Team 1’s Team Lead Kim and the newly appointed Team 3’s Team Lead Kwak HS Entertainment were sipping instant coffee in the break room.

Employees who saw them as they were about to enter quickly turned on their heels and left.

As people had anticipated, the mood of the office became tense after the everyone in Team 3 defected. Right now, even the smallest spark could trigger a volcanic eruption.

At its core, though, the tense mood wasn’t about losing personnel. It was about them leaving for K-Management. Everyone knew their history with HS Entertainment, after all.

Team Lead Kim smirked.

“So in the end, he took all his little Team 3 stragglers with him.”

Team Lead Kwak nodded in agreement.

“We saw this coming the moment Team Lead Na left. Manager Jang and Manager Shin stuck around, acting like they had nowhere else to go. But the second Hyuk called, they ran right to him. Sickening, isn’t it?”

“Exactly.” Kim scoffed. “They need a real wake-up call. Not that it matters. That company’s going to crash and burn soon, anyway. They’ve got their own problems.”

Kwak grinned.

“Oh, you mean that useless member? I’m telling you, Hyuk is overrated. People give him too much credit. Sure, he scouted Jin-ah Choi, Yoon-jung Hwang, and Hee-yeon Lee. He took some of our best trainees. But Yumi Cho? That was a miss. He got cocky. Just plain arrogance.”

For a while, the two continued their rant about Hyuk, Team 3’s former staff, and Yumi.

Then, the conversation shifted.

“So how’s Team 3 holding up?” Kim asked. “We sent you one of our best. That was a huge sacrifice, you know.”

Although the positions in Team 3 suddenly became vacant, HS Entertainment was a big agency. They had more than enough team leads. Some of them probably should have been promoted earlier anyway, so they pulled people from Teams 1 and 2 to fill in the spots in Team 3.

‘One of our best? Please. I was in Team 1. I know exactly how he is.’

No one in Team 1 or Team 2 had any reason to send their most competent staff to Team 3. This was a golden opportunity to dump their problem people.

Team Lead Kwak thought to himself that it was all bullshit, but played along.

“Of course! I’m grateful. Way better than those airheads who followed Hyuk.”

Just then, someone stepped into the break room. Both managers glanced up, and their eyes widened slightly.

“Kid? What are you doing here?”

Kid frowned slightly. As someone who didn’t like expressing his discomfort, it was rare sight.

“Uh… I’m sorry, but can I get a new manager?”

“What? Why?”

His current manager was one of Kim’s guys. Kim subtly shifted, as if to step out of the conversation but Kwak blocked his path.

‘This bastard…!’

Kid let out a deep sigh.

“Look, I know he’s trying. And I get that he heard about what happened on ‘Tomorrow’s Idol.’ But… He’s not giving advice. He’s interfering. His judgment’s… a little off.”

Word had already spread about how Kid asked Hyuk for his honest feedback and his overall dissatisfaction with how people praise him. His new manager had clearly been trying to fill that gap. However, he wasn’t qualified to.

“That’s something you can tell him yourself,” Team Lead Kim casually put out.

He had no intention of taking the new manager back.

Kid shook his head.

“I did tell him. Told him I’d handle my own work. That he didn’t need to worry about me. But he won’t back off. Sometimes, he just stares off into space and starts mumbling about how the future can be changed because of some noise. I think he’s a little too into web novels, and I wish he would just focus on what he’s supposed to do.”

This wasn’t news to Team Leads Kim and Kwak. That manager had applied for the job because of a web novel, after all.

Kwak sighed in defeat with a face that said there was nothing he could do, not looking at Kim’s direction.

“In that case, I’ll talk to the Direct Park. I’m sorry, Kid. You’re one of our biggest artists. We should be giving you the best support… If we can’t even do something as simple as switching your manager, I suppose we can’t even be called a management company. Just hang in there a little longer.”

Kim glared daggers at Kwak. He opened his mouth to object, another person walked in., and a relaxed voice spoke out.

“Oh, perfect timing. I was looking for you. There was something I wanted to tell you.”

“Sung-ah? What is it?”

“Team Lead Kwak, can you get me a new manager? We’re not a good match.”

“What…? Oh, okay. I’ll change your manager.”

There was no choice but to agree to the request, but Team Lead Kwak was grateful. After all, she came to him instead of going straight to the CEO, Executive Director, or Director Park.

It would be safer for him to request for this himself than for Sung-ah to speak to them directly. Team Lead Kim snapped his fingers, as if he had come up with a brilliant idea. It was an idea that meant not bringing that useless guy back to Team 1.

“How about you two swap managers? It’s perfect! Why don’t we give it a try?”

Kid and Sung-ah eyes met.

“Ms. Sung-ah, what didn’t work out with your manager?” Kid asked.

She laughed softly.

“He was trying too hard to be Hyuk. You all talk trash about him, but deep down, he must be a role model. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be acting like that. You?”

“It’s the same for me. My manager’s trying to be Manager Kang. Keeps going even when I tell him to stop.”

“Goodness me. Figures. I mean, Hyuk is doing pretty well. Aren’t you two a little jealous, too? Maybe even Director Park is jealous.”

Just then, a low voice cut through the air. The boiling anger came through the voice.

“Who… would be jealous… of that bastard, Sung-ah?”

A smile curled Team Lead Kim’s lips, but his eyes twitched with rage. While Kim’s face turned ashen with anger, Sung-ah remained perfectly composed as she continued.

“If you say so. Last night, I saw a lot of talk on the internet about our little artist. Same for that kid Hee-yeon. Oh, also! I plan on meeting with Yoon-jung soon.”

Sung-ah’s lips curved into a bright, almost blindingly cheerful smile. Though, depending on who was watching, it could look sickeningly smug.

“I’m also thinking of filming a video while I’m at it. Just a little message to say I’m looking forward to our dance lessons, you know?”

***

I was directing Jin-ah and the trainees in the practice room when the phone buzzed in my pocket.

[Sung-ah Kim]

I let the group resume practice, then stepped out of the camera’s frame and answered curtly.

“What is it?”

– Wow. What? Can you at least try to sound a little nicer? I’ve told you a million times, but you never even pretend to listen.

She had a point. Sung-ah was good to me, but I knew better than anyone that there was a sleeping inside. My tone couldn’t sound gentle.

I spoke differently to each of my artists. It was just the way things were.

“Give it up. Anyway, what do you want? I’m working. Is this about the movie?”

– Are you suuure you don’t want to say that a little nicer? You might regret it.

I wasn’t in the mood for a long, drawn-out back-and-forth, so I gave her what she wanted. It wasn’t that hard.

“Hmph! Why’d you call meee? Did you eat yet?”

Even though my tone was obviously forced, all that came back through the phone was a giggle.

– Perfect! Come pick me up. I’ll shoot a video with Yoon-jung. We should start dance coaching as soon as possible.

My eyes widened. If I hadn’t humored her just now, I really would’ve regretted it.

“Are you for real?!”

The words burst out of me. The staff and trainees turned to stare.

“Oh, sorry.”

I stepped out of the practice room, mind racing.

“Wait, does the production team know? If you start teasing it now, it could hurt the movie’s promotional impact.

– I just want to do it. Besides, I feel bad that the fans only got to see those flops.

“Huh…?!”

– I’ll talk to the production company. That’s fine, right?

Could they stop Sung-ah Kim if she said to wanted to do this? Absolutely not. Her casting alone had the investors flooding in. She could get away with almost anything.

At this point, it made more sense to adjust the promo strategy around her. Publishing videos consistently could actually work for better promotional material.

For most actors, early exposure would mean a shorter shelf life… but this was Sung-ah Kim. She starred in one commercial flop after another, yet her reputation and popularity remained untouched.

‘This is a win for us.’

Crowds would swarm Yoon-jung’s channel. The added exposure would bring a flood of indirect benefits, and Sung-ah’s presence would boost everyone’s image.

“Fine. But why are you asking me to pick you up? Where’s your manager?”

– Ugh, seriously. Listen. Do I have to put up with working under this kind of management? You took everyone from Team 3, and now I’m stuck with a bunch of nobodies…

So the rant began.

Normally, I would hang up. Today, though, she brought a gift so I let it slide. I hummed in vague agreement, letting out noncommittal sounds as I borrowed a pen and paper from a writer.

[Something urgent came up, so I have to leave. Today and tomorrow’s practice should be fine with what we’ve covered so far, so don’t worry. I’ve set the direction. Jin-ah can handle the rest.]

The writer sighed in disappointment. I handed Jin-ah another set of written instructions.

“Oh, wow? Really? Hm. That’s crazy.”

As I spoke, I borrowed Jin-ah’s phone and typed out a message. It was to Manager Shin.

[It’s Hyuk. Please come to the studio. I need to meet with Sung-ah.]

“Oh, really! Seriously? No way.”

***

I drove my newly purchased minivan — a Kia Carnival. The company van was already assigned to Hee-yeon for her event schedules.

Now that we’d finally gotten rid of that old Starex, I felt light as a feather. Two Carnivals and a van. We had three company cars now.

I parked and headed up to Sung-ah’s place. I was reminded we still had a long way to go. She lived alone, yet her place was practically a palace.

Meanwhile, my artists were crammed into shared rooms, practically breathing the same air.

“Right. We’re just getting started. It’s not the time to be satisfied.”

As soon as Sung-ah let me in, she bolted to the kitchen. When she returned, she was holding a cup of pure poison. My face turned pale.

“No! I’m not drinking that.”

“Eat it! I swear, I take care of you and all I get is complaints. Now, eat! It’s good for you. You’ve been running on fumes lately.”

“I’m fine. Never felt better. With Manager Shin, Manager Jang, Team Lead Na, and Jung-han around, work’s been really easy-going.”

However, Sung-ah slipper’s shuffled closer and closer until the cup was basically thrust into my hands. It was massive, easily 500ml, and it reeked of something vile.

“Ugh!”

She furrowed her brows and spoke in a firm voice.

“Drink it. Or I’m not going anywhere.”

“Haah…” I let out a deep sigh, pinched my nose, and started chugging.

But there was too much of it. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t down it all in one go.

“Huuu! Huuu!” I had to pause, catch my breath, then go again.

Sung-ah just stared at me, looking completely unimpressed. How did she drink this every day? I couldn’t tell if she had a strong stomach or if she was just insanely stubborn.

“There. Happy now? I’ll take care of my own health, so stay out of it. Please.”

“Ugh, such a baby.”

She shot me a judgmental glare before turning away. We left her place and walked toward the parking garage. I followed behind, lost in thought.

‘What the heck is she thinking?’

Before my regression, she never reached out to me.

‘It’s not like she suddenly respects me more because I’m doing well now.’

She was already at the top. She had nothing to gain from buttering me up. Even if she wanted help picking a project, I had already given her my recommendation.

So, I just asked outright.

“What are you thinking?”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“You never looked for me before. Why now? Why are you suddenly acting all nice?”

She blinked at me, then burst into laughter and dropped to the ground. In the middle of the parking lot. People were staring.

“Hey! Quiet! Shh!” I whispered and put a finger to her lips.

“I mean… Oppa, you’re just… really funny, so… hahahaha!”

I pulled her toward the minivan as she struggled to hold in her laughter. When I opened the back door for her, she slammed it shut, opened the passenger door, and climbed in.

She glanced at me calmly, the smile still lingering on her lips.

‘Why’s she laughing?’

I asked a serious question, but the way she kept laughing started to get on my nerves. As I opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat, Sung-ah spoke with an amused lilt in her voice.

“Were you mad because I didn’t reach out after all this time?”

“No, that’s not it…” He sighed. “Never mind. Forget it. Just put on your seatbelt.”

We fastened our seat belts, and I started driving. The car was silent. Sung-ah stared straight ahead as her fingers lightly brushed her lips in a nervous motion. A few minutes passed like that.

Then, she spoke in a low murmur.

“Now that you’re here, I’m acting like this because I can see you again. I’m sorry I didn’t reach out. I didn’t think it would make you upset, and I didn’t mean anything by it. It wasn’t like I stayed away because you were going through something or because I was too busy. Isn’t that just how life goes? People get caught up with what’s in front of them and stop paying attention to everything else.”

I could feel her gaze on me. It was warm, with the faintest trace of a smile.

“I didn’t think you’d care this much. Now I feel bad.”

Heat crept up my face. She really didn’t think much of it, did she? Whether it was before my regression or now, Sung-ah was Sung-ah.

She was grateful, sure, but she wasn’t the type to fight for me or come looking to comfort me. Now that we had crossed paths again, she was just acting the way she always had.

“Oppa, want me to help out more? Scratch my back, and I’ll scracth yours. Even if we work at different companies, we can still look out for each other. I don’t think it’s such a bad idea.”

“Forget it. Too complicated.”

She let out a light chuckle. The nagging doubt in my head vanished.

‘Damn it. I overthought this for nothing.’

—

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