Chapter 44 - I Request Your Approval

A moment later.

Yoo Seon-hee, who was guided into the treatment room, looked around.

“Hyeon-woo-ssi, what on earth is this place?”

“As you can see, it's a hospital.”

“No, I know that, but...”

Baek Hyeon-woo slowly began to explain.

“The elderly director here was originally a specialist in rehabilitation medicine... but he doesn't have much of a will to see patients.”

“What?”

“Saying he's sick of seeing patients now... he doesn't even keep the clinic hours properly, and just watches old movies in the director's office all day. Naturally, almost no patients come.”

In the old part of town, there are often old hospitals like this.

It's a hospital run by an old doctor who has already earned enough money, but feels self-conscious around his family if he retires and stays home all day... so he just comes to work as a pastime.

“However, there is a lot of good treatment equipment, so after getting the director's permission, my physical therapist friends and I would sometimes study here.”

“Friends, you mean...”

At that, the man in the short-sleeved treatment uniform next to them smiled and greeted her.

“Hello. I am Song Won-shik, who studied together with Hyeon-woo.”

It was Baek Hyeon-woo's friend, Song Won-shik.

He was also the only physical therapist working at this hospital.

“Hyeon-woo said he was bringing one patient, so I was slightly hoping it might be an idol, but I had no idea it would be the 'Music World' PD-nim, haha!”

“Ah, yes…”

Song Won-shik likes girl groups.

He had also shown great interest when Baek Hyeon-woo said he was working part-time at Haram Entertainment.

In a way, he might be the person who had the biggest influence on Baek Hyeon-woo's fate.

Because he awakened his status window ability after hearing Song Won-shik's explanation of the manager profession.

“PD-nim, if you don't mind, could you perhaps spare an admission ticket... hehe.”

“Won-shik-ah, 'Music World' is on Friday, what are you going to do about the hospital?”

“Oops.”

This hospital has no nurse's aides.

Originally, a nurse's aide is required when opening a clinic, but after that, it's not a big problem even if there isn't one.

The public health center might say something, but it's customary to just let it slide if you make the excuse that you couldn't find anyone.

For that reason, the physical therapist, Song Won-shik, was in charge of everything from patient reception to receiving medical payments.

If Song Won-shik goes to see 'Music World'... the hospital would have to close for the day.

“PD-nim, today I will perform a spinal correction for you using the equipment here. Won-shik will also be watching from the side to see how I do it.”

Baek Hyeon-woo explained, pointing at Song Won-shik.

“From next time, you can come to this hospital regularly and receive corrective therapy from Won-shik. I have already spoken to the director, so we will be able to observe your progress while taking X-rays.”

If Baek Hyeon-woo came here every time to treat Yoo Seon-hee, he wouldn't be able to do his other work.

Moreover, the potential for legal problems increases.

Therefore, having her receive the procedure from Song Won-shik after a consultation with the director here is the best way.

“Hey, it's been a while since I've seen Hyeon-woo give a treatment.”

Song Won-shik said with an excited expression.

“PD-nim, Hyeon-woo was the best among our peers. You're really lucky to have met him.”

“R-Really?”

“Yes, you will definitely be satisfied.”

Saying that, Song Won-shik pointed to his own chest with his thumb.

“And I may not know about other things, but I'm good at performing procedures exactly as instructed. I'll perform the procedure exactly the same way Hyeon-woo does it, so don't worry.”

“Ah…”

Song Won-shik's words were not a bluff.

His ability to judge what kind of treatment would be good for a patient was lacking, but his ability to perform various treatments exactly as instructed when the order was given was excellent.

“PD-nim, then please lie face down on that bed over there.”

“The bed?”

Yoo Seon-hee looked in the direction Baek Hyeon-woo was pointing.

There was a machine there that looked similar to a dentist's chair, but more complex.

“That's a bed?”

“It's an electric bed used for corrective therapy.”

“……”

With an anxious expression, Yoo Seon-hee lay face down on the electric bed.

Then she flinched in surprise and raised her head.

“Ah, wait a minute.”

“Yes, PD-nim.”

“I heard something like a scream earlier... is this by any chance that?”

“……”

Baek Hyeon-woo briefly met Song Won-shik's eyes.

And they silently nodded at each other.

“PD-nim, you don't have to worry.”

“No, I'm asking if this is that...”

Yoo Seon-hee kept asking, but Baek Hyeon-woo didn't answer and instead used the restraining straps to secure Yoo Seon-hee's body to the electric bed.

Meanwhile, Song Won-shik turned on the power to the electric bed.

“We're going to do a bit of pounding, pressing, flipping, twisting, and hitting... but it probably won't hurt that much.”

“……!”

Thud, Bang!

Boom, Clank!

Thump-thump, Crack-crack!

“Gyaaaaaah...!”

A scream that could never be heard by the broadcasting station employees, agency managers, or singers echoed.

***

“Get home safely.”

“See you next week!”

After all the treatment was over.

Being seen off by Baek Hyeon-woo and Song Won-shik, Yoo Seon-hee got into a taxi.

“……”

Burying her body in the seat, Yoo Seon-hee stared blankly into space.

Even though she had rested for quite a while after the treatment before leaving, her entire body was still tingling.

“I thought I was going to die...”

At her inadvertent mumble, the taxi driver flinched in surprise and looked in the rearview mirror.

“Ma'am, what did you say?”

“No, it's nothing.”

Yoo Seon-hee shook her head and let out a sigh.

I thought it was an electric bed that just went up and down, but it was a machine where each section moved individually.

For example, when Baek Hyeon-woo pressed her back hard, the chest section of the bed would also drop sharply in that moment, assisting so that her spine could be pushed downwards.

“I thought my whole body was being broken into pieces...”

“What?”

“It's nothing.”

Baek Hyeon-woo had corrected her entire body from head to toe, one part at a time.

He had explained what each part meant one by one, but she couldn't remember it properly.

“……”

But, for some reason.

Her body was tingling and felt exhausted like this, but sitting here, she felt inexplicably antsy.

She had planned to take the taxi straight home, but she just felt like getting out.

“Driver, please drop me off over there by the park.”

“Over there?”

After asking the driver, she got out in front of Yeouido Park.

And she began to walk slowly, feeling the wind blowing from the river.

‘My body feels refreshed.’

It was a strange thing.

Here and there was still tingling and tired, but she could feel that her body had become much lighter.

Each and every footstep was light, as if she had grown wings.

‘My shoulders and back don't hurt either.’

All this time, her shoulders were always stiff and her back ached.

She had thought it was because of fatigue and stress, but after receiving the procedure from Baek Hyeon-woo, it became completely clear.

Not only that, but it felt as if her whole body was filled with vitality.

‘They said his skills were the best, and it's true.’

Just as Song Won-shik had said, Baek Hyeon-woo's skills were the best.

How did a person like that come to leave the medical field and come to the entertainment industry?

It seemed DP Entertainment's Director Seong Soo-ho was also interested in Baek Hyeon-woo, so as expected, he didn't seem like an ordinary person.

‘Is the reason Newstarz has changed lately also thanks to Hyeon-woo-ssi?’

Yoo Seon-hee had also grasped that Newstarz was rapidly gaining attention recently.

It seemed there was a change greater than simply recruiting a new member, and perhaps that was also thanks to Baek Hyeon-woo's management.

‘If Hyeon-woo-ssi is with them... it seems like it would be fine to give Newstarz a push.’

She had to repay Baek Hyeon-woo, but separate from that, she had become interested in Newstarz itself.

What kind of group Newstarz, who had been reborn after getting the manager named Baek Hyeon-woo, really was... she had become curious to test them once on the stage called 'Music World'.

‘Ah, I should think about work later.’

Thinking that, Yoo Seon-hee shook her head.

For now, it was time to just enjoy her refreshed body.

“Nice.”

Yoo Seon-hee kicked off her high heels.

Standing barefoot, her eye level became lower.

However, she felt a comfort that was different from before.

“Yeah… hobbies are good, but health is important too.”

Suddenly, the time she was eliminated from the University Song Festival came to mind.

At that time, while giving up her dream of being a singer, Yoo Seon-hee had cried a lot, but on the other hand, she also felt a sense of relief.

She could feel a similar feeling now as she kicked off her high heels.

It seems you feel this way when you give up something you liked and move on to the next stage.

Didn't Baek Hyeon-woo also feel a similar feeling when he quit the medical field and came to the entertainment industry?

For some reason, she had that thought.

“I should buy some sneakers.”

Thinking such thoughts, Yoo Seon-hee began to walk through the park barefoot.

No longer on tiptoes, with light footsteps.

***

A bright and clear Monday morning.

As Baek Yeon-ah was yawning in the CEO's office, Choi Tae-hyung suddenly slammed the door open and stormed in.

“CEO-nim, can't something be done about Assistant Manager Baek?”

“Director Choi, what are you talking about?”

“Haven't you heard what Assistant Manager Baek did to the 'Music World' PD-nim?”

Choi Tae-hyung explained the recent events one by one.

However, even after hearing the whole story, Baek Yeon-ah couldn't understand what the problem was.

“Uh... isn't it not a problem? The thing about Hyeon-woo making a mistake in front of PD Yoo-nim was ultimately your misunderstanding, wasn't it, Director Choi?”

“This time, it seems PD Yoo-nim luckily forgave him, but there's no guarantee it will be like this next time.”

Choi Tae-hyung said with emphasis.

“Assistant Manager Baek is crossing the line too much. He's not even team-leader-level, just a road manager, but he's sticking his face everywhere. And he's still a rookie in the industry.”

In fact, what Choi Tae-hyung said wasn't entirely wrong.

Originally, a road manager is a person in charge of all sorts of miscellaneous tasks like driving a car.

Only after doing that kind of work and accumulating industry experience for several years can one finally become team-leader-level and be entrusted with important work.

However, Baek Hyeon-woo, despite not even having been a manager for several months, is interacting with various industry insiders and making things happen.

“He will surely commit a big mistake someday. We must give him a warning before something happens.”

“Still, there haven't been any particular problems so far. Rather, things have worked out well every time.”

“That luck can't continue forever...”

Knock, knock.

The sound of a knock on the CEO's office door was heard.

“CEO-nim, may I come in for a moment?”

“Oh, come in.”

The person who opened the door and came in was Baek Hyeon-woo.

Seeing his face, Choi Tae-hyung put strength into his eyes as if the timing was perfect.

It seemed he was planning to give him a strong warning in front of Baek Yeon-ah at this opportunity.

“Assistant Manager Baek, as it is, I'm with the CEO-nim right now...”

“Director Choi, just a moment.”

Baek Hyeon-woo cut off Choi Tae-hyung's words in the middle.

Interrupting a superior's words like this is an unforgivable act unless it's a considerably important matter.

Just as Choi Tae-hyung, with an angry expression, was about to say something.

“CEO-nim, I just received a call from HBS's PD Yoo Seon-hee-nim.”

“What…?”

At Baek Hyeon-woo's words, both Baek Yeon-ah and Choi Tae-hyung held their breath.

“She says she will secure a spot for a set pre-recording on next week's 'Music World'.”

“……!”

A set pre-recording.

Unlike a normal pre-recording, it's a pre-recording that is specially conducted on a prepared, dedicated set.

Because only about 2-3 teams can do it per broadcast, the competition is fierce, and it's mainly assigned for a popular singer's comeback stage or a large agency's rookie debut stage.

Such a set pre-recording... she's going to assign it to Newstarz?

“For the budget, it seems we will need at least ten million won. I request your approval.”