Give Me a Reward

Knock, knock, knock—

At the crisp sound of knuckles on wood, the door swung open and Jeong Sora stepped inside.

"Ms. Shin Yena from Art Company is here to see you. How would you like me to handle it?"

"Send her in."

"Yes, sir."

Ever since we'd moved into this building, I'd finally gotten a private office of my own. It was still the U-I suite, technically — I didn't have a separate desk over at Art Company — but it was mine.

"Hello, President~ Heehee."

"What is it this time?"

"……"

"What?"

"That's so mean. Do we really need a reason every time we see each other?"

"Yes. I already told you last time. We're done with that kind of relationship."

"I never agreed to that, though? And you said you liked it."

"That was because you just went ahead and started sucking me off out of nowhere…!"

"You enjoyed it."

"Well… I didn't hate it, but… Anyway! We're stopping. I feel too guilty toward Seul."

The day after I'd come back to Seoul from shooting Seul's first scene, I'd already made my position crystal clear. Sure, I'd cracked a little under Shin Yena's blowjob assault — but I wasn't going to fold this time.

Not that she looked particularly bothered.

"Seul's down in the provinces right now, isn't she? You must be lonely."

"You can't use internal company information for personal reasons. And you know this isn't right either, Yena. Hooking up with someone who isn't even your boyfriend — that doesn't bother you at all?"

"I like it. And so do you."

"……"

Talking to her was clearly a waste of breath. If I just kept my distance, she'd eventually drift away on her own.

"Anyway, not today. I'm busy. Please leave."

"I didn't come for that today, actually."

"Then what?"

"This. I figured you needed to see it."

I took the phone she held out. The moment I finished reading what was on the screen, I dialed Yoon Hee-jung, the Head of Department in charge of Art Music.

"That Origin and Meteor Entertainment are terminating their contract."

(And that they're only re-signing Shin-woo and turning him into an actor.)

"…I also heard Lee Shin-woo is re-signing and switching to acting. Is that true?"

I hung up and fixed Shin Yena with a hard stare.

"Is this solid intel? Even Head of Department Yoon hadn't heard about it."

"It's solid. I'm in Origin's secret fan club group chat."

"Secret group chat?"

"Yeah. Only a handful of fans get invited. Company internal info about the guys gets posted there all the time~"

"Who's posting that information?"

"Someone from the company."

"Why?"

"Because it pays."

"You're telling me someone is selling internal company information for money??"

"Yep."

"How does that even make sense?!"

My voice rose at how casually she said it. It wasn't like Yena herself was leaking Art Company secrets — but selling internal intel was still a crime, plain and simple.

"I just got invited into the chat and hang out there. I haven't paid a single won or anything."

"It's information someone bought with money. And you're just handing it over for free?"

"I used to be a pretty big-deal home master, you know."

"Home master??"

"Fans who haul around cameras this big and shoot celebrity photos."

"Ah… and?"

"That's why I got invited. I've got photos no one else has."

"So you trade photos for information instead of cash?"

"Pretty much."

"……"

I still didn't fully get it — but if this intel was real? Without Lee Shin-woo, there was zero reason to go after Origin. He was that central to the group.

And right now, there was nothing we could do about it. Reaching out to the other members who were about to get dumped and trying to convince Shin-woo to leave with them would be tampering — a crime. Of course, we'd have to verify the information first either way.

Speak of the devil — my phone rang.

"Yes, Head of Department."

"And unofficially?"

"Hmm…."

Word around the industry was that Meteor and Origin were likely headed for a mutual termination. That was why I'd been waiting. The moment they split, we could snatch the group up for free without spending a single won.

But if Lee Shin-woo wasn't part of the deal? Absolutely not.

"Reach out to Meteor. If it's true, set up a meeting."

"Yes."

The second I hung up, Shin Yena puffed up with a triumphant little smirk.

"Well? I did good, right? Heh~"

"Yeah. You did well this time."

"Then give me a reward."

"Want a bonus?"

"A bonus would be nice, but…"

What was with the way she was squirming?

"Don't tell me…."

"Episode 86… in a bathroom… I want to try it once…."

"This is a company building..!"

"Not here."

"What??"

"You didn't read it?"

"I didn't get that far…."

"……"

"Then whose bathroom are you talking about?"

"I'll come with you."

"Where?"

"Meteor Entertainment."

Was she seriously suggesting we do it in someone else's company bathroom — not even ours?

Has she lost her mind?!!

When we checked with Meteor Entertainment, Shin Yena's information turned out to be correct. Which was why we were on our way there now.

Jeong Sora was driving, Shin Yena rode shotgun, and Head of Department Yoon Hee-jung and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I sat in the back.

"By the way, why is Ms. Shin Yena coming along? If this is a PR matter, we have people in Art Music for that."

"Ahem..! Well… Lee Shin-woo seems interested in acting, so I thought she might be helpful on that front."

"……"

"Just go with it. Two people or three — what's the difference?"

"Fair enough."

But was she serious? Was she genuinely planning to have sex with me at Meteor Entertainment? In a bathroom, no less?

"Hoo…."

"Are you worried?"

Yes, I'm worried. Worried that Yena is actually going to go through with it.

"Not particularly."

"Is acquiring Origin really that critical right now? I've already explained that recycled rookies have an even harder time succeeding than brand-new ones."

"I wouldn't say critical, but they've got the skills and the looks. We need a debut next year, and building a whole new idol group from scratch at this point is tough."

"You are building one right now."

"That's a special case. No choice there."

"And you see Origin the same way — as a special case?"

"Well…"

"They are."

Shin Yena cut in from the passenger seat before I could finish, then twisted around to explain herself to Head of Department Yoon.

"Like you said, Head of Department — recycled rookies rarely make it. That's exactly why Origin is the perfect fit."

"Why is that?"

"A group built from vengeful spirits who came back from the underworld. Origin — already as good as dead after getting their death sentence. The concept lines up almost too perfectly."

"Ha…"

A hollow laugh slipped out of me at Yena's reasoning. It was absurd.

"Yena, that kind of logic…"

"I like it."

"Excuse me??"

I whipped my head toward Head of Department Yoon in shock.

"You like it?"

"Yes. That could actually become a fan-entry point."

"Are you serious??"

"Yes. Fans love unique hooks like that. It clearly sets them apart from other groups."

"……"

"And an agency that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠can resurrect a dead group — if we pull it off, it'll do wonders for the image of a company that's only just getting started."

Is this a hidden camera? Or is she actually serious?

I snuck a glance at Yena, who was still twisted around in her seat. She gave me a firm, confident nod, as if to say exactly.

What on earth was going on? Why was I the only one who didn't get it?

Well, at least they were on board…

"We've arrived, President."

Right. First things first — successfully bring Origin over.

So that was Kim Young-tae, the CEO of Meteor Entertainment. He looked exactly like a man who loved money. Not that anyone hated money, of course — but still. Was physiognomy a real science?

"Oh my~ You want to take our boys? There's still three years left on their contract, you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠know."

"Yes."

"Well… we've poured so much love into raising these kids…."

Love, my ass.

Kim Young-tae had simply gotten lucky enough to land good-looking, talented trainees. Sure, luck mattered a great deal in this industry — but luck only favored those who were ready for it. Ridiculous concepts, terrible songs, music videos so bad they weren't even worth reviewing. Meteor Entertainment and Kim Young-tae had never been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ready to catch that luck. The members alone had managed to sparkle through the mud just enough to lock down core fans like Shin Yena.

If this man had truly intended to support Origin properly, he would've sold off one of those gleaming foreign cars parked outside and shot a decent music video. Well — that was less my opinion and more Shin Yena's, sitting right here with us.

"We'll cover the penalty for the remaining three years of the contract."

"Oh dear~ Paying a penalty doesn't mean we can just terminate, you know."

"One hundred million won per member — five hundred million total in compensation as well."

"Five hundred million…"

"Including the penalty, five hundred million."

"Even then, that's not even a full billion…. Aigoo, I simply can't. I can't sell my kids for money. They're like my own children. I'm terribly sorry."

Couldn't sell them for money? No — the money just wasn't enough. The greed glittering in his eyes was proof enough.

"Then we'll make it one billion."

"Still no. Shin-woo alone could earn that much just by debuting as an actor."

"You're that confident he'll succeed as an actor?"

"Well, you came all the way here yourselves, didn't you? Hahaha~"

"……"

This was exactly why I hadn't wanted to make the first move. In any negotiation, the side that wants something becomes the weaker party. But a president still had to know how to steer a negotiation — otherwise, what was the point of the title?

"So you'd rather gamble on an uncertain future than take a billion won… Understood. Message received."

"……"

"Let's go."

"Yes, President."

"Ah…!"

I really shouldn't have brought Shin Yena. Unlike Head of Department Yoon, who stood up immediately, Yena hesitated, lingering with obvious reluctance. But Kim Young-tae was too blinded by greed to even notice.

"Four members, excluding Shin-woo. Penalty, compensation, plus extras — eight hundred million. At a billion you were calculating two hundred million a head, weren't you? Surely you're not saying the other kids aren't worth that much?"

A decent jab, I supposed. It didn't land.

"I was prepared to pay two hundred million each. But I want Origin as a complete set. An Origin missing even one person doesn't interest me."

"Then how about two billion, including the Origin trademark rights?"

"You're saying the Origin trademark is worth a billion won?"

"Yes. One billion."

"Understood."

"Then…!"

"We'll do one billion."

"What are you talking about?!"

"I have no interest in the Origin trademark."

"But you just said you wanted the complete group!"

"The members. Not a trademark stuck with a failed-idol frame."

"……"

Apparently deciding the negotiation had turned against him, Kim Young-tae clenched his fists and glared. I ignored him completely, settling back into my seat with easy composure and continuing.

"One billion."

"Not at that price…!!"

"You said they were like your own children. Can't you make a concession for your children's dreams?"

"I said no..!!"

Originally, I hadn't planned to go above five hundred million. Hell, even five hundred million felt like overinvesting in a washed-up idol group. I'd just offered double that. If he still wouldn't take it, there was nothing more I could do.

"I'll give you about thirty minutes. We'll look around the company a bit in the meantime. That all right?"

"…Go ahead."

Having me sitting right in front of him might have been inflating his greed. When a sucker willing to pay money for a failed idol group is sitting across from you, how could you not get greedy? He needed time alone to think — a little indirect experience of the regret that comes from letting a sucker walk away. Of course, he might dig in even harder and demand more, but in that case I'd simply walk.

"President, I need a word with you for a moment."

"What is it?"

"It's an Art Actors matter. I think I should discuss it separately."

"……"

Shin Yena gave me a pointed little wink. Was she seriously planning to do it here?

"Excuse us for a moment, then. You two feel free to look around."

"Yes."

"Understood, President."

"Shall we, Ms. Shin Yena."

"Yes."

Yena put on a show of walking and talking with me — then suddenly shoved open a door beside us and yanked me through. Before I knew it, she'd dragged me into a fire stairwell, barreled down the steps without hesitation, emerged onto the floor below, glanced around, and hauled me straight into the nearest restroom.

"You're seriously doing this here??"

"Hurry…!"

"How much of a pervert are you..!"

"You're the one who flipped my switch, President!!"

"When did I ever?!"

"…What was Seul's phone number again?"

"Okay, fine!"

"Heh~"

"Stop laughing..!"

"Oh, right — n-no, President..! This isn't even our company, it's someone else's… and a bathroom of all places… Kyaa!!"

"……"

Squealing, Yena shoved me into a stall, shut the door behind her, and pressed herself flush against me. Looking up, she began to whisper.

"Please forgive me…. I don't want to do it somewhere like this…"

"……"

"Aren't you going to?"

"Shut your mouth and take off your panties. Before I drag you back outside."

"Hic.."

Eyes welling up, Yena slipped off her panties, switched places with me, and sat down on the closed toilet lid. Between her spread thighs, a trickle of wetness began to run down like a mountain stream.

"You're so mean.. hic… in a place like this… mmp?!"

"……"

I clamped a hand over her mouth on pure instinct.

I'd heard them. Voices.

"Yo, Shin-woo. I heard some other company came to take us."

"What? For real?? Which company?"

You've got to be kidding me.

Was that Lee Shin-woo and the Origin members?

But why…

"……"

"……"

Why are you unzipping my pants right now?!

You absolute freak!!!!