Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols - Chapter 154



Only Noblemtl

| Episode 154. Confirmation of Achievement (3)

Jeong Seong-bin on screen had a different feel than when he was active with Spark. The ivory and white outfit suited Jeong Seong-bin well.

Subtitles were placed underneath with a warm effect.

『The great transformation of a pretty boy who sings of youth begins now.』

“Why are the subtitles like that?”

Choi Je-ho was shocked. Although the expression is old, it doesn’t seem to be wrong.

“Why? Seongbin is a pretty boy.”

“Can you just skip this part… … .”

Jeong Seong-bin lowered his head. His ears were bright red.

While the person in question was unable to raise his head, the song title appeared at the feet of the Spark 1st Class pretty boy vocalist.

It was Jang Jun-hoo’s debut song, “First Step.”

A story about a man who loves someone for the first time and feels the joy of being together, but then fights with the person he loves for the first time and breaks up with them.

The reason this song became popular was, ironically, because the story was so cliché.

As it is a common story, many people often sing “First Step” at karaoke after a breakup.

The simple structure and suitable vocal range also contributed to making Jang Jun-hoo, who had just debuted, a rookie, a well-known singer.

When I was a trainee, I used to choose unknown songs by famous singers to cheat, but Jeong Seong-bin didn’t need to do that.

The simple melody of an acoustic guitar flowed.

“That spring, I met you

My cheeks are dyed with cherry blossoms

Summer, in my young heart

I ran behind a tree and hid.

In autumn, the trees

My heart is burning red

By your side on a winter day

I went over and lay down

It was pouring down warmly, the eyes

Because he already has dazzling skills.

A beggar who can confidently aim for the flag planted at the very top of the opposing camp.

Jeong Seong-bin’s plain yet soft voice reminded me of my first love that I never had before.

Perhaps fans use the expression ‘mongmong’ in times like this.

『You and I have stepped forward

The steps leave marks on the heart

Stacked up neatly

We spend a lot of time just looking at each other

I walked and walked again.

But there was hardness even in softness.

A sense of stability that comes from the fundamentals built up over many years.

Jeong Seong-bin was the one who laid the foundation better than anyone else. The strength of such a guy has been that he has given listeners a trustworthy and comfortable feeling, from the time of the royal family to now.

He is the guy who has inspired Jang Jun-hoo, an established singer, with his skills since his middle school days. There was no way that Jeong Seong-bin, who is like that, could not handle the introduction of Jang Jun-hoo’s song.

When he sang this song, Jang Jun-hoo was probably in his late 20s or early 30s. His voice was too fresh to sing about first love, but he lacked the experience to reminisce about memories.

Then what about Jeong Seong-bin?

Despite his young age and fresh face, which the word first love fits so well, Jeong Seong-bin had experience that even Jang Jun-hoo didn’t have at the time.

It’s only natural. Jeong Seong-bin recorded all of Jang Jun-hoo’s love and breakup songs over the years as he grew older.

Because I don’t want to get in trouble, because I want to do better, because I want to keep singing and eventually debut.

How could Jeong Seong-bin, who had been singing for years with such a heavy heart, not have accumulated such inner strength? In a way, it was as if Jang Jun-hoo had given Jeong Seong-bin the sword to use against himself.

‘Good job.’

If you did so well, why didn’t you say anything after filming ended? If you had just raised the corners of your lips a little, I would have known to wash it off.

I glanced over to the seat next to me, but Jeong Seong-bin was busy fanning himself.

Did you mess up the second half? Or did you do well on stage but were embarrassed by the bad result?

All sorts of thoughts came to my mind, but I came to my senses and focused on the stage again. The music was reaching its climax.

A close-up of Jeong Seong-bin’s hand holding the microphone.

Blue veins stood out on the back of his hand.

The tips of his fingers were red, and the camera scanned his neck, the tip of his nose, and the corners of his mouth…

“I ran away

Where the waves don’t reach

To a distant sandy beach

Leaving you behind to be swept away

My steps are cold

It’s snowing

It was red.

There were tears in Jeong Seong-bin’s eyes.

Even the way he tried hard not to shed tears made him look like a youth who had just let go of his first love.

The sight of him holding the microphone tightly with both hands, trying not to miss a single lyric, and pressing down on each note made my heart flutter.

I even thought it was rude to wonder how he could sing so perfectly while maintaining such an emotional line.

‘ah.’

Jeong Seong-bin on the screen took a deep breath.

I could tell without even looking around. Everyone sitting there was more absorbed in Jeong Seong-bin’s every breath and every song than I could ever imagine.

It was an expression of emotion at an absurd level.

‘I underestimated you.’

What does it mean to be the main vocalist of Spark, a group that is criticized for everything else but not for their looks or skills?

It was my fault for accepting the fact that he had been recording guides since middle school, had been a trainee for the longest time, and had been in the double digits in vocal skills since we first met, as if it were ordinary data entry.

‘It was just… … the purpose was to flatten Jang Jun-hoo’s nose and wash away his sorrow.’

In Jang Jun-hoo’s song, Jeong Seong-bin thought that it would be nice if he could just erase that guy.

However, Jeong Seong-bin rather comically exceeded my expectations.

No one who sees this stage will wonder who sang the original song.

It was shocking. In a good way.

* * *

“My brother is a genius.”

Lee Cheong-hyeon, whose eyes were red with tears, looked back at Jeong Seong-bin and said.

“My brother is a genius!”

“Let’s try to hold back our tears for now, Cheong-hyeon!”

Lee Cheong-hyeon seemed really touched. I was too.

“Be quiet. You can’t hear what I’m saying.”

Kang Ki-yeon turned up the volume while criticizing Lee Cheong-hyeon. Jeong Seong-bin, who had finished his performance successfully, was being interviewed by the MCs.

“You’re a senior and junior in the same agency as Jang Jun-hoo?”

As soon as the MC asked a question, a familiar curse word was heard from somewhere.

“Hey, man… … .”

That guy Choi Je-ho must have a conditioned reflex to swear. He’ll let it slide just this once because his opponent is Jang Jun-hoo.

“Yes. In fact, I have a deep connection with Senior Jang Jun-hoo.”

“omg.”

Lee Cheong-hyeon held his breath. It seemed like he hadn’t expected Jeong Seong-bin to make such an outspoken statement.

“Really?”

『I’ve been a guide for my senior’s songs since I was in middle school. So I’m proud to say that I know my senior’s songs really well!』

『This is truly fate. I think Jun-hoo must be proud that his junior debuted like this and showed such a great performance.』

“I’m proud. I think I’d be going crazy by now.”

Lee Cheong-hyeon laughed. This guy seems to have a bit of a temper.

“Did Lee Wol-hyung know that he would do well on stage and leave it to Seongbin-hyung?”

Kang Ki-yeon asked. I glanced at Jeong Seong-bin and answered.

“No, that’s not it. I was surprised too.”

Jeong Seong-bin looked away as if embarrassed. Then, in a voice the size of an ant, he made an excuse that his tears were not intentional. There was no need to explain that it was better because it was not intentional.

The broadcast ended with the 17-year veteran ballader being selected as ‘Singer of the Day’.

Even in a fiercely competitive personnel selection, Jeong Seong-bin achieved the feat of taking third place.

I was touching the photo of Jeong Seong-bin that I had attached to the slogan with satisfaction when the person in question spoke to me.

“Thank you, bro.”

“what?”

I didn’t do anything except create a slogan, but I suddenly received a thank you message.

When I looked at him to see what he meant, Jeong Seong-bin smiled and said.

“Hyung, do you remember singing ‘Sitting by the Window’ at the end-of-month evaluation last year?”

“I don’t remember.”

Wasn’t that the first evaluation where I tried to deceive by drawing out emotions that weren’t there due to my lack of skill? Looking back, it was a skill that made my face burn.

“While preparing for this stage, I thought a lot about my brother back then.”

“… …Was it like that?”

“I was able to improve the level of perfection thanks to my brother. If it weren’t for him, it would have been difficult to completely immerse myself in it.”

Jeong Seong-bin smiled.

This guy must have found something to learn from me back then. I was thinking back to that day and feeling self-deprecating.

I averted my gaze in embarrassment.

“You thought about it and prepared it yourself. I didn’t teach you anything.”

“Still.”

“Don’t deliberately take credit for your efforts. Modern society is harsh on praise even if you don’t do that.”

Maybe it was because I was embarrassed, but my words came out stiffly. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, I quickly got up from my seat.

“Still, thanks for the kind words.”

Jeong Seong-bin laughed heartily at my words. It was an awkward night.

* * *

After Jeong Seong-bin’s appearance on ‘My. Family. Jang’, a new song was added to Baek Hae-won’s playlist. Since it was a song for broadcasting, she didn’t expect the sound source to be released, but it was as if the song had been prepared and released.

‘Wow… … It was a good broadcast… … .’

Perhaps because it was a traditional show, the sound was great and the lighting effects were good. I was proud of my baby who showed off her amazing stage there.

Above all, ‘My. Family. Best’ captured the fresh and innocent face of Jeong Seong-bin amazingly!

Baek Hae-won’s article, which captured the moment when Jeong Seong-bin’s beauty shined, was quoted like wildfire among sparklers. The video of the high-pitched part that ended the song was also showing a considerable number of views.

≫ My mom, who used to hate that I was going to be an idol in my family, changed her attitude in 3 minutes

But people keep asking if he’s really an idol

So, Seongbin, just give me one authentic ballad.

└ It’s not easy to surpass the original song, but honestly, Sungbin is so good at it… … ㅋㅋㅋ I went to listen to the original song and quietly backsteppedㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└ Anyone can see that Seongbin swallowed the original songㅠㅠ I’m so proud of my baby

≫ It’s unfair for a cold-hearted handsome man to cry

And he’s good at singing too

If this continues, I’ll only be a tier 1 male idol main vocalist

└ 22 If you keep going like this, Jeong Seongbin, you’ll only be the number one vocalist among male idols ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

≫ The things in Jeong Seong-bin’s eyes don’t look like tears, but like pearls.

Is this okay… …

My heart is just… trembling?

I’m soaked from head to toe with sweat? If I squeeze it, it flows out?

└ Calm down and go stream first

≫ The eyes, the tip of the nose, and even the neck are red, but the eyes are moist… … The expression is sad… …

How can you not love and endure a person who sings about the pain of separation with a face like that?

└ Don’t love and tolerate it???

└ Don’t love and tolerate it???????

└ Don’t love and tolerate it???????????????

≫ I’m so glad I don’t get into politics.

If it were me, I would have pulled out all the pillars of the palace and made a secret order, and every time Seongbin shed a tear, I would have emptied the national treasury and ended up beheaded.

└ Tsuniya, please don’t let your neck fly awayㅠ

└ What am I seeing now?

Baek Hae-won, who took advantage of this gap to sell sparks to the neighboring town, was burned white.

To recover his energy, Baek Hae-won played Jeong Seong-bin’s version of “First Step” on repeat until the audio faded away and lay down on the bed.

And exactly 30 minutes later, I jumped out of bed when I saw the alarm on my phone.

There was news about the lovely Spark.

‘Today isn’t the day to come up with anything?’

There was no way he could have missed the SNS announcement. Baek Hae-won was bewildered and quickly went to Spark’s YouTube channel.

≫ [Spark] Making a 2X09XX Leader Secretly Cheering Tool

‘Did Seongbin make the placard?’

Spark was so cute I wanted to die. I think the cameraman was trying to capture the kids butting heads together and doing something, but since their shoulders were as big as the Pacific Ocean, I really liked how the thumbnail only showed their backs as big as a door.

The background of this video was, for some reason, a dormitory. There was no neat PPT either.

I wondered what was going on, but when I thought about it, this was usually the idol’s realistic self-confidence. I almost mistook it because I had only seen their professional appearances so far.

『We each make one and collect them later?』

“Okay then. Let’s make it with our own unique style.”

After Kim Iwol gave permission, Lee Cheong-hyeon picked up the materials.

Soon, the production of the five Spark cheering tools without any normal people began.