Chapter 40
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 40
[Looking at you makes me feel like I’m walking on those distant clouds]
[You don’t need to consider]
Today’s "Make Love" was a refreshing love song.
It told the story of falling in love at first sight with someone encountered at university in one's early twenties. It was a tropical-style track, and quite well-made in its own right.
Kang Yi-chae scanned the lyrics and burst into laughter for a long time.
"How on earth did they pull this off with a 'fresh' concept?"
"Why?"
I thought I knew the reason. However, it felt a bit awkward to say it in front of Jeong Da-jun, so I just looked away.
Kang Yi-chae, who had studied abroad as a child, couldn't hold back the laughter bubbling up.
"Did no one at their agency stop them? At this point, it looks like someone who doesn't know a lick of English just threw words together to look cool."
Make Love.
In other words... it meant having sex.
I’ll leave it at that.
"You think so too, right?"
"Why didn't the lyricist stop them?"
"Look at this."
Seong Ji-won fluttered the printed lyrics in his hand.
[Lyrics: Yoo Hyuk]
Collectively (excluding Jeong Da-jun), we all pressed our hands to our foreheads.
"So that's why."
"That explains it."
"Ugh, what is it? Tell me!"
We ignored Jeong Da-jun and continued discussing the arrangement.
"Since it’s already like this, going for a sexy vibe might not be bad. If we add strings, we could give it a grand atmosphere."
"Then the direction for the arrangement is set, right?"
"Yeah, I think I’ve got it. The melody line is a bit plain, but I want to make it dramatic here."
Kang Yi-chae kept scribbling notes as if ideas were pouring out of him endlessly.
"But what should we do about our concept?"
Good timing.
"We don't have much time, so let's use a 'chance.'"
"A chance?"
I picked up my phone and called an expert in these matters.
Shortly after, with a loud thud, Lee Ji-hyeon burst through the door.
"Me!"
"Yes, Ms. Ji-hyeon. You're here."
"I want to decide the concept!"
Lee Ji-hyeon was like a ghost possessed by world-building. She quickly brushed her hair back and spoke at a rapid-fire pace.
"Isn't a competition program exactly the place where you can break away from the main planning and try a different concept! Honestly, the 'Glow' concept last time was so good! I want to talk about who came up with that, too. Having Jeong Da-jun as the center is similar to the previous post-apocalyptic song, so we can keep that position while moving into a different universe concept..."
And so it began.
"Uh, okay..."
"Right..."
The other members were dazed, lured in by Lee Ji-hyeon's words.
Just as the discussion about the concept was about to overheat, I lightly raised my hand. Since things were mostly settled, Lee Ji-hyeon and the rest of the members would handle it well on their own.
"I'm going to step out for a bit. Can I leave the rest to you?"
"Ah, yes."
"Where are you going?"
Kim Seong-hyeon caught me. He was suspicious again—worried I might go off and do something crazy on my own.
However, I answered without even blinking.
"I'm supposed to meet my brother for a bit."
"Your brother?"
"Oh, the one we saw at the hospital."
"Have a good trip~."
Jeong Da-jun waved brightly. After giving Lee Ji-hyeon a quick nod of request, I left the practice room and saw the number of the scammer I had been in contact with. Just in case, I pulled my bangs down and tugged on a hat.
Since I’d been appearing on Nutube lately, more people were starting to recognize me. Leaving the glancing eyes behind, I got into a taxi and made the call.
"Yes, I'm on my way."
I listened to the voice on the other end. Looking out the taxi window, I saw a Shining Star advertisement bus pass by. The members of Today were plastered on it in the largest size possible. At the same time, Kim Seong-hyeon’s anxious eyes flickered through my mind.
Seong-hyeon, I'm sorry.
"The information is definitely accurate."
I am indeed going to do something crazy.
"You won't regret it."
*
The profession of a paparazzi isn't common. However, with the Hallyu boom sweeping across Asia and Chinese tabloids getting involved, being a paparazzi had become a fairly lucrative job.
If there was a whiff of something suspicious, Kim Jae-yeon would go anywhere—north, south, east, or west. People called it a job that dug into others' private lives, but for Kim Jae-yeon, who lacked a sense of ethics, it was a very satisfying career.
He had seen countless stars up close, but Kim Jae-yeon was currently on high alert because of the man sitting in front of him.
The man named Seo Ho-yun was someone who had been gaining a lot of fame recently.
An actor management agency called Daepasung Entertainment had launched a new idol group, but the result had been a total disaster.
However, public opinion had flipped recently after Seo Ho-yun joined. The robbery incident, the egg-throwing incident, and the unconventional moves he showed on Shining Star.
The timing was too perfect to be considered a coincidence. In every incident, Seo Ho-yun moved in a direction no one could predict.
Well, it didn't matter to Kim Jae-yeon anyway.
Until Seo Ho-yun suddenly contacted him, despite having no prior connection.
"Mr. Seo Ho-yun."
"Yes, Mr. Jae-yeon."
Kim Jae-yeon flinched. He had been active using a pseudonym, yet this man even knew his real name.
"...How you knew my name, let's just set that aside for now."
"Sure."
"How on earth did you contact me?"
The person in question was browsing the menu and ordered a lemonade. Then, he casually rested his chin on his hand and suddenly started saying something bizarre.
"If you write numbers on rose petals one by one and let them scatter on the floor... your number comes out."
"...Excuse me?"
Then, he suddenly clenched his fist and hit the table. He muttered "lines" and "damn system" a few times, looking like a madman.
Kim Jae-yeon’s brow furrowed deeper, but Seo Ho-yun sighed and spoke as if nothing had happened.
"Rose petals, my ass... No, it's a common method. I don't think it's that different from the methods you know, Mr. Jae-yeon."
Beads of sweat formed on Jae-yeon’s back. This guy wasn't just an idol. Seo Ho-yun’s gaze swept over him.
"How I know you isn't particularly important right now."
"..."
"I think you'd be more curious about what I know."
Jae-yeon anxiously tapped his foot. When the lemonade arrived, Seo Ho-yun took it and slowly stirred the straw.
"...Is the information solid?"
"Dig into it yourself."
Seo Ho-yun smirked.
"Today. A drug scandal."
Jackpot...!
Jae-yeon covered his mouth in excitement. Today was an idol group that was doing well in China these days.
They were from a fairly large agency, too. If he started digging, stories would probably come out one after another. As Jae-yeon crunched the numbers in his head, Seo Ho-yun’s face turned cold.
Ugh, paparazzi.
I sighed.
The man named Jae-yeon was someone I had some connection with back when I was a PD. In his mid-thirties with a clean-cut face, anyone would believe him if he said he was a businessman.
Paparazzi are this kind of breed. They bite onto someone, slowly drain all the information until the sweetness is gone, and then let go without a hint of regret.
When I slowly extracted the club information I heard from the Mars vocal, talk of drugs being handled there naturally came up. There was no way Today, who frequented the place like it was their own home, wouldn't know about it.
"If I dig around the places you mentioned earlier, it'll come out soon. But Mr. Seo Ho-yun, why aren't you digging into the sponsor issue as well?"
"That's already famous."
That was nonsense. I just didn't want to drag Seong Ji-won into it.
If I wasn't careful, a scandal could break out for Seong Ji-won, who had been at Today’s agency and was even supposed to be the center.
I poked at a thin slice of lemon in the drink with my straw.
"Even if it breaks, it'll be covered up quickly. If that's the case, we should go in a direction where you can shine the most, Mr. Jae-yeon. You have a real nose for celebrity drug cases, don't you?"
"...You know about that too?"
"I have my ways of knowing everything."
A news story should be breaking soon.
Kim Jae-yeon looked pleased, yet he continued to watch me suspiciously. Then, he shrugged his shoulders.
"The timing will be when I say so."
"That's a bit difficult. Our principle is to break it as soon as possible."
"You have to save the most delicious part for last."
"Haha! That’s true."
When I spoke firmly, Kim Jae-yeon laughed as if it were amusing.
It wasn't a bad deal for him either. Not all information is better just because it's fast.
The value of the information Kim Jae-yeon hands over becomes the most expensive only when it breaks at the most opportune time—when Today’s market value is at its peak.
"It'll take some time to investigate anyway. It's not a bad condition. Fine."
"Yes."
"It's strange. It's good for me that you're just giving this away, but isn't the risk too high for you to step forward personally, Mr. Seo Ho-yun? Does your company not know about this?"
Kim Jae-yeon kept prying, seemingly intrigued.
"In the first place, what are you trying to achieve by exposing Today’s drug use?"
"There's no need for you to know such useless details, Mr. Jae-yeon."
"What if I end up revealing that you were the source of the information? Your ship will sink along with theirs."
I burst out laughing. This is what makes a paparazzi. Since they are always ready to stab you in the back, I had to place at least one shackle on him.
This was clearly a threat intended to get something more.
"Go ahead and reveal it."
How cute.
"If you want to sink with me, Mr. Kim Jae-yeon."
Now, for a moment, here is Seo Ho-yun’s guide to dealing with paparazzi:
First, throw them bait they’ll drool over.
Second, coax them gently.
And the most important third step!
If they show their teeth despite your grace, give them a good smack!
"Mr. Kim Jae-yeon, you've lived a veeeery busy life so far. I think it's about time you took a break in prison, don't you?"
"Pardon?"
Kim Jae-yeon froze, his mouth hanging open as if something was bothering his conscience, before he gulped down his Americano.
"...I'll act like I didn't hear that."
"I'll act like I didn't hear what you just said, either."
We nonchalantly buried each other's weaknesses like landmines. Then, we shook hands and stood up.
"I'll leave it in your hands, then."
"Yes. Man, I don't know how to thank you for this."
Kim Jae-yeon, whose expression had returned to normal, was smirking. He must be happy. The table was already set, and all he had to do was pick up a spoon. He’d probably make a killing off this.
Just as I shrugged and was about to part ways, Kim Jae-yeon gave a nasty smile.
"Ah! But."
"Yes."
"This isn't a threat, but truly out of goodwill. Since I'm grateful, I'll tell you this as a bonus."
What now? I raised an eyebrow.
It was always like this.
"It's about Kim Seong-hyeon."
Kim Jae-yeon approached quietly and whispered.
My eyes narrowed as I listened to the whispered content. I slowly ran the calculations in my head.
The naive but sensitive Kim Seong-hyeon. I tried to match him with the information I just heard.
"Is this a delusion?"
"Whoa, why are you acting like this? Being naive doesn't suit you."
"The source?"
"It's solid. I checked just in case before meeting you. So, you'd better block that in advance."
I nodded. Even though he seemed to have said everything, Kim Jae-yeon didn't move away but stood there staring at me blankly.
"What is it?"
"You're close with Ju Woo-seong, right? By any chance, Ju Woo-seong..."
"..."
"...Alright, alright. I get it. Jeez."
My murderous gaze must have worked, as he quickly backed away, afraid of getting burned.
I took a sip of my lemonade, but feeling frustrated, I tilted my head back.
"Every time I try to block one thing, something else pops up..."
What should I do?
Kim Seong-hyeon.
An incident from his high school days.
School violence.
And dropping out.
Words that didn't suit him at all swirled through my mind in a complicated mess.