Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: A New Ally
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“Welcome, Reporter Shin Dong-min. We should have been the ones to visit you.”
“Oh, not at all, Team Leader Min-jun! I was in the area anyway… JD hasn’t changed a bit, has it?”
Reporter Shin Dong-min, who arrived with an assistant reporter in his twenties, wore a bitter expression as he looked at JD Enter’s old-fashioned building.
It seemed to be a brief comment on the downfall of CEO Park Jae-yong, who had once led trends even before SJ Enter’s Gyeon Sang-jin.
“Hello, sir!”
“Hm? And who might this be?”
“He’s our team’s road manager. He’s a former trainee as well.”
Reporter Shin Dong-min nodded, a look of surprise on his face.
“Ah, I see. I thought there was something unusual about his looks. JD could debut a boy group with just its managers. Hahaha.”
“Thank you for the kind words. Maybe we should actually try that someday?”
“Weren’t you already planning to? Hahaha.”
We exchanged some idle banter as we entered the company building.
“Hello, we’re Answer.”
“Ah, yes. You’re all even prettier in person.”
A natural ease flowed from Reporter Shin, who spoke to them casually.
“Are there any areas where photography is forbidden, or anyone whose face needs to be protected?”
The assistant reporter, who came with Shin Dong-min, asked as he held up his camera and started taking pictures of the office interior.
“What secrets or portrait rights are there in this business? We’d just be grateful if you only post the pretty pictures.”
“Is the CEO here right now?”
“No, he’s out on a schedule.”
“That’s a shame. When I was a rookie, I interviewed CEO Park Jae-yong three times.”
From his trailing words, I could once again sense Reporter Shin’s bitterness.
Answer’s interview began in a small meeting room that was a planning office in name only.
*Click. Click.*
The camera shutter clicked intermittently as the interview progressed.
Although Seol-ah was handling the interview, Ro-si was swallowing hard, her face tense.
“You were a highly anticipated group when you were chosen as a seven-member team, but now you’re down to four.”
Although a Japanese recorder and a phone recorder were both running, Reporter Shin jotted things down in a paper notebook from time to time.
Was he checking the timeline?
His experience was palpable, the paper notebook looking more familiar in his hands than a phone’s memo app.
“Yes… We went through a lot of difficult times. But after meeting our manager Min-jun, who’s right here, Ro-si joined us and…”
I had strictly instructed the Answer members to keep my identity as their producer under wraps.
While working as Answer’s manager, I planned to continue building the reputation of the composer, Beat Room.
Because one day, Gyeon Sang-jin had to fall into the trap I’d laid for him.
“This song, in particular, we received from a composer named Beat Room. When I went to record the guide track, I cried. Because it was just so good.”
“It was that good of a song?”
“Yes. After the guide track came out, all of Answer was a sea of tears.”
“Ah, now that you put it that way, I’m curious too.”
We moved to the recording studio and played the track we were currently directing.
♪♬
The blunt drum beat grew clearer, evoking the image of a club with its thick, soundproof doors swinging open.
“…Don’t tell me, is this retro disco?”
“You have a good ear, Reporter Shin.”
Reporter Shin closed his eyes and smiled faintly. It was so surprising, a stark contrast to my sharp first impression of him, which had been full of discontent.
People with good first impressions often had bad endings, while those with bad first impressions sometimes grew on you later.
Was Shin Dong-min one of those people?
Seol-ah’s guide vocal began to play.
♪♬
The night begins again
But time is short
My heels will soon break
My heart will break
♪♬
“A synth-pop sound reminiscent of an 80s disco club.”
Muttering with his arms crossed, Reporter Shin showed off his credentials as an entertainment reporter.
♪♬
You, who smiles at me
Time will never come back
You, who smiles at me
My heart is waiting for you
♪♬
The track in the bridge was momentarily muted, and silence fell.
‘Don’t tell me it ends just like this?’ Reporter Shin’s eyes narrowed as if in thought.
The Answer members watched him, anticipating the change that was about to come over him. Then, the drums and Seol-ah’s high-note vocals exploded back in.
♪♬
My heart is beating for you
From this long, long wait
Come and rescue me
My love is waiting for you
In this fleeting darkness
Come and hold me
♪♬
“Whoa.”
A small gasp escaped from Reporter Shin’s open mouth, his expression one of utter shock.
“Damn. This song is incredible, isn’t it?”
The assistant reporter and Choi Yoo-jun were just as surprised.
This first reaction from an outsider gave me the conviction that the song would appeal to young men in their early twenties as well.
“Wow! That was amazing. You’re the main vocalist, Seol-ah?”
Reporter Shin’s eyes, which had been conducting the interview out of a sense of duty, were now sparkling, belying his forties.
“With that level of skill, I’d say you’re in the TOP 10 among all idols.”
“Thank you.”
“The expression ‘fits like a glove’ is perfect for this.”
“It’s all thanks to the composer for creating such a beautiful song for us.”
The words “the composer” strangely tugged at my heartstrings. Was it because I could feel Seol-ah’s sincerity?
“You’re as humble as you are beautiful and talented.”
And here he was, speaking down to us just moments ago.
Did this guy just become a Seol-ah fan?
I felt like I had just witnessed, in real-time, the process of a man in his forties, worn down by life and left with nothing but cynicism for society, turning into an uncle fan.
After the interview, Reporter Shin, who insisted on shaking hands to conclude, had a face flushed with excitement instead of bitterness.
“With my 20 years of experience, from the entertainment desk to advertising and even politics, I can tell you with certainty that you will succeed.”
“Thank you so much!”
The expressions on the Answer members’ faces brightened considerably.
Having a friendly reporter meant dealing with some annoyances, but it also meant having a powerful ally in an emergency.
“Team Leader, could I have a word with you separately?”
He was definitely going to ask to interview me since he was already here.
“Yoo-jun. Go ahead with the next schedule.”
“By myself?”
“Seol-ah will show you. Just follow the GPS.”
“Yes, sir! You can count on me!”
Schedule, my ass.
Their schedule was to go to the dorm and rest. I just had to make it look good in front of the reporter.
As Choi Yoo-jun and the Answer members left, Reporter Shin’s expression turned serious.
“I’ll be blunt. I’m well aware that you agreed to this interview after seeing how Answer’s article turns out.”
“I’ve been stabbed in the back so many times in my life. Let’s do the interview now. That’s why I sent the kid off on a ‘schedule’.”
“Ah, ah…”
Having beaten him to the punch, Reporter Shin gave me an amused look.
“Well, now. You’re no ordinary young man.”
“It’s because this is my second life.”
“Hahaha! I suppose you wouldn’t be a team leader at such a young age if you weren’t experienced.”
I started to feel a bit of a liking for Reporter Shin, who interpreted my words so well on his own.
He seemed like he would be a great help to me.
[Sudden Quest ‘Exclusive Article’ Complete.]
Reporter Shin’s information is now your information. Your information-gathering ability increases.
Reward: Random Draw
A roulette wheel spun, revealing my reward.
[You have won a one-time use ticket for the trait ‘Let’s be friends!(A)’.]
For a certain period, it dramatically increases a target’s favorability towards you. However, the target must have at least a minimal level of goodwill towards you, and the success rate increases when they are in a state of psychological shock.
An A-rank trait would surely come in handy.
* * *
*Tssss.*
The smell of grilling pork belly and the savory scent of scorched fried rice. After work, I was having drinks with just Choi Yoo-jun.
The quiet yet bustling conversation and the clinking of glasses. The scene inside the samgyeopsal restaurant was unusually warm on this cold winter day.
*Clink.*
“…Ahhh. That’s the stuff!”
Choi Yoo-jun, who had taken a sip of soju, shook his bleached-blond hair, looking delighted.
“You like samgyeopsal and soju that much?”
“Of course. I was a trainee until just a little while ago.”
“Hey, you too? Me too.”
“Oh! Hah. That’s creepy. Doesn’t suit you.”
*Ahem*, should I smack him one?
“But hyung, why aren’t you drinking?”
“Just wait.”
Having watched my chef father over his shoulder, I knew how different ingredients could produce vastly different flavors depending on the cooking order and method.
*Tssss.*
The green onion slivers were turning brown, cooking in the hot oil rendered from the pork belly.
“Here’s the gochujang you ordered.”
“Thank you.”
An employee brought the gochujang I had ordered separately.
“You’re gonna dip the pork belly in that?”
Without a word, I placed the well-grilled green onion slivers on a piece of pork belly, dabbed it with gochujang, and made two pieces.
“Try.”
“…Ah, as in, give it a try?”
The kid, who finally understood my English, popped it into his mouth just as I had.
*Crunch.*
The aroma of fragrant green onion oil coated the outside of the pork belly, and his molars sank into the chewy flesh within.
Sweet juices burst out, mingling with the spicy, savory flavor of the gochujang.
A massive synergy of flavors that could never be experienced separately.
“Whoa!”
“It’s good, right?”
“This is insanely good! Seriously, why don’t people eat it with gochujang?”
“So you admit it?”
“Hahaha. Mad respect for your skills, hyung. At least 5-star level!”
Choi Yoo-jun continuously exclaimed in admiration as he stuffed more pork belly into his mouth.
“…Wow. I have to tell my sister about this.”
Choi Yoo-jun suddenly opened his phone and sent a text.
He bickered with his sister, but he was always full of concern for her. He was a bit hot-headed, but for some reason, he was a kid you wanted to root for.
“How was your first day of work?”
“Well, what did I really do? I just drove the artists to their dorm, that’s about it.”
“Was the driving okay?”
“Man, it was my first time driving a van, so I struggled a bit.”
I had been swamped with work, but I had been craving a drink with someone. Drinking alone at home just didn’t feel right.
Unlike in my first life, my relationships were expanding, and I felt a sense of, ‘So this is what living is like.’
I found myself suddenly wanting to be even happier.
*Bzzzt.*
It was a text from Reporter Shin.
-I was busy editing, so I’m just now getting in touch. I just uploaded the video and the article. Don’t worry, I’ll polish up Answer’s article nicely and post it sometime tomorrow. I look forward to a good relationship from now on.
In the official interview, I had spoken well of Gyeon Sang-jin.
But it was probably because of my final whisper to him.
‘I’m sure you already know, Reporter Shin Dong-min, but SJ is a garbage dump. I look forward to the day we can speak about this matter again.’
It was a very favorable text.
The interview from a few hours ago was now up as a web article and a video on Tube.
“What? It’s already out? It’s only been a few hours.”
“I know, right?”
Choi Yoo-jun and I couldn’t help but be surprised.
My face on the screen felt strange, as if I were looking at someone else.
-I’m grateful to CEO Gyeon Sang-jin, who taught me so much.
-I see. A man that remarkable must be why he was able to grow SJ Enter so quickly, right?
Only I would be able to recognize the hatred for Gyeon Sang-jin hidden behind my smile.
-Yes. He also terminated the remaining contract cleanly.
-Then how did you end up becoming a manager?
-Once I was out, I realized there was nothing I knew how to do. As they say, you stick to what you know, so I had no choice but to come back to this industry.
-Oh dear… In that case, is there a reason you came to JD Enter instead of SJ Enter?
Reporter Shin’s tone feigned sympathy for my situation, but his questions were sharp.
Contrary to my true feelings, I had spoken of Gyeon Sang-jin’s SJ Enter in a positive light.
For the thrill of the future.
-All the trainees know each other, so how could I go there? I decided to start fresh in a new place.
The interview, which had lasted nearly two hours, was edited down to about ten minutes.
It seemed he planned to use this exclusive scoop in various ways.
“Wow, hyung. The camera loves you, huh? Your skin is glowing.”
“Jealous?”
“Well, I mean… yeah.”
Choi Yoo-jun’s honesty made me laugh.
I couldn’t tell him for sure, lest he get his hopes up, but I was thinking of making Yoo-jun famous too, if the opportunity arose.
“Tomorrow, we have to go to the pre-meeting for ‘Best Idol,’ so let’s just have one bottle each today, okay?”
“Yes, hyung! I finally get to go to a broadcast station. And it’s for Best Idol! Man, should I stop by a salon too?”
“Give me a break.”