Ch.5 Unexpected Meeting and the Playful Secretary Shin
Seria is a third-tier girl group that only those who professionally follow idols would know about.
Therefore, appearing on major music shows like Music in Us was out of the question, and there was no reason for them to be here.
I was curious why they were here, but that curiosity was quickly resolved.
“We are Seria from Enrich Entertainment. Please remember our name and if there’s a chance, please consider us!”
“We’ll work hard! Please help us!”
Sua and the General Manager were doing what’s commonly called field promotion.
Literally running around doing promotions on foot.
Unknown idols often come to broadcasting stations like this, greeting passing employees and trying their best to make their group name known even a little.
No matter how extensive and innovative marketing plans they make, since they can’t even get one broadcast appearance, they hope for the miracle of accidentally running into a PD.
Although many broadcasting stations prohibit such activities, our station was in a position to allow it.
The reason was simple. Because I said not to stop them.
As someone who loves idols, I thought it would be too heartbreaking to tell such hardworking kids not to come in.
‘Since it would be a nuisance if they all came rushing in, they only brought Sua, the leader.’
I’ll probably receive greetings too when I pass by them.
Seeing the General Manager handing out business cards, I figured I’d soon have one in my hand too.
But why am I suddenly getting nervous over this?
Just earlier, I stood before Lize, who’s doing much better than Seria, with my hands in my pockets and even cut their music show appearance, but thinking about passing by Sua and the situations that would unfold, strangely my blood ran dry and my heart was pounding.
If they knew I was the Director, they’d be really surprised and probably show a bright smile trying to leave an impression in my mind, right?
And they’d surely be thrilled to hear what comes out of my mouth.
-Prepare for next week’s music show.
I’m already feeling thrilled.
“Ahem.”
I cleared my throat and casually walked down the hallway.
I even crossed my arms to openly show that I was someone important, flaunting my authority.
If I had known this would happen, I would have dressed properly and worn my employee ID card around my neck.
Anyway, when I finally passed by them, they approached me.
“Hello! We’re from Enrich Entertainment… Uh?”
The General Manager stopped mid-sentence and tilted his head.
What is it? Surely he couldn’t remember my face from Seria’s fan signing event a few days ago?
I wore a hat pulled down low and even had a mask on then, so there’s no way he could remember that.
“Aren’t you the Director!”
As expected, the General Manager recognized the Director’s face and didn’t seem to have any thought about seeing me as a fan at the signing event.
I wanted to hide the embarrassing fact that the NSS Director went to an idol fan signing event, so this was fortunate.
First, I need to play it cool, naturally.
“Yes? Ah yes, what is it?”
“Hello! I’m Yoon Sung-ho, the General Manager in charge of Seria. And this is…”
Yoon Sung-ho, Manager Yoon, finished his introduction and gestured toward Sua.
“I’m Sua, the leader of Seria who wants to become a light that illuminates the world☆! I’m so happy to meet you, Director!”
How cute. It’s exactly the same greeting I saw at the fan signing event.
They’re only in their second year, right? Maybe that’s why there’s still freshness about them.
Even though they should be tired from promoting as unknown artists, there were no signs of their spirit being broken yet.
‘But she is really quite refined.’
Her submissive-looking eyes contrasted with her sharp gaze that seemed stubborn, her fresh yet straight nose, thin lips painted light pink, and the pretty dimple at the end of them.
Surprisingly, all these amazing features were contained in a face just the size of a fist.
In my opinion, while Enrich Entertainment calls Sua the innocent concept member when dividing member concepts, Sua is actually an all-around idol who possesses every charm a woman can have.
Even her prominently curved chest… No, where am I looking right now?
Sua was wearing a white V-neck t-shirt with short pants that clung tightly to her bottom while clearly showing her slim and smooth legs, and since everything was made of spandex, her well-proportioned body was asserting its presence.
“Ah, yes, nice to meet you too. I’ve heard of Seria. You’re in your second year now. It’s your second album, right?”
I pretended to vaguely know about them while acting like I didn’t know the details, even though I had gone to their second album fan signing and got all the members’ autographs.
I didn’t want to seem too eager by talking too much.
“Yes, that’s right! We’re not very popular, but I’m so happy you remember us! Thank you!”
Sua clasped her hands together and bowed her head several times.
Seeing her pitiful appearance made me want to hug her right away.
“Director! If there’s ever a cancellation in the lineup or if you urgently need an idol group, please just consider us! We’ll rush over whenever you call. And this is my business card.”
Manager Yoon bowed so low that you could see the top of his head while holding out his business card.
Seeing him grovel like this, they must be quite desperate.
There were rumors among Seria’s fans that the company might be closing down, and it seems there was some truth to that.
Well, Seria was the third group launched by Enrich Entertainment, but the previous two groups both failed and disbanded, making Seria essentially the group carrying their last hope.
But with no response even to that, their funding line must be slowly drying up.
Perhaps… It means that even Seria might disband soon.
“Then prepare for next week’s music show.”
When my thoughts reached that point, I blurted it out without realizing it.
Although I was planning to say this anyway, the timing was a bit early. But who cares, what is good is good.
“What… What?!”
Manager Yoon and Sua asked simultaneously with their eyes wide open.
They seem not to believe it, so I should give them a clear answer.
“There’s an empty slot in Music in Us. Seria just made a comeback, right? Prepare for the music show from next week. You’ll be contacted through PD Ahn.”
“Uh… Uh… Ah, yes! Thank you, Director! We will never forget this kindness!”
“Thank you! Hehe… No, I shouldn’t laugh so carelessly, but it’s so sudden and I’m so happy…”
Although Sua was smiling, tears were welling up in her eyes.
It seemed like the crystallization of all the hardships she had endured.
She tried to compose herself by shaking her head, but it only made her bangs messy and made her look more pitiful.
“Why are you suddenly crying? I thought you’d be happy.”
“I am happy… But I’m so happy that tears are…”
“Our Sua is very true to her emotions. Perfect for an idol. We’ll prepare Seria well so we won’t disappoint you, Director.”
“Haha, yes, I look forward to it. But please stop bowing. It’s not that big a deal. Ms. Sua, please raise your head too.”
I was uncomfortable looking down at the backs of their heads, so I grabbed their shoulders and made them straighten their backs.
At that moment, the sensation on my right hand was euphoric. This was because Sua was on my right side.
The t-shirt Sua was wearing was designed to explicitly reveal her shoulders, and her enchanting shoulder line and skin seemed to make me shiver.
Plus, since it was a V-neck, the trembling cleavage when she bent and straightened up was nice too.
Sua, how lovely….
“Thank you so much, Director!!”
Finally, I waved once to Sua and Manager Yoon and headed to the director’s office.
Who knew I could make a delicate girl cry with joy using my authority?
Why haven’t I used this until now? Hehehe…
The feeling is what you might call… Refreshing.
“What’s making you so happy again, Director?”
“Ack, Secretary Shin. Please make some noise when you walk.”
Oh, that startled me. In front of my eyes was Secretary Shin who must have popped out of the secretary’s office at some point.
“I’m just greeting you as usual when you arrive, Director. What have you been thinking about all day that makes you grin like that? You didn’t even notice I was here.”
“I just had some good things happen.”
“Tell me too. I want to… Be happy together with you, Director.”
Hm? Ah, Secretary Shin is playing around again. I guess she’s throwing these jokes around because she’s pretty and sharp, so I’ll just play along.
“No, I want to be happy by myself. Look at Winnie the Pooh. He always hugs his honey jar trying to eat it all by himself.”
“What? Puhehe… Director, you’re really funny. Oh right, the broadcast schedule has been updated.”
“Yeah? Good work.”
As I was about to enter the director’s office after exchanging jokes with Secretary Shin, someone grabbed my arm.
“Hm? What is it, Secretary Shin?”
“Um… Director. Am I doing my job well? It’s been about 3 months since I started, and I wonder if you’re satisfied…”
Secretary Shin is good-looking, makes good coffee, and does her work diligently. As a manager, I’d give her 10 out of 10.
She jokes around a lot but doesn’t cross the line, and it’s cute like having a little sister.
But if I tell her straight up, she might develop bad habits, so I’ll knock it down a bit…
“I’ll give you 8 points out of 10.”
“Is 8 points still an A grade?”
“That’s right. You’re doing well, so just keep going like this.”
“Yes, when I fill up the remaining 2 points, will you… Fill me up too, Director?”
“What?”
What is she saying?
Did I hear that wrong?
“It’s nothing. I’m just saying thank you for hiring a rookie like me as your secretary and always taking care of me. You’re my first… Director… I like…”
She kept lowering her volume in the middle of her sentences so I couldn’t hear properly.
Is she just joking again? But Secretary Shin’s face was slightly flushed, showing a hint of seriousness.
“Secretary Shin, I can’t hear you well. Say it properly. First what?”
“I’m saying I’m glad my first experience in professional life started as your secretary. I’m just a 23-year-old, and you’re too big of a figure for me to assist.”
Ah, so that’s what she meant.
She doesn’t need to praise me so much, it’s making me embarrassed.
Unlike Secretary Shin’s usual foxy demeanor, it was too serious.
Making such a big deal out of nothing.
“Haha, there’s not much age difference between us, what do you mean by big figure? I just hired Secretary Shin because it’s convenient to have someone younger than me as a secretary. Don’t overdo it. I’m going in.”
As her superior, I gave her shoulder a cool pat and opened the director’s office door, and went in.
“…Idiot…”
I heard such words faintly from behind, but it was buried under the sound of the closing door so I let it slide.
It must be Secretary Shin joking around again.
Today feels particularly long.
