Chapter 39
“A change of heart?”
Se-rang drank down the wine. Goodness, the body is incredible. Is this the power of expensive wine?
“There wasn’t any special reason. I just wanted it.”
“If it’s a momentary whim, stop making everyone suffer and back out at a reasonable point.”
“You mean I shouldn’t make you suffer. Say it properly.”
“Do you even know how exhausted the employees are because you suddenly started stirring up the company?”
“Sorry, but Imperial doesn’t even have employees who can be exhausted. Who’s exhausted because of me? I’m doing everything by myself. At most, the only person who got busier is Secretary Cha.”
“If you say you’re launching a girl group and a boy group at the same time, those few employees will probably become very exhausted.”
This bastard really knows everything.
She had to admit he was definitely a level above Yeon Si-ho.
Information updated. Yeon Sae-byeok was not easy. She had to move under the assumption that he knew everything.
“I’m going to hire more people.”
“This isn’t shopping. It’s not a budget you can handle by picking this and that from a catalog like choosing bags.”
“Don’t insult me. If Imperial will collapse just because it hires a few more people, then it should collapse right now. What you’re actually worried about is that I’m likely to pull over all the budget that should go to you guys, and that pisses you off.”
Perhaps because she had hit the nail on the head, Yeon Sae-byeok rarely stayed quiet without answering.
I knew it. You sly bastard.
“You seem to think I know nothing about the company, so you’re trying to shake me up like that. But no matter how much you run your mouth, I’m not giving up.”
“…It’s not working?”
“Of course not. Stop changing the subject and give me a way to attack Yeon Si-ho. I’ll faithfully attack him just as you want. However.”
“It has to be an attack against Yeon Si-ho personally, not against the company.”
“Obviously. There’s a limit to how much I can get on Grandfather’s bad side.”
Yeon Sae-byeok laughed and let out a long breath. His face still somehow looked reluctant.
“What? You’re the one who told me to do it, so what’s with that uncomfortable attitude?”
“There is one thing…. But it feels like you’re trying to take the easy route.”
“Stop testing the waters and say it properly.”
Haha.
Yeon Sae-byeok let out a low, deep laugh.
Annoying bastard.
“You know which group accounts for seventy percent of Blue Royal’s sales, right?”
“Of course I know.”
<Twenties>, the huge-hit group that originally belonged to Imperial and moved together when the label separated. Since they were responsible for seventy percent of Blue Royal’s sales, even though Blue Royal had four idol groups, there was no need to ask how important their role was.
They were a male idol group now entering a fairly stable phase, and their overseas revenue was pouring in like crazy.
Their response in Japan was especially good too.
“It’s contract renewal season now.”
“So?”
What did that have to do with her? Se-rang frowned.
If he wanted her to sabotage their contract renewal, that was an attack against the company. Absolutely not.
“Do well.”
“You lunatic.” The moment Se-rang understood the real meaning behind “do well,” she spoke from the heart. “Don’t tell me you want me to bring them back to Imperial headquarters.”
“Why wouldn’t I? Do well. Grandfather will understand at least that much. That money is still the same money anyway.”
“Hey!”
“As you know, we’re all just figurehead CEOs. We don’t have a single share, just the title of CEO. No matter who earns how much from where, it all goes to Grandfather.” As Yeon Sae-byeok said that, he took his wallet out of his left pocket and put it into his right pocket. “No one would get that angry just because a wallet moved from the right pocket to the left pocket, right?”
This man really isn’t sane. Se-rang quietly swallowed her tears.
“Then what if I succeed?”
“Take Min Yeongseo.”
“Is she an object? For you to say I can take her or not?”
“Fine, I’ll put it this way. Even if she leaves our company, I won’t hold her back at all.”
That’s it. Se-rang smiled brightly.
Their glasses clinked together.
Meanwhile, the sound of clinking glasses did not come only from Se-rang’s table.
Glasses were also clinking at the table of Taeha, Dowon, Yuhyun, and… Seungha.
“Now. Taeha and Yuhyun are minors, so you’re downing cider. Dowon, are you okay with soju?”
(Translator’s Note: Soju (소주) — Korean distilled alcoholic beverage, commonly served with grilled meat and casual meals.)
“Yes, I’m fine.” Dowon smiled awkwardly and accepted the alcohol Seungha gave him.
“You took your makeup off, right?”
“Yes. It felt a little stuffy….”
“You could be an actor. That face of yours. I can see why Do-gyeong hyung picked you.”
Dowon smiled brightly at Seungha’s compliment.
If Seungha, who had probably seen more than enough idols to be sick of them, said that, it meant he really rated Dowon’s face highly.
“You’re all curious why I came here, right? And uncomfortable.”
“Haha….”
Yuhyun laughed awkwardly, Taeha was completely stiff, and Dowon quietly held only his soju glass with a calm face.
“To be honest, it felt awkward to say I wanted to buy you guys a meal in front of Director Yeon. I heard the rumor that Director Yeon was meeting CEO Yeon Sae-byeok today, so I contacted you right away.”
“CEO Yeon Sae-byeok?”
“Yeah. CEO Yeon Sae-byeok of Yeon Entertainment. The two of them are siblings.”
“Ah.”
The three trainees nodded as they became newly aware of the Yeon family’s relationship chart.
“All three of you did really well today.”
“Thank you…!”
“I’m not just saying that. I mean it. The reason I asked if I could join you today was because, setting aside the competition and everything else, I really saw your effort as someone in the same industry.”
“…!”
“The fact that you improved that much in such a short time is genuinely admirable. So I came because I wanted to buy you a meal. As your senior.”
At Seungha’s calm yet sincere voice, the three trainees’ faces instantly relaxed and filled with joy and pride.
“Thank you…!”
“Thank you for looking kindly on us.”
“We’re still lacking a lot…. Thank you, senior.”
After Yuhyun, Taeha, and Dowon answered in order, Seungha smiled leisurely and placed meat on the three of their plates.
“I’m buying, so eat well. Today, don’t think of me as the producer of a competing team. Think of it as having a meal with a senior from the same agency. If you’re curious about anything or need advice, ask me anything.”
Just as the three of them were about to be moved by Seungha’s kindness.
“And if you like my answers or advice, come over to my team.”
“…!”
“Haha. Look at you guys stiffening right away.” Seungha laughed loudly, then patted Dowon’s shoulder. “Director Yeon has you guys completely in her grip, huh? Well, even to me, it looked like Director Yeon is treating you very well this time.”
“…….”
All three trainees could not bring themselves to answer and only stared holes into the meat.
Looking at the boys, Seungha smiled as if he found them pitiful.
“But don’t trust all of that.”
“…!”
“This industry is like that. It’s dirty. I know because I’ve rolled around here long enough too. People who openly treat you badly are amateurs. The ones who are way too good to you are the real bad guys. I’m not saying Director Yeon is truly a bad person. I’m saying you need some wariness too.”
At Seungha’s words, Dowon lowered his head completely as if he no longer wanted to listen at all.
It was obvious that he only could not leave because this was a senior speaking.
“I’m saying this because you guys seem to know absolutely nothing about Director Yeon’s rumors. I usually don’t interfere in things like this unless it’s serious. I just leave people to live their own lives.”
“Rumors…?” Taeha asked in a frozen voice.
“Yeah. You guys probably don’t know yet, but… Director Yeon has a lot of issues related to her private life. Chairman covered them all up, so people keep quiet about it.”
“What….”
“You know Director Yeon is engaged to CEO Baek Do-gyeong, right? The CEO of Dowon’s company.”
“Yes….”
All three of them knew that much, so they did not say much else.
“Right. Even though she has a perfect fiancé like that, do you know what Director Yeon’s nickname was?”
“…….”
“Trainee Killer. Rookie Male Idol Killer. Things like that.”
“…!”
“Among the male idols who debuted under Imperial, there probably isn’t a single one Director Yeon didn’t contact at least once. Of course, I heard Chairman scolded her so much that she never actually managed to touch anyone.”
All three trainees could not hide their shock at the horrifying story.
“She’d been quiet for a while, so I thought maybe she came to her senses. Then she suddenly appeared calling herself a producer, and you have no idea how ridiculous I found it. Seriously.” Seungha let out a short sigh, then asked. “Can you trust someone like that and stay with her all the way until debut?”