Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols Chapter 504 - Chat Time (4)

Outdoor filming in the scorching sun was never particularly welcome. The thought of overworking skin that had been meticulously cared for like a hothouse flower under UV rays for hours made my heart ache.

 

Still, the incredible natural lighting and the fresh scenery were more than worth enduring the scorching sun. How could I give up on a Season’s Greetings photoshoot in front of an emerald sea?

 

How could I possibly deprive Sparklers of a shirtless Choi Jeho, Jeong Seongbin in a rash guard, a newly toned and upgraded Park Joowoo, a soaking wet Lee Cheonghyeon, and Kang Kiyeon shaking out his hair with a towel? I didn’t know such a cruel world.

 

Since we were staying abroad for a long period anyway, we decided to make the most of the local scenery whenever we weren’t flying back to Korea. This beach shoot was part of that plan.

 

When we filmed the End music video, the set was incredibly hectic because we had to get all the necessary shots in a short window. This time, there was no need to rush. Since we had even booked a lodging near the beach to double as a filming site for our self-produced content, we could film the intro in the morning, do some work when the sun was at its brightest, enjoy the beach again in the afternoon, and just play games at a cool pension at night.

 

Even the weather gods were on our side. The early summer sun asserted its presence from the crack of dawn. Cotton-candy clouds floated in the blue sky. It was a high-quality great outdoors studio that you couldn’t find anywhere else, no matter how much you paid.

 

The photos of Spark taken in this beautiful scenery were as good as any fashion editorial. Their hair, dyed in vivid colors for the consecutive performances, and their jawlines, which were as sharp as ever, looked like a painting.

 

Their well-defined muscles also helped create a refreshing atmosphere. This shade of blue was Spark’s true personal color, not #FF6600. Feeling a surge of annoyance at the memory, I glared at Choi Jeho as he emerged after changing clothes.

 

The dense storyboard reflected the passion of the planning team. There were plenty of photos to take: soft and pure vibes, sparkling and active vacation scenes, innocent moments enjoying the water, and even mature, soaking-wet looks. Switching between individual and group shots, time flew by.

 

Just moments ago, they’d been wilting from the heat, but the instant someone handed each of them a cold watermelon juice, they perked right up. Maybe being cooped up indoors for so long had made the fresh air even more exciting.

 

“Is this real fruit juice?” 

 

Lee Cheonghyeon asked the staff member who prepared the props. As soon as he heard it contained no sugar, he asked for permission to drink it once the photos were done.

 

“Hyung, did you hear? The watermelon juice is sugar-free! They said I can drink it when I’m done!”

 

“That’s nice. Want mine too once my turn is over?”

 

“It’s okay. They said they’re giving us coconut juice for the group shots later, so I’ll drink that. You drink yours, hyung.”

 

Lee Cheonghyeon then tucked a flower provided for the shoot behind his ear. Based on his visuals alone, he looked like a 30-year veteran vacation expert.

 

Once the real water play began, the atmosphere became even livelier. The guys who had been striking cool poses under the blazing sun transformed into ordinary vacationers the moment they stepped into the sea—well, ordinary vacationers who never forgot their jobs. They splashed water at one another in graceful arcs and pretended to block the water with their arms, all while making absolutely sure never to stand at an angle where the backlighting would ruin their faces.

 

I even performed a rescue operation for Park Joowoo, who looked like a drowned rat after falling deep into the water. Since his fluffy hair had gone limp, I slicked it back to make him look stylish and meticulously touched up every stray strand.

 

“Does it look weird…?”

 

“Don’t worry. Today, you’re the ‘Sexy King’ of our team.”

 

“What about Jeho hyung…?”

 

“He’s… just the King.”

 

“I can’t tell if you’re praising Jeho hyung or not, hyung,” 

 

Kang Kiyeon interjected. I insisted it was a compliment, but everyone looked unconvinced.

 

After milking the blue sea for all the pictorial data we could get, we gathered under a parasol to check the results. Exclamations of awe erupted every time a photo was swiped.

 

“I don’t think that’s me…?” 

 

Kang Kiyeon muttered while looking at the monitor. The Kang Kiyeon on screen radiated a carbonated energy, as if a bright blue sparkling drink had been turned into a human.

 

“No, it captured you exactly as you are. The five senses are all there, from the sunlight to the sound of the waves. To think photography technology has advanced this much. I’m not even envious of video anymore.”

 

“I think you should have a side job as a critic, hyung. You’re someone who should be writing book or movie reviews.”

 

Lee Cheonghyeon suggested a second career for me. It was unfortunate that the only subject capable of bringing out my vocabulary was Spark.

 

After gathering a wealth of great photo data, we enjoyed a chaotic session of mini-games at the lodging, filled with a cool breeze and sweet fruit. The members, who had been losing their appetites and withering from the heat, burned with enthusiasm in front of the local desserts and food.

 

The losers of each game were decked out in a variety of colorful penalty items. I’d requested beforehand that the punishments should be funny without ruining their good looks, so the staff had brought all sorts of bizarre props.

 

“Is a flower lei really a penalty for Lee Cheonghyeon?” 

 

Choi Jeho asked.

 

He was referring to Lee Cheonghyeon, who had lost a game where the person who said their forbidden word the most loses—Lee Cheonghyeon had said his forbidden word, ‘No’, twenty-four times. He was now draped in a dazzlingly colorful flower lei.

 

“Jeho hyung, are you praising me?”

 

“Hasn’t the way compliments work in this team been a little strange for a while now?”

 

 Kang Kiyeon interjected again. Jeong Seongbin just laughed brightly, saying it was nice and family-like.

 

“It really suits you, Cheonghyeon…” 

 

Park Joowoo said, adjusting the lei so the flowers faced forward. No matter how brilliant the flowers were, they couldn’t compare to Lee Cheonghyeon’s beauty.

 

While Spark was running around until their feet sweated, I heard that exclusive ad offers for Lee Cheonghyeon were flooding the agency. I’d have to set aside some time to review them soon.

 

But before that, there was something else that needed settling first.

 

“Joowoo.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“You wear this, too.” 

 

I held out a giant bungeoppang mascot head to Park Joowoo.

 

“Why…?”

 

Why else? Because your forbidden action was ‘acting guilty’. Now hurry up, take off those alien sunglasses, and put this on instead.

 

* * *

 

After playing games until late at night, Kang Kiyeon and I were chosen as the unfortunate souls to go buy late-night snacks from the market. By the time we finished writing down everyone’s picky orders and stepped out, the surroundings were pitch black.

 

“A lot of shops are closed. What time is it now?”

 

“It’s 11 PM.”

 

“Already? Did we play games for that long?”

 

“We did…” 

 

The writer holding the camera smiled with the serenity of someone who had transcended worldly concerns. The thumbs-up they gave us somehow looked mournful. Sorry, Writer. Working hard is part of our job too.

 

After crossing a few more intersections, we found a grocery store that was still open. By the time we’d read through the order sheet over and over and picked out every snack, we were carrying an absurd amount of stuff.

 

“What did Jeho even write so much for?”

 

“Jeho hyung said he already digested dinner after that toy hammer game.”

 

“Seriously?”

 

It was absurd. His dongsaengs were going out in the middle of the night because he was hungry, and he’d piled this many errands onto us? The hyung was so reliable it made my blood boil.

 

On the way back, we walked along the beach rather than the alleyways with buildings. Since I had captured Kang Kiyeon against the exotic streets on the way to the market, it was time to save Night Sea Kiyeon with his hair fluttering in the sea breeze.

 

“Wow, the weather is great.”

 

“Yeah. Maybe because it’s not humid despite being summer, it doesn’t feel sticky at all.”

 

Kang Kiyeon’s black short-sleeved t-shirt billowed in the wind. Between the streetlights and the dark sea, he looked like a movie poster.

 

“Kiyeon, stand right there for a second.”

 

“You’re trying to take a photo, aren’t you? If we get back too late, all the ice cream will melt.”

 

“We can just run.”

 

I urged Kang Kiyeon to use the coupon I’d given him at Christmas here. I even persuaded him by saying I’d provide special limited-time installment perks since he hadn’t brought a change of clothes.

 

At my words, Kang Kiyeon obediently took his position. He seemed to have judged that further discussion would only delay the return home. Praising his wise choice, I passionately took a mountain of ‘Summer Night Boy with the Scent of the Sea’ photos.

 

“Taking it with the flash makes it look like a film camera. How is it? Good, right?”

 

“It’d be perfect if you just put the date vertically at the bottom.”

 

“I’ll add it for you. I can have it done today.”

 

“Hyung, your job isn’t a snap photographer…”

 

“But I’m also an amateur photo editor.”

 

When I gave him a thumbs-up to signify he should trust me, Kang Kiyeon looked revolted.

 

Wait, was my expression like that when I saw the writer’s thumbs-up earlier? I sincerely hoped my facial muscles hadn’t forgotten how to function in society.

 

Despite the breeze, the ice cream ended up melting due to the heat remaining in the air. Since we had already failed at delivering on time, I fully transitioned into being Kang Kiyeon’s photographer, trapping him at the beach and vigorously taking photos from various angles with the writer. Eventually, the camcorder battery ran out.

 

“Could we stop for a moment to change the battery?”

 

“Yes, of course.”

 

The writer hurriedly opened their bag. After asking if there was anything I could help with and telling them to take their time, I took Kang Kiyeon a couple of steps away, pretending to take landscape photos so as not to look like I was rushing them.

 

“It’s a spectacular sight even at night. I finally understand why people say the crashing waves look like they could swallow someone whole.”

 

“Even though the waves aren’t that high?”

 

“Because it’s pitch black.”

 

It wasn’t that I felt an ill omen or bad energy. I just thought it was cool. The sound of the waves was nice, too.

 

When we did the pictorial, when we filmed the music video, and when we walked along the beach in Busan picking up trash—the sea under the midday sun was blue and sparkling. Now, the sky was calm, as if a giant eyelid had closed. Black water repeatedly rushed in and swept away.

 

A small burst of fireworks flared on the horizon with a faint pop. Since this was a tourist destination, it was probably a cruise ship passing by.

 

“Isn’t Lee Cheonghyeon going to throw a fit later when he sees the video and realizes we had this view all to ourselves?”

 

“100%.”

 

“Ah, we should have brought him.” 

 

Kang Kiyeon sighed. His tone sounded like it would be a hassle, but it was the sort of thing you could only say if you were always thinking about what your friend would enjoy.

 

“Take him with you next time.”

 

“To here?”

 

“Is this the only place with a night sea? Cheonghyeon won’t care about the details. Take him to the sea in Incheon.”

 

“Like how you went to Busan with him, hyung?”

 

“Yeah. Just spread out a mat, and he’ll have a good time on his own.”

 

Kang Kiyeon gave a small laugh.

 

“Will there be time? Our schedule is packed even after the tour.”

 

“Not right now. When the timing’s right, and the circumstances allow it.”

 

If Lee Cheonghyeon ever runs into stress he can’t resolve on his own, or if you, Kang Kiyeon, want to get some fresh air in the middle of being busy like now…

 

“Go together, holding hands. It’s lonely being alone.”

 

At my words, Kang Kiyeon replied that sometimes people might need time alone. He said since our team was always huddled together, he might want to meditate by himself one day.

 

“Battery change complete! Let’s head back now!”

 

The writer’s voice came from behind. Despite his words, I believed that if his friend ever needed him, Kang Kiyeon would accompany him anytime.