These lewd things are idols?: Episode 39

Episode: 39

"Should we send them to a dermatologist?"

"What are you talking about?"

Yoon Won-seok, who looked at me like I was a cat who had just finished a tube of Churu, handed me an iced Americano while asking the question.

"No, it's just that today is the end-of-month evaluation, and all the Oasis kids, your team, and other trainees are gathered here, right?"

"Yeah."

As the iced Americano cooled my throat, I started to feel a bit more alive.

"They're all so pretty and cute. I mean, when it comes to celebrities, you have to have clear skin, right?"

"True."

"But... your team’s kids, their skin is unusually oily. Are you sending them to a designated dermatologist? You know, covering the expenses and all. If you send them to a better place, wouldn't the finance team upstairs raise an issue?"

"I'm sending them to the designated place. Don't worry about it. The reason their skin looks so good is..."

...Because they're covered in my semen every day. They're eating it, drinking it.

But, of course, I can’t say that.

"They're just naturally born with it. Think of good skin as a talent."

"Talent in skin, huh? I'm envious. I’ve been breaking out in acne again lately. Oh, by the way, I bought this Dacquoise along with the coffee. I almost forgot. Have some."

"Dacquoise? What's that? Like a macaron?"

"......"

Yoon Won-seok handed me the macaron-like pastry and gave me a baffled look.

"Boss, aren’t we the same age regardless of rank? How can you not know what Dacquoise is? Have you aged dramatically since becoming a team leader?"

"Shut up, you brat. I’ll just eat it and find out, okay? Do you know every food on this planet? If I mention Indian cuisine, would you understand?"

"That’s... not the same."

"I'm the team leader, Won-seok."

"Understood."

As Yoon Won-seok wisely clammed up, I tossed the Dacquoise into my mouth.

Strawberry flavor. Chocolate flavor.

Both are incredibly delicious.

"This is good enough to give to the kids. What’s the calorie count?"

"About 300 calories each."

"Damn, higher than a macaron."

It's just a natural conversation as a manager, I guess.

I want to give the kids something tasty, but...

First, I check the calories.

Maintaining weight is mostly about personal effort, but...

Still, the support from those around them can’t be ignored.

"Anyway, thanks. It really hit the spot. I was feeling a bit peckish. Coffee and Dacquoise, too."

"Oh, come on. You've bought me countless coffees, boss."

"That's true."

But gratitude is gratitude.

To be honest, I didn’t buy coffee for Yoon Won-seok purely out of kindness.

There’s always the hope that after ten times, you might get something in return once.

That’s how people are.

We’re selfish animals.

It seems like a hassle, but when you're talking with someone else like this, it naturally lifts your mood.

I’m not really the type who talks a lot, but...

The act of conversation itself is enjoyable.

"By the way, boss."

This guy, though, does have a loose tongue.

"What is it?"

"Aren't you going to decide on a group name? Even a temporary one?"

"Yeah, I guess I should. Sigh... coming up with a girl group name is seriously tough."

"Right? The group name can really change the whole vibe. Of course, some groups are so talented that they blow up regardless of the name, but still."

"Even then, the name should at least be decent."

A girl group name.

This is such a headache.

Honestly, you could just go with something pretty that you've heard somewhere before?

Prisia. Iris.

You know, stuff like that.

Or you could go with something straightforward like Girl Squad or Boy Boys.

You can't ignore those kinds of names, either.

"It feels like all the good names have already been taken by the senior groups."

But if a groundbreaking name pops up, I’d think it’s good too.

When I can’t come up with anything, it feels like all the successful groups have already taken all the good names.

"Just look at names like White Pink or New Sera. How do they come up with such creative and pretty names? Am I getting too old, and that’s why nothing comes to mind?"

"If it just came to you like that, then no one would need to have meetings to brainstorm group names."

"Well, I can always think about the name later. Right now, let's focus on the end-of-month evaluation."

"Oh, right. Speaking of the end-of-month evaluation..."

Alright, alright.

"So, what kind of information are you bringing this time, Won-seok?"

“Well...”

“Hold on.”

“Yes?”

“Let's stop with that way of speaking. The ‘Well...’ thing. It’s kind of annoying.”

“Oh, now that you mention it, that's how the team leader speaks. Wow, when did I pick that up?”

I can't help but feel a little sense of solidarity.

Considering how much we've been worked over by that guy...

“You know the composer who was assigned to work with Oasis and your team for this month's evaluation?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, it seems like the CEO thought it might look like favoritism to only give one team a composer. So, he apparently found another one.”

“Oh, really?”

CEO Cheon Tae-oh!

I didn’t expect this, but... that’s surprisingly considerate.

“Anyway, both composers are coming today to watch the monthly evaluation.”

“Well, of course, they need to see the kids and get a sense of their vibe before composing. Plus, composers, executives, and trainers all participate in the evaluations during these times. But I'm more curious about who the second composer is.”

“Well, to be honest, considering the level of the ‘Nampo-dong Fist’ composer, the CEO must have matched the quality. If there’s too much of a gap, that would just be cruel.”

“Right?”

Would that heartless CEO really do something so mean?

“Hello. I'm a composer. You can also call me ‘Nampo-dong Fist.’ I’m Choi Ho-cheol. Nice to meet you!”

“Uh, hi. I’m also a composer... STB... Kim Gi-bok. Please take care of me.”

As soon as I faced the scrawny guy who came with the ‘Nampo-dong Fist’ composer, I inwardly cursed the CEO.

Damn bastard.

I had never even heard of a composer named STB in the industry, so I looked him up. 

Apparently, he specializes in... a kind of sexy concept, almost borderline vulgar.

He seems to have a bit of a reputation in the underground scene, but...

There’s no way idols would go underground, damn it.

I’ll be lucky if this doesn’t cause a scandal.

“You better win this one, team leader.”

“......”

“If you don’t, you might end up raising these talented, beautiful kids only to ruin them with the wrong song.”

Won-seok poked me in the ribs while offering me this earnest advice, and I rubbed my face in frustration.

“......”

The Oasis kids, who don’t know who STB is, are already looking pale.

Is it the girls' intuition?

They’ve already sensed the stark contrast.

‘I hate this too.’

Our kids have worked so hard.

Of course, I know just how naughty they can be—after all, I was with them this morning.

But that's beside the point.

As idols, our girls aren’t at the stage of performing sexy dances yet.

What do you think this is, the 2010s?

“STB. He’s an underground composer with quite a reputation. He’s perfect for your team.”

When did that bastard show up?

I almost choked on the dacquoise and iced Americano I had earlier when Park Joo-young suddenly appeared next to me.

I thought my heart was going to stop.

“We’ll see.”

Honestly, I wanted to provoke him further.

But there were too many people watching today.

And the CEO would be coming down too, so I decided to keep my mouth shut.

‘Why is this guy so relaxed, though?’

Unless his eyes are attached to his groin, he can’t possibly miss how dazzling and promising our kids are today, right?

Or is he secretly on drugs or something?

If that were the case, I could kick this annoying guy out of the company today.

[Unfortunately, it’s not drugs.]

[Look.]

Huh?

What is she telling me to look at?

When I turned back to look at Park Joo-young, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

“Hey, our ‘Nampo-dong Fist,’ the stylish Ho-cheol.”

“Oh, it’s been a while, Team Leader Park. Haha. Are those the kids you’re raising? They’re shining so brightly.”

“Not them. Those kids over there.”

“Oh, those kids over there are really cute too. Just looking at them, melodies are already floating in my head. Heh. You know, to work on this, I’ll need to see them often, get a sense of their concept and vibe. You get what I’m saying, right?”

Seeing the two of them, talking like old friends with their shoulders practically touching, left me speechless.

Did that pig just say that? Choi Ho-cheol?

‘Is he out of his mind?’

Not only his words, but the way he was creepily checking out the Oasis girls made it clear his intentions weren’t good.

‘Damn it. I was excited because he was supposed to be a famous composer, but his personality seems rotten.’

I’m about to lose it.

Is every option today just a landmine?

Or is ‘Nampo-dong Fist’ the better choice because, despite his terrible personality, at least he has fame and skill?

‘Did he already bribe them?’

Even if not openly, since the CEO is here too, it’s obvious that he’s trying to make the case that his team is more suited to the composer or whatever.

I don’t have the power to see the future, but...

Why does it feel like I can already see it playing out before my eyes?

“Um, no... Sorry.”

Even the trainers who I’m somewhat friendly with are starting to sit down with uncomfortable expressions, immediately apologizing.

Seeing this, it’s clear.

Park Joo-young has not only influenced the trainers but probably everyone participating in today’s monthly evaluation.

‘Damn you, bastard.’

Instead of doing this, he could’ve at least bought the Oasis kids some konjac jelly.

Damn it.

I can already picture it.

While the Oasis girls were licking ice because they were so hungry they couldn’t sleep at night, he was probably out drinking with ‘Nampo-dong Fist.’

‘Nobel, give me a skill like Sword Control or something.’

[Do you think that's possible?]

Damn it.

If that’s not possible, I’ll take Mind Sword! I need the power to pierce through these bastards' faces.

[Do you really think that’s possible, Master?]

Tsk.

Just as I clicked my tongue, the surroundings suddenly went quiet, and everyone stood up.

I quickly caught on and bowed my head.

“Hello, CEO.”

It was CEO Cheon Tae-oh’s entrance.

As always, he was dressed in an expensive suit and wearing sunglasses.

Even the way he put his sunglasses into his chest pocket had a different level of gravity.

“Alright, alright. Sit down. Everything ready?”

“Of course.”

Park Joo-young eagerly sat down on Cheon Tae-oh’s left.

It seemed he was planning to have ‘Nampo-dong Fist,’ Choi Ho-cheol, who he considered to be on his side, sit on the right.

“Have a seat, Team Leader Kim.”

“Huh? Oh, okay.”

I was taken aback when Cheon Tae-oh called me, as I had intended to just stand quietly on the sidelines and watch the kids perform.

On one hand, I was happy, but on the other, it felt a bit... awkward.

‘Ha, I’m going to have a hole drilled into my side, damn it.’

Park Joo-young, who had gone out of his way to secure his seat, and me, who was called up by the CEO while standing—it didn’t take a genius to figure out which image looked better and who was being favored more.

‘Not that being favored by a man is anything to be happy about.’

Especially when that man brought in a composer like STB as an alternative.

“Oh, I’ll just take a seat here.”

“Yes, yes, please sit comfortably, Mr. Composer.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Tsk.

Well, at least personality-wise, STB—or Kim Gi-bok—didn’t seem all that bad.

And from what I’ve heard, his songs are actually pretty good.

“Let’s begin.”

“Yes! The prepared teams, step forward one by one.”

As I was lost in various thoughts, the monthly evaluation began.

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