real-name system instead of a hint.

“Donghwa, are we going to mental training?”

“I hate it so much.”

I should have asked Simba to bite that bastard’s neck.

If that person is in charge, he will make us mentally in need of care under the guise of vacation. He’s a benefactor who maximizes distrust of broadcasters.

“I’ve only had a rough meeting, but you’ll really be able to relax.”

“I think it would be good for the team leader to go with us.”

Chaemin, who had been making a fuss next to me since earlier, spat out with difficulty.

The team leader, who thanked her with a nod, drank coffee again.

“Originally, if bugs get into the house, you can’t sleep well, right?”

At that moment, Ryu Iden and I made eye contact. It was probably a sound that the other members couldn’t understand, but the meaning was well conveyed.

The team leader looked at us and quickly changed the subject, as if it wasn’t something we should be thinking about.

“Next is the big news. We’re going to hold a grand tour for you guys.”

Silence. Everyone blinked blankly with expressions like, ‘What did I just hear?’

Ryu Iden was pretending to be surprised even though he knew, which was unsightly.

“…Wow.”

Chaemin’s exclamation burst out like a death rattle.

She covered her mouth and turned her head quickly to look at each person’s face, then grabbed my arm and hit it hard.

“Wow! Wow! Wow! Donghwa! Hyunjae!”

Chaemin, who hit me once and Lee Hyunjae once, alternately, was now hitting her own thigh like crazy, rejoicing.

Lee Hyunjae, who would have usually said something about it hurting, was still and then lowered his head.

“Wow, Team Leader, thank you!”

“…You knew, yeah.”

A body bent at a 90-degree angle and a face that was disgusted with the expression ‘What is this?’

Between Ryu Iden and the team leader, Seokjoon was talking to the doll he was holding in his arms.

“I succeeded―, Volty.”

You crazy bastard―’Volty’ is the nickname Seokjoon gave to the electric rat. As an aside, I gave him various nicknames from ‘Good Performance’ to ‘Bad Performance.’―.

In the chaos where cheers, silence, gratitude and embarrassment, and mental defects were all mixed together, there I was, feeling loneliness in the crowd alone.

[I am with you.]

*I’ll manipulate your future hopes later, Gisaeng [Korean term for a female entertainer].*