Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: RED CUBE
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I arrived in front of the CEO's office before I knew it.
I made a light fist and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
"I'm here."
"Come in."
A stern voice came from inside the office.
I carefully opened the door and stepped inside.
The CEO was staring right at me, the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
His gaze seemed to be asking me one thing.
*How should I screw this bastard over?*
"Hello."
"Hello? Do I look like I'm doing 'hello' right now?"
The CEO said, frowning as he shot a glare at me.
In the past, I would have immediately apologized, bowed my head, and taken a submissive stance, but since I'd already caused trouble, I decided not to.
I no longer wanted to be subservient to the people who had made my life a living hell.
As I sat down across from the CEO without a word, he let out a scoff and shook his head.
"Are you really out of your mind?"
*I guess since I'm already thinking I've gone crazy, a look like that doesn't faze me at all.*
"Right. That must be why you pulled a stunt like that. Do you have any idea what you've done? What on earth were you thinking?"
"If I apologize, it makes me the one in the wrong. So what were *you* thinking, telling me to do an apology broadcast?"
"What?"
The faint smile that had lingered on the CEO's face vanished.
"Do you really want to get kicked out?!"
I said nothing.
Honestly, I don't want to stay in a company like this for another day.
I couldn't understand why I had fought so hard to stay here back then.
The anxiety that if I left, I'd never be able to work as an idol again.
I think that was the reason, but if I had known the future, I would have given up on my dream of being an idol.
"So you're done being an idol? Then what are you going to do? Is there anything you even know how to do? What can you possibly start over at your age? If you leave like this, you'll just end up as a bum mooching off your parents. It's only because it's me that I'm even offering to keep you around out of pity."
This was the CEO's specialty.
He always tried to crush the trainees' self-esteem.
The manager used verbal abuse and coercion, while the CEO ensnared all the company's artists and trainees with talk of how they'd have nothing if they left.
This place, LM, was a textbook case of gaslighting.
"Then get out. You should be grateful I'm letting you leave with just the clothes on your back. I'm terminating your contract. Pack your things and get out of the dorm. There's no payment for this month, either. Thanks to this ridiculous mess you've made, there's a mountain of things we have to clean up. I should be charging you a penalty fee, but I'm letting you go. Understand?"
"Yes."
The CEO's brow furrowed, as if he'd expected me to get scared and start begging.
It seemed he was trying to threaten me with a penalty fee.
But I knew.
Since the company was the one telling me to leave, not the other way around, and since LM hadn't properly fulfilled the terms of the contract during its duration, a lawsuit over the penalty fee would be useless.
*If Choi Jun-seong, a member from the first lineup, hadn't sued them for running out of money during our second-generation activities, I never would have known this.*
"You're really leaving?"
"Yes."
The CEO stood up from his chair.
I thought he might get violent, but he pulled a piece of paper from a drawer.
It looked like a contract.
"Sign it."
Thinking the CEO wouldn't give me much time, I quickly scanned the document.
The contents were simple.
I will not make any official statements about the company.
As the contract is being terminated due to the fault of the second party, no payment will be issued.
It was a contract filled with clauses designed only to protect them.
*I don't want to be involved with this place any longer. I'll just sign this and be done with it.*
"Not signing?"
the CEO said sarcastically.
He seemed to be pressuring me, as if offering one last chance to beg.
"Could I have a pen? I came straight here after the live stream, so I don't have one."
The CEO took a fountain pen from his jacket pocket and placed it on the desk with a sharp thud.
"Thank you."
I picked up the pen and neatly wrote my full name on the signature line.
"There. All set?"
"Yeah. You're not with us anymore, so pack your things and go. If you can't find work, give me a call. For old times' sake, I'll even hire you as a road manager."
He's the worst, right to the very end.
"That won't be necessary."
I left the CEO's office and took a taxi to the dorm.
It was a small apartment that four of us used to share, but one by one they left, and eventually, I was the only one using it.
*First, I'll pack my things and leave.*
There wasn't much to pack.
The daily necessities were bought with company money, so all I had to do was pack my personal clothes.
I stuffed my clothes into a suitcase and a large bag.
I hadn't bought much to begin with, so a backpack and a large suitcase were enough.
"Haa... I'm really leaving this place."
One year during the first lineup's activities, and five years during the second.
I'd lived in this dorm for a total of six years, so it felt strange.
"No. Let's not get sentimental. First, I'm going home."
***
When I arrived in front of my house, tears welled up for some reason.
Not wanting my family to see me like this, I pressed my sleeve against my eyes to wipe away the tears before punching in the passcode and going inside.
My family, who had been gathered in the living room, rushed to the entryway.
It seemed they had been waiting for me.
"Yoon-seul!"
"Mom."
My mom hugged me tightly.
Even my older sister, who was always just messing around, was crying as she looked at me.
Seeing them worry like this, I guess family is family after all.
"Why weren't you answering your phone! Do you know how worried we were?"
"I'm sorry."
As my mom patted my back, I felt another surge of emotion.
A lump formed in my throat.
"Come in first. Let's talk inside."
I nodded and brought my luggage into the living room.
"Hey! Do you know how worried I was? You should have answered your phone!"
My sister hit my back with the palm of her hand, scolding me.
Normally, I would have asked why she was hitting me, but I couldn't today.
I could feel her concern for me so clearly.
"I didn't know you called. My mind was a bit of a mess."
I hadn't checked my phone the entire time I was on the bus and in the taxi, which must have worried my family.
"Whatever. Just sit down."
When I sat on the sofa, my mom and sister sat on either side of me.
"Dad's on his way, too; he took a half-day off because of you. More importantly, what happened? Did you decide to leave the company?"
I answered my sister's question with a nod.
"Good. What's the point of staying in a place like that? Take a break and think about what you want to do. You're still only twenty. It's not too late to do anything."
Her tone was blunt, but she was genuinely worried and thinking of me.
"That's right. Like your sister said, let's take a little break and think things over slowly. You're still young."
"Okay."
I'd never had a dream other than being an idol, so I was worried about what else I could possibly do.
*I hate myself for still clinging to the dream of being an idol after everything that happened.*
I was envious whenever I saw idols who, unlike me, were loved by so many.
That's why I prepared so diligently.
Because I wanted to be an idol who was loved.
But I couldn't bring myself to tell my family that I still wanted to be an idol.
"Have you eaten?"
"No. Not yet."
"Then let's eat first."
***
After eating the meal my mom prepared and briefly unpacking, I lay down on my bed.
"Haa..."
A sigh escaped me automatically.
I felt relieved after saying everything I wanted to during the live stream, but...
*Is there any company that would take me?*
Leaving LM was a good move.
If I had stayed there, I would only have repeated that unfortunate future.
The problem, however, was that my life as an idol was as good as over.
*That must be why the CEO said what he did.*
Twenty years old.
The age of a new adult.
An age where it isn't too late to change career paths.
But in the world of idols, that doesn't apply.
Currently, the youngest idol to have debuted is sixteen.
There were quite a few groups whose members were all minors.
It's an unavoidable phenomenon, as the career lifespan of an idol is shorter than in other professions.
*Twenty. It's such an awkward age.*
It would be difficult to even audition for other companies right now.
My image isn't good, so there'd be no benefit for them in taking me on.
Even if a company did take me, it would only be a very small one trying to use me for buzz.
*If that happened, it would just be a repeat of my time in the second lineup.*
I can't use the opportunity I've been given like that. I don't want to repeat that kind of future ever again.
*I guess I really have to give up on my dream of being an idol now.*
*Ting.*
Along with the notification sound, a DM arrived.
[Hello, this is Lee Ju-ah, a writer for 'RED CUBE,' a new idol survival show launching on NTV.]
The sentence in the preview made me open the DM without thinking.
[I'm contacting you to ask if you would be interested in appearing on our show.
To briefly explain the program, 'RED CUBE' is a system where former idols gather to compete in a re-debut survival show.
The final five contestants will sign an exclusive contract with JR Entertainment and get to re-debut.
If you are interested, please contact us at the number below.]
'RED CUBE.'
It was a show I knew.
While most idol survival shows gather trainees and those who have debuted but, for various reasons, returned to being trainees or civilians, RED CUBE only brought together former idols.
That's why they used the term 're-debut.'
"No one knows about RED CUBE yet, so it can't be a scam."
'RE-V,' the group that successfully debuted through RED CUBE, gained immense popularity, unlike 'GANGSTER-M,' the group I was in.
Many people cheered for and blessed the futures of the contestants who overcame their trials and strived toward their dreams.
I was so envious of the completely opposite reaction they received, despite being in a similar situation to me.
[I really hope the RED CUBE kids do well. It broke my heart to see them smiling while saying they achieved nothing after dedicating their entire childhood to becoming idols.]
↳Yeah, I feel for them too.
↳They're all talented and have good visuals. It's hard to believe kids like them failed.
↳I hope they only walk on a flower path from now on.
↳Seriously... Someone please sprinkle some flowers on their path. Their lives have been a thorny road until now.
*If I go on this show... could I also hear people telling me to walk on a flower path?*