The Tension at the Festival
“Huh? What does that mean right now?”
Everyone was ready to leave the stage with satisfied expressions after the performance when tensions flared between Jeong Jaemin and the organizer’s representative.
Namhun, watching from a distance, tilted his head and asked Bang-gun.
“What’s going on? It looks like Hyungjae is angry.”
Bang-gun sighed.
“It’s the usual. They’re fighting over the pay.”
“Pay? Shouldn’t you just receive it according to the contract?”
Bang-gun shook his head and turned his gaze toward Jeong Jaemin.
“They think it’s normal on their side. Especially for small-scale events like this… That’s why they usually demand full payment upfront. Because they’re always stiffing performers on fees.”
“Is that possible? There’s probably a contract.”
“A contract? Even if they write one, they won’t follow it. Taking them to court takes time and money, and no one has the guts to fight over it. Plus, they probably don’t even have a contract. For local government events maybe, but these merchant association events are always handled with just a handshake.”
“We’re not saying we won’t pay. We told them to bring agricultural products.”
“Where are we supposed to use those?”
“Well… we could sell them. You can figure that out yourselves. They’re even offering to add more on top.”
“Enough with that talk. Pay in cash.”
“Wow. You really can’t communicate with this guy.”
“What?”
As the atmosphere heated up, people started crowding in.
“Asking for agricultural products is even more ridiculous. They’re at least offering something. Sometimes they promise to deposit later and then shut up about it completely.”
Namhun opened his mouth in disbelief.
“Wait, isn’t it true you should receive payment in advance?”
“We’re a new company too… In fact, a lot of people come here knowing that. It’s still a chance to get our name out there. Even if we take home a single bag of rice, it’s something to eat. They know that too, so instead of openly stiffing us, they do this kind of bullying. In short, they’re the ones calling the shots here.”
At that moment, Jeong Jaemin raised his voice again.
“This can’t be. You promised the performance fee from the beginning. There’s even a recording!”
The organizer’s representative sneered.
“Oh? Fine, I’ll pay. But next time, don’t bother coming to this event at all.”
Jeong Jaemin’s face flushed red knowing the words were nothing but empty threats.
Bang-gun rushed over quickly to pull him away before he could lash out.
* * *
“We can’t just leave like this.”
“Come on, Hyungjae. Just take what they give us and go.”
“Yeah. There’s another event coming up… we can’t drag things out here.”
“Yes, Mr. President. We’re fine. We’re already eating for free every day anyway. If we bring agricultural products, Mrs. President will probably be happy too.”
Even though the artists assured him they were okay, Jaemin still looked like he had no intention of leaving until he got paid.
Namhun, who knew Jaemin’s personality well, understood why he was acting this way.
‘He’s doing it out of embarrassment.’
Today was the first event with the three of them together.
In other words, the first step for Warmth Planning.
So he was determined to get proper payment no matter what.
The anger was clearly because of the self-blame for booking the event.
‘Hmm…’
Anyway, stalling like this wouldn’t solve anything.
Noticing his hesitation, Namhun hurriedly bought five cold coffees.
“First, everyone drink something cold to cool off.”
He took only Jaemin and slipped away quietly.
“Hyung, there’s one solution.”
“Solution?”
“We just have to sell Senior Jeong Nam’s name.”
“Sell my father’s name?”
“Yes. Senior Jeong Nam is from Gyeongsang-do.”
“…That’s true.”
“They’re trying to step on him through connections… Honestly, isn’t Senior Jeong Nam’s network way bigger than yours?”
Jaemin paused, thinking it over.
“Yeah, he really has a wide circle. He plays golf with company presidents regularly… and he participates in a lot of government events.”
“You don’t know that he’s the son of Jeong Nam, do you?”
“I don’t…”
‘Of course.’
Kang Seongdae, the composer, used his connections to get Jin Seryeon on a music show.
There was no way Jeong Nam, one of the Trot Four Heavenly Kings, had weaker influence than him.
The only reason Jeong Jaemin refused to use the name was because of his pride.
“This time, bend your pride, Hyung.”
Jaemin’s expression hardened at the words.
“…”
“Hyung, I know it’s something you’d rather die than do. But you’re not just rock singer Jeong Jaemin anymore. You’re the president of Warmth Planning now.”
Jaemin stared straight into Namhun’s eyes.
His emotions were complicated.
If he had accepted his father’s help, he wouldn’t have stayed nameless like this.
That was how great Jeong Nam’s reputation was.
But he had tried hard not to rely on his father as much as possible.
How many people in the underground scene envied a guy with such a famous father?
Just for getting studio and equipment support, he had been cursed at plenty.
So over the years, he had forced himself to stay distant from his father.
That was why he and Jeong Nam hadn’t spoken in years.
Forty years of silence.
Now, just like a child, asking his father for help?
It was something Namhun’s words described perfectly.
He hadn’t even thought of this method before.
‘But… it’s a sure way to solve it.’
“By the way, how did you know your father is from Gyeongsang-do?”
“When we first met, he asked where I was from. I told him I was from Gyeongsang-do.”
Jaemin let out a scoff.
“Wow, he has a really good memory.”
At the same time, he felt a bit embarrassed.
For not thinking of such a simple solution.
‘Yeah. I’m president of Warmth Planning now. For the kids, I have to drop my pride.’
* * *
The moment Jeong Jaemin revealed that he was the son of Jeong Nam to the organizer, the atmosphere changed instantly.
‘The power of Senior Jeong Nam’s name is really immense.’
The representative, who had been bold just moments ago, went pale and bowed repeatedly.
“I’m truly sorry.”
In addition to immediate payment, he brought bags of rice, fruit boxes, and various specialty products.
The van felt heavy, as if the accelerator had been stepped on.
“Hyung, it’s getting heavier.”
“Yeah. Thanks to you, we got money and a lot of produce too.”
“Not at all. Hyung stepped in personally, so that’s why it happened.”
“Enough of that. Your younger brothers love fruit, right? Everything is yours.”
Jeong Jaemin waved it off without looking.
But Namhun, who could read his mind, let out a small laugh.
“Thank you. I’ll accept it without refusal.”
“Good. The kids will eat well, so Dad won’t feel like working hard.”
“Sorry, but I’m not the dad.”
“Yeah. I’m the same… but I feel like a dad.”
They both couldn’t help but laugh at the same time.
* * *
The final event was the Gangneung Seaside Night Festival.
Held on a special stage set up near the sandy beach, the white sand stage blended beautifully with the sea that was just starting to paint itself in sunset hues.
“The atmosphere is great…”
Even Woo Yeonjeong, who rarely showed emotions, opened her mouth wide in admiration.
As she said, the sea at sunset calmed people’s hearts with its gentle waves.
Families sitting on mats on the sand and couples holding hands watching the stage looked like a painting.
Namhun also took in the surroundings while scanning the stage.
Children were playing and building sandcastles on the beach, and parents smiled while watching them.
‘I should bring the kids when vacation comes.’
He smiled without realizing it.
Wasn’t that a proper dad-like thought?
The stage lights were not flashy, but they gave a warm, cozy feeling instead.
“It really is different from other events.”
“This is a historic event where singers from various genres, not just trot, perform on stage.”
Jeong Jaemin explained.
“No weird stuff should happen this time.”
At Bang-gun’s joke, he chuckled too.
“Yeah. No need to blush over money. I’ll go talk to the organizer, so keep an eye on things.”
“Yes.”
The audience waiting for the performance looked bright and relaxed.
Along the road beside the stage, food trucks sold simple snacks, and voices rose everywhere.
The smell of hot dogs and roasted chestnuts carried on the wind made mouths water.
Since it was a fairly large event, there was even a waiting tent.
“Should I buy some snacks?”
At the question inside the tent, Bang-gun replied as if he had been waiting.
“Yeah, I skipped lunch and I’m starving. Get me some roasted chestnuts.”
“I’ll have an iced Americano.”
Having taken on the manager role faithfully, the audience seats were filling up.
Unlike the previous two stages, this felt like a mini concert.
That was why the three of them looked a bit nervous.
Seeing that, Namhun’s heart pounded a little too.
‘Will I get to go on stage soon?’
Just as he was waiting for the event to start, the tent door suddenly flew open and a man walked in.
“Hey, who is this?”
A familiar face and voice.
“Jo Seongil.”
‘Jo Seongil?’
Hearing the name, Namhun realized who he was.
He was the leader of the dance singer group ‘Divide’, which Bang-gun had worked with at the same time in the past.
Divide had been a famous group that hit multiple albums.
It was more than enough to headline an event like this.
He took off his sunglasses and walked straight into the tent.
Two Divide members followed behind.
They all wore mocking expressions toward Bang-gun.
‘Yeah. Their relationship was bad back then.’
In the dance group scene, there were two main types.
Groups like Bang-gun and Bang Yeongjung or Jo Wonhyeong and Namhun who debuted after dancing.
And groups that entered the entertainment world through singing competitions.
Jo Seongil of Divide was the latter and looked down on dancers-turned-singers like Bang Yeongjung.
Saying you’re just a dancer, not a singer.
Normally they were indifferent, but the problem arose at drinking parties after music broadcasts.
In his energetic days, they even got into fistfights.
“I heard you’re doing trot these days. Is it true?”
Bang-gun nodded calmly at the question.
“Yeah.”
“You ended up becoming like that after all.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I just thought it was funny. Bang Yeongjung who used to be my understudy is now doing trot. It’s quite a surprise.”
“Watch your mouth.”
Bang-gun’s voice dropped low.
Han Taejin and Woo Yeonjeong, sensing the tension, started looking around.
“Watch my mouth? Oh, sorry. I must have been too honest. But trot… isn’t it a bit pitiful? What can you do if you can’t sing just to make a living… But I feel sorry for you as an old colleague now that you’ve become like this.”
“…”
Bang-gun glared at him fiercely.
But there was nothing he could say.
As a failed one, he would perform on this stage as a trot singer, and Divide would survive and sing their songs.
Watching from the sidelines, Namhun could no longer hold back.
“Stop it.”
He stepped forward one pace and said in a firm voice.
“You’re about to perform. If you’re going to say things like that, please leave.”