The ad shoot concluded successfully.

The fact that Huiran approached the shoot without fully recovering from her drinking went unnoticed by anyone, including herself and the other four people. It was only known that she had a slightly bad condition due to catching a cold.

The intravenous therapy was very effective for her hangover, the cold compress helped with the swelling, and the makeup artist recruited by Yeongin demonstrated her skills as an excellent professional.

The stylist and the on-site manager, relieved that the shoot went smoothly without any problems, swept away the tension in their chests. Naturally, Yeongin’s story couldn’t go unmentioned.

“If Chief Chae hadn’t been here today, what would we have done?”

“That’s right. It’s creepy to think that it was just the two of us.”

“If Chief Jo had been here, he wouldn’t have handled it as flexibly as this.”

“When Chief Chae praised me for doing a good job, I wondered how good I was, but now I admit it. People don’t panic.”

“That’s what I’m saying. I was really surprised when I saw Huiran unnie this morning, but Chief Chae handled it calmly, so I also became calm. Is this the power of a leader?”

Until this morning, the two of them didn’t have positive feelings towards Yeongin. Just as Huiran began to dislike Yeongin after hearing about Hyunsim’s words, the two of them were the same.

However, now they realized how terrifying premature judgments could be. They even started thinking that they wanted to be in Team 5, which had an actress and a team leader with strong emotional fluctuations, rather than Team 2.

“Aren’t you being too much?”

Huiran, who was sitting on the sofa in the waiting room, nervously rolled her eyes at the words of the two.

“You guys don’t know when to stop.”

Right after the stylist and the on-site manager closed their mouths, Huiran, who had been listening to the two people’s conversation, suddenly became nervous.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Director Shin.”

“Director Shin?”

The stylist’s eyes widened suddenly.

“Director Shin is famous for not taking just anyone. He said he would come out if Chief Chae asked him, even though he’s a picky person.”
Heiran’s lips curled up.

“I tend to be straightforward with my words.”

“Straightforward?”

A momentary smirk appeared, and Yeongin responded seriously.

“Hey, you’re just rude.”

“…What did you say?”

“Why? We’re the same age, right?”

“…?”

“You can speak informally and say whatever you want, but I can’t? Did I think you wouldn’t talk back no matter what you said?”

Momentarily taken aback by the unexpected reaction, Heiran regained her composure, stood up from her seat, and approached Yeongin. She stood in front of her.

“Now you show your true colors. As expected, your manager attitude is not right.”

“How should a manager be?”

“Learn from Hyunsim unnie. When I tell her to kneel, she doesn’t pretend; she really kneels. Don’t you feel something?”

“How much of a hypocrite you are is what I feel.”

When Yeongin casually responded, Heiran’s face turned red with anger.

“Chae Yeongin, do you want to quit your job now? Should I make sure you can’t work in this industry anymore? Is that what you want?”

“With what talent do you think you can do that?”

“…”

For a moment, Heiran was speechless.

“Now is not the time for you to boast. You should worry about what will happen if I expose your true self to everyone.”

Yeongin, with a slightly pitiful smile, continued speaking.

“Shall I post on a highly popular community? Or maybe do an interview? Should I let everyone know that you are heartless?”

“Who would believe your words?”

Trying to appear calm was futile; Heiran’s pupils shook uncontrollably.

“Who would do it anonymously? If I criticize you and reveal your face, would you believe it?”

“…?”

Unknowingly, Heiran swallowed dry saliva.

“After appearing and disappearing, nothing is visible now, right? Everyone looks up to you? Even if you don’t know, you’ve probably made a lot of enemies. If even one of those people decides to ruin you, what will you do?”

“…”

“Remember that your popularity won’t last forever.”

Yeongin gave sincere advice to Heiran, who was trembling, and turned away.

“Jihun, Minju, both of you, thank you for today. I’m sorry for showing a bad side. I’ll leave first.”

Heiran looked at Yeongin, who was leaving the waiting room after greeting the on-site manager and stylist, and clenched her fist, restraining her anger.

If someone asked what she regretted the most this year, she could confidently say that it was entrusting the manager job to Chae Yeongin.

Contrary to the original intention, it ended up being a self-inflicted wound.

“Shit…”

A curse escaped Heiran’s lips.

Hyunsim heard in detail from the stylist about what happened between Heiran and Yeongin today.

The story that started with the excuse “Unnie, you should know about this” was no different from torture. It felt like she was being accused, but she pretended not to know. The stylist knew how much Heiran had been tormented by this all along.

Not long after the call ended, Heiran called her.