The CEO's Desperate Plea
Kim Taesung, the head of Luminus Entertainment, always starts his morning by checking the charts. Today was no different—he snatched the smartphone from beside his bed the moment he opened his eyes. A smug smile curled his lips. Their flagship girl group Velvet Night's ambitious comeback track Good Night had been dominating the upper ranks until yesterday.
"Alright, how high did it climb today?"
With practiced fingers, he launched the Mellon app. His fingertip trembled faintly as he tapped the real-time chart tab—pure anticipation. But the instant the screen loaded, that smile twisted into sheer horror.
"......Huh?"
17th: On the Road - Han Jiyeong
18th: Good Night - Velvet Night
"Wh-what the hell? Han Jiyeong? Who's that?"
Maybe his eyes were bleary from sleep—he rubbed them and looked again. Same result. The title track from Velvet Night, backed by billions in production costs and grueling marketing, had been shoved down a spot by some no-name singer's song.
Kim Taesung frantically tapped the artist's info. The album cover that popped up made his heart sink.
"No way...... that Han Jiyeong?"
Five years ago. The trainee he'd scouted for her undeniable talent. But lacking mass appeal, no money-maker, he'd cut her loose. The Han Jiyeong in his memory had skills but an unstable, shadowy vibe. Back then, he'd figured that artistic temperament wouldn't pay the bills.
And now, that flop of a song—that corpse of a track—had crawled out of its grave after five years and trampled his company's ace on the way up.
"Park Manager! Park Manager, where are you!"
He bolted from bed in his underwear, screaming into the phone.
A few hours later, Kim Taesung sat in his CEO office chair, swallowing hard. The monitor before him updated On the Road's chart trajectory in real time: 17th to 12th, then 8th...... and just moments ago, it smashed through the roof to #1.
A true reverse trend legend.
Kim Taesung clawed at his hair. Regret surged, making him want to beat his past self senseless.
Why did I do that? Why'd I hand over all the rights when I terminated her contract!
Typically, the producer's neighboring rights claim the biggest slice of streaming revenue. But five years back, Han Jiyeong had demanded full ownership in exchange for forfeiting her advance. He'd signed off thinking, It's a dead track anyway—might as well look generous.
The cost was brutal. Luminus wouldn't see a single won from this massive windfall.
"Sir, Han Jiyeong is here."
The door opened with Park Manager's voice. Kim Taesung shot to his feet. He had to sweet-talk her back into the fold. One signature, and they could ride this hype to billions.
But the sight of her froze him, his welcome speech forgotten.
......Is this the Han Jiyeong I knew?
Had her growth spurt hit late? Taller than before, 173cm of model-perfect proportions. Taut body under the leather jacket. And those piercing, chilling, seductive eyes.
The air in the office shifted as she flopped onto the sofa, crossing her legs. Instinct screamed she deserved VIP treatment.
"Long time no see, CEO."
Her cool voice echoed. Kim Taesung forced a grin and sat, palms sweating.
"Haha, Jiyeong! So...... so glad to see you. Should I say Jiyeong nim now?"
groveling be damned—this was a walking corporation worth billions.
"Let's cut to the chase. Jiyeong, let's start over. Luminus will back you all the way. World star? We can go beyond."
As he ranted and reached for the contract papers, Han Jiyeong let out a dry scoff.
She sank deeper into the sofa, eyeing him like a bug.
"You're mistaken, CEO."
Her long finger tapped the table lightly. Tok.
"I've got plenty of money."
Kim Taesung's eyes twitched. He'd heard from Park Manager her family was well-off, but her vibe hadn't screamed it. She was enjoying this.
"And I'm done singing. Too much hassle."
"Wh-what?! Korea's going crazy for your voice right now!"
"What's that got to do with me? I'm just a NEET at heart."
She crossed her arms leisurely.
"The day you signed my termination, you said it: 'Stick to music as a hobby.'"
His face drained white. His old venom boomeranging back.
"Congrats, CEO. I'm following your advice to the letter. Treating it like a hobby now."
She stood. He lunged to stop her, but her icy glare rooted him.
"I'm out."
"Jiyeong, wait! Just look at this once!"
He snatched the contract stack, practically shrieking. Her hand paused on the doorknob. She glanced back, annoyed.
Damn, she's terrifying.
Han Jiyeong was Korea's hottest topic. Not just a #1 hit—it was the narrative: an unknown from five years ago conquering charts on voice alone, zero promo. The public ate up that drama.
And her looks? Crushed any top girl group center.
I have to lock her down. This isn't just cash—it's a stock price game-changer.
Trembling, he slid the contract over.
"Jiyeong, keep all the copyrights, neighboring rights—this song's yours. Luminus takes zero. Future tracks? We can give you crazy equity if you want!"
Insane terms. An agency waiving royalties was borderline charity. But Kim Taesung was a calculator whiz. Sacrifice streams, bind the Han Jiyeong brand—ads, gigs, merch, photoshoots would print money. Plus, "home of the reverse trend myth" was investor catnip.
"We'll be your shield. Outside's chaos—reporters, rival agencies, YouTubers. Think you can handle it solo? Join us, and I'll block all that hassle."
He targeted her weakness: her laziness.
She skimmed the contract. Paper rustled in the silence. He gulped, waiting.
Her response blindsided him.
"CEO."
She tossed it on the table.
"Seeing this makes me want it even less."
"Wh-why? Terms not good? I can tweak—"
"No, terms are fine. You just look too desperate."
She smirked, lip curling.
From her past life, crawling under power players, reading desires was child's play.
"Don't wanna work under someone who sees me as a cash cow again. Lived that five years ago."
"Jiyeong, that's a misunderstanding—!"
"Misunderstanding or not, doesn't matter. Told you—I'm loaded."
She turned and opened the door without a backward glance.
"Don't call again. Oh, and thanks for the 100,000 won cab fare."
Click. The door shut like a nail in his chest.
"......Fuck! Won't come crawling? Belly full, huh? Fine, I'll burst it."
He yanked off his tie.
"Park Manager!"
Park Manager burst in.
"Yes, sir!"
"Dig up everything on Han Jiyeong—where she lives, hangs out, all of it. And......"
His eyes gleamed.
"Flood communities and SNS with her sightings. Her mom's a hospital director, right? Leak that too! Make the world hound her till she comes back on her own. Cut every escape."
If she craved normal NEET life, shatter that normalcy.
Kim Taesung grinned cruelly at her #1 name.
Han Jiyeong. You can't hide now. All of Korea's calling you.
Exiting the Luminus Entertainment Building, Jiyeong adjusted her mask under the harsh sun.
Feels damn good.
The "music as hobby" lie was icing, but his twisted face brought wicked satisfaction. Some rage washed away.
But she had no clue how the online world had flipped in her brief absence.
Her phone's notifications exploded.
Jiyeong's peaceful NEET days teetered on the brink of a massive storm.