Episode 144
I decided to change the subject.
“Come on, what kind of ability do I have to do something like that? It’s just a coincidence.”
“I heard it from Jong-hoon oppa.”
“….”
Cheon Jong-hoon, damn it! Why’s your mouth so loose?
“…I’m really sorry. I said I’d refrain from acting unilaterally, and I apologize for showing this side of me. However, the incident with SS was something I did because I had prior weakness on them. I promise, it won’t happen again.”
Hearing my polite apology, Cheon Aram spoke with a meaningful expression.
“What about the drug scandal? That was also the Team Leader Seon’s doing, right?”
“….”
I genuinely questioned her with confusion.
“How did you know?”
I hadn’t acted so clumsily as to leave evidence behind. If it were revealed that my careless handling of this was linked to TwoBear, I wouldn’t even know how the backlash would hit me.
If it’s the first case, I can understand with Jong-hoon around. But the latter doesn’t make sense. That’s why I was purely puzzled that Cheon Aram figured it out.
Cheon Aram smiled lightly as she saw me questioning instead of making excuses and opened her mouth.
“Team Leader Seon, I explained this strange sense of smell I have before, didn’t I?”
“You did. It was such shocking information that I still remember it all.”
“Really? I’m glad you took it seriously. But that wasn’t all. There’s something I didn’t tell you.”
“Something you didn’t tell me?”
Nodding, Cheon Aram wiped the smile off her face and spoke seriously for once.
“This smell doesn’t stay fixed all the time. There’s a fundamental range it maintains, but the strength can change according to a person’s emotions. So, depending on that fluctuation, you can roughly guess what the person is trying to do or what they want.”
You can guess what they want?
“Wait, isn’t that close to reading someone’s mind?”
She didn’t deny it.
“Exactly. But I think it should come with the word ‘limited.’ The emotions I can read are about desires.”
“’It doesn’t matter if others are sacrificed’ then?”
“Yeah. That’s the most accurate expression.”
After pondering for a moment, I spoke up.
“You must have read my movements related to Cheon Jong-hoon and reporter Lim Song-ah.”
“Yeah. It wasn’t intentional, though.”
“….”
That was a dangerous ability. Having a sense that could sniff out evil could actually provide a false sense of security. Being close to someone wouldn’t bring discomfort. But the ability to discern desires and read someone’s heart means something different. Only a very few would take that lightly.
It was an ability. The ability to sniff out villains might actually provide a sense of security just by being nearby. There was no hesitation in being next to someone. However, the ability to discern desires and read a person’s heart had a different meaning. After all, the number of people who would accept that cheerfully would be extremely small.
Moreover, the utility of that ability was completely different. People might end up dying just to exploit that power.
“President Cheon. Are you okay? If this gets out, it could pose a threat to your safety. The risks are different from villain detection.”
“I’m fine. I won’t get caught.”
“Why are you so sure of that?”
“Well, this is a secret I’ve never spoken about in my life.”
It felt like my words were about to get stuck in my throat.
“…Does Seo Soo-yeon not know either?”
“Um… it’s true that I haven’t said it, but Soo-yeon probably has her suspicions. She’s likely pretending not to know while actually guessing. Because of that feeling, I don’t want to say it out loud. Still, it’s true that I haven’t told anyone else. Team Leader Seon is my first.”
This felt like an excessively heavy secret.
“Why are you sharing this with me?”
That was the fundamental question. There was no gain in revealing it, only risk, so it was hard to understand why this story was being shared with someone like me.
“Well, maybe it’s because Team Leader Seon does things and pretends not to notice, which is frustrating?”
“No, is that really all…?”
“And I trust Team Leader Seon.”
“…”
“Isn’t that enough?”
Straightforwardly, Cheon Aram looked at me. Her gaze was completely different from the first time we met.
In that look, there seemed to be an element of trust.
So, I could only respond helplessly in front of her.
“…You trust people like that, and you’ll just get backstabbed.”
“Is that from experience?”
“It’s definitely from experience.”
“Oh my, who could have done such a thing to Team Leader Seon? I’d love to hear that story.”
“…I’ll tell you later.”
…I really hope the day comes when I can share all those stories. Right now, I was afraid to bring them up.
“Well, let’s return to our main point and finish what we were saying. …Team Leader Seon, we promised we’d discuss such matters privately, didn’t we? Soo-yeon and I discussed this, so what’s going on? Do you want to drink together until we’re half-dead again?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Each time, I was the one getting ahead of myself, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“But as your boss, I won’t forget this matter. Bonuses are a given, and I’ll prepare a fair reward that is appropriate.”
“I’ll prepare what can be considered a proper reward.”
“No, I didn’t do this expecting any kind of reward…”
“Even if Team Leader Seon didn’t do it for that reason, it’s the boss’s job to ensure that a proper compensation is given.”
I sensed from her firm expression that changing her mind was not going to happen, so I just lowered my head.
“But just know that next time, it won’t be this easy. We’re colleagues after all. It’s okay to worry and discuss things together, right?”
“I apologize again. I’m sorry.”
“Okay, that’s the stance of TwoBear’s boss. Now, I’ll speak as a human, Cheon Aram.”
She smiled slightly.
“Thank you.”
“….”
“I know how much you care for the colleagues and kids at TwoBear, always pushing yourself for them. And I see how hard you struggle for that. I can always sense it, you know? Team Leader Seon needs to realize how obvious it is when they see you. The moment something comes up for the kids, the scent becomes so strong—I wonder if there’s really a person like that?”
“….”
“I’m lucky to have met Team Leader Seon. And it’s even luckier to be able to work together like this.”
With that, Cheon Aram spoke warmly to me, who couldn’t find a response.
“I will do my best to ensure that this company becomes a wonderful space where Team Leader Seon’s heart can be rewarded.”
Saying that, she extended her fist toward me. I carefully clenched my hand and touched her fist.
“I’ll also be counting on you.”
I realized once again how lucky I was.
That feeling struck me anew.
*
“Why is that druggie trying to become an idol?”
“What else? They’re trying to clean up their image, going off on a tangent. Do they look at the citizens like they’re pigs or something?”
Voices echoed around me.
“How can someone like that even appear on a broadcast?”
“It’s obvious, it’s Jinkang. They probably bribed everyone from the broadcasting station to the agency already.”
“Ugh… what about the members who debuted with them?”
“They can’t be seen separately. It’s not like a crazy person would just debut with Jin Yeoreum, right? They must have all received something behind the scenes.”
“Seriously, what a dirty place. The agency.”
Voices continue to be heard.
“Chic girl – We demand the withdrawal of Jin Yeoreum, the former illegal drug user.”
↳SSEE – 2222222222222222222222
Monoriballfan – Absolutely disgusting to see Jin Yeoreum. Why do they keep pushing that kind of person?
Bbbbbstar – It’s gross how they fuss about national pride and promote it. I wonder if the agency is in its right mind. Only the old folks who like Jinkang will buy it. Will the public actually support that? That manager seems really dumb.
But can they see it? Or is it both?
Soprano – Hey, watch out for the comment section angle. They’re going off again about ‘legal action.’
OP2002 – Didn’t they say they weren’t doping? Then why are they suing? LOL, must be feeling guilty?
Chief Justice – Are they going to start spouting nonsense about mental pain and diseases and threaten to commit suicide again?
Mmmhmmkyu – Let them do it. But I hope they keep it quiet. Why can’t they just write in their diary and off themselves instead of making a fuss?
Winner – For real, they go on about wanting to die with all that crap but then pretend nothing’s wrong, living off others’ money and feelings like parasites.
Jin Yeoreum vaguely recognized that the content was something she had seen in the past.
But even though she recognized the reality of it, there was no stopping what people said and the words that appeared in front of her.
…In fact, that too might just be Jin Yeoreum’s defense mechanism, and all those words could be heard and seen clearly.
Her head spun.
She felt pain in her chest.
A strong sense of unreality washed over her.
Her heartbeat quickened and her body trembled.
“Yeoreum, are you okay? You don’t look well.”
“I’m fine…”
“Uh, Yeoreum, you really seem to be struggling a lot. Shouldn’t you tell Teacher Taeyang?”
“But I don’t want that…”
“Still…”
“Yeoreum, if you really feel you can’t do the next song, just tell me. It’s okay. I’ll take responsibility. I’ll tell Brother Taeyang that I said so.”
“…I’m okay… ha, I can do this.”
“Yeoreum…”
She stepped back onto the stage.
The song began.
People were watching.
People were talking.
Jin Yeoreum was mercilessly shattered by that tongue and those eyes.
The fragments splintered like sharp crystals, scattering. And those shards hit her loved ones around her.
It hurts. It stabs.
That was the current Jin Yeoreum.
Her head spun.
She felt pain in her chest.
A strong sense of unreality washed over her.
Her heartbeat quickened and her body trembled.
Thud!
“Yeoreum!”
“Yeoreum!”
She couldn’t breathe.
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