Preparing to Blow Up the Broadcast
I hid my startled heart and asked as nonchalantly as possible.
“…What brings Composer James Oh here?”
“It’s a hobby, that’s all.”
So why was that hobby specifically volunteering at this orphanage? And why now, when the man was already ridiculously busy? Watching Gaeul’s busking stage last time had some context, but this was completely out of the blue.
Unable to hold back, I voiced the question that had risen to my lips.
“You’re not just free, are you?”
“My apologies, but I am an extremely busy person. I even carved out time that didn’t exist to come here.”
“I know. If we were ranking the busiest people in Korea right now, you’d be near the top, wouldn’t you? So why this orphanage, of all places? It’s not even near the spot where we did the busking last time.”
If it were a place he usually dropped by, that would be one thing, but back when he was visiting the orphanage every day because of Yeoreum’s recruitment, he never showed up once. Suddenly deciding to volunteer here didn’t make sense—especially on the exact day Yeoreum and I were scheduled to come.
Come to think of it, only a handful of people even knew that Yeoreum and I were coming to the orphanage today. …Had someone investigated me?
Yoon Haneul, who had been listening to our conversation with an increasingly flustered expression, seemed unable to bear watching any longer and explained.
“When I told him that Team Leader Seon and Yeoreum were coming today, he asked if he could join the volunteer work. Since I’m his student and we’re close, I ended up sharing this private information. It’s all my fault. I’m sorry.”
“It’s embarrassing, but I used the disciple card. I wanted to get closer to Team Leader Seon.”
At least it didn’t seem like anyone had been digging into my background.
“…So that was the intention. I’m sorry for overreacting. But if that’s the case, you could have just contacted me directly. I would have made time for Composer James Oh, wouldn’t I? You really surprised me just now. Please don’t do surprise appearances like this again.”
“Understood. I’ll refrain from doing so in the future.”
James Oh nodded calmly, then let out a small sound of admiration.
“That aside, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but the conversation was quite interesting. Taking on the risk so that Miss Yeoreum can run toward her dream… Team Leader Seon, you really are an impressive person.”
“That’s an overstatement. I simply couldn’t bear to let talented kids go to waste.”
“Haha, that’s exactly the kind of person you are, Team Leader Seon.”
James Oh laughed pleasantly and pulled a document folder from his briefcase, handing it to me. It looked like a simplified contract at a glance.
“What’s this?”
“I felt we’d been proceeding too much on verbal agreements last time, so I prepared some concrete terms regarding your compensation. Even if I say I’ll double your pay, it’s no different from fraud if the actual working conditions aren’t included.”
As he spoke, James Oh began explaining the specific salary figures and working hours. The terms were overwhelmingly generous—enough to make anyone’s jaw drop. I wondered how his company could even stay afloat while giving away so much.
“Let’s lead the market together from my studio. We only have three people including myself, but they’re friends I personally selected. If you join us, Team Leader Seon, we can go beyond being number one in Korea and reach a global level. Let’s stand at the top together.”
“I’m sorry, but I already turned down that offer last time. I have no intention of changing my mind.”
“Of course you refused then, but perhaps you considered it a casual suggestion.”
…Who in the industry would treat an offer to work together from the number-one composer as casual? But James Oh didn’t seem to think so. He shrugged and continued.
“Besides, if I were the kind of person who gave up after being rejected once while trying to scout the best talent, I wouldn’t have made it this far. So I’m going to show you how serious I am and convince you.”
“…”
No, serious or not, I couldn’t do it. I kept telling him I didn’t have the ability. Without the system’s compensation, I was just an ordinary person. Maybe at Toobear, but definitely not at his company—I could never live up to that salary.
“If the compensation or salary listed in that draft is insufficient, I can raise it as much as you want. In the end, when choosing a workplace, nothing matters more than pay and treatment. And I’m confident in that regard. I have quite a lot of money.”
“Toobear already significantly increased my salary and benefits not long ago. I’m very satisfied with that.”
“Then I’ll just offer more.”
At that moment, a chilling voice came from behind James Oh.
“If it’s that kind of race, I don’t mind joining either.”
It was Yeoreum.
…What about the kids she’d been surrounded by? Looking past her, I saw the younger children standing at attention with tense expressions, while the older ones were strictly disciplining them with military-like discipline. It seemed her overwhelming ability to control dozens of orphanage children single-handedly hadn’t gone anywhere.
“Hmm, Miss Yeoreum. I understand how you feel, but this is a matter between the company and an employee. It doesn’t seem like something an trainee should be involved in.”
“I also have the title of investor, so I believe I can speak from the company’s position.”
“That would be the story of someone capable of conducting transactions from a legitimate position. Therefore, a minor shouldn’t be interfering…”
“A legitimate position for transactions?”
Jin Yeoreum cut James Oh off and smiled provocatively.
“Do you have more money than me?”
She looked every bit the arrogant chaebol third-generation heir. Yoon Haneul, seeing that expression, gasped and turned to me.
“Uwaaah, Yeoreum, who lives by the motto of humility and frugality, is acting like this… No, Team Leader Seon. What did you do to Yeoreum? She’s terrifying!”
“…”
I don’t know. I’m scared too.
***
The situation was settled when I firmly declared that I would stay at Toobear regardless of compensation. Even so, James Oh couldn’t let go of his lingering attachment and kept pestering, but Yeoreum stuck to him like a bodyguard and fended everything off.
…It felt like the positions had somehow reversed.
Having failed to achieve his goal, James Oh decided that since he was already here, he might as well finish the scheduled volunteer hours. He began teaching the children vocal techniques for maintaining healthy throats. His skill in simplifying what could have been overly technical explanations to match their age group was impressive. He really was talented.
As for Yeoreum and me…
“…This again, huh.”
The two of us were amicably scrubbing a single urinal with bleach.
“I don’t mind doing it, but didn’t Haneul just say there wouldn’t be any bathroom cleaning today? So what exactly are we doing right now?”
Honestly, because it had been recently remodeled, it wasn’t even that dirty. It wasn’t a bad thing to do, but it didn’t feel strictly necessary either. Either way, since it wasn’t very dirty, it probably wouldn’t take long.
At my words, Yeoreum suddenly started looking guilty and spoke quietly.
“I…”
There was more to the sentence, but her voice was too soft to hear.
“Sorry, could you say that a little louder?”
“I said I wanted to do it.”
“…”
She wanted to clean the bathroom? The men’s bathroom that smelled like urine? Hmm… I guess that could happen. Don’t worry, Yeoreum. I’m an adult who respects diverse preferences.
“So you had that kind of hobby. I understand. From now on, I’ll make sure you can clean Toobear’s bathrooms every Wednesday…”
“No! That’s not it!”
Then what was it?
“It just reminded me of when we first met, Team Leader Seon. Back then, we were also holding onto one urinal like this and talking about all sorts of things… I liked that.”
“…We did, didn’t we.”
Back then, I never imagined our relationship would turn out like this.
“I liked that time too. I got to talk a lot with Miss Yeoreum, who was so charming that I was seriously considering recruiting you. That’s why I was worried about how to look likable and desperately thought over every single word before speaking.”
“Right. Back then, you were openly hitting on me.”
I played along with the joke.
“Was it obvious?”
“Yes, very obvious.”
“Aigoo. Chairman Jin Baek-ho will kill me if he finds out.”
We looked at each other and laughed. Even wearing pink rubber gloves and a messy apron, her smile looked elegant.
“Don’t do that to just anyone. It’s a little dangerous.”
“I don’t do it to just anyone. It’s because it’s you, Miss Yeoreum.”
“…”
She stopped scrubbing and looked at me with a dazed expression, then spoke calmly, as if mentioning something unimportant.
“Actually, lately there hasn’t been much time for just the two of us, so I also asked Haneul for a favor. Unlike Gyeoul, who’s doing Girl 100, or Gaeul, who’s filming AllTube videos while busking, I didn’t have that kind of time.”
She must have felt left out. Especially since I’d been too busy lately to talk much with Yeoreum. I should make some time.
“Then shall we go on a field trip together?”
“A field trip?”
“Watching a concert, seeing a stage, attending a performance, watching a movie—things like that. I’ll buy you delicious food afterward too.”
“That’s completely just playing around…”
“No. It’s a field study as an idol trainee. Input is important, isn’t it?”
Come on, Yeoreum. This is work. Not playing.
“Of course, this will be a secret from the others.”
“…Yes, I’ll keep it an absolute secret.”
While we were scrubbing in the calm, plain silence, Yeoreum suddenly let out a gasp as if she had just realized something.
“Ah… I didn’t mention it because I might not remember it properly. …I did that regression thing, remember?”
“…?”
Because of that regression, we had spent a long time exchanging all the information we knew. The fact that she was bringing this up now meant she had recalled something she hadn’t mentioned before.
“Right, you did. Did you remember something that’s bothering you?”
“…Yes. Back then I was busy adapting to the new culture, but I did hear that Girl 100 was later revealed to have vote rigging and the whole country was turned upside down.”
She asked without hiding her worried expression.
“Is Gyeoul okay? I know it’s something you thought through completely before deciding, but I’m starting to feel a little anxious.”
“Don’t worry.”
On this point, she could rest assured.
“I’m already preparing to blow up the broadcast.”
And the one who would survive that storm would be Gyeoul.