IJLMT 12

Chapter 12

“Yes, this is Assistant Manager Kim Yu-hyun from the MD Team.”

[This is Assistant Manager Kang Ju-ri from Customer Service. Kim, what happened with what we talked about earlier?]

“I contacted the production factory, but since it’s the weekend, it seems difficult to immediately restock the items…”

[Then what are we supposed to do? Customers are starting to get impatient. Is it normal for products to sell out this fast? Something must be wrong. When will they be back in stock? Can we at least let them pre-order…?]

It was understandable. Nova Girls appeared on TV at 5:15 PM, and by 5:30 PM, all related products on the website were sold out.

“We’ll post a notice on the website. The stock will be replenished next Monday.”

[How much stock will be coming in? If it sells out in 15 minutes again, we’re doomed. I think we’d need at least a hundred times the current stock to cover it. Can we do that?]

“A hundred times… That’s a bit… you know, there’s the factory’s capacity. We’re not North Korea; we can’t suddenly produce that much.”

[Suddenly? Did you just say suddenly? Shouldn’t you have secured more production lines in advance? President Kim Seok-gu’s shout-out for Nova Girls was last weekend, and you didn’t plan ahead until now?]

“Well, we have our circumstances too… Anyway, our team is looking into every possible option. Please stay calm and wait a bit.”

[…Please let me know immediately what you find out. Understood? Today. By today.]

Before Kim Yu-hyun could even answer, the call ended.

‘What a nightmare.’

Kim Yu-hyun tore at his hair. Why didn’t they secure more production lines in advance? It sounded simple to say, but from the MD Team’s perspective, the situation was tricky.

A girl group that went viral because of a presidential shout-out—wasn’t that a bit ambiguous? People who buy albums, photocards, light sticks, and other merchandise are genuine fans. Could people who became interested in Nova Girls because of a presidential shout-out really be called true fans?

Many people search for music with a mindset like, ‘Kim Seok-gu is talking about an idol? Let’s see who these kids are.’ Even if mentions on social media explode, interest can fade quickly.

For example, last year, the boy group “Spooky Boys” went viral briefly. Their dance track “Spooky Boogie” became popular on TikTok, but the craze didn’t lead to overall group popularity. Merchandise didn’t sell either, except for items related to the youngest member, Cha Jin-ho, who was now acting.

From the MD Team’s perspective, they couldn’t base merchandise production solely on the presidential shout-out. The MD Team operates strictly based on data! But now, everyone would just see it as an excuse:

‘Wasn’t the Nova Girls stock and production line under Kim’s responsibility? Why didn’t you handle it?’

‘Don’t you know? Kim was secretly jealous. He likes Min-young, but Min-young likes Hyun-jae, so he deliberately ignored the messages to mess with him.’

‘Really? That makes sense. I kind of felt that vibe too.’

‘Since Hyun-jae’s idol was doing well, he kept quiet and pretended not to know. Otherwise, it would’ve been…’

He overheard similar comments. He felt guilty because there were a couple of times he could have responded but didn’t.

‘How did everyone know I liked Min-young? Still, I didn’t really bully Hyun-jae… At most, I made him work thirty extra minutes… And this time really has nothing to do with me…’

Earlier this week, stock consumption wasn’t that high. But as soon as the Music Tomato broadcast aired, the merchandise sold out. How should this data be interpreted? Did casual viewers instantly turn into hardcore fans? What was so impressive about that stage?

“Wow… Did Hyun-jae have foresight? Did he know this would happen? Or was he just confident he could make it happen? It’s unbelievable.”

“Exactly. Watching the Music Tomato stage earlier, I felt like a fool. ‘Isn’t it obvious they’d succeed?’ ‘Why did I think they’d never make it?’ I knew Hyun-jae wouldn’t give up and transfer out, but I should have gone instead…”

“Assistant Manager Song, you watched the stage? During work hours? We’re so busy!”

“…I watched while taking a dump. Don’t get me wrong.”

“People have fate. If you’d gone, you wouldn’t have even interacted with the president.”

While waiting for their team leader, the staff exchanged stunned glances. It was understandable. Hyun-jae had volunteered for an absurdly high-profile position, and suddenly everything seemed like a fantasy. Lately, lunchtime talk among employees revolved around this: ‘Was this all luck?’ ‘If not luck, what kind of ability would you need to make this happen?’

“But wasn’t there a sales-based bonus condition for Nova Girls in our department transfer? Merchandise profit is part of Nova Girls’ sales, so how much is Hyun-jae making…?”

“Enough. Stop worrying about others’ benefits and do your work. Look, here comes the team leader.”

The team leader entered, and the MD Team’s expressions reflected surprise. The leader had brought Hyun-jae with him. In just two weeks, he looked different—brighter, with no shadows under his eyes.

“Everyone, you know the MD Team’s principle, right? Make the most of what will sell the most… There’s chaos upstairs. Our Nova Girls merchandise is far too insufficient. Of course, no one could have predicted this…”

The leader glanced at Hyun-jae and muttered, ‘Well, maybe one person knew. Anyway…’

“We’ll hold a concept meeting. Hyun-jae, as the manager responsible for the members, will help plan merchandise based on the members’ character concepts. After that, it’s full-on discussion. I’m sorry, but we need results by this weekend. Understood? Hyun-jae, you only need to participate in the concept idea stage. That won’t take long.”

Yu-hyun and Hyun-jae exchanged glances; Hyun-jae scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. What was he thinking?

‘See, I was right, idiot.’
‘You’re just a timid loser who can only harass subtly. That’s why you’re under me now.’

He couldn’t help feeling insecure. He felt like a loser. But now, they had to hold a meeting—to generate more sales through Nova Girls and make Hyun-jae even more victorious.

Yu-hyun glanced at Min-young with narrow eyes. Min-young was staring at Hyun-jae.

“Ugh…”

I collapsed onto the bed with a groan, feeling like I was being swallowed by it. Expensive mattresses had once seemed like a myth to me, like foie gras or sea urchin being delicious. How could life change so drastically?

It still felt like someone else’s house. All the appliances and furniture were bought by Lim Yu-joo, allowing me to move in immediately. I didn’t know how to repay such attention.

If I had furnished this place myself, it wouldn’t have been so luxurious. Poverty ingrained in me would have led to mid-range products.

‘Good.’

No drafts, warm even without an electric blanket, quiet, high ceilings, enough space to exercise. In my old tiny room, I couldn’t even do push-ups.

Bzzz-

My phone rang. It had been ringing so much these past few days I worried it might break. I hadn’t had time to check it until now.

• Lim Da-bin sent you a gift and a message. Check it now!

• Thank you for taking care of us all day.

The phone vibrated because Da-bin sent a gifticon: a mugwort-ginger tea set, good for recovery.

‘That’s my job.’

It was slightly burdensome but nice.

• I get paid for that. No need to say thanks. You’ve worked hard.

The reply came immediately:

• Got it. Next time, we’ll be number one for sure.

‘She’s acting a bit weird…’

I stopped myself from telling her to relax. She’d already done enough. Finishing third despite disadvantages was miraculous, yet Da-bin seemed unsatisfied, staring at Lim Yu-joo’s encore stage like she wanted to devour it.

‘I’ll have to keep an eye on her.’

I said goodnight and checked other chat rooms. Over 300 messages had piled up.

The family chat was in chaos:

• Mother: Hyun-jae, are you busy?

• Mother: My son is so busy. Are you okay? I heard you fought someone… Did you get hurt?

• Hyun-seo: Oppa, when are you coming home? How did you stop Mangchi? Who’s your closest Nova Girls member? Do you talk to Muju personally? How’s the 2 billion apartment? Tell me everything! Please!

• Father: Grow up, Hyun-jin. You’re in your last year of high school. This isn’t the time to brag.

• Hyun-seo: If I get into a university in Seoul, can I live with oppa? That would be amazing.

• Father: Yu-hyun, come to the master bedroom.

• Hyun-seo: Uh… now?

• Father: Yes. Quickly.

Hyun-seo was the youngest sibling. I called home for the first time in a while. She was being scolded by father, so I only spoke to mother.

“You wanted a tablet, right?”

[No, no. Don’t buy it. Never buy it. She might get used to relying on oppa.]

“Eh, what’s wrong with a little?”

[Don’t act spoiled. Don’t worry about it. Are you okay? Too busy and tired?]

“I’m fine. How could I not be? Didn’t you watch TV?”

[Appearance doesn’t tell you if someone’s really okay. The most important thing is health—especially mental health. No matter how flashy it looks outside, it’s useless if the heart is troubled.]

“I’m really fine, so don’t worry. If you need anything, just tell me.”

[You’ve been sending me things, and playing with them has been fun. What TV is as big as a movie theater?]

“Mom, that’s exaggerated. How could it be as big as a cinema?”

I hung up and thought: Am I healthy now?

Thinking about it, I seemed healthy. Busier than ever, yet healthier than ever. Why?

Swish, swish.

• Hyun-jae, I’ve thought a lot. Let’s meet and talk. We’ve been seven years—

A message from Sora appeared. I felt a tightness in my chest.

I scrolled down the chat. People who normally never contacted me were messaging. What happened? When did they get so bold? How did they end up as managers?

But two people I normally contacted, Du-cheol and Ho-jin, hadn’t messaged at all, not even in the past week.

‘They should at least congratulate me.’

Then I shook my head.

‘Nah, I shouldn’t expect that.’

Right. Before, I wasn’t okay. Was it because I had no money? That was part of it.

The main reason I wasn’t okay was that I spent so much effort pretending I didn’t know what I did.

Sora, I don’t like her. To her, I was just convenient, an emotional trash can. Did she meet another guy just this once? Late at night, when I couldn’t reach her, or walking with a “college friend” in the park, I didn’t ask. I knew but pretended not to.

If Sora were a good person, what would have happened? We’d be hugging now, happy about overcoming tough times.

Du-cheol and Ho-jin ignore me. They don’t see me as an equal friend. They watch me struggle, take comfort in their own lives, and I pretended not to notice.

If Du-cheol and Ho-jin were good friends, what would have happened? They’d toast me, saying, “Finally, you’re rewarded. You worked hard, and this day came!”

I only got close to people who thrived on my suffering. No one shared my joy. That’s why I wasn’t okay. Now, it’s different.

• I’m really thankful to you, Hyun-jae.

• Oppa, you’re not a fool!

• Thanks for taking care of us all day.

• Next time, we’ll be number one for sure.

I finally understood Onion’s selection of people to share blessings with.

‘Damn it. I hope only those who trust me succeed endlessly. And may those who ignored me feel pain.’

Then:

“Uh? Uh-uh…”

Creak—creak. I looked over. It was Onion.

Onion was growing! I knew it would grow, but this was the first time I watched it happen in real time.

Onion had grown to the size of a watermelon. Its shoots stretched like orchids, bearing multiple flowers.

“Wow… it’s big.”

‘Can I water it the same way as Onion? Isn’t it about time to plant it in a pot…’

At that moment, my phone rang.

“Yes, this is Hyun-jae.”

[This is Yu-joo. How are you?]

“I’m doing great, thanks. Suddenly living in a castle-like place like a noble…”

[But aren’t we too formal? Even though I’m just a manager, you hang out with Nova Girls, right?]

“Yes, that’s true.”

[I’ll call you oppa. You can just say Yu-joo casually.]

“Uh… okay.”

It didn’t come naturally. Yu-joo, two years younger, lived in a completely different world.

“Is something wrong?”

[Does it have to be something wrong? Can’t I just call because I’m scared? I was attacked by that intruder not long ago.]

“Ah, ah, okay. Yeah… that guy… still thinking about him…”

[Hehe… why so scared? Against a two-year-younger sibling.]

“…”

[Just joking. Actually, it’s not about that.]

Yu-joo paused, then said:

[You know the radio I host on Sundays? Oppa, have you ever thought about appearing on it?]