Chapter 77

# Chapter 077

The members all went to the bathroom together.

Joara, fixing her fringe, grumbled.

"Is it even reasonable to suddenly change the lyrics? We've practiced the original lyrics so much, what are we supposed to do now?"

"It was the lyricist's direction, you know."

Baegyeoha tried to calm Joara down.

"The lyricist probably changed their mind after seeing us in person. Everyone has different pronunciations that sound good and different ways of easily producing their voice. Everyone has their own unique qualities. They pointed out the better parts for the song, so we should be grateful."

"I'm not complaining or anything."

You seem to be complaining.

"Ha. If you were going to do this, you should have met us earlier."

Jeongji-eum seemed to be taking the recording seriously, and the other members also wanted to do their best.

Once their song was registered with the distributor, it would stay with them for life unless humanity itself were to end.

While they wanted to bring out their best abilities, it wasn't as easy as they wished.

"What's that? A booth? I don't want to go in there where I can't see anything."

"Isn't it easier to concentrate?"

"It feels like being locked in a prison."

"Ara, you're really getting into the song."

Jang Hayang, who had approached without them noticing, hugged Joara from behind. As her cold hands stroked Joara's stomach, Joara shivered.

"You're lucky. You won't be cold in summer, right? You won't even feel the heat, will you?"

"I feel hot when it's hot. Because my body is cold, I feel the heat more."

"Oh, that makes sense."

At that moment, a loud noise came from the hallway.

Baegyeoha stopped fixing her makeup and headed outside. The other members followed her.

Rika was running towards Seong Pil, who had fallen.

"Manager, Manager, Manager!"

As Rika approached, Seong Pil's body reacted first.

He touched the ground and stood up incredibly fast.

"The floor is slippery here. Be careful."

"There's a carpet on the floor!"

"Let's just pretend you didn't see it."

"Oh! I didn't notice!"

"Lower your voice."

"Jehegaha, I didn't notice."

Fortunately, Rika seemed to believe that Seong Pil had tripped by accident.

The members gathered around Seong Pil a bit late.

"Uncle, you really fell like in a game. Did you hit your head?"

"No, I'm fine."

"How many times?"

"One. Don't spread it around, okay?"

"You seem fine."

After a short 5-minute break, they resumed recording.

Seong Pil, sitting in a chair, kept bending and straightening his body. Son Hyebin, sitting next to him, couldn't help but notice his discomfort.

"Are you in pain?"

"No. The chair is a bit uncomfortable. And the kids keep getting criticized."

"Shouldn't you criticize them like an amateur? You do it too."

"Ji-eum is already doing a good job, along with the lyricist."

Songwriter Jeong Ji-eum and lyricist Lee Su-yeon pushed the members like a soul duo.

The recording engineer was trembling.

"Whew."

Seong Pil felt his breathing getting rough and covered his mouth. He tried to stabilize his breathing by breathing through his nose.

At that moment, Son Hyebin grabbed his arm tightly.

"Hey. Let's go to the convenience store for a bit."

"But the kids are recording. Where are we going?"

"I'm thirsty."

"There's water over there."

"Just come with me."

They went outside.

"Are you in pain?"

"No."

"You are. Men don't like to show their pain, do they?"

"Hey, stop the gender discrimination. If we're out, let's get to business."

Son Hyebin bought cold medicine and painkillers at the convenience store.

"I'm not in pain."

"I bought them for myself. Let's smoke a cigarette."

"Didn't you quit smoking?"

"Sometimes. Give me one."

They went into an alley and put cigarettes in their mouths.

Seong Pil's hand, holding the cigarette, trembled like a patient with a nervous disorder. He lit the cigarette with a troubled look.

As he took a puff,

"Ugh!"

Nausea hit him.

Seong Pil drooled and stared at the ground for a while.

"Ha, you really haven't changed. If you're sick, say so."

Son Hyebin put her hand on Seong Pil's forehead.

"You're burning up. Your ears were red earlier, but I thought you were just blushing in front of the kids."

"Pha... Do my ears turn red when I see the kids?"

"I don't know. I just thought you might, so I asked. Take this."

Son Hyebin handed him the cold medicine she had bought.

Knowing that Seong Pil would refuse if she tried to make him take it, she suggested smoking a cigarette.

Seong Pil had hidden his illness quite a few times in the past.

'This sister knows me too well.'

Seong Pil had never taken care of his health when it came to work.

Even when he was Son Hyebin's manager, he was the same.

Thinking back to those memories, Seong Pil smiled despite his pain.

"I feel better after taking the medicine."

"Don't lie. I'll drive you home or to the company."

"No. The kids are recording."

They bickered as they returned to the studio. A car arrived from a distance.

Hong Gyu-hun got out.

"Why are you two outside? What about the kids' recording?"

"Seong Pil is sick, so we went to buy medicine."

Seong Pil gave Son Hyebin a look, wondering why she had to say that.

"Are you very sick?"

"No, it's just a cold."

"Cold?"

"It feels like a fever..."

"But what are you trying to come in for? What if you spread it?"

"Oh... I'll go buy a mask."

"Get in the car. I'll take you home."

"No, sir, go inside. I'll take Seong Pil home."

"PD Son is more helpful than I am. Take care of the kids. I'll take Manager Park."

"Sir, I can stay here."

Hong Gyu-hun glared at Seong Pil.

Seong Pil didn't back down...

"Get in."

"Yes."

He lost.

"Sit in the back and lie down."

"No, I'll sit in the front."

"Don't spread it to me."

Ah, that's what you meant...

"I won't cough, just stretch out..."

Hong Gyu-hun took a mask from the glove compartment and gave it to Seong Pil.

He's so thorough.

During the drive to Seong Pil's house, Seong Pil wasn't allowed to say a word.

Because even with a mask, saliva could still spread. He felt like he was being treated like an infectious disease patient, which made him sad.

"Please take care of the kids, sir."

"I'm coming into your house."

"What?"

"You look very sick."

"No, I'll be fine on my own..."

"Open the door."

"Yes."

Seong Pil, who hadn't let a woman into his house in a long time, opened the door.

There was nothing to be ashamed of.

"Do you want to take a shower or just lie down?"

"..."

"Mr. Seong, you're thinking strange things again."

"I'm not. I'll take a shower and lie down."

"Okay. I'll make some porridge."

"Can you cook, sir?"

"After sleeping at your place and eating your food, you're asking this?"

"You're right. I did."

It was a memory he wanted to forget, but Hong Gyu-hun brought it back.

Seong Pil took his clothes and a towel and went to the shower. The hot water made him feel drowsy.

'I am sick.'

When he came out after showering, the smell of porridge filled the room.

He must have taken a long shower.

Seong Pil approached the kitchen to see if he could help.

"Lie down."

"Yes."

Before he could even peek into the kitchen, Hong Gyu-hun's command sent him straight to the bed.

As he pulled the blanket over his body, his head felt dizzy. He thought he had closed his eyes for a moment, but when he opened them, Hong Gyu-hun was right beside him.

She placed a cold, wet towel on his forehead.

"You look much better."

"Rest well."

"Yes, sir, good luck with the recording today."

"Am I recording?"

"Ha ha..."

After a few words, Seong Pil fell asleep.

* * *

The view is dark.

It's hard to open my eyes.

Yet, my hearing works fine.

"...What does the word 'attention' mean? It means to value the letter that comes before 'attention.' For example, liberalism values freedom, and nationalism values the nation. Do you understand so far?"

"Yes! So communism values communism, right? But what is communism?"

"Ah, that's how it is. Well... Communism is... Let me explain with a picture. There are means of production, production materials, and labor. If the durability of the means of production is 1,000, then for each item produced..."

"What are you teaching the kid?"

Seong Pil stirred. The towel on his forehead fell off.

It was still wet and cold.

He must have just put it on.

"Manager!"

Rika, who had been listening to Hong Gyu-hun's lecture, quickly ran to Seong Pil's bed.

Unlike her lively responses earlier, her eyes were now teary.

"Are you in pain? Were you in a lot of pain? Are you still in pain?"

Seong Pil touched his forehead.

His fever had gone down.

"I'm fine now."

"Lie! You fell because you were in pain! Manager, you promised not to lie to me! Liar!"

"Rika, get down."

Hong Gyu-hun grabbed Rika's neck and pulled her down to the floor.

Rika peeked at Seong Pil from the edge of the bed.

"Eat the porridge."

"Thank you."

Seong Pil followed Hong Gyu-hun's instructions like a child.

After eating a couple of spoonfuls, he suddenly came to his senses.

"What about the recording?!"

"It's over."

Rika being here meant at least 7 hours had passed.

The most concerning thing was...

"Sir, have you been here the whole time?"

"Of course, I was at the studio."

"But you didn't go to the recording room, did you?"

"Rika, we agreed to match our stories, remember?"

"Oh?! Sir, you were at the studio!"

"Alright. It was my mistake to ask you to do something."

"Gomen nasai (I'm sorry)... Sir, I'm really sorry. It's all because of me."

"What, what could I have done even if I was there? I would have just read a book out of boredom."

"Our tears and sweat in the struggle are boring?!"

Seong Pil picked up the fallen towel and patted his neck to wipe away the sweat.

Of course, he didn't wipe the sweat from his body.

"What did you do here?"

"Are you interrogating me? Do you think I did something to you?"

"No, I'm just curious."

"I read a book. There were many interesting ones."

So, the talk about communism and such must have been Hong Gyu-hun reading a book to Rika.

"Did anyone else come besides you and Rika?"

"Ha (Yes)! Manager Han, Hyebin, Ji-eum, Hyang, Seulha, and Ara came."

"Just say they all came. Why didn't you go?"

"Manager, you were sick, so I couldn't just be comfortable while you were sick!"

Seong Pil barely held back his emotions.

How could he meet such a kind child?

He was grateful to Rika's parents for giving birth to her and to his own parents for giving birth to him.

He would repay them by showing Rika to the whole world.

Everyone must know Rika's charm.

"When I first met you, you were crying and making a fuss. You didn't wake up easily."

"Was I?"

"Yes!"

"I see."

Rika proudly puffed out her chest, as if asking for praise.

Seong Pil briefly said, "Thank you."

"Rest tomorrow too."

"I can go to work tomorrow."

"Rest."

"Really, I feel almost better."

"Manager Park, health is more important than work. You can miss a day or two of work."

"You're the one who pays my salary, so you shouldn't say that."

Hong Gyu-hun chuckled and lightly touched Seong Pil's forehead.

He still had a fever.

"Our family's medical history is liver disease. My uncle was a company executive and really loved drinking. I don't know if he truly enjoyed it or if it was for business, but he always said he was fine. He passed away. He didn't take care of his health."

Seong Pil couldn't easily respond to the heavy topic.

"Love yourself more. Take care of yourself when you're sick, and listen to your problems when you're tired. Understand?"

"...Yes."

"Okay. Rika, let's go."

"I'm not going! I'll take care of Manager!"

"Manager Park."

"Rika, go quickly. I don't need you."

"Son na (No way)!"

Rika was dragged away by Hong Gyu-hun.

"Manager, if you're sick, call me anytime! I'll run to you barefoot!"

I'll never call her.

Just before leaving, Hong Gyu-hun suddenly remembered something and threw a USB at Seong Pil.

"The kids finished recording. Listen to it. If you're fine, we'll start mixing right away. I'm leaving. Rest well."

The room was as quiet as if no one had been there.

Seong Pil picked up the USB that had fallen on the blanket and went to the computer.

When he connected it, a music file appeared.

He put on headphones and listened quietly.

Seong Pil's eyes curved with joy.

"Great job, everyone."

It was made by the members.

It was made by Garo Entertainment.

It was made by Seong Pil.

It was made by everyone.

* * *

"We need to hire a road manager."

"Already?"

"After seeing you collapse last time, I realized I've been pushing you too hard."

The members' academies were almost the same, but their class times were different.

Because they received training at different levels, there were time differences.

So, Seong Pil, Han Gyu-in, and Son Hyebin had to pick them up at different times every day.

Since they all had their own work, it was a burden to spend time picking up the members.

Their routes often overlapped, which made the time spent even longer.

In other words, it was inefficient.

"So, let's hire a road manager. Can you handle that, Manager Park?"

"Sure, but did Manager Han and Hyebin agree?"

"Manager Han agreed. PD Son will probably be happy to get the job."

Han Gyu-in was in charge of Garo Entertainment's finances.

If he agreed, he must have thought a road manager was necessary.

"Understood. I'll look into it."

Seong Pil left the office and sat at his desk.

'A road manager.'

It's rare for a road manager to stay long.

Currently, Garo Entertainment's schedule isn't tight, but if they start full activities and the road manager suddenly runs away, it would be a big problem.

'Bringing in someone we know might be better. Should I ask around?'

He contacted known managers to see if they had any good recommendations.

For a few days, the only answer was "No."

'Right. If they were good, other agencies wouldn't let them go.'

Thinking he had no choice but to post a job ad for a road manager, a long-unseen number appeared on his phone screen.

'Shin A-reum?'

She was a trainee at Success Entertainment.

When he went to the Project For You filming site, she had even ridden in his car.

She wasn't someone who would contact him out of the blue.

'Could it be?'

Recently, after the end of Project For You, the group 'For You' was announced.

However, one of the members was involved in a school bullying scandal.

Originally, there were two, but in the previous life,