Chapter 39

Seong Pil cleared his throat and made a call.

It had been a very long time since he last contacted someone by phone instead of text or chat.

It's past quitting time, so he'll probably answer the phone, right?

[Seong Pil. What's up?]

The phone was filled with the noise of a bustling environment.

“Have you eaten?”

[Company dinner. The project we were preparing is over, so we're having a drink. What's up? Is it going to take long?]

“A few minutes. If you're busy, I'll call later.”

[No, I came out to take this call. What is it?]

“Hmm.”

The person on the other end was Son Hae Bin.

When Seong Pil first entered the industry as a manager, he became Son Hae Bin's road manager.

It's a really long-standing relationship.

Over ten years.

Son Hae Bin was a famous solo dance singer.

Hardly anyone didn't know her songs, of course, only from her mid-20s to her 30s...

It's been quite a while since she stopped performing.

“I'm currently forming a girl group.”

[Really? Did you go independent?]

“...I'm ‘participating’ in forming a girl group.”

[Oh, come on. I was thinking about getting you a bouquet or something. But who would include you from the production stage?]

“I'm not Park Seong Pil who used to serve my sister, am I?”

[Still, congratulations. It's a small company, right?]

Seong Pil is involved in the production, so it must be a small company.

While he was annoyed by the natural flow of thought, he was also impressed by the accurate judgment.

[The size of the company doesn't matter. If you work hard and do well, you can become a star even in a small company. Good luck.]

“Thanks for saying that.”

[What are you trying to ask? Just so you know, I can't get you on any TV shows or ads. Oh, are you trying to market your group with my company's trainees? Absolutely not!]

“Do I look like someone who would do something so petty?”

[Then what?]

“I've gathered four trainees. We need to start thinking about it.”

[Oh, right. How many are you planning to gather? Did you have a plan?]

“The plan keeps changing, but I've been making it as I go.”

[But four is too few.]

“Yeah, I know. That's why I wanted to hear your opinion. You have a good sense for this kind of thing.”

Currently, Son Hae Bin works in the design team of a large agency.

Her role is in merchandise and album design.

She started learning from the CEO and has grown to the point where she can handle a person's worth of work.

Given her background as a dance singer and her long experience in the design team, which is closest to consumer trends, her market insight must be solid.

[If I ask you now, I don't really have anything to say...]

“Can you meet me later and give me some advice? About the group's image and other things.”

Seong Pil's dream is to produce idols.

But he can't decide everything alone like a god.

Would a group that succeeded in the future succeed if it were brought to the present?

No.

Even if all the conditions and timing were perfectly aligned, the same result wouldn't happen.

Ultimately, Seong Pil can't guarantee success on his own.

He needs an ally to lead the production with him.

‘This sister has experience in the music industry. She has a good grasp of industry trends while working in design. Most importantly...’

She's a woman.

Seong Pil doesn't understand women.

There's a saying in the idol industry: 'If you make a group that women like, men will like it too.'

The majority of idol consumers are women.

He needs someone to analyze the points that make idols appealing to women.

‘The CEO said he never liked girl groups.’

[I sound like I'm something. I appreciate your trust, but I don't have any special insight.]

“Why not. We can meet after a long time and have a meal.”

If possible, he wanted to bring Son Hae Bin into Garo Entertainment.

If not, he wanted to get an introduction to someone with similar abilities.

‘This sister used to be involved in production too.’

In the future, Son Hae Bin leaves the company in disgust and sells all the shares she accumulated as a dance singer.

A few years later, she invests the money in a certain agency and becomes a director.

Using the money, she creates a group that matches her taste, and it does well.

Seong Pil often listened to the music of that group.

It matched his taste.

[Seong Pil, let me tell you something.]

“What?”

[Don't think about getting introduced to a woman through me. I'm struggling enough myself...]

“When did I ever say that?!”

[No, it's just that as I get older, my friends keep asking me to introduce them. Once you hit your 30s, those opportunities dry up. But do you think I know a lot of young people? It's ridiculous. They're in their 30s and want to be introduced to 20-somethings.]

“I have no intention of doing that, so don't worry and come out.”

[Seong Pil, you seem to be doing well. Are you going to introduce me to your girlfriend?]

“Not... really.”

[You're exactly 30, right? That's the right time. Find one quickly! You'll regret it later!]

It's solid advice.

In his previous life, Seong Pil was so focused on work that he stayed away from marriage.

Even when he dated, he would quickly break up due to fatigue and focus on work again.

Thinking about it now, he deeply regrets it.

“I'll handle it.”

[When can we meet?]

“When you're free.”

[Let's do Saturday. Are you going to drink?]

“If you want to eat.”

[When did you become so passive? You used to try to drink with me every time I went out...]

“Yeah, not anymore. I'm hanging up.”

[They say you forget the tadpole stage of a frog. I'm sad.]

He hung up the phone.

It's been a while since he felt this way.

‘The feeling of anger rushing from my heart to my head and then to my toes...’

How many times has he been teased by this person?

‘But it's good to hear your voice after a long time.’

It's a relief to know she's doing well.

* * *

“Rika, let's go eat tonkatsu.”

“Tonkatsu?!”

Rika quickly attached herself to Seong Pil's side.

It's like a dog greeting its owner after a few days away.

If he took her to a hotel buffet, she might even kneel.

“Tonkatsu is a metaphor. Let's go eat something delicious.”

“Look at that, look at that. You're favoring Rika again.”

“Let's go, Ara.”

“What can I do? I have to be favored...”

“Why do you talk like that?”

“Huh? Is it because of Rika? Has my tone become otaku-like?”

Baek Seolha and Jang Hayang, the older sisters, stared blankly at Seong Pil.

They were looking at him as if he was only taking Rika and Ara.

“Everyone, come. We need to go together.”

“Can we eat that?”

“Yes. It's a special day today.”

“Detective Jo Ara's guess. It's your birthday, sir.”

“No, it's not.”

“Guess failed.”

The four of them happily left the company for the sudden outing.

Outside, Han Goo was putting something in the trunk.

Thud, the trunk closed.

“Are you all ready?”

“Yes. I'll take Seolha and Rika.”

“Look at that, look at that. Even if I die, it's Rika and Seolha. Do you like them in the order you met them? Does Hyang agree?”

“No.”

“...What?”

Jang Hayang's firm answer left Jo Ara quite flustered.

“Then I'll take Ara. Mr. Han, please take care of the others.”

“Eh?”

Han Goo took Rika, Baek Seolha, and Jang Hayang.

Seong Pil took only Jo Ara and headed to the dorm.

“Eh? Really just me?”

“Ara.”

“Are you going to say something bad?”

“Don't try to create a hierarchy among the members, even as a joke. I and the CEO and Mr. Han don't favor anyone.”

“...I understand.”

“But people tend to start believing it if they keep thinking that way. Please be careful from now on. Got it?”

Jo Ara silently nodded.

Seong Pil is the one who handles the tough talk at Garo Entertainment.

Even if the company sets rules, the trainees don't always follow them.

He has to point out behaviors and words that go against the company culture, not just the rules.

Seong Pil is the one who takes on this role.

If there were a lower-level employee, he would have given the task to them, but now Seong Pil has to bear the cross.

Seong Pil wants to say nice things too.

“Got it.”

The excitement Jo Ara had earlier was gone.

She is more affected by Seong Pil's words than the others.

If she gets criticized for something small, she tends to be down all day.

Usually, Han Goo is the one who comforts her, but not today.

“Ara, open the glove box in front.”

“...”

Jo Ara opened the box with a calm face.

There was a paper bag inside.

“Gift.”

“Eh? Suddenly? A gift?”

“Open it.”

Jo Ara hesitantly opened the paper bag.

There was a large yellow box.

When she saw the writing on the box, Jo Ara got excited.

“Yazasu Friends!”

They are the mascot characters of Yazasu Talk, the national messenger of South Korea.

There's no Korean who doesn't know Yazasu Friends.

They are given as basic emoticons, so it's impossible not to know them.

“I, I, I really like these. Oh, this.”

“Really? I just bought what I thought you'd like. I'm glad.”

“Why, why? Why are you giving me this?”

“The last time you tried to touch my hair. I pushed your hand away, right? I felt a bit cold about it.”

Seong Pil himself thought it might have hurt Jo Ara.

For example, if someone tried to pat you on the shoulder as a sign of affection, but you quickly pushed their hand away, how would you feel?

Seong Pil wouldn't have felt good at all.

Moreover, the shock would be greater because of the usual closeness.

“I, I...”

Jo Ara was still in shock from the sudden gift.

She stuttered a few times and then burst into laughter, slapping Seong Pil's shoulder with her palm.

“I don't care about that at all!”

“Hey, hey! I'm driving! I'm driving!”

“Wow, what can I do with this uncle? Were you worried about that? For someone who doesn't hold grudges? Uncle, you have a soft heart, how do you live?”

Whether she holds grudges or not, it's clear she was depressed.

But now, Jo Ara showed a radiant smile as if it didn't matter at all.

It was a joy so intense that it made Seong Pil's shoulders rise.

“Open it.”

Jo Ara's face was still beaming.

When she opened the box, it got even better.

“A phone case!”

It was a rabbit character hugging the phone, personifying a rolled egg.

And more.

“A lap blanket! Ah, a cushion! A, a cape blanket too?!”

“There's more.”

“Badges and... a mug?! I'm really dying!”

Seong Pil flinched at the high-pitched scream.

Jo Ara laughed heartily and even stomped her feet.

“Hahaha! I feel so good, I might really die! Uncle, thank you. Ah, I might explode. Uh.”

“...”

It's scary.

Even in the future, Jo Ara loved Yazasu Friends.

She visited the Friends Shop once a week to pick up anything that caught her eye.

Once, he had the chance to visit Jo Ara's house, and the room was filled with Yazasu Friends merchandise.

He was stunned to see 8 body pillows on the bed.

If he had known she would love it this much, he would have bought one when he made the recruitment offer...

“I would be happy to get slapped by Uncle if I could receive such a gift. What would you buy me? 10 body pillows? 100?!”

“I won't hit you.”

“A, ah, ah, ah...”

How much does she love it?

While hugging the blanket, she started making strange moans. It was getting scary, and he wanted to run away.

Fortunately, they arrived at their destination soon.

“Put that back in the car. Don't...”

Tell the others.

If you give a gift, you should either give it secretly to one person or to everyone.

If Jo Ara told everyone she received a gift from Seong Pil, the other members might feel relatively deprived.

Even if there was a reason for the gift.

“I won't tell. Will Uncle's wallet be drained?”

Fortunately, Jo Ara didn't seem to have any intention of telling others.

She understood that even if the gift was meant as an apology, receiving it alone could be interpreted differently by others.

“But I really don't care about what happened back then.”

That's because she received the gift.

“Uncle, you have a small heart. If you keep this up, you'll have to buy gifts for everyone in the company.”

“That's true.”

“But, how much do you dislike having your hair touched?”

“I don't particularly dislike it. I was driving at the time, so I did it then.”

‘It's because of the future you.’, he couldn't say that.

Jo Ara reached out to Seong Pil's hair as if touching a new animal.

After a moment, her hand softly landed on Seong Pil's head.

“Really.”

“Am I a wild animal?”

“You still have a lot of hair.”

“Let's go. Stop touching it. What if it falls out because of you?”

After parking the car near the dorm, he gathered the children in one place.

The first thing they noticed was:

“One Heart National Soup? Are we eating here? Sonna, uso (No way, it's a lie)?”

“Rika, don't you like national soup?”

“I followed because you said you'd buy me tonkatsu. Of course, I'd be upset if you gave me national soup!”

Rika, a child who is serious about food.

Maybe because she can't eat freely usually.

While the children were imagining, Seong Pil and Han Goo took out cleaning tools from the trunk.

Since they were in boxes, the children didn't know about the cleaning tools yet.

“Let's go up.”

Seong Pil and Han Goo led the way.

The children looked confused.

Seong Pil put down the box and took out the key.

“This is your dorm.”

The silence was brief. Rika was the first to react.

It was a somewhat flustered reaction.

“We're really debuting...”

She burst into tears.