Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Trainee Contract
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Trainee Contract
I don't even know what kind of work Aunt Yu-na does, despite having lived with her for several years.
There was no need to know anyway. Her extraordinary aura and the scars etched across her face. All that mattered was that she was someone you shouldn't mess with.
Yeah. If you had any common sense, that's how it should be.
"An entertainer?"
"Yes. Sarang would definitely make it big."
How much guts did this woman have to chat so casually with Aunt Yu-na?
"There's no guarantee you aren't a con artist."
"Ah, I should've introduced myself sooner."
Oh Seo-hee pulled a business card from her wallet and handed it to Aunt Yu-na.
"Oh Seo-hee, CEO of BlueNMI Entertainment."
What? She was the CEO?
I'd naturally assumed she was just an employee. Who could've imagined the company president herself would come looking for me personally?
"Hmm... Doesn't seem like a lie."
"Yes. I'm completely serious."
"Sarang does have charm, that's for sure."
Aunt Yu-na placed her hand on my head and ruffled my hair messily.
"Sarang, what do you want to do?"
"Huh?"
"Want to give being an entertainer a shot?"
What was she getting at? Aunt Yu-na knew better than anyone that I couldn't become an entertainer.
Was she testing me? Maybe if I dreamed too big, she'd scold me straight and set me right.
"Nah... You know it's not possible, Aunt."
I scooted my chair a bit closer to her. She seemed pleased with my answer, flashing a satisfied smile.
"Right, you have to help your mom."
Help her, my ass. The moment I turned eighteen, I'd cut all ties with my biological mother and leave that house.
"Yes."
Hiding my devious intentions, I smiled and leaned my head on her shoulder, rubbing against it. Her delighted face was ridiculously amusing.
"What now? Sarang seems like such a dutiful daughter, she doesn't look interested in showbiz."
"Maybe she hasn't heard my terms yet."
Aunt Yu-na narrowed her eyes at Oh Seo-hee's unyielding attitude.
Faint wrinkles spread across her brow where a scar ran. But even in the face of that menacing expression, Oh Seo-hee smiled lightly.
"What are these terms of yours?"
"Well... I think Sarang should discuss it with her parents first."
"Ah, you can tell me. If it sounds good, I can convince them."
"......Are you close with Sarang's mother?"
"Yes. We're inseparable."
It wasn't wrong.
In fact, if you could convince Aunt Yu-na, it was as good as getting my biological mother's approval.
I'd exploited that a few times myself, targeting Aunt Yu-na over my mother.
Aunt Yu-na always yielded endlessly in front of my biological mother, but in the end, she was the dominant one in their relationship. No matter how sensitive or ill-tempered my mother got, she'd ultimately follow Aunt Yu-na's word.
"So, if I get your permission, it's all set?"
"Haha, that confident, huh? Alright, let's say that's the case."
But talk was cheap. Honestly, convincing my biological mother would be far easier.
Aunt Yu-na's temper was no joke. For an entertainment agency CEO to have such poor judgment of people. Convincing someone who looked way closer to fists than the law?
"Alright."
Oh Seo-hee took a short breath.
Aunt Yu-na crossed her legs, arms folded, glaring at her.
"BlueNMI Entertainment is prepared to pay 30 million won as the signing bonus for Han Sarang's trainee contract."
The moment she finished speaking, Aunt Yu-na's arms unfolded.
My eyes went wide as I stared blankly at Oh Seo-hee.
"If she goes on to sign a full debut contract with us, we'll pay much more. We'll also give her a share of the profits afterward."
An eerily quiet silence enveloped the room.
It was so still I could vividly hear the sizzle of the meat cooking.
Finally, breaking the long silence, Aunt Yu-na spoke.
"Do you like alcohol?"
Aunt?
"Yes, of course."
A warm, friendly vibe spread between Oh Seo-hee and Aunt Yu-na.
And the next day.
A contract with my biological mother's signature lay before me.
Oh Seo-hee was grinning ear to ear in front, while Aunt Yu-na loomed behind, pressuring me with her eyes to sign quickly.
Under the forceful pressure on my shoulder from Aunt Yu-na, I had no choice but to pick up the pen.
※
A rectangular room surrounded by mirrors on all sides. The bright oak wood-patterned floor created a cozy atmosphere.
BlueNMI Entertainment's practice room. I was crouched in the corner, staring blankly at the ceiling.
...How did it come to this?
How the hell did this happen?
Ever since entering the practice room, that was all I could think about.
I never imagined Aunt Yu-na would be persuaded. If anything, I didn't expect her to push me into signing the contract.
But the most absurd part was the signing bonus Oh Seo-hee offered.
Burning 30 million just to make me a trainee? She had to be out of her mind.
Unless she was some chaebol heiress or something—nothing else made sense.
True to her word, the moment I signed the trainee contract, she handed the full amount to my biological mother.
That was baffling too. Why give it to my mother? I'm the one becoming a trainee. Shouldn't it go to me?
If she'd just told me about the 30 million upfront, I would've begged my mother for it. Not that it would've worked anyway.
Damn it. My money.
The thought of my biological mother clutching that cash and grinning made my stomach twist in agony.
The only silver lining... was that Oh Seo-hee had held back some for me.
She hadn't given all 30 million to my mother. Ten million was deposited into a new account in my name—but one I couldn't touch until the contract ended.
"Haa..."
Leaning my back against the mirror, I thudded my head against it repeatedly, letting out a meaningless sigh.
The contract I'd signed under Aunt Yu-na's intimidating pressure lasted three years.
In other words, for the next three years, I'd have to diligently follow BlueNMI Entertainment's schedule.
The problem was if I didn't meet the "diligent" standard. The contract would be voided, and the signing bonus reclaimed. Aunt Yu-na would never allow that.
『Our Sarang can do it, right?』
I recalled Aunt Yu-na's face as she patted my shoulder with her scar-marked hand. I didn't even want to imagine what she'd do if the contract fell through.
If it weren't for those gangster-looking guys around her, I'd have just ignored it.
"Ji-hye's gonna flip when she finds out..."
I could clearly picture her eyes blazing, demanding why I didn't join her agency.
There was also the condition that I'd have to come here every weekend during the contract period.
The only upside was being able to legally skip school for a few days. According to Oh Seo-hee, we could miss up to ten or so days a year under "field experience learning."
Still annoying as hell.
If I'd chosen this myself, fine—but being forced here by others? No way it sat right.
I even considered quitting and running away right then, but I had nowhere solid to go.
Annoying. Annoying, annoying, annoying, annoying.
Standing in front of the mirror, I banged my head against it lightly, trying to calm my unresolved anger.
That's when noisy footsteps approached from outside the door.
The door opened, and the first thing that caught my eye was a girl with a sharp impression. She looked about high school age.
Following her, over ten people poured into the practice room.
"Oh? You new?"
One girl who looked about my age approached with curious eyes.
I nodded silently.
"Don't think I've seen you before. From C-Class?"
The woman who'd first met my eyes raised one eyebrow slightly as she asked.
Casual speech from the get-go.
Well, she definitely looked older than me, so it wasn't weird.
Judging by how the others watched her, she was probably one of the key figures in this group.
"No, first time here today."
"...Straight to B-Class on day one?"
My answer clearly didn't sit well; her expression hardened instantly.
What? So what about B-Class? Did I say something wrong?
"Guess they let you in 'cause you're kinda pretty. Teachers these days..."
The sharp-featured girl muttered under her breath, arms crossed, scanning me up and down. Her gaze openly screamed disapproval.
A few around us glanced at her face, confirming she was indeed a big shot in the group.
What a hassle.
"Do your best. It'll be tough to fit in, but it's all about effort."
As she turned away with a voice devoid of warmth, I lightly grabbed her wrist.
"What are you doing?"
Her eyes sharpened immediately. Her face plainly showed my touch disgusted her.
It was easy to see she was the strong-willed type. And people like her had predictable personalities.
"Um, can I call you unnie?"
"...What?"
The girl widened her eyes like I'd said something crazy right off the bat.
"It's just... you're so pretty. For real. Prettiest person I've ever seen. I want to get close to you—can I call you unnie?"
I softened my gaze, hunched my shoulders a bit. I put on a timid, cautious air, peeking up at her shyly.
"Wh-what... What kinda talk is that from the start..."
She stepped back from me, her eyes wavering greatly. The compliment seemed to land nicely.
Yeah. For an aspiring entertainer, nothing sweeter than being called pretty.
"Is that no...? If I were a guy, you'd totally be my type... So I really want to get close to you, unnie."
I stepped forward as she retreated, bowing my head and gently tugging her sleeve.
"Hng..."
The corner of her mouth twitched faintly, soon blooming into a small smile.
"What's your name?"
She asked me.