Chapter 99

"…This is what Seolha asked me to convey."

Hong Gyuheon rolled the cigarette in his hand.

In the process, the paper wrapped around the tobacco crumpled and wrinkled.

"Baek Seolha?"

"Yes."

It was a request from the de facto and provisional leader.

It would be better to consider the opinions of the members.

Even Jang Hae-yang must have agreed with the request.

It can't be ignored.

"To lower the difficulty or remove the part altogether…"

Choreography that emphasizes individuality.

That individuality comes from the difficulty of the choreography and the expression that captivates people's eyes.

It's said that Baek Seolha even got bruises on her thighs after the first practice. Even she, who doesn't slack off in exercise, felt fatigued.

Although Jang Hae-yang's part was adjusted to be easier compared to the other members, it doesn't mean it's easy.

"Revealing individuality has become a weakness. If we lower the difficulty to an intermediate level, it will just become a stepping stone for the others."

A level that Joara can easily master.

A slightly more difficult level for Baek Seolha.

That was the difficulty of 'Ani.'

If dancing were just about following, even an ordinary middle school student in the neighborhood could do it in a few days.

The key is to bring out the feeling.

Literally, the aura of an idol must be revealed.

"The purpose of the choreography is to reveal individuality, but you're going to bury Jang Hae-yang? Compared to the others? So, Baek Seolha's request is…"

"Not to lower the difficulty, but to reduce Hae-yang's part."

"Right, that's it."

Hong Gyuheon couldn't hold back and put the cigarette in his mouth. Seong Pil lit it for him.

"We have 40 days left. Is there any possibility that Jang Hae-yang can transform within that time?"

"It's not impossible. After all, it's 40 days. But during that period, the others will also become more proficient."

The gap will only widen.

If Jang Hae-yang could reach Baek Seolha's current level, it would be perfect, but it seems difficult at the moment.

Hong Gyuheon watched the weekly evaluation video of the members from last week.

"The biggest problem is here, right? The dance break. It's almost designed to compare each other. This is essentially the identity and highlight of the choreography, so lowering the difficulty of Jang Hae-yang's dance here…"

It's tough.

It's a problem with no clear answer.

The only solution is Jang Hae-yang's growth, or excluding her.

"What about lowering the overall difficulty of the choreography?"

"The kids can probably relearn it, but there might be some resistance."

"You're right. They'll have an attachment to what they've learned so far. I like it the way it is now. If Jang Hae-yang can keep up, that is."

Hong Gyuheon took a long drag on the cigarette.

The remaining third burned away instantly, revealing the filter.

"What does Park Director think?"

"I want to believe."

"That Jang Hae-yang will do well?"

"Yes."

"But belief alone won't be enough, will it?"

"That's why I'm going to ask."

"What, are you going to have the kids vote? Can Jang Hae-yang do it, or can't she, something like that? It will only cause division."

"No. I'm going to ask her directly."

"…Jang Hae-yang herself?"

You're going to ask her if she can do it.

"Didn't Jang Hae-yang already agree, so Baek Seolha made this request?"

"Hae-yang must have noticed. The kids' anxiety is growing day by day, and the atmosphere is getting strange. She must feel like she needs to do something."

"Right. Just telling her to believe won't make the anxiety go away."

"Originally, one knows one's own abilities best. I'll talk to Hae-yang and let you know."

"Right. I don't think she'll lie to you. Talk to her well. If she refuses…"

Sigh.

Hong Gyuheon let out a deep sigh and roughly stubbed out the cigarette.

"I don't know. When I first brought in Jang Hae-yang, I considered this kind of situation, but now that it's right in front of me, it feels suffocating."

"Believe in her. Hae-yang."

Hong Gyuheon chuckled.

"Park Director, I don't believe in the kids or not."

"…What?"

"Didn't I get hurt from the last group? I'm saying this now, but that's how I am."

That's why he persistently called the members by their full names.

It's a kind of defense mechanism.

He doesn't want to get hurt anymore, so he doesn't give his heart to the members.

He maintains a certain level of closeness to hide this, but he doesn't go beyond that.

"What…"

Seong Pil was about to get angry.

If the CEO doesn't trust the trainees, how can he run the business?

Does that mean everything Hong Gyuheon has shown so far was just pretense?

Just as Seong Pil's anger was about to boil over, Hong Gyuheon pointed at him.

"I believe in Park Director. And Han Director. You two believe in the kids, so I believe in you. You deal with the kids every day, so you might get annoyed by what I say, but I hardly talk to them at all."

Seong Pil's anger subsided.

"If you believe, then believe. So, do a good job, Park Director."

"…Ha."

"What? Why the sigh? Did I say something to make you sigh?"

"No. I just think you're really good with people."

"I'm a tricky person. Once you're in, you can't get out. Look at how Han Director is stuck with me."

"Right."

* * *

"Director Han."

Jang Hae-yang cautiously opened the office door.

Han Goo-in, who was writing in a ledger, looked up.

"Oh, it's already this late."

Han Goo-in alternated his gaze between the ledger and Jang Hae-yang, then smiled apologetically.

"Can you wait a moment?"

"Yes."

It was time for the members to go home.

Today, Han Goo-in was in charge of sending them off, so he stayed late at the company.

Jang Hae-yang sat next to Han Goo-in. His hands were busy with the calculator and keyboard.

"Wow, you look like an expert."

"Haha, really? I'm just organizing the expenditure records."

There's no income at Garo Entertainment.

"It's a simple task."

Simple, but the monitor was filled with numbers and letters in a chaotic mess.

"Director Han is good at everything, so it must be simple for you."

"I wasn't good at math in the past. I used to make mistakes even with simple division and multiplication."

"Elementary school?"

"No, probably until high school in Korean terms."

"I can't believe Director Han was like that. But didn't you go to that university? The one in Gwanak?"

Han Goo-in smiled shyly. He was reluctant to mention his alma mater.

It felt like boasting just by saying the name.

"Wow, you're amazing. You started studying in high school and still got in there. Are you a genius?"

"Hae-yang, everything in the world is a matter of effort, not talent. While the environment does have a significant impact, I believe it's wrong to measure success by talent."

"Ahaha."

Under normal circumstances, Jang Hae-yang would have easily agreed with Han Goo-in, but not this time.

She responded in a lowered tone.

"It doesn't seem that way when I look at the other members."

Han Goo-in stopped typing. Jang Hae-yang belatedly realized her mistake.

It could have sounded like, "You were born good at studying."

"Ah, that's not what I meant…"

"Hae-yang, it's natural that the other members are better at singing and dancing than you."

"Really?"

They haven't been practicing the same thing for the same amount of time. But, is it natural for Jang Hae-yang to fall behind?

"It would be more unfair if Hae-yang could do as well as the others."

"Really…?"

"Ara has been dancing since elementary school. Seolha has been a trainee since elementary school. Rika received systematic training at a major agency, and Ah-reum has been a trainee for over four years. How can Hae-yang achieve the same results as them?"

Jang Hae-yang felt as if she had been hit on the head.

Until now, she had been trapped in the framework of 'the same task,' thinking it was just a matter of her own lack of talent.

That's why she had worked harder.

But she was wrong. The amount of effort put in from the start was different.

No matter how hard Jang Hae-yang tried, she couldn't catch up to the lifetime of practice the other four had accumulated.

She shouldn't blame her innate talent.

"Right…"

"Of course, Hae-yang's learning speed is terribly slow. That's a fact."

Jang Hae-yang felt as if she had been hit on the head again.

No, she had actually been hit with words.

She knew it, but no one had ever said it so directly before.

"But that doesn't mean Hae-yang is stupid or lacks talent."

"…Ah, aha. You're just trying to make up for the bad things you said. It's too late to apologize, you know?"

"Hae-yang, it's not about who is good and who is bad. It's about who learns quickly and who learns slowly. In the end, everyone will reach the same level. You're making progress toward your goal, little by little. So, don't blame yourself too much."

"I've been watching you, Hae-yang. I'm sure you can do it."

After saying that, Han Goo-in resumed his work.

Jang Hae-yang just sat quietly next to him.

For some reason, she didn't say anything.

* * *

On Sunday, Jang Hae-yang stood at the front door.

"Where are you going, Hae-yang?"

"Ah, well."

In response to Baek Seolha's question, Jang Hae-yang awkwardly gestured and tried to explain.

"With Director Park, you know, that…"

"Director Park? You're going to see Director Park?"

"Yes. To, talk."

"…Oh."

It must be about reducing Jang Hae-yang's part.

Baek Seolha guessed why Seong Pil had arranged to meet separately on a Sunday.

If they met at the company, it would feel too formal. Seong Pil must have considered this and tried to be considerate.

Outside the company, they could talk as people, not as a director and a trainee.

"Come back safely."

Baek Seolha hugged Jang Hae-yang but didn't add anything else.

"Where are you going, Unnie?"

At that moment, Shin Ah-reum came out of her room.

She shared a room with Rika and Joara.

"Yes. I'm going to see Director Park."

"Hmm, really? If you're going to the bus stop, I'll go with you. I'm going out too."

Shin Ah-reum had dressed up quite carefully.

'Is she meeting a friend? No, a boyfriend?'

Baek Seolha carefully asked, trying not to sound like she was prying.

"Where are you going?"

"Just out."

Thud!

The vague and abstract answer suggested she didn't want to say more.

As a leader, she couldn't just let it go.

'Doing something with a guy?' She wanted to ask immediately, but if it were true, Ah-reum would only deny it in this public setting.

"Uh, yeah. Have a good time…"

She would ask later.

Jang Hae-yang and Shin Ah-reum left the dormitory, receiving a send-off from Baek Seolha.

They didn't talk much while walking.

They weren't close, and their relationship was more awkward than friendly.

Jang Hae-yang hadn't let Shin Ah-reum call Seong Pil 'Team Leader.' That's why Shin Ah-reum avoided Jang Hae-yang.

"Where are you going out?"

So, their conversation usually started with Jang Hae-yang.

Shin Ah-reum answered in a somewhat annoyed tone.

"Just out."

"Just where?"

"While I'm buying a gift for Director Park, I'll also meet an old friend from my previous agency."

The previous agency must be Success Entertainment.

But Jang Hae-yang was more focused on the mention of a gift for Director Park.

"What kind of gift?"

"Huh? It's Director Park's birthday soon, didn't you know?"

No, she didn't.

Seong Pil had never mentioned his birthday.

She didn't need to know. Garo Entertainment had a culture of not publicly exchanging gifts on special days.

The company provided a cake for the members' birthdays, but the members didn't give gifts to the staff.

Jang Hae-yang's Christmas gift was the last group gift.

"When is it?"

In response to Jang Hae-yang's anxious question, Shin Ah-reum was about to answer simply but then smirked.

"Wow, you really didn't know?"

"Ah, yes. Director didn't tell me."

"Most people don't go around announcing their birthdays. You naturally learn as you get closer. If Director didn't tell you, you didn't need to know, right?"

"…"

"If there's someone you want to give a gift to, they'll let you know. Ah, I'm crossing the street. I'll go. Have fun."

In the end, she didn't get an answer.

Jang Hae-yang couldn't stop thinking about Seong Pil's birthday while on the bus.

'When is it? What will Ah-reum buy? She's known him for four years, so she must know what he likes. When I get back today…'

While pondering, she arrived at her destination.

Yeouido Han River Park.

After deciding to join Garo Entertainment, Jang Hae-yang had casually mentioned to Seong Pil while riding in the car.

"Let's go for a walk there. I want to go."

Seong Pil had remembered that.

Since they hadn't had a chance to go together, the time had finally come.

Jang Hae-yang was more focused on finding Seong Pil than on the view of the Han River she had been eager to see.

There were many people sitting on mats and walking around, making it hard to spot Seong Pil.

"Hae-yang."

"Ah, Director."

Despite the crowd, Seong Pil recognized Jang Hae-yang at first glance and approached her.

"You came early."

"Yes. Did you come by car, Director?"

"Bringing a car here on the weekend would be a disaster. I came by subway."

"Ah, I see."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Uh?"

Seong Pil took her to a convenience store and bought some canned beer.

"That means you can drink!"

"Ahaha, do you like alcohol?"

"No. I just drink when there's a drinking occasion. But I have a dream. Laying out a mat by the Han River and having a simple drink. Don't you think so?"

"Ahaha."

"Guess not."

Jang H