Chapter 14

# Episode 014

‘Why did you bring the company executive here?’

Baeg Seolha thought it was undoubtedly Sung Pil who had arranged the meeting.

However, when she saw that not only Sung Pil but also Han Goo-in was sitting opposite her, she was thrown into confusion.

‘Ah! Maybe he had some business nearby and came along. That must be it.’

Baeg Seolha couldn't think in any other direction.

“Have you already ordered drinks?”

“No. I was going to order when you arrived.”

“What would you like to order? I'll pay for it. How about you, Manager Han?”

“I'll have a green tea latte, please.”

Sung Pil collected the orders and went to the counter.

Baeg Seolha was once again at a loss.

Han Goo-in, who she thought would leave soon, had even ordered a drink.

‘Ah! He must be getting a takeaway.’

Her thoughts couldn't veer in any other direction.

With only the two of them left, the awkward atmosphere typical of first meetings settled in.

“Ahem.”

Han Goo-in cleared his throat to draw attention and put into practice what he had learned from "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

“Your earrings are beautiful. Where did you buy them?”

“Huh? Just from a street vendor... I saw them and thought they were pretty...”

“I see.”

Han Goo-in refined his question.

“When did you get your ears pierced?”

“At 17.”

“I see.”

“...”

“You would look good with piercings too.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“Sure.”

“...”

“...”

Han Goo-in kept recalling the well-worn phrases from the book on human relations and sought help from Dale Carnegie.

‘This is a big deal. If it was just a casual meeting, it wouldn't be this awkward.’

Thinking about meeting this valuable person who might become a trainee at Garo Enter, his mind was in a tangle.

He was worried that a slip of the tongue might reduce his appeal.

While the two were struggling for their own reasons, Sung Pil returned with the drinks.

Their expressions brightened.

“I've never seen anyone order an espresso before.”

Baeg Seolha's order was an espresso.

A tiny cup was placed on a white plate.

“I ate a lot for breakfast...”

Baeg Seolha, who was about to say her stomach felt heavy, quickly closed her mouth.

It seemed like an unrefined thing to say in a meeting between a man and a woman.

“And I like espresso.”

“What kind of beans do you prefer?”

“...Huh?”

“I find them a bit classic, but I like Jamaican Blue Mountain the most. It has a good balance. If I don't want a special flavor, I usually go for Blue Mountain.”

Han Goo-in passionately expressed his preferences.

He was secretly delighted to have found a common interest in "coffee." It seemed like they could continue the conversation smoothly.

“I don't know much about it...”

Unfortunately, Baeg Seolha couldn't understand his story at all.

Han Goo-in closed his mouth and looked at Sung Pil, asking for help since he didn't know how to steer the conversation.

“I've never tried espresso. I only drink iced Americano. But isn't Americano just espresso with water?”

“Yes, that's right. I find Americano too bland.”

“But the taste of Americano does vary by franchise. Is it because of the different beans? The same goes for espresso.”

“Yes. There are subtle differences. For example, here...”

“Is it a bit more bitter?”

“Yes, exactly! I thought I was the only one who felt that way.”

Sung Pil led the conversation well, starting with coffee.

He had honed the skill of lightening the mood according to the other person's interests to perfection.

Being a manager, he couldn't do his job without the ability to start conversations.

Han Goo-in could only marvel at the 20-minute talk that followed.

‘Impressive. How can he keep the conversation going for over 20 minutes with such trivial talk?’

Baeg Seolha's laughter increased.

She even clapped her hands and laughed at every word Sung Pil said.

The ice-breaking skills Sung Pil had accumulated over the years shone through.

“Oh, the coffee is cold. I haven't even taken a sip.”

Baeg Seolha was surprised to see how much time had passed.

It seemed like they had only been laughing, but it had already been over 40 minutes. Sung Pil, seeing her positive reaction, couldn't stop talking.

She glanced at Han Goo-in, who had been mostly silent, occasionally joining the conversation.

‘...Aren't you leaving?’

Baeg Seolha couldn't understand the intentions of Han Goo-in and Sung Pil. She couldn't even guess why Han Goo-in was still sitting there.

“I'm sorry. We've taken up too much time without getting to the point.”

“What do you mean?”

“I asked to meet you today, as you might have guessed, to offer you a trainee position.”

“...What?”

“I didn't expect you to contact me first. Honestly, I... did something embarrassing back then. But how did you know my intentions and contact me?”

“...What?”

“Well, since Rika asked you beforehand, you must have known.”

Baeg Seolha's mind was in turmoil.

As the facts she had firmly believed in crumbled, her perception of the situation began to change.

And finally, she realized.

The reason Han Goo-in was still sitting there.

‘He wasn't waiting because he had business nearby.’

Han Goo-in had come as an executive of Garo Enter, to persuade Baeg Seolha along with Sung Pil.

Realizing this, Baeg Seolha couldn't hide her confusion.

“A trainee? Me?”

Baeg Seolha's surprise made Sung Pil flustered.

“Didn't you already know?”

“No, I thought this was a date...”

Baeg Seolha glanced at Sung Pil and Han Goo-in, then tightly closed her mouth.

At that moment, Sung Pil's words were cut off.

Han Goo-in felt a thrill that he couldn't express to anyone.

‘I was right! The green light was right!’

For someone who couldn't read people's emotions well, today's events were quite impressive.

The three fell into silence for their own reasons.

Baeg Seolha broke the silence.

“I'm 21 years old.”

Stating her age was as good as a polite refusal.

Becoming a trainee at 21? People would laugh.

It would look like she was clinging to a hopeless dream, unable to let go of a failed dream from the past.

“Do you not want to become an idol again?”

Instead of listing reasons, Sung Pil asked about Baeg Seolha's will.

The question stabbed her heart.

Do you want to be an idol?

It was a question she had buried deep in her heart for a long time.

“I heard about your previous company. The group was disbanded for business reasons.”

“...Yes.”

“I imagine you must have felt disappointed.”

More than disappointed.

At the time, Baeg Seolha felt as if the sky was falling. She had started her idol training life from elementary school.

It was a hard-earned opportunity after moving between several agencies.

How could she not feel disappointed when that opportunity was snatched away from the bottom? It wouldn't be strange to feel hatred towards the world.

“I've reviewed all the videos and songs from when you were active.”

For Baeg Seolha, it was a memory she didn't want to recall.

The words of the CEO at that time still stung like a dagger.

‘You failed to make it, so the group is disbanding. Who are you going to blame?’

The songs she made as an idol were not just memories.

Combined with the CEO's words, they were a nightmare that drove Baeg Seolha into self-loathing.

When the topic came up again, Baeg Seolha wanted to hide somewhere.

“I enjoyed it.”

But Sung Pil affirmed it.

Baeg Seolha's shoulders trembled slightly.

“No, to be precise, I enjoyed you. I saw potential in you. I didn't think you were someone who would be forgotten by people. That's why, even though it might be presumptuous, I wanted to meet you in person and tell you this.”

“...”

“I hope you will come to Garo Enter. Please.”

If Sung Pil were the CEO, he would have promised, “I will definitely debut you,” right there.

At that moment, Han Goo-in nudged Sung Pil's side.

Sung Pil, bowing his head slightly, told Baeg Seolha he would step out for a moment and stood up.

The two left the cafe.

“Mr. Park, your words were too aggressive. It sounded like you were going to accept her as a trainee right away.”

Han Goo-in was uneasy throughout Sung Pil's speech, as his tone made it sound like he was determined to debut Baeg Seolha.

There was a high chance of misunderstanding.

“The final decision is made by the CEO. If you make promises like that, it will hurt both Mr. Park and the trainee.”

“I know. I went too far.”

“Yes. When we go back in, correct it...”

“But look.”

Sung Pil grabbed Han Goo-in's shoulders from behind and made him face Baeg Seolha.

Through the cafe's glass wall, they could see Baeg Seolha deep in thought.

“Can't you see?”

“I can. She's there.”

“No, not that. Can't you see the aura she gives off?”

“I don't see any light...”

“Look closely.”

Sung Pil pushed Han Goo-in forward a step.

“Her white skin. It's as smooth as porcelain. You can almost see your face in it up close.”

“Hmm.”

“What about her hair? Have you seen it up close? It flows like silk, no, like a river. When she dances, it will shimmer like the night sky. Imagine it.”

“Hmm...”

“Have you looked into her eyes? There's a real universe in them. And her smile? I thought my heart would stop. She's really, really something.”

Sung Pil didn't know this before meeting Baeg Seolha today. He never thought he would be so captivated by her.

But after talking to her, he realized it.

“She really has talent.”

“...Isn't an idol's talent about dancing and singing? Appearance is part of it, but you haven't even seen her dance or sing yet.”

“No. An idol's talent is not about those specifics but about charm. It's a rare talent, far rarer than judges, prosecutors, or doctors.”

“Can you really see that?”

“Of course, it's not an objective standard. But look closely. Can't you see how she draws people in? The charm is palpable.”

“Hmm, I don't see it...”

Han Goo-in pressed his face against the glass.

At that moment, they heard murmurs nearby.

A few people were seriously watching their conversation and actions.

Objectively, it could be seen as a crime plot. They were describing which parts of the woman were beautiful.

“...Shall we go back in?”

“Yes, let's go back in quickly.”

The two returned to the cafe and sat down.

“I'm sorry. I received a sudden work call. Have you thought about it?”

“Yes, I'm sorry. I don't think I can do it.”

It was a sharp answer.

Neither of them could respond for a moment, not expecting such a direct refusal.

“Why...”

was the best thing to say.

Baeg Seolha, having organized her thoughts while they were out, explained her reasons without hesitation.

“I'm a bit old to start training again. And I have my own circumstances, so it's hard for me to quit my job now. I'm just starting to get the hang of it, and if I put in more time, I think I can become a full-time trainer.”

In short, it didn't make financial sense.

Baeg Seolha was competent.

During her long training period, she had sung until she was sick of it.

Not only that, but she was passionate about vocals and had acquired professional knowledge through self-study, things others would learn in college.

Thanks to this, she became a temporary trainer at a famous academy and was assured a full-time position with more experience.

“I'm sorry for the proposal.”

The decision was made.

When the person herself clearly refused, there was nothing more to say.

They could only accept it.

Han Goo-in looked at Sung Pil, as if asking what to do next. Sung Pil had no solution either.

Of course, they could continue to persuade her.

‘It's a financial issue.’

Sung Pil knew the future.

A few years later, Baeg Seolha would appear on an audition show, and her past would be revealed for the sake of entertainment.

She would finish second and cry, saying,

“I really wanted to sing as an idol and didn't want to give up. But I had to quit due to pressure from my surroundings. If I could go back in time, I wouldn't give up...”

Her story would end as a heartwarming tale of achieving her dream.

But Sung Pil felt her deep regret.

‘She never said she wasn't interested in being an idol. The reasons she gave were about her career and age. In other words, she's worried about money and the opinions of others.’

He could persuade her about the opinions of others, but he couldn't do anything about the money.

In the end, Sung Pil didn't try to persuade her further.

“That's a shame.”

Baeg Seolha bowed her head silently.

The three left the cafe.

“Thank you for the coffee. I appreciate it.”

“No, I'm the one who should apologize. The purpose of your visit today...”

Sung Pil realized his slip of the tongue and stopped. Baeg Seolha laughed, embarrassed.

“I'm glad you came out to clear up the misunderstanding. If you thought it was for that reason, it would have been natural to refuse. I didn't know my charm would work on someone as young as a trainer.”

“A, ahaha...”

“I'm joking. I came out because I felt bad about sending you to the hospital. Anyway, it was nice meeting you today. Please take care of Rika.”

“A, yes. I enjoyed it too.”

With that, Sung Pil saw Baeg Seolha off.

As she disappeared into the crowd, a bitter taste spread in his mouth.

“Why did you give up so easily?”

“There was a problem I couldn't solve. All I can promise is a debut, but that won't solve her current issues.”

“A problem?”

Han Goo-in looked puzzled but didn't ask further. Sung Pil walked in the opposite direction from where Baeg Seolha had gone.

After a few steps, Sung Pil stopped.

He turned around and ran.

“Mr. Park...?!”

Han Goo-in, surprised, chased after Sung Pil, but he was already far away.

Pushing through the crowd, Sung Pil reached his destination.

Baeg Seolha, with earphones in her ears, didn't hear his running.

Sung Pil stood in front of her.

Startled by his sudden appearance, Baeg Seolha pulled out her earphones.

“Mr. Manager?”

“There's something I didn't ask.”

“Eh, yes. What is it?”

Sung Pil, catching his breath, asked seriously.

“Do you want to be an idol?”

Baeg Seolha froze like ice.