146: Chapter 145 Eldest Sister: He insists!

"Quick! Hurry downstairs! Don't keep Oppa waiting!" Kwon Eunbi was the first to react, quickly urging them on.

"Right, right, right! Downstairs!"

"My bag!"

"Shoes!"

"Yena! Your sausage cart!!"

A scene of chaotic bustle ensued, but unlike the numb "orderliness" from before, this was a chaos filled with vitality and a desperate sense of escape. The girls scrambled to grab their small bags and put on their shoes. Choi Yena didn't forget to give her sausage machine one last check (confirming it was off), and then, like birds released from a cage, they rushed down the narrow stairs in a scramble, yet the atmosphere was brimming with immense joy.

When they appeared at the apartment entrance, panting yet glowing (the flush of survivors), and lunged toward the familiar black van and the Manager waiting there, Manager Oppa was startled by their unusually enthusiastic—one might even say ecstatic—way of greeting him.

Usually, when heading to schedules, although the girls were very professional, they couldn't avoid the fatigue and slight drowsiness of waking up early for the road. But today... each of their eyes was frighteningly bright, uncontrollable smiles were on their faces, and there were even tear stains? The way they rushed over was almost as if they were seeing long-lost relatives, or... as if they had just escaped from some terrible place?

"Kid—kids? What's wrong? What happened?" Manager Oppa was "held hostage" on both sides by Kwon Eunbi and Kim Chaewon (their way of expressing joy). Somewhat dazed, he adjusted his glasses, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "You guys... why is your spirit so good today? No, it's a bit... over-excited? Did you rest well last night?" He tried to find a reasonable explanation.

"Oppa!!" An Yujin rushed over and grabbed the Manager's arm, her voice trembling with excitement. "What's today's schedule? Where are we going? The recording studio? The filming set? Or a commercial performance? As long as it's normal! Anything is fine! We promise to give two hundred percent!!"

"Right, right, right! Oppa! We're super energetic!" Kang Hye-won nodded vigorously beside her.

"We love working!" Lee Chaeyeon announced loudly, drawing a chorus of agreement.

"Thank you for your hard work, Oppa! Coming to pick us up so early!" Jang Wonyoung smiled sweetly, her tone more sincere and... grateful than ever before?

Even Sakura gave the Manager a gentle smile that could be described as "tears of gratitude," making the Manager feel a bit creeped out.

Manager Oppa: "..." He wiped non-existent sweat from his brow, feeling that something was off. The state the girls were in... it didn't look like they had rested well; rather, it seemed like they had experienced some major psychological shock and now felt an extreme appreciation and longing for "normal life."

He remembered hearing something vague yesterday about some "Special Internship" project Producer Jiang Zhi Yu was working on... Could it be...

"Uh, today's schedule is to go to KBS for a pre-recorded radio program, and then a magazine cover shoot planning meeting in the afternoon..." the Manager said tentatively.

"KBS! Radio! Magazine meeting! That's great!!"

"Normal work! Fantastic!"

"Oppa, I love you!!"

"Get in the car, get in the car! Don't be late!"

The girls cheered and, almost by "stuffing" him, pushed the still-dazed Manager Oppa into the passenger seat before scrambling into the spacious van themselves. The moment the door closed, everyone let out a long, satisfied sigh, as if they had finally entered a safe sanctuary.

The car started smoothly, driving away from that old apartment that held countless shameful memories of their yesterday.

Inside the car, the atmosphere was unprecedentedly relaxed and cheerful. The girls shared the joy of survival, chattering about what to say on the radio program later and what style they wanted for the magazine shoot, as if yesterday's "Rock-baked Ramen," "black shadow man," "Purple Cabbage," and "Slime" were all just a bizarre nightmare. Now that they were awake, the world was still beautiful.

From the rearview mirror, the Manager looked at this group of girls who had suddenly become exceptionally "work-loving" and "cherishing schedules." Recalling their "tears of joy" and "gratitude" from earlier, the doubt in his heart grew heavier.

He quietly took out his phone and sent a message to Producer Jiang Zhi Yu:

[Producer Jiang, the girls' state today is... very special. They're showing unprecedented enthusiasm and gratitude for normal schedules. Yesterday... what exactly did you put them through?]

Soon, Jiang Zhiyu's reply came, with only a simple emoji: 😉

The Manager looked at that meaningful wink emoji and then thought back to the girls' reactions just now...

He silently put away his phone, deciding not to probe further.

Some things are perhaps better for the heart if left unknown.

At least for now, the girls look happy and full of passion for work.

This... should be considered a good thing, right?

Probably.