Translator: Chamber

  Editor: Illidan

  “Oh, please come in, president.”


  Although it was late at night, Madam Jung GilLye greeted KangYoon warmly.

  When he entered with an awkward expression, Kim JiMin gave him a sitting cushion.

  ‘This is a nice house. They don’t look uncomfortable at least.’


  KangYoon was relieved after looking around the house.

  When her album went well, Kim JiMin moved from the residence that KangYoon had gotten her when she was a trainee. She wanted to lessen the burden on KangYoon and the company’s money.

  The classy looking curtains and the white wallpaper fit well with the cozy house and the overall atmosphere felt tidy.

  “Thank you.”


  Madam Jung GilLye brewed some tea. It was some steaming hot jujube tea. The sweet fragrance made KangYoon feel like he was being energized from the fatigue.

  “Sir, how was it in Jeju?”


  “It was fun. Though, it was a pity to not have you there.”


  “Me too. I really want to go next time.”


  Kim JiMin expressed her disappointment.

  Due to the characteristics of an entertainment company, it wasn’t easy to consider everyone’s schedule. In the end, Kim JiMin had to take a hit for this one. KangYoon was also aware of this and this was why he came to her residence as soon as he arrived.

  When KangYoon talked about the stories that happened at Jejudo, Kim JiMin also told him about the things that happened during the past couple of days.

  As KangYoon was busy with Eddios all this past while, the two conversed for quite a long time.

  “…So I went to VVIP.”


  But then, when Kim JiMin told him that she visited VVIP, KangYoon’s eyes colored with panic.

  “Wait. You went to such a place?”


  “Yes. I’m very sorry. Nothing much happened though.”


  Visiting another company without permission was a sensitive topic. And she followed an idol of VVIP, Hwang JooGyeom.

  However, KangYoon didn’t scold her much.

  ‘What did Mr. JooMyeong do?’


  The first thought that came into his mind was her manager.

  As it was a human doing the job, he was well aware that it was absurd to stay by Kim JiMin’s side 24/7. However, leaving her to her own devices when she was visiting another company? His actions definitely warranted some action on KangYoon’s side.

  ‘I should ask him tomorrow. And VVIP? Isn’t that place famous for poaching newbies? He should have held her back.’


  KangYoon sighed in relief as this may have escalated into something much worse. The reality was that many rising stars switched companies due to their popularity. KangYoon was glad that he had a good eye for people.

  If a rookie becomes a so-called ‘star’, it is natural for that person to get a love-call from many places. In this reality where 1 out of 100 may or may not make it big in this industry, There were many companies that focused on raising already-famous stars rather than raising new ones from scratch. Many also thought that paying the penalty fee for breaching the contract was worth more than investing in a new person.

  VVIP Entertainment was infamous for such actions.

  “Call me next time when you want to visit another company, okay?”


  “Yes.”


  “I’m glad that nothing happened. Although your slap to that guy tugs on my mind a li… Nah, that guy deserved it. How dare he? A star should have such daringness. I’m worried about strange rumors, but… I’ll take care of that. Well, they were in the wrong this time, so they won’t be able to make a big deal out of this. Being slapped by a lady is nothing to boast about.”


  Kim JiMin seemed embarrassed. Actually, she did feel embarrassed when she thought about the actions she took back then. However, she didn’t want to ignore it when someone talked bad about KangYoon who had raised her, a nobody, to such heights.

  The jujube tea was half-gone and the hot steam had died down as well.

  KangYoon put down his teacup and switched topics.

  “Have you heard about a program called ‘Birth of the Masterpiece’?”


  Kim JiMin thought about it for a moment before nodding.

  “Yes. Isn’t that program aired Every Friday on KS TV? It’s the one where they reinterpret an old classic, right?”


  “Yeah. It’s a program where the singer gets evaluated by 555 people from ages 10 to 50. This time, you were called for it.”


  “Oh, that? I want to do it.”


  Kim JiMin was ambitious. She felt some charm from the fact that an old classic would be reinterpreted into a modern version. Although this program was an entertainment program on the surface, its core was a music program. She felt enough charm to appear in it.

  As the president, it was nice to see someone so rearing to go.

  “Okay then. I’ll give you the materials tomorrow, so see you at the company.”


  “Okay.”


  KangYoon finished the tea before leaving the house.

  The next day.

  As Kim JiMin was on her school holiday, she didn’t go to school and headed to the company. When she entered the office, Lee HyunJi greeted her warmly.

  “Oh, JiMin. It’s been a long time.”


  “Hello, director.”


  Kim JiMin flattered Lee HyunJi after seeing that she had tanned a little. Lee HyunJi said that she was sorry that Kim JiMin had to be left behind.

  “After this program, your activity period will end, won’t it? The president will give you leave then.”


  “Really? Wait, I have school…”


  Looking at the calendar, Kim JiMin’s expression darkened. Lee HyunJi couldn’t say anything about that as well. Ditch school and go on a holiday? Neither KangYoon nor her grandmother would allow it.

  ‘Kids have it hard.’


  Lee HyunJi felt the tragedy of high school students and shook her head.

  After they waited for a little, KangYoon came to work. His expression looked a little flushed.

  “Just how did he learn his job…”


  “What is it?”


  When Lee HyunJi asked in confusion, KangYoon shook his head and spoke.

  “I asked Mr. JooMyeong for a reason and he told me that he decided that it was better to follow JiMin’s wishes because she looked so dejected. Just how can a manager… In the end, I became angry at both him and manager DaeHyun, who was in charge of teaching him. If a manager listens to every word the celebrity has to say, that’s a machine, not a manager. I picked him because he had some experience… but it turns out like this. I think he should be taught from the basics or something like that.”


  “That’s unfortunate. But we should be strong in this since we almost lost a person that we painstakingly raised. What did Mr. JooMyeong say to that?”


  “He’s repenting. He cried saying that he didn’t know things would become like this. He says that this will never happen again. He’s not someone with evil intent so I think it will be alright after he learns from scratch. Since Mr. JooMyeong has to go with Eddios to learn work again, I think I’ll have to take care of JiMin for now.”


  “We can’t just hire a new manager immediately either… that’s more work for us.”


  Lee HyunJi shook her head. She cheered for KangYoon.

  Meanwhile, Kim JiMin was very excited.

  ‘Yes!’


  She always felt confident when KangYoon had her back. That feeling of being able to achieve everything she wanted to was a little hard to describe.

  Soon, KangYoon explained to her about the Birth of the Masterpiece program and gave Kim JiMin some documents that he got from them. It contained the general purpose of the program, the stage layout as well as an example.

  After having a detailed look at it, Kim JiMin spoke.

  “A song that was popular from 1985 to 1987? Uhm, I wasn’t even born back then.”


  As she was born in 1994, she shrugged her shoulders since every one of these songs was older than her. KangYoon also burst out laughing.

  “Actually, you might stumble upon something good since there’s nothing you know about it. Let’s choose a good one.”


  “Okay.”


  The two started heading towards the studio in order to select a song. They were planning to listen to many of those songs and choose wisely.

  When they entered the studio, Park SoYoung could be seen studying with thick glasses on.

  “SoYoung.”


  “Oh, hello, president. And you too, JiMin.”


  “Hello, unni.”


  Having come earlier in the morning, Park SoYoung was wrestling with her score without standing up from her seat even once. KangYoon had a smile on his face. He was proud of her efforts.

  Kim JiMin’s focus was on the score in her hands.

  “Unni, can I ask you what this song is?”


  “Sorry, it’s still a secret for now. I’ll tell you about it later.”


  “uu… such a pity.”


  Kim JiMin pouted a little before heading towards a shelf with CDs and vinyl records. That place not only had Korean music records but music records from other countries as well. These were materials that KangYoon had gathered in his free time.

  Looking at Kim JiMin who was looking through those songs, Park SoYoung asked.

  “President, is JiMin selecting a song?”


  “Yeah. Are you ready as well, SoYoung?”


  “…This is really too much for me….”


  Park SoYoung stuttered. Although she was being asked to rearrange the song that Kim JiMin chose to sing in ‘Birth of the Masterpiece’, she was feeling a lot of pressure. She was still in the stage of learning, but her work was now going to appear on TV…


  “I’m going to work on it as well. You’re not going to do everything by yourself, so you don’t need to feel so much pressure.”


  “R, right?”


  “Have some confidence, straighten your shoulders out.”


  KangYoon imitated straightening his shoulders. He was gesturing to Park SoYoung to do the same. Park SoYoung spoke powerlessly.

  “…Yes.”


  “Your answer is too small.”


  “Yes. Okay, but you know, president….”


  However, KangYoon didn’t even listen to her and went to where Kim JiMin was.”


  “Uuugh, can I really do this?”


  Watching Kim JiMin and KangYoon go through songs, Park SoYoung became nervous.

  ***

  “We’re past the break-even point at least.”


  President Han YoungSook of GNB Entertainment sighed while looking at the reports regarding Nael’s activities.

  She picked Yoo NaYoon from the trainees and invested money in her, and even made her debut date around the same date. However, Nael was being compared by the public with Eunha from World Entertainment and was dubbed the 2nd place.

  Although Nael’s appearance was much more pleasing, she was strangely unable to overtake Eunha on stage. In the end, she had to switch routes to general entertainment programs, and thankfully, she was able to gain a footing there. Using that as her basis, she was able to spread her name wide using various events and was barely able to overtake the breakeven point.

  President Han YoungSook put down the cooled coffee and stood up from her seat. She took out a cigarette and lit it up. White smoke filled the office.

  “Fuu. The activity period will be over after the Birth of the Masterpiece. That’s good.”


  On her desk was a file titled ‘Liaison request for KS TV Birth of the Masterpiece’. Her seal was already on those papers.

  After smoking the entire cigarette, president Han YoungSook called her secretary using an internal bell.

  “Call NaYoon over.”
-

  Yes, ma’am.

  President Han YoungSook opened the window in order to ventilate the air for Yoo NaYoon.

  Not long later, the internet was filled with Nael’s news of appearing in KS TV’s Birth of the Masterpiece.

  ***

  After the summer holiday, the employees of World Entertainment became closer to each other.

  The entertainers became closer to each other, while the employees were the same. Moreover, everyone created a connection to the superstar Min JinSeo this time, so their little sense of belonging to the company was erased.

  Moreover, everyone now knew that the company was trying its best for them.

  A new employee entered World Entertainment at that time.

  “Hello. I’m Yoo JungMin. I graduated this year from XX University. I’m 28 this year and…”


  Morning conference with all the employees of World Entertainment.

  A man with an ordinary face wearing a suit greeted everyone. He introduced himself nervously and turned around to see everyone.

  E, Eddios, Eunha, and White Moonl… whoa……’


  Although he had an interest in entertainment companies, now that he saw them for real, they all looked like dolls to him. Female celebrities with light make-up looked like different species to the women outside.

  After he finished introducing himself, KangYoon stepped up.

  “We have a new person in our office. Everyone, give him a round of applause.”


  Everyone clapped. Yoo JungMin took a light bow.

  KangYoon spoke with a calm tone.

  “You can sit next to Miss HyeJin from now on. Miss HyeJin, you should teach him about the work that is done around here.”


  “Yes, president.”


  “Don’t bully your new junior, okay?”


  “Hahahaha.”


  Everyone laughed at KangYoon’s words.

  As this was one of the rare occasions where everyone gathered, KangYoon briefly talked about how things worked around here. When he thanked everyone for doing their jobs splendidly, everyone applauded him.

  The last one to speak was Lee HyunJi.

  “Summer is nearing its end. Soon, Eunha’s activity will be over. Please take care of our youngest member, since she couldn’t even go on the trip. I hope you can give her a present each.”


  “Yes~.”


  Kim JiMin said that they didn’t need to but when Lee HyunAh hooked her arm around her shoulders and imitated counting money, her face changed. She liked money after all. Seeing that, everyone started laughing.

  The brief introduction / morning conference ended in a good mood and everyone scattered.

  When KangYoon was about to go to the rooftop, Lee HyunJi stopped him.

  “President, wait a moment. Can I take a bit of your time?”


  “Yes. Is there something on your mind?”


  Lee HyunJi followed KangYoon to the rooftop as though this topic wasn’t something to be said in the office. She even locked the rooftop door and spoke carefully after seeing that no one else was around.

  “I think it’s about time.”


  “About time to what?”


  When KangYoon asked, Lee HyunJi replied with a smile.

  (T/N: This could be a great April fools chapter… LEE HYUN JI CONFESSING…?)

  (E/N: We already did that)

  “We need trainees.”


  “Ah, trainees. So it’s that time already.”


  KangYoon clapped in realization.

  She was talking about the future of an entertainment company, its trainees.