Chapter 88

Episode 88

Cheon Aram asked Yoo Gaeul with an unusually serious expression.

“What did you just say, Gaeul?”

“Team Leader Seon got scouted by composer James Oh! They even offered to double his salary!”

The already chilly atmosphere began to freeze even more. Considering just a moment ago everyone was celebrating Winter’s big success, the awkward tension was unbearable.

I decided to cut the topic short before it got any bigger.

“I already turned down that offer. It’s no longer my concern.”

“But you received James Oh’s business card, didn’t you?”

Cheon Aram glanced at the business card I had handed over, then passed it to Seo Soo-yeon. She opened her wallet, shoved it inside, and tossed it into her bag.

The sound of the zipper closing seemed oddly loud today.

…But seriously, are you not going to return that card? I only have one!

“No, I took it to contact him later for songs. There’s no other meaning.”

And besides, I couldn’t just refuse the card when someone hands it to me. Declining it by saying “I’m not interested” would be nuts!

Jin Yeoreum carefully grabbed the hem of my shirt and asked, “Are you leaving?”

“Do I look like I’m going anywhere? I’m staying at TwoBear.”

“If you do leave, then I…”

Nope, not happening.

“Team Leader Seon is also an employee, so it’s only natural to move on for better treatment.”

“I’m different. Why would I leave this place?”

It seems like everyone is confused. There’s no place out there that would offer better treatment than here for me. Though I don’t say it out loud, my salary is already at a major company level. With bonuses included, I’m doing just fine.

“…Team Leader, should I raise your salary?”

“No, no, it’s okay. I need to earn that raise. I’m already overpaid as it is.”

This fledgling company is already paying way too much for a team leader. Considering they haven’t even made a profit yet and are just bleeding money, wanting more would be greedy. Maybe in the future when the company grows, but for now…

If I just accept a raise, it could lead to jealousy or tension among my colleagues. People generally don’t mind if everyone is paid poorly, but once someone seems to receive special treatment, it gets awkward. Though the folks at TwoBear are especially nice, it’s best not to stir up any trouble.

I really want to get along with everyone at TwoBear!
I really want to get along well with everyone.

“First of all, if possible, I’d like to see more money spent on things like music videos or stage outfits, rather than on my own treatment. After all, we have three of the country’s top gems, don’t we? At this point, I think making them shine is the most important thing.”

“Team Leader Seon, it’s not really my place as the president to say this, but even when negotiating salary, we don’t need to think about the company’s position, right? Just think of it as your personal feelings.”

Right now, I’m facing the situation with more personal feelings than ever.

“From my personal feelings, I reach the same conclusion. I want to see them shine the brightest here at TwoBear, not at some other agency.”

This was my pure sentiment. Even if agencies like SS or TY offer better treatment, I wanted to stay here and succeed with my colleagues. I would pour in all the strength I could muster for that.

What if I get stabbed in the back again during that process?

…Then I guess I’ll just retire. If these people are going to stab me in the back, then I must be the wrong one.

Guess I’ll just start a cleaning company with my money and live quietly.

“Not some other agency, but TwoBear? …Why does it have to be TwoBear?”

“Because I like it. The company, the president, and my colleagues.”

“‘…’”

Listening to me in a daze, Cheon Aram slightly nodded and asked Seo Soo-yeon.

“Soo-yeon, what’s the current salary information for Team Leader Seon?”

Seo Soo-yeon took out her smartphone as if she had prepared it and showed the data.

“This is the information, but it seems like it’s been quite a while since it was made, so I think it needs to be updated.”

“Good point. It doesn’t make sense to offer the same treatment when countless abilities have been proven since then. When can we start processing this?”

“We can start right away.”

“Dad? Yes, it’s Jin Yeoreum. I heard you’ve been involved with some investment in TwoBear Entertainment. I’d like you to briefly use your voice as an investor. It’s not a big deal. Just one request, please improve Team Leader Seon’s treatment. …We need to make sure others don’t even think about any treacherous scouting.”

Oh, come on, calm down. Why drag Jin Baek-ho into this?

That guy is so busy.

“Everyone, please calm down. I’m fine, really! I’m very satisfied with my treatment right now!”

“I’m not satisfied.”

“I’m not satisfied.”

“…”

And so, the salary went up.

A lot.
On the day of the outdoor shoot for Girl 100, I participated as Gyeoul’s manager after a long time.

Today’s broadcast theme was “Girl Sports Day.”

But can’t it just be a sports day? Why add “girl” to everything?

Whether it’s girl tea time, girl tag battle, or girl team setup, Kim Seon-ye’s knack for slapping “girl” on everything doesn’t even spare a sports day.

Anyway, the trainees of Girl 100 were slightly escaping their relentless hard training and endless competition, approaching the sports day with a laid-back mindset in cute animal pajamas.

“Hey, look at Kim Yujin! She just tackled Kaori! Is it really necessary to go that far for a simple game of tag?”

“Well, before that, Kaori did trip Kim Yujin when she was the tagger.”

“…Aren’t both of them crazy?”

“Hey, there’s no time for that. Bench clearing! We need to rush out and join!”

“Why is everyone so serious about a game of tag?”

“Then, Song Chaeyoung, you just stay here.”

“…I should go too.”

And so, girls in adorable pajamas depicting puppies, kittens, pandas, orcas, sloths, penguins, hamsters, and chinchillas began grabbing each other by the collars and rolling around.

“You’re playing dirty, Kaori! Don’t you know what a foul is?”

“There’s no referee here! In this situation, the winner gets to set the rules!”

“…Wow, you’re completely bonkers. You’re not getting away with this. I’m about to show you Han Sora’s special joint lock series in full.”

“Go ahead, Kim Yujin. This is the motherland of judo! You think grappling can’t handle this?”

…Seems like they’re not really laid-back after all.

“Hey! What are you doing? Break them up! Are you going to let this go on air?”

“…Isn’t it kind of entertaining?”

“If they wanted that kind of entertainment, would the viewers be flipping to an idol survival show? They’d go to mixed martial arts instead. Shut up and break it up! If the ratings tank, are you going to take responsibility? I’m the kind of person who’d sell my soul for that!”

Kim Seon-ye was screaming and throwing a fit to control the chaotic incidents flying in from all directions.

Seeing her like that, being a broadcast PD definitely didn’t seem like an easy job.

In the middle of that chaos, there were still some model students maintaining the original intent of a laid-back competition.

“Help me!”

“Catch me!”

Dressed in squirrel outfits, Flower Entertainment’s pink-haired Oh Yoori and the so-called natural genius Han Gyeoul were constantly being chased, teary-eyed, as they ran in circles around the playground.

Rooting for you, Winter! Even if the kid with the tail next to you gets caught up in bench clearing and rolls on the ground, I’ll support your stubbornness as you chase only Oh Yoori in front of you.
Even if the kid rolling on the floor got caught up in bench clearing, I’ll cheer you on for your stubbornness in chasing only Oh Yoori in front of you.

For now, it seems like the broadcast will be fun.

*

Since it was break time, I was giving the tired Gyeoul some sports drink when she asked me.

“…Teacher Taeyang, am I doing well?”

“Yeah. You’re doing great.”

“Really?”

“Yep, you’re the best. The future of our TwoBear depends on you, Gyeoul. If you joined another company, I would have been so jealous I’d be sick.”

“Really? Really!”

With a confused look on her face wondering ‘is this really right?’, Gyeoul started to blossom with a smile at my mindless positivity.

“I’ll work even harder! I’ll show my best in the next chicken fight!”

“…No, take it easy. I just saw the kids being way too combative.”

Especially the ones who just did the bench clearing seemed like they needed to watch out.

During break time, looking at those kids, I could see the determination in their eyes to devour an opponent they shouldn’t as an idol. Their gaze resembled that of gladiators.

Since chicken fighting, a sort of pseudo-fighting, was chosen as an event, it seemed like half of them would die.

Gyeoul, let’s just give what we need to give.

It’s okay if you lose the chicken fight and don’t get a gift set of beef as a prize. I’ll buy that for you.

Let’s stay away from those crazy girls.

I comforted Gyeoul, reminding her that safety is the most important thing.

Gyeoul gave me a spring-like smile and promised to keep that in mind before heading off to prepare for the chicken fight.

“Do you have a moment?”

At that moment, a girl spoke up to me.

“…Oh Yoori?”

It was Oh Yoori, a trainee from Flower Entertainment and a current middle school student, only 15 years old.

“What business do you have with me, Oh Yoori?”

I didn’t really have any reason to get involved with you.

Right now she’s with Flower Entertainment, but I hadn’t even seen her in the last episode.

Oh Yoori, sensing my disinterest, said:

“Is it okay if I threaten you for a moment?”

“…”

Is she out of her mind?

Just then, a quest window popped up as if waiting for this moment.

[Show Oh Yoori, who recklessly attempts to threaten even the reincarnated, the harshness of society and the fear of adults.]

[Reward – Genius Dog Boksil]

What’s with Boksil again…

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