Chapter 51
“This is the report on Twenties.”
Because of yesterday’s text message, Se-rang was on her way to the filming set when Secretary Cha handed her a document.
When Se-rang checked Secretary Cha’s expression through the rearview mirror, she could tell the woman was quite intrigued.
She must be wondering why I suddenly told her to dig into Twenties.
She could hardly say it was because of her deal with Yeon Sae-byeok, so Se-rang kept quiet.
It was not because she did not trust Secretary Cha. Even Se-rang thought that attacking Yeon Si-ho this way seemed insane.
“Isn’t a ‘report’ like this basically just a collection of rumor sheets?”
“I only collect rumor sheets from credible sources.”
There was nothing she could say to that. Instead of answering, Se-rang simply flipped through the report.
[…Rumors of discord between Twenties leader Hwiun and CEO Yeon have begun circulating….]
[…Dissatisfaction over CEO Yeon repeatedly making Twenties members accompany him to private entertainment gatherings….]
[…Declining trust due to issues with profit settlements….]
“Is all of this true?”
“Yes. The sources are reliable, so you don’t need to worry about that.”
“There’s no way Grandfather doesn’t know about this. And he just let it happen?”
“He probably knows.”
“Then why?”
“I can only speculate that he is willing to sacrifice a finger before losing his head.”
So rather than watch him rise by winning the Succession Competition, Grandfather plans to see how far he goes and then crush him before he can grow any further.
Se-rang nodded as though she understood.
“No, but even so, you’re saying Grandfather turned a blind eye to issues with their settlements? Grandfather may not have any morals, but he’s meticulous when it comes to money.”
“I have no way of knowing the Chairman’s intentions.”
“This is giving me a headache.”
Se-rang let out a short sigh. He’s letting the company rot like this? I know Yeon Si-ho is his grandson, but isn’t this going too far?
If it were me, I would’ve already chopped his head off.
“He goes on and on about people, but when it actually matters, suddenly people don’t matter at all. Are artists not people to him?”
“…….”
“He probably just sees them as products. But then I don’t understand why he bothers calling this management. Why not call it an industry? No, why not just register it as manufacturing? Why did he go through all this trouble?”
Secretary Cha said nothing in response to Se-rang’s biting sarcasm. More accurately, she probably couldn’t say anything.
“Wait. Could this be the weakness Baek Do-gyeong had secured?”
“…That is what I suspect, but wouldn’t it be better to ask CEO Baek directly if you want to know for certain?”
“No, thanks. I think I’d rather bite my own tongue off than ask that man anything.”
Se-rang rejected the suggestion with obvious disgust.
“But why are you looking into Twenties? They should have nothing to do with launching a rookie group.”
“Right.”
After giving a vague answer, Se-rang instead asked a question of her own.
“But they’re entering contract renewal season now, aren’t they?”
“That’s correct.”
“I imagine a lot of companies are contacting them.”
“Almost every company worth mentioning is probably trying.”
“Really? Who’s the most likely?”
“Blue Royal is the most likely.”
“Huh? Seriously? Why? Even after all this shit?”
Se-rang tilted her head, unable to understand.
“Imperial is not particularly merciful toward fish that escape its grasp. Blue Royal is no exception.”
“Ah.”
I experienced that firsthand in my previous life.
They had taken such brutal revenge against a mere producer who left the company….
It was obvious how ruthless they would be toward an idol group that left. She did not even need to see it to know.
“What a nasty way to think. What are they going to do if that boomerang comes flying back and smacks them in the face?”
“…….”
“What? Just because they’re my family doesn’t mean I plan to blindly defend them.”
“I see.”
Secretary Cha showed no particular reaction. However, Se-rang could sense that she was quite confused.
Fair enough. Someone from the owner family is openly trashing the owners themselves. Of course she’d be bewildered.
“Then what kind of reaction do you think I’d get if I contacted them?”
“…Pardon?”
“I’d also like you to predict how Grandfather would react.”
“……Pardon?”
Se-rang smiled brightly.
“Why? Everyone wins. It seems like Twenties hates Yeon Si-ho, not Imperial itself. And Imperial only needs Twenties to remain under Imperial. Twenties benefits, Imperial benefits, and I benefit along with them. I have no intention of treating artists like some thug the way Yeon Si-ho does. I’m two hundred percent confident I can treat them with nothing but respect and love. Doesn’t everyone win?”
For once, Secretary Cha seemed genuinely speechless. She simply gripped the steering wheel in silence, and it was only after quite some time that she collected herself.
“But Twenties probably doesn’t know that you are that kind of person, Director. Isn’t it most likely that they would simply assume you’re all on the same side?”
“Then wouldn’t I just need to show them? That Yeon Si-ho and I are fundamentally different kinds of people.”
“Hmm.”
Secretary Cha let out a thoughtful hum before nodding.
“I’ll arrange a meeting with Hwiun, the leader of Twenties.”
“Excellent.”
Only then did Se-rang set the report down with a satisfied expression.
However, she did not forget to add one more thing.
“Yeon Sae-byeok seems to have ears everywhere, so please keep this as secret as possible.”
“…!”
I may be doing what Yeon Sae-byeok asked, but I can’t trust that bastard.
Se-rang closed her eyes and smiled.
“Ah, PD Kim.”
With her usual cheerful yet relaxed manner, Se-rang held out her hand to PD Kim.
Looking slightly flustered, PD Kim shook her hand and greeted her.
“Director Yeon. I looked over the idea you sent me. It was quite good.”
“Right? I felt bad for our trainees when I looked at them. They’ve been through a lot, so I thought it might be nice for everyone to go somewhere pleasant together and refresh themselves.”
That was right. What Se-rang had proposed was none other than a group trip for the trainees from every team.
Though calling it a trip was rather grand when it would only be a short two-day, one-night excursion.
As far as Se-rang was concerned, that was enough.
Enough for what? Rest?
Not a chance.
Se-rang was aiming for something else.
“We’re sending you on a trip.”
“What?!”
The three trainees had arrived for their morning practice when Se-rang dropped this completely unexpected bombshell, making them ask again in shock.
“R-Right now?”
“At this point in the competition…?”
“Yeah. Of course, it won’t be just you three. All the trainees are going.”
“Ah.”
Only after Se-rang explained did the trainees begin to understand the situation, and their voices immediately lost their enthusiasm.
“You mean we’re going on a trip… as part of the broadcast, right?”
“Yeah. But the producers won’t be going, there won’t be any practice, and it’ll be nothing but relaxation. They won’t make you play any weird games or anything like that. It’ll be an actual trip, in the literal sense.”
“Wow.”
At Dowon’s genuinely delighted voice, Se-rang waved her finger from side to side.
“But not for you guys. You have a noble mission.”
“?!”
“You need to go there and seduce two trainees into joining our team.”
Why was Se-rang making the trainees do the recruiting instead of going there and persuading them herself?
When it came to sales, wasn’t a single review from an actual user always far more persuasive than listening to a salesperson pitch their own product?
Rather than Se-rang spending all day sweet-talking people, having three actual users leave five-star reviews for the Yeon Se-rang product would make their ears much more likely to perk up.
“I’m not going to tell you who to recruit. I trust your judgment. Figure out who you want to recruit and spend the rest of your lives on the same team with, then persuade them and bring them back yourselves.”
Se-rang deliberately did not name Kim Hyunseo or Ha Jiho.
At first, she had considered doing so. But after thinking about it, she wondered whether there was really any need.
That was because Se-rang was confident no matter who the trainees brought back.
All the trainees remaining in the competition had already passed the first round of screening.
In other words, no matter who they chose, that trainee would already be beyond merely decent.
So Se-rang thought it would be better for them to bring back someone they genuinely got along with and at least enjoy themselves together.
More than anything, she was curious about their judgment and what kind of team they secretly envisioned.
“Think for yourselves about who our team needs most right now. What kind of person the team needs, and what kind of person would fit well with you.”
“…….”
“Well, if you talk to the others and decide another team seems better, I won’t blame you for transferring there. I won’t cling to you either, so don’t worry about that.”
“I’m not leaving.”
Unexpectedly, it was Dowon who answered in such a blunt tone.
“Huh?”
“Even if you say that, I’m not going anywhere. I’ve decided to bury my bones in this team, and if these guys say they’re leaving for somewhere else, I’m going to cling to them.”
That’s the first time I’ve heard him speak so bluntly.
Se-rang hid her surprise.
But Dowon did not stop there.
“You guys can’t leave.”
“?”
“If you do, I’ll… I’ll… resent you. Don’t go.”
“No one said they were leaving.”
“That’s right…. No one said anything like that, hyung….”
“Why are you making us out to be traitors in advance? We haven’t even thought about leaving.”
Taeha and Yuhyun responded in disgust.
And only Se-rang quietly smiled in triumph.