Chapter 38

# Chapter 038

“Huh.”

“Kee.”

Baeg Seolha and Jo Ara hugged Jang Hayang and cried. The two seemed unwilling to let go of her, like moss clinging to a rock.

This was right after Hong Gyuheon announced the results.

Despite their intense reactions, Jang Hayang only smiled and chuckled.

‘When did the three of them become so close?’

Rika, swept up in the atmosphere, also hugged Jang Hayang.

She felt left out if she stood alone.

When she hugged Jang Hayang, Rika couldn't help but cry.

“Huuu... You’ve worked so hard, Onee-san...”

“Thank you, Rika. Thank you.”

Hankugin, wiping away tears, captured the scene with his phone camera.

After the emotional embrace, Jang Hayang stood confidently in front of Hong Gyuheon.

“Boss!”

“Hmm.”

“I will really, really, really work hard!”

“Good. I like hardworking kids. Just keep it up from now on.”

“Thank you!”

With this, Garo Entertainment now had four trainees.

The chemistry among the trainees seemed good, and with four of them standing together, they finally felt like a girl group.

“Hayang, congratulations.”

“Yes! Manager Park, you must have worked hard to help me, right?”

“I didn’t work hard. You did all the work.”

“Ahaha, no, that’s not true.”

“Right. You said you had a wish. What is it? I’ll grant it.”

Jang Hayang, who had been smiling, wiped the smile off her face.

She looked around, flustered.

“Wish? You promised to grant Hayang Onee-san’s wish? What is it? Why didn’t I have one?”

Jo Ara immediately picked up on it.

“Me too!”

Rika joined in.

Baeg Seolha, though silent, seemed to share the same thoughts as the other two.

“Okay, okay. What are your wishes? Tell me.”

“I... let me think about it.”

“What about Rika?”

“I want to eat something delicious.”

Seong Pil looked at Hong Gyuheon as if seeking permission. Hong Gyuheon nodded reluctantly.

“Let’s all go eat something delicious until we’re full. I’ll pay.”

“Have I told you how much I respect you, Boss?”

“Rika, you’re just a smooth talker.”

“Haha.”

“What’s your wish, Hayang?”

Baeg Seolha asked Jang Hayang.

“I’ll tell you later. I haven’t decided yet...”

“But last time, you said it was something simple. I thought you had it planned.”

“Later! I’ll tell Manager Park later...”

Everyone sensed a strange atmosphere.

Hong Gyuheon pushed Rika, who was clinging to his side like a cicada, and asked seriously.

“Jang Hayang. I’m just asking in case. You don’t have feelings for Manager Park, do you?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Rhetorical question?”

“No!”

Hong Gyuheon stared at her as if trying to see through her. Jang Hayang met his gaze steadily.

“Right? Why would someone like you like Manager Park?”

“Your comment is very disrespectful. I request a correction.”

“Manager Park is a good match, though. For someone around your age, a 10-year age gap would be painful.”

“I don’t agree with the correction.”

“So, what’s your wish? Tell me.”

“Later. Later...”

It seemed she found it hard to reveal in front of others.

Seong Pil thought it might be related to her family situation.

‘That would make it hard to talk about.’

She probably wanted to tell only the person she trusted the most.

“Alright. It’s weird to keep asking. Today, everyone...”

Rika’s face lit up with expectation.

“Practice.”

Rika’s shoulders slumped in disappointment.

Despite the final evaluation event for Jang Hayang, Garo Entertainment operated as usual.

As Seong Pil was about to return to the office, Hong Gyuheon stopped him.

“Manager Park. We need to decide something soon.”

“What is it?”

“The group size. Four is good, right? Or do we need more?”

Four.

It seemed like the minimum number for a girl group to function.

“Four...”

There were pros and cons.

Actually, the cons were greater.

If the pros were significant, all current girl groups would have four or fewer members.

“I’ll think about it and let you know.”

“I’ll also think about it with Manager Han.”

* * *

Seong Pil drove Jang Hayang to her house because she fainted as soon as they started practicing.

Thinking it was a real illness, he took her to the hospital for a check-up.

The results would come later, but for now, they were just getting an IV and heading back.

“It must have been the release of tension.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Was the time you collapsed last night also because you fainted?”

“Ahaha, yes. As soon as I came to, I thought you’d worry, so I said I was sleeping.”

“Don’t do that again.”

“Yes.”

Jang Hayang seemed really exhausted and didn’t talk much.

Usually, she would have had a continuous conversation with Seong Pil.

She looked out the window at the Han River.

“Is there something interesting?”

“No. Just the Han River. The park. It looks nice.”

“What’s nice about it?”

“Let’s go for a walk there someday. I want to.”

“Sure. But what was your wish? Can you tell me now?”

“Yes, I can. Ahaha, but I’m still nervous.”

“Just say it. I’ll grant it if it’s reasonable.”

Even with Seong Pil’s reassurance, Jang Hayang kept saying things like, “Is it okay to say this...”

If she didn’t tell him her wish, he’d be so curious he wouldn’t be able to sleep.

“So, what is it?”

“Finally going to tell me?”

“Can I live at the company?”

It wasn’t something she should have told Seong Pil.

Actually, it would have been better to say it when they were all together with Hong Gyuheon.

Jang Hayang must have been scared to ask Hong Gyuheon directly.

“Move out of your house?”

“Yes.”

Hong Gyuheon always tells Seong Pil not to stay at the company.

There’s a small on-duty room, but it wasn’t made for living in.

What would Hong Gyuheon say if she asked to live at the company?

‘I’d be scared too.’

The difficulty of the wish was on par with buying luxury items at a department store.

Granting the wish required a lot of courage.

“I’ll talk to the boss.”

“Thank you.”

It was a request from Jang Hayang, not just anyone.

Knowing her difficult family situation, even if only partially, he wanted to grant this wish.

“If it’s not possible, there’s nothing we can do. Don’t feel pressured.”

“But then it’s not a wish. I can’t just grant it on a whim... I’ll do my best, but what if I can’t? Do you have another wish?”

“I do, but you can’t ask.”

“Why?”

“If I have another goal, I might give up faster. If this fails, I can just ask for something else.”

“You worry too much. Do I look like someone who does things half-heartedly?”

“No, I trust you.”

Seong Pil arrived at Jang Hayang’s house.

“Thank you for the ride. I’ll go in.”

“...Hayang. Should I go with you and tell him now?”

“Right now?”

“It’s because of your family situation, right? You don’t want to go home.”

Jang Hayang looked at him as if she were seeing a shaman.

She stood still for a moment, then let go of the door handle.

“Did you see it?”

“I didn’t.”

“Do you watch me all day?”

“Only when I see you.”

Their laughter mixed, and Seong Pil pressed the accelerator again.

“Can you grant me another wish?”

“Another? What for?”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Be an idol.”

“So, if I become the kind of idol you think is good enough, can you grant my wish then?”

“I only know the best.”

“Then I’ll aim to be the best idol. Grant my wish when I achieve that.”

“I understand. But that’s almost my dream too. It won’t be easy.”

“Haha, how long will it take?”

“Scary. Next time, it won’t be just buying luxury items at a department store. You might ask me to buy a house from a real estate agent.”

“Will it be as difficult?”

“I’ll refuse in advance.”

“Can you hear it out first...”

“Can I refuse?”

A smile spread across Jang Hayang’s face.

“No. This time, you can’t refuse. I’m fulfilling your dream for you.”

* * *

“Live at the company?”

As expected, Hong Gyuheon showed reluctance.

But the fact that he didn’t immediately refuse suggested there might be a possibility.

Seong Pil explained Jang Hayang’s situation as he knew it.

Though not specific, it conveyed the right atmosphere.

After listening to the story, Hong Gyuheon opened a drawer and took out a key.

“It’s been a while since I’ve taken this out. I’ll grant Jang Hayang’s wish with this.”

“What is it?”

“A key to the dorm.”

“You have a dorm?”

“Of course. We debuted an idol group before, remember? They lived there.”

I never imagined such a thing existed.

I was looking for real estate in my free time, not knowing this...

“Let’s see how it is. Let’s go together.”

Seong Pil, Hong Gyuheon, and Hankugin left the office.

At the door, Jang Hayang was waiting.

With a look of anticipation, Hong Gyuheon answered for her.

“You can’t live at the company.”

“Oh, I’m sorry for the unreasonable request.”

“But there is another place.”

“Really?”

“I’ll tell you when we get back.”

Hong Gyuheon passed the bewildered Jang Hayang.

Seong Pil followed Hong Gyuheon and made a fist at Jang Hayang.

Realizing the situation was resolved, Jang Hayang smiled brightly.

“Here it is.”

It was a two-story building.

On the first floor was a restaurant called “Hanmaum Gukbap.”

The second floor seemed to be for living.

“Is this building the boss’s?”

“Yeah. I’m dying from property tax. It’s a building I don’t even use.”

“But the rent from the shop downstairs?”

“True, but I have a few other buildings.”

For someone of Hong Gyuheon’s age to own several buildings...

It seems labor income can’t catch up with capital income.

I wish I had been born as the youngest son of a chaebol.

“Let’s go.”

The stairs to the second floor were clean.

Apparently, the owner of the restaurant downstairs cleaned them.

“Here it is.”

A simple wooden door greeted them.

Hong Gyuheon inserted the key into the doorknob and turned it.

Seong Pil’s heart raced like an adventurer heading to a new place.

A dorm, a dorm!

This is where the girls would build trust and affection with each other.

What kind of place would it be...

“Cough! Cough! Ugh, cough!”

Hong Gyuheon, who was at the front, coughed violently.

As soon as the door opened, a cloud of dust filled the air.

Hankugin, who was right behind him, sniffed and started sneezing, holding onto the wall.

“Ugh, I’m dying. What is this? There’s too much dust.”

Hong Gyuheon, sniffing, entered the room.

As sunlight streamed through the windows, the amount of dust floating in the air became clear.

“How long has this been unused?”

“I don’t know. A few years? I didn’t keep track. But the condition is serious. Let’s see, what can we do about this.”

Hong Gyuheon continued to cough as he walked around the dorm.

The previous group must not have cleaned up when they left, as various furniture and items were scattered around.

“Boss, here’s a handkerchief.”

“Oh, thanks.”

Hong Gyuheon covered his mouth and nose with the handkerchief Hankugin gave him and checked the place.

Seong Pil, not following them, entered one of the rooms.

A dusty poster hung on the wall.

‘Supress.’

The former Garo Entertainment boy group, Supress.

The men posed with lively expressions against a refreshing background.

What are they doing now?

Seong Pil, ignoring the dust, traced the poster with his hand.

It felt like sadness was seeping through.

‘We...’

Rika, Baeg Seolha, Jo Ara, and Jang Hayang.

Would they one day be buried in dust like this?

Thinking about it, his fist clenched involuntarily.

‘We must succeed.’

He would place them in the endless light.

For the whole world to see.

“Alright. There’s nothing else to see. Manager Park...”

Hong Gyuheon realized what Seong Pil was looking at.

Seeing the ‘Supress’ poster, Hong Gyuheon gave a bitter smile.

“Let’s go.”

She left the dorm without a word about the poster.

They locked the door and left.

“The dorm will be for all of you later. For now, only Jang Hayang will live there. Since it’s a place for the kids to live, we’ll call them all to clean it. You two will help too.”

“What about the boss?”

“Do I have to do the labor when I’m paying?”

That’s a fair point.

Hong Gyuheon took out a card from his pocket.

“But, you can order anything for lunch.”

“Oh, of course, not a speck of dust should touch the boss’s hands! That’s a fair point!”

“Manager Park, you’re getting more flattering. But it’s annoying. It’s creepy.”

“Thank you, boss.”

“Good. That’s the right amount. Manager Park looks better standing straight than bending. You should always be confident, not just in front of others, but in front of me too. Got it?”