Chapter 50

Episode 50

“I’ll give it a shot if you add a few conditions.”

“Thank you!”

I shook his hand and we had a brief agreement. It was about the payout method, timing, and safety measures like guarantees.

The more I listened, the more I felt he was sincere.

Amidst the warm atmosphere, as we wrapped up our appropriate exchange of opinions and were about to part ways, I turned to Seok Hyun-woo.

“Lastly, I have one more question.”

“Do you have more questions about the payment method?”

“Not really.”

The doubts I had were more about the fundamental aspects of this situation itself.

“From what Manager Seok is saying, I assume that Ms. Jin Yeoreum will definitely decline.”

“That’s right.”

“Then why do I have the impression that you want me to make a scouting proposal?”

“….”

Why would I want to scout someone who isn’t even going to be scouted?

“In the end, the mere five-minute performance of me mentioning the scout means that you, Manager Seok… or rather, Jinkang, interprets it as offering considerable amounts and opportunities. Beyond that, nothing else is realized.”

What remains from such a short performance?

Why does it serve as the goal of a transaction?

“No matter how much Jinkang is a major corporation with financial power, I don’t believe they would engage in a losing business. Yet, this seems like a deal where Jinkang is clearly at a loss.”

As the top businessman in South Korea, Jinkang would particularly avoid losing transactions. That’s how they reached their position.

“What benefit does Jinkang, or Ms. Jin Yeoreum, gain from this deal?”

There must be a benefit. One I’m not calculating.

Seok Hyun-woo hesitated to answer. It seemed to be a question that was difficult to divulge, being close to confidential information.

I quickly gave up. If it made him hesitate that much, knowing could be a poison.

“If it’s an uncomfortable topic, you don’t have to answer. Even without saying anything, I’m planning to uphold the promised scout.”

The opportunity to hire a general public advertisement model was a chance I didn’t want to ditch because of my curiosity.

At that, Seok Hyun-woo slowly shook his head and said,

“…No. I will tell you. I think I should.”

He looked straight at me. Until now, I sensed his gaze as one used for business matters.

But now, as he was about to speak, something felt different. There was an unclear emotion reflected in his eyes.

“What do you think about the doping controversy surrounding Ms. Jin Yeoreum?”

Regarding that matter, even though I had talked with Jin Yeoreum, my thoughts hadn’t changed. It was probably just her avoiding legal consequences due to some network.

Of course, I couldn’t say it outright.

“I believe it’s a story about her being found not guilty. I have no other thoughts on it.”

He turned to Gyeoul and asked,

“And what about you, Gyeoul?”
“What’s your opinion?”

“…I haven’t been watching the news because I’ve been busy with games and anime. Honestly, I don’t really know what’s going on.”

Our geek was so pure; it was refreshing.

“If both of you think that, I’d be grateful, but the general public believes that Jin Yeoreum has committed illegal doping and covered it up. However, that’s not true.”

That’s just because you’re an employee of Jinkang.

“I’m not saying this just because I hold an executive position at Jinkang.”

…Are Jin Yeoreum and the Jinkang folks learning mind-reading or something?

“As someone who’s been supporting the Jinkang family for eight years, I can say with certainty, Jinkang—no, current Chairman Jin Baek-ho didn’t take kindly to Jin Yeoreum doing rhythmic gymnastics from the start.”

This was the first I’d heard of it.

“For what it’s worth, didn’t you actively promote Jin Yeoreum’s rhythmic gymnastics for the purpose of shaping Jinkang’s image?”

I remember that at the time, Jinkang also did a CF about its brand image with aggressive sponsorships.

They practically made her a company mascot.

“That was support based on the judgment of the former chairman, Jin Woo-cheol—Jin Yeoreum’s grandfather—and the marketing strategy department. It was a corporate-level choice made based on the judgment that Jin Yeoreum’s beauty and talent in ribbon gymnastics had sufficient commercial value, rather than personal feelings.”

Indeed, if I had a granddaughter with A+ potential and a history of monopolizing gold medals since childhood, I wouldn’t have just left her alone either.

“Unlike Jin Woo-cheol’s judgement, Chairman Jin Baek-ho was concerned that too much attention would be focused on Jin Yeoreum, who was merely 14 at the time. He feared that the moment she received that attention, her freedom would disappear.”

That also seemed like overprotectiveness.

But I figured it was a valid concern for a kid raised as the second generation of Jinkang.

Looking back, it might have been the right thought.

She must be living her life like this now, facing the backlash.

“He said, ‘The world will only see that child as a national representative of rhythmic gymnastics or the third generation of Jinkang.’ He always wished for Jin Yeoreum to live simply as ‘Jin Yeoreum’ and not carry a heavy burden.”

“Then why did he let her start rhythmic gymnastics?”

I understood he had good intentions, but if he knew that, shouldn’t he have stopped her?

If he had discouraged and persuaded her from the start, this wouldn’t have happened, right?

“Well, it’s because Jin Yeoreum liked rhythmic gymnastics.”

“…Huh.”

“Even if it had been an indie band or painting, Chairman Jin Baek-ho would have let it go.”

There wasn’t some grand twist to this reasoning.

It was just that one doting dad couldn’t bring himself to stop his child from dreaming.

“After Jin Woo-cheol’s term as chairman ended and Jin Baek-ho took over, the sponsorships, or Jinkang’s policy, eased up somewhat.”

“What do you mean by eased up?”
“What kind of excuse are you referring to?”

“I no longer have any demands regarding grades.”

“…Wow.”

A sponsor doesn’t demand grades from an athlete?

“Did the company allow that?”

“This was Chairman Jin Baek-ho’s unilateral decision. Of course, there were objections. However, the chairman forced it through.”

They say he turned the time it took to create the chairman into a family meal appointment.

At this point, calling him a devoted father seemed fitting.

“As a result, Jin Yeoreum’s schedule was adjusted and the number of competitions was reduced. This is a fact that’s recorded even to this day. If you’d like, I can show you the relevant materials.”

“No, there’s no need for that. I’ll just take your word for it.”

“Thank you.”

Listening to Seok Hyun-woo, I could already guess what he wanted to say.

I slightly lowered my head and spoke to him.

“I understand what Manager Seok wants to say. It’s similar to what the defense team claimed in court.”

“That’s right. The public viewed it as a justification for framing someone, but it was the complete truth without exaggeration.”

Seok Hyun-woo’s eyes ignited with emotion.

“When the doctor in charge, who received a bribe, frequently suggested medical prescriptions, Jin Yeoreum felt uncomfortable and considered changing doctors. Meanwhile, the personal doctor feared for his position and acted. They tried to use this as blackmail against her. Contrary to the doctor’s intentions, Jin Yeoreum ended up undergoing an unexpected doping test, and we all know what happened next. The media spread the story that Jin Yeoreum had been caught by the medical team for illegal doping. Jinkang didn’t have the chance to bury or stop that doctor. All of this was caused by that foolish and greedy individual!”

He shouted.

“Common sense would dictate that a doping athlete wouldn’t volunteer for a medical test! She wouldn’t need such substances! At that time, Jin Yeoreum was only 14 years old! There’s no way she could have done this! It’s absolutely not even a case of negligent intent!”

The burning emotions were of resentment, sadness, and affection.

It seemed Seok Hyun-woo was not simply approaching Jin Yeoreum as a matter of duty.

He took a deep breath, as if trying to contain his outburst, and apologized.

“…I apologize. I shouldn’t have let my emotions show in such a way.”

“No, there’s no need to apologize. I found that side of Manager Seok quite appealing.”

This was purely my human preference.

I liked people who wouldn’t stab me in the back like that.

Not like Ban Seong-cheol, who smiles while plotting betrayal.

“According to the doctor’s statement made after the trial, even if the blackmail failed, it was meant to increase his reliance on him.”

“What a sinister person.”

“…Haha, indeed.”

I don’t understand why there are so many crazy people in the world.

“Contrary to what is spread in public, I now understand that Jin Yeoreum is an unfair victim.”

With statements like that, there was no reason not to believe him.
Actually, Seok Hyun-woo tricked me and there’s nothing to gain from it.

But my questions didn’t just disappear.

“So how does that connect to me being scouted?”

Seok Hyun-woo, still speaking in a cold tone, replied with a voice full of concern.

“…Jin Yeoreum needs encouragement.”

Encouragement?

“Could you explain that a bit more?”

“Well, this volunteer work is being carried out despite Jin Baek-ho’s strong opposition. The fact that you’re volunteering here instead of attending school is entirely your decision.”

No parent would be thrilled about their daughter skipping school to solely do volunteer work.

If it’s her decision, it makes this situation a bit more understandable.

“Jin Yeoreum feels a great sense of guilt for bringing trouble to her family and the name Jinkang. She’s always been searching for a way to make it up.”

“And that’s through volunteer work?”

“Exactly.”

The intention was good, but I was negative about its effectiveness.

“You can interpret this as a light comment from an outsider. However, as someone working in an agency that manages public images, I want to say one thing.”

I understood Jin Yeoreum’s situation and that she was a victim.

But the fact that public opinion sees her as a doping criminal doesn’t change.

Because of that, my desire to avoid being linked with her remained unchanged.

Still, it felt a bit regrettable that she was squandering her youth on something so unproductive and unlikely to succeed.

So, even though I recognized it as meddling, I spoke up.

“That’s going to be very difficult. Even if someone volunteers sincerely for two or three years, people will interpret it as a political stunt.”

Even if they hear she’s repenting and doing volunteer work, people will be cold about it.

Telling her to tone down her cringe-worthy antics.

Or saying they only want to hear about her misfortunes.

As I said that, I would casually inject poison into Jin Yeoreum’s heart.

This wasn’t just an extreme expression.

It was based on the real reactions I observed in the community while trying to improve a singer’s image.

“It’s not just two or three years. Jin Yeoreum is looking at a minimum of ten years for that image to change.”

“That might still be insufficient. That’s how public opinion works.”

Upon my assertion, Seok Hyun-woo shook his head and responded.

“I think I may have phrased things in a misleading way. This is the minimum period I’m talking about.”

He spoke plainly, as if stating just the facts without any emotion.

“Jin Yeoreum has already resolved to live a life of service for her entire life. Fifty years, maybe even a hundred.”

“…”

Just before leaving, I remembered what Jin Yeoreum had said to me.

‘I will always be here… but I won’t get my hopes up.’

She wasn’t just saying it casually.

A shiver ran through me as I felt her 16-year-old resolve and will deepen.

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