Chapter 40: Ill Fate
Two hundred million won.
Under the name of sponsorship, an enormous sum of money suddenly arrived.
Whether a legal procedure had been followed or not, the actual amount received was around 15 million, but it was no small sum.
“You may use it as you like. Ah, but could you use our company’s keyboard?”
Did Mitsubal Heavy Industries make musical instruments?
It didn’t matter what it was.
It was a grateful existence that provided billions in support.
Park Siwoo immediately replied.
“I understand.”
“Then, have a good night.”
“Bye, Mio.”
The short conversation ended.
Park Siwoo put down the phone and headed home.
* * *
With familiar hands, he opened the door lock.
In his hand was a bag of red bean bread.
“Siwoo!”
Upon opening the door and entering, Lee Yena came running to greet him.
As always, she snatched his bag first.
Then, with a bright smile, she said,
“You worked hard today too.”
Hearing those words, his mind and body felt warm.
Unlike before, the reason he looked forward to returning home after work was this.
With a gentle smile, Park Siwoo entered the house and handed the envelope in his hand to Lee Yena.
“What is this?”
Lee Yena tilted her head curiously.
Park Siwoo smiled softly and answered,
“Because you wanted to eat something sweet.”
“Huh, really?”
She opened the envelope.
Inside was red bean bread.
“Really, I wanted to eat that. Thank you, Siwoo.”
“Not at all.”
Park Siwoo shrugged his shoulders.
Seeing her like this, it was worth buying.
Kim Soyeon took care of herself as a given, but Lee Yena was much more elegant and beautiful.
She was greatly grateful and happy even for the small things Park Siwoo did.
A woman who has no choice but to be loved.
The woman in front of him was such a woman.
She was so grateful that he had come to her.
“Go ahead and eat first. I’ll quickly wash up.”
“Okay.”
Following her nodding head, Park Siwoo headed to the bathroom.
There, he lightly washed his body, changed clothes, and came out.
Even though he rushed, about 15 minutes passed.
“Hah.”
Coming out of the bathroom, he looked around.
Lee Yena was sitting at the dining table.
But.
“You still haven’t eaten?”
“Because I wanted to eat with you. Hehe.”
Lee Yena smiled awkwardly.
It seemed funny even to herself.
Park Siwoo chuckled and headed to the table.
Then opened the plastic bag containing the red bean bread.
It was still unopened.
Really...
“Lee Yena.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know how adorable this is?”
“......”
She tightly closed her mouth.
Surprisingly, she had no tolerance for such things.
Even that was adorable.
Park Siwoo smiled softly and handed her the red bean bread for her share.
“Eat it while it’s warm.”
“Okay.”
Lee Yena nodded.
Then took a small bite of the red bean bread.
At the same time, a sparkle appeared in her eyes.
“Uhm!”
It was as if she was looking at a puppy.
If she had a tail, it would be wagging wildly now.
It was when Park Siwoo put his head near Lee Yena’s head like a puppy’s ear.
Lee Yena said.
“Speaking of which, Siwoo. I have something to say.”
“What is it?”
“I... I think I’ll start working next week.”
“Has the time already come so soon?”
“Yes, it was scheduled a month ago... There’s a performance at Gocheok Sky Dome.”
“Ah.”
Park Siwoo had seen that too.
The news that it sold out in 10 seconds of opening.
“Anyway, from next week, it will be busy.”
“I see.”
Park Siwoo nodded and took a bite of the red bean bread.
It was definitely sweet and delicious.
But.
“...It’s a pity. Now I have to go to bed early at night.”
“......”
She stuffed the red bean bread into her mouth in one go.
She ate it nibbling slowly.
But how come only one bite left when she was given it?
Park Siwoo, who hadn’t even eaten half, stared blankly at her.
Lee Yena, who met his gaze, said quietly.
“Today, shall we?”
“What do you mean?”
“......”
Lee Yena’s face flushed red.
From that, it was clear enough what she wanted to say.
Park Siwoo put down the red bean bread he was eating.
Then stood up from his seat, went to Lee Yena’s side.
“I won’t let you down. Lee Yena.”
“......”
Embarrassed, she didn’t answer, and he lifted her up in his arms and headed to the bed.
* * *
Morning broke, and Park Siwoo immediately went to the company.
Before going to see the debut group, there was something else to do.
It was, in short, hiring a manager.
The rotten bastard who was put in prison, so the current manager of Lunatics was vacant.
So, had to hire a manager.
Probably better to hire a woman.
Since road manager work is so tough, most applicants are men, but occasionally there are women applicants.
Generally, they apply to see idols, but anyway.
There are some.
Park Siwoo looked at the applicant’s list.
He was sitting in the sales team, team leader position, but in fact, he had taken over the representative’s duties, so it was possible.
This one seems good.
While Park Siwoo was selecting the manager he wanted.
A man walked up behind him.
“Team Leader Park, what are you doing?”
It was the General Manager.
Perhaps his cool time was over, or he came to pick a fight.
“Hah.”
Park Siwoo sighed.
Then the General Manager seized the moment and shouted.
“You sighed just now?! You, come here for a moment.”
Park Siwoo frowned.
Then stood up from his seat and looked down at the General Manager.
He seemed a bit scared, but due to pride, he shouted even louder.
“What are you doing these days?”
“I’m working.”
“No results? After hiring one Guitar Hero, no results? Huh?”
When Park Siwoo didn’t say anything, he smiled.
Thinking he had caught something.
“So, no promotion until now. Got it?”
Right then.
“No promotion? Why not?”
A cold voice came from afar.
Turning his head, Cha Yeseung was approaching with a stern face.
But her face was not normal.
Deep dark circles under her eyes.
“Why do garbage like you keep getting weeded out endlessly?”
“President.”
“Yes, Siwoo. Did you sleep well last night?”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
Park Siwoo nodded.
Cha Yeseung looked at him with envious eyes and said.
“I couldn’t sleep because I was dealing with that guy. Hah.”
Now she understood why dark circles were under her eyes.
The harassment-related work had continued until late at night.
She rubbed the side of her jaw with her hand and sighed deeply.
“Anyway, what is it? Why is there so much noise from the morning?”
The General Manager hurriedly said.
“Team Leader Park has no results. After hiring Guitar Hero, no results, so he was being disciplined.”
“Who, who is being disciplined?”
Cha Yeseung laughed lightly.
She had roughly grasped the situation.
“You do well, General Manager. Your results are more serious. Right?”
“......”
“And, how can a person who is a General Manager or higher be so dark about company work.”
After all, in Starlight, the General Manager position is virtually executive.
Not knowing that he was Guitar Hero or that he was promoted to representative was strange.
Probably, the executives are shunning him.
“What, what happened?”
So, saying such shameless words.
Cha Yeseung sighed deeply.
Her already injured face had more fatigue added.
“Park Siwoo is no longer a team leader.”
“Yes, yes?”
“He will be the next representative of Stasm.”
At her words, the General Manager’s eyes widened.
The reactions around were no different.
“Team Leader Park is the representative?”
“Good, Team Leader, you wouldn’t have been fit to be a team leader.”
“Wow... A representative at such a young age. Really amazing.”
“The woman who marries Team Leader Park is envious, really.”
“Yeah, I’ve never seen such a perfect man.”
All were praise.
Most were implying that they agreed Park Siwoo would go to the representative position.
How capable he must be.
In fact, even if Park Siwoo was handling most of the sales department’s work alone, it was no exaggeration.
But the General Manager didn’t seem to understand easily.
Siwoo, who was younger, handsome, and tall.
He was going to a higher position than himself, so he lost his mind.
“Huh, how is this possible? How can he be ahead of me...”
“Park Siwoo has proven his abilities. You have been here for a few years. That’s the difference. I think there’s nothing more to say. President Park?”
“Yes.”
“Please take care of me from now on.”
“Understood.”
“Then.”
Cha Yeseung left her seat.
Park Siwoo stared at her for a moment, then turned his back.
In his sight, the General Manager’s face turned pale.
Park Siwoo looked at him and smiled lightly.
“Please take care of me from now on, General Manager.”
“......”
“You have to answer.”
“...Yes.”
Looking at him answering submissively, Park Siwoo shrugged.
Then returned to his seat.
Soon, team members rushed over and asked Park Siwoo.
“Team Leader, are you really the representative?”
“Somehow...”
“Wow, Team Leader, congratulations. No, now I should call you President?”
A harmonious atmosphere.
Because they had swept away the General Manager who was a thorn in the eye, they were cheering more.
But it couldn’t be that they only received questions here.
Park Siwoo stood up.
“Everyone, please work hard. I’m busy, so I’ll go.”
“President, please enter.”
After the team’s greeting, Park Siwoo went down to the first floor.
Then called.
“Are all the candidates here?”
“Yes, they are here. But...”
“But?”
“Only one remains.”
“The rest?”
I asked, but I roughly guess.
“They all ran away during the education yesterday.”
As expected.
Park Siwoo sighed deeply.
It was a common occurrence, so no choice.
Road manager work must be tough.
Can’t help it.
“Who remains?”
“Kim Suji.”
“Kim Suji?”
The woman I thought was okay after looking at the materials just now.
She remained, which was unexpected.
“I’ll go right away.”
“Understood.”
Park Siwoo immediately got into the car.
And headed to the dormitory where the debut trainees lived.
The manager would be waiting here.
- Creak.
Park Siwoo got out of the car and entered the dormitory where the trainees lived.
Since he was informed in advance, the trainees were lined up.
Next to them was Kim Suji.
“Hmm?”
Park Siwoo’s eyebrows twitched.
Because a golden string was connected to her hand.
It’s okay?
Park Siwoo was looking at her intently when a lively voice came from afar.
“Sorry for being late! Because of urgent poop...”
“Ah, unnie!”
Without looking, I could tell.
It was Lee Haneul.
She gave an awkward smile and quickly stood next to the members.
Park Siwoo’s eyes shook again at her.
Red string.
Her hand still had a red string tied.