Chapter 56

# Episode 056

"Hello."

One of the writers for Project Poyu, Jeong Jaesung, came to Garo Entertainment.

He was Rika's assigned writer.

He said he came to gather information about Rika before the filming.

Even though preliminary research could have been done over the phone, his visit in person seemed to indicate that writer Lee Hyunseong was indeed paying attention to Seong Pil.

"Isn't it very cold outside? Would you like something warm to drink?"

"Then, would coffee be okay?"

Seong Pil carefully made and served the coffee.

He had to make a good impression on the assigned writer.

Even though his career was short, he was the one who would be recording Rika's story.

Setting aside the courtesy of coming to the company in person, if Jeong Jaesung had a good impression of Rika, he would work harder, wouldn't he?

"By the way, this building is really nice. I can't believe it's a small to medium-sized company."

"I was surprised too when I first came here."

"It seems you've received a lot of investment. Do you have a famous producer or something?"

Jeong Jaesung's interest was good, but he hoped it would be directed more towards Rika.

"Where is Ishikawa-san?"

"She's in class right now. It should be over soon."

"Class? Ah, you're learning a foreign language, I see. It seems like you're really putting in a lot of effort."

In a small to medium-sized agency, it's almost impossible to pay attention to the members' foreign language skills.

Many don't even send them to the gym.

They just put a scale in the practice room and demand that they lose weight.

Garo Entertainment definitely invests a lot in its members.

"Can I go see it?"

"Sure."

Seong Pil took Jeong Jaesung to the classroom.

The members were sitting at their desks, looking at the screen in front of them.

Or were they?

"……?"

Jeong Jaesung looked bewildered, as if he couldn't understand the situation.

Projected on the screen was a video of an orchestra performing.

From the speakers, sweet classical music flowed.

"Ugh, uh……"

Jo Ara let out a weak groan, struggling to keep her eyes open.

Baek Seolha, whose eyes were starting to close, poked her thigh with a pen and straightened her back.

Rika's forehead was almost touching the desk, while surprisingly, Jang Hayang's eyes were wide open.

When the performance ended and the audience clapped, Hanguin turned on the lights in the classroom.

"That was Bach's Brandenburg Concerto. How did everyone find it?"

"Slurp."

Jo Ara wiped her saliva and lifted her head.

The members' reactions were not good, but Hanguin didn't lose his smile.

"Everyone. You've listened to pieces by Handel and Bach. Please share your honest impressions. An impression means a general evaluation."

"……It was boring."

Honest Rika gave an honest impression.

Jo Ara's impression was similar.

Baek Seolha and Jang Hayang tried to sugarcoat it, but ultimately said it was hard to listen to.

"I see. Then let's listen to one more piece."

Again?

The members, who were confident they would fall asleep this time, were wide awake as soon as Hanguin played the next piece.

"I've heard this before."

Jo Ara was the first to recognize it.

Even if it wasn't her, everyone knew the piece.

Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 11, third movement.

The Turkish March.

The members smiled, enjoying the familiar and lively tune.

At least it was much better than Handel's Water Music or Bach's cello pieces.

When the short piece ended, Hanguin said,

"Everyone. I believe you've realized something. This piece is much more……"

"Refined!"

"Yes. That's why Mozart is called a genius. He changed the history, flow, and future of music. He left countless masterpieces that don't feel boring or outdated even hundreds of years later. It's not an exaggeration to say he changed the paradigm. Even without getting into technical details, I think your feelings are enough to explain it."

The members definitely felt it.

They had heard many times that Mozart was a genius, but they never understood why.

But when compared to the pieces before Mozart, he was undoubtedly a genius.

It wasn't just knowledge; it was an intuition that seeped deep into their minds.

"Great artists often appear in the history of music. I believe and support that you can become one of them."

The class ended.

The members' eyes sparkled, as if they had all gained some insight.

Jeong Jaesung, stunned, asked Seong Pil,

"Is this some kind of setup? There are no cameras……?"

"It's something we've been doing regularly."

Hanguin's music history lectures had been going on for about three weeks.

Seong Pil had heard a lot of complaints from the members.

They said that when they entered the classroom, Hanguin only played strange classical music day and night.

But after seeing today's class, he realized it had meaning.

"Ishikawa Rika!"

Seong Pil led Rika and Jeong Jaesung to the reception room. Jeong Jaesung smiled and opened his notebook.

"You're Japanese, right?"

"Yes! My father and mother are both Japanese!"

"Haha. When did you come to Korea?"

Jeong Jaesung's eyes lit up when he heard that Rika was a KS Entertainment trainee.

He spent tens of minutes just listening to stories about her daily life at KS Entertainment. After that, he moved on to her family background.

"Just one year to learn Korean……"

"I only watched Korean dramas every day! I learned to read Hangul in just four hours!"

"Wow. So you wanted to become an idol……"

"I was originally an actress. It was on a certain day. I don't remember if it was cold or hot. Anyway, it was a sunny day. That day, I was with Manager Park……"

Seong Pil didn't realize Rika was quite articulate until he heard her speak in a loud, choppy voice.

Jeong Jaesung was captivated by Rika's stories, completely absorbed except for the occasional question.

Before he knew it, Jeong Jaesung had spent much more time than planned.

"Ah! I've been here for too long. I should go now. It was nice meeting you, Ishikawa-san."

"See you next time!"

Jeong Jaesung smiled at Rika's energetic attitude.

Seong Pil saw him off.

On his way out, Jeong Jaesung kept praising, looking at his notebook.

"Really dramatic. It feels like reading a novel. A Japanese girl who came to Korea alone with the dream of becoming a Hallyu star. One day, she changed her career to an idol and almost debuted with KS Entertainment but was eliminated. Despite her parents' opposition, she stayed strong and is preparing to debut……. Ah, if she shed a tear when talking about her parents, it would make a great scene."

Jeong Jaesung seemed lost in his own world, smiling to himself.

Although Seong Pil didn't like his casual attitude of commodifying Rika's story, what could he do?

That's the job of a writer.

He just hoped Jeong Jaesung would be careful when mentioning it.

"Thank you very much today."

"No, thank you for coming."

"Ah, and one more thing."

Jeong Jaesung leaned in close to Seong Pil, as if sharing a secret.

"Among the current trainees, Ishikawa-san seems to be top-tier in appearance."

"Rika?"

"Yes. With her unique backstory, she could get a lot of screen time. Of course, I'm not the PD, so I can't confirm anything."

"Ah, yes, thank you."

"Sure. I'll be going now."

Seong Pil bowed until Jeong Jaesung's car was out of sight. He then pondered over what Jeong Jaesung had said.

'Among the current trainees, Rika's appearance is top-tier?'

In the previous life of Project Poyu, there were many trainees who stood out for their looks.

Was Rika outstanding even compared to them?

'Hyebin-ssi also said Rika stood out the most.'

Could there be something about Rika's charm that only Seong Pil didn't know?

Seong Pil entered the company with this unresolved question.

Rika was waiting for him.

"Did I do well?"

Seong Pil silently held out his palm.

Rika happily slapped her palm against his.

"You're a born idol."

"Of course!"

* * *

Christmas was a week away.

"I'll give those who want to spend it with their families leave starting from Christmas Eve."

Hong Gyuheon announced this in the practice room.

The members didn't show much enthusiasm.

They just nodded, as if saying, 'I see.'

Rika raised her hand.

"What about me! It would be great if the company could provide me with a plane ticket!"

"That's something you need to arrange yourself."

"Sounda (I see)."

"If you really want to go, I can have Manager Park take you to Busan by boat."

"President, what about my Christmas Eve……?"

"Is Christmas Eve a holiday? It's a weekday. Manager Park needs to work hard."

"Sonna (That's right)……"

"Ah! Manager Park, don't follow me! That's racial discrimination!"

"……Manager Han. Why does Rika keep saying things like this?"

"It's probably because of what I said in Japanese history class. I told her that race is not about skin but about the heart. Discriminating or insulting someone based on nationality or other differences is racial discrimination……"

"Racial discrimination!"

Rika, still a student, absorbed the teacher's words like a sponge.

But what part of Japanese history was she studying?

"Rika, I'm not mocking you for being Japanese; I think you're cute."

"Am I cute?"

"Yes."

"I can't help it!"

"Stop joking and answer. Are you going by boat, Rika?"

"No. I go every Seollal!"

"Who said they'd send you for Seollal?"

"Eh."

"Just kidding. What about the others?"

Baek Seolha and Jang Hayang said they would come out to practice on both Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Jo Ara sighed, feeling bored.

"You can just play at the dorm on Christmas. It's a holiday, after all."

"Are you going home, Ara?"

"No. I'll be here too."

"Hehe. They said if you go home, you'll get soft! Kodomo (child) kodomo (child)."

Jo Ara put Rika in a headlock.

Hong Gyuheon smiled contentedly.

"You've passed my test. If you said you were going out on Christmas Eve, I would have checked all your phone contacts."

"Didn't we consult with Manager Park before? We told you we don't have boyfriends……"

"Does the president not trust us? It's disappointing."

"I've been betrayed by kids before. Try to understand."

"Wasn't the group name 'Supress'? What happened with them?"

"Don't even mention it. Some ran away during practice. Some cried and said they had to see someone important. They were acting like they were in a romance movie."

"Did you let them go……?"

"I was young back then. Anyway, you're all staying at the dorm, right? Manager Han, go cook for them on Christmas."

"Eeeek?!"

Rika recoiled.

"Do we have to eat Manager Han's nutritious health food (which doesn't taste good) until Christmas?! At least let us have some chicken breast!"

"What are you talking about? Of course, I'll feed you something greasy. You don't know how delicious it is when Manager Han cooks with determination."

Rika's mouth was already watering.

Even his health food was impressive. What would the result be if he really cooked?

"Wouldn't it be good if the president and Manager Park came too?"

The suggestion came from Jang Hayang.

"Me too?"

"Does the president have plans for Christmas?"

"I've dedicated my body and soul to the company."

"You don't have a boyfriend, I see."

"Hontou da yo (Really)."

"Kids, be quiet."

Hong Gyuheon looked at the members, as if finding it difficult.

"Is it okay if I come? You can eat without me."

"I'd like the president to come too. What about Rika and Ara?"

"Ha (Yes)."

"Sure."

"What about you, Onee-san?"

"I'm fine too."

"Why do your answers lack soul……?"

In the end, Hong Gyuheon decided to join the Christmas dinner.

Jang Hayang clapped, genuinely happy. Then she turned to Seong Pil.

"Does Manager Park have plans for Christmas or Christmas Eve?"

"I was thinking of meeting some friends, but I'll come too."

"Friends? What kind of friends?"

"Friends from high school. They've all been busy working, so we haven't had time to meet. We were planning to have lunch together. I don't know if we'll hang out after that, but I'll come."

Thus, the entire Garo Entertainment decided to gather for Christmas.

* * *

December 23rd.

As soon as Seong Pil arrived at work, he had to listen to Rika's boasting.

She was repeatedly opening and closing her hands, wearing pink furry gloves.

"Hyang-ssi gave me these!"

They were simple, patternless fingerless gloves.

Apparently, all the members received gloves as gifts.

"Ara got blue, and Seolha-ssi got white!"

"Is there a color standard?"

"I don't know. Why did I get pink?"

"Cherry blossoms? Because you're Japanese?"

"……Is that racial discrimination? It's ambiguous."

Seong Pil went to find Hong Gyuheon for work.

Hong Gyuheon was trying on a furry hat in front of the mirror.

Their eyes met through the mirror.

Hong Gyuheon quickly took off the hat.

"Is it the fashion of the enlightenment period for new women?"

"Want to evaluate my fashion? Go ahead."

"How can I comment on the president? But it doesn't really match your current outfit. It might go well with a casual coat."

"This was given to me by Jang Hayang. I don't know how to match it with my clothes."

Despite the subtle complaint, there was a faint smile on Hong Gyuheon's lips.

Jealousy slowly rose in Seong Pil's heart.

'Considering the members, and the president being the president, she probably gave it to her.'

Jang Hayang is really good at socializing.

'Right. If the president receives it, it's as good as me receiving it. The president received it on behalf of Garo Entertainment.'

A little later, Hanguin, who had been shopping since the morning, asked for help.

Seong Pil went to Hanguin's car and moved the groceries.

"Manager Han, I've never seen you wear a scarf before. It must be cold these days."

"Oh, this? It was given to me by Hayang."

"……?"

"It's a bit rough and short, but it's warm. Most importantly, it's full of sincerity."

Seong Pil spent the morning with a troubled mind.

He shouldn't be thinking like this……

'Me? My gift……?'