Chapter 207

Episode 207

I responded as politely as possible to Cheon Jong-hoon’s words, trying to stay rational.

“What kind of crazy talk are you spouting now?”

“Are you saying I usually say crazy things…?”

“You should at least say something that makes sense! Why and how would I get into SS?”

“….”

Cheon Jong-hoon cleared his throat and said,

“The treatment you’d get won’t be worse than what you’re receiving at TwoBear. Since we’re talking about scouting, of course it should be better.”

“No, forget about the treatment for a moment. Is there anyone who can rationally accept that I’m going to SS?”

I rubbed my hot forehead, which was already throbbing, and continued,

“No one can accept it. It’s already a crazy situation where Seon Taeyang, the general manager of a company that was forming a rivalry with Alcest, suddenly just lands the general producer position at SS while causing scandals with three members of his girl group. People will just fall in line and cheer, right?”

“Well, they’ll realize it when they see the skills. Seon Taeyang has the ability that fits the general producer role. …Didn’t you mention? This position should be held by the best performer.”

“That should obviously be within SS’s own staff! Does that company promote employees without considering their contributions and merits?”

“…. ”

Did he lose his logic, or was it just me? Cheon Jong-hoon’s proud face squished a little, and he snapped instead.

“Shut it. Who would dare question what I, Cheon Jong-hoon, decide? If you’re unhappy, get out.”

“Yeah, and if I really leave, your company is going to crash and burn.”

“You could at least get a raise. …If it’s lacking, just bow your head once.”

…Isn’t this guy going to ruin the company if he takes charge?

I sighed deeply and asked,

“I can’t tell if you’re joking or being serious, but I’d like to know. Why are you trying to recruit me even if it means pulling such an outrageous move?”

“Are you seriously asking that?”

“Then where’s the person who knows this?”

“…Ha, reason? Let me tell you.”

Cheon Jong-hoon looked down at me as if I were an idiot and said,

“Because you’re the best.”

“…. ”

“Seon Taeyang is the best producer I know, with the greatest skills and talent. …And that includes myself.”
Cheon Jong-hoon spoke with his usual arrogant expression.

“Is more reason required?”

“…”

…I didn’t think this guy would actually admit to anything.

It stirred up a slight, and I mean slight, bit of emotion in me.

Concealing that lingering feeling, I spoke nonchalantly.

“There’s so much more to consider than just talent. For instance, the moral risks involved.”

He snorted and replied.

“Moral risk? Why is that a moral issue? To be honest, what did you do wrong? Were you really dating all three of them at the same time?”

“…No.”

“Then what? Those crazy girls went total bonkers in the media without considering the company or its position? How is that your fault? Shouldn’t you have been watching these grown idols who’ve been around for seven years like a hawk?”

Wow, he’s a little too harsh on the kids.

“I… made them feel uneasy enough to reach that point…”

“What? Are you talking like a lover who doesn’t break up even after experiencing dating abuse?”

“Look, while it may not all fall on me, the core issue of this situation is…”

“Hey now, cut the crap. Did you get brainwashed or something?”

“….”

…Can I please get a word in edgewise, you damn jerk?

“Anyway, I’m not planning on going to SS.”

“Even though it’s obvious that the ship is sinking?”

“If the ship sinks, at least there’ll be lifeboats.”

“Yeah, but you won’t be one of the people on that lifeboat! You’ll be the first one tossed overboard.”

“Then I’ll take my chances. I’ll at least paddle around a little to keep that ship moving forward.”

“…You crazy bastard.”

Cheon Jong-hoon, despite rolling his eyes as if he were fed up, didn’t look away from me. He turned to gaze at the ash-colored sky and said,

“Can’t give up the time you’ve invested in TwoBear? You called it a brat of a company and yet you’re feeling some affection for it? Or are you harboring some outdated idea that your identity as an employee can only exist at TwoBear?”

“What if all of that is true?”

At my words, he chuckled once and said,

“If that’s the case, I’ll transfer a portion of my shares in SS to you.”

“…Excuse me?”

“If you hold shares, naturally you’ll feel a sense of ownership, right? It becomes like a child to you. Of course, I wouldn’t think of offering you some pathetic amount like a chump. I’ll make enough of an investment that you’ll be praying to the gods every time the stock chart fluctuates, turning SS into your new ‘child.’”
“With the kind of money that’ll have you seeking a deity every time it fluctuates, I’ll make SS your new child.”

Cheon Jong-hoon said this with a hint of mischief behind his arrogant expression.

“Why not adopt a child this time around?”

“Since you brought up adoption, what about the existing child?”

“Don’t get too hung up on the little things. You can always have another.”

…Is he really insane?

He was a human difficult to understand in many ways. His speech, his actions, everything.

But instead of pointing out his madness, I brought up the question that had been nagging at me.

“Why go that far?”

It was a phrase I had heard often, but never thought I’d say.

“Haven’t I already mentioned? You’re the best human I know. Well, it probably has a lot to do with me receiving personal tutelage from a genius like myself over the years. Lucky you. Thanks to that, you’ve earned the honor of being a pillar of a company like SS. Or… was that a bit unfortunate to say? If we end up working together at SS, I might have to consider changing my speech.”

“….”

“Ahem… my words got a bit carried away, but the gist is this.”

He said with an unusually refreshing smile.

“Take the seat behind me, Seon Taeyang.”

*

The peculiar smoke from the electronic cigarette wafted into the gray sky.

I didn’t actually want to smoke.

I just wanted to see this moment.

Adding a small raindrop to the dark clouds that filled the sky, I contributed my vapor.

“There you are, Team Leader Seon.”

Suddenly appearing behind me was Cheon Aram, and I apologized.

“You found me… I’m sorry. I couldn’t answer the calls because the number we were sharing among the staff got leaked to the reporters.”

“No, it wasn’t hard to find you since you said you’d come here. And if Team Leader Seon is in this state, most of the company already knows.”

“…Most know, huh?”

It seemed everyone at TwoBear shared the fact that I sometimes slacked off.

…How embarrassing.

I slightly covered my flushed cheeks and immediately asked, determined to get back to work.

“Have the reporters been somewhat organized?”

“No, not yet. They’ll be here for another 30 minutes. Just now, some crazy guy even crawled in through the ventilation shaft.”
“Not yet. We still have about 30 minutes here. Some crazy guy just crawled in through the ventilation shaft.”

“…How did you find that out?”

“He was screaming for help because he got stuck, you know?”

I sighed deeply in genuine disbelief.

“That guy is really insane.”

“Ha ha, right?”

Cheon Aram laughed heartily, leaning slightly against the railing as she spoke.

“Well, the timing of that crazy guy getting caught wasn’t too bad. It gave us some time to chat personally with Team Leader Seon.”

“….”

…A chat.

For some reason, I felt like I shouldn’t be listening to that conversation right now.

Because of this, I changed the subject a bit.

“By the way, Producer Cheon Jong-hoon, the President’s sibling, just came by. Did you know?”

“Yeah, I know. I let him in.”

“….”

“I had a good idea of what he was going to say.”

…Can I really keep the scent from being detected by just steadying my mind?

Hoping she wouldn’t sense anything unusual about my usual scent, I tried hard not to think about it.

But perhaps she read even that intention, as Cheon Aram looked at me with a sympathetic expression and said.

“Team Leader Seon.”

“Yes.”

“It’s okay to be shaken.”

“….”

With just those words, I felt my heart suddenly send strange signals, like it was about to implode.

Pretending not to notice, even though I knew I couldn’t really pretend, I used that pretense as my only shield.

“That’s not something you should say from the President’s perspective, right? It’d be one thing if I was on a leash, but why would you say such things?”

“I see Team Leader Seon… well, I see Seon Taeyang not as just an employee but as a friend.”

“….”

“To be honest, I wish you wouldn’t just stop at being shaken. I hope you don’t ignore those thoughts, feelings, and desires that arise.”

With her uniquely intimidating and sharp gaze, she looked at me as warmly as ever.

“From burdens, fears, pressure, grievances, wounds, pain, to all of that.”

Facing an imminent crisis, the agency’s president said,

“I hope Seon Taeyang will run away.”

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