Chapter 71 of The Technique of an Idol Who Never Fails

[Half a year contract?]

[Why half a year? What’s that about? Even Pera’s contract period is short, so what’s the point?]

[↳It means he’s planning to leave if the atmosphere doesn’t improve…]

[↳↳Is there really no other reason?]

[↳↳↳Yeah…]

[TRV, are you crazy? I’ve never heard of a half-year contract.]

[No, seriously, what is this? So Haewon gets scolded and TRV doesn’t take responsibility if anything goes wrong, and the contract just ends?]

[No, Haewon, why did you make such a contract? 😭😭😭😭😭]

[↳Because he loves the stage…]

[↳The stage… 222]

[Why does our kid always meet people who want to take advantage of him…]

[↳He’s the type who can be swayed by passion…]

[↳↳That’s the kind of talent companies want, huh? 😂]

[↳↳↳F**k, that’s so true. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂]

[But honestly, considering Haewon’s initial image, shouldn’t we be grateful that they even gave him a contract?]

[↳Are you a TRV employee?]

[Honestly, I wish he’d go to another company, but then he can’t do Pera, so that’s not possible…]

[↳This is f**ked up. 😂😂😂]

[Just keep calling and asking. The company should know they need to make a deal with Haewon in this situation.]

[↳I’ve been doing that anyway. I was the one who opposed Haewon’s recruitment half a year ago…]

[↳↳Eh? Why can’t it be edited?]

[Everyone’s in a bad mood, but… Haewon, do you have any chance of going to another company?]

[↳If I were him, I’d leave because it’s f**ked up.]

[↳↳He’s either f**ked up or clueless.]

[↳I don’t know…]

[↳Usually, I’d say he should stick to his principles, but does Haewon have any principles to keep with us?]

[↳So… I wonder what Haewon thinks about the existing Haeul members…]

[Come to think of it, Haewon even created the term “Haeul”… It’s so nice that he made the term “Haeul,” because the kids hardly used the term “Sunrise” before. It didn’t really stick, right? But ever since “Haeul” came up, it’s always “Haeul, Haeul” 😭😭😭😭😭]

[↳The nickname made Pera and the fans get closer…]

[↳↳Pera’s fans all call him by the nickname… He seems to give nicknames to people he wants to get close to or considers close… Maybe he gave it to the fans when they all opposed his recruitment…]

[↳↳↳Why am I crying? 😭😭😭😭]

[↳↳↳↳Haeul too? Me too…]

* * *

[Pearl Haewon’s contract ends this year]

[Will he re-sign with TRV?]

[↳Absolutely not]

[↳He had nowhere to go half a year ago, but now if Haewon says he wants to go, many companies will welcome him.]

While Firstlight fans were feeling depressed, bewildered, and angry, curiosity among other K-pop fans was growing.

Hwang Saebi looked at her watch and said, while checking the noisy internet.

“When does the college entrance exam end?”

Hwang Saebi asked, and Park Sunjae looked at his watch and replied.

“He said he’s taking the second foreign language… around 6 PM?”

At that, Min Jihoo, who was lying on the floor of the practice room with a pillow, said.

“Jiwoon will probably go back to his early days when he sees the news. Handsome scoundrel.”

At that, the members looked at him with exasperated expressions. Hwang Saebi said.

“The studio is locked, you know.”

“Oh, right. Then I’ll lend you the card key…”

Jeong Haewon casually took out the card key but hesitated and put it back. Han Hyosuk asked.

“Isn’t that for employees?”

“Why do you have it, hyung?”

Park Sunjae also asked, then realized and said.

“Oh, you got it when you were an employee. Didn’t you return it?”

“…Fingerprint recognition is a hassle. You have to take off your gloves, you know.”

Jeong Haewon put the card key back in his wallet. It seemed he really didn’t want to return it. After warning the members not to say anything, they all headed to the studio.

Once in the studio, with the help of an employee, they registered the fingerprints of the remaining members.

The studio was cozy but small. Three of them squeezed onto a two-person sofa, and the other three sat on chairs and a stool brought by the employee.

After a while of silence, Han Hyosuk finally spoke.

“Hyung Haewon.”

“Yeah.”

“Aren’t you going to another company?”

“Am I crazy? I’m not going. Even if you guys hate me, I’ll be with you for life.”

“Should we all go to sign the contract?”

“You guys scare me when you all go together. Just stay here.”

After scolding them, Jeong Haewon stood up.

“By the way, everything I say in the CEO’s office is a lie. Got it?”

The biggest leverage in the re-signing was the group Firstlight. Conversely, if Jeong Haewon didn’t attach much importance to Firstlight, he could aim for greater benefits.

Jeong Haewon usually thought idols shouldn’t use the expression “it’s embarrassing,” but he couldn’t bring himself to say, “You guys are my biggest weakness.”

While the members waited in the studio, Jeong Haewon entered the CEO’s office to face Park Heetaek. Park Heetaek didn’t ask where he was, even though he had been informed of Jeong Haewon’s arrival. He wanted to appear calm.

Park Heetaek said.

“Tell me what you want. I’ll try to accommodate you.”

“What I want? There’s too much.”

When signing contracts with other Firstlight members, they were minors, so their parents were present, and the complex personal activity clauses required employees from each agency to be present.

Jeong Haewon was of an age where it wouldn’t be strange to bring his parents, but he seemed to prefer being alone, just like during his first contract.

Park Heetaek said.

“Tell me everything.”

He expected Jeong Haewon to ask for a longer contract period, as that was his only condition from the beginning.

But something different came out of Jeong Haewon’s mouth.

“I actually received a call from Terminal Entertainment.”

“…I thought you might.”

For some reason, he had a feeling the contract wouldn’t go smoothly this time. Jeong Haewon sighed and continued.

“The conditions are really good…”

“Really?”

“Really good. They seem to have a reason to really want me.”

Park Heetaek nodded and replied.

“Then you should go. If it’s that good.”

“Should I?”

“Considering you.”

Jeong Haewon hesitated, and Park Heetaek continued.

“We want to keep you too. But, let me be honest. This isn’t a joke, understand?”

“…Yes.”

“If you stay here instead of going to Terminal Entertainment, will VMC still like us? Your presence might actually be a disadvantage.”

At that, Jeong Haewon looked stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

“Nah.”

“What’s ‘nah’?”

“On the contrary, if you don’t keep me, the Haeul… Firstlight fans won’t sit still. What about the fans who came from The Rising?”

Even though he rarely checked online reactions, it seemed he had a good grasp of the atmosphere from regular conversations with the members. Jeong Haewon continued.

“Sir, it’s fine if you don’t agree, but don’t undervalue me too much.”

This was a different reaction from the data he had on Jeong Haewon. Park Heetaek paused, then Jeong Haewon looked at him, took a deep breath, and said.

“Ah, I can’t do it.”

“…Can’t do what?”

“I was going to say the members aren’t important at all, but I can’t say it. They’re really important to me, and that’s why I want to stay at TRV. If possible. So please, make the conditions good. Not as good as Terminal Entertainment, but since I’ve already received an offer, they need to be reasonable. I’m not a pushover.”

What a kid.

Park Heetaek, feeling both exasperated and relieved by Jeong Haewon’s honesty, leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed.

“Yeah, you’re not a pushover.”

“I’ll make Firstlight succeed to the point where VMC can’t tell if they’re giving us a hard time or not.”

“…”

“Just buy me at a higher price. This is the cheapest you’ll get me.”

Jeong Haewon’s words made Park Heetaek burst out laughing in disbelief.

“Are you really twenty? You’re turning me into a gambler.”

“Now? I thought you were already gambling with me.”

Jeong Haewon smiled strangely and continued.

“I’ve been gambling with my life from the start.”

“…”

Gambling with his life from the start.

Park Heetaek felt that Jeong Haewon’s words were not an exaggeration at all.

* * *

The contract negotiations, which started in the morning, took a long time. From my perspective, even though Terminal Entertainment’s intentions were impure, I was grateful they reached out. They informed me about aspects I hadn’t considered during the re-signing. Of course, it’s thanks to my father for organizing the list well. I should treat him to something nice.

When the contract was finalized, it was already 8 PM. When I went to the studio, the members were still there.

“What have you been doing all this time?”

I asked as I entered, and Hwang Saebi pointed to Shin Jiwoon, who was sleeping in a corner of the studio with his hoodie over his head.

“He was causing trouble.”

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“Having kids is scary. I’m afraid someone like him might be born.”

Hwang Saebi’s comment made Min Jihoo, who was dozing off, say.

“Me too!”

“Is it all done?”

Han Hyosuk asked, and I replied.

“I re-signed. The conditions are so good I couldn’t tell you guys.”

At that, Park Sunjae said.

“Hyung, you’re going to be rich anyway. It doesn’t matter. Just treat us to something good.”

“Of course I’ll treat you to something good, and let’s go get matching team rings.”

At my words, Shin Jiwoon, who had been pretending to sleep, opened one eye and glanced at me. He must have been sulking. Shin Jiwoon slowly got up.

“Get me an expensive one.”

“Cheap ones, brat. Are you trying to take advantage of me?”

“Ah, I’m going to sulk again.”

Seeing Shin Jiwoon trying to lie down again, I felt guilty and had to pull him up.

“Alright, alright. I’m sorry. Take advantage of me, all you want.”

Hearing about the team rings, the other members also slowly got up. Min Jihoo, who didn’t get up immediately, asked me.

“Hyung, are we going to stay together?”

“Yeah.”

At my words, Min Jihoo put his hands in his hoodie pockets, lowered his head, and grumbled.

“Damn, you scared me.”

“I’m sorry….”

Seeing how much Min Jihoo was affected, he couldn’t lift his head for a while. The other members also had slightly red eyes. Thinking about how much the members were affected, I felt incredibly guilty.

* * *

That night, Jeong Haewon posted a photo on Xbus. It showed the seven Firstlight members huddled together in a small ring workshop.

[Haewon: Haeul! We got matching Firstlight team rings. It took a while to choose the design because we all have different tastes 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭. I’m sorry for worrying you today. I’ll think of this as a new beginning and work hard! Even though our starting points were different, we’ll end up in the same place! Haeul, I really, really love you!]