Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Episode 12. The Gangster Girl and a Night (1)
Park Siwoo secretly clenched his fist in front of the bar.
‘To think Tams promised top-tier promotion.’
Tams was the best music streaming site in Korea.
A massive platform with as many as ten million monthly active users.
If Neonsheart’s name were to be placed at the very top of such a site, the influx of attention would be beyond estimation.
‘Success is as good as guaranteed.’
But he couldn’t afford to be complacent.
Only one song had been prepared so far, and no matter how strong the exposure was, if the song itself was lacking, it would amount to nothing more than a pearl necklace around a pig’s neck.
So.
‘Let’s keep pushing forward.’
Until he achieved success through music and flattened that bitch’s nose completely.
Park Siwoo tightly clenched his fist and then returned to the restaurant.
“Producer, did something happen?”
Guitarist Jang Junhyeok had a question mark written all over his face.
Park Siwoo sat back down and answered his question.
“Nothing in particular.”
“Ah.”
Jang Junhyeok nodded and went back to focusing on the meat.
Watching him devour the meat with such appetite, Park Siwoo thought.
‘Let’s not tell them for now.’
Announcing that the promotion had been approved might negatively affect them.
They were talented, but mentally they still had a lot of room to grow.
He had no intention of letting pressure or arrogance lead them to self-destruction.
‘First, let’s complete the album.’
While he was thinking that, he suddenly felt a sharp gaze from somewhere.
Turning his head, he saw Seol Ayeon.
‘Ah, right.’
She had been about to say something earlier but got interrupted.
Recalling the moment, Park Siwoo picked up a bottle of alcohol.
He poured a drink into her empty glass and said quietly,
“Ayeon, what were you going to say earlier?”
She seemed startled by his sudden approach and flinched slightly before answering.
“It’s nothing….”
Perhaps due to the alcohol, her ears looked especially red.
The company dinner ended successfully.
Fortunately, no incidents occurred due to drunkenness today.
“Haa.”
Returning to his newly assigned workspace, Park Siwoo immediately took a shower.
After drying his hair completely, he sat down on the sofa provided.
He had already made some progress on a song, and a faint buzz of alcohol still lingered, so he planned to rest for the night.
‘Since I have work tomorrow anyway.’
Park Siwoo turned on the TV with familiar movements.
Then he switched to the public broadcast channel.
A news program was in progress.
It felt wasteful to use a state-of-the-art 85-inch TV just for watching the news, but Park Siwoo had no particular interest in dramas or movies.
‘I’ll just keep up with what’s going on in the world.’
He watched the news half-heartedly.
About thirty minutes passed.
One particular report caught his attention.
[Kim Mir of Entra has suddenly announced news of his marriage.]
Kim Mir.
The man who had an affair with his ex-wife.
The faint traces of alcohol lingering in his body vanished instantly.
[His partner is reportedly a civilian. Kim Mir stated that he has been dating his wife for three years and that she is currently three months pregnant. He added that he hopes for continued support and a good relationship, noting that with one year left until his return, public attention is….]
Click.
Park Siwoo turned off the TV.
As if mocking him directly.
The content of the article written so bluntly made his hands tremble.
‘They’ve been dating for three years…?’
And three months pregnant…?
Park Siwoo clenched his fist.
Betrayal made his teeth grind.
‘No matter what.’
I will bring him down.
Just as his eyes gleamed with malice at that moment.
―Ding!
A notification sounded on his phone.
“Haa.”
Taking a deep breath to calm his anger, Park Siwoo checked his phone.
It was an unknown number.
Thinking it was spam, he was about to close it when he suddenly paused.
At the very top of the message, the name Guitar Hero appeared.
He quickly opened the message.
[Hello, Guitar Hero. Or rather, Team Leader Park. I’d like to discuss a contract. Shall we meet tomorrow at ***** at 1 PM? — Kim Yuna.]
“Hah!”
It was an audacious message.
He felt like cursing right away, but the name at the end made him swallow those words.
‘Kim Yuna.’
A tragic figure overshadowed by Lee Yena’s presence.
She was a flawless singer—vocals, visuals, everything without a single flaw.
But more than that, she had always remained in second place, overshadowed by the superior Lee Yena.
Perhaps because of that.
Her personality had become quite twisted, and alongside her cold appearance, various issues regarding her domineering behavior had surfaced.
‘Still, her skills are unquestionable.’
In truth, the allegations of her misconduct were merely rumors.
Nothing had ever been officially proven.
More importantly.
‘Even if she’s second place, she must be earning a tremendous amount of money.’
If he could bring her into Starlight Entertainment, the performance bonus alone would be substantial.
“Guess there’s no helping it.”
She seemed to know he was Guitar Hero.
Perhaps negotiations would go smoothly.
‘Let’s go meet her.’
With that resolve, Park Siwoo turned off the TV and headed to bed.
The next day.
“We’re almost there.”
At the taxi driver’s words, Park Siwoo looked up and surveyed his surroundings.
Tall buildings in Gangnam came into view.
“Thank you.”
After getting out of the taxi, Park Siwoo entered the café.
It was a private-room café.
He entered the reserved room and sat down, checking the time.
It was 12:40 PM.
Twenty minutes remained until the appointment.
‘Will Kim Yuna really show up?’
Park Siwoo couldn’t be certain.
She was the type of woman who lived freely without restraint.
‘She might not come.’
He didn’t think she would break her promise, but the possibility couldn’t be ruled out.
‘She better not skip.’
I’ll make her pay if she does.
Just as he was thinking that, a knock sounded.
Knock knock.
With about fifteen minutes remaining until 1 PM.
―Creak.
The traditional-style door slid open, and a woman walked in.
Wearing denim shorts so short it was hard to tell whether she was wearing pants or underwear, and a sheer black blouse that revealed her skin, along with a sparkling chain belt.
Kim Yuna, dressed as if proclaiming “I’m confident,” stood before Park Siwoo.
The curves visible beneath her blouse drew his gaze.
If he hadn’t been divorced, his eyes would surely have been drawn there.
Fortunately, Park Siwoo had built up considerable immunity to women.
“Kim Yuna?”
He asked calmly, and Kim Yuna smirked as she replied,
“I heard you were an old man, but you’re more handsome than I expected?”
This time, even Park Siwoo couldn’t hide his surprise.
It was the first time he had encountered such rudeness.
“What….”
Before he could say anything, Kim Yuna reached out and grabbed the chair.
―Creak.
The sound of the chair being pulled interrupted him.
‘What a troublesome woman.’
The rumors about her being ill-mannered didn’t seem to be false.
Park Siwoo let out a quiet sigh inwardly.
To regain the slight loss of control in the conversation, he spoke first.
“You sent a proposal for a contract.”
“Yes. My current contract is about to expire… and that damn CEO keeps bothering me.”
“…….”
“So, I’m planning to join your Starlight Entertainment. What kind of terms will you offer?”
For someone of her caliber, top-tier treatment would be expected.
But.
“What level are you looking for? We can match anything.”
Park Siwoo deliberately spoke vaguely.
There was no need to immediately reveal that he would offer top-tier treatment.
Perhaps understanding his intent, Kim Yuna let out a faint smile.
“You asked me to state what I want, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then become my exclusive composer. If you do that, I’ll sign with Starlight.”
“What do you mean by that?”
As Park Siwoo asked, Kim Yuna suddenly stood up.
She leaned forward, bringing her face right up to his.
A seductive fragrance filled the air as she whispered softly,
“You, Guitar Hero, should work on my songs.”
Hearing that, Park Siwoo couldn’t help but laugh.
As he smiled, Kim Yuna frowned.
Park Siwoo grabbed her tie from her hand and pulled it free.
After straightening the crumpled tie, he stood up.
“I don’t think I can sign a contract with you, Kim Yuna.”
He had no desire to work with such a rude woman.
More importantly.
‘We’re no longer in a position where we desperately need a contract.’
Now that he knew artists were willing to sign just because of the name Guitar Hero.
The one who was desperate was her.
‘Kim Yuna’s recent results haven’t been good.’
Her vocal ability was undeniable, but her songs had become ambiguous.
At this point, she was no longer second place—she had even fallen out of the top ten.
So.
“Please look into another agency.”
Leaving Kim Yuna, whose eyes had widened into perfect circles, behind, Park Siwoo turned to leave.
At that moment.
A red thread was tied around Kim Yuna’s hand.
Without a doubt.
‘A red thread…!’
He vaguely understood that the black thread brought harm to people.
Then what exactly was the red thread?
Park Siwoo’s steps faltered.
But his hesitation was only momentary.
No matter what it was, his decision not to contract with her remained firm.
He resumed walking.
Then, at that very moment.
A trembling voice stopped him in his tracks.
“I-I’m sorry.”
‘Did I hear that wrong?’
Just as that thought crossed his mind, the voice came again.
“I was wr-wrong.”
Kim Yuna burst into tears.