Suspicion (3)
Han Jeong-suk's studio was small and dark. Not in a gloomy atmospheric sense, but literally. Thick blackout curtains covered the windows to block out UV rays, and she had even sealed up the gaps around the door to prevent any external light from sneaking in. She lived without even turning on the room lights, relying solely on the faint glow from her old work computer.
Since I wasn't used to the darkness, I kept bumping into things here and there, and only then did she finally switch on the lights. Once the bright light filled the room, I could finally see it properly. The space was about 4 pyeong—roughly 130 square feet—with work equipment crammed along one entire wall. A portable burner and coffee pot were set up in one corner, suggesting she ate her meals here too. There wasn't a guest chair, so she tried to give up her own seat, but I refused vehemently and eventually dragged over a box to sit on.
"...Would you like some coffee?"
"Ah, no thank you."
Han Jeong-suk, who was the same age as President Choi, was the kind of middle-aged woman who fit the phrase "aged gracefully." Having lived with almost no exposure to light, her snow-white skin made her red lips stand out even more.
Her offer seemed more out of politeness, as she scanned me up and down before speaking again.
"...So, what brings you here?"
I immediately pulled out a business card I'd prepared in my pocket and handed it over.
"I'm Kim Cho-in, team leader at CG Entertainment."
She took the card, glanced at both sides, and shot me a quick look.
"...Team leader, you said?"
"...Yes, that's right."
She set the card down casually and crossed her arms, giving off a vibe like she was looking down on me a bit as she continued.
"You know other people have come looking for me too, right?"
"...Yes, I'm aware."
"Who sent you?"
Her tone was blatantly dismissive. It was the sharp edge of a composer who had once shaken up major agencies. No company would send a mere team leader to a retired legend like her just to get a song.
"...President Choi Kang."
"..."
It seemed like the answer she'd half-expected; she didn't react much. Uncrossing her arms, she glanced around restlessly before speaking.
"...Are you sure it was Choi Kang who sent you?"
"Yes. The president told me to come get a song."
There was some backstory, but since she still liked the president, I figured hearing that he'd sent me personally was what she wanted most.
Han Jeong-suk stared at the floor, lost in thought. Whatever she was pondering, I hoped for a positive response. After a long silence, she finally spoke—as if she'd made up her mind.
But what came out wasn't what I'd hoped for.
"I heard Old Love turned out well."
"You're Lee Ji-yeon's manager, right?"
"..."
Lee Ji-yeon had once mentioned meeting Han Jeong-suk and that they were enemies. She'd admitted the president had sent her secretly to meet Han Jeong-suk and get guidance on the song, since the composer never came to the agency. I'd later learned the truth when the president confessed the secret behind Old Love, but back then, Lee Ji-yeon's understanding of the song had noticeably improved after the meeting.
Did Lee Ji-yeon tell her about me? Han Jeong-suk had pegged me as her manager right away.
"...Not anymore."
"...Really? Did that girl allow it?"
Her nuance suggested she knew Lee Ji-yeon all too well. There had been a huge ordeal when I stepped away from managing her, but starting with Shining Boys had helped me grow as a manager.
"Yes. I'm handling other trainees now."
"...Trainees?"
She showed keen interest at the fact that I was managing trainees, not established celebrities. Seizing the moment, I started spilling the whole story so far.
"Yes. After taking on Shining Boys, I recently started managing trainees myself to raise them from the ground up."
Listening, she murmured as if something had clicked.
"...Baekil Group's youngest daughter..."
"...That's right."
She was surprisingly well-informed; she even knew Baek Ga-eun was a trainee.
"...So she's the one getting the song?"
"...No. It's another trainee."
"Another... trainee?"
Her eyes lit up at the mention of someone else. She seemed to need more details there.
"A girl named Hyeon Ha-yeon."
"Hyeon Ha-yeon... Hyeon Ha-yeon..."
I continued as she repeated the name like she was committing it to memory.
"I scouted Ha-yeon by chance—she had so much potential."
"...What kind of potential?"
"...She was beautiful."
She let out a strange sigh of admiration at my words and fell silent, urging me to go on.
"With her height and looks, we planned to debut her as a model. But President Choi was so taken by her unexpected singing talent that he started hunting for a song himself."
"...He searched for ages but wasn't satisfied, so he sent me."
"..."
After mulling over my tale, she asked to see a photo of Hyeon Ha-yeon. I'd prepared a quick profile since she needed no major fixes, and I showed her the picture on my phone. Staring intently, she handed it back.
"So you brought this girl in, and Lee Ji-yeon just sat quietly?"
"...She threw a fit about me abandoning her, but she got over it."
In truth, no real fit—just a collar, but yeah, she'd gotten over it fine.
"Alright. So how'd you snag Baekil Group's youngest?"
I hadn't mentioned her much, but she'd already guessed I'd brought Baek Ga-eun in personally. I didn't want to spread word about Baek Ga-eun since it wasn't relevant to getting the song, but her tone said she knew, so dodging was tough.
"After bringing in Ha-yeon..."
"After?"
She'd been listening quietly until now, but suddenly cut in, eyes wide with shock.
"...Yes, after Ha-yeon."
"..."
She hadn't even heard the full story yet, but she was already deep in thought, glancing around before gesturing for me to continue.
Artists are all a bit eccentric, I guess—but she proved the stereotype with her mercurial shift.
"...I saw her on a TV show introducing Baek Ga-eun."
"Went straight there and scouted her."
I didn't want to drag out Baek Ga-eun's saga, but she seemed satisfied, flashing an ambiguous smile as she pressed on.
"...What did Lee Ji-yeon say?"
"Nothing much, since she was second."
We hadn't really talked. I'd just gone to her, calmed her rage with my body...
"...Good. That's enough on that. Let's talk about something else."
"..."
Her abrupt topic switch left me— the one with regrets— no choice but to follow.
"Does Choi Kang meet women?"
President Choi's name dropped out of nowhere. She still cared about him, apparently.
"...As far as I know, no."
"..."
My answer clearly pleased her; her smile grew more genuine.
"You know about me and Choi, right?"
"...Yes."
"I still love him."
"..."
Her sudden confession of unrequited love left me clueless on how to respond. I just listened quietly.
"Not once has my heart wavered, even at this age."
"Not when that woman seduced clueless Kang and married him."
"Not when she called during sex on purpose."
"Not after they clung together for years, divorced, and she became damaged goods."
"Not even after years of no contact... and then he sends you."
"...I still love Choi Kang."
Her passionate confession about the president made me feel awkward. His ex-wife had been awful. Knowing Han Jeong-suk's feelings, she'd rubbed salt in the wounds multiple times. Sure, she was a divorced debtor now... but yeah, the ex was a nasty piece of work.
"The last contact was about using Old Love as Lee Ji-yeon's debut song."
...At this point, even I thought President Choi was being a jerk. He knew her heart but dodged with "no courage," then hit her up for song help when he needed it. Not very manly.
"...I want to hear Kang's true feelings now."
Calling him "Kang" showed how deep and real her love was.
Time for me to step up.
"...After hearing your story, composer, my mind's changed."
"I think President Choi's been unfair. You deserve a direct answer from him."
She watched my solemn words and burst into giggles for a while.
"Haa... That's why men are... Pfft..."
"..."
Did I overstep? Say something weird? I replayed my actions.
"Watch yourself. You might actually get killed."
Her chuckling warning sent a chill down my spine. Coming from her, it hit different.
Aware or not, my situation was precarious. Thinking of Lee Ji-yeon losing it in rage multiple times... yeah, confidence waning. But not life-threatening. Socially risky, maybe...
"...Thank you for the sincere advice."
She laughed even harder at that, caught her breath, and told me:
"Hoo... Just send that Hyeon Ha-yeon girl over."
"...You mean...?"
"I'll decide what song to give. Talk to her first, then I'll write it. Have her come this week."
"Th-thank you!"
As I bowed repeatedly in gratitude, she sent me off with a message for Choi Kang: "Tell him to call me for once."
Finally, Hyeon Ha-yeon's debut was in sight.
*
"...Han Jeong-suk said that?"
"...Yes."
The president looked shocked, face buried in his hands, head bowed low. Still muttering, unable to recover, I quietly excused myself and left his office.
Han Jeong-suk had said to send Hyeon Ha-yeon alone, but it felt iffy. Still, it was good news for her, so I headed to the practice room where she should be.
"Ah, Manager! Hello!"
"Hello... I have good news."
"Good news...?"
Hyeon Ha-yeon had grown up listening to Lee Ji-yeon's old song as a student. Hearing the story behind it, she pouted sadly.
"Waa... The composer's so pitiful."
"...I think so too."
"I-I want to meet the composer!"
"...Pardon?"
Deeply moved by Han Jeong-suk's tale, she insisted on meeting her once.
"Lee Ji-yeon sunbae totally got the song after meeting her!"
"...Yes."
But she deflated, lacking confidence she'd sing it as well. Her emotions flipped fast.
We'd agreed on formal speech at the company, but after glancing around, I leaned close.
"...I believe Ha-yeon can do it."
"...Oppa."
Murmurs echoed from the hallway. I pulled back and sat properly. People passed, greeting us. Her face, on the verge of tears moments ago, brightened with smiles and waves for them—then beamed at me. Maybe sending Hyeon Ha-yeon alone wouldn't be so bad after all.