Chapter 153
Chapter 153
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Resigning from the Agency
"Eun-seong, the director wants to see you."
Just as vocal lessons were wrapping up, a staff member knocked on the door and stepped inside.
The word "meeting" drew every trainee's gaze in the room straight to Eun-seong. 'What's up?' his close hyung mouthed. Eun-seong just shook his head, mouthing I don't know.
It was extremely rare for a mere trainee like him to have a sit-down with the director.
Even when trainees who'd shared rice bowls for nearly ten years got cut, the execs here were too lazy to even show their faces.
An industry specialized in crushing people's spirits.
If the goal was to breed filthy, underhanded types who clawed their way to success no matter what, it was running flawlessly.
For the director to summon a trainee in a place like that...
'Either he caused some massive scandal. Or it's that rare good news, like once in a blue moon.'
Something like joining the debut lineup.
Eun-seong himself stayed nonchalant, but everyone around him was buzzing with wild guesses.
Ignoring the sidelong glances, he followed the staff member out.
The moment he opened the door to the director's office, cigarette smoke assaulted his nose. The entire building was no-smoking, yet the director smoked openly in his office like he was flaunting his power.
Eun-seong bowed politely, but the director didn't acknowledge it.
The director eyed him up and down before slapping a few stiff sheets of paper onto the desk in front of him. The staff member, who was just closing the door to leave, flinched at the rough motion.
"......"
Eun-seong stayed silent.
Couldn't you just hand them over nicely?
Are you trying to make me hold a grudge on purpose?
Is this still the era where they think 'a singer needs resentment in their heart for the voice to shine,' force-feeding pills to ruin vocalists' eyes?
Adults can be even more childish. Eun-seong chuckled inwardly but picked up the photos without showing it.
And then he froze.
Seeing Eun-seong hesitate, the director asked smugly,
"Got nothing to say?"
They were photos.
Of himself lying on the dirt floor, and Kang Da-hye collapsed on top of him.
In the photos, his own cheek was flushed, his brow slightly furrowed, hair disheveled.
And leaning against the hollow of his collarbone was Kang Da-hye's face. She had her head turned, so only the round back of her head was visible. Thankfully.
"Those stalkers tailing you are buddies with that game room staffer."
"They were at that hotel during your school trip for the full three days and nights, and you had no clue?" The director gloated, like he was schooling the naive Eun-seong on harsh realities.
"Sasaengs are everywhere, I tell you."
"The second you buy a phone, some telecom employee swipes your number and resident ID. Fly on a plane? Airline staff. Take the train? Railroad worker. They'll all peek at your personal info."
"Can't wrap your head around something this simple? Too hard to get into that thick skull?"
Is that something I need to accept? Something I should just internalize as normal?
And talk about it like it's the most obvious thing in the world?
"Already stirring trouble before debut... Eun-seong, do you even want to be an idol? Why are you pulling this crap here?"
"......"
'I just don't want you to be unhappy. I want you to make the best choice for yourself.'
'If I have to watch you force yourself into a job you don't even like just to shine right now... I'd be sad.'
Kang Da-hye had told him to make the best choice, but he still didn't know what that was.
Debuting here might be the best path.
But in this moment, one thing was crystal clear.
Staying here any longer, and I won't be happy.
They weren't protecting their trainee from this injustice.
They're using it as blackmail.
If it was like this now, it wouldn't change after debut.
"Huh? Eun-seong, still got nothing to say? Deaf or what? Spit something out."
"...They came out great."
"What?"
"I said they came out great."
My skin looks all glossy even in these candid shots. I'll be more diligent with sunscreen.
Eun-seong said.
"Ha!"
The director let out a hollow laugh like he'd been floored, muttering "wow, this punk..." as he reached for a cigarette.
Lighting up with a cheap lighter that looked swiped from a bar, he exhaled smoke and spoke.
"You know that kid from our debut group who got booted? Right before debut. But Eun-seong, you think you're safe?"
"......"
"Truth is, inside voices were leaning toward putting you in that spot. But I shot it down hard. Said Jeong Eun-seong's got eyes that aren't obedient enough. Still, you look good, skills aren't bad, so I figured I'd pretend to cave and give you a shot... but if you're gonna act like this, huh?"
"......"
"Get your head straight. You're already 18. What do you plan to do? Or do you have some backup you're banking on?"
If the director was truly fed up with Eun-seong, he could've just fired him without all this chit-chat, right?
Dragging it out like this meant he wanted him to get the hint. That he had this much power, so bow down and behave.
To the silent Eun-seong, the director switched to a coaxing tone.
"Look, Eun-seong. You want to debut, right? Be a singer? Throwing a tantrum like this won't get you anywhere. If you're wrong, own up like a man! Admit it!"
"......"
"You little punk, companies don't usually spoon-feed this stuff, you know? I'm only telling you 'cause I treat our trainees like my own kids..."
"...Shouldn't we be reporting the sasaeng?"
"What?"
"They stalked a minor all the way to the school trip and took secret photos. Shouldn't we catch this person? Fine for me, but the girl here is a regular civilian with zero entertainment ties..."
"Hey!"
The director bellowed, cutting Eun-seong off as he shot up from his chair.
Damn, crap, wow—he stubbed out his cigarette with all sorts of grunts, pacing back and forth.
Kicking at thin air laced with curses, he didn't look like a big-company exec. Just a thug.
Whether trying to intimidate, he glared at Eun-seong for a while before saying,
"Eun-seong, you wanna get hit?"
No?
Of course, Eun-seong didn't flinch a bit.
Hmm, is this about the timing where a senior just five years my senior kicks down the door with a bang, hides me behind him, and yells at the director, 'This is between us!'?
Or when I rip up these photos and say, 'Boss, let me be the bad guy just this once'?
Recalling old rumors famous among fans back in the day, Eun-seong let out a snort.
"Ha... Eun-seong."
Seeing Eun-seong unfazed even by his violent display, the director switched tactics.
Pretending to calm himself, he sat back down and tried soothing again.
"You're friends with Ji-su, right? Goes to the same school?"
"......"
For the first time, the expressionless Eun-seong scowled. Missing it, the director pressed on.
"She was dying to see our Eun-seong debut... So I figured soon..."
That was the decisive push that hardened Eun-seong's resolve.
'You know our mom is friends with your director, right? So I asked her. To keep an eye on you.'
'So?'
'Huh?'
'What's your point? That I should grovel to you if I wanna debut? 'Cause you can pressure me out?'
The conversation with Han Ji-young who'd chased him on survival game day.
The disgust from her trying to wield connections over his future to assert dominance.
If I stay here, do I have to watch my step around her?
No matter how much this industry ran on connections, was it normal for a director to bring up his friend's daughter—who wasn't even in the biz?
With his mind made up, Eun-seong said,
"I'm not doing it."
"...What?"
"I'm quitting. The company."
Sasaengs, director's friend's daughter— that crap only worked while I was still a trainee.
"If you're picking me for debut group, judge me on my skills. Why bring up that I'm her friend? This place feels like a mom-and-pop shop. Can't debut here."
With that, Eun-seong turned on his heel without a second thought.
Just before leaving the stunned director behind, he paused—ah—and turned back.
Still, he had to say this.
"And I'm not friends with that Han Ji-young."
"What?"
"She's the number one person I hate at our school. Because she..."
Gulp.
"My... my gir...! Friend."