Chapter 9

After dropping off the NPT members at their accommodation, we returned to Sangam-dong. The meeting place was a high-end sushi restaurant that had been booked in a hurry. It wasn't clear if we would be joining, but since the CEO was coming in person, Kim Hyun-jo insisted we show our faces and dragged us along.

I just followed Kim Hyun-jo, breathing heavily.

To be honest, I haven't been in my right mind since earlier.

Hahaha. How could I be? Considering the wave that hit my life today, it's a miracle I haven't had a heart attack yet.

I felt a bit relieved, thinking that my mental state wasn't as bad as I feared.

“Looks like we’ve arrived.”

The people who had arrived first were from W&U. The head of the management division was a middle-aged man with a slightly balding head, and the head of the management team 3 was a man in his late thirties with a cheerful demeanor.

And finally, the person who got out of the Rolls-Royce was none other than the CEO of W&U, whom I had only seen in interview photos. A role model for people like me who aspire to be a management representative.

Baek Han-sung.

The moment I saw him, I was instantly alert.

He looked at least ten years younger than his actual age of 47, with a well-maintained physique from regular exercise. He was wearing a high-end suit with a cashmere coat, looking like he could be a model for a men's magazine.

Most importantly, his face and actions exuded confidence and poise. He had every right to be confident, having started as a one-person agency and building W&U into a major entertainment company in just ten years. He was a top-tier entrepreneur among entrepreneurs.

Our eyes met briefly as we greeted each other.

“Good job.”

He lightly patted my shoulder and Choi Geun-yeong's shoulder before turning around.

“Let's go in. Knet hasn't arrived yet, right?”

“Not yet. Should we go in too?”

Kim Hyun-jo asked, but CEO Baek Han-sung shook his head.

“No. Leave the business to us and wait for good news.”

Then, CEO Baek Han-sung led the head of the division and the team leader into the sushi restaurant.

We've been waiting for good news for four hours now. It's 1 AM.

“What kind of sushi do they eat for hours?”

Choi Geun-yeong's voice was tinged with anxiety.

We are currently waiting in a 24-hour pub, having ordered chicken. We can't even touch alcohol in case we need to meet the CEO or the head of the division.

Kim Hyun-jo poked the cold, stiff chicken with a fork and replied.

“Do you think they're just eating sushi this whole time? They probably went to a second round a while ago.”

“I wonder how it's going. I'm so anxious.”

“A long wait is a good sign. If things didn't go well, it would have ended quickly.”

The two of them were shaking their legs and staring at their watches. I was the only one sitting quietly at the table, deep in thought. I've been thinking non-stop for the past four hours.

What exactly did I see?

When I first saw it in the middle of the night, I thought it was a dream, but that couldn't be. I was clearly awake and standing when I saw it, and I woke up right after. Even if it was sleep paralysis, I wouldn't have hit my head standing on the bathroom tiles. So it definitely wasn't a dream.

Then what is it?

Superpowers? Some kind of precognitive ability?

Movies and dramas featuring superheroes and people with superpowers came to mind. Abilities like seeing what will happen a minute later, or unconsciously drawing future events, and other ways of predicting the future.

Did I develop such a superpower?

Acquired superpowers usually come after unusual experiences like being bitten by genetically modified insects or becoming a vampire. But what about me?

I didn't have any of those experiences. What's going on?

Sigh. Don't get excited. Let's think calmly again.

I don't know why I have this ability or how to use it. But if I think about it, this is really exciting. Anyone would think so.

It's a superpower, a superpower!

Of course, I used to wish for abilities like teleportation or invisibility, but precognition is also great. It's cool and mysterious. If this were a movie, it would be a significant supporting role.

Hahaha! I'm a superpower! Yeah!

Now, is an alien going to appear or something? Is that what's going to happen?

...Damn! I can't stay calm!

“Seon-woo.”

“Yeah?!”

I lifted my head to see Kim Hyun-jo looking at me. My excitement subsided.

“Are you sleepy?”

“No. I was just thinking... I've experienced so much today, I'm a bit overwhelmed.”

I must have been bowing my head, so he thought I was sleeping. To prove I wasn't, I opened my eyes wide.

“By the way, today is your first day, right? I forgot because of all the excitement.”

Kim Hyun-jo pushed the stiff chicken to one side and handed over the order slip.

“Order whatever you want. Don't wait like you're on duty. How about a beer each? Think of it as a welcome party.”

We ordered greasy barbecue chicken, clams, french fries, and a warm fish cake soup to soothe our stomachs. The owner, who had been looking at us disapprovingly, now smiled and brought us cold beers.

The bubbles in the beer made me feel refreshed. I finished my first glass in no time, and Kim Hyun-jo pressed the bell again.

“Since we probably won't be calling again, drink more. You can drink a bit today.”

“Really?”

“You did well. When I first saw you, I thought, ‘What kind of guy is this in a suit?’ But you introduced the kids to the PD without being asked and got the job. Do people with four twin nephews always have such good initiative?”

The sincere praise felt better than the alcohol.

“It was luck. I heard the PD and the Lemon Girls' manager talking about leaving in front of the bathroom.”

“Of course, the timing and luck were amazing, but if you hadn't grabbed the PD and held on, you would have missed the opportunity. You were very passionate, I heard.”

I scratched my cheek, feeling embarrassed. Managing my expression was difficult. The praise I received at work was different from what I got at home or school. It felt much more satisfying to be recognized as a professional.

If I hadn't seen the future, I would have missed this opportunity.

I didn't know who PD Go Jun-tae was or that Knet was launching a program called Next K-Star. Even if I had known, I might have hesitated and turned back, wondering if it was okay to introduce NPT to the PD myself.

If that had happened, would Choi Geun-yeong have become the company's lucky charm, as my future self said?

I looked at Choi Geun-yeong while drinking beer. Given that I was the only one being praised in our first day at work, it was natural for him to feel bad, but Choi Geun-yeong was actually supporting Kim Hyun-jo's praise of me.

If I hadn't seen the future and had told Choi Geun-yeong about PD Go Jun-tae, would he have really lied to me?

Song Ji-ho's words came to mind.

‘He has been like that since then.’

Choi Geun-yeong, who seemed like a nice guy. Choi Geun-yeong, who smiled and said he got along well with me. What kind of person is Choi Geun-yeong...?

One thing is clear: I need to be wary of him.

But I can't push him away outright. We have to work together until one of us transfers.

If I push him away without a reason, I'll be the bad guy, and if I tell him, “I can't be friends with you because I think you'll make me suffer,” I'll be seen as crazy... Ugh.

I've never faced a more complicated problem in my life. Working with someone who has betrayed me, or will betray me... It's like sleeping with the enemy.

Moreover, the problem is that even though I know this, Choi Geun-yeong looks like a decent guy, and I might let my guard down.

I need to be careful. If I get betrayed even though I know it's coming, I'm an idiot.

To maintain my wariness of Choi Geun-yeong, I decided to call him a traitor in my mind.

“Choi Geun-yeong also worked hard today. He's quick-witted and sociable, and anyone would think he's been working for years. Thanks to him, the live broadcast went smoothly.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Let's have another drink. Surely two beers won't get you drunk?”

Two beers turned into three, and three turned into four. We kept drinking without stopping.

“Seon-woo. What time is it?”

“4:30. But sir, please speak more casually.”

“This is more comfortable.”

You seemed very comfortable using informal speech when you were angry earlier.

Anyway, today has been a long day. My first day at work wasn't what I imagined. How could I start work at 3:30 AM and not finish until after 4:00 AM the next day?

Is there anyone else who had a first day like mine? Except for that traitor.

The CEO's side is still silent. What are these people doing? They must have gone to a third or fourth round by now.

NPT joining Next K-Star is certain, but I don't know when and how it will be finalized, so I'm very frustrated. Even if they're in a hurry, it's a TV show, so it won't be decided in a flash. It might take a few days?

Once we started drinking beer, we just kept ordering more and adding side dishes.

And at 5:00 AM, the long-awaited phone finally rang.

© Jang Woo-san

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