CH 21

“How was it? Is your body okay? What did Lee Wooyeon say? Is it okay? Isn’t Kang Youngmo mad?”

He quickly transcribed the questions that followed without a break from the cell phone in his notebook, and Inseop took a deep breath.

“My body is fine. Lee Wooyeon didn’t say much, and I’m not sick. And Kang Youngmo is kind of… I think there was a war of nerves, but he finished his script reading well.”

“That’s very fortunate.”

A loud sigh was heard from CEO Kim.

“Yes. Fortunately, the other actors were also worried, but nothing happened…”

“No, I’m glad you’re not sick. Lee Wooyeon will be fine. If Kang Youngmo had a head, he wouldn’t have been very upset on the day the reporters gathered. Of course, he would have done it in moderation. Take good care of your body Inseop-ah.”

Choi Inseop’s heart became cold at the added friendly words.

‘Sorry. I don’t deserve that kind of concern. CEO.’

Enduring the words in his heart, Inseop bit his lip.

“Sorry for worrying you.”

“Why are you apologizing? Anyway, what are you going to do after Lee Wooyeon’s schedule today?”

“I want to rest at home.”

“Take a break when you can. When we start filming for the drama, there will be a lot of overnight filming and there will be no time to close your eyes.”

“Yes. Thank you. Then I’ll get going.”

After saying goodbye, he put his phone in his pocket. As he walked to the parking lot to pick up his car, Inseop remembered what had happened today in his head.

He knew that the people on this floor had a lot of energy, but seeing it with his own eyes today, he felt like his whole body was leaking out. Everyone could not help but admire Lee Wooyeon’s ability to respond naturally no matter what page Kang Youngmo opened and whatever lines he said. When he had a photo time after calling reporters for a while, reporters were also impressed by his acting ability to digest every scene without a single mistake.

The script practice, which continued for a long time even after the reporters left, ended with Kang Youngmo leaving, but everyone sighed.

It was because everyone had guessed that this was not the end, but the beginning.

Inseop, who was watching the scene, clinging to the wall, shrugged his shoulders as if he was being hit whenever Kang Youngmo screamed nervously.

After seeing the pale face of the manager following Kang Youngmo, he clicked his tongue and sympathized with him.

If he had been Kang Youngmo’s manager, he would have collapsed after not being able to hold out for even a week. He didn’t know how he was holding out.

“I feel tired…”

Just being in the same room with Kang Youngmo for a while was exhausting, but the manager thought about how he felt and then shook his head in a hurry. He was surprised to think that his situation was better than that of Kang Youngmo’s manager.

It couldn’t be better. Because he was just sticking with Lee Wooyeon’s weakness to catch him. It was an insult to others who were working hard.

With a self-pitying smile, he walked down the road leading into the parking lot. The moment he turned the corner, a car protruding from the side barely passed Choi Inseop. As he reflexively stepped backwards, he lost his balance and fell to the floor.

“What! Watch where you’re going!”

The man who lowered the windshield of the Audi roared fiercely. It was Kang Youngmo. He didn’t know why he drove out of the parking lot by himself, but Inseop got up quickly and bowed his head to him.

“I’m sorry.”

Kang Youngmo stared at Inseop’s face as he gave him an apology and said, “Ah,” and opened his mouth.

“Are you Lee Wooyeon’s manager?”

After hesitating for a while, Choi Inseop answered yes. Even if he said no, it was best not to do anything that could be bad because they would continue to face each other in the future.

“Is it over now?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Why are you talking like that? Do you think I’m  a senior soldier in the army?”

“… sorry.”

He didn’t understand the intention of the other person, but he apologized first.

“As a manager to Lee Wooyeon, you’re very disciplined. Hahaha.”

Inseop wanted to get out of there immediately. He didn’t know what Kang Youngmo would do to him, so sweat was dripping down his palms. When he fell, he landed on his hand incorrectly and his palms began to feel sore as if he had a wound.

“Okay. Lee Wooyeon’s manager. Nice to meet you. I’m a little thirsty, can you go and get me a Coke?”

“What?”

“I want you to get me a Coke. Please do me a favor.”

Choi Inseop looked around to see if it was right for him to run an errand for him. Kang Youngmo’s manager, who should have been there, was not in the car.

“My manager went first because he had work. Please listen to my request. I can’t just walk around recklessly.”

“…”

Inseop was worried.

Lee Wooyeon, who was talking with reporters, had implied to him to bring the car to the entrance as soon as possible.

“Why? busy? Lee Wooyeon’s manager isn’t Lee Wooyeon, but he seems very busy.”

“I’ll buy it for you.”

At Choi Inseop’s answer, Kang Youngmo, who had been sarcastic until recently, said okay and smiled. Inseop’s face frowned as he went up the parking lot again and even said a thank-you afterward.

He can’t help it though. He couldn’t create his own problems.

Be quiet, then quietly disappear.

That was Choi Inseop’s current goal. The doctor’s words came to mind that he should not run for a while and refrain from strenuous exercise so as not to strain his heart, but he could not walk leisurely.

Recalling that there was a drink vending machine inside the building, he quickly ran towards it.

“There!”

When he found a red vending machine, he quickly rummaged through his pocket and took out a bill. He was nervously pushing the banknotes back in again and again because it didn’t fit the machine. When the lights on the vending machine finally came on, he hurrahed inside.

He had to do it quickly, quickly, quickly.

Choi Inseop scanned the Coke with his hand and muttered the word “quickly”. However, while he was contemplating whether to choose Coke or Pepsi, someone reached out and put an end to his worries.

“Thank you. I was thirsty.”

“… uh.”

Lee Wooyeon bent over and took out the drink that came out from below and smiled.

“This is what I promoted. Drinking in front of reporters would be good for advertising. There is talk of renewing the contract.”

“Ah…  Yes.”

Choi Inseop took the money out of his pocket again and carefully pushed it into the vending machine. Seeing him pull out a Coke and put it in his pocket, Wooyeon made a puzzled face.

“Do you want a cola?”

“… just… ”

“When you are thirsty, it is better to drink bottled water. Ion drinks are fine, but bottled water is better. It puts less strain on the body.”

“Yes… I’ll bring the car right away.”

“No. Let’s go together.”

“…”

“I was just about to come down anyway.”

When Choi Inseop, who was late, went to the lobby of the building and did not return, Lee Wooyeon was starting to get annoyed. Even though he looked stupid, Choi Inseop time management was as sharp as a knife. Wanting to see how long the knife had already become dull, Lee Wooyeon checked his watch. Choi Inseop rushed into the building, making the  reporter’s laugh with a sarcastic remark that he must have had an important appointment.

It was strange. He hadn’t seen Choi Inseop running in a while. When it rained, he only widened his stride while making a puzzled expression. Running inside like that, he must have had some reason, Lee Wooyeon said goodbye to the reporters and followed Inseop.

The moment he found Choi Inseop, who was looking crazy while choosing a drink in front of the vending machine, Lee Wooyeon clenched his fists.

Instead of scratching the back of his head, Lee Wooyeon quietly approached his back and pressed a random button to bring out his drink.

“Go.”

“… Yes.”

Seeing Choi Inseop, who was murmuring and watching, following behind, Lee Wooyeon inquired.

“Why are you so late? I was waiting for you.”

“I’m sorry.”

Choi Inseop never made excuses for his mistakes. He just quietly admitted his mistake and offered an apology. It felt neat at first, but now it was annoying.

Lee Wooyeon asked again.

“What happened? I wonder if you were meeting someone while I was standing there?”

“…”

It was a joke, but Choi Inseop bowed his head and didn’t say anything. Lee Wooyeon turned the bottle cap of the drink he was holding.

While drinking the drink that opened with a click, Lee Wooyeon waited for Choi Inseop’s answer.

“…”

Choi Inseop did not say anything until the end and quietly followed him. Gradually, his stomach twisted. The thought of not knowing what kind of seed was being planted behind the innocent face of not knowing anything, the suppressed irritation began to grow.

It made him want to twist his slender neck and scream at that tiny head to tell him right away what he was thinking.

Lee Wooyeon, who was walking ahead, turned around.

“Mr. Choi Inseop.”

“…Yes?”

When their eyes met, Choi Inseop’s eyes widened even more. It was heinous to have such innocent eyes on a person that lied and  tried to deceive people. Lee Wooyeon spoke like a child.

“People have a lot of problems here. You take good care of yourself, but it’s not a bad thing to be careful.”

“…all right.”

He didn’t quite understand what Lee Wooyeon was talking about, but he thought he was telling him to be careful, so Inseop blinked his eyes and answered that.

“Did you understand what I mean?”

“You mean beware of people, don’t you?”

“Yes. Okay.”

“All right.”

Even after hearing his answer, Lee Wooyeon did not feel relieved.

As he entered the parking lot, Choi Inseop’s signs of restlessness became clearer. The way he looked around made it clear that he was looking for someone.

“… ”

Lee Wooyeon was annoyed.

If he was going to deceive people, either make it look plausible, or don’t deceive. He was about to ask what the hell he was doing. That was when the silver Audi started flashing its headlights fiercely. Lee Wooyeon covered his face with his hand at the headlight that was so bright that he could not see ahead, and checked who was sitting in the driver’s seat.

Kang Youngmo was leaning on the steering wheel and looking at him. Lee Wooyeon looked back at Choi Inseop. Seeing Inseop trying to get a drink out of his pocket, he knew at a glance what was going on.

Lee Wooyeon took Choi Inseop’s hand.

“… !”

“Stay still.”

He held Inseop’s hand and made him put it back into his pocket. Then, dragging Inseop as it was, he went to the side of Kang Youngmo’s car.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Oh yeah. I’ve got some business to do. But the manager there…”

Choi Inseop tried to get the Coke out of his pocket, but Lee Wooyeon held his wrist and did not let go.

“We are busy, so let’s go. Goodbye.”

“What? Wait a minute. Are you ignoring what I asked earlier?”

The atmosphere became harsh.

Inseop hated rebellion. Of course, it was physically painful, but not wanting to be in a difficult situation mentally also played a big part in avoiding the group that bullied him to death at the school he sometimes went to.

Choi Inseop liked peaceful times. He loved the time he spent sitting in bed and imagining pleasant thoughts alone. He longed for quiet peace and pursued friendly human relationships. However, after coming to this place, he was on the verge of shriveling due to the harsh situations he unintentionally encountered. 

He just wanted to give the Coke and leave quickly. However, Lee Wooyeon, who was holding his wrist tightly, didn’t seem to want to do that.

“What are you talking about?”

“I told your manager to buy me a Coke, but you’re going now?”

“Oh, we are. Our manager was busy, so it must have been forgotten, sunbae.”

Having said that, Lee Wooyeon held out the drink he was holding and held it in front of Kang Youngmo.

“Then, would you like to have this instead?”

“…You. This…”

Choi Inseop was able to see with his own eyes twice today how the color of a human face can change.

“Or if you go out in front, there is a convenience store, so it would be good to buy bottled water. It’s better for your health than these drinks, sunbae.”

Lee Wooyeon greeted him politely and grabbed Choi Inseop’s hand again. Frightened of Kang Youngmo, who was staring at him, Inseop looked back several times.

“Don’t look back.”

“… Yes.”

The two walked to the place where the car was parked. In front of the car, Inseop began to think about how to remove himself out Lee Wooyeon’s hand that was still in his pocket.

“Did that person ask you to run an errand?”

“…sorry.”

In any case, he thought that he should apologize because he was the one who caused this situation. However, Lee Wooyeon did not accept the apology.

“Don’t do it. From now on.”

“…”

“Of course, things may get a little worse, but Choi Inseop is my manager, not that person. Do you understand?”

“Yes. I understand.”

He thought it was not enough to answer like that, so Inseop added, “I will never do that again.” After hearing that, Lee Wooyeon smiled brightly.

“Excuse me…”

Inseop carefully opened his mouth, looking at the hands in his pockets that were still not let go.

“Why?”

“Hand…”

“Ah. Right.”

Lee Wooyeon took his hand out of his pocket. Holding Choi Inseop’s wrist.

“I’m going to throw this away.”

Lee Wooyeon took the Coke from his hand and threw it into a nearby trash can. In that decisive action, Inseop felt a chill of unknown reason.

His grandma used to say that people who casually threw away food were bad people… And so, Lee Wooyeon was clearly a bad guy.

“Why happened here?”

“What?”

“Did you fall?”

Lee Wooyeon looked at Choi Inseop’s palm and asked. Inseop hid his hands behind his back and responded bluntly saying, “It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. Where did you fall?”

“I fell in parking lot.”

Lee Wooyeon grabbed Choi Inseop’s shoulder and made him turn around.

“You fell backwards.”

Choi Inseop’s face turned red and he brushed off the dust on his buttocks. It was rare to fall backwards on a non-icy road. Unless something threatens in front of you.

Lee Wooyeon remembered the silver Audi, which was parked on the corner and was waiting for Inseop.

“Hahaha, really…”

“What?”

Inseop, who was opening the car door, turned his head in surprise. Lee Wooyeon, with his usual face, said, “It’s nothing,” and got into the car.

As he sat in the driver’s seat and closed the car door, Choi Inseop tilted his head. Obviously he didn’t hear it wrong before, or it sounds like…

“I’m going to work out today, so please go there.”

“All right.”

Choi Inseop played a CD where only Lee Wooyeon’s favorite songs were sung. The sound of starting the car was drowned out by the prelude to the song.

As he turned the wheel, Inseop began to ponder what exactly the words he had heard earlier meant.

‘Fucking dog. He said fucking dog didn’t he?

Did he mean a dog chewing sound? It was a bad word since he said dog, right?’

A car with a handful of his worries slowly began to slide out of the parking lot.

The manager, who had come from a honey-like vacation, had two medicines in his hand. Since this was the last time, CEO Kim said that this would never happen again, held onto his pants and begged, and so he served as Lee Wooyeon’s manager for only a week.

The results were horrendous.

He felt like his whole body was weakened just by suffering from Lee Wooyeon for a few days. When he remembered the face of Inseop when he was getting his herbal medicines, he unknowingly asked for another set.

It wasn’t that the other managers who had passed by were not pitiful either. However, his heart was especially drawn to Choi Inseop. It was pitiful that he did not know the devilish Lee Wooyeon’s true form and jumped into the ice-cold bottom of the lake to save him, and that he was put back to work after lying in the hospital because of it.

Besides, what does it mean to be Lee Wooyeon’s fan? Tears filled his eyes as he watched him running around with reduced sleep time for such a gutter-like guy.

“The older I get, the more tears I shed…”

Manager Cha wiped his eyes with his palm and waited for the elevator. Today was Monday, so Inseop would come to the office. Usually, he received and checked the new schedule by phone or email, but Inseop personally came to the office and checked Lee Wooyeon’s schedule update.

“Hello.”

“Oh, Mr. Inseop. Are you all right?”

“Yes. I’m fine”

He replied that he was okay, but his face still looked weak. While riding the elevator, Inseop stood silently in the corner and watched only the numbers on the instrument panel change.

When he heard a ding and the elevator door opened, Choi Inseop’s face turned red and the manager felt bitter. He had a nice and kind personality, but strangely, Inseop often drew a line towards people.

As he entered the office, he saw Choi Inseop walking around, greeting people one by one. Even though he was busy, he thought it was strange to see the lady who was cleaning the house bowing his head to say hello.

“Oh. Did you finally come to work?”

Today, CEO Kim, who had been admiring himself from head to toe, warmly patted him on the shoulder.

“Hello.”

Inseop, who saw him, bowed his head towards him.

“Seop. Let me see you for a second.”

CEO Kim called Inseop to his room. Manager Cha followed after him without a word.

As Inseop entered, CEO Kim motioned for him to sit on the sofa. An anxious expression was evident on Inseop’s expression as he sat on the sofa.

“Every time I called you, you trembled like a criminal. I won’t eat you.”

CEO Kim took out a drink from the refrigerator and continued.

“How is Lee Wooyeon these days?”

“He is busy. Interviews keep coming in, and we are preparing for filming. He is constantly training and practicing. Today, he has two interviews, one to participate in a movie premiere, and he has plans to appear in an entertainment program.”

Taking out a schedule notebook from his pocket, Inseop calmly explained Lee Wooyeon’s schedule. CEO Kim couldn’t hold back his laughter and tilted his head back.

“Ahaha. What I asked is how Lee Wooyeon is these days. You don’t have to be so precise.”

“Yes? Oh, sorry.”

He could communicate freely, but it was still difficult for him to grasp the lines or hidden meanings of a conversation.

“Then what are your plans for tonight?”

“Mr. Wooyeon is going to go home at 10 o’clock tonight.”

“No, not Lee Wooyeon, you, Inseop.”

“I… I’m going home.”

“Then stop by the office before you go home. Understand?”

“Yes. All right.”

CEO Kim liked this part of Choi Inseop. When a superior asked him to do something, he accepted everything without asking why. He seemed to think that was the manager’s duty.

“Then do your best today.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Choi Inseop stood up from his seat with an uneasy face. The relaxed expression continued until Manager Cha called him to a stop.

“Mr. Inseop.”

“… Yes?”

Even though he had only called his name, when he looked at him with frightened eyes, Manager Cha felt even sadder.

“Drink this.”

He handed out the medicine he had brought from the health center earlier.

“What is this?”

“Remedy. Your body looked a little weak, so I bought you one of mine.”

“Mine? What about me?”

When CEO Kim intervened without fail, manager Cha made an outright annoyed expression. What the hell, this annoying human, the words soared up to the top of his throat.

“The CEO should buy with his own money. A person must have a conscience.”

“What did I do! Isn’t my money money?”

“Then my money is not money!?”

Between the two of them, Inseop pulled out his wallet.

“How much is it?”

“What?”

“How much can I give you?”

Choi Inseop checked the cash in his wallet and turned a slightly dark expression. He was worried because he could not estimate how expensive the supplement would be.

“Wait a minute and I’ll go down and get some more cash… ”

“What are you talking about? Who wants money. I’m just giving.”

“Whta?”

“Eat it, because it’s just something I got for you while getting mine.”

“Ah… I…”

Inseop bowed his head. He was very grateful for the goodwill of Manager Cha, but he felt that he did not deserve this kind of thing.

“…I am okay. I am healthy.”

“You eat to be healthier. It’s okay. Just take it.”

Manager Cha held out a box of medicines. Inseop’s head bowed even more.

“No. It’s fine.”

“Take it. When I give something like this, you just take it.”

“That’s right. Don’t embarrass the giver, take it.”

When Manager Cha and CEO Kim alternately told him to take it, Inseop reluctantly received the box. As he said thank you, his face turned red with embarrassment.

“It was made in a good place, so eat it thoroughly. You can eat it 30 minutes after eating. Eat it warm as much as possible.”

Inseop said thank you again in a small voice. But his expression was still dark.

“Let’s eat this and do our best to take care of Lee Wooyeon. Fighting.”

When CEO Kim struggled and shouted fighting with a bright voice, Choi Inseop shouted fighting with a lifeless voice. As he went out with the medicine, manager Cha shrugged his shoulders.

“Did you do anything wrong to him?”

“No. That can’t be.”

“Then why was he taking the medicine with such a depressed expression and leaving? I don’t think Lee Wooyeon ordered anything to put in there, right?”

“Are you crazy! Am I the kind of person to do what Lee Wooyeon asks?”

“You’re not.”

“I did it because he was pitiful, because he was pitiful. He’s a fan of the dog-like Lee Wooyeon, and it’s pitiful for him to take care of Wooyeon so much that his face is like that, so I made medicine for him. The CEO has never been Lee Wooyeon’s manager, so you’re just talking like that.”

“I have no intention of taking Lee Wooyeon’s side, but … Not one of the kids who quit said it was difficult.”

“It’s because Lee Wooyeon is cleverly crafting something. If you don’t believe me, try to be a manager for one day. How it burns people up!”

Manager Cha, who followed Lee Wooyeon as a manager for the past week, started to think that Lee Wooyeon’s personality was like a dog. He felt sorry for Inseop, who was working hard without knowing anything. Of course, he also wanted him to never quit.

“Anyway, the CEO also wants Choi Inseop to take good care of him. If he quits, it will be difficult to find another person, but there is still a lot of talk about Lee Wooyeon’s manager changing frequently.”

“I know. I know. I also won’t let Choi Inseop go. Don’t worry. I have everything prepared.”

“Did you prepare something?”

“Something like that.”

After leaving CEO Kim’s meaningful smile behind, manager Cha left the representative office clicking his tongue.