Give Me Your Daughter, Father
The chairman's office was so vast it felt like a wasteful use of space. Behind the walls and Jin Baek-ho's back, the room was packed with men in black suits, black sunglasses, and black masks, all standing with their hands clasped behind them.
If I'd seen it from a distance, I might have laughed and called it some ridiculous concept shoot. But being the one kidnapped and surrounded by them, laughter was the last thing on my mind.
It was just fucking terrifying.
Convince Jin Kang Group's Chairman Jin Baek-ho and Survive!
🎁 Reward: Drop the Beat
The quest that suddenly appeared wasn't welcome at all. It only made the dread grow stronger.
...Even you? Why are you doing this to me?
In that enormous office, the enraged father Jin Baek-ho poured himself a cup of tea, glanced at me, and spoke.
"If you have a mouth, then use it. What exactly is your intention in kidnapping someone else's child and forcing her into becoming an idol?"
"Chairman, it's not forcing—"
"...Chairman?"
At my single slip of the tongue, every suit who had been staring straight ahead turned to look at me.
"...Chairman Jin."
"That's right."
Only then did the suits turn their gazes forward again.
...Did they skip bodyguard training and learn this instead?
I cleared my throat lightly and continued.
"First, I want to state clearly that there was no coercive method used when accompanying Sunny."
"So you're saying our Sunny joined that hole-in-the-wall company of her own free will?"
"Yes. While I did give her a push, I believe every action was taken according to her own will. I think Sunny is someone who can hold firm to her own intentions when making important choices like that."
Jin Baek-ho took a sip of his poured tea and said,
"Well, you certainly have a silver tongue. But I'm not soft enough to be swayed by such gilded words. Even if it's my own daughter, I evaluate her without adding or subtracting anything. Affection and bias are two different things."
He spoke firmly, as if stating an obvious truth.
"Sunny is still young. For a child like that to make a decision based purely on her own judgment? That's the kind of thing a treacherous flatterer whispering in her ear commonly says. They all claim it's her own will while conveniently omitting how they edited the information and blocked her view. Do you think I've only seen one or two of those types?"
"...I don't think so. There must have been countless attempts like the ones you described. A brilliant star like Sunny is bound to attract such parasites. However, our Two Bear Entertainment—"
Jin Baek-ho let out a light scoff and cut me off.
"How amusing. Do you think you're any different? They're all the same. Broadcasting stations, gymnastics associations, scholarship foundations. Even that so-called volunteer work. There must be someone whispering in her ear from the shadows. ...For example, that director you mentioned. The name Jin Kang carries that much value, after all."
The director I had met didn't seem like that kind of person at all. Yet Jin Baek-ho spoke as if he held absolute certainty.
"They always pretend to have pure goodwill, but what they ultimately want is the name Jin Kang standing behind the child. The one who ends up used and deceived in the process is always Sunny. All because of that damned phrase 'what she wants to do'!"
He cooled his rising anger by drinking the now-lukewarm tea before continuing.
"I have no intention of allowing Sunny to be used just because she says she wants to do something. After all, Sunny is young and fragile. She can't make proper judgments on her own. ...Even what she believes to be her own judgment is all a delusion."
"...A delusion?"
"Yes. It's all a delusion."
"...."
This time, I planned to keep my head down as much as possible and simply apologize for his opinion. I was going to focus solely on getting out of this situation alive. Cheon Aram and Seo Suyeon were already preparing to persuade him. I had no intention of sticking my head in and ruining the board while they worked.
Rather than risk making a mistake, I intended to pass the baton to my Two Bear colleagues.
"Do you truly believe Sunny cannot make her own judgments?"
But it was hard to just sit there and listen to him.
Jin Baek-ho frowned at my words as if displeased and answered,
"If being swayed like a drifting weed and used by those around her can be called judgment, then yes, it's possible."
"...."
That's not it, you stubborn old man.
"Sunny is more fragile than she looks and cannot make choices for herself."
"Sunny is stronger than she appears and can make her own choices."
"She has no discernment and only gets used."
"She has excellent discernment and can distinguish those who try to use her."
"That child is still young."
"Sunny is mature even now."
His eyebrows twitched. I knew this might offend him, but I continued anyway.
"Please trust her. The chairman's daughter is delicate yet strong, warm yet upright."
It was something I absolutely had to say the moment I decided to recruit her. If I didn't believe in her, who in the world would?
"I've watched Sunny for sixteen years. What makes you so confident in front of someone like me?"
Jin Baek-ho may have seen Sunny's past sixteen years, but I had seen her next three. And because I'd seen that, there were things I could say.
"I don't know the past Sunny. However, I am looking at the current Sunny. I saw the way she lives at the orphanage, the heart she holds while choosing to stay there, and her thoughts and talent."
Even in that messy orphanage filled with old, discolored furniture and splinters rising from the floorboards, she shone brightly.
"She will definitely become the greatest idol. As if controversies like that are nothing but a joke."
There was no reason for someone like her to be unable to shine on stage.
"...Fine. Let's concede a hundred times over and assume the child has talent worthy of success. Do you think that path will be like some pleasant picnic?"
"No. It will certainly be arduous. The thorns that have been suppressed toward her will sprout again and pierce her. And Sunny... no, we will have to break those thorns and make flowers bloom."
"Honesty isn't always the best policy. Doesn't that statement of yours essentially mean you're going to force Sunny down that path of suffering?"
"Two Bear will become the shield for that suffering."
"...What?"
"We plan for Two Bear to shoulder as much of Sunny's negative image as possible."
This was the policy for Jin Yeoreum that Cheon Aram, Seo Suyeon, and I had decided on.
"Don't you know what kind of long-term impact that kind of approach will have on the company?"
"We know. My colleagues, the CEO, and I all do."
It would certainly become a major obstacle when attempting the next project. But it wasn't something that couldn't be improved.
"If we can improve Sunny's image by doing so, it's worth it."
The calculations were already complete. If we could handle the topical attention she would draw, there would be no one in Korea who didn't know Two Bear's group. We just needed to turn even half—no, even half of that half—into fans. If we did that, we would gain a level of recognition that an ordinary new agency couldn't even dream of.
High risk, high return. I was confident I could pull off that acrobatic feat.
"We are merchants. We are nothing more than ordinary mortals who invest capital and seek to reap more profit than we put in. The only difference is that our product happens to be called idols. As such a miser, I will declare this with certainty: Jin Yeoreum is a product that will absolutely succeed."
Sometimes, the words of someone crazy about money carry more persuasive power. And this seemed to be one of those moments.
Jin Baek-ho stared at me silently for over a minute before scoffing and opening his mouth.
"You called yourself a merchant? If you're going to say that, you should consider who's sitting in front of you. I am one of the top ten merchants in this country."
The scoff turned into a chuckle.
"As such a merchant, let me estimate how you'll act. If you recruit Sunny, there will be enormous noise. And according to what you said, the company will absorb as much of that noise as possible and use the resulting issues to raise the children's recognition. But there's no need to perform such acrobatics."
I could predict what he would say next.
"Why should the company bear the burden of the noise Sunny creates? The merchant's answer isn't that! When the defamation, attacks, and insults all pour onto Sunny and you've successfully generated enough buzz, the simplest and lowest-risk option is to abandon her! Isn't that right?"
He was right. It was something I'd thought of too. Both were close to stunt flying, but the latter was safer and easier in difficulty. If all the merchants had to jump into this gamble, they would all choose the latter.
That's why proof was needed. Proof that Two Bear was a group of fools who would choose the former.
"Would you accept this?"
I pulled an envelope from my inner pocket and held it out. One of the men in black suits approached, checked the contents, and handed it to Jin Baek-ho.
"What is this?"
"It's a draft of the contract. Since it was written in a hurry, there are many incomplete parts, but I believe the intention will come across."
It was something I'd hastily made while being politely kidnapped in the limousine.
"We're thinking of a five-year contract period for Sunny."
"...."
"And the content of that contract states that if the group including Jin Yeoreum fails to achieve first place on a terrestrial music broadcast within five years, I will pay all of my five years' salary. Since it's a crude draft, I'd appreciate it if Jin Kang's lawyers could supplement it to ensure there are no legal deficiencies."
Jin Baek-ho took out a magnifying glass to check the contents before asking me,
"...Have you lost your mind?"
I was rational. Extremely so.
"I believe I need to go this far to prove that I'm sincere about protecting her. That's why I took action."
"For you, success is barely breaking even, isn't it?"
"Sunny's success is guaranteed."
"...."
It wasn't simply a boastful statement. If I set my mind to it and utilized my regression knowledge and quests without regard for legality or morality, success would follow. My determination was even firmer than right after my regression.
No matter what shitty things I had to do, I would make Jin Yeoreum and Two Bear successful.
"Even if it's not enough, I'll make it so. Betting everything I have."
In front of me as I steeled my resolve like that, Jin Baek-ho said,
"Why are you going this far?"
The answer was already decided.
"Because I've fallen for her. I—"
"...You brazen thief."
"As a fan! A fan! Please listen to the end!"
"...."
The silence lasted for over three minutes. In that heavy atmosphere, Jin Baek-ho, who had been looking me over as if appraising me, gave his final assessment.
"So you're a madman, after all?"
...Ah, the reaction was completely fucked.
As I regretted not speaking a little more politely, he continued.
"But strangely, I don't find that detestable."
"Does that mean...?"
Jin Baek-ho spoke as if he had finished his business, issuing a command to leave.
"I won't interfere."
Reward: Drop the Beat has been granted.
Fuck. I survived.
***
Jin Baek-ho looked at one of the men in black suits standing behind him and asked,
"As a father, he looks pretty decent to me. What do you think, Sunny?"
Instead of answering, Jin Yeoreum carefully removed her sunglasses and mask, gazing at the door through which Seon Taeyang had left.
Then she dashed out without a word. As if she absolutely had to chase after him.
'No need to ask, I suppose.'
He recalled the appearance his daughter had just revealed. And he remembered where he had seen that subtle change in her expression before.
According to Jin Baek-ho's memory, the face she had just made was clearly that of a girl who had fallen in love.
Fierce like a storm, yet deep like the ocean.
He clutched his head and sighed.
"Looks like the youngest might get married before the eldest..."