The Tough Moment for Kim Deok-su
The director dragged out a contract with a blank face and shook his head.
“The fans have been so aggressive lately. I’m sorry.”
Ryu Gang-hyeok grabbed his face and leaped as if on fire.
“Director! Even so, we’ve been together for six years….”
“Gang-hyeok, stay quiet. It’s the CEO’s seal that fell.”
Ryu Gang-hyeok let out a sigh at the word CEO.
‘I guess even Ryu Gang-hyeok can’t stand the word CEO.’
The ball passed to Deok-su.
Since they had decided to stay in the company, he needed to offer something they could accept.
He met Ryu Gang-hyeok’s eyes for a moment, then spoke in a calm tone.
“I don’t remember much… but I know my actions disappointed the fans greatly.”
“It’s a shame. If you’d said that even a little earlier… No, wait. Right now, whatever I say is useless. The CEO’s seal falling means something… Hey, Kim Deok-su.”
Lee Gwang-yong and Ryu Gang-hyeok’s eyes widened.
Suddenly Deok-su knelt.
The Kim Deok-su they knew had pride that soared to the sky, no less than his handsome face.
That Kim Deok-su kneeling…
It was a huge shock to both men.
“I’ll behave from now on. I’ll work hard. Just this once—please give me one more chance.”
Lee Gwang-yong cleared his throat and continued.
“Why are you acting like this, Kim Deok-su? Even the CEO and the fans’ hearts are gone. You know how hard it is to change anti-fans’ minds?”
“I understand. I don’t want anything from the company right now. I’m only asking that you watch over the remaining one year of my contract.”
“You should have said that a year ago! What did you say back then? They went to Gangwon-do on their own and this is the result, wasn’t it?”
“……”
“I can’t take it anymore. How long do we have to wait for Deok-su?”
Deok-su felt that this was the most critical moment.
He stood up and raised his voice.
“This is the first and last time. If I cause any more trouble, I will pay 20 times the contract deposit as penalty.”
“……20 times?”
Both Lee Gwang-yong and Ryu Gang-hyeok’s eyes widened.
It was unbelievable to them that Deok-su would go this far.
20 times the contract deposit was no ordinary sum. Advertising contracts and other deals had demanded up to 10 times the deposit when entertainers caused image damage.
There was a reason for Deok-su.
‘Even if it’s scratched, the top is top. I have to turn it into a chance somehow.’
If he was kicked out or withdrawn, revival would be difficult.
Even if he left, he had to leave on his own feet.
That was the conclusion that made him kneel.
“20 times… How can I believe that?”
“I’ll sign the contract. I’ll get it notarized too.”
Lee Gwang-yong looked at Deok-su.
‘He doesn’t lie… but this is something else.’
While Lee Gwang-yong was hesitating, Ryu Gang-hyeok spoke up.
“Hyung, there might be room to think about it. If Deok-su causes an accident, even 20 times the deposit would mean no loss for the company….”
“Hey. What if the leader says that? Fans’ hearts can’t be bought with money.”
“Members can’t buy them with money either. Deok-su is our member. He’s the visual. Just looking at how he’s talking now is enough….”
“Gang-hyeok, let’s talk without holding back. Do you trust Deok-su?”
Silence fell for a moment.
Deok-su’s gaze and Lee Gwang-yong’s also fixed on him.
Eventually.
“Yes. This time, I do.”
Deok-su was puzzled.
Was Ryu Gang-hyeok really that close to Kim Deok-su? From what he knew, Kim Deok-su’s relationship with the members had been extremely bad.
After a long while of thought, Lee Gwang-yong swept his face and said,
“……For now, I accept. I’ll believe you one more time.”
“Thank you!”
“But I won’t be able to support the other Signature members. We won’t be active as Signature for a while. You’ll understand why.”
It meant resting and recovering body and memory for a while.
That was what Deok-su had wanted.
Before the two left the room, Deok-su took Ryu Gang-hyeok’s hand.
“Thank you… No, thank you for believing in me.”
“……No need to thank me. It’s between us.”
Ryu Gang-hyeok patted Deok-su’s back and followed Lee Gwang-yong.
‘We got over one hurdle. Whew….’
In the empty hospital room after both left, Deok-su simply sat down.
“Still loves talking about others.”
Deok-su turned off the TV while packing his bags.
He stuffed clothes into the already full bag by force and shrugged his shoulders.
‘It’s disappointing that no one visited my hospital room until discharge day.’
Other Signature members and even company people had barely come near his room.
The company might have said something specifically, but he felt secretly wronged.
“Son, are you really ready to be discharged? I think it would be better to stay in the hospital a little longer.”
The door opened and Jeong-mi entered.
Deok-su erased his thoughts and picked up his bags.
“It’s fine now. I’ve spent this much, so I need to earn something soon.”
“Earn?”
Jeong-mi tilted her head.
The first time her son mentioned money in a long time. Sometimes—actually, often—he felt like a stranger.
On the way home, Deok-su rode in Jeong-mi’s car and shook his head.
“Yes. I don’t remember.”
“Don’t force yourself to remember. Just be healthy. Okay?”
To Jeong-mi he was her son, but to Deok-su he was a stranger.
Deok-su hesitated to tell her the truth, but stopped. He had nothing to persuade her with.
He was also afraid of losing a person who truly cared about him.
After driving for about 20 minutes, the car entered a luxury villa complex with strict security.
“Hup…!”
“What’s wrong? Are you sick?!”
“Ah, no. I just had a hiccup. Sorry.”
Deok-su, seeing the flashy villa complex, coughed along with the hiccup.
Startled, Jeong-mi asked if he was hurt, and Deok-su told her he was fine.
The car passed through double, triple security and parked in the lot.
Deok-su’s villa was on the top floor overlooking the Han River among the villas.
Inside, the vast windows let the breathtaking view of the Han River flood in with the sunlight.
‘……As expected! No matter how much I get hated, the top is truly different. Damn!’
Seeing the marble floor and the luxury furniture scattered around, Deok-su’s mouth fell open.
The spacious walk-in closet was also filled with various high-end clothes, watches, and shoes.
‘If I sell all this… how much would it be?! Kim Deok-su, this kid! He was rich!’
For the first time, this shabby-looking man looked handsome to Deok-su.
Even in the face of expulsion, a top entertainer was different.
He wanted to kiss his cheek.
Deok-su picked up the most expensive watch he knew—Longines—with a trembling hand.
“Deok-su, let’s talk for a moment, Mom and I.”
At that moment, Jeong-mi’s voice came from behind.
Deok-su quickly put the watch down and came out to the living room.
“Mother. What happened….”
“It seems like I have to talk about it now. You may not remember, but if you weren’t here, I couldn’t solve the problem….”
Jeong-mi poured out the mail she was holding on the table with a dark face.
Deok-su tore them open. Most of them were similar.
“Repossession notices…?”
For a moment, the happy thought of being rich made him freeze.
‘This guy! How much did you borrow on loans!?’
Deok-su checked the financial situation and rubbed the back of his neck.
It turned out the house was a loan, and all the furniture and luxury items in the closet were installments.
Tomorrow could have red tags stuck on them at any moment.
Deok-su immediately called the credit information company.
“……Kim Deok-su customer. I understand you can’t pay the full amount right now. Please pay 20% per month. First, the down payment is….”
“It’s too sudden. I woke up only a year ago. I just finished rehab and discharged….”
“Considering your situation, we’re proposing 20%.”
There was no leniency from the debt collection agencies that handled card companies and banks.
But Deok-su didn’t get angry on the spot.
They weren’t charity organizations.
When it was disadvantageous, promising to pay later was also a method.
“20%… won’t be easy. I’ll try my best for now.”
“Thank you. Please respond to our call.”
The call to the debt collectors he had never seen before was exhausting for Deok-su.
The magic happened: all those high-end items instantly looked like trash.
“Deok-su. Money… is lacking?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Nothing at all. Mom has some money saved—want to borrow it?”
Deok-su was shocked and shook his head.
Real anger surged in Kim Deok-su.
Money—even from family—was hard to lend. Moreover, it was a huge amount. Yet he felt no hesitation toward Jeong-mi.
“I’ll take only Mom’s heart. I’m really fine, so please trust me.”
“Mom always trusts her son. Still….”
“I won’t worry Mom from now on. I’ll be back soon.”
Deok-su prepared to go out and left.
‘……I won’t worry you. Had Deok-su ever said that?’
Was it the power of words?
To Jeong-mi, her son had always been a worry, but today he looked strangely grown up.