Episode 132
Using the high-end audio equipment installed in the President’s office, Cheon Aram was engrossed in her work while humming the melody of the song “Albatross,” created by Seon Taeyang, when a sudden phone call made her frown. There was only one person who would call at this hour.
Seeing the number displayed on her smartphone confirmed her suspicion.
As much as she wanted to hang up, she also had matters to discuss, so she let out a small sigh and answered the call.
“Uh, Jong-hoon oppa. What’s up?”
-I heard you haven’t been going back home.
It was her biological brother, Cheon Jong-hoon, a genius producer known as the successor of SS. Though his influence had waned since causing some disruption earlier.
“Soo-yeon sent me, right? Whether the dog goes or I go, what’s the big deal?”
-In terms of functionality, there’s no difference. But you know there’s a difference in the message, right?
“I know, which is why I sent Soo-yeon. If you received the message well, you should understand. Do I have to say out loud what I mean?”
Her family, especially her mother, still hoped that Cheon Aram would use her talent for their benefit, completely disregarding the pain she endured.
Before, she might have considered their request if it seemed reasonable in terms of pros and cons, but now Cheon Aram didn’t want to be associated with them anymore. After all, she finally found something she wanted to do for the first time in her life.
-…Hah, father’s message was to stop your worthless antics and come back home.
“Well, I believe what I’m doing now is the most valuable thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
-You mean wasting time clinging to that new agency?
“No, it’s about working with the best talents and creating the best idol.”
-Do you think that’s worth as much as actively using your abilities for money?
“Money isn’t everything.”
-Hah… Hahaha, to hear you say that, Cheon Aram… you’ve got a knack for jokes.
She couldn’t help but resonate with that statement. When she first heard about Seon Taeyang through Jong-hoon, she could never have imagined this future approaching her. And she never envisioned herself having such thoughts.
“Right? I never thought these words would come out of my mouth either. But you know, the profitability doesn’t seem lacking at all. …We’re going to succeed.”
-Do you really think the entertainment industry is that easy?
“Oh come on, do you think I’d think that way after even being the head of the HR team at SS? It’s a thought only because I have amazing colleagues who can succeed even in this tough industry. It’s not arrogance, it’s confidence. You can bet on it.”
“Do you think about it? It’s just that there are so many amazing colleagues who could succeed in the entertainment industry. It’s not arrogance; it’s confidence. I’m fine with a bet.”
– “So among those filtered out by that picky sense of smell, there were people like that?”
“Yeah, there were. It’s my company, but sometimes I can’t believe it myself.”
-…
Cheon Jong-hoon fell silent at her assertion.
At least his sister, Cheon Aram, never mixed exaggeration or falsehoods when judging people. Therefore, he could never have imagined that there was such a highly regarded group.
Feeling an unconscious tinge of fear, Cheon Jong-hoon was met with Cheon Aram’s nonchalant tone.
“Oh, we decided to debut this time.”
After hearing that, Cheon Jong-hoon fell silent for a moment before speaking up.
– “Do you know our Alcest’s debut isn’t far off? We have to compete with SS?”
“Hey, if you worry about all that, when will we debut? Next month, PPZ is making a comeback, and the month after that is the release date for Ballad Prince Seo Ji-hak’s album. They’ll line up the charts again. If you try to avoid something, it goes on forever, you know?”
Cheon Aram wrapped up her remarks playfully.
“And honestly, if we’re all newcomers, I think we can win.”
That remark was enough to scratch Cheon Jong-hoon’s pride.
So he didn’t hide his boiling voice as he spoke.
– “Did you bring that up just to provoke me? If so, the address…”
“No, the main point starts now.”
Cheon Aram removed even the hint of mischief from her tone and spoke with a piercing seriousness.
“Remember the last time you flirted with Team Leader Seon?”
– “…Why?”
“If you mess around with Team Leader Seon again, I won’t just stand by and watch.”
– “Why bring this up now? If you were going to say that, you should have said it back then when that nonsense happened. Since you stood by, it’s like you gave silent approval. Don’t you think this change in attitude is quite ugly?”
Cheon Aram readily acknowledged that remark.
“Yeah, I’ll admit I was complicit back then. I thought your actions would completely block the possibility of Team Leader Seon shifting to another company. I was using you too. While blocking both of your futures, I was calculating and thinking if it didn’t work out, I’d just ditch it. Even I think I’ve never met such a wicked person.”
In that moment, Cheon Aram, wanting a scentless person, couldn’t escape the deeply rooted profit-and-loss calculations ingrained by her family and mother’s overbearing education. She continued to judge their worth endlessly.
“Then why are you charging in now? It’s just one of the useful cards, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s not just a useful card.”
But even she changed.
“My friend. Dreaming the same dream.”
She was bold enough to utter such cringeworthy lines.
“So, remember. If something like that happens again, the crazy girl your brother knows will come charging at you with poison this time.”
*
Bang!
Cheon Jong-hoon slammed the antique-design phone down on the table and shouted,
“Seo Soo-yeon!”
Seo Soo-yeon, who had quietly appeared at his call, asked with a tense expression,
“What do you need?”
“Bring the debut forward.”
“…What?”
“I’m saying to bring Alcest’s debut forward.”
Seo Soo-yeon, shocked by Cheon Jong-hoon’s sudden declaration, asked back,
“The schedule is already set, so what’s the reason for moving it up…?”
Cheon Jong-hoon, walking roughly toward the door, seemed to express that he wouldn’t allow any more questions, and spoke firmly,
“I think it’ll be satisfying to show them that even without that nonsense, they’d still be trampled by SS.”
*
The four-member Girl Revolution was fitting outfits to determine the overall guidelines for the coordinator.
It wasn’t a difficult schedule, just wearing clothes and taking pictures repeatedly, but still, one of the members was struggling a bit.
“…No way, I can’t take this off.”
Surprisingly, it was Jin Yeoreum, who usually received the best evaluations in most tasks.
Seeing her, Oh Yoori scratched her head and said,
“No, you can’t wear that training jersey for the photoshoot. Just take it off for a second. It’ll be quick.”
“…But the photos will remain. Pictures of me in such embarrassing clothes.”
“Come on, it’s not that embarrassing. Me, Autumn Unnie, and Winter Unnie are all wearing it, too, right?”
“There’s too much exposure. …What is this? It’s not like I made clothes out of a handkerchief.”
Jin Yeoreum’s expression was quite accurate. Indeed, the clothes they were fitting were a bold variation of what was called a handkerchief top, boasting an audacious level of exposure.
This was a level of revealing she had never experienced, as she usually wore loose, flowy dresses for practices.
But to cynical Yoori, who had no qualms about exposing skin, it felt frustrating.
It felt like this.
“How are you going to wear a swimsuit later? Older Sister Yeoreum is surprisingly shy, you know? Last week’s evaluation, she was the most nervous… If you think about her usual self, it makes sense that Older Sister Gyeoul, who seemed so composed, was the opposite.”
Suddenly, Oh Yoori asked Jin Yeoreum, as if a thought just struck her.
“Speaking of which, didn’t you always wear those tight leotards back when you did rhythmic gymnastics? Even though only your skin was visible, it still showed off your body lines, right? How did you manage that?”
Jin Yeoreum, feeling a bit embarrassed that she caused such a fuss, replied softly.
“…I was young then, so there wasn’t much to show.”
“No, what’s really different between then and now…?”
Oh Yoori stopped speaking and looked Jin Yeoreum up and down. Then she raised her thumb and said,
“I admit it. You’ve got a lot to show now.”
That was a rather objective evaluation.
In response to Oh Yoori’s gaze, Jin Yeoreum shrank back even more and tightened the blue training jersey that Seon Taeyang gifted her the day he went to a concert.
Just then, a voice came from outside the door.
“Hey guys, are you doing well?”
It was Seon Taeyang, who had stopped by on his way back from meeting with journalists.
“Teacher Taeyang!”
“Brother Taeyang! I’ve been working hard! I think I’ve changed outfits at least 30 times today!”
“…I also put in effort, though I’m embarrassed. Not sure if there’s anything that truly matches, though.”
“Hmm…, I haven’t seen the other clothes you wore, Winter, but the one you have on now looks great!”
“Really?”
“Yep, it’s so pretty.”
“Really? Is it really? …Is it too revealing?”
“Not at all? Just cute!”
Hearing that conversation, Oh Yoori thought, ‘This is it.’ Seon Taeyang’s opinion might just help change Jin Yeoreum’s mind.
“Did you hear that? Older Sister Yeoreum. Team Leader Seon thinks this outfit is pretty…”
As she turned around to speak, Oh Yoori suddenly froze.
Jin Yeoreum had already taken off the training jersey and was adjusting her outfit in front of the mirror.
There was not a hint of shyness, just pure naturalness.
After looking in the mirror for a while and nodding in satisfaction, she confidently walked out the door.
“Team Leader Seon!”
“Oh, I see Yeoreum was inside? That outfit is pretty. Looks good on you!”
“…Hehe.”
Watching that spectacle from a distance, Oh Yoori sighed.
“…Shy? More like, once the stage is set, she’d jump in even if she were naked.”
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