“Come on, don’t be like that. Let’s date. This isn’t an opportunity that comes often.”
I spoke firmly to stop any further conversation.
“I refuse.”
“Why? I may look like this, but I’m quite pretty. When I dress up, it’s no joke!”
I already knew that without her saying.
“I’ve also heard a lot that I have a good personality… Is that hard to prove?”
I knew that too.
“I know. Even though you spend all your free time practicing, you still regularly visit this orphanage to volunteer. Saying you have a ‘good personality’ is an understatement. You are charming in every way.”
“…You go straight to the point. That’s right. So I don’t think I’m lacking anywhere. Then why are you refusing?”
Do I really need to spell this out?
“Where in the world is there a manager dating an idol? And besides, Yoon Haneul, you are a minor!”
“Aren’t you curious about the pleasure of crossing that forbidden line?”
“I’m not curious at all.”
If I crossed it, I’d end up like Ban Seongcheol.
“Let’s date. Just date me! Date me! Date me!”
Yoon Haneul lay on the floor, making a fuss like a child.
Seeing this, the kids around us lay down as well, chanting “Date! Date! Date!” and causing a commotion.
“Date! Date! Date!”
Then Jin Yeoreum appeared again, grabbed Yoon Haneul by the collar, and started dragging her away.
“Looking closely, six out of ten incidents here are caused by you.”
“…Ack, heck. Wait, Yeoreum. My neck!”
Like a trash bag, Yoon Haneul was dragged and thrown into the room with the middle school girls.
“Eek, it’s Haneul Unnie. Quickly explain that confession!”
“Explain!”
“Explain!”
“Guys? Can you let go so I can explain? Unnie’s a little scared…”
Bang.
After throwing Yoon Haneul into that pink nightmare and shutting the door firmly, Jin Yeoreum walked towards me.
I thanked her for maintaining her elegance even after dealing with a person like that.
“Yeoreum, thank you for helping.”
“No, I’m sorry for causing such trouble. Haneul is the type to rush into anything she’s interested in without regard for consequences…”
“I found that aspect admirable. Because she can rush into things like that, I have a feeling she will succeed as an idol.”
“…You’ve already talked that much?”
“It’s amazing to me too. Yoon Haneul has impressive sociability.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
As she said, it had been less than 20 minutes since we first met, and we had already talked about various things.
“As you’ve heard, Haneul dreams of becoming an idol. That’s why she practices harder and more thoroughly than anyone.”
Jin Yeoreum looked at me and said,
“Team Leader Seon.”
“Yes, Yeoreum.”
“Is it really enough for me to just volunteer here?”
“…”
Even though I declared I would scout Jin Yeoreum to TwoBear, I was doing nothing for her.
I hadn’t taken her to TwoBear’s office for a contract, involved her in the training that Gaeul and Gyeoul receive, or even had a talent test.
That’s right. I was neglecting her.
Yet, I spoke as if it were obvious.
“That’s right. For now, this is enough. Do you remember what we talked about back then?”
“…Yes. You said this volunteering is necessary to change my image.”
I told Jin Yeoreum that instead of starting training, she should be photographed volunteering at the orphanage for a certain period.
I insisted that improving her image was more urgent than honing her skills.
“It’s a very rough method, but choosing to volunteer was a good decision, Yeoreum. There’s a reason people choose volunteering as their first option for image improvement.”
Jin Yeoreum nodded slightly and said,
“Yes, I think so too. Even if it’s hypocritical, no one denies that volunteering is a good deed.”
“That’s why I think it’s right to base the work of changing your image on this volunteering.”
I think I know why she asked this question again.
She must have been anxious.
After deciding to become an idol, there had been no changes in her daily life.
What I had to do here was to reassure her and reduce variables.
“It might feel like nothing is changing right now, which can be unsettling. To reassure you, Yeoreum, I’ll promise you one thing. The photos taken during this time will definitely have a meaningful impact on your image. You might even say they will be decisive.”
“…”
They would indeed be decisive, though not positively for Jin Yeoreum.
Through the photos I take, Jin Yeoreum would once again be bombarded by public opinion. And within that controversy, Gaeul and Gyeoul’s images would shine and soar.
To achieve that, Jin Yeoreum needs to cooperate quietly until the quest evaluates the photo shoot as complete.
With my silver tongue, I planted poison in her.
“Trust me, Jin Yeoreum. This is all for your success and TwoBear’s.”
“…I don’t trust people who demand blind faith. I’ve been used too much for such thoughts to become beliefs.”
Jin Yeoreum looked at me straight and said,
“Still, I’ll trust you, Team Leader Seon.”
It was a welcome statement. This would make it easier to deceive Jin Yeoreum.
But I wanted to know why.
I didn’t think I had shown enough to earn such trust from her.
So I asked.
“As someone being trusted, it’s not my place to say this, but why are you giving me such special treatment?”
Jin Yeoreum smiled her characteristic elegant smile with warmth and said,
“Just because I want to.”
“…”
I had no intention of formally recruiting Jin Yeoreum.
The moment the quest would be completed, I’d make excuses and cancel Jin Yeoreum’s recruitment.
Since we hadn’t even written a contract yet, it wouldn’t be difficult.
And by the time Jin Yeoreum reminisces about her potential as an idol as a midsummer night’s dream, the chaebol 3rd generation gate would explode. Then, I would stab the sharpest dagger into her heart.
Because that was the path to success.
“Just because.”
“Yes, just because.”
The goal was clear.
I trusted the means.
The future was bright.
But it wasn’t pleasant.
The shoot proceeded smoothly.
“Gyeoul, it’s good to use potato peels to remove water stains on stainless steel. I saved the ones left from making curry yesterday. Want to try this?”
“Wow, it really works well! Amazing, Yeoreum!”
“Well, I won’t be humble in that regard. I always choose the best option. It doesn’t change just because it’s cleaning.”
“But, Yeoreum, can’t you just use a stainless steel cleaner instead of potato peels? It seems easier to store and use.”
Gyeoul took out a stainless steel cleaner from the cleaning tools and started cleaning the kitchen easily.
Yeoreum watched blankly, then showed a slightly sullen expression. She continued cleaning with potato peels.
“…Potato peels are more economical. I chose the best option.”
Gyeoul, read the room! Just clean with the potato peels!
Anyway, the scene of the two cleaning the kitchen together was quite good.
With the mindset of getting one good shot out of a hundred, I tried various angles while photographing them.
In the midst of that, a woman appeared beside me, peeking over.
“Hey! Team Leader Seon!”
It was Yoon Haneul.
“Have you thought about dating me today?”
“I still haven’t.”
“…Your guard is still thick.”
Yoon Haneul looked around at me, Gyeoul, and Yeoreum as I was shooting and said,
“Is the shoot going well?”
“Yes, it is. But…”
Maybe because the models were good, or maybe I surprisingly had talent in photography, the results were quite good.
But there was no sign of the quest being completed.
I was just taking photos blindly, but I had no idea what kind of photos and how many were needed.
“It feels like something is missing. I can’t pinpoint what it is, so it’s a bit frustrating.”
Yoon Haneul closed her eyes, rested her chin on her hand, and pretended to ponder before saying,
“Team Leader Seon, you’re shooting to change Yeoreum’s image, right?”
I lied again, as if it were nothing.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then how about shooting from a more dramatic angle?”
“What do you mean by dramatic?”
“Honestly, typical photos of cleaning and cooking during volunteer work are obvious, right? No matter how well they’re taken, they’re not interesting. Since these photos are to prove volunteer work, those are necessary, but they seem a bit lacking.”
Yoon Haneul laughed refreshingly and said,
“A clickbait that makes you want to click.”
It came to me after hearing her words.
‘Controversy needs evidence. Pretend to recruit Jin Yeoreum as a member and take numerous provocative photos of her volunteering with Gyeoul and Gaeul.’
The photos that would later become internet memes and the starting point of the Bubble Shower storm, and the very provocative photos the quest wanted.
That’s what I had to shoot.
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