Chapter 94

# Chapter 094

Seong-pil.

“Ah...”

He let out the same dazed words.

There was also the reason that he couldn't understand the current situation.

“That...”

Seong-pil, who was about to say something, saw Yi-woo trembling while tightly gripping her phone, and his mind went blank.

Yi-woo was embarrassed by the current situation.

Seong-pil wanted to erase her embarrassment.

He quickly took the phone, entered the number, and turned around to enter the practice room to prevent the atmosphere from becoming awkward.

“Look at this. I got a weird DM.”

“Crazy. Let's report it to the police.”

“If we report it, the police will catch them... Uncle?”

The three people, leaning against the wall, were chatting quietly.

Rika, Jo-ara, and Shin-a-reum looked at Seong-pil.

“Why are you like that?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Did you run here?”

Seong-pil's face was as red as a beet.

Compared to Yi-woo just a moment ago, he didn't fall short at all.

Seong-pil wiped his forehead after hearing Jo-ara's words.

Sweat was pouring out.

“Guess. Chased by a dog.”

“Eh, Mr. Park, are you afraid of dogs?”

“Yes. Even small dogs scare me.”

“Kawaii (cute)!”

At that moment, Jang-ha-yang and Baek-sul-ha also entered the practice room.

Jang-ha-yang, who entered last, closed the door very carefully, as if he were stealing something.

It was as if the sound must not escape.

“What was that, sir?”

“What?”

“The person just now. The stylist.”

“Oh...”

“Why? What happened? You seem a bit off, sir.”

At that question, Baek-sul-ha looked at Jang-ha-yang as if passing the burden.

Jang-ha-yang told them what had just happened.

Rika squealed and patted Jo-ara's shoulder.

“Why are you hitting me...”

“Did you hear? Did you hear?! The manager got his number! This really happens! It's not just in novels!”

Rika jumped up and circled around Seong-pil.

“Manager Kim Hyun-sun, right? How is it! Are you going on a date! Are you dating! Are you getting married?!”

“It's not Manager Kim Hyun-sun, it's Assistant Yi-woo.”

At Baek-sul-ha's explanation, Rika, who had been fluttering like a pigeon, stopped abruptly.

“Eh? Why?”

Like someone facing an incomprehensible natural disaster, a whirlpool was drawn in Rika's eyes.

Then Rika shouted.

“A ten-year difference is a crime!”

“It's not a ten-year difference.”

“That's impossible...”

“I agree.”

Seong-pil and Rika looked at each other, trying to understand the confusion in each other's eyes.

“Maybe...”

“Do you have any ideas?”

“Religious solicitation... maybe?”

“Ah, of course. I see. Phew. I almost got excited and embarrassed myself.”

“What nonsense. Anyone can see that it's...”

Shin-a-reum glanced at Jang-ha-yang and changed her words.

“It's that you're interested in the manager.”

“Kyaah!”

The one who screamed was Seong-pil.

For some reason, Rika also screamed.

“Kyaah!”

“Kyaah!”

“Tell us, the sisters who saw it. What was the atmosphere like?”

“Eh...”

Baek-sul-ha looked at Jang-ha-yang as if passing the burden again.

She didn't have the courage to describe that sweet and pink moment when a new connection was formed.

“It's not like that.”

Jang-ha-yang concluded.

But no one was convinced by that conclusion.

“Assistant Yi-woo has something to say to the manager for work.”

“Why would she need to get the manager's number?”

“It's probably a work-related matter only for the manager.”

“Is that so? Is that so?”

“Yes, that's it.”

Jang-ha-yang straightened Seong-pil's shirt shoulder, which was disheveled from excitement.

“The manager might have expected something, but it's not like that at all.”

“I see... Since it's Ha-yang, it must be like that.”

“...”

Baek-sul-ha just watched their strange conversation.

It was as if Jang-ha-yang was brainwashing Seong-pil.

“If there's a misunderstanding when that person contacts you later, it will be awkward. The manager will be embarrassed.”

“Yeah, you're right.”

“If the manager is personally interested in that person, contact them separately.”

“No, it's not like that. I just got excited because my thoughts went in a different direction.”

“Excited?”

“Excitement.”

“Oh, that.”

Seong-pil suddenly stood still like a puppet with its string cut. Then he suddenly shouted.

“What do you mean it's not?! It's true, right? It's true, right?! Can I think that way?!”

“Yes (That's right)! The manager's thoughts are correct!”

“Anyone can see that.”

“Spring has come to the manager's life.”

While Seong-pil received the blessings of the 19-year-olds, Jang-ha-yang sighed.

“No, it's not...”

Baek-sul-ha just remained silent.

She didn't know what to say or how to react.

* * *

On the weekend, Yi-woo contacted him.

She started by apologizing for suddenly asking for his number and then made plans.

The place was a café, and the time was the next day.

Seong-pil stood in front of his closet, scanning his clothes.

‘Wait a minute.’

Why was he so worried?

‘If Yi-woo has a crush on me, will I accept it?’

The answer came quickly.

No.

If he had to choose between love and work, the current Seong-pil would choose work.

He knew that choosing love out of momentary desire would not end well.

Seong-pil wanted to invest all 365 days of the year in his work. How many people would understand such a Seong-pil?

Even if he made time, Seong-pil would feel more tired than happy.

This was already proven in his previous life.

“...”

He would reject it.

Especially now, it was an important time for Garo Entertainment.

He didn't want to be distracted by a partner.

At that moment, Son Hye-bin's words echoed in his mind.

‘You will live alone for the rest of your life.’

That was something he didn't want...

‘Right. Who knows? She might be the one for me.’

Yi-woo, who was in her early twenties, was practically a rookie in the workforce...

‘That's impossible. She wouldn't understand me...’

Unless it was someone around Seong-pil's age with a certain social standing.

There was no way a young and inexperienced Yi-woo would match with Seong-pil.

From the topics of conversation to the smallest thoughts, the generational gap would sink their relationship quickly.

Still, Seong-pil took out a suit he had saved for a long time from the closet.

Until he lay down on the bed, Seong-pil's heart was pounding, making it hard to sleep.

* * *

Let's start with the conclusion.

Jang-ha-yang was right.

Seong-pil was wrong.

Yi-woo really wanted to meet Seong-pil for work-related matters.

For Seong-pil, who had put on wax and perfume, it was a cruel reality.

‘I was going to reject it anyway...! I was going to date a few times, get to know each other, think for ten days, and then clearly reject it...!’

In any case, Jang-ha-yang was right.

Jang-ha-yang often showed surprising insight in human relationships.

I apologize for doubting you.

“I graduated from a fashion school in France.”

Yi-woo was an aspiring fashion designer.

But there was a reason she didn't immediately become a designer.

“Stylists don't need to become designers, but designers need to know how to style. So I started working as a stylist...”

The Korean styling industry was harsher than she could have imagined.

Working from morning till night was the norm, and the monthly salary was only 400,000 won.

When she received a text saying, ‘You worked hard this month, so I added 50,000 won^^,’ Yi-woo felt like she was going to vomit blood.

Not only did they not pay the minimum wage, but they also boasted about adding 50,000 won.

“It's really, really just passion...”

The styling was done entirely by the senior level, just above Yi-woo.

Yi-woo could only offer opinions on very minor details.

The most common task in the team was fitting. She tried on clothes that the celebrities would wear and took photos.

Because of her idol-like appearance and figure, she was responsible for the female customer sample fittings.

“If I was going to do this, I would have been a fitting model...”

Her passion was dwindling day by day.

The tasks she did couldn't even be called styling.

Going to sponsors to pick up clothes, sticking with the celebrities, receiving the clothes, and returning them.

Even in the scorching summer, she wandered outside for hours to check which sponsor had the clothes the senior was looking for.

“This isn't a stylist's job... Anyone could do this...”

Why did she even go to fashion school?

When she had a chance to showcase her knowledge, the seniors often mocked her, saying she was influenced by foreign trends.

Seong-pil listened to Yi-woo's complaints and thought.

‘This is serious.’

The most serious thing was his own appearance, thinking it was a date.

Yi-woo was really living a tough life.

She was being exploited under the name of youth and passion.

‘Of course, what Yi-woo is doing now will be helpful later...’

After 2-3 years, Yi-woo would start to understand the industry.

And if she persisted and performed her duties, she would gain the connections and skills needed to work independently.

All new stylists endure the injustices, hoping for that day.

‘Still, 400,000 won a month is too little.’

Even though he was spending his precious weekend listening to the complaints of someone he had only met a few times, Seong-pil genuinely empathized with Yi-woo.

“But a few days ago, I heard what the manager said. I was really moved.”

“...What? Me?”

Seong-pil, who had been focused on listening, was surprised when his name was mentioned.

“What did I...”

“That. You said you wanted the members to wear fashion, not costumes. I was really moved... I've never met anyone who talks like that. It's amazing.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

“So, I know it's a bit presumptuous, but... I really want to work with you! With Garo Entertainment!”

“...”

Why was she telling him this?

Why specifically him? When asked, Yi-woo answered apologetically.

“You seem like a kind person...”

“Yes, I do seem like an easy target. Even the kids tease me.”

“That's not what I meant...!”

Yi-woo fumbled, then told the story of meeting Seong-pil after the ‘Leisure Time’ shoot.

“I was really grateful for your help. I really wanted to cry at that time.”

Did she really cry?

Her makeup had smudged because of it.

Still, Seong-pil nodded as if he didn't know.

“I only heard ‘endure it no matter how hard it is’... But when someone I didn't know comforted me and stood by me, I was really grateful... So... I, I wanted to say thank you. I should have said that first. I'm sorry, no, thank you!”

“You already said thank you earlier.”

“Oh, yes... I'm sorry...”

In any case, Yi-woo said she was impressed by Seong-pil's thoughts.

Moreover, she gained many inspirations from the process of listening to the members' opinions.

Compared to Manager Kim Hyun-sun, who had a lukewarm reaction, she might be a better person.

“Yi-woo.”

“Yes.”

Yi-woo's eyes flickered with anxiety and hope.

It was like she was entering an interview.

“You said you knew it was presumptuous. You're right. It's a huge presumption.”

Yi-woo's body stiffened like a stone.

“You're bypassing your superior and coming directly to the client. Moreover, you're asking to work with you instead of the team you belong to. If this is discovered, you'll be branded in the industry and won't be able to work as a stylist again.”

It's like stealing work.

Who would look favorably on Yi-woo's actions?

Even Seong-pil, who had heard her situation, felt a slight annoyance.

Of course, Yi-woo's situation was pitiful, but ignoring the industry's procedures couldn't be justified.

“So, if you have a vision, you shouldn't come directly to me but follow the proper order with your manager...”

“It doesn't matter.”

“...What?”

“It doesn't matter, manager. I really want to work with someone like you.”

Until now, Yi-woo's personality had been indecisive and lacking confidence.

But now, it was different.

She clearly expressed her intentions.

“I want to style the members of Garo Entertainment. If I'm rejected, I can't do anything about it, but I don't want to just carry the sponsored clothes under Manager Kim Hyun-sun. With the mindset that this is my first and last chance, I really want to work with Garo Entertainment. Definitely.”

First and last.

Those words touched Seong-pil's heart.

It would take a lot of determination to say such things.

Of course, Yi-woo said she was doing the styling job for experience, but if she had planned to quit easily, she wouldn't have lasted a year in the harsh styling team.

“Yi-woo.”

“Yes.”

“If I were to decide to work with you because I like your sense, then naturally, the work assigned to Manager Kim Hyun-sun's team would be canceled, right?”

“Yes.”

“But if it's revealed that I pushed Manager Kim Hyun-sun aside and brought you in, what would the other company think? They wouldn't see it in a good light, right?”

“...”

“We don't want to be disliked