Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols Chapter 408 - Study With Me (2)

Choi Jeho’s pizza parlor closed its shutters before it even officially opened. It was caught by the sharp eyes of Kang Kiyeon.

 

『Hyung, what do you think you’re doing right now?!』

 

『You said you didn’t like petty pizzas.』

 

The dough, which looked like laundry that had been hung wrong and wrinkled at the corners, was currently being drowned in tomato sauce. The pepperoni toppings, stacked in layers like something out of an American family restaurant, were a sight to behold. Even the bell peppers and onions, which Park Joowoo had chopped so much of that he thought they’d have leftovers, were completely used up.

 

『Won’t it drip everywhere while we eat it…?』

 

『We can just roll it up.』

 

Choi Jeho dispelled the younger members’ concerns with a single word and created a magnificent pizza, but he couldn’t escape the crackdown by Jeong Seongbin, who had been dispatched after being poked in the ribs by Kang Kiyeon. Some of the removed toppings were redistributed into two smaller ‘petty’ pizzas.

 

『When is the pizza going to be done?』

 

『Whoa, you scared me! When did you get here?』

 

Lee Cheonghyeon popped up over the shoulder of Jeong Seongbin, who was in the middle of the pizza remake. Baek Haewon quickly checked her phone. Kim Iwol was still working non-stop alone on the screen.

 

『Cheonghyeon has reached his limit. I didn’t have the confidence to fill the full five hours.』

 

『Passing four hours is already amazing. Good job.』

 

Jeong Seongbin comforted Lee Cheonghyeon. To an outsider, Jeong Seongbin might look like a simple, sweet leader, but Lee Cheonghyeon truly was impressive. Spark had a pre-recording at dawn today, followed by a music show recording and a group variety show shoot. Sitting down to study for over four hours after handling that schedule was no easy feat.

 

『I’m still going back after eating pizza, though.』

 

『Because Iwol hyung isn’t finished?』

 

Kang Kiyeon glanced toward the living room.

 

『I can’t just go to sleep right after eating. Weren’t you four planning to go for a run after eating?』

 

『……』

 

At Cheonghyeon’s words, Jeong Seongbin and Park Joowoo simultaneously avoided eye contact as if they had rehearsed it before.

 

≫ It’s midnight and you’re going for a run……?

≫ I was wondering why you guys were eating pizza at this hour

≫ It’s okay to eat it just for one day T_T

≫ Look at the Main Vocalists’ expressionsㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

 

Baek Haewon quietly gave up the idea of eating cup ramen. She couldn’t shake the feeling that a late-night snack was a luxury for someone like her who planned to go to sleep as soon as the live stream ended.

 

The pizza, which was ‘once petty but was reborn through grace’, finally emerged. The name was given by Lee Cheonghyeon after hearing the circumstances.

 

『It’s called the ‘Haneun’ Pizza for short.』

 

『Like the Bank of Korea (Han-guk Eun-haeng)?』

 

Jeong Seongbin asked, but the haneun pizza was dismantled into six slices before it could even consider a name change. Jeong Seongbin placed the first slice onto a plate. He cut it into bite-sized pieces and delivered it to Kim Iwol along with a fork.

 

『I’m fine, though.』

 

『Eat it if you’re bored.』

 

After serving him sparkling water as well, Jeong Seongbin returned to enjoy the pizza with the other members. Watching the screen, Baek Haewon sighed and finally poured water into her cup ramen.

 

『This is just a tease. I want more.』

 

『We’re baking another one right now……!』

 

『Is this one also a pizza showered in blessings?』

 

『It’s just a pizza.』

 

Lee Cheonghyeon suppressed his laughter as he watched Choi Jeho respond indifferently.

 

≫ Kim Iwol, eat the pizza!

≫ Iwol, eat something while you work!!

 

Maybe he had been monitoring the comments, Jeong Seongbin whispered something to Kim Iwol while delivering the second baked pizza. Kim Iwol looked at the chat window and finally began to poke at the pizza with his fork.

 

≫ He’s eating!

≫ ㅋㅋㅋㅋ I feel like I’m watching a wildlife documentary.

≫ Aren’t your legs falling asleep……?

≫ I feel like I’m seeing all the expressionless Iwol I’ll ever see in my life today.

 

Baek Haewon nodded at the last comment. Even though a smiling face was the prettiest, fans were greedy. For a Sparkler who wanted to see every single facial expression to be satisfied, an expressionless Kim Iwol was a rare find.

 

And yet, right in front of the fans’ eyes! Today!

 

≫ College student Cheon Yoonsung doing assignments actually exists.

≫ A hundred praise stickers to Kim Iwol for the sweatshirt + messy hair combo.

 

A full 5-hour version of ‘Side-Job Moment’ Kim Iwol, including pizza tasting time, had been released……! (Considering his main job was being a bright, smiling idol.)

 

≫ We…… just wanted a few CSAT tips.

≫ The classic test-taker mindset that emphasizes that pure study time is more important than tips.

≫ The idol who is best at sitting down among all idols.

≫ I’m so glad S-University didn’t steal him away……

 

Even as the third pizza piled onto plates like a mountain, Kim Iwol remained steadfast. Baek Haewon finished her cup ramen and renewed her resolve.

 

『Then, we are going for a workout!』

 

『Cheonghyeon will return to the study live~.』

 

With the ending remarks, the cooking live stream ended. Lee Cheonghyeon gathered the pizza plates and returned to Kim Iwol’s side.

 

≫ Alright, everyone, back to studying.

≫ Open your books.

≫ *Living a productive life following an idol isn’t easy……

≫ I’m studying with this on, but I don’t have the confidence to do better on the CSAT than Cheonghyeon.

≫ UA, if you have a conscience, give Iwol a salary.

≫ His office worker core is strong

 

After that, the silent self-study session continued. It felt like being in a library. Thanks to the study atmosphere created by Iwol and Cheonghyeon, Baek Haewon actually finished almost everything she had brought. All that was left was organizing her study planner.

 

‘Don’t you guys ever get tired……?’

 

Baek Haewon had also woken up at the crack of dawn to go to school. Even if Spark were fitness maniacs, there was no way they weren’t tired after such a schedule.

 

Should I really start exercising? If I become a gym regular like Spark, will I be able to do self-development even with this kind of daily routine? Baek Haewon decided she would look for a gym as soon as the CSAT was over.

 

* * *

 

“Hyung, shall we wrap it up now?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Jeong Seongbin sat down beside me and spoke.

 

“It’s already 3 AM.”

 

“What?”

 

I didn’t realize it because the kitchen lights were so bright. I remember telling Lee Cheonghyeon to go sleep if he was done.

 

“Have you been up this whole time too?”

 

“I took a short nap.”

 

Jeong Seongbin’s eyes were unfocused. He truly had the face of someone who just woke up. When I told him I’d finish up and head in shortly, he stumbled back to his room.

 

“Sorry. I didn’t get to talk much today. For those still here… do you have schedules tomorrow?”

 

≫ Looks like I’m skipping class.

 

“If you’re skipping…… make sure to check if you have enough attendance days left. Everyone remembers how Seongbin almost got an ‘F’ last semester for lack of attendance, right?”

 

No response came from Seongbin’s room, he must’ve fallen asleep again. A flood of comments urged me to go to sleep quickly. I sat there quietly, reading the chats as they slowly scrolled up.

 

≫ Who is making the muse of the Ministry of Employment and Labor work until this hour???

≫ If UA isn’t paying you a salary, wiggle your mouse.

≫ Stop giving work to a kid who is already busy just being an idol T_T

≫ You aren’t doing all the concert prep yourself, right? Tell me it’s not true.

 

“I should have explained better, I made a mistake. I don’t work like this every day! The company always tells me I can delegate everything. It’s just my personality; I have to check everything myself to feel at peace. I’m slowly reducing it. And I intentionally saved up some work to show for today’s content.”

 

However, I couldn’t just dismiss the fans’ anxiety as simple coddling. After all, no one worried about me like Sparklers did.

 

I took the phone that was filming the live and moved it to a position where my face was clearly visible. After checking the focus, I spoke carefully.

 

“A lot has happened recently.”

 

As if by magic, the chat window stopped moving.

 

“I found that doing work actually helps refresh my thoughts. I’m not overdoing it. It would be counterproductive to hurt my health while trying to change my mood. I’m only doing it to the extent that it serves as a healthy way to relieve stress! You don’t need to worry too much.I just wanted to tell you I’m doing well.”

 

Seeing the chat window turn into a sea of tears made me feel bad. I quickly added an excuse.

 

“It’s not just me who thinks this. Seongbin also says I seem more lively when I work!”

 

≫ If the Leader gave his permission, then I accept it.

≫ Okay.

≫ *If Seong-bin certified it……ㅋㅋ

 

“……Why is the level of trust different from when I say it?”

 

≫ We’re just following Iwol’s words that we must obey the Leader’s words like they’re the law T_T

≫ Why do you think?

≫ Seongbin never says anything wrong. Not that you’re lying, Iwol, but Seongbin is just never wrong.

≫ If Kim Iwol doesn’t go to sleep soon, Youth Seongbin will come and scold you.

≫ You were the one who told us to only trust Seongbin~!ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

 

Laughing and chatting, time flew by once again. If I let the fans stay up any longer, I was going to be disqualified as an idol.

 

“One last thing I want to say.”

 

I said, looking into the camera. 

 

“Everything I do is because I want to show a better result to the Sparklers. There have been difficult times, but there’s never been a time where it felt like a burden. Please look at it as my effort to look good for you. I’ll keep enjoying it while working hard.”

 

With those closing remarks, I ended the live. I felt more refreshed than tired. I really wanted to say those words.

 

I hope my sincerity reached them. The Sparklers are the reason I work, and nothing makes me prouder than their praise.