Sinister Yoo Gaeul
“This isn’t something someone put her up to, is it?”
“I can assure you it is purely Miss Jin Yeoreum’s own decision.”
“...Huh. I see.”
I voiced my honest reaction. “You’re looking after quite a remarkable person.”
Seok Hyeonwu spoke with clear pride. “Yes, she truly is. Even if she had chosen a path other than rhythmic gymnastics, Miss Jin Yeoreum would have achieved greatness without question.”
“...But she’s still just a child.”
“...You’re right. That’s exactly why I’m worried.”
No matter how resolute her determination, Jin Yeoreum was still only a child. Immature, fragile, and in need of protection. She was living through the most unstable period of her life to be forging a heart of iron.
“I understand now why you said she needed encouragement. You want to give her proof that public opinion can change.”
If I could show her that one person’s perspective had already shifted, it would become a tremendous source of strength. Especially if that person was an entertainment company employee who had to be more sensitive to public opinion than anyone else. It would let her believe her own struggle held real meaning.
“Yes. She doesn’t show it, but Miss Jin Yeoreum’s heart is wavering. The path she wants to walk is like sailing across a vast ocean with no charts to guide her.”
“And you believe my scouting offer could become that chart?”
Seok Hyeonwu nodded. “If someone like you, Team Leader Seon—whose job requires you to think about public opinion and image more than anyone—were to personally scout her, I believe it would give Miss Jin Yeoreum tremendous peace of mind.”
In the end, the reason Seok Hyeonwu had used both enormous sums of money and his personal connections to make me put on this act was simply to bring peace to one person’s heart.
In the car on the way back, Gyeoul, who had remained silent, finally spoke.
“Taeyang.”
“...Yeah?”
“Does scouting Yeoreum really have to be an act?”
When I checked the rearview mirror, Gyeoul was looking straight at me. I kept my eyes on the road and asked carefully.
“...Why do you want to do it together?”
“I just think it would be good if we did it together. I know I haven’t seen her for very long, so it might seem like a hasty judgment. Still, I want to say it. The Yeoreum I saw was a truly good person.”
Gyeoul added in a small voice, “...Just like you, Taeyang.”
The girl who said those words was smiling at me with pure, bright eyes. Before I knew it, she had grown attached to me. Her requests had become something I genuinely wanted to grant if I could.
But this was impossible.
“Yeoreum will obviously refuse. Whether it’s an act or a sincere offer, the result will be the same.”
“Then what if Yeoreum actually accepts?”
Gyeoul continued as if she didn’t want to let go of that hope. “If, like Manager Seok said, Yeoreum didn’t actually do anything wrong, wouldn’t it be okay for her to become an idol with us?”
“Even if we believe that, the rest of the world won’t.”
Revealing that Jin Yeoreum was a victim was something Jin Kang Group—with its overwhelming capital and manpower—had already tried and failed to do. Changing deeply entrenched negative public opinion was that difficult. I had no confidence I could succeed where they couldn’t.
Besides, people were never kind to the title of “chaebol third generation.” Add the word “doping” to that, and no one would see it as a mere allegation.
“If we really recruit that girl and put her in an idol group, it will cause a massive scandal. Enormous. I don’t have the confidence to endure that and still succeed.”
The two jewels named Gyeoul and Gaeul might get swept away and buried by those giant waves. That was truly terrifying. There was no reason to take on such a risk.
“I want to make you and Gaeul into the best idols possible. Recruiting Yeoreum would only become an obstacle to that goal. ...Does that answer your question?”
“...Yes.”
Gyeoul’s shoulders slumped heavily. The way she curled up dejectedly in the passenger seat stirred up sympathy I didn’t even know I had. Seeing her like that made me wonder if I should have at least pretended to think positively.
After all, it was practically guaranteed that Jin Yeoreum would refuse.
Having made up my mind, I opened my mouth again.
“Gyeoul?”
“...Yeah?”
“If—and I mean if—Jin Yeoreum actually accepts my scouting offer, I’ll respect your opinion above everything else.”
“Taeyang!”
Overcome with emotion, Gyeoul beamed and tried to throw her arms around me.
“Gyeoul! I’m driving! I’m driving!”
“Eek! I’m sorry!”
Still, it was nice to see her smiling again.
Two days later, after finishing my work at the company, I returned to the orphanage. This time I had Gaeul with me instead of Gyeoul.
Gaeul sat in the passenger seat, practically bouncing with excitement, as if this overtime work was the most delightful thing in the world.
“Volunteering for the children! It’s going to feel so rewarding!”
“Um… it might be a little different from what you’re imagining, Gaeul.”
I remembered how last time I hadn’t even seen the children and had only done endless bathroom cleaning. They wouldn’t make me clean the bathrooms twice, right? I’d already cleaned them thoroughly last time.
I told Gaeul about that experience.
“I’m confident! Actually, cleaning bathrooms is my specialty!”
Whether it was me, Gyeoul, or now Gaeul, it seemed everyone had some kind of talent for bathroom cleaning. Even if the idol dream fell through, we could probably start a cleaning company and never go hungry.
“I’ve even worked part-time cleaning bathrooms! Whenever I did kitchen work, I was always the one who cleaned the bathrooms too!”
As expected from someone who used to work four part-time jobs a day.
“Wow, that’s actually reassuring.”
“Hehe, I’m confident in cleaning, laundry, cooking—all kinds of housework!”
Gaeul blushed, looked down at the floor, and fidgeted with her fingers as she added, “...If you ever need me, you can call me over to your house anytime, Taeyang.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m pretty good at housework myself.”
Gaeul seemed quite confident, but I had my pride when it came to domestic matters.
“Just like how my sister had to earn money as the head of the household from an early age, I’ve been in charge of all the housework since way back. I’m not so clumsy that I need to leave it to someone else.”
“...I see.”
For some reason, Gaeul’s reaction seemed disappointed. Huh? Did I say something weird?
...Ah. Maybe that comment about my sister was her way of saying she wanted to see Gahyeon? Wow… I really am dense. How did I miss that and start bragging about my housekeeping skills? What kind of pathetic adult feels competitive with a seventeen-year-old over housework?
Reflecting on my slow wits and childish heart, I told her, “Gaeul, even if it’s not for that reason, you can always come over to my place and relax—”
Gaeul didn’t seem to be listening. She kept her head down, muttering something under her breath.
“I can earn the money, so being a full-time housewife is fine… No, if I can keep Taeyang at home, then actually…”
“...Gaeul?”
She seemed lost in deep thought, continuing to mumble. Occasionally she let out a sinister little “Hehehe” as if she’d come up with a wonderful idea. I decided to just leave her to it, figuring she must have something serious to think about.
It wasn’t scary.
...No, really.
This volunteer activity went much more smoothly than expected. The so-called “effort volunteering”—pure physical labor—took an extremely short time compared to the bathroom cleaning last visit. The rest of the time was filled with educational volunteering, which basically meant playing with the kids.
It seemed Jin Yeoreum had shown us consideration.
I gathered some middle schoolers and taught math and English in a group tutoring format. My English had reached the level where I could converse freely with native speakers during the previous round’s overseas promotion period, so teaching it was comfortable. Middle school math had never been particularly difficult for me, and I had even reviewed it for this occasion, so there was no discomfort in teaching.
“Oh, you’re pretty good, mister.”
“Thanks for the compliment. But Hayul, let’s not look at the answer sheet while turning your head away from me.”
“...Darn.”
Gaeul was teaching guitar to five children. At first she seemed to be carefully explaining chords step by step, but now it had turned into a full-blown concert where everyone was simply admiring her performance.
“Unnie! Unnie! Play ‘Eye Contact’ this time!”
“No way! I asked for ‘Blue Whale’ first!”
“Who wants to hear a song that’s over twenty years old!”
“...I can tolerate insults about me, but I can’t just let an insult toward ‘Blue Whale’ slide?”
Gaeul broke up the bickering children with great effort. “Kids, unnie will play everything for you, so let’s listen nicely together!”
It seemed granting their request for one demonstration song had been a mistake. Overwhelmed by the children’s reaction, a bead of sweat ran down Gaeul’s forehead.
Fighting, Gaeul.
While she was being tormented by the children, the allotted time passed completely. In any case, the educational volunteering ended successfully.
“Team Leader Seon, please take care of what we discussed before.”
“The scouting, right? Yes, I’ll do it right away.”
“What? Taeyang, you’re scouting Yeoreum?”
“Yeah, I’m about to do it now.”
“Right now?”
With Seok Hyeonwu—who had melted into the shadows and achieved perfect stealth—and Gaeul—who thought she was hiding by awkwardly covering only two-thirds of her body with a pillar—as my audience, I stood facing Jin Yeoreum in a corner of the hallway.
“You said you had something to tell me?”
Finally, the moment had arrived. Although I was the one who had agreed to do this, the situation of scouting someone with the worst public image in the country still felt uncomfortable.
“...Yes. I have something to say.”
“Then please speak freely.”
Seeing Jin Yeoreum treat the situation so casually strengthened my resolve. That’s right. It’s basically guaranteed she’ll refuse anyway. The chance to get exposure for Gaeul and Gyeoul, who haven’t even debuted yet, by saying just one sentence? Of course I should step on the accelerator.
Matching the nonchalant atmosphere Jin Yeoreum was giving off, I spoke lightly as if it were no big deal.
“Would you consider joining us at Two Bear Entertainment?”
At my words, Jin Yeoreum slightly furrowed her brows and asked, “...What exactly do you mean by that?”
“I’d like you to participate as a member of the girl group that Two Bear Entertainment is planning.”
Jin Yeoreum answered immediately, without even taking a moment to think, as if there wasn’t the slightest room for consideration.
“Okay. Let’s do it.”
“Haha, what a shame. I’m truly sorry, but I—... Huh?”
...Did my ears break? I thought I just heard an answer I absolutely shouldn’t have been able to hear.
Jin Yeoreum pulled my confused mind back to reality with one clear sentence.
“I said I’ll become an idol.”
“...”
I looked at Jin Yeoreum, who was staring at me without a trace of playfulness and extending her hand for a handshake. One thought filled my mind.
We’re fucked.