Episode 132

Using the high-end sound equipment installed in the CEO’s office, Seon Taeyang’s song “Albatross” was playing, and Cheon Aram, humming the melody while immersed in her work, frowned at the sudden phone call.

Because there was only one person who would call at this time.

When she saw the number on her smartphone, it was exactly the person she had expected.

She wanted to just hang up, but since she had a matter to attend to, Cheon Aram let out a small sigh and answered the phone.

“Hey, Jonghoon oppa. What’s going on?”

“I heard you haven’t been coming home.”

It was her older brother, Cheon Jonghoon, a genius producer who was considered the heir of SS.

Although his influence had greatly diminished due to the overreach he had committed previously.

“Soo-yeon went, didn’t she? Does it make a big difference whether she goes or I go?”

“Functionally, there’s no difference. But you know there’s a difference when it comes to the message being conveyed, don’t you?”

“Of course, I know. That’s why I sent Soo-yeon. If they understood the message properly, they should get it. Do I really need to spell out my intentions?”

The main family, as well as her mother, still hoped that Cheon Aram would use her abilities for the benefit of the family.

Without considering the suffering she had gone through because of that.

If this had been before, she would have calculated the pros and cons and participated if it seemed reasonable, but now, Cheon Aram didn’t want to be involved with them anymore.

After all, she had finally found something she wanted to do for the first time in her life.

“…Sigh, there was a message from Dad telling you to stop doing pointless things and come home.”

“Well, I believe that what I’m doing right now is the most valuable thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“Are you talking about wasting time stuck with a newly established agency?”

“No, it’s about creating the best idols with the best talents.”

“Do you think that’s something that’ll make as much money as you’re actively using your abilities?”

“Money isn’t everything.”

“H-hahahaha. To hear that from your mouth, Cheon Aram… You really have a talent for jokes.”

She couldn’t help but agree with those words.

When she first heard about Seon Taeyang through Cheon Jonghoon, she never imagined this kind of future would come to her, or that she’d be able to have these kinds of thoughts.

“Yeah, I never thought I’d say something like that. But you know, I don’t think the profitability is lacking at all. We’re going to succeed.”

“Do you really think the entertainment industry is that easy?”

“Oh, do you think I’d think like that after being the head of HR at SS? I have so many amazing colleagues who can succeed in the entertainment industry. It’s not arrogance; it’s confidence. I’d even bet on it.”

“Really? You think people who would get past that keen nose of yours exist?”

“Yeah, there are. It’s my company, but I sometimes can’t believe it either.”

“……”

Cheon Jonghoon fell silent at her assertion.

At least Cheon Aram, his younger sister, never exaggerated or lied when evaluating people.

That was why he never imagined that there would be a group she would rate so highly.

Cheon Aram spoke to Cheon Jonghoon, who was unknowingly feeling a hint of fear, as if it was nothing.

“Oh, we’re debuting this time.”

After a long silence upon hearing those words, Cheon Jonghoon spoke.

“Are you aware that Alcest’s debut is just around the corner? You’ll have to compete with SS.”

“Well, if we keep worrying about that, when will we debut? Next month, PPZ will be back, and the month after that is Ballad Prince Seo Ji-hak’s album release. The charts will be competitive again. We can’t avoid everything.”

Cheon Aram finished speaking with a mischievous tone.

“And honestly, if we’re talking about new groups, I think we can win.”

That statement was enough to scratch Cheon Jonghoon’s arrogant pride.

That was why he didn’t hide his boiling voice and spoke out.

“Did you bring this up just to provoke me? If that’s the case, you’re crossing the line…”

“No, the main point is about to come.”

Cheon Aram erased any hint of playfulness and spoke with a sharp weight in her tone.

“Do you remember what you did to Team Leader Seon last time?”

“…Why?”

“If you pull the same trick on Team Leader Seon again, I won’t just sit by and watch.”

“Now you’re bringing this up? If you wanted to say that, you should have said it when it happened. You let it slide, so you implicitly gave permission. Don’t you think this shift in attitude is pretty ugly?”

Cheon Aram readily admitted it.

“Yeah, honestly, I’ll admit I stood by and did nothing then. I thought your actions would completely block any chance of Team Leader Seon leaving for another company. I used the situation. I tried to block both of their futures, while also considering the options to leave them behind if it didn’t work out. I admit, I was a real bitch back then.”

Back then, Cheon Aram wanted someone who didn’t smell of deceit, yet she couldn’t shake the deeply ingrained, profit-and-loss calculation perspective instilled by her family and mother’s coercive education.

Even while watching them, she endlessly continued to make value judgments.

“So, then why are you attacking now? Isn’t it just one of those useful cards you can play?”

“No, it’s not just a useful card.”

But even she had changed.

“He’s a friend. One who dreams the same dream.”

To the point of unabashedly saying such cheesy words.

“So, keep this in mind. If something like that happens again, that crazy girl you know will come running this time with poison in her hands.”

Bang!

Cheon Jonghoon slammed the antique-design phone on the table and shouted.

“Seo Soo-ae!”

At his shout, Seo Soo-ae appeared quietly and asked with a nervous look.

“What do you need?”

“We’re moving the debut up.”

“…What?”

“We’re moving Alcest’s debut up.”

Surprised by Cheon Jonghoon’s sudden declaration, Seo Soo-ae asked again.

“The schedule has already been set. Why are you trying to move it up?”

Walking roughly toward the door, Cheon Jonghoon seemed to be saying he wouldn’t allow any more questions, speaking firmly.

“It seems like I won’t be satisfied until I show them that they’ll get crushed by SS even without pulling those dirty tricks.”

The four members of Girl Revolution were having a fitting session to determine the overall guidelines for their outfits.

It wasn’t a particularly difficult schedule, simply trying on clothes, taking photos, and then changing again, but still, one of the members was having some trouble.

“No, I can’t take this off.”

It was Jin Yeoreum, who usually received the best evaluations in most tasks.

Seeing her, Oh Yoori scratched her head and said,

“I told you, you can’t take pictures in that training jersey. Just take it off for a second. It’ll be over soon.”“…There will be photos left. Photos of me wearing such embarrassing clothes.““Come on, it’s not that embarrassing. Gaeul unnie and Gyeoul unnie are wearing them too, you know?”

“There’s too much exposure… What is this? It’s like the clothes were made out of a handkerchief.”

Jin Yeoreum wasn’t wrong.

After all, the clothes they were fitting for this session were a variation of what was known as a handkerchief top, a type of bra top.

Naturally, it boasted daring exposure.

For her, who usually wore loose, airy dresses and casual training clothes for practice, this level of exposure was something she had never experienced.

However, for Oh Yoori, who had no hesitation about showing skin, it felt frustrating.“How are you planning to wear a swimsuit later at this rate? Yeoreum unnie is surprisingly shy, you know. During last week’s evaluation, she was the most nervous… Considering her usual demeanor, you’d think Gyeoul unnie would’ve been the one most nervous, but she was actually quite calm instead.”

While speaking, Oh Yoori suddenly thought of something and asked Jin Yeoreum.

“Come to think of it, didn’t you always wear tight leotards when you did rhythmic gymnastics? Those don’t show skin, but they still reveal your body line. How did you wear those?”

Jin Yeoreum, feeling embarrassed for causing such a fuss, spoke slightly downcast.

“…Back then, I was young, so there wasn’t much to show.”

“No, what’s so different from then to now…”

Oh Yoori stopped speaking and looked over Jin Yeoreum’s body.

Then, she raised her thumb and spoke.

“Accepted. There’s plenty to see now.”

It was truly an objective assessment.

Under Oh Yoori’s gaze, Jin Yeoreum shrank even more and tightened the blue training jersey that Seon Taeyang had given her as a gift during the concert.

At that moment, a voice was heard from outside the door.

“Are you all doing well?”

It was Seon Taeyang, who had stopped by after meeting with reporters.

“Taeyang ssam!”

“Taeyang oppa! I’ve been working hard! I think I’ve changed clothes about 30 times today!”

“…Me too, it’s a bit embarrassing, but I tried. I don’t know if any of the clothes really suit me.”

“Hmm… I haven’t seen the other clothes you wore, Gyeoul, but the ones you’re wearing now look great on you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, it looks really pretty.”

“Really? Really? Isn’t it too revealing?”

“Not really? It just looks cute.”

Listening to the conversation, Oh Yoori had a thought cross her mind: ‘This is it.’

She thought that Seon Taeyang’s opinion could help change Jin Yeoreum’s mindset.

“You heard that, right, Yeoreum unnie? Team Leader Seon thinks this outfit is cute…”

While speaking, Oh Yoori turned around, only to freeze in place.

Jin Yeoreum had already taken off the training jersey and was adjusting her clothes in front of the mirror.

There was no trace of shyness, only natural confidence in her actions.

After looking at herself in the mirror for a while, she nodded, satisfied, and walked out the door, as if the hesitation she had felt until then had completely disappeared.

“Team Leader Seon!”

“Oh, Yeoreum, you were inside? The outfit looks great on you!”

“Hehe.”

Oh Yoori, watching the scene from a distance, sighed.

“Shy, my foot. Once the stage is set, she’d run out naked if she had to.”