Chapter 87

# Chapter 087

Seong Pil and Shin A-reum entered the house and started preparing a meal. Even though her mother said she would do it, Shin A-reum insisted and forced her mother to sit in front of the TV.

"Watch your daughter on the screen."

"I've already seen her a lot..."

"Watch more. You can never get tired of watching her, right?"

While her mother glanced at the kitchen, she watched the TV.

"A-reum. Where's the pot? The yellow tin one."

"Oh, wasn't it here?"

"I put it somewhere else..."

"Mom, go sit down! I'll take care of it!"

When Seong Pil was at Success Enter, he used to come to Shin A-reum's house about once every two months with her.

She liked it.

Seong Pil continued this for several years, partly to take care of her mental health.

"Hey, the water's boiling. Turn down the heat."

"It's still okay to heat it more."

"Hey, it's overflowing!"

"Really, stop nagging."

"What are you nagging about?! It's spilling over!"

Seong Pil's visits to Success Enter had been on hold for about a year since he left the company.

When her mother asked why Seong Pil wasn't coming these days, Shin A-reum made an excuse that he was busy. Initially, Shin A-reum had told Seong Pil that he didn't need to come anymore, but she didn't have the courage to tell her mother that he had left Success Enter.

When Seong Pil brought her to Success Enter, he had knelt and persuaded her mother, who was reluctant.

Her mother trusted Seong Pil and entrusted her daughter to him.

So, her mother trusted Seong Pil the most, and Seong Pil wanted to repay that trust.

"It's all done."

The small dining table was filled with various side dishes, most of which were made by Seong Pil, who had nearly a decade of living alone.

"I'll eat well, Team Leader. Thank you always."

Her mother treated Seong Pil like a VIP, as he had helped her during difficult times and because her daughter had become much brighter after joining Success Enter.

"Team Leader, try this. I made it."

"You mean you put it on the plate? Oh, it's delicious. Is it because I made it?"

"Jealous. Stingy. The bowl is small."

"Reflex."

"Are you in middle school?"

"Hey, A-reum..."

"It's okay, Mom. Team Leader likes this."

"Still..."

"Oh, it's so nice to talk to young people. I feel young again."

"See?"

Even with Seong Pil's ridiculous jokes, her mother laughed happily.

After the meal, her mother peeled some fruit for them.

While eating, Seong Pil took out some documents from his bag.

They were the termination papers for Project Poyu.

"Mother, I have a reason for being here today. I'll explain it to you now."

Shin A-reum had left Project Poyu.

At the same time, she had also left Success Enter.

"Then, what about A-reum...?"

"She's going to join the company I'm currently at. This is the contract. I'm sorry for not telling you earlier."

Her mother's expression, which had turned pale when she heard that Shin A-reum had left Success Enter, returned to normal as Seong Pil continued his explanation.

After the explanation, Seong Pil sat quietly, waiting for her response, feeling like a sinner.

'She must be anxious.'

Her daughter had appeared on TV.

Her mother had told everyone she could about it.

That her daughter was on TV, to watch it once, to vote for her debut.

For the first time in a long time, laughter had returned to her life.

And now, Shin A-reum had left Poyu without any discussion.

'She must be confused.'

She had even left Success Enter, where her debut was almost certain.

Her daughter had been attached to the company and had been attending it regularly, so her mother must be very troubled.

Telling both of these things at once might be too much of a shock.

"I beg you. Please entrust your daughter to me again."

Just like four years ago, Seong Pil knelt and begged.

"Does that mean you're going with Team Leader?"

"Yes. The debut is a few months away. It's confirmed."

"Okay, I'm fine with it."

Without hesitation, her mother picked up a pen. Seong Pil stopped her.

"I've checked the Poyu termination papers, and they're fine. But please read the Garo Enter trainee contract carefully. I've attached a standard contract for comparison. Please read it thoroughly..."

"I trust Team Leader."

Seong Pil couldn't stop her mother's hand as she awkwardly wrote her name.

The termination and new contract were completed so easily.

Seong Pil carefully put the documents in a file and placed it in his bag.

"Thank you for trusting me. I will make sure your daughter succeeds."

"Yes, always thank you, Team Leader."

"I'm sorry I haven't visited often recently."

"No, you were busy, right? It's fine. I feel bad that you came all the way here..."

"No, you entrusted your precious daughter to me."

"Both of you, stop it! What's this, a meeting of the elders?"

Shin A-reum handed Seong Pil's bag to him.

"Let's go quickly!"

"Daughter, are you leaving already?"

"Yes. I need to debut soon. I have to practice. Mom, take care."

"No, A-reum. Stay here tonight. It's been a while. You can go to the company tomorrow."

"Well, wouldn't that be a loss for the company?"

"No, Mother. A-reum is so talented that she doesn't need to practice for a day or two."

Her mother smiled brightly, though she also showed some embarrassment at the compliment.

"Oh, really? Then give me two days off a week."

"No."

"Two-faced. Hypocritical. Two sides of the same coin."

"Hey, A-reum...!"

Seong Pil smiled kindly and stood up.

"I'll be going now."

"Oh, stay a bit longer."

"No, I won't."

"Mom, I'll take Team Leader home. Our neighborhood is dangerous, you know."

The two of them went outside.

Since Seong Pil's car was parked just down the alley, they only walked for a few seconds.

"Time really flies, doesn't it? When Team Leader and I first met, my mom was about the same age as you are now."

"I'm 31. Back then, your mother was 35. Don't fall asleep in math class."

"Wow. In four years, you'll be about the same age as my mom was then. Time flies like an arrow."

"You sound like an old man."

"My mom was the age to have a 10-year-old daughter, but what about you now?"

"...What. What do you want me to say?"

"Single and happy?"

"I'd do it if there was someone."

"Ah... Really?"

Before Shin A-reum could say anything else, they arrived at Seong Pil's car.

"Take care. Don't have an accident."

"Sure. You too. Don't have an accident."

"Team Leader."

"What is it?"

"What if the members don't like me?"

"Shouldn't it be 'What should I do?' instead of 'What if I do?'? Your personality is so bad that they'll probably dislike you already..."

"Cancel the contract! Tear it up!"

"Really, tear it up?"

"You're taking my jokes seriously again. You're not an adult, are you?"

"Right. I'm really leaving now."

"Okay, go."

Seong Pil got into the car. As soon as he did, his phone rang.

Looking out the window, he saw Shin A-reum on the phone.

"What are you doing?"

[Team Leader.]

"What?"

[Alabue.]

"Me too."

[Hehe. Go inside.]

"You go inside. Hurry up."

Seong Pil watched Shin A-reum through the side mirror as she walked away.

Until she turned the corner, her bowed figure remained in his view.

As soon as Shin A-reum disappeared, her mother's face appeared in his mind.

A few years ago, he had left the house after getting her mother's permission.

Her mother had held his hand and said,

"I raised her as a precious child from a young age. Without a father... to prevent her from being bullied by other kids. I indulged her a lot to keep her spirits up. We were poor... I never mentioned it. I bought her whatever she asked for, even if it was difficult. It was because of my selfishness... Even when she was in elementary school, she would cry loudly if I wasn't home."

The strength in her mother's grip on Seong Pil's hand grew stronger.

Mixed with the sadness of parting with her daughter, the strength fluctuated between weak and strong.

"So... she grew up without any discipline..."

It's okay, Mother.

I've been watching her, and she has a big heart.

She will grow up to be great.

It's not that she lacks discipline; she has a strong spirit.

She is a kind child.

You have raised her well, Mother.

"Thank you..."

What must it have been like for her mother to cry and hold the hand of a stranger she had just met?

The fear of sending her beloved daughter into an unknown world was something Seong Pil could not even imagine.

If Shin A-reum hadn't been so stubborn and her mother hadn't opposed it, it was certain that her mother would have been against it.

"Please take care of our daughter, Team Leader."

With those words, her mother let go of Seong Pil's hand. From that moment on, Seong Pil tried to treat Shin A-reum like his own child.

Despite being only in his mid-20s, he really tried.

He read books on education and truly made an effort.

He scolded her to keep her on the right path.

He encouraged her to do her best.

The other trainees didn't see it as favoritism; in fact, Seong Pil was stricter with Shin A-reum.

But Shin A-reum didn't dislike Seong Pil.

She knew the sincerity hidden in his heart.

When Seong Pil was about to leave Success Enter, he called Shin A-reum aside and said,

"A-reum. I'm leaving this company. If I go to another company, would you come with me? I'll pay the penalty."

To this, Shin A-reum laughed and replied,

"Take care of yourself, Team Leader."

At that moment, Seong Pil felt a lump in his throat.

Not because he was moved, but because he was sad.

He had expected Shin A-reum to follow him.

Of course, Seong Pil knew it would be better for her to stay at Success Enter.

Shin A-reum would succeed.

"Take care of yourself, not me."

At that time, he had wanted to cry and run away.

But now, he thought Shin A-reum must have been thinking,

'Now I'll move on, and you can live your life. Stop worrying about me, don't visit my house, and don't feel obligated. I'll try to live well on my own. I can live well on my own.'

Determined to do well on her own, Shin A-reum came back to Seong Pil a year later.

Perhaps they could never be completely separated.

Seong Pil had a feeling about it.

* * *

"Another member is joining?"

Jung Ji-eum laughed bitterly.

Upon hearing the news of Shin A-reum's joining, he seemed to fall into considerable confusion, staring into space.

"So, we have to re-record?"

"Yes. We need to redistribute the parts. Can you do it alone?"

"Oh... With five members, we might need to change the song form. We've already finished mixing..."

The song was only waiting for mastering.

"That's a waste of money. If only she had come a little earlier."

"You don't have to worry about the money. I appreciate your concern for the company, but you should focus on making good songs."

Jung Ji-eum moved the mouse aimlessly in the composition program.

The sudden news seemed to have left him unable to organize his thoughts.

"First, we'll have a meeting about the part distribution. Since you're the composer, I thought you might have some insight."

"Ah, but my brain is already set for the four-member version. Hmm, how can I divide it again?"

Jung Ji-eum decided to meet Shin A-reum first.

He needed to know her vocal style and sound.

"Hello, Oppa."

"Hey. Nice to meet you. I'm Jung Ji-eum."

"I know. You're the composer, right? Rica told me a lot about you."

"Really? What did she say?"

"That you're tall."

"...Is that all?"

"There's more, but it's a secret."

Shin A-reum put her index finger to her lips.

Jung Ji-eum's heart almost burst at her playful gesture.

'So this is what an idol is like.'

But what had Rica said?

Jung Ji-eum was curious, but Shin A-reum wouldn't tell him.

Was it something negative?

Feeling a bit uneasy, he conducted the test.

"This song has a similar chord progression to 'Ani.' Do you know that?"

"Yes. I did it as an assignment at my previous agency."

"Can you sing it?"

Shin A-reum sang into the microphone.

Jung Ji-eum was impressed.

Just by hearing her, the test was over, and Seong Pil came back in.

"Her voice is incredibly clear. It's like glass."

"Right?"

"Yes. It sounds like a voice optimized for an idol."

An idol needs a voice that can perfectly reflect the intentions of any composer, lyricist, or director.

Since custom songs are rare, and songs are not usually composed with a member's personality in mind, the idol must fit the song.

Therefore, a clean, clear voice without any 'quirks' is important, like a versatile tool that can be used anywhere.

"On the other hand, it means she lacks personality. But I think she can sing any part and still perform above average."

After meeting Shin A-reum, Jung Ji-eum was inspired and started working on the part distribution.

It didn't take long.

"Actually, I have to tell you, Director, there were many unsatisfactory parts during the recording of 'Ani.'"

"Are you saying our members are lacking?!"

"A little...?"

"You're bold. That's what a composer should be."

"But with A-reum, we can make up for those shortcomings. Honestly, I wanted Rica and Seolha to sing alone."

"...Your words are a bit harsh. If you feel that way, you should be a ballad composer, not an idol composer."

"No, that's not what I meant. Um... This is what I came up with."

Seong Pil took the lyrics paper.

Since 'Ani' was already so familiar that it played in his head, he could hear the members' voices just by looking at the lyrics.

'Well done.'

One of the disadvantages of a four-member group is that each member has a high proportion of the song.

This can highlight their skills and personalities, but it can also be a problem during performances.

'Singing while dancing is naturally difficult. If a member has a lot of parts and they are difficult, it can be a headache.'

He thought that perfectly executing 'Ani's performance with newly debuted members would be challenging with a four-member group.

But with Shin A-reum's participation, this issue was resolved.

Now, they could consider increasing the difficulty of the vocals.

"...Ji-eum."

Seong Pil, who was reading the lyrics, asked with a mix of curiosity and a hint of anxiety.

"Ji-hyang's part is less, isn't it? Compared to the others... Oh, it's less. Did you distribute it wrong?"

"Well, Ji-hyang's vocal skills are currently the weakest. I reduced her part for the song's quality. I think this is better."

"What?"

Seong Pil's hand holding the lyrics paper trembled slightly.

He had just heard the composer's evaluation.

From the composer who wrote the song, he heard that Jang Ji-hyang's skills were lacking.

"Ji-hyang's voice is also a bit rough, so it doesn't quite fit this song. And she has a rap part, which is enough to highlight her personality."

"The rap part isn't that much... If you reduce it like this, Ji-hyang will..."

"Ha-ha, yes. That's true. Should I redistribute it?"

Jung Ji-eum scratched his head, feeling apologetic.

He hadn't allocated the parts out of malice.

As a composer, he had chosen the best way to give each member a fair part while maintaining the song's feel.

"Is this the best way?"

"If you don't like it, I can change it..."

"Do others think the same way?"

"Others...?"

"Do others think the same way...?"

The word 'storage' floated in Seong Pil's mind.

It refers to placing less skilled idol members in the corner of the choreography or giving them fewer parts.

Although no one had mentioned reducing Jang Ji-hyang's part yet, except for Jung Ji-eum.

The problem was that it was Jung Ji-eum who said it.

The person with the best insight into the song...

"Do you think it's better to reduce Ji-hyang's part...?"

Jung Ji-eum avoided Seong Pil's gaze and answered.

"Yes."