Chapter 175
Public opinion has turned on its head.
The conspiracy theories that were rampant and belittled Jin Yeoreum are now overshadowed by the narrative that she was also a victim.
Of course, baseless slander against Jin Yeoreum still exists. Once someone hates another, even if the original reason vanishes, they tend to find new excuses to keep hating them like a stubborn train on the tracks.
However, thanks to TwoBear’s proactive legal response, and JinKang’s legal team starting to move again, aggressive opinions spreading through communities and social media have nearly disappeared, regardless of any lingering thoughts.
Thus, it could be said that the risk associated with Jin Yeoreum for the Girl Revolution group has vanished.
“Team Leader Seon, you’ve worked hard… I really didn’t think this was possible. You did amazing,” Cheon Aram cheered, having witnessed everything up close.
“Thank you. I was lucky. It was all thanks to Yeoreum’s efforts.”
“Come on, rolling around like crazy and saying it was luck is way too humble! Team Leader Seon, this is the time to brag a little.”
“No, I really didn’t do much. Just got lucky.”
“Shut up and check your account. I’ve put your bonus in there.”
“…Yes.”
I quietly opened my account.
Hmm… that’s a lot.
As I rubbed my eyes in amazement at the extravagant amount, Cheon Aram chuckled and said, “Now that you’ve checked it, let’s talk about what we need to do next.”
“What do we need to do…?”
Cheon Aram handed me the tablet she had set aside and showed me an article.
[“Empire of Ecstasy” Han Ji-young vs Oh Yoori’s spine-chilling strategy breaks its own viewership record: Meardi Entertainment]
“Yuri’s latest drama is getting a lot of buzz.”
“Empire of Ecstasy, huh… That’s been quite the journey.”
From a simple supporting role to a character with lines, and then becoming a main character leading the emotional struggle with the lead actress, there had indeed been a lot going on.
The mess of dropped scripts, a director obsessed with visuals but having zero drama experience – not to mention Han Ji-young, the lead actress, distressed because she couldn’t get a single jab at Oh Yoori – illustrated perfectly how when people gather, trash is inevitable. And the filming crew of “Empire of Ecstasy” was a dream team where all the trash piled up at once.
In the midst of everything, the chance to prove Oh Yoori’s acting skills along with such great viewer ratings was possible because both of us truly went through hell.
“Anyway, I was expecting a good response from that psychological warfare part that aired yesterday. It seems like the viewers liked it too, so that’s great.”
“Hmm… Did something interesting happen? Well, alright. Let’s save that story for a drinking session later and wrap up the current situation.”
Cheon Aram rested her chin on her hand, watching the music broadcast on the monitor.
“The kids have all gained fame in their own fields, right?”
“Yes, Gyeoul has become a rising blue chip by actively participating in three fixed variety shows and as a guest.”
“Gaeul’s song with Team Leader Seon on ‘Music Road’ has been stuck at number two on the charts for a while now, and it’s still a staple in karaoke rankings.”
“And Yeoreum has dramatically erased her previous negative image, proving her talent is objectively enough to be called a genius.”
“Exactly, this time even dance-related professionals and industry veterans praised Jin Yeoreum as a true genius on their SNS without being asked. It’s really impressive.”
“Well, her talent is deserving of it.”
If we only evaluated based on pure talent in this era, no one would stand in front of Yeoreum.
Yeoreum’s prime time was right now.
“Yuri is also starting to build her reputation as an actress. Yeah, all the kids have firmly established themselves in their respective fields. Their personal fanbases are definitely growing too.”
I was starting to understand what Cheon Aram wanted to say.
“Are you suggesting we release another album?”
“Of course, that’s a given. We are an agency after all.”
…Was this not it?
Cheon Aram, seeing my puzzled expression, grinned and said, “We’ve already finished discussing it with our music team, but Team Leader Seon has something to take care of for the new album.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
“This album’s title will be made by Team Leader Seon.”
“….”
…Why are the people around me so eager to get me to compose?
*
Jin Yeoreum held a neatly packaged cookie box in her hands and sighed lightly before asking Seok Hyun-woo, “Isn’t this a bit too modest?”
Seok Hyun-woo looked at her and smiled brightly.
“Not at all! Who in the world would dare call cookies made by Ms. Yeoreum ‘modest’?”
“Well, that’s just an intangible value. Value is relative. Objectively, those are just cookies made by a high school student who learned baking as a hobby. They’re amateur cookies, and they’re too small and pitiful to serve as material to express gratitude to Team Leader Seon.”
“Well, I think the person who would value those cookies the most, besides me and Ms. Yeoreum’s parents, would be Team Leader Seon.”
Despite Seok Hyun-woo’s assurance, Jin Yeoreum sighed, sounding anxious.
“I saw him just using the company car last time; how about buying a sedan and giving it to him?”
“Uh, that’s a bit much. It’s better to give a small gift. If it’s too big, it might become a burden. Sure, there are people who accept gifts happily without much thought, but Team Leader Seon would likely see it as a burden or debt.”
Seok Hyun-woo said, thinking of the man named Seon Taeyang he knew.
“If you want to maintain the current relationship with Team Leader Seon, it’s best not to make him feel that kind of burden.”
“But I’m not satisfied with just the current relationship…”
“….”
Reading Jin Yeoreum’s thoughts, Seok Hyun-woo fell silent for a moment. From his perspective, their relationship seemed too precarious.
He had known Jin Yeoreum’s feelings since she had been asked to have Jin Baek-ho support her; he had watched her growth closely, even more so than her parents.
So, it was easy for him to guess what kind of feelings she had for Seon Taeyang and how deep they had grown.
From his standpoint, where he partially thought of Jin Yeoreum as a daughter, it was somewhat painful, but honestly, Seok Hyun-woo cheered for her feelings.
To him, Seon Taeyang seemed like a genuinely good guy, hard to find anywhere else.
As long as Seon Taeyang was by her side when he couldn’t be, he felt reassured.
So, he thought it would be great if the two ended up together. Of course, that was a future story after they became adults.
But pondering such worries felt almost like a luxury.
Seok Hyun-woo knew that the odds of Jin Yeoreum’s feelings ending in failure were very high.
After all, he had seen the conversation and scene between Yoo Gaeul and Seon Taeyang on the rooftop last time.
He had seen both the anger and the appearance.
Seon Taeyang is a person with a strong sense of responsibility.
Even if it wasn’t his intention, he would take responsibility for Yoo Gaeul in some way.
And the probability of that ending with them together was high.
Seok Hyun-woo, despite knowing this, spoke up.
“I’ll support you.”
At least hoping that Jin Yeoreum would hurt less.
*
“Um…, he’s not here either.”
Jin Yeoreum, carrying the cookies she made to express her gratitude, felt awkward as she searched for Seon Taeyang in TwoBear.
She had checked all the places he usually was, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Wondering if he had gone home, she asked Seo Soo-yeon, but she said Seon Taeyang hadn’t left yet and might have gone to the rooftop for some fresh air.
“He must be on the rooftop.”
Jin Yeoreum felt a little relieved inside.
She thought that in that place, her slightly crossing the line wouldn’t be seen by the other members.
And on the rooftop, Jin Yeoreum found Seon Taeyang.
“Just step back a bit. We’re too close.”
But he wasn’t alone.
“Why? Isn’t this level of skinship okay?”
Yoo Gaeul was there.
“It’s not okay. What if someone else sees us like this?”
As she said, the two were too close.
Jin Yeoreum’s heart was pounding.
She even thought about stepping in and putting some distance between them.
But she barely held back that feeling, holding her breath and waiting for her turn.
Rationally, she knew she couldn’t have all of Seon Taeyang’s time.
She clung to her shivering body, barely enduring.
Meanwhile, Yoo Gaeul said,
“It’s fine.”
Yoo Gaeul sweetly and alluringly pressed against Seon Taeyang as if intoxicated, not hiding the rising thrill as she said,
“We’re dating, remember?”
“….”
That one line was enough to make Jin Yeoreum’s mind go blank.
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