I Want to Screw You Over
I swallowed once before continuing.
“It seems we don’t have anything more to discuss, do we? I’ve already conveyed our policy to Director Cheon. Once you’ve organized your thoughts on the matter, I’d appreciate it if you could give us your official response.”
Cheon Jonghun spoke in his usual arrogant tone.
“There’s no need to organize anything. I’m the one with final decision-making authority on this project. Naturally, I can also make decisions that demand even greater authority.”
“Then am I correct in interpreting Team Leader Cheon Jonghun’s words as the official stance of all of SS Entertainment?”
“Obviously.”
Cheon Jonghun answered with absolute confidence.
“In fact, I assumed you already knew. The fact that I’m the son of Cheon Seon-su, chairman of SS, isn’t exactly a well-kept secret, is it?”
It was a fact I knew all too well. That was precisely why I had tried to avoid facing him directly. If this man decided his pride had been wounded, the giant known as SS could very well draw its sword irrationally. Cheon Jonghun had the authority to do exactly that—an overwhelming power that allowed him to drag an opponent into a hopeless legal battle purely out of spite.
He was the prince of SS.
“If we clash, it won’t produce a good outcome for either side. It will only leave scars—wasted time, money, and mental strain.”
I maintained a defensive posture.
“Of course, compared to us, the weak ones, the wounds SS would suffer would be little more than scratches. You could interpret this as a rabbit desperately declaring mutual destruction to a lion. But leaving even that small scratch on Team Leader Cheon Jonghun’s flawless career is an entirely different story, I believe.”
Just because Cheon Jonghun had the authority didn’t mean there was zero risk in wielding it. To a perfectionist and the very embodiment of pride like him, the weight of even one such scratch would be significant.
“In truth, wasn’t it only the members of Alcest who committed the wrongdoing? SS’s fault amounts to nothing more than negligent management. That’s why I believe the relationship between SS and Gyeoul can still remain amicable.”
I didn’t emphasize just how grave that “negligent management” truly was.
“Wouldn’t it be better for both sides to part on good terms? I don’t think there’s enough value in trying to corner us like this.”
Cheon Jonghun smiled with clear interest.
“My thoughts differ. From what I see, that girl called Gyeoul is more than worth enduring a scratch of that magnitude.”
It was something I could agree with. Gyeoul possessed talent that surpassed the word “genius.” She was the kind of talent who could become the most overwhelmingly dominant top idol of all.
“…Those are rather frightening words. However, a mere scratch won’t be enough to keep Gyeoul here. Neither she nor I have any intention of remaining with a team called Alcest after what’s happened.”
“That’s a thought you can only have because you haven’t truly fought yet.”
Cheon Jonghun looked at Gyeoul with a dark smile.
“Well, you might be able to endure it. But do you really think that fragile girl can hold on as well?”
I glanced at Gyeoul. Even after hearing Cheon Jonghun’s statement, she nodded at me with absolute trust. It was incredibly fortunate to have such firm support from her, but the situation itself was far from hopeful.
It was the worst-case scenario.
It looked like I would have to steel myself. I would have to prepare for an all-out dogfight with Cheon Jonghun and a brutal battle of public opinion. My future career path probably wouldn’t be as easy as I had imagined.
But if Gyeoul was with me, I was confident I could break through it all.
As I looked at him with that firm resolve, Cheon Jonghun suddenly changed his expression. He offered a warm, gentle smile and said,
“To be honest, even I don’t particularly like picking up a Holy Grail that’s already covered in wounds. Still, that doesn’t mean my greed has disappeared. …Which is why I’m making this suggestion. How would you feel about personally taking care of Gyeoul right by her side?”
“…What exactly do you mean by that?”
“There’s no need to overthink it. Didn’t you ask me for the position of road manager? I assume that would have been for Alcest. There’s no way they’d assign a manager to a mere trainee, after all.”
Cheon Jonghun skillfully retraced the situation.
“However, given the current circumstances, it would be difficult for you to properly care for Gyeoul while managing all of Alcest. And I doubt you’d even want to. Therefore, I’m proposing we change that arrangement.”
“How exactly would you change it?”
“I mean I will hire you not as Alcest’s manager, but as Gyeoul’s exclusive, dedicated manager.”
Cheon Jonghun spoke with the overflowing confidence of a negotiator who had just derived the perfect solution.
“This way, you’ll be able to monitor Gyeoul’s every move. Even if any unfortunate incidents occur with the Alcest members, you can prevent them directly. Gyeoul will also be able to work with peace of mind knowing you’re there. And I get to keep the talent known as Gyeoul within Alcest. It’s the best possible solution that benefits everyone.”
The words sounded good. But they weren’t words that should have come from Cheon Jonghun, who had already broken his previous promise.
“Unfortunately, Team Leader Cheon Jonghun, you have lost your credibility. You didn’t keep your promise to introduce me to the hiring manager for that road manager position you mentioned, did you?”
Even in the face of my aggressive words, Cheon Jonghun showed no change in expression. He stroked his chin and spoke calmly.
“That is rather strange… I did find it odd that your hiring process was taking so long.”
He looked at me with sharp eyes.
“Let me clarify one thing here. I most certainly contacted the hiring manager about you. However, it seems the hiring manager simply didn’t take a liking to you. To think they haven’t contacted you even once… How truly insolent.”
Cheon Jonghun didn’t stop at simply cutting off the tail.
“It appears my eloquence was insufficient, and I failed to properly convey what an excellent talent you are. For that, I apologize. I’m sorry.”
He bowed his head heavily. I was shocked that Cheon Jonghun—the very incarnation of arrogance—could offer such an apology. At the very least, I could feel that his feelings toward Gyeoul were sincere.
“Please don’t think this is a lie. I am a man who keeps the promises that leave my lips. That is where I believe my pride as a person is determined.”
There was genuine sincerity in Cheon Jonghun’s apology. However, separate from his attitude, I still believed his will had played a part in my failure to get hired. If I had at least gone through an interview and been rejected, that would be one thing—but not receiving a single phone call? Especially after Cheon Jonghun himself had given the hiring manager a strong recommendation?
No normal company employee would dare ignore a word from Cheon Jonghun.
The System’s quest had also mentioned it. It said that Cheon Jonghun had not kept his promise. Therefore, he must have pulled some kind of trick. Maybe he had spoken to the wrong hiring manager. Or perhaps he had subtly implied that they shouldn’t contact me.
But there was no way to prove it. Nor was there any need to prove it.
Because if I simply pretended not to know and joined SS, everything would be resolved. If I intervened actively, I could prevent Gyeoul from being ostracized. It might be difficult to make them get along as friends, but establishing a proper business relationship wouldn’t be hard.
Since joining SS had been my original goal, this was a proposal that offered me nothing but benefits. There would be no reason to attempt employment at a lesser agency while trying to sell Gyeoul off to them.
If I simply swallowed my pride, I would gain the optimal benefit.
Rationally, I knew I should accept Cheon Jonghun’s offer.
Yet something felt off. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was.
I asked myself: In my previous life, after being betrayed, I had resolved to stop being a good-natured pushover and become a selfish person instead. So what choice would a truly selfish person make here?
“Gyeoul.”
“Yes?”
“What do you think? What choice would you like me to make?”
Before making my decision, I wanted to hear her answer first.
“…Honestly, I’m scared of staying at SS. I don’t have the confidence that I can get along well with Coco, Lily, and Yoon Jung.”
As she continued speaking, Gyeoul tightly grabbed my hand.
“But if Teacher Taeyang stays by my side, I think it’ll be okay.”
After wiping away her tears, Gyeoul looked at me and smiled.
“So please do whatever your heart tells you, Teacher Taeyang. That’s what I want.”
Whatever my heart tells me?
…What did I want to do?
I wanted to succeed. That desire hadn’t changed. But that wasn’t the entirety of what was in my heart.
I looked at Gyeoul. I looked at the noona who was filming from the side. I looked at Cheon Jonghun, who was watching me with a confident expression as if waiting for the obvious answer.
And then I realized my true feelings.
I wanted to screw that rude bastard over. Just once.
Fuck you, Cheon Jonghun! Honestly, I’ve disliked you since the last round!
“I must decline your offer.”
Cheon Jonghun looked visibly flustered, as if he hadn’t expected this at all.
“The treatment wasn’t to your liking? Hmm… That’s understandable.”
He nodded and continued.
“Now that I think about it, I never mentioned this. You said you previously worked as Manager Seong-hwan’s manager, correct? It doesn’t make sense to start over as a road manager when you have experience managing someone like Elder Seong-hwan.”
His words were growing increasingly urgent.
“I will promise you treatment equivalent to a deputy team leader manager. While your authority may not match that of a full team leader, the salary and benefits will be completely different from the fixed salary a road manager receives!”
Cheon Jonghun listed additional conditions as if afraid I might leave. He was so flustered that he was even breaking into a light sweat. Seeing him like this almost made me laugh as I remembered how, a month ago, I had desperately fired off information about Gyeoul like a rapid-fire rap the moment he tried to hang up the phone.
You look pathetic, Jonghun.
“It’s not a matter of treatment.”
“Then what exactly do you find lacking? I will promise to improve it to the best of my ability.”
“It’s not a matter of improvement either.”
“Then what the hell do you want!”
I was afraid of the consequences if I revealed my true feelings—I want to screw you over. So instead, I gave a reason he could accept.
“Because Gyeoul would have to make the sacrifice.”
I sold Gyeoul again.
“…What?”
“No matter how much you improve things or change the treatment, the uncomfortable atmosphere within Alcest is something Gyeoul will still have to endure. Could she truly smile in a place like that?”
How could she smile with the people who used to bully her? The best she could do is pretend they don’t exist.
“It’s true that I wanted the jewel known as Gyeoul to shine. That’s why I wanted to join SS Entertainment and help her. But that wasn’t the only thing I wanted.”
I spoke with eyes full of melancholy.
“I wanted Gyeoul to be smiling within that light.”
“….”
It was a perfectly calculated display of protective parental sensitivity.