Episode 63
In the spacious president’s office, which seemed to be using space inefficiently, the wall behind Jin Baek-ho was filled with people wearing black suits, black sunglasses, and black masks, standing with their arms crossed.
If I had seen them from a distance, I would have laughed at their concept, but now that I was the one surrounded and kidnapped, I couldn’t find it funny at all.
It was just downright terrifying.
[Convince the chairman Jin Baek-ho of Jinkang to survive safely!]
[Reward – Drop the Beat]
The sudden appearance of the quest was not at all welcome.
Only the unease grew.
…Why are you acting like that too? It’s unsettling.
In that spacious president’s office, an enraged parent, Jin Baek-ho, poured himself a cup of tea and glanced my way before speaking.
“If you have a mouth, why don’t you say something? What kind of intention is behind kidnapping someone else’s child and forcefully making them into an idol?”
“Mr. Yeoreum’s father, it’s not coercion…”
“…Father?”
At my slip of the tongue, all the suited men who were staring straight ahead turned to look at me.
“…Chairman Jin.”
“Exactly.”
Only then did the suited men return their gaze forward.
…Did they not learn how to protect during training, but instead learned how to do things like this?
I cleared my throat and cleared my voice before speaking.
“First of all, I want to assure you that there was no coercive method in accompanying Ms. Yeoreum.”
“Then, are you saying our Yeoreum voluntarily entered that hole-in-the-wall company?”
“Yes, I may have nudged her a bit, but I believe all actions were made with her consent. I think Ms. Yeoreum is someone who can choose her own path without being swayed in such important decisions.”
Jin Baek-ho took a sip of his tea and replied.
“Well, you talk well. But I’m not someone so soft as to be swayed by such gilding. Even if it’s my daughter, I’ll evaluate her without bias. Love and delusion are two different things.”
He said this as if stating an obvious truth, firmly.
“Yeoreum is still young. Do you really think that such a child made her decision purely on her own? That’s a classic line used by those who blow wind from the sidelines. They say it’s all their own will while conveniently omitting that they manipulated the information and blinded the perspective. Do you think I’ve only seen one or two of those kinds?”
“…I don’t think so. You’re right; there have probably been countless attempts like you mentioned. Such bugs will inevitably cling to a brilliant star like Ms. Yeoreum. But our TwoBear Entertainment…”
Jin Baek-ho snickered lightly and cut me off.
“How amusing. Do you think you’re any different? They’re all the same—broadcasting stations, gymnastics associations, scholarship foundations. Even those so-called volunteer activities. Surely, there’s someone blowing wind from the sidelines. …Like that principal, for instance. The name Jinkang carries that much value.”
The principal I knew didn’t seem like that kind of person at all. Yet, Jin Baek-ho spoke with a kind of conviction.
“Disguised as pure goodwill, what they really want is the name Jinkang behind that girl. In the process, it was Yeoreum who had to be used and deceived. Because of that ‘I want to do what I want’ line, it has come to this!”
“It was Yeoreum who had to be used and deceived. It all happened because of that guy’s so-called desires!”
He gulped down some lukewarm tea to cool off and continued speaking.
“I have no intention of letting Yeoreum be used just because she says she wants to. After all, she’s young and fragile. She can’t make sound judgments by herself. What she believes to be her own judgment is all a misconception.”
“…Misconception.”
“Yeah, it’s all a misconception.”
“…”
This time, I tried my best to bow my head and simply apologize for his opinion. I was focusing all my energy on getting out of this situation.
Cheon Aram and Seo Soo-yeon were already preparing to persuade him. I had no intention of crashing their plans by raising my head.
Instead of risking a blunder, I wanted to pass the baton to my fellow TwoBear members.
“Do you really think Yeoreum can’t make her own judgment?”
But I found it hard to just sit back after hearing his words.
Jin Baek-ho frowned as if he was offended by what I said and replied, “If you can call being tossed around like a dandelion and used as making a judgment, I suppose that’s possible.”
“….”
That’s not it, you fool.
“Yeoreum is more fragile than she appears and can’t choose for herself.”
“Ms. Yeoreum is stronger than she looks and can make her own choices.”
“She doesn’t even have discerning eyes and just gets used.”
“She has good discernment and can tell who’s trying to use her.”
“That child is still young.”
“Ms. Yeoreum is maturing even now.”
His eyebrows twitched.
I knew this could upset him, but I continued speaking.
“Please have faith. The chairman’s daughter may be delicate, but she is strong and warm-hearted.”
That was something I had to say the moment I decided to recruit her. If I didn’t believe in her, who in the world would?
“I’ve been watching Yeoreum for 16 years. What do you think you know in front of me?”
Jin Baek-ho might have seen Yeoreum’s past 16 years, but I had seen her next three years. There’s a reason I could say what I said.
“I don’t know the past Ms. Yeoreum. However, I am looking at the current Ms. Yeoreum. I’ve seen how she lives in the orphanage and the feelings she has for remaining there.”
Even in the messy orphanage, filled with dust and old, faded furniture, she shone brightly.
“She will surely become the best idol, making those petty controversies seem laughable.”
There was no reason for her to fail to shine on stage.
“…Alright, let’s assume for a hundred times that the kid has the talent to succeed. Do you think that path will be just a simple fun picnic?”
“No, it will surely be tough. Right now, the thorns she’s suppressed will start to sprout again and poke at her. And Ms. Yeoreum—no, we must break those thorns and let the flowers bloom.”
“Of course,”
“Honestly saying doesn’t always cut it, does it? Your words imply that you’re forcing Yeoreum into such a difficult path, don’t they?”
“The shield for that hardship will be TwoBear.”
“…What?”
“The plan is for Jin Yeoreum to offload her negative image onto TwoBear as much as possible.”
This was the policy determined by Cheon Aram, Seo Soo-yeon, and me.
“Do you realize the long-term consequences this could have on the company?”
“I know. I, along with my colleagues and the President, are all aware.”
There would undoubtedly be significant obstacles in attempting the next project. However, it wasn’t something completely unfixable.
“If we can improve Ms. Yeoreum’s image through this, then it’s a win.”
The calculations were already complete.
If she could handle the frenzy of attention she would attract, there would be no one in Korea who didn’t know about TwoBear. We just had to turn at least half, or even a quarter of that attention, into fans.
In doing so, we would gain a level of recognition that an ordinary rookie agency couldn’t even dream of.
High risk, high return.
I was confident I could pull off that acrobatics.
“We are just merchants. We’re ordinary folks trying to invest capital to make even more profit. The target is merely the name idol. A broke individual would assure you that Jin Yeoreum is definitely a successful commodity.”
Sometimes, the words of a money-crazed lunatic can be more persuasive.
And this felt like one of those moments.
Jin Baek-ho stared at me in silence for about a minute before chuckling and finally speaking.
“Did you say merchant? You should consider who you’re talking to. I am one of the top ten merchants in this country.”
His chuckle transitioned into a laugh.
“As a merchant, let’s assess how you’ll behave. If you recruit Yeoreum, there will definitely be a massive amount of noise. And according to you, you’re planning for the company to handle that noise while using the ensuing issues to boost the children’s popularity. But there’s actually no need for such acrobatics.”
I could predict what he was about to say.
“Why should the company bear the burden of the noise created by Yeoreum? A merchant’s response shouldn’t be that! The burden of slander, attacks, insults, and all should be offloaded onto Yeoreum, and once sufficient issues have been generated, it would be the easiest and least risky to drop her! Isn’t that right?”
That’s a valid point. I had thought the same.
Both options were akin to acrobatic flights, but the latter was safer and easier.
If entering this gamble were necessary, all merchants would choose the latter.
Therefore, proof was needed. Our TwoBear needed to prove that we were the group of fools who would choose the former.
“Will you accept this?”
I pulled an envelope from my pocket and held it out. One of the men in black suits approached, checked the contents, and handed it to Jin Baek-ho.
“What is this?”
“This is a draft of the contract. It was quickly written, so there may be some incomplete parts, but I believe the meaning will come through.”
It was something I hastily put together while being kidnapped in a limousine.
It was made.
“Ms. Jin Yeoreum’s contract period is considered to be 5 years.”
“….”
“And if the group, including Ms. Jin Yeoreum, does not achieve the #1 spot on terrestrial music broadcasts within those 5 years, I will pay my entire salary for 5 years as per the contract. It’s a somewhat awkward draft, so I’d appreciate it if the lawyer from Jinkang could help ensure there are no legal shortcomings.”
Jin Baek-ho pulled out a magnifying glass and asked me.
“…Have you lost your mind?”
I am rational. Very.
“I think it’s necessary to prove my sincerity in protecting her. That’s why I took action.”
“Isn’t it just to break even if you succeed?”
“Ms. Yeoreum’s success is guaranteed.”
“….”
This isn’t just a statement made out of curiosity.
If I utilize my regression knowledge and quest without regard for the law or morality, success will follow.
My determination was more steadfast than right after the regression. No matter how outrageous the task, I will ensure the success of Jin Yeoreum and TwoBear.
“Even if it’s insufficient, I will make it happen. I stake everything on it.”
With that resolve, Jin Baek-ho spoke before me.
“Why go that far?”
The answer was clear.
“Because I fell for her. I…”
“…You shameless thief.”
“As a fan! A fan! Please let me finish!”
“….”
Silence lingered for about three minutes. Amid that heavy atmosphere, Jin Baek-ho looked me over and concluded.
“Looks like you’re the crazy one.”
…Ah, that reaction blew up in my face.
I regretted not being a bit more polite, and then he continued.
“But strangely, it doesn’t seem unappealing.”
“What do you mean…?”
Jin Baek-ho, having finished his business, waved a hand as if dismissing a spell.
“I won’t interfere.”
[Quest Complete! You have received ‘Drop the Beat’ as a reward.]
Shit, I survived.
*
Jin Baek-ho glanced at one of the men dressed in black suit standing behind him and asked.
“To me, he seems like a pretty decent guy, but Yeoreum, what do you think?”
Instead of answering, Jin Yeoreum carefully took off her sunglasses and mask and looked at the door Seon Taeyang had just exited. Then, without a word, she bolted out as if she had to chase him.
‘There was no need to ask that.’
He recalled the newly unveiled expression of his daughter. And where he had seen that peculiar change of expression.
In Jin Baek-ho’s memory, her face just now was clearly that of a lovestruck girl.
As fierce as a storm, yet as deep as the ocean.
He grasped his head, sighing.
“Looks like the youngest might get married faster than the firstborn…”
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