Chapter 78

# Chapter 078

"What's up?"

[It's not like I only contact you when I have work with the team leader. I just wanted to hear your voice.]

"You only contact me when you have work."

[Impressive insight.]

"How did you get my number?"

Seong-pil had a separate work phone.

The number that the Success Entertainment trainees knew was the number of that phone. And when Seong-pil left Success Entertainment, he smashed that phone.

Of course, he had transferred all the numbers except those related to Success Entertainment to his new phone.

[I asked Hyun-gab.]

"Is that so? Why did you contact me?"

[Please look for a job for Hyun-gab.]

Min Kyung-sub.

Just like Shin Ah-reum, he was a manager at Success Entertainment who had given her a ride to the filming site of Project For You.

"Yes, what's the problem? Why should I worry about his job?"

[No, during the filming of Project For You, I was always separated from Hyun-gab, right? When I came back after a long time, the atmosphere was really bad.]

Seong-pil perked up his ears.

Although he hadn't told anyone, Seong-pil had secretly hoped that Success Entertainment would go bankrupt.

But the atmosphere is really bad?

There must be problems within the company.

'Finally, are you answering my prayers, God?'

[It's obvious that you and Yun Sang-yeol don't get along. Hyun-gab doesn't talk much either.]

"If he can't stand it, he'll leave on his own."

[You know, Hyun-gab is stubborn.]

"That's true."

Min Kyung-sub was the type who wouldn't say a word even under torture.

No matter what hardships and pains he faced, he would endure them silently, to the point where even Seong-pil was amazed.

During the time when Success Entertainment was short of staff and had many schedules, he once worked as a manager for 48 hours without sleep.

Once he slept, he couldn't wake up again.

He was almost out of breath, trembling, but he never closed his eyes.

[He seems to be trying to endure, but you know, stress from human relationships is the biggest.]

"You sound like you've seen it all."

[There's no one like me. Who would worry about a company manager like this?]

That must mean Min Kyung-sub's condition is serious. Even Shin Ah-reum couldn't ignore it.

[Since Hyun-gab followed the team leader well, please tell him to leave Success Entertainment right away.]

"If I suggest it, he'll refuse."

[That's why I thought of this. I'll take Hyun-gab, so the team leader just needs to come out.]

"You haven't even said you'll look for a job for him."

[No, I will. If you do, I'll send you a signed album and goods when For You comes out.]

He's a kid with a lot of self-love.

'Does he think I'll be happy to receive such things?'

I am.

No matter how badly he left Success Entertainment, Seong-pil still had affection for the trainees there.

A signed album and goods from Shin Ah-reum?

I can't resist.

"Alright, I'll go."

If Min Kyung-sub really decides to change companies, I want to bring him to Garo Entertainment.

He was a guaranteed manager.

Seong-pil listened to the place and time from her and wrote it down.

[And bring Rika.]

"Why Rika?"

[The excuse for me to take Hyun-gab is to see Rika. I'm a star now, so I can't wander around alone.]

Not just a star, but the group is about to sink due to a school violence scandal.

Of course, they managed to debut through the management company's aggressive push and have achieved good results since then.

But currently, the group 'For You' must be in a somber mood.

"Have you not moved into the dorm yet? You don't have a manager assigned?"

[Yes, I have some time left.]

"Got it. I'll bring Rika that day."

[I love you.]

"Me too."

After hanging up, he went out to look for Rika.

She wasn't in the practice room or the lounge.

She should be in the company at this time, but she wasn't.

Did she run away or something...?

"Oh, there you are."

Through the glass wall on the first floor, he saw Rika sitting on a terrace chair.

She was sitting still, looking at the sky as if taking a photo. Seong-pil went outside and sat next to her.

"What are you doing?"

"Looking at the moon."

"Beautiful."

"I am beautiful, right?"

Rika answered playfully, but her gaze was fixed on the moon.

"Why? Is something on your mind?"

"No, I was just thinking that I can see the same moon in my hometown."

Rika seemed to be feeling nostalgic.

No matter how familiar she became with Korea, it couldn't be better than the hometown where she lived for over a decade.

It couldn't be.

"Will you go back to your hometown after your idol career ends?"

"I don't know. Should I take the naturalization test? Or should you take the Japanese naturalization test for me?"

"Why me?"

"Ah, that's too much. Don't you miss me?"

"That's why I'm trying to see you as much as I can now."

They silently looked at the moon for a while.

"Rika."

"Yes."

"Are you free on Sunday?"

"That's too classic! Try a more romantic approach!"

"For example?"

"Tsuki ga kirei desu ne (The moon is beautiful)."

"What does that mean?"

"Hehe, study Japanese! You'll need it for the naturalization test later!"

"It means 'The moon is beautiful.'"

Suddenly, a figure appeared from the darkness.

Seong-pil and Rika were both startled.

There were no streetlights in front of Garo Entertainment, so it seemed like he had teleported out of the darkness.

"Are you done with work now?"

"Yes."

"Ah! Manager Han's clothes are drenched in sweat!"

"It's hot, isn't it? By the way, do you like Natsume Soseki? I like 'I Am a Cat' the most."

"Um, I haven't read Natsume Soseki... "

"Are you really Japanese?"

"Don't stereotype me!"

"Great answer."

"What does the moon being beautiful have to do with Natsume Soseki?"

"It's not 'Soseki,' it's 'Soseki.' Manager Park, you don't know. By the way, Natsume Soseki translated 'I Love You' as 'The moon is beautiful.'"

Seong-pil looked at Rika, and she smiled awkwardly.

"Hehe."

"Definitely has a feeling. It's much better than asking if you're free on Sunday."

"Where are you two going on Sunday?"

"Yes, we have some business. Manager Han, you must be hot. Let's go inside. I've turned on the air conditioning."

"Thank you."

Han Gu-in loosened his tie and entered the building.

"Are you free on Sunday then?"

"Yes, but only if Manager Park has a plan that will make me happy!"

"Sorry, I'm not confident."

"Already giving up?! Nice guys aren't popular!"

The place Shin Ah-reum designated was just a restaurant.

It was a Japanese restaurant, possibly considering Rika.

"Remember Shin Ah-reum?"

"Yes!"

"She misses you."

"Ah! I'm finally meeting a celebrity!"

She's on TV and has debuted as an idol, so she is a celebrity.

"But are you okay? Ah-reum used to tease you all the time."

It wouldn't be strange if she had a bad impression.

Actually, it was likely due to Seong-pil.

Before going to the filming site, he had warned her that Shin Ah-reum was crazy and to be careful.

"I want to see her! We're close friends!"

"You have a low bar for friendship."

For some reason, Rika was very interested in Shin Ah-reum.

She had watched all episodes of Project For You just for her.

"I don't talk casually with you, so we're not friends, right?"

"You're my manager!"

Park Seong-pil, shocked!

"Is that so... then Sunday?"

"Nichiyobi (Sunday)!"

* * *

"Oh, wow..."

Rika circled around Seong-pil.

Her eyes were almost glued to him, as if she didn't want to miss anything, even the smallest detail.

"Why did you dress up so much!"

"I'm your manager today."

"Manager Park as my manager?"

"A manager's dignity is the star's dignity. I can't wear my usual casual clothes."

"Aren't we going to see Ah-reum today!"

"That's right. It's a meeting between idols and a future idol."

Besides, today is also a chance to persuade Min Kyung-sub to change companies.

They say that half of persuasion is appearance.

The difference between a neat outfit and a sloppy one is like heaven and earth.

I don't want to give the impression that 'This guy is having a hard time.'

'It's a matter of the company's honor!'

It's a semi-formal style with slacks, a white T-shirt, and a blazer, but compared to Seong-pil's usual look, the difference is clear.

"I'm glad I dressed up too!"

"Right, but you look so different from usual that I was surprised."

"What's wrong with me?! I look the same as usual!"

"You're right. There's no difference at all."

"What do you mean, no difference?! I spent so much time on it!"

"What do you want me to do, exactly!"

Seong-pil took Rika to the front of the restaurant they had agreed to meet at.

There was no need to look for Shin Ah-reum and Min Kyung-sub.

They were sitting on the waiting chairs outside the restaurant.

When Seong-pil stood in front of them, Shin Ah-reum smiled widely.

"This place is more popular than I thought. I picked it from a star graph."

"I thought it would be."

There were three waiting chairs.

Min Kyung-sub and Shin Ah-reum occupied two, leaving one empty.

"Rika, you sit here."

"Ah! It feels like I'm being escorted! But I feel bad sitting alone. How about I sit on your lap?"

"How about I sit on yours?"

"My thighs will break!"

Rika sat down lightly.

"Kyung-sub, it's been a while."

"Yes, brother. It has been."

What Shin Ah-reum said on the phone was true. Min Kyung-sub looked really bad.

His tone and expression lacked enthusiasm.

"Manager Min Kyung-sub, hello!"

"Oh, right. What was your name again?"

His condition is really serious.

Min Kyung-sub is not the type to forget people's names.

He could remember faces and names like a hard drive, without needing to write them down like Seong-pil.

"Ishikawa Rika! 19 years old! My dream is to be an idol!"

"Right, that's right. How have you been? It's been two years, hasn't it?"

"It hasn't even been half a year?!"

Shin Ah-reum kicked Seong-pil's shoes. She smiled awkwardly, as if to say, "You see? He's in this state."

She's not the type to care about others.

If she cared about herself, she wouldn't care about others.

'Kyung-sub must be in a really bad state.'

After the wait, they entered the restaurant.

Rika ordered a donkatsu set, but said it didn't taste like home.

"The chef studied in Japan."

"Maybe not in Tokyo."

"Did you live in Tokyo?"

"I lived in Kawasaki!"

"I haven't heard of it, so it must be a rural area."

"Right next to Tokyo?! It's only a few minutes by train!"

"But you don't live in Tokyo."

"Umm, yes, that's true..."

"It's like someone from the capital area saying they live in Seoul."

"I, I love my hometown! I'm not embarrassed!"

Shin Ah-reum didn't tease Rika like in the old days. Surprisingly, they had a steady conversation.

Seong-pil just listened to their conversation without interrupting.

Instead, he focused on Min Kyung-sub.

He was hunched over, almost burying his face in his bowl, and only picking at his rice.

'When should I bring up the topic?'

Shin Ah-reum will probably give Seong-pil and Min Kyung-sub some time alone.

It didn't seem like the conversation would go seriously in this atmosphere.

"Haa."

Min Kyung-sub suddenly sighed.

It seemed like he had a lot on his mind.

"Team leader."

When he was almost done with his meal, the conversation target changed to Seong-pil.

"Are you doing well there? Is it better without us?"

"Look at how you talk. Yes, I'm doing well. I'm very happy. Are you satisfied?"

"Yes, seeing the team leader doing well makes me happy too. Rika, is the team leader treating you well?"

"Manager Park!"

"Ah, Manager Park, right? But to me, you're the team leader?"

"Uh."

"Is the team leader treating you well?"

Rika nodded hesitantly.

"How much? How well is he treating you?"

"Uh... just well."

"Just? If I ask you to rate it from 1 to 10, what would you say?"

"Uh, um, nine?"

"Wow, team leader. Did you hear that? Rika says you're lacking?"

"Ten! Ten! Ten! Ten! Ten!"

"Stop teasing Rika."

"Ten! Ten! Ten! Ten! Ten!"

"Rika, don't take it seriously."

"Nine out of ten is ten!"

"Got it, lower your voice."

Shin Ah-reum laughed at Rika's desperate attempts.

She really lives to tease people.

Looking at her, Jo Ara seems like a fairy. At least Jo Ara's actions are cute, but Shin Ah-reum's intentions to cause trouble are too obvious.

'Kyung-sub must have had a hard time too.'

Min Kyung-sub was now completely hunched over, like a statue.

How hard must someone be struggling to be like this?

"Isn't that them?"

"Yeah, that's right. For You."

At that moment, a customer's voice caught Seong-pil's attention from a corner table.

Through the window, a couple was pointing at them and talking.

"...school violence... For You..."

It didn't sound good.

For You was being suspected of school violence, and the entire Project For You program was being re-evaluated.

Since many of the trainees were from lesser-known agencies, and their pasts hadn't been thoroughly investigated, there were speculations that they were just a bunch of unruly kids gathered together.

Some even called them a 'school violence group.'

Shin Ah-reum's expression soured when she heard this. Rika didn't know what to do, just moving her eyes around.

"Are you done eating? Let's go."

"Yes."

"Excuse me."

Suddenly, Min Kyung-sub, who had been slumped over, straightened his shoulders and turned around. Without any hesitation, he walked up to the couple.

"Yes, us?"

"Yes. Our Ah-reum didn't do any school violence. You shouldn't say that. What if the child gets hurt? It might be just a momentary topic for you, but Ah-reum might cry thinking about what she heard today, even at home. It could stay with her for life."

The couple was silenced by Min Kyung-sub's intensity. They probably didn't expect him to speak up so directly.

Suddenly, Min Kyung-sub's serious expression softened, and he smiled.

"Our Ah-reum is a good and honest child, so we would appreciate your support in the future."

Of course, there was no response.

He must look like a madman.

Min Kyung-sub returned to the table and tapped Shin Ah-reum's shoulder.

"Let's go."

Shin Ah-reum followed Min Kyung-sub closely. Rika and Seong-pil also got up.

"Manager Min Kyung-sub, you seem similar to Manager Park."

"In what way?"

"Well, I'm not sure, but the atmosphere."

Min Kyung-sub learned management from Seong-pil.

Maybe because of that, or because of his personality, Min Kyung-sub was often called the second Park Seong-pil at Success Entertainment.

Outside, Min Kyung-sub was apologizing to Shin Ah-reum.

"Sorry. If I caused you any bad comments... "

"It's fine. What if they do? They insulted us first. Ah, the team leader is here. Team leader!"

Shin Ah-reum pushed Min Kyung-sub in front of Seong-pil.

"Hyun-gab, you said you'd take him to Garo Entertainment, right?"

"What