Translator: Chamber

  Editor: Illidan

  ‘He… believes in me?’


  After Kim JiMin’s appearance in ‘Birth of the Masterpiece’, Park SoYoung wasn’t showing results as good compared to other people.

  She was always doing rearrangements, but as HeeYoon, the company’s leading composer, and KangYoon, who never stopped working on music despite being the president and other artists who also started working on music, she was beginning to feel unnecessary.

  To her, KangYoon’s words of encouragement were a huge motivation.

  “What are you staring at?”


  “No, it’s nothing…”


  Park SoYoung blushed and looked away, and KangYoon continued to speak after tilting his head.

  “Among you three, SoYoung has the most experience in working with songs. JiMin and HanYu should listen to SoYoung’s advice. She’s after all, an official rearranger at our company, alright?”


  “Yes, okay.”


  KangYoon made it so that Park SoYoung wouldn’t feel dejected amongst the two actual singers and clapped his hand before finishing his talk.

  “Well then. I’ll look forward to it. Let’s start recording the next time you bring me the song.”


  “Yes.”


  Kim JiMin and Seo HanYu left the studio first, and Park SoYoung followed suit.

  At that moment, she turned around towards KangYoon.

  “Uhm…”


  “What? Something you want to ask?”


  “…Thank you.”


  As soon as she said those words, she slammed the door shut and ran out.

  “Kids will always be kids.”


  KangYoon turned off the studio PC and headed to the office to work on things he hadn’t been able to until now.

  The office was busy with typing sounds and phone calls.

  Lee HyunJi was busy working while taking a phone call at the same time, while Jung HyeJin and Yoo JungMin were also busy taking care of approving various artists’ schedules that came from the managers as well as taking care of the budget.

  KangYoon naturally returned to his seat and turned on his computer and started looking over the papers that flew over from Japan.

  “Direc…”


  KangYoon turned around to Lee HyunJi to consult her about something, but she was buried in her work.

  The other employees were very busy, as well.

  This was happening since the meeting was over.

  Everyone was absorbed in work without being able to take a moment’s rest.

  ‘Everyone will burn out at this rate. We need more people.’


  The company would grow even more in the future, so working with these few people was impossible.

  KangYoon approached Lee HyunJi after she finished her call.

  “Director.”


  “Yes? Oh, president.”


  “Can we talk a little?”


  When KangYoon pointed upwards, Lee HyunJi nodded her head.

  The two of them brewed a cup of coffee before heading towards the rooftop.

  “It’s so busy here. Miss MoonHee is doing well in Japan.”


  Lee HyunJi looked very satisfied despite all the work.

  It was a great joy for her to see artists doing well after all the preparations they did.

  KangYoon nodded his head and spoke about why he called her out.

  “Since everyone’s doing well, we’ll grow even bigger in the future. Before that, though, I’m thinking about increasing the number of staff at the office.”


  “Oh.”


  Lee HyunJi clapped her hands.

  This was something that she had been thinking about while KangYoon was away.

  “I was thinking about that as well… Actually, working is fun, but the load is not easy to handle.”


  “Moreover, we’re going to get more work, not less, so I think we need to hire more people. Not to mention the project we have going with FinesTok, we now have a new Japanese market, and there’s also JinSeo and her acting. Although it won’t happen for a while, we’ll eventually have to go to China as well.”


  “How many do you think we need? If there are more people, I guess it would indicate how much the company has grown. Everyone will like it.”


  “Indeed. And also, I believe that we should separate the workspace of board members and ordinary employees.”


  “It’s fun working with everyone, though…”


  “If there are more people, they’ll find our presence as pressure for them. We should get ourselves away from them if there are more people.”


  “Alright.”


  “Please take care of that. Oh, and since MoonHee had a huge success in Japan, make sure everyone receives good bonus pay.”


  “I was getting that ready in case you told me that.”


  Lee HyunJi stretched her arms out.

  A motivation for everyone to work well.

  It lay in the fact that KangYoon did not monopolize the company profits.

  This was an industry where even minimum wage wasn’t guaranteed, and occurrences where people left the industry, were quite common. World Entertainment, though, was the complete opposite.

  Other than that, the two talked about various plans coming forward before heading down from the rooftop.

  It became night time.

  KangYoon headed towards a restaurant without a signboard located in Yoido. This place was designed for the privacy of famous people.

  “Welcome.”


  Getting through a tattered door without even any indications of it being a restaurant, a fancy restaurant greeted KangYoon.

  “The reservation should be under the name of Min JinSeo.”


  “This way, please.”


  The employee guided KangYoon to a room.

  Getting through the door and the curtain, Min JinSeo, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, greeted KangYoon.

  “Sir.”


  “Sit down.”


  After ordering some things, Min JinSeo rested her head on her hands and started at KangYoon.

  “Is something on my face? Why are you looking at me like that?”


  “Mm, it’s just…”


  “It’s just?”


  “…I like you.”


  The last words were spoken in a quiet voice.

  However, it was loud and clear to KangYoon’s ears.

  He changed seats, sat next to Min JinSeo, and put his arm around her shoulders while she rested her head against KangYoon’s shoulders.

  “…This is good.”


  “It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, hasn’t it?”


  “That’s true. But it’s still fortunate.”


  “Fortunate?”


  “…Just…everything.”


  She didn’t say that she liked their current moment.

  KangYoon likewise felt that time like this was important.

  “…Sir.”


  “JinSeo.”


  While the soft music flowed, Min JinSeo’s lips approached KangYoon’s.

  And the two pairs of lips to…


  “Please excuse me.”


  An employee called out outside the door.

  ‘Urgh!’


  KangYoon returned to the other side of the table quickly, and Min JinSeo also tried to hide her panic and get herself together.

  “Please have a nice meal.”


  The employee politely put the food on the table before leaving the room.

  “……”


  “……”


  “Hahahahaha!”


  The two of them stared at each other for a moment before bursting out into laughter at the same time.

  “Sheesh, sir. You don’t need to worry about things leaking out here.”


  “It seems so. But just in case, you know? It’s better to be careful.”


  “It’s really alright, though…”


  She hadn’t reserved this expensive restaurant for no reason.

  While she found it to be a pity, she was thankful for his consideration.

  Perhaps because they hadn’t seen each other for a long time, the two of them had a lot to talk about.

  Min JinSeo talked about various things she had been learning during this time, while KangYoon took the listener’s role.

  Then the topic changed to Team Leader Kang GiJoon, who was in charge of Min JinSeo.

  “Team Leader Kang is the one who raised Lee MinHye, right?”


  “Yeah. Things happened before he came to us. What about it?”


  “I saw the team leader hesitate while holding a script a while ago.’


  “A script?”


  KangYoon hadn’t heard of this before.

  He hadn’t heard anything about this when Kang GiJoon made his report.

  “I sneaked a peak when he was away. It was a two-part drama titled ‘Easy Love, Difficult Love’. It’s about two women, one who starts love quickly, and one who looks at the conditions meticulously before finding love. And their friendship together.

  “So it’s a one-act play. I guess there was no need to offer you that one.”


  Min JinSeo appearing on a one-act play?

  There was no reason for Kang GiJoon to offer Min JinSeo such a thing.

  However, Min JinSeo’s intentions lay somewhere else.

  “I had a look at the cast, and I found Lee MinHye on it. Lee MinHye is the one who was under Team Leader GiJoon’s care before, right?”


  “Yes. Oh, so that’s why…”


  The story between Kang GiJoon and Lee MinHye was famous across the industry, not just World Entertainment.

  KangYoon was able to understand why he had a copy of that script.

  Kang GiJoon went through all his pains due to Lee MinHye, so it wasn’t surprising.

  Min JinSeo hesitated a little before calling out to KangYoon.

  “…Uhm, sir.”


  “What is it? Wait. JinSeo, don’t tell me you’re…”


  Noticing her intentions, KangYoon’s eyes widened.

  She wanted to appear in that drama.

  “Didn’t Team Leader GiJoon say that it’s not time for you to return to the industry?”


  KangYoon worriedly told her, but she shook her head as though it was fine.

  “It’s a short one, so the filming won’t take long. I feel like I’ve rested too long and am losing my way with acting. I should get some things done.”


  “JinSeo. This is about work. I feel like you’re not considering the script but emotional feelings first.”


  “The script was good as well.”


  Putting down KangYoon’s worries, Min JinSeo told him to have faith in her.

  However, KangYoon replied calmly.

  “JinSeo, I think you should consult Team Leader GiJoon about this.”


  “Do you… object to my appearance?”


  “Rather than that, I gave Team Leader GiJoon full authority. I’m going to follow his opinion.”


  Min JinSeo found it a pity but didn’t say anything more about it to KangYoon.

  ‘I should call Team Leader GiJoon and speak to him about this later.’


  KangYoon picked up his fork and knife and started eating dinner.

  ***

  – I loved your smiling figure —


  Han JooYeon and Christie An’s voices faded out along with the music recording.

  The girls put their hands down and sat down.

  “Yes, that was the song ‘Smile’, sung by Miss JooYeon and Miss Ris of Eddios. Thank you for the song.”


  They were on live radio right now.

  They appeared as guests and were showing off their singing skills.

  As this radio was aimed at teens and twenties, the conversations were mostly about studying and love, while the two girls especially showed a lot of interest in love.

  As the radio was progressing, some audience questions arrived.

  The male host looked at the monitor and read out some questions.

  “User mlb123 asked a question: ‘I wonder what the other members of Eddios are doing right now’. So it’s around 9 p.m. now. What are the other members of the group doing?

  Han JooYeon smiled and spoke.

  “MinAh should be doing practice right about now, and Jennie should be grumbling doing the dishes.”


  “Is Miss Jennie in charge of the dishes?”


  Christie An replied this time.

  “She can’t stand the kitchen being messy. So it naturally became like that.”


  “And the one who exploits that is…”


  When Han JooYeon pointed at Christie An, she retorted immediately.

  “You are no different fellow member.”


  “Whoa? Hmm.”


  As they started laughing, Han JooYeon continued.

  “Lilie should be doing practice as well, I think? And SeoYu should be working right now.”


  “Working? Like, working on a song?”


  The host’s eyes lit up, and the chatting window started scrolling down rapidly.

  “Yeah. She’s learned music production lately, and she’s working on that… she’s not even leaving her room because of it.”


  “Oh, this is the first reveal, then?”


  At that moment, Christie An’s eyes widened, and she poked at Han JooYeon’s waist.

  Realizing her mistake, Han JooYeon quickly shut up, but…


  “Oho, so Eddios has a new album coming then? One produced by Miss SeoYu?”


  A word from her created rumors.

  ***

  “…I’m so sorry.”


  After the radio schedule, Han JooYeon couldn’t even return to the dorms and had to go to the World Entertainment office and apologize to KangYoon.

  Lee HyunJi, who had to come back from the parking lot, sighed.

  “…You aren’t a newbie anymore. Why are you still making rookie mistakes like that?”


  “I’m sorry, I’m so…”


  Even Christie An couldn’t go home and had to apologize like a sinner.

  – JooYeon, Eddios’s new album leaked?

  – The producer is SeoYu? Eddios’s new album coming?

  – Flapping their wings after one year? Eddio’s top-secret album?

  KangYoon was laughing at the speculative articles on the internet.

  “President?”


  “This is interesting. Rumors are creating more interesting rumors.”


  “That’s why words are scary.”


  Listening to their conversation, Han JooYeon looked even more dejected.

  She had caused yet another accident after the scandal last time.

  She felt like she had become the trouble maker.

  After browsing through the internet articles, KangYoon stood up and approached Han JooYeon and Christie An.

  “This happened because of a misunderstanding, right?”


  “….”


  “And if you feel that you need to talk about albums or concerts, consult your managers beforehand.”


  “…Yes. I’m sorry.”


  KangYoon sighed.

  “You know that a word from you has a big impact, right?”


  “…Yes.”


  “Go to your residence and stay put. We’ll take care of it, so don’t worry that much.”


  KangYoon had Han JooYeon and Christie An return.

  Looking at the articles, Lee HyunJi spoke to KangYoon.

  “Well, I guess we wouldn’t be able to call ourselves an entertainment company if nothing like this happens. JooYeon’s like a bomb even though she doesn’t look like it.”


  “Hahaha. You’re right. A bomb. Now then, who do we go about cleaning this up?”


  “Wouldn’t it die down after a few days? It’s not like it’s a big issue…”


  “That’s true, but we might become the boy who cried wolf. Since it’s like this, why don’t we just…”


  KangYoon thought about it for a moment before smiling.

  “Why don’t we prepare Eddios’s album for real? After we’re done with JiMin’s song.”


  Lee HyunJi nodded her head in agreement.