Chapter 44

# Episode 044

As he left the hospital, the doctor's words continued to swirl in his mind.

"Nutritional deficiency."

The doctor also seemed flustered when saying it.

"Out of ten elderly patients who come for check-ups, one has a nutritional deficiency. It's really rare among young people, especially those in their early twenties."

Jang Hahyang had little muscle and fat.

The doctor said it must have greatly affected her daily life.

Seong Pil looked at Jang Hahyang walking beside him.

He thought she looked good being so thin.

Idols lose weight to look good on camera.

Jang Hahyang seemed fortunate not to need that process.

'What's fortunate about it?'

It must have been painful for her.

"The treatment is simple. Just eat regular, balanced meals. It might be hard at first. Eating small amounts multiple times a day can help. Since you have very little muscle, please do some light strength training. There's no need to rush."

In modern South Korea, it's almost too trivial to call it a disease. Just eating as much as others do will cure it.

'I knew they were poor, but I didn't think she couldn't even manage to eat properly.'

As Seong Pil kept looking, Jang Hahyang smiled.

"Don't you eat well?"

"I don't eat breakfast... Recently, Manager Han has been taking care of my lunch and dinner."

"What about the days you don't come to the company?"

"I just... can't remember well."

Seeing Jang Hahyang's thin arms made him feel sad.

"Aren't you hungry? What do you want to eat?"

"Just the two of us?"

"Um... I guess so?"

He couldn't invite the others to eat with them.

'Is it uncomfortable for you to be alone with me?'

It could be.

Seong Pil would also feel uncomfortable if he suddenly had to have dinner with a boss who was ten years older.

Even if there wasn't an age difference, if Hong Gyuheon suddenly asked, "Park, do you want to have dinner with me?" he would probably respond, "Why suddenly?"

"What about the others?"

Ah, she was worried about being the only one going out to eat.

"I'll change your diet from now on. You need to eat more. I'll talk to Manager Han... No, the others might feel deprived if they see you."

Especially Rika.

She might even protest strongly.

The other members aim to balance their calorie intake and expenditure at zero.

But Jang Hahyang needs to have a positive calorie intake.

It seemed like they should continue to go out to eat until Jang Hahyang's nutrition is balanced.

"I'll go out to eat with you and Manager Han from now on. Is that okay?"

"Sure."

A plan for Jang Hahyang's nutrition intake was made.

But after getting in the car, he noticed a concern.

If Seong Pil and Han Guin took turns going out to eat with Jang Hahyang, one of them would always be left out.

That person would have to have dinner alone with Hong Gyuheon...

'What will they talk about?'

Seong Pil had never had a non-work-related meal with Hong Gyuheon.

If he did, Han Guin would always be there like a third wheel.

That made conversations easier.

But how would he handle a conversation alone with Hong Gyuheon?

'Will we just eat in silence?'

The thought made him feel suffocated.

Even though they were close in age, the authority of being the boss was hard to shake off.

As he imagined himself fidgeting, he realized Jang Hahyang was unusually quiet.

Looking over, he saw her nodding off like a sick chicken.

'She must be tired.'

During the short-term training, a clear goal kept her alert.

But now that it was just a routine, Jang Hahyang had returned to a state where she worked when she had to and rested when she could.

She was always dozing off except when dancing or singing.

Having pushed her body beyond its limits, she was constantly trying to recover her strength whenever she had a moment.

'Huh?'

Jang Hahyang wasn't wearing her seatbelt.

"Hahyang."

"I didn't sleep."

She lifted her head so quickly it was surprising.

"...Oh, right. Buckle up and sleep."

"Hehe, I didn't sleep."

"If you're sleeping, why say you didn't?"

"Really."

"Then tell me what I said before I told you to buckle up."

Seong Pil hadn't said anything before telling her to buckle up.

"Huh?"

"See, you were sleeping. No one will say anything if you sleep. We have a long way to the company, so get some rest..."

"You were just looking at me without saying anything."

"You had your eyes closed!?"

"I said I didn't sleep."

What was she doing?

Looking down with her head bowed?

A shiver ran down Seong Pil's spine.

"I get nervous and can't sleep when I'm with you."

"Am I that uncomfortable? Speak up. I'll ask Manager Han next time."

"Ahaha, really?"

"If you didn't sleep, what were you doing with your head down?"

"Just... spacing out."

Seong Pil dropped Jang Hahyang off at the company.

Since Han Guin was in charge of taking her home today, Seong Pil's work was done.

"Aren't you coming in?"

"I have plans."

"Meeting Unnie Hye Bin?"

"Yeah. Did I tell you that?"

Jang Hahyang smiled and waved goodbye.

* * *

"Hey! Over here! Get in!"

Seong Pil covered his face with his hands in embarrassment.

The loud engine, the boastful honking.

Combined with Son Hye Bin's cheerful call.

'I want to bite my tongue and disappear.'

People around them looked disapprovingly at Son Hye Bin's provocative red sports car.

Seong Pil, still covering his face, ran to the passenger seat.

He slammed the door shut in a huff.

"Are you trying to embarrass me?!"

"Unnie got a new car, came to pick you up, say 'Sei ho!'"

Son Hye Bin sang an old song and laughed even louder. Seong Pil grumbled and buckled up.

As he leaned back in the seat.

"Oh."

"Jealous?"

"I want one too..."

"Come on, be realistic. When will you buy one with a manager's salary? Well, if you pay off 100, 200 loans every month, who knows?"

"Really sad. When did you buy this car?"

"Two years ago."

"Tax? Maintenance? Unnie, do you have a lot of money?"

"Yeah, I do."

"...It'll run out soon. Save it."

"Would I spend money without a plan? I worry about the idols..."

"Right, you don't worry about the idols."

The car started with a roar.

'This unnie brought a normal car last time, didn't she? Does she have multiple cars? But to just go eat meat, she brings this...'

It was a misunderstanding.

They arrived at a hotel restaurant.

Seong Pil, guided to a private room, looked out the window in amazement.

The night view of Seoul was dazzling.

Seeing Seong Pil's expression, Son Hye Bin winked.

"160,000 won per person."

"Unnie, you're not... proposing to me, are you? I've never thought about marriage..."

"How cute. That's the fun of dating someone younger."

"Really, what is it? Are you going to become a nun or something?"

"Last time, our Seong Pil said something impressive about my song. I was really moved. No one had ever talked about my song like that. I'm treating you because I'm grateful."

"Oh, that..."

"Like you're almost a music critic."

It couldn't be just for that.

In his past life, Seong Pil thought Son Hye Bin had disappeared at this time just to recharge.

But it was definitely something bigger.

While enjoying the food, Son Hye Bin chatted about trivial things but didn't get to the main point.

When the dessert, sikhye, came, Son Hye Bin's smiling face changed.

"Remember when I told you to join the company? Well, not my company, but Hong's company. Have you thought about it?"

Seong Pil sat up straight and listened.

"Sounds good."

"Huh? You like it?"

"It sounds good, but I have work. I was really inspired by the trainees. I thought, 'Ah, I could do something with these people...' You know, that feeling of being a creator?"

"I get it."

"It felt like when I made an album after a long time..."

Son Hye Bin sighed.

"Don't tell anyone about this?"

"I won't."

"I'm going to study abroad."

"...Study abroad?"

At her age?

"To university? As an undergraduate?"

"No. I have a bachelor's degree. I've been attending university while working."

"Did you plan to graduate?"

"You're so polite. Yeah, I did. Why? Are you surprised?"

"Wow, you graduated."

"Anyway, I want to study more."

"So you're going for a master's degree. Master Son?"

"Where did that come from?"

"A master's degree is called a master's degree. A Ph.D. is a doctorate."

"Is that so? I didn't know."

Her English skills were definitely lacking.

Where was she planning to study abroad?

She had experience working in Japan, so Japan?

"I'm going to Russia. To study dance."

"Huh? Russia?"

"Zdravstvuyte (Hello)."

Seong Pil was surprised by how soft her pronunciation was.

"I've been learning Russian at a language school. While working, I kept learning. Now I can read a bit."

"How long have you been...?"

"Quite a while. Isn't it funny? At this age."

Son Hye Bin was deliberately self-deprecating.

It was an attitude that invited ridicule.

In her mid-thirties.

She had barely graduated after nine years of university.

Son Hye Bin had chosen to study dance.

It was funny to think that a pop music dance singer was going to study classical dance abroad.

This could be called a late wind.

Son Hye Bin had been afraid of others' opinions and hadn't told anyone until now.

"Amazing."

"Thanks, even if it's just words."

"No, it really is amazing. It's brave to make this decision, and to keep learning Russian. It's impressive. I want to live like you when I'm older."

It felt a bit like flattery.

But Son Hye Bin knew Seong Pil wasn't that kind of person.

She knew he would react this way.

She knew, but saying it out loud was scary. What if he said, "Why do you need to do this at your age?"

But she was glad she told him.

"When are you going?"

"When I get an invitation from Russia. You need an invitation to get a visa. It should come in a month or two."

"Then I won't be able to see you anymore."

"Feeling down?"

"Feeling down."

"You. We haven't met much recently."

Seong Pil's face was really gloomy.

Son Hye Bin lightly tapped the table.

"Let's go for a drink."

"Is this the last time? That's why you brought me here?"

"Didn't you hear? I said the invitation should come in a month or two. I'll visit your company a few times in the next month to check on the members and sign for Seol. ...Come on, cheer up."

Son Hye Bin pinched Seong Pil's cheek.

Seong Pil laughed and playfully swatted her hand.

It was like old times.

Eight years ago, when Son Hye Bin said she was changing companies, Seong Pil had the same expression.

"Let's go out."

* * *

A month later, Garo Entertainment's first monthly evaluation was held.

The four of them couldn't help but be nervous when they heard the news.

"At my previous agency, we got scores for each evaluation. If your score was low, you were pushed out of the debut group..."

Rika shivered.

Baek Seolha also agreed with her.

"When I was a trainee, we gave scores to the kids. If they fell below a certain score, they were let go."

Jo Ara remained calm despite hearing this.

It was a calmness born from confidence that she wouldn't be eliminated.

On the other hand, Jang Hahyang's stomach hurt, and she frowned.

She hated competition.

When faced with a situation where she had to compete with someone.

'What should I do? How can I win? How much effort will it take?'

This situation was different from the final evaluation of the short-term training.

Back then, there was no one to compare herself to.

But this time, Rika, Baek Seolha, and Jo Ara were her competitors.

Even though their goal was to work together to complete a performance, it was another form of competition.

She had to break through or leap over the wall of people.

Moreover, Jang Hahyang didn't think she was better than the others.

The thought made her head spin.

"Let's listen to the song first."

Baek Seolha searched for EMC's "Oh My Own" on iTube.

EMC was a famous group.

Their group name, derived from E=MC², was initially a laughing matter.

But as their talent was proven, it became a charming name that received positive reactions from fans.

'I've never heard of the song "Oh My Own."'

If it was a title track by EMC, Baek Seolha would have known it.

It was probably a B-side track.

After browsing iTube for a while, Baek Seolha was surprised.

"These guys..."

The other members were also surprised.

"There's no stage performance video?"

* * *

On the day Seong Pil and Son Hye Bin discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the signing group.

And when they decided on the evaluation song.

"Actually, 'Oh My Own' is EMC's de facto retirement song. It was their last release, with no music video or music show appearances."

"But the song is amazing. It was written by the members after they all learned how to compose."

"Right. If the agency had promoted it, it would have topped the charts. I'm curious about the choreography."

"I've seen them perform it at a Japanese concert, but they didn't dance to it."

Seong Pil and Son Hye Bin chuckled mischievously.

"It's the perfect evaluation song for you."

On the day Son Hye Bin first came to Garo Entertainment, she read the idol plan Seong Pil had written.

In the past, Hong Gyuheon had sighed when he saw it.

Han Guin had been impressed.

Son Hye Bin had just laughed loudly.

'Music should not be a business but should focus on music and artists.'

'Music carries human thoughts and emotions, influenced by the environment, country, and culture. Music expresses all of this.'

'Artists, the creators, should not be treated as commodities.'

'Our idols should express their own dreams, thoughts, love, life, and beauty through music. They should connect and comfort fans, moving forward together.'

'Our idols will spread human love and humanism in the cold modern society. The message is an unchanging trend.'

In summary, what Seong Pil most hoped for from the members was...

"'Oh My Own' will naturally show the chemistry among the four of you. It will also showcase the creativity of the artists, which you value so much."

Large agencies always include a creative performance section in evaluations.

They allow trainees to modify the choreography and lyrics as they see fit.

Performing a song with pre-existing choreography and lyrics is insufficient for evaluation.

It's impossible to erase the original's aura during the evaluation.

Even if perfectly performed, it's just that.

It doesn't fully reveal the trainees' unique charm.

Therefore, 'creativity' is a crucial factor in evaluating trainees.

"Are you a mind reader? How did you know my thoughts?"

"How many years have I been in this industry? I know your thoughts like the back of my hand."

"You sound like you've lived ten more years than me."

"So, are we going with this song?"

"Decided."

All they had was the music.

Rika, Baek Seolha, Jo Ara, and Jang Hahyang had to come up with all the performances themselves.