Approach (5)
What I thought was going to be dinner at a restaurant ended up at a hotel instead. Turns out that restaurant wasn't some family joint—it was a hotel restaurant. The kind that screamed high-end luxury from a mile away, looking ridiculously expensive. We all scurried over and plopped down at a round table draped in a pristine white tablecloth.
None of these guys had ever done military service, but somehow they were sitting ramrod straight, like recruits on inspection. I wondered what was up with that, but when I thought about it, it made total sense.
'Cause we've got the agency CEO and an investor here.'
It was the perfect setup to shatter their nerves. No one dared open their mouths first.
I was the only one who lifted my head, checking out the investor and the CEO.
'Kinda looks like that woman I saw at the broadcasting station.'
The beauty in the white dress from the station lobby. Even though we'd just passed by each other, her impact was so strong I'd remembered her face perfectly.
The members' eyes were flicking toward the stunning investor too. Sure, male sex drives got nerfed in this world, but they were still healthy guys with hormones pumping. Pretty girls shook everyone up the same way.
"Seeing you all in person confirms I made the right call," she said.
"Our boys are pretty charming, right?"
"Yes. They look like they'll become the top stars in the country for sure."
The CEO was in full brag mode, showering us with praise nonstop. I'd never really talked to her properly before, so I'd been worried about what kind of person she was, but she seemed to like us more than expected.
'Well, with an investor showing up after seeing us, of course we'd look good.'
Still, what kind of woman was she to be coming and going from broadcasting stations and investing in our company? As the leader, Jeki snapped out of it first. I gave the others a look to wake them up, and we started introductions.
"Hello, I'm Jeki, the leader of Airplane."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Melissa Kay."
"K-Ki Uyeon here!"
"Kang Kyungtae."
"Kang Jun, handling vocals."
The guys introduced themselves in these awkward, stiff voices. I went last, and Melissa smiled softly.
"I really wanted to have a meal with you all, so I asked the CEO for a bit of a push. I was worried you might feel uncomfortable, but I'm glad I did. Seeing you up close like this, I'm even more convinced my investment was spot-on."
"We were shocked to hear you decided to invest after seeing our group. Thank you for thinking so highly of us."
Jeki handled it with surprising maturity.
"I saw you on TV once—these sparkling guys just shining away. I was blown away and looked you up. When I heard you just debuted, I thought it was perfect timing. I love supporting talent. Nothing beats the pride of watching someone bloom with my help."
"Ah…!"
"I had to scoop you up before someone else did. You're already killing it, but the public hasn't seen your full potential yet. Oh! And you started acting, right? I loved that web drama with Jun and Haesol."
"Thank you."
"Th-thank you!"
As the praise kept coming, the members' faces softened up. The stiff postures melted into smiles like nothing happened.
"Don't treat me like some scary investor. I'm a fan of yours, so just act normal, like with any fan."
"A f-fan?"
"Got it."
"You're super pretty!"
"Yeah, I was shocked by how gorgeous you are when I first saw you."
At her request to treat her like a fan, the guys suddenly relaxed around her. Uyeon cleverly complimented her looks in a playful way. Praising a woman's beauty always works.
Her face lit up softly. "Thanks. It's been ages since my looks did me a favor. Usually, they just cause trouble."
She said it casually, but her beauty wasn't something to downplay like that.
'First woman I've seen who could stand toe-to-toe with Jua noona in looks.'
The white dress had suited her perfectly before, and today she wore a crisp white women's suit, accessorized with sparkling earrings and a necklace that screamed serious wealth. The pricey jewels complemented her features, creating this aura of elegance.
'Now I get what they mean by "class oozing out." Even Jun's got that refined vibe, but next to her, he's just a firefly.'
Was this the difference between the real deal and a knockoff? Melissa ate with this innate nobility woven into every move. Even sipping water screamed she wasn't ordinary.
"How's the food?"
"It's amazing."
"I'm glad you're enjoying it. Order more if you want—it's worth the price. I've tried tons of hotels, and none match this place for food."
True to the high-end spot, the quality was insane. You could taste the premium ingredients right away.
"Feels like a dish worth splurging on once in a while."
With delicious food loosening everyone up, the mood was perfect. The members, always weight-conscious even off-season, usually watched their intake. But good food like this disarmed them every time.
The CEO and I adapted quickly to the unfamiliar vibe, watching the members chat warmly with the investor. It was heartwarming.
'Why am I feeling like a proud dad? Snap out of it.'
Hard to hide the fondness.
'Look at them, all grown up. Thought they were still green, but when did this happen?'
Watching them navigate social stuff hit me right in the feels. Plus, her clean demeanor eased my worries—no bad intentions here.
'Our agency arranging sponsors? Doesn't make sense from the start.'
Honey Enter was spotless on stuff like that. That's why boys dreaming of idol life begged to train here—no sponsor scandals attached.
And honestly, if a beauty like her offered sponsorship, wouldn't you just say "thanks"? What was she lacking to drop big money on that?
'Even in a world where guys are rare, with looks like hers, they'd be lining up.'
Look at them now—the members who'd been meh or awkward around "women" were actively enjoying chats with her.
Talk of food naturally veered to diets. Melissa was shocked by our stories.
"You're this slim and still managing weight?"
"On camera, this is barely passable. Gotta drop more before promotions start, or you look fat."
"You're still growing—harsh dieting can't be good for your health."
"Hohoho, you really are a fan, aren't you? Worrying about them like this."
"Of course! You think I'd lie? I'm a real Airplane fan."
"Whoa!"
"Don't forget autographs and pics before we part today."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"Thanks."
A woman who was obviously a big deal calling herself their fan? They couldn't hide their joy. They might not grasp "investment" fully, but they knew it was huge for us. With the CEO and investor hyping their future, they were puffed up with pride.
I mostly listened, letting them talk. She seemed decent, no need to butt in.
Two hours flew by amid eating and chatting. Time to wrap up. Melissa got her photos and autographs. Jeki, who'd bonded with her big-time, stared intently.
'He wants to ask for her number.'
Uyeon was the social butterfly type, but Jeki and Melissa had talked the most. As leader, he forced himself out there, but he's not chatty—yet he genuinely enjoyed it.
'CEO hasn't even hit the bathroom.'
Poor Jeki fidgeting. Asking for a number wasn't hard, but with the CEO right there? No way.
"It was fun meeting you today."
"The pleasure was ours."
In the end, Jeki chickened out. Time to say goodbye. She shook hands one by one. When it was my turn, I grabbed her hand casually.
Rustle.
"!!"
"Nice meeting you, Haesol."
"…Yeah."
Damn, what now? The familiar feel of paper in my palm left me stumped.
Wrong guy, lady?
I shot her a questioning look, but nope—it was for me.
'Why me? Headache. Can't embarrass an investor.'
Our hands parted naturally. I clenched my fist to hide it without looking awkward. I'd gotten tons of notes from broadcasts—hiding them was second nature. The issue was what to do with it.
Usually, I'd hand it to Manager Noona right away. But this was an investor dropping serious cash. Couldn't just toss it.
'Text her? Nah. Ignore her? Also nah.'
Why not give it to Jeki? Would've saved the headache.
Knowing what an investor meant, I couldn't show my panic. I crumpled the note in my pocket.
'Guess she wasn't into Jeki.'
Then why all the laughs with him? Women are mysteries.
'If Jeki finds out… ugh.'
Just imagining it—nope. Guy's pride was sky-high! He was still gazing at her with puppy eyes. Oblivious CEO chuckling beside him.
'Don't complicate things. Hide it, save the number, never call.'
Telling Jeki would spark drama. Best move: bury it and ghost. No contact would send the message. Her clean behavior suggested she'd take a polite no fine.
We all know not to judge by looks, but humans repeat mistakes. And I was no exception.