Chapter 180

"Why is the team leader here?"

[???????]

[Managerial Support Team Leader Kim Seonghyun

Specialty: Can't easily pass by those in need.]

The subtitle reads, "Hyung, why are you here...?" overlaid with flowers and glitters.

[Seonghyun???ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

"Meeting Kim Seonghyun at a restaurant" was in the script, but I never expected this situation.

Seo Hoyun lost his appetite and put down his chopsticks.

"Excuse me, Manager Kim Seonghyun, what are you doing here?"

"...Well, I took a half-day off this morning and came here for breakfast because the boss asked earnestly."

"Ah..."

"Manager, I'll have the buckwheat bibim naengmyeon!"

Jung Dajun cheerfully placed his order without realizing the atmosphere, while Kim Seonghyun nodded and meticulously wrote it down.

Seo Hoyun and Kang Ichae exchanged amazed glances, but it didn't seem to faze them much.

"Okay, I'll confirm the order: one buckwheat mul naengmyeon, one buckwheat bibim naengmyeon, one mandu soup, one plate of dumplings, two bowls of rice, and two sodas, right?"

[Kim Seonghyun must have worked a lot of part-time jobs before his debut; he looks so natural;;;;

└Wait... Is he a bit sexy...?]

[Wait! Recognizing Kim Seonghyun here

Café, PC room, movie theater, bus, delivery, academy, driving school

└Thanks, Speedwagon!!]

Seo Hoyun, clicking hid tongue, grabbed Kim Seonghyun's arm as he turned to place the order in the kitchen and untied the ribbon of his apron.

Then he leaned against his shoulder and seated him before calling another employee to order the food.

At this moment, Seo Hoyun realized that although they had assigned roles to each other, everything was unfolding as if it were a real-life situation with entirely different scripts.

In fact, when they heard about the Pyongyang naengmyeon joke, it was Jihyeon who hurriedly recruited them to the store because she couldn't let such a good opportunity pass by.

Kang Ichae asked Kim Seonghyun a question.

"Manager Kim, you seem so natural in the restaurant business. Like it's second nature to you."

"Huh??? Yeah, it feels like it comes from experience?"

"I've actually helped out quite a bit before."

"...Did you get paid properly?"

"...Well, I owe a lot usually."

"Ah..."

As Seo Hoyun sweetly nagged Kim Seonghyun not to live like that, the scene of Kang Ichae and Jung Dajun enjoying lunch cheerfully passed by like fast-forwarding, and soon transitioned to another screen.

[The Dawn Electronics 20XX First Half Report]

In reality, an intern wouldn't dare to intervene in a mid-term report, but Seo Hoyun briefly explained that The Dawn Electronics had summoned interns to attend the presentation to nurture budding talents.

Of course, there was no sign of "parachuting" Kang Ichae.

"Jung Dajun ssi, follow my lead."

"Hmm?"

Seo Hoyun glanced at the trembling Jung Dajun next to him, pretending to be tired, as she looked at the tablet.

"The company won't collapse just because I make a mistake."

"...T-the, the company won't collapse?"

"Yes, that's right. You can spit on a smiling face."

"Spit on a smiling face?!"

Jung Dajun interpreted it as he pleased, unaware that Seo Hoyun's mind was elsewhere, and he switched off the tablet, turning his body towards the conference room.

"What did I say? What if someone from another department says something?"

"It's your fault for dumping all the work on us!"

"Even if Jung Dajun made a mistake?"

"Quickly rectify it, but maintain the attitude of 'Oh, did the company go under~~!'"

"Understood."

Like someone brainwashed, Jung Dajun responded promptly.

Seo Hoyun smiled satisfactorily and brushed Jung Dajun's disheveled bangs aside.

"I'm counting on you."

"...! Yes!!"

With that, Seo Hoyun opened the door to the conference room and entered. The stiffly moving Jung Dajun slowly stepped forward.

"Hey, isn't it Jung Dajun's turn this time? Looking forward to it."

Sung Jiwon, sitting opposite Seo Hoyun, grinned brightly.

The dimly lit conference room seemed to brighten up instantly with Sung Jiwon's flawless smile as she turned on the PPT.

"You know the topic, right? It's just about finding ways to increase teamwork at Dudon."

Seeing this directly, Jung Dajun's thought process momentarily halted, and then he quickly turned his head towards Seo Hoyun.

"Team Leader Seo!! What if Manager Seong smiles in this situation?! Should I, should I spit it out?"

"...."

[Haha, Jung Dajun, you crazy guy!]

[Laughing doesn't mean you have to spit, haha]

Seo Hoyun's eyebrow twitched.

She turned her chair, burying her back deep into it, and spoke.

"Most of what Manager Sung Jiwon says is correct, so just swallow what's in your mouth and listen well."

"Wow, you're biased..."

"Quiet down, little team leader."

"O-Okay!"

Seo Hoyun gestured to Jung Dajun, who vigorously clenched his fist and turned on the PPT screen.

[Increasing The Dawn Teamwork!!

Subtitle: Tips for Seo Hoyun Team Leader to Stop Nagging!

- Jung Dajun -]

He had prepared diligently, wrapping his head after being brainwashed by Jihyeon, who claimed that self-made content was valuable.

"To increase The Dawn's teamwork, I believe the first priority should be to stop Team Leader Seo's nagging. Why does he have such a personality, anyway?!"

But his efforts were in vain; he would be cursed if he claimed to have tried.

The bright, blinding white font was overlaid on a background that felt like staring into the sun. And then, pictures of Seo Hoyun flew in from all directions, from top to bottom, left to right.

[Ah, amazing!]

[I've never seen these pictures before;;;;;;;;;;;;]

[Dajun, you have an amazing sense. Make Dajun the CEO of this company immediately.]

Though it wasn't an intentional move, Jung Dajun's presentation was well-received by fans, who were busy capturing every detail despite the chaotic screen. The photos on the PPT were all unreleased, making them even more captivating.

[Wow, never seen these before!!!!!!!!!]

[The sleeping photo is crazy, first time seeing it;;;;;;;;;;;;]

[Dajun, you have amazing sense.]

As Jung Dajun continued his presentation, banging the podium with fervor, he concluded, "Ultimately! To cater to Team Leader Seo's tastes, Dudon has memorized all the customized menus from every coffee chain in Korea! Just ordering an Americano would've been enough!"

Seo Hoyun watched the screen with sharp eyes from start to finish.

"Jung Dajun."

"Yes!"

Looking quite satisfied with her own presentation, Jung Dajun turned to Seo Hoyun with a thoughtful expression. Seo Hoyun tapped the table with his pen.

"Have you ever once brought me a customized drink that suits my taste?"

"....!!"

"You poured SolXnun syrup into my frappuccino without hesitation. Are you trying to poison me?"

"T-That was... Just wanted to try mixing everything you like!"

Stammering, Jung Dajun tried to explain himself.

Even if mixing drinks into a frappuccino was her way of showing interest, it turned out to be futile in the end.

"Did I ask for something so difficult? Now, Kim Seonghyun. Tell me what I like."

"SolXnun, yuzu tea, mainly with caramel, chocolate, and condensed milk syrup."

"Isn't it perfectly possible like this?"

Ignoring Kim Seonghyun's muttered complaints about how she couldn't understand despite his clear instructions, Seo Hoyun turned her attention back to Jung Dajun.

"The topic keeps changing. What are you trying to say?"

"Is this about animation?"

"Get to the conclusion first."

Internally screaming 'Ah!', Jung Dajun lowered his gaze, hearing Seo Hoyun's tongue-clicking.

"...I can't memorize it, what should I do?"

"If it were me, I'd write it down and show it to the order-taking staff every time."

"...That's a way?!"

Jung Dajun slapped his forehead.

Seong Jiwon chuckled.

"Why didn't you tell me the solution, Team Leader Hoyun?"

"Oh."

Seo Hoyun stopped tapping the table with her pen and leaned closer to Seong Jiwon, whispering.

"It's cute to see you so flustered."

"Oh."

[Haha, this is hilarious!!]

[Hey, you crazy jerk!!!!]

"Team Leader Seo..."

Although speaking in a whisper, his voice echoed loudly throughout the conference room. Jung Dajun, who had already heard everything, glared at Seo Hoyun with fiery eyes.

"You said earlier! 'Bae Jjaera'!"

"That's for different departments."

"What??"

"I didn't say anything about what happens within the same department."

At that moment when Seo Hoyun caught one person off guard, the conference room door swung open with a bang.

"Hellooooo~."

It was Kang Ichae.

The parachute-wearing "parachutist" appeared, swinging back and forth.

[This crazy guy, haha!!]

"Paragliding enthusiast Kang—parachute has arrived."

After taking a hit from Seo Hoyun, he asked a staffer to bring a parachute from the tvK prop room.

As Seong Jiwon and Kang Ichae exchanged cheerful banter, the expressions of Kim Seonghyun and Seo Hoyun simultaneously soured. Kang Ichae, sporting a helmet and goggles, confidently approached Jung Dajun's side.

"Get out."

"Oh, just a moment!"

Seo Hoyun pointed towards the door, but Kang Ichae confidently held up the remote control and switched the screen.

Kim Seonghyun, having long given up on restraining his team rapper, simply watched with a tired expression.

"Today, I'll be presenting a topic from the Strategic Planning Department."

As the screen filled with rotating hearts and flashy animations disappeared, the text revealed itself.

[The Dawn's Electronic Saga]

"Excuse me, why is Saga suddenly mentioned? It has nothing to do with teamwork."

"Kim Seonghyun Team Leader, don't you think our morale would rise if Saga is pleased with us?"

Kang Ichae responded brazenly, as if saying, "Don't you know even this?"

"I entered the Strategic Planning Office and was deeply moved by Team Leader's favor!"

"Yes, I'm a warm-hearted man."

"Every day, like this, back and forth, inspiration pops up!"

Seo Hoyun's brow furrowed.

No wonder he disappeared somewhere during the filming breaks or was constantly tapping on his laptop, seemingly distracted.

Kang Ichae grinned confidently, snapping his fingers.

"Listen up."

Kang Ichae clicked on a small heart icon on the screen. In an instant, the conference room quieted down, and a beat started playing.

["Wow, the song is amazing."]

["What's this, are they releasing an unreleased new song here??!"]

Since Shining Star Season 2, Kang Ichae, who had been immersed in work, found it quite easy to create a beat in the money-scented R&B genre.

As the Noels anxiously gripped their hearts and stared at the screen, at that moment,

[Pa- Pa- Pa-]

With the addition of mechanical sounds, the melody was enriched,

["I'm too nervous, I can't watch."]

["Is he releasing it here? Crazy."]

Lyrics echoed.

[Para- Para- Shoot~.]

"...?"

[Para- Para- Shoot~]

"...."

Parachute.

In other words, a parachute.

[Yeah~ I'm a parachute~

You'll slay~~ live~]

As everyone opened their mouths wide, Kang Ichae, with a slightly embarrassed tone, said,

"I made it based on my personal experience."

"...."

"...."

["This crazy bastard."]

The reactions of the momentarily paused fans began pouring out on various social media platforms and communities.

["Hey, Kang Ichae, you crazy bastardㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ"]

["This kid must have a reason for playing well with Seo Hoyun, he really plays with Noeul's heartsㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ"]

Regardless of the members' facial expressions, Kang Ichae repeatedly patted his chest, convinced that the song he created was moving.

[You'll slay~~ live~ Oh no~.]

"Hey, you parachute!!!!!"

"Get out, that bastard, put on the parachute and go out the window."

As Kim Seonghyun, honed through various part-time jobs, and Seo Hoyun, with numerous experiences from office life, tried to rise in anger,

["No~ Yes, I'm a slave~."]

A clear voice resonated throughout the conference room.

["I'm a slave~!"]

That's right.

The title was "Parachute (feat. Sung Jiwon)."

"...What is this?"

Seo Hoyun, feeling dizzy while listening to the rigid staccato rap, turned his head to Sung Jiwon, silently demanding an explanation with his eyes.

"...Uh, the song sounded good."

["Sung Jiwon, you still haven't given up on rap, huh?"]

["Looks like he hasn't......"]

Kang Ichae winked at Sung Jiwon.

"You've improved a lot!"

"Ahaha, thanks to you, Ichae-ssi!"

Kim Seonghyun scanned the harmonious pair with a sharp gaze.

At the same time, Kim Seonghyun's voice narrated,

[This entanglement. Come to think of it, it's true. Even if the CEO inserted the parachute, it had to go through the hands of the HR support team leader.]

[We were bewitched by the obvious fact, and lost ourselves in that innocent smile....]

The screen changed, showing Kang Ichae jumping out of the conference room window and paragliding away.

[Goodbye, parachute.]

As the sun set behind the gently falling paraglider, signaling the end of a long day, The Dawn's logo appeared.

[Goodbye, slave.]

Then, the camera swiftly followed the eldest three escaping from the conference room, with Jung Dajun, who came out last, tightly clenching his fist.

[Goodbye, elephant....]

"Great job today!! Good!!"

As the faint voice concluded the commentary, and the ending credits slowly rolled up, the Noels pondered what they had just witnessed.

["Ah....."]

After a while, everyone reached the same conclusion.

["This is talent waste...."]

These kids are sincerely committed to preserving their B-grade sentimentality.

["They're really sincere.......

└There was a story about feeling embarrassed if they don't make us laugh, but it seems true.

└└Hey.. If they're not funny, are they gonna get kicked out of the dorms with a panty wind? I don't get it no matter how much I think about it...

└└It makes sense..."]

"Pa- Pa- Pa- Para—shoot~."

"Slave~."

"Slave~."

Just when it seemed to have ended, a post-credits scene followed. This time, all the members of The Dawn, including Sung Jiwon, were shown again, still dressed in their outfits, enjoying Pyongyang cold noodles at a restaurant.

With his mouth full of noodles, Jung Dajun swallowed and asked, "But is this song going to be performed at the concert?"

"...."

Everyone fell silent.

Even Kang Ichae, who composed and wrote the song, couldn't answer.

* * *

1) One of the representative memes from episode 408 of the popular MBC variety show "Infinite Challenge" (2006.05.06.-2018.03.31.).

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