Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols - Chapter 151



Only Noblemtl

| Episode 151. Handling grievances

Jeong Seong-bin allowed me to accompany him only after seeing my amazing plank. It was worth the hard work I put into training my arms.

And then one peaceful day, Jeong Seong-bin and I went to an unfamiliar studio. It was a place that Jang Jun-hoo had told us about in advance.

Jeong Seong-bin took a deep breath in front of the entrance.

It was understandable to be nervous. It was amazing that he had decided to come here on his own.

“If you want to go back, you can. Senior will always be here waiting for you.”

“haha…….”

I’m not kidding. Jang Jun-hoo must be feeling like he’s standing on the edge of a cliff right now.

Even though he was given the option to retreat, Jeong Seong-bin chose the path of courage.

When I reached the front door of the studio and rang the doorbell, the door opened without a word. Jang Jun-hoo, with a stiff expression, was right in front of me.

“Hello, senior.”

“hello.”

Jeong Seong-bin followed my lively greeting in a small voice.

“……okay.”

Surprisingly, Jang Jun-hoo greeted him. It was a rare experience, and Jeong Seong-bin’s eyes widened.

As Jeong Seong-bin and I sat side by side on the long sofa, Jang Jun-hoo took a seat on the chair in front of the computer. After that, no one spoke for a long time.

Before coming here, there was just one thing I asked Jeong Seong-bin to do.

‘You know this isn’t going to be a comfortable atmosphere, right?’

‘yes…….’

‘Don’t be discouraged though. Don’t be concerned, and don’t try to lighten the mood. If you don’t want to laugh, you don’t have to.’

It was the exact opposite of what I always stressed to the guys.

But now things are different. I didn’t want the victim to feel intimidated by the perpetrator.

Jeong Seong-bin kept my words well.

Instead of trying to smile and say that it was okay or caring about Jang Jun-hoo’s displeasure, he sat quietly, very quietly.

Jang Jun-hoo’s gaze turned once towards me and once towards Jeong Seong-bin.

This new X still hasn’t come to his senses. He blames Jeong Seong-bin for the mistake and now he’s paying more attention to me, is that it?

I was waiting to see how long he would keep his mouth shut, but Jang Jun-hoo opened his mouth.

“I thought about it, and I think I may have been a bit too hard on you.”

That was the end. No more words were spoken after that.

Jang Jun-hoo looked at me again. His eyes were demanding a response.

I chose to keep my mouth shut. Then Jang Jun-hoo started talking busily.

“I said that because I was thinking of you. I also thought that this might have been difficult for you… … .”

Last time, when I asked Jeong Seong-bin to gather and bring me any evidence that Jang Jun-hoo had harassed him.

Jeong Seong-bin gave me everything from letters to unfinished diaries. There were many stories in them that were hard to find.

How can I do something like that to a junior who is so far behind me? Can it be something that is not difficult, hard, and painful?

If I knew how many pages of diary had edges that were wrinkled from being wet and then dried, would this new X still be able to say this?

Jeong Seong-bin’s two fists, neatly placed on his thighs, trembled.

I put my hand on it and slowly swept Jeong Seong-bin’s fist.

“Senior.”

“… … .”

“I guess you’ve never written an apology before.”

Jang Jun-hoo and Jeong Seong-bin both flinched. The left hand that was touching Jeong Seong-bin’s hand gradually gained strength.

“There’s not even a single word of apology.”

Jang Jun-hoo’s face distorted as he was ridiculed.

“Seongbin, do you want to go out?”

I tried to persuade him, thinking that the oppressive atmosphere might bring back bad memories, but Jeong Seong-bin refused. Instead of leaving, he stared straight at Jang Jun-hoo.

“Just hearing the story, I feel like there must have been something wrong that you did to Seongbin that made you do this.”

“Don’t be sarcastic.”

“It’s obvious that you’re just trying to get out of here after a quick cleanup. How can you do that? Seongbin came as your guardian.”

Jang Jun-hoo avoided eye contact at my words.

“As you know, our Seongbin is a kind person. He is talented, honest, innocent, and takes good care of others.”

“… … .”

“If you did something wrong to that person, and even if you made the apology to make yourself feel better, you should at least ask for forgiveness properly.”

Jeong Seong-bin’s self-esteem, which Jang Jun-hoo destroyed because of his inferiority complex, may never return. Because of one irresponsible adult.

Nevertheless, Jeong Seong-bin came to give Jang Jun-hoo a chance.

If so, then if Jang Jun-hoo is truly reflecting… … .

“Isn’t that the least we can do for Seongbin who came all the way here?”

Jang Jun-hoo lowered his head.

If you were someone who would feel ashamed by a few words from me, you wouldn’t have done something like that.

So, that would be a posture of ‘agony’. Thinking about how to get through to Jeong Seong-bin and get his forgiveness.

At that moment, Jeong Seong-bin stood up from his seat. Then he gently grabbed my arm.

“Brother, let’s go.”

Was this atmosphere more difficult to bear?

The expression on Jeong Seong-bin’s face as he looked up with concern was far from passive.

Rather, I don’t know if it would look solid.

“I thought this place would be a place to go in a better direction.”

“Hey, Jeong Seong-bin.”

Jang Jun-hoo called Jeong Seong-bin urgently.

But Jeong Seong-bin was not shaken. Instead, he continued speaking calmly.

“But I guess that wasn’t the case.”

“… … .”

“If that’s not what I had in mind, I don’t think I have anything more to say.”

Jeong Seong-bin bowed and greeted me. Then he turned around without any regrets.

At that moment, a loud noise was heard from where Jang Jun-hoo was.

The thrown chair was pushed against the wall, and Jang Jun-hoo was on his knees with his head bowed.

“sorry.”

“Senior.”

“I was wrong.”

When I got down on my knees and apologized after getting caught practicing with a nosebleed, Jeong Seong-bin tried his best to help me up.

The current Jeong Seong-bin was different. He just looked down at Jang Jun-hoo, who was lying down in front of him, with a complicated expression, and did nothing.

“I wish you would forgive me… … .”

Jang Jun-hoo’s hands were trembling.

Because you probably can really feel that Jeong Seong-bin has changed.

But this is not enough.

As an adult, if you do something wrong, you should know how to take responsibility for it.

With a ‘proper apology’.

“What should Seongbin forgive?”

Jang Jun-hoo suddenly raised his head at my question. His eyes were fierce as if he was going to kill me.

“What do you have to forgive?”

I spoke slowly and with emphasis.

Jang Jun-hoo looked up at Jeong Seong-bin. Jeong Seong-bin’s shadowy face was looking at Jang Jun-hoo.

“I… swore at you, threw things at you. I hit your head as I passed by. I even found fault with the recording you made when there was nothing wrong with it. I’m sorry for embarrassing you in front of people. It was my fault.”

Jang Jun-hoo spoke hesitantly.

“Why did you do that?”

I asked again.

Jang Jun-hoo bit his lip. The tips of his fingers that were touching the floor turned white.

Jeong Seong-bin looked at Jang Jun-hoo for a long time. When Jang Jun-hoo still didn’t open his mouth, Jeong Seong-bin was about to turn around.

“I’m jealous.”

Jang Jun-hoo’s words caught Jeong Seong-bin’s ankle.

“I’m much younger than you, no, I’m annoyed that you’re so good at something. If a kid who’s just starting middle school admits that he’s better than me, I wonder how much he’ll look down on me.”

“… … .”

“I took my anger out on you. When things don’t work out, the fastest and easiest way is to take it out on you. I shouldn’t have done that, I wasn’t in my right mind.”

Ugly feelings of inferiority poured out one after another. The expression on Jeong Seong-bin’s face as he quietly listened to it was difficult to express in words.

“I won’t do that again.”

“… … .”

“I promise. I’ll beg you like this… … I hope you’ll forgive me just this once.”

Jang Jun-hoo added. Jang Jun-hoo’s forehead touched the floor.

Jeong Seong-bin ended the conversation by saying he would think about it. Then he and I left the building without saying a word.

Jeong Seong-bin was quiet until we got into the car. I didn’t bother to talk to him.

Jeong Seong-bin opened his mouth in the elevator on the way to his lodgings.

“It really wasn’t my fault.”

My voice was dry. I pretended not to notice and answered while looking at the mirror on the other side.

“Of course. Are you the kind of person who goes around causing trouble to others?”

Even at my words, Jeong Seong-bin did not snicker or panic as usual. He just sniffled and lowered his head.

When the elevator doors opened, instead of taking him into the dorms, I headed for the emergency exit.

As the iron gate opened and closed, the surroundings became quiet.

Only then did Jeong Seong-bin bury his face in his hands.

“I tried.”

I hugged Jeong Seong-bin and slowly stroked his back.

Jeong Seong-bin cried for a long time until the smell of iron from the rusty hinges clung to his T-shirt.

* * *

“Seongbin hyung, you’re super busy these days.”

Lee Cheong-hyeon muttered while looking at Jeong Seong-bin talking to his manager.

“I heard you were still organizing things in your room.”

Kang Ki-yeon also chimed in. Park Joo-woo nodded in agreement.

After Jang Joon-hoo’s apology, Jeong Seong-bin became a little brighter than usual. And he became much more proactive in everything.

“… … I was worried about what to do if I had no energy, but luckily I’m fine.”

Park Joo-woo smiled softly. He seemed to be very worried about his friend.

Jeong Seong-bin came running with a bright expression that melted away Park Joo-woo’s worries like melting snow.

“Hey everyone! Our schedule for this month is set!”

“Oh! How many?”

Lee Cheong-hyeon leaned over to look at the paper in Jeong Seong-bin’s hand.

“That’s what we have to decide from now on.”

“hmm?”

Jeong Seong-bin put the paper he received from the manager on the floor.

I knew it the moment I saw the table full of tables like a sack of rice.

“I have to exclude some events or interviews because I have overlapping schedules. I also have to decide who will appear on programs where only a select few people will be present.”

That Spark went crazy.

And now… … all that’s left to do is run like a dog and work.