Chapter 169
“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 alb.u.m 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 cla.s.sy 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, Hw.a.n.g 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 embarra.s.sed . Actually, she did feel embarra.s.sed 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 n.o.body, 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 cla.s.sic, 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 cla.s.sic 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 . ”
“h.e.l.lo, 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 doc.u.ments 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 gla.s.ses on .
“SoYoung . ”
“Oh, h.e.l.lo, president . And you too, JiMin . ”
“h.e.l.lo, 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 t.i.tled ‘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 .
“h.e.l.lo . 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 .