Chapter 163

Chapter 163

“Am I expecting something grand? As Gaeul’s mother, of course, I have to manage the money, right? That’s what parents do!”

Well, technically, she wasn’t completely wrong.

Since Gaeul’s father couldn’t exercise his normal rights as a guardian, this woman was her only remaining protector.

However, this woman was fundamentally mistaken.

“Gaeul currently has no income.”

“…Are you serious? She’s on TV, releasing songs, and even filming broadcasts overseas, and she has no income? How stupid do you think people are?”

I didn’t particularly think she was dumb, but hearing that made me genuinely question it.

“Of course, there’s no income. That’s because the settlement hasn’t been done yet. It’s only been how long since her debut, and you’re expecting a settlement already? Even Alcest, who topped the charts last time, can’t make that happen so soon. They’ll probably need another 6 months to really start raking it in.”

Unfortunately, due to the sudden halt of activities, Girl Revolution was quite distant from making any real profits through festivals or events.

Thus, contrary to Gaeul’s mother’s expectations, Gaeul had no money to spend except for a small allowance I was giving her.

“So when will this settlement happen?”

“Well, that’s something I can’t be sure about without knowing the future, so I can’t give you a specific date.”

“But as a manager, at least give me a rough idea!”

“Uh, maybe it’ll take 2-3 years.”

“2-3 years?”

Gaeul’s mother looked utterly shocked at the surprisingly long timeframe, her face turning pale before she seemed to realize something.

“Right, the signing bonus! She must’ve received that!”

“She did receive it, but your husband cleanly blew it all away gambling.”

“…Don’t lie. So, you’re saying she’s out there without a penny? And what about Gahyeon? Do you think Gaeul would just leave him alone? If there’s no money, she’d be working part-time to support him!”

“True enough. Gaeul is that kind of kid. So, I’m covering all the expenses for Gahyeon’s living costs, education, and maintaining a decent lifestyle.”

“…What?”

Gaeul’s mother looked at me as if she couldn’t comprehend what she was hearing.

“…Why are you doing that?”

“Because Gaeul wanted to be an idol. And I genuinely like Gahyeon. You might not know, but Gahyeon has a talent for art.”
I was a kid, you know? I don’t know if you’re aware, but Gahyeon has a talent for art.

“…”

Not long ago, to celebrate Parent’s Day, Gahyeon even drew my face in pencil.

I was questioning whether it was okay for me to receive this on Parent’s Day, but still, it felt pretty good.

Anyway, there was no chance I would get paid using Gaeul as an excuse, given that by the time the settlements rolled around, Gaeul, who’s currently 18, would be an adult and wouldn’t be losing her rights under the pretext of needing a guardian anymore.

However, despite my kind explanation, whether she didn’t understand it or was just being stubborn, Gaeul’s mother raised her voice instead of leaving.

“Just because of that, to me as her guardian…”

“Get away from Brother Taeyang!”

Just then, Gaeul rushed in like a superhero, blocking me and glaring at her mother.

“No, I’m just…”

“Please stop saying weird things to Brother Taeyang and go back!”

“Gaeul, it’s not just that I’m struggling; like I explained last time…”

“Just go. …Please.”

“…”

Gaeul’s mother checked our expressions and fled like she was escaping a crime scene.

Seeing that, Gaeul, who was panting, tried her best to stay calm in front of me and said,

“I’m sorry for dragging you into this weird situation. I feel really bad to have bothered you, Brother Taeyang, who has enough on his plate already.”

“…”

“…Haha, she really is my family, but it’s embarrassing. Acting like that now, am I lacking shame?”

“…”

“Still, don’t worry. I know what’s important for me right now. I won’t involve you in any weird sense of responsibility that might frustrate Team Leader Seon. I’ll cut it off cleanly. I won’t hold onto any lingering feelings.”

I looked at Gaeul’s face as she said that.

Then I opened my mouth.

“Gaeul.”

I couldn’t just pretend I didn’t see it.

“Are you okay with that?”

“…”

After a long silence, Gaeul replied, seemingly emotionless.

“Right now, what’s important to me is Gahyeon and TwoBear and Girl Revolution.”

“…”

“Other than that, I don’t need anything else.”

*

While discussing TwoBear’s policies with the staff via messenger, I received a call from Dokgo Chan, the PD of Music Road.

“This is Team Leader Seon Taeyang from TwoBear.”
“I’m Team Leader Seon Taeyang.”

“Yes, this is PD Dokgo Chan. Let’s cut to the chase. I’m sure you’ve heard about the fairness controversy spreading through the fan community.”

Dokgo Chan’s voice was quick and firm.

I had a bad feeling about this.

“Yes, I’ve confirmed that too.”

“Well then, I trust you understand that it’s not just the broadcast at stake but also the image of Yoo Gaeul if we let the current situation slide. In that sense, we’ve added a countermeasure for the next round.”

“A countermeasure? What does that entail?”

“We’ll pair Yoo Gaeul with someone who won’t attract such controversies.”

“Someone who won’t attract controversies? Wait, are you saying…?”

“Looks like you guessed it. Yoo Gaeul’s next opponent will be Lena Shin.”

“…”

“For the sake of the broadcast, I hope you understand. Well then, goodbye.”

The call ended abruptly, leaving me staring blankly at the beeping tone. I thought to myself:

…Who said Gaeul only receives favors from the PD?

More like the PD is the one getting the short end of the stick!

*

Looking at the lineup of singers who decided to appear in this music road show, most had a good reason to be there.

Take the rocker Shin Joo-rim, who was booted first due to a public urination issue when he was drunk, so he hadn’t been in touch with broadcasts. Other singers also had their own controversies or were being slowly forgotten, which is why, despite having solid careers and fanbases, they decided to join this survival show.

But Lena Shin was not in that position.

At any music show, if the producers merely mentioned that Lena Shin was willing to film, the main PD would come running to her doorstep to personally welcome her.

She was still a revered figure called upon whenever there was an R&B-related program and, even though she could actively participate in broadcasts, she was focusing on teaching music to students at a university, thus holding onto her honor as a singer.

One of the top female vocalists in South Korea, the matriarch of R&B. Loved by people of all ages and genders, she was the dream of aspiring singers.

That was Lena Shin.

Naturally, she was the most likely candidate to win this music road show.

Pairing her against Gaeul was essentially a way to drop Gaeul before the controversy over preferential treatment could even arise. Everyone would bet on Lena Shin’s victory, no question about it.
“Of course, if it’s 100 out of 100, I can only predict Lena Shin’s victory.”

Even the unique situation of busking overseas didn’t make this easy to overcome.

To put it bluntly, Lena Shin’s score of 92% in the first round’s Love judgment was an overwhelming first place.

No matter how much they blabbed about anonymity or visuals, it was a clear testament that none of that mattered in front of overwhelming skill.

Cheon Aram, the president of TwoBear, understood this well.

“Lena Shin, what a dilemma.”

I sighed deeply and resonated with her words over the phone.

“Definitely a tough opponent.”

“Not just tough, it’s weird to think we can win against such an opponent. Honestly, thinking about Gaeul’s skills, I thought we could make it to the fourth round if we played well, but this is going to be tough. It looks like even that PD friend is feeling the pressure with public opinion.”

“There’s no choice but to take fairness controversies sensitively.”

“It’s unavoidable. But we can’t change the matchups either. It’s unfortunate, but I’ll understand. Just don’t put too much pressure on win or lose; let’s just show a good performance. ‘Good fight, we lost, but fought well.’ Something like that. You get what I mean?”

“…Yes, I understand well.”

“Right, don’t just work too hard; take a break and enjoy some sightseeing, then let’s crush the next recording. I believe in you, Team Leader Seon.”

After finishing the call with Cheon Aram, I shared the PD’s decision with Gaeul.

“That’s why our opponent is Lena Shin. But don’t feel too pressured. I like your song even more than Lena Shin’s, but objectively, she’s not an easy opponent to beat in this competition. Just relax and enjoy your music as you want.”

“…Winning would definitely help TwoBear and Girl Revolution, right? Right now, boosting Girl Revolution’s positive image is crucial.”

“That’s true. But…”

“Then, I will win.”

“…”

It was nice to see her competitive spirit.

Even in front of a daunting opponent, her determination was something to look at positively. However, Gaeul’s resolved state didn’t seem as purely positive as before.

It reminded me more of a fragile pillar straining to hold itself up without realizing it was rotting away.

“I will win. …That’s the only way I can be of help.”

…Just like when I first met her, living as a girl head of the household.

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