The flowerbed - Aespa's Giselle x M!Reader

The practice room

Winter's POV

The practice room felt wrong. Everything felt wrong. Just two days since the accident, since our world shattered, and already the company was forcing us back to "normal."

"Your new manager will be here shortly," the HR coordinator said, her professional smile not quite hiding her discomfort. "Manager Choi has extensive experience in artist management and discipline."

The word 'discipline' made my stomach turn. Beside me, Ningning shifted closer to Karina, seeking comfort she couldn't openly ask for.

"I trust you'll all be on your absolute best behavior," the coordinator continued, emphasis clear. "Given recent... events, the company feels a firmer hand is needed."

Translation: they thought y/n had been too soft, too close. They wanted someone who'd keep us in line.

Heavy footsteps approached - nothing like y/n's familiar quiet steps. The man who entered carried himself like he owned the building, his expensive suit and perfectly styled hair screaming corporate ambition.

"Manager Choi," he introduced himself curtly. No bow, no warmth. Just cold assessment as his eyes swept over us. "I've reviewed your files extensively. There will be changes."

He pulled out a tablet, not bothering to learn our names before launching into his new rules: "No phones during practice. No unnecessary conversation. No breaks without explicit permission. And absolutely no fraternization with staff."

The last rule landed like a slap. Giselle flinched slightly but maintained her blank expression - the mask she'd worn since that morning at the hospital.

"Your schedule has been restructured," he continued, pulling up a brutally packed timeline. "The company feels you've had too much... freedom in your training. That ends now."

"But sir," Karina started carefully, "some of us are still recovering from-"

"Did I ask for commentary?" His voice could have frozen fire. "Your previous manager's lax approach clearly led to problems. I'm here to fix that."

He stepped closer, invading our space with deliberate intimidation. "Let me be very clear - you are products. Assets. Nothing more. Your job is to perform, to present the image the company wants. Personal feelings don't enter into it."

His eyes landed on Giselle, smile turning cruel. "Though some of you seem to have forgotten that recently."

"That's not-" I started to defend her but his hand shot up, cutting me off.

"I don't want to hear it. In fact, I don't want to hear anything unless directly asked. Is that clear?"

We nodded silently, the weight of our new reality settling in. This was our punishment - not just losing y/n, but having him replaced with everything he wasn't.

"Good. Now, your old routine was clearly insufficient. Let's see what you're actually capable of when pushed properly."

What followed was three hours of brutal drilling - no water breaks, no rest, just endless repetition until even Karina's perfect posture showed signs of strain.

"Again!" he barked as Ningning stumbled slightly. "My grandmother could dance better than this. Maybe she should replace you."

I caught Giselle's eye in the mirror, saw the same horrified realization I felt: this was just the beginning. One cruel man replaced with another, but this time with the company's full blessing to break us however he saw fit.

When we finally finished, muscles screaming and throats raw, Manager Choi's parting words carried the weight of threat:

"I expect significant improvement by tomorrow. The company has invested too much to let certain... distractions ruin their assets. Remember that."