Chapter 32

# Chapter 032

"You came early even though I just called you."

Seong Pil greeted Jang Hae Yang with an exaggerated smile.

"I've been here for an hour and a half early, to make up for the last time."

"Wow, you wanted to see me that badly?"

Jang Hae Yang also responded with an exaggerated attitude and sat opposite Seong Pil.

"Of course I wanted to see you."

"Wow! Even in this situation, you say you have no ulterior motives?"

"I've been thinking deeply since I met Hae Yang that day."

"Hold on. I'll go order a drink first."

"This time, I'll treat you. Since I'm the one who called you."

"Lee Il. Then I'll get the most expensive one."

Even though he said that, when Seong Pil really chose the most expensive menu, Jang Hae Yang tried to dissuade him.

"It's only a 2000 won difference from coffee."

"Still, I like Americano."

"Then let's have a piece of cake too. It's close to dinner time, so you must be hungry."

"I'm fine."

Syrup-covered Baumkuchen.

Jang Hae Yang didn't know what Baumkuchen was.

When she tasted it, it was so delicious it melted on her tongue.

"I'll continue what I was saying. I've been thinking deeply. I think it's better for Hae Yang to quit acting."

"……?"

Jang Hae Yang suspected her ears had gone bad.

"Quit acting."

She hadn't misheard.

The feeling of soaring to the sky with the Baumkuchen had suddenly crashed to the ground.

'What's the point of doing something that doesn't even make money? Just quit it!'

'Quit acting.'

Her father's shouts and Seong Pil's voice overlapped.

Still, Jang Hae Yang's expression didn't collapse.

Perhaps because she had already experienced something bad, she naturally smiled.

"Then what should I do?"

"Be an idol."

"Ahaha. I already told you, I don't even know what idols do. I don't listen to idol songs. If I become a trainee, you'll be frustrated, won't you?"

"I hope Hae Yang will join Garo Entertainment as a trainee."

Seong Pil seemed to have no intention of understanding Jang Hae Yang's words.

"I'm really grateful that you see me in a good light. But being an idol…"

"Once you join Garo Entertainment as a formal trainee, your debut is guaranteed. What if you fail after debuting? Don't worry, I'll make sure you succeed. I'll do whatever it takes to make you succeed. The document in front of you outlines the current situation and future plans of Garo Entertainment. If you want to know the details, take a look."

Seong Pil bowed his head slightly as if pleading.

Jang Hae Yang, unable to refuse his firm attitude, flipped through a few pages of the plan.

Hmm, I don't understand what it says.

"I know you're anxious. I would be too. But please trust me."

Seong Pil took out a document from his bag.

What is it now?

She quickly skimmed through it as a formality, but when she read the content, she was surprised without realizing it...

"Is this real...?"

"If Hae Yang joins Garo Entertainment as an idol and fails to generate the expected revenue, I will compensate you for all the effort and time you've invested."

"This much money...?"

"I've been saving it since I was twenty."

Of course, it wasn't company money.

If he showed this contract to Hong Gyu Heon, it wouldn't end with just being called crazy.

So he used his own money.

There was a loan involved too.

"It's too cheap to change your dream."

His confidence in making the group succeed allowed him to present this contract.

Of course, if Seong Pil hadn't bought stocks right after regressing, he wouldn't have been able to use this method.

'If Hae Yang spends a few years as an idol, even if we calculate it based on a salary, it would be over 100 million won. That's 100 million won if the group fails spectacularly.'

Compared to the profits Seong Pil would make from stocks in the future, it was nothing.

It was also a cheap price to save Jang Hae Yang's future.

'Although Hae Yang is a beginner, her visual appeal is a talent that can't be bought with money.'

Just by spreading Jang Hae Yang's memes, people would react.

Her face, height, and proportions were special even to Seong Pil, who had seen many trainees.

Dance and singing can be trained to above average by anyone.

Jang Hae Yang, who had read the contract, returned her widened eyes to their original size.

She maintained her composure and asked.

"It's getting suspicious. When I join the company, are you going to use this as an excuse to do something strange to me? I'm suspicious."

Jang Hae Yang laughed. At the same time, she felt sad.

Why did you say that?

To someone who is trying so hard to persuade you, you're really beyond help...

She knew the reason.

To confirm Seong Pil's feelings.

Is he sincere? Is he really sincere? Does he truly want me?

"I've been thinking since the first time I met you. I couldn't say it then, but Hae Yang is more suited to being an idol than an actor. I promise. I will do my best to make Hae Yang succeed as an idol. If I fail, I will take responsibility. Please, I beg you."

Seong Pil bowed his head and said.

"Give up your dream."

Jang Hae Yang dropped her fork.

Her hands were trembling so much she couldn't hold it.

Clang, the sound of the fork hitting the plate made Seong Pil not lift his head.

"Just a moment, I need to use the restroom."

As soon as Jang Hae Yang went to the restroom, she leaned on the sink.

She breathed heavily and bit her lip.

'Compensate for the effort and time I've invested in being a trainee...?'

A rough calculation would be over 100 million won.

Money is labor and time.

481 days.

11,560 hours.

Seong Pil's promise to compensate was equivalent to dedicating 11,560 hours of his life to Jang Hae Yang.

It was as if he was offering to work for free for almost four years, 8 hours a day, for Jang Hae Yang.

Seong Pil, who had saved money for ten years, was giving it to someone like her.

'Give up your dream and become an idol? On the condition of becoming an idol...'

If she failed, Seong Pil would compensate her for all the time and effort she had invested.

It was impossible without a significant amount of trust.

'Why did I have to hear this now...'

Her house had been auctioned off.

Her parents had taken the money she had saved for acting.

She felt like she had been abandoned by the world, but someone wanted her.

'I can't do it.'

The path she had pursued without wavering, with the dream of becoming an actor, was now shaking.

The persuasion that would have been ineffective under normal circumstances had deeply penetrated her heart today.

Perhaps it was because the person was Seong Pil.

She wanted to cry right there.

But she held it back.

If she stayed, she would have told Seong Pil everything about her family and life.

'I don't want to.'

She didn't want to be a pitiful child.

She didn't want to show her unhappiness.

If she did, Seong Pil would pity her.

She didn't want that kind of attention.

She had lived her life without telling anyone her troubles, sorrows, or unhappiness.

Her parents didn't care about her, so she didn't expect others to care either.

Seong Pil might be surprised and perhaps even uncomfortable if he heard her story.

Of course, she thought Seong Pil wouldn't do that, but Jang Hae Yang didn't want him to show her kindness out of pity.

'How much time has passed?'

She had left her phone, so she didn't know.

Jang Hae Yang straightened herself in front of the mirror.

When she returned to her seat, Seong Pil was still sitting upright.

Jang Hae Yang forced a smile as usual.

"Um, so..."

Her lips twisted.

Failure.

She couldn't make a normal expression.

What did her face look like now?

Was it grotesque?

"Do I, have the value, to do this?"

"Yes, you do."

Seong Pil answered immediately.

Jang Hae Yang wanted to run to the restroom again. But her limbs were numb, making it hard to stand.

No, her vision turned completely white, and she couldn't see anything.

All she could recognize was her heavy breathing.

"I, but, I have to work part-time. As a trainee, I won't have much time to focus, I think."

She shouldn't have answered like that.

There was something she wanted to say.

But her instinct kept leading her to ask questions.

To confirm his sincerity until the end.

Her instinct told her that someone she had only known for a few days couldn't give her the trust and kindness that even her parents hadn't given her.

Kindness isn't free.

It can't be.

"The company will provide meals. If it's due to your family situation, the company can also provide a living allowance. You can use it for transportation and other expenses."

"Is this normal?"

"Because it's Hae Yang."

Finally, Jang Hae Yang said what she had wanted to say.

"Thank you..."

If someone had heard her, they might have thought, 'Are you thanking him for the money?'

It was a sincere response without context.

Jang Hae Yang's gratitude came from Seong Pil's trust.

It was the first time her desire for recognition, which she had never received from her parents, was fulfilled.

Then Jang Hae Yang gave her answer.

Seong Pil smiled for the first time today when he heard it.

'Saved.'

Jang Hae Yang's life.

* * *

The news that a new trainee candidate was coming to Garo Entertainment spread.

"Hehe, another one? I wonder what they're like... Hehe."

"Your tone sounds like a hardcore otaku."

"Hehe, can we at least see their face?"

Rika, ignoring Jo Ara's taunt, went out of the practice room. Baek Seol Ha and Jo Ara pretended not to care and listened to the sounds outside.

Rika leaned on the second-floor railing, waiting for Seong Pil's return.

Soon, Seong Pil and Jang Hae Yang entered the company.

Rika, seeing Jang Hae Yang, hurried back to the practice room.

"It's an actor! An actor came! The proportions are insane!"

Jo Ara, who was stretching after practice, couldn't hold back and went outside.

Baek Seol Ha, pretending not to be curious, stayed and continued stretching.

When Jo Ara returned to the practice room, she was quite dejected.

"My place is getting smaller and smaller."

"Ara-chan, you have an 11-pack and great dance skills."

"I might leave the company."

"You'll have to pay a penalty if you don't fulfill your contract!"

"I'm enduring for the money."

Rika and Jo Ara exchanged jokes.

Listening to their conversation, Baek Seol Ha couldn't help but be curious.

"Do you want to watch the test?"

"I love watching others take tests. Let's go, sister?"

"I'm fine. You need to finish stretching. If you don't, you'll have muscle pain tomorrow."

"Come on. We can do it after we come back."

Baek Seol Ha, pretending to give in to Jo Ara's persuasion, got up from her seat.

The three