Episode 121

Behind the stage of Girl 100’s final live concert, Oh Yoori, wearing thick round glasses, a baseball cap, and a hooded sweatshirt, said to me.

“I heard the news.”

“What news?”

“That you’ve helped Eun-byeol unnie get a job at Team Leader Seon’s company.”

“Did Eun-byeol tell you?”

“I’ve been in touch with her ever since.”

“That’s nice. It’s important to have someone to talk to.”

Seo Eun-byeol, despite her lively attitude and outgoing appearance, had very few people to confide in. She appeared approachable to everyone, but she harbored a deep self-loathing inside, avoiding showing her true self and striving to present only her good side.

Now, even with her mother, who was the only one she had opened up to, she felt burdened, so it wouldn’t be wrong to say she had no one with whom she felt comfortable.

In the past, that person was me, but now, it seemed better for Oh Yoori to take on that role.

“Yoori, you also have a bit of a tough personality and don’t have many people to talk to openly, right? Try to get along with Eun-byeol. She seems like a good person.”

“Are you sure that’s okay?”

“Huh?”

Oh Yoori, with a plain gaze after removing her usual red-colored contact lenses, looked at me with a hint of concern and asked.

“Well, I’m really glad Eun-byeol unnie found a place, but are you sure Team Leader Seon is okay? Isn’t it a bit much?”

“Much? Why do you think that?”

“Well, the conditions you gave to Eun-byeol unnie are so generous. You’re paying her the salary, but the work is simple enough for someone with no experience to do, and you give her as much freedom as possible, encouraging her to study or explore career options. Is it a job or a shelter?”

Although the salary isn’t even that much…

“I guess you don’t know because you’re still young, but companies with long-term outlooks tend to invest a lot in the personal development of their employees. This is a similar case.”

“Still, it doesn’t change the fact that it looks like you’ve forced a position that wasn’t necessary. Saying that the company needed that position for Eun-byeol unnie doesn’t quite add up.”

“That’s true.”

“So, Team Leader Seon must have borne that burden. Why did you do it? Eun-byeol unnie is someone else to you, isn’t she?”

…Well, that’s how it might seem to others. This memory is something only I hold.

But even if it’s just one-sided memories and emotions, I didn’t want to ignore them.

I had thought that I shouldn’t have been in Eun-byeol’s life, so I didn’t search for her. But I realized that wasn’t the best decision, so I chose this method.

However, I knew that saying something like this would be hard to understand unless it was someone like Yeoreum, who had experienced the same regression. So, I opted for a simpler response.

“I just wanted to.”

“Just?”

“Yeah.”

Oh Yoori, who had been looking at me in surprise, muttered softly, “…You’re so consistent, Taeyang.” Then, with a gentle smile, she changed the subject.

“By the way, did you hear? Gyeoul unnie is the center for the final concert.”

“Of course I’ve heard. That’s been aired on the show. I’d never miss a broadcast where you and Gyeoul are featured.”

Previously, the center was decided by viewer voting, but due to the vote manipulation controversy, viewer voting was banned. Girl 100 had to find another way to determine the center.

And the other method Girl 100 chose was very simple.

“Who thinks this person should be the center? Nominate them.”

It was a vote among the trainees.

“Han Gyeoul.”

“Han Gyeoul? Okay, next.”

“….”

“Next?”

Even though the judge and dance master, Lee Eunji, asked in confusion, the trainees didn’t suggest any other candidates.

Only then did Lee Eunji smile slightly, as if realizing something, and changed the question.

“Hmm… Then, who agrees that Han Gyeoul should be the center? Raise your hand.”

And all the trainees raised their hands.

“Alright, for this final concert, the center is decided to be Han Gyeoul. Prepare well, Gyeoul.”

In front of the decision made in an instant, Gyeoul couldn’t maintain her previously set image of an arrogant genius and said,

“…Me?”

“She looked so cute, unable to accept the reality and hiding her shock. It wasn’t just my opinion; the audience’s reaction was great, too.”

Lately, as I’ve gotten closer to Gyeoul emotionally, I sometimes wondered if it was just me who found it cute, but fortunately, it seemed like it wasn’t just me.

“But it’s a bit of a pleasant misunderstanding that all the trainees agreed. It seems like Gyeoul was well-liked among the trainees, too. I was really worried about how she would adapt among strangers, but thankfully, it worked out.”

“However, it seems like Gyeoul unnie is still feeling the pressure from the center decision. She was looking for Team Leader Seon this morning.”

“I was planning to come early and offer some encouragement, but I ended up being late.”

Oh Yoori, realizing this, exclaimed and spoke.

“Oh, now that I think about it, you’re later than usual today. Usually, you would arrive long before the recording started, make your presence known next to Gyeoul unnie, and then start moving.”

“Yeah, but this time, I had a lot to do. It was hard to make time.”

She asked back with a hint of confusion.

“You said you had a lot to do? But when you were running around as a manager and getting called by Kim Seon-ye, you never mentioned having so much to do even though your time was stretched thin.”

“It wasn’t like I wasn’t busy back then. I managed, but now that TwoBear is officially preparing for debut, managing time is getting more and more tight.”

“Debut?”

“Yes, debut. That’s what I’ve been working towards all this time.”

“…”

Oh Yoori seemed to be thinking of something, and kept glancing at me to gauge my reaction.

Seeing her like this, a fundamental question about the current situation popped into my mind.

“By the way, Yoori, what are you doing here? You dropped out halfway. You don’t need to come, right?”

Although there was a small event planned for eliminated trainees to cheer from the audience, if Oh Yoori, who left the show under uncomfortable circumstances, was there, it would only make things awkward for both of us.

Officially, she had voluntarily quit, so she must have been invited.

Perhaps unsure of how to answer, Oh Yoori trailed off with her words.

“Well, I just wanted to see Gyeoul unnie’s face, watch the performance, and also catch up with Team Leader Seon… things like that.”

“Is that so? Well, enjoy the show and head back safely.”

“…”

After my casual response, Oh Yoori hesitated, took off her hoodie and cap, hurriedly loosened her hair, and made a face as if trying to look pretty, then spoke.

“…I heard from President Cheon Aram that TwoBear is planning for a girl group with four members.”

“So?”

“Three members, including Gyeoul unnie, are confirmed, but I also heard there’s still one spot open.”

“…”

“Then, of course, someone as talented, skilled, attention-grabbing, hardworking, and with the looks like me must stand out, right? I’ll give someone like you, Team Leader Seon, the opportunity to recruit a talented individual like me! Call now, hot commodity, Oh Yoori, the lines are busy! Make your reservation now!”

Having attempted some self-promotion, Oh Yoori struck a provocative, sexy pose as if to add a finishing touch.

…I’ve been thinking this for a while now. Does she really think a pose like that would work on someone like me?

“…”

Seeing Oh Yoori’s attitude, it seemed like she already knew I was planning to make an offer.

It seemed like when President Cheon Aram met with Yoori last time, she must have left some hints.

…Ah, President Cheon, could you have been a bit more careful with your words? I was planning to handle it myself.

In reality, I had been considering her as the last member.

Maybe she knew that, and that’s why her attitude seemed to lack a bit of desperation.

And that mindset wasn’t what I was looking for.

I could understand the psychology behind it, and while it looked cute, I also thought that this kind of attitude could become an obstacle in her activities.

It was a petty thought, something I wouldn’t normally consider as an adult, but when it came to dealing with Yoori, TwoBear had to approach her in a way that accepted her, not as if we were begging.

Only with that kind of relationship could I control someone like Oh Yoori, who had the potential to stir up a public scandal about manipulation and act unpredictably.

That’s why I spoke provocatively, with the intention of correcting her behavior a little.

“But Yoori, your attitude seems a little too bold?”

“…What?”

“Let’s be honest, you’re talented and good-looking. But is there no one who can replace you? And do you think I wouldn’t be able to find a replacement?”

“…”

“Yes, the fact that you’re attention-grabbing is true, but that’s not always a good thing, right? Right now, your image has suffered a lot due to the publicizing of the manipulation scandal, the correction video led by Kim Seon-ye, and your voluntary departure. I actually think this ‘buzz’ you mentioned will be viewed negatively.”

The negative buzz around Yoori, although nowhere near as bad as Jin Yeoreum, who earned national dislike, was still something I exaggerated to make my point.

“Moreover, the negative relationship with Flower Entertainment is a huge flaw. If you think about the lawsuits or demands based on contracts they might pursue… Ugh, I’m already getting a headache. The President might have a good view of you, but I feel like it would be a hard sell for me to recruit someone like you.”

“…”

“In the midst of all this, when you bring up recruitment with such a casual attitude, it makes me view you even more negatively. Choosing the final four will determine the fate of all of us at TwoBear. I don’t want to pick someone who takes things so lightly when making such a choice. I want someone with a desperate attitude.”

At this point, I thought I had scared her enough, but when I looked at Oh Yoori, she casually asked, as if nothing had happened.

“How should I show that desperate attitude?”

Seeing her attitude, I began to wonder if this wasn’t enough to intimidate her after all.

So, I spoke more maliciously.

“Hmm… You should at least be prepared to kneel and lick my feet for me to recruit you, right?”

Oh Yoori, glancing at my feet, muttered in a voice too quiet for me to hear.

“…This is a reward, you know.”

“…What?”

As I was about to ask her to repeat what she said, Oh Yoori suddenly kneeled, removing my shoes without giving me a chance to stop her.

“Wait, what are you doing…?”

As I tried to push her away, thinking I might get hurt by kicking her, I froze. Before I knew it, she had removed my socks and was shaking her tongue around in a rapid motion.

Shocked, I sat down and used my hands to block her face. But she licked my hand while saying,

“If you choose me, I’ll lick your feet every day! No, I’ll give you a full-body shower with my tongue! Please, just trust me once!”

“I was wrong. Please, just let me off the hook.”