Episode 46
Winter, sitting in the passenger seat, spoke up.
“Gaeul unni seems like such a nice person. She can have a smooth conversation with someone whose social skills are as bad as trash, like me.”
“Come on, you’re not trash.”
“I actually thought trash was a nicer way to put it… So, Teacher Taeyang, do you think my social skills are overestimated?”
Winter shook her head and continued.
“Well, it feels like I get embarrassed being in front of Teacher Taeyang. I’m not that amazing of a person…”
Ah, there goes Winter’s signature negative mode again. I wished for her to be more confident and said firmly.
“Don’t underestimate yourself too much. Your social skills aren’t trash. They’re just… on the low side!”
She gave me a puzzled look at my enthusiastic defense.
“…Uh, thanks?”
Seems like she took the encouragement positively. A very good attitude.
“By the way, how’s it going with Trainer Lee Hyerin? The President has been thinking positively about officially hiring her.”
If Winter and Gaeul think highly of Lee Hyerin, her hiring will probably be confirmed.
“Hyerin-ssem?”
Winter pondered for a moment before replying.
“I’m sorry if it feels like I’m judging, but I’ll just say what comes to mind. I think Hyerin ssem is meticulous and professional about training. Sometimes it gets really tough, but I can feel myself improving, so I find myself trusting and following her.”
Considering she’d likely be conservative in front of me, that was quite a good evaluation.
Like Cheon Aram and Seo Soo-yeon, it seemed Winter thought well of her too.
“But she doesn’t really share personal stories, so it’s been a bit hard to get close. Since my social skills are… low as well.”
Honestly, I also found it hard to get close to Hyerin. Especially after Gaeul’s evaluation last time…
It would be too much to expect someone to do something they themselves find difficult.
Sadly, it seems Winter and Hyerin will have to remain in a relationship where they just get their work done.
…What can you do? Considering how rare it is to find talent that Cheon Aram approves of, I guess that much is bearable.
“But I think Gaeul unni joining has changed a lot. She really helps set the mood, so even during tough training, we find ourselves laughing more.”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
“That’s a relief.”
Hearing that made me feel it was a great decision to recruit Gaeul. If she could help lead the atmosphere, it would minimize conflicts within the team.
“But lately, it seems like Hyerin ssem is avoiding Gaeul unni. I wonder why?”
“Do you think our teacher is avoiding Gaeul unnie? What could the reason be?”
“Hmm?”
“Avoiding Gyeoul? No way, that can’t be true.”
“You must be misunderstanding something, Gyeoul. Who in the world would avoid Gaeul?”
“Is that so?”
Sitting in the passenger seat, Gyeoul continued to chatter.
As I listened to her, mixed memories of dropping her off at the dance studio came flooding back.
Maybe it was the nostalgia that made this moment feel quite pleasant.
But I knew this feeling was probably just mine.
From Gyeoul’s perspective, this might feel like working overtime with a boss without any warning.
Considering the cold glance she gave earlier, I was sure of it.
But seeing her laugh and chat like that, it seemed her mood had lifted a bit.
Well, then, I might as well address it.
Recognizing that what I was about to say was like stepping on a landmine, I still decided to speak up to avoid leaving any hard feelings.
“Feeling any better?”
“…Better?”
“I mean, I threw this sudden workload on you, so I’m sure it was frustrating. Sorry about that. But this is important for your success. I promise.”
“No! No! I wasn’t upset or frustrated at all!”
“Come on, it’s okay to be a little honest. We’re close enough to share those kinds of feelings, right?”
After all, we have built our friendship over sharing meals at my sister’s house.
Let’s be able to voice even minor grievances comfortably. Being open helps keep the relationship healthy.
“I have nothing like that! I’m just so happy to be spending time with Team Leader Seon right now!”
With that, Gyeoul’s face turned bright red.
“Ah…, I didn’t mean to create any misunderstandings with that last comment. I meant it in a human way…”
“Oh, don’t worry. You’re just feeling that deep friendship with me, right? I’m not some overly self-conscious middle school student who would take that the wrong way!”
I had lived a life that I could confidently call that of a seasoned manager. There’s no way I’d look at my idol like that.
And Gyeoul wouldn’t see a middle-aged man like me that way either.
With my assured words, Gyeoul nodded with a somewhat hesitant expression, muttering, “…Is that so?”
“Yes, that’s how it is.”
Then what was that look Gyeoul gave me earlier?
I didn’t dare let that question go.
“But hey, Gyeoul. I didn’t think you were feeling upset for no reason. Earlier, you looked at me like I was garbage!”
“Me? Look at Team Leader Seon like that? When was that?”
“Team Leader Seon? When?”
“Remember that time when Gaeul collapsed and I had to lift her up? Your gaze was like watching a bully tease a nerd.”
…Honestly, it was scary, Gyeoul. Even though I knew what kind of kid you were, I felt like a wimp under that look.
Gyeoul spoke softly, as if she had realized something.
“Oh, that time.”
Then she banged her head against the dashboard of the passenger seat.
Thud!
“I’m really sorry. I can’t believe I looked at Team Leader Seon like that.”
She hit it hard enough to make the car slightly shake.
“No, Gyeoul, it’s fine! Don’t do that! Your face is way too precious!”
Why does she always go from zero to a hundred?
I parked the car and carefully checked if Gyeoul’s forehead was hurt. Fortunately, aside from a slight redness, there were no injuries at all.
I let out a small sigh and said.
“Gyeoul, I’m sorry to say it this way, but I hope you remember that you’re a very important asset. Your body isn’t just yours.”
“Then whose is it?”
Gyeoul looked at me with an expectant gaze.
It was hard to figure out what she was hoping for, so I just said what needed to be said.
“Whose else? It belongs to the company.”
“It belongs to the company, huh?”
Gyeoul’s answer came with an inexplicable sense of gloom.
…Did I say something wrong again?
Feeling awkward, I started driving again. As we passed down the main road and were almost at our destination, Gyeoul quietly murmured my name.
“Teacher Taeyang.”
“Yeah, what is it, Gyeoul?”
“What do you think of Older Sister Gaeul?”
“Gaeul?”
It seemed like a sudden question, but I figured she might be curious, so I answered willingly.
“She’s caring, responsible, hardworking, easily approachable, sings well, and is pretty.”
“…She’s perfect.”
“Well, she’s perfect when it comes to becoming a singer.”
There was so much more I could say about who Gaeul was.
But it wouldn’t be polite to share everything without her permission.
So I kept it simple.
Gyeoul seemed satisfied with that fragmented summary and nodded.
“Teacher Taeyang.”
It was the same soft repetition as before.
But somehow, those words felt delicate and precarious.
I could feel it.
Concerned about that, I replied with as much kindness as possible.
“Yeah, Gyeoul. Do you have anything else you want to ask?”
“I’m not asking anything. But I do have something I want to say.”
“What is it?”
“…You have to bring Gaeul with you next time during the late shift.”
The look on Gyeoul’s face as she said that was one of pain, as if she didn’t want to say such things.
…So I made that born loser say something like that.
“Okay, I’ll bring Gaeul next time.”
Sorry for dragging her in while she’s trying to relax.
Beside me, Gyeoul spoke softly, as if making a vow.
“…I will make sure everyone is happy.”
I didn’t understand the meaning behind her determined words.
*
The reason I decided to volunteer in this orphanage was definitely because I was eyeing the reverse surge that Bubble Shower would go through. But if you asked if that was the only reason, I would shake my head.
I was aiming to recruit the third member here.
No matter what anyone says, the star of Bubble Shower’s reverse surge is Yoon Haneul, known for her unwavering dedication to volunteer work, numerous goodwill stories, and her stunning natural beauty that set the internet ablaze.
I was quite sure of this as I had deeply researched her, reading related articles and even digging up information from her trainee days after her debut.
If I could recruit Yoon Haneul, I wouldn’t regret it.
I hadn’t seen her in person, so I couldn’t confirm the specifics, but the quality of her dance and singing showcased in the materials was remarkable to the point where it felt odd that she hadn’t taken off yet.
I had a hunch that her main stats would be similar to Gyeoul’s potential.
Moreover, her habitual kindness and her well-known intention to care for the entire crew were famous in the industry.
With her like this, she wouldn’t likely stink of anything in front of Cheon Aram’s nose.
Additionally, I thought it would be more secure to recruit Yoon Haneul, who was already predicted to be a big success, rather than just aiming for a post-Yoon Haneul through volunteer work.
All of this evidence pointed my heart toward Yoon Haneul.
Thus, I hoped to meet her in the orphanage and attempt to recruit her.
“Did you say you have something to say?”
That’s why I never expected this situation.
“Yes… I have something to say.”
“Hmm… please feel free to speak.”
“…How about joining our TwoBear Entertainment?”
Yet here I was trying to recruit not Yoon Haneul but Jin Yeoreum, the third-generation chaebol who was the catalyst for the doping controversy that caused the reverse surge.
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