Tightening the Noose (1)
Why did she still have a red karmic string?
Park Siwoo couldn't make sense of it. He was certain he'd already taken care of anything that might have done her harm.
"……"
He didn't know. He truly didn't know.
Siwoo let out a long, silent sigh and glanced to his side.
A manager candidate was standing there. Her name was Kim Suji. Her résumé was packed with part-time gigs — she'd even done warehouse grunt work at Lupang. That was probably the only reason she could survive a manager's murderous schedule. And that, no doubt, was why a golden karmic string glittered at her wrist. A sure sign she would make an outstanding manager.
Siwoo nodded.
"Ms. Kim Suji, I'd like you to work as our manager from now on."
"Th-thank you so much!"
Kim Suji bowed in a flash.
"You'll get the details from the team leader."
The team leader standing right beside them nodded.
"I'll have everything wrapped up by tomorrow."
"Good. Then that's settled."
Siwoo turned his head. The girls from the debut lineup were watching him, a hint of tension on their faces. He spoke quietly.
"Ms. Suji, for today, why don't you try driving them to the practice room. The team leader will assist you."
"Yes, sir! Understood!"
Watching her answer so boldly, Siwoo said, "I'll see you at the practice room, then."
And with that, he headed off.
Whether she'd received a briefing in advance or not, Kim Suji followed them to the practice room without a hitch. Siwoo got out of the car, sent the girls upstairs first, and turned to the team leader.
"How was she?"
"Excellent. She's eager, her background is impressive, and she's clearly got real passion for the work."
"Good. Then we'll leave Lunatix's manager position to Ms. Kim Suji."
"Yes, CEO."
"……"
Hearing myself called CEO still feels strangely new.
Siwoo said nothing for a moment, and the team leader tilted his head.
"Is something the matter?"
"No. I'll head in now."
"Yes, sir."
The team leader bowed. Leaving him behind, Siwoo made his way to the practice room.
It was the same facility where Neon Heart had learned their choreography. Even now, trainees were scattered through the rooms, drilling their routines. Siwoo glanced over them, then stepped into the room where Lunatix was waiting.
"Hello, sir."
The instructor in charge of teaching Lunatix their dance came forward.
"You mentioned you wanted to see them dance, I believe."
"I did. Is everything ready?"
"Of course. We can show you right now."
"Then let's begin."
"Yes, sir."
The instructor nodded and raised her voice.
"Gather up, girls."
At her call, Lunatix assembled in a single, orderly rush.
"Let's do what we practiced yesterday."
"What we practiced yesterday…?"
"Happiness."
"Ah— right! Got it!"
The members nodded and took their positions. They didn't face the mirror. They stood facing Siwoo instead.
The music poured out. The dance began, and Siwoo watched them with close, careful attention.
Cha Yeseung hadn't been lying when she'd poured everything into preparing them — their dancing was outstanding. And yet that was all it was. He couldn't shake a certain looseness, a sense that something hadn't quite locked into place. They seemed to know it too; once the song ended, their expressions were grim. They'd probably been nervous performing in front of him.
"Hmm."
Siwoo let out a small hum. And right then—
"S-sir!"
Lee Haneul's voice rang out, loud and clear, pulling every gaze in the room.
Siwoo's mouth twitched into a faint smile.
"You're saying you want to dance it again."
"Yes, sir!"
She answered without a shred of hesitation.
"All right. Let's see it again."
"Thank you, sir!"
Lee Haneul folded forward in a bow that nearly hit ninety degrees. And she wasn't done. The moment the thanks left her mouth, she spun on her heel and shouted to the others.
"Everyone, don't be nervous — let's just do it like we always do!"
Her bright energy lifted the gloom right off the other members. Smiles surfaced on faces that had been tight with tension only seconds before, as if the nerves had never been there at all.
Watching the trainees, Siwoo turned to the dance instructor.
"Who's the leader?"
"That one… next to the girl with the blue hair. Her name is Kim Seoyeon."
The member who had introduced herself as the main vocalist last time. Siwoo looked at her, recalling that meeting. Black hair, a cute, puppy-like face. If his memory was right, she'd also been the one who looked the most nervous during the dance just now.
Don't tell me that's why the red karmic string hasn't disappeared.
"Is there a particular reason she was made leader?"
"Well, she's the oldest, more or less."
As far as Siwoo knew, she was nineteen — the same age as Lee Haneul. Everyone else was eighteen.
"The roles haven't been set in stone yet," the vocal trainer added.
Siwoo nodded. Somehow, the pieces were starting to fall into place.
"Then let's begin."
The instructor nodded. The music started, and the members moved.
This time was different. Their breathing locked together. The lines that had felt awkward before carried real conviction now, cleaner and sharper. If he'd walked out after seeing only the first run, he would have left with the wrong impression. This was their actual ability — the real thing he never would have seen if not for Lee Haneul.
"Well done."
When the song ended, Siwoo clapped as he spoke.
"Thank you, sir!"
The members bowed over one another, tumbling out their thanks. Siwoo regarded them for a moment, then spoke quietly.
"I liked what I saw. There's something I'd like to discuss separately, though. Haneul, Seoyeon — could you step outside with me for a moment?"
"Yes, sir!"
Lee Haneul answered without missing a beat. Kim Seoyeon gave a small nod of her own.
Siwoo led the two of them out of the practice room. They'd answered readily enough, but being called aside by the CEO himself had clearly rattled them. The tension sat plain on Kim Seoyeon's face — and on Lee Haneul's too. There was no need to drag this out and set their hearts racing any further. Siwoo got straight to the point.
"I'm considering a change of leader."
Kim Seoyeon's eyes went wide. But only for a moment — relief settled over her face right after. Judging by that, she already knew. She already understood that Lee Haneul had the makings of a far better leader.
"I've determined that Haneul is better suited to the leader's role than you are, Seoyeon. Do you have any objections?"
He directed the question at Kim Seoyeon. She answered as if she were actually glad.
"No, none at all. The position suits Haneul way better. She'll lead the team well, I'm sure of it."
"Good. Haneul — anything you'd like to say?"
"Plenty!"
She nearly shouted it. What on earth did she have to say with that much fire in her? More than that — she'd been through something terrible only yesterday, and she was still this full of life. On one level, he found it admirable. It wasn't an easy thing for a nineteen-year-old to endure.
"What is it?"
Siwoo asked, a warm smile on his face. Lee Haneul answered at once.
"I'll work my hardest from here on out! Seoyeon, thanks for stepping aside!"
"Please. I already said it's the spot for you."
"Hehe."
Grinning, Lee Haneul threw her arms around Kim Seoyeon. The clinginess made her look a little young — but given the decisiveness she'd just shown, she was clearly the type who came through when it counted. Siwoo nodded, satisfied.
And right then—
The red karmic string flared with a brilliant light — and transformed into gold.
Siwoo clenched his fist where no one could see. A thrilling rush of satisfaction hit him — his judgment had been right.
That settles the problem completely, then.
Now he just needed to think about the songs. Being CEO meant there would be plenty of other work piled on as well — but considering what he was being paid to do it, that was a burden he could gladly endure.
Time to get started in earnest.
If his ex-wife Kim Soyeon could see this, she'd be sick with envy. A crooked smile tugged at Siwoo's mouth as he spoke quietly.
"Let's head back in."
"Yes, sir!"
Listening to their bright, overlapping answers, Siwoo turned back toward the practice room.
The next morning, Park Siwoo woke with a slow smile.
Neon Heart's track had overtaken ENTRA's — the same song ENTRA had pumped up the views on with sajaegi. No crimes. No tricks. They had beaten them fair and square, on skill alone.
The comment section, unsurprisingly, had exploded.
The public had already fallen head over heels for Neon Heart. YouTube views were climbing without a ceiling, and advertising deals and contract offers were pouring in like a waterfall.
ENTRA, by comparison, looked pathetic. The comments were mostly insults, and the dislike ratio was overwhelmingly high.
I'd love to see the look on Kim Mir's face right about now.
His insides would be twisted in knots. He might even reach for something more extreme than sajaegi. If he did, that would be perfect. Siwoo was certain — Kim Mir would cross the line one more time. And that would be the moment he sent both Kim Mir and Kim Soyeon plunging into ruin together.
I should send word ahead of time.
Siwoo typed out a message to the journalist he'd already been in contact with.
And right then—
"Siwoo."
A soft, yielding warmth pressed against his back. A sweet floral scent drifted through the air. Lee Yena.
"What's got you in such a good mood? Did something nice happen?"
Her hand slid down along his chest. Siwoo caught it and folded his fingers around hers.
"Nothing much. Being with you is enough to put me in a good mood."
"Mm-hmm~"
Lee Yena let out a pleased little hum.
"You're heading straight to work, aren't you?"
"I am. I should."
"Aww, that's a shame. I want to stay with you longer."
She buried her face against his cheek. Siwoo let go of her hand and gently stroked her hair.
"We can make up for it tonight, can't we?"
"But you have to go to work the next morning. You'll be exhausted."
A slow smile spread across Siwoo's face.
"That's a bit of a hit to my pride, you know."
"Huh?"
"Guess I'll have to teach you a proper lesson tonight."
"……"
Lee Yena's face went crimson in an instant. Watching her, Siwoo chuckled under his breath.
"I'll be home early."
"…I'll be waiting."
At that, Siwoo rose from his seat. Lee Yena gathered up the dishes he'd been eating from and carried them toward the kitchen as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Have a good day at work!"
Leaving her voice behind him, Siwoo headed into the office.
He was standing at the elevator, waiting, when he pulled up the Bugs charts. Sure enough — ENTRA had overtaken Neon Heart. They'd run sajaegi again. There was no other explanation.
His phone chimed.
I'll squeeze the life out of you. Nice and slow.
Park Siwoo clenched his fist.