Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: A Crisis of Lies
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-Me: I have to stop by the company tomorrow, so I'll be there by 5:30.
-Seol-ah: Why all of a sudden?
-Yi-na: I've got a bad feeling about this.
-Ro-si: ???
-Seul-bi: What is it? Don't leave us hanging. It's not *that*, is it?
-Me: I heard the trainees got scolded by Isa-nim yesterday.
I'm sorry, girls. If I hadn't brought up Answer in that situation, this probably wouldn't have happened. No. It was bound to happen sooner or later.
The next morning, the faces of the Answer members in the car looked incredibly haggard. That determination to shed water weight at the last minute to make the scale read lower.
"...Your lips look dry... you haven't had any water since yesterday, have you?"
"..."
The Answer members kept their mouths shut, their expressions troubled.
It was as if they were all tense, anticipating what Isa-nim would do.
"...Gah!"
Ro-si shrieked as Yi-na poked her in the side.
"Ro-si unni, you don't have any love handles..."
"...I can't afford to gain weight when I barely have a presence as it is..."
"Unni, not this again."
"Yeah. Ro-si, you're a great rapper. You'll make it big soon."
Ro-si smiled bitterly.
When they arrived at the company, the looks on the Answer members' faces were like livestock being led to a slaughterhouse.
"Hello, Isa-nim."
"Right. Let's go to the planning office."
Dressed in high heels and a tight, striped dress, Isa-nim confidently led the way, showing off her well-maintained figure from behind.
It was as if she were proudly declaring, 'I'm not even an active girl group member, but I maintain a figure like this. What about you?'
Sure enough, all the Answer members seemed to understand the implication, following behind with intimidated expressions.
I'm sorry, everyone. I'm the one to blame.
"Yi-na, have you watched the monitor recordings?"
"Yes..."
"You get a double chin when you smile, you know?"
"Ugh..."
"What do you mean, 'ugh'?"
Yi-na lowered her head, on the verge of tears.
"Seul-bi."
"Me?"
"What? You think you didn't gain any weight?"
Isa-nim checked the Answer members' weight.
"Seol-ah, up 1.5."
"I'm sorry..."
"Ro-si, up 0.3. Pass."
"I'll work harder."
"Yi-na, up 3.5?"
"Uwaah..."
"Seul-bi, up 2.3."
"What! That can't be right."
"What do you mean, 'that can't be right'?"
Perhaps because I was there, Isa-nim only announced the weight they'd gained, but the members' faces were still devastated.
"Your showcase is right around the corner. But this is the reality right now?"
"We're sorry."
Seeing the dejected Answer members, I couldn't just stand by.
"I'm sorry. This is largely my fault."
"...So you do know?"
Isa-nim seemed to be blaming me, but I didn't sense any real sting in her words.
"It was just so good to see the Answer members, who have worked so hard, enjoying themselves. As their manager, I let many situations slide simply because I liked seeing it, when I should have stopped them. I'm sorry."
"There's no one in this industry who hasn't struggled. And do you still feel sorry for them now?"
I didn't sense any particular sting in Isa-nim's words, but the Answer members looked incredibly grim, as if they thought I was getting scolded because of them.
"No. I believe they've definitely hit the mainstream. I'll manage them more strictly from now on."
Sighing, Isa-nim looked back at the Answer members.
"I'll sign you up for personal training, so start managing yourselves. Ro-si, we'll be getting you an acting coach on good terms soon, so keep up the good work on your own."
"Yes, Isa-nim."
"Timjang-nim Min, redraw Answer's schedule and submit it. Siljang-nim Ji is busy these days."
"Yes."
Looking displeased about something, Isa-nim smacked her lips and handed out printed papers to the members.
"You have an interview scheduled after the event, so review this beforehand and think about what you're going to say. Don't stumble over your words."
"Yes."
Just as my bad feeling had predicted, I went back to the parking lot with the thoroughly scolded Answer members.
It was bound to happen at some point.
"Oppa... we're sorry."
"We'll manage ourselves better."
"It's fine."
The dispirited Answer members apologized repeatedly, but I didn't say much.
Because I have to be cold now.
***
"How's Answer doing these days?"
"Yes. I just dropped them off at the gym, as a matter of fact."
Siljang-nim Ji and Isa-nim were looking over various proposals and contracts with pleased expressions.
"Tsk. What a shame, what a shame."
"What's a shame?"
Siljang-nim Ji shook his head and looked at me.
"We raised Answer's appearance fee by 70%, and they're still in high demand, you know?"
"..."
I chuckled at the reason for Siljang-nim Ji's "shame."
Thanks to their performance on a popular variety show and their good deeds even making the news, Answer's recognition was skyrocketing.
"This punk, he's laughing. Do you know how much of a shame it is? The event for tomorrow that was booked yesterday is 70% more expensive than the event for next week that was booked last month."
"It seems a lot of contract money has come in. You've worked hard, Siljang-nim."
"Puhaha! Timjang-nim Min is the one who worked hard!"
At Siljang-nim Ji's playful remark, Isa-nim also looked pleased.
"Isa-nim. Isn't there a way to nullify the old contracts and sign new ones? Hahaha!"
"That's not funny at all."
"Ah, yes, yes."
When Isa-nim's expression turned serious, Siljang-nim Ji flinched.
The last time I checked the investment amount for Answer, it was a little over 700 million won. There might be some ambiguous parts due to the mash-up project with Lee Yoo-ah, but even with a couple more months of investment, it probably wouldn't have exceeded 1 billion won.
"We should be able to settle their accounts by next quarter."
"I'm planning to just finalize this month's accounts and pay them."
"Thank you."
"Why thank me, Timjang-nim Min? The girls need to get their hands on a real lump sum, not just a provisional payment. That'll motivate them even more."
"You're right."
Their first official payment, aside from the provisional one they received for the solo CF contract. Come to think of it, my salary this month should be pretty hefty too.
"Timjang-nim Min, want to look over some contracts too?"
At Isa-nim's words, Siljang-nim Ji discreetly shook his head at her.
I can see you.
It seemed Siljang-nim Ji still thought it was my mistake that the point card advertisement went to Your Girl instead of Answer.
After all, it was a clean ad that looked good and didn't tarnish their image. But by the middle of next week at the latest, he'll realize it was all sizzle and no steak.
Knock, knock.
"Isa-nim!"
An assistant manager from the marketing team burst into the planning office.
"What is it?"
"The Pirates of the Caribbean Water Park wants to terminate the contract!"
"Why all of a sudden?"
"And they want their deposit back."
"What are you talking about? They're the ones unilaterally terminating it."
Isa-nim left the planning office with a look of disbelief. A sense of foreboding washed over me, and I followed her.
"What do you mean by that?"
-…
"What? It wasn't our Answer."
-…
"If that were true, we would of course be legally responsible. But it's not, so we're saying it wasn't them."
Isa-nim pointed to my phone and mouthed the word 'search'.
I didn't even need to turn on my phone and search for Answer. I clicked on the article about Answer that was plastered all over the main page.
It was an article suggesting that the group that had gotten into a hair-pulling fight with the Yuri Fox team recently was our Answer, not Your Girl.
-...The group in question, Girl Group A, is said to have extorted sneakers from their victim, the choreography instructor, through threats.
Girl Group A, a group of 'experienced rookies,' not only threatened and extorted from the teacher who created and taught them their choreography but also resorted to violence on the recording set.
What's more shocking is the rumor that during the recording, they all wore the extorted sneakers and even boasted about them.
A deplorable reality where events more dramatic than fiction unfold. Should we really forgive those with such poor character, who could have a negative influence on society, just because they are pretty and talented...?
"That crazy bastard."
A curse escaped my lips unconsciously, directed at the reporter who had proudly displayed his face at the end of the article.
I searched for Answer in the search bar.
It was as if it had all been orchestrated; countless manipulated articles about Answer had spread everywhere.
"Yes, this is Lee Sun."
-…
"The girls in the article are not our Answer, they're Your Girl."
-…
"This is not our artists' fault. You are free to terminate the contract, but we cannot return the money as it has already been used for expenses."
-…
Isa-nim, holding her forehead with one hand while taking similar calls, the marketing team staff standing beside her with anxious faces.
And on the other side, the PR team staff, taking serious calls or typing frantically.
"Who on earth told such a lie!"
-…
"Do you have any idea how serious this is? Are you trying to evade responsibility just because you're a reporter?"
-…
"So there must be a source for this information, right? Who is it!"
In an instant, the office descended into chaos.
I never imagined they would use the incident with Your Girl and Yuri Fox to launch a counterattack.
I called reporter Shin Dong-min.
-I just saw it too, Timjang-nim.
There was no confidence in reporter Shin Dong-min's voice.
-It's definitely an OEM article, but I never imagined they'd twist the angle like this.
"Still, please publish a rebuttal article at the very least."
-Of course. I'm writing it now. But this was a deliberate, dirty attack, so I don't know how effective it will be.
Just then, the door to the CEO's office flew open and CEO Park Jae-yong stormed out.
"Hey, what is all this! What's this about Answer pulling someone's hair!"
***
Everyone who formed the backbone of JD Enter, excluding those absent due to schedules, gathered.
"What's that piece of trash saying?"
"He claims he wrote the article based on information legitimately received from a source. And that he didn't mention any information that could identify a specific person."
"What's that psycho talking about? He wrote that they threatened someone and all wore the shoes. So!?"
"...He's been unreachable since then."
"Then you should at least request a correction from the newspaper company!"
"...We did, but they said it's not their place to get involved. They told us to do whatever we want, whether it's reporting the journalist or filing a lawsuit."
"Aish! Are they crazy? Is he trying to quit being a reporter?"
CEO Park Jae-yong clutched his head.
"What about the clients?"
"Aside from a few public institutions, the majority are requesting cancellations and refunds of their deposits. We're arguing that since we're not at fault, contract termination is not possible."
"So, no clients have actually terminated yet?"
"About 30% of the events and ads scheduled for next month have been unilaterally canceled. They'd rather forfeit their deposits than go through with it. It's roughly... a 250 million won loss."
"This is driving me crazy. Doesn't anyone have a solution? Min-jun, get off your phone."
CEO Park Jae-yong said in frustration.
"I'm on my phone looking for a solution."
"That punk!"
As if seizing the opportunity, Timjang-nim Lee glared again.
"Alright, Min-jun, you keep looking."
"No! Daepyo-nim! Aren't you being too lenient, even in a situation like this? It was because he opposed it that the point card ad went to Your Girl!"
The way Timjang-nim Lee's finger pointed at me was incredibly irritating.
"That will be proven soon when the article comes out. As I recall, not a single thing I've said so far has been wrong."
"Don't give me that nonsense! You think I don't know you're just trying to say an article will come out and then gloss over it when time passes?"
Timjang-nim Lee, a senior who'd been here for years, who'd worked hard in his own way but was frustrated by being overshadowed by a newcomer.
Until now, I'd been putting up with it, considering his circumstances, but this was too much.
Things are already chaotic because of that malicious article, and he's creating internal strife like this? I can't just let this slide.
[Trait 'Soldier's Spirit' (B) Activated]
[Trait 'Charisma Lv. 2' Activated]
An aura emanating from my body enveloped the entire planning office.
"Timjang-nim Lee, you seem to have a lot of complaints about me. If you want to make a claim, show me your results."
"What?"
"I've only been here for a little over a year, but I believe I've produced enough results to deserve my current treatment. Am I wrong?"
"...What are you talking about now."
"It seems you didn't understand when I put it mildly last time. If you don't like the temple, the monk should leave."
"So you're throwing down the gauntlet, is that it?"
Timjang-nim Lee looked at Siljang-nim Ji, Isa-nim, and the CEO as if to say 'look at this insolent punk,' silently pleading for help, but no one openly intervened.
"I'll say it again, the point card situation will blow up soon. You can criticize me when I'm proven wrong; it won't be too late then. Am I wrong?"
"..."
"I will solve this case as well."
"Hah. As if you could..."
"I believe I've shown you more than enough courtesy as a senior up until now. Let's see what happens after I resolve this."
A stifled, frustrated sigh escaped from the lips of the people gathered, as if they were being crushed by something. Because an irreversible, high-stakes duel had just begun.
"For now, reporter Shin Dong-min is writing a rebuttal article to deal with the immediate fallout. I will solve this and return. Please don't worry too much."
I left the planning office after my unwitting boast.
The situation seems hopeless, so where is all this confidence of mine coming from?