Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Raise Three Idols Well And They’ll Launch a Confession Attack.

Episode 69: Let’s Gather The Asshole Haters, Shall We?.

“Hello! I’m Oh Yoori, who wants to be everyone’s refreshing and lively vitamin!”

As Ban Seongcheol finished his introduction, a trainee with pink pigtails who had entered with him greeted us with a cute tone.

But I didn’t really notice that.

What caught my eye was Ban Seongcheol smiling sinisterly.

“Taeyang ssam, are you okay?”

Gyeoul looked at me with a worried expression.

“Yes, Gyeoul. I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

“…Your expression seemed a bit angry. I thought you might be mad at me.”

“….”

Seeing her anxiety, I composed myself.

I was working now. I needed to be a pillar for Gyeoul, not swayed by emotions.

“Sorry. Something worrisome came to mind, and my reaction was a bit slow. Nice to meet you, Oh Yoori. This is trainee Han Gyeoul, and I’m Team Leader Seon Taeyang.”

“Nice to meet you, Yoori. I’m Han Gyeoul.”

Oh Yoori smiled brightly and clasped her hands cutely as she spoke.

“It’s okay! We came in suddenly while you were talking!”

Seeing a kid who looked to be in middle school or early high school speak so properly made me proud.

…But there wasn’t such a kid at Flower Entertainment?

Thinking about it, at this time, Flower Entertainment had sent Seo Eun-byeol and me to ‘Girl 100’. We had maintained a deep relationship, even becoming lovers.

But now, instead of Ban Seongcheol and Eun-byeol, there was a girl named Oh Yoori.

It seemed the future had changed because I didn’t join Flower Entertainment.

“Our Yoori is very nervous as this is her first official schedule. Please be understanding if she makes any mistakes.”

Ban Seongcheol looked at Oh Yoori proudly as he spoke.

It felt very strange.

It felt more real that I had returned to the past than when I received the offer to join Flower Entertainment from Dongwoo or when I saw my sister.

My actions were changing the future. I realized that clearly.

“You’re so cute! How old are you, Yoori?”

“Hehe, thank you. I’m 15 years old!”

“Wow, are you in 9th grade? I’m 16!”

“So you are an older sister! You looked like you had charisma! Your blonde hair and your eyes have some sort of aura.”

“Aura? Oh, I’m not that kind of person.”

As they were talking, Ban Seongcheol spoke.

“Our Yoori is very sociable, so it seems like they’ve already become friends. I think we can expect good chemistry on the show. Showing a light GL vibe sells well. Fans love that stuff.”

…That kind of stuff is really polarizing.

“…Haha, I see. But Gyeoul isn’t very good at acting, so I’m not sure she can match that.”

“Come on, as a team leader, you should know that. Idol business is all about selling fantasies, and this is the most popular fantasy these days.”

I suddenly wondered how I should deal with this guy.

Ban Seongcheol betrayed me ten years later. In the previous timeline, he and I had a relatively good relationship at this point.

He had a tendency to dump work on me, but that was just annoying. We became enemies much later.

But my feelings weren’t easily sorted out.

“By the way, you said you’re a team leader? How did someone like you end up here on-site? Ah, did you come to give the trainee some confidence since it’s the first day?”

I could have pretended to be more important, but I didn’t.

“I did think of that, but our company is short-staffed, so I had to come myself.”

This industry was small. Once TwoBear would start to become active, our staffing situation would be known quickly.

There was no reason to tell a lie that would be quickly discovered just to appear more important.

“…Excuse me, what did you say your company’s name was?”

“TwoBear Entertainment.”

“…TwoBear… Ah, it’s a new company.”

Ban Seongcheol’s gaze toward me changed.

It was a low and frivolous look.

Having known him for a long time, I immediately understood what that look meant.

It was the look Ban Seongcheol gave when he looked down on someone.

You’re still just as rude, Seongcheol.

“You’ve heard of Flower Entertainment, right? We’re the company that created Milkyz.”

Of course, I know Flower. How could I not?

Milkyz was a seven-member boy group that never ranked at the top of music shows but managed to form a decent fan base and make some profits.

They weren’t a bad group, but not something to boast about in front of others.

But I didn’t point that out. I just responded mildly.

“Yes, I’ve heard they’re doing well with ‘Leviathan’ this time.”

“That’s right. Our current results aren’t bad, but Milkyz is clearly on an upward trajectory. We’re different from other small, unsuccessful agencies.”

While Ban Seongcheol started boasting about Milkyz’s achievements and his contributions, a small woman with glasses entered and called for Gyeoul.

“Are you Han Gyeoul?”

“Yes! I’m Han Gyeoul!”

She checked something on her smartphone and spoke.

“Get ready. Your test turn is early, so you need to come out now.”

“Oh, already.”

I followed Gyeoul outside.

Since the filming had started, I couldn’t go all the way with her, but I wanted to see her off a bit.

Gyeoul, looking at me for reassurance, asked the woman with glasses.

“Is there no rehearsal?”

She didn’t even look at Gyeoul as she spoke, still looking at her smartphone.

“There are 100 people waiting, so we don’t have time to do rehearsals for everyone. Just go ahead.”

“…Okay.”

The woman, fiddling with her smartphone, put it in her pocket and spoke.

“I’m Ye Han-na, the writer. Most of the miscellaneous tasks will be handled through me.”

“Yes, nice to meet you, Writer Ye Han-na.”

Ye Han-na looked at me, standing behind Gyeoul, and spoke.

“I heard you already talked with PD Kim. You must have informed your trainee as well, right?”

She was probably referring to using Gyeoul as a character for entertainment.

“Are you expecting Gyeoul to produce a funny scene during the test?”

“That’s right. That’s why I’m assigned to you.”

Ye Han-na spoke without much interest.

“Don’t get your hopes up just because a writer is assigned. Among many writers, choosing me means that… whether you do well or not, it doesn’t matter much. You understand what I mean, right?”

“I understand.”

“…Good. Don’t overthink it. Just show your usual poor performance and get some harsh words from the judges. Do the funny stuff on your own.”

She, with dark circles showing through her glasses, seemed to find the situation itself annoying and tedious.

“That’s what you want, right? To get some airtime and become an issue somehow… But from a broadcast writer’s perspective, I’m not sure. Just because an extra makes a joke doesn’t mean it’ll become an issue. Even if it does, I don’t know if it’ll benefit you. You might just get mocked online.”

“I am confident I can steer that issue in a positive direction.”

“Of course you are. That’s why you’re here. But I don’t think that means much in ‘Girl 100.’ This place isn’t a stage of success entwined with romance and dreams, as it appears. Not with PD Kim Seon-ye here.”

…Does she know about the voting manipulation?

The upcoming voting manipulation incidents weren’t something a lower-level person could know.

It was unlikely that someone high enough to know that would be in charge of guiding Gyeoul.

But Ye Han-na’s attitude and words were too significant to ignore.

Honestly, that wasn’t how a sane broadcast writer should act toward the cast.

It was the attitude of someone ready to quit their job and let things go as they may.

As if confirming my suspicion, Ye Han-na spoke self-deprecatingly.

“…That’s the same for me, actually. Whether it’s funny and gets some airtime or not, it doesn’t mean anything. Nothing comes back. No matter how hard I try, nothing changes. So, I’m quitting this job after this is over.”

She definitely knew something. Whether it was about the voting manipulation or not, I wasn’t sure.

Ye Han-na took her smartphone out of her pocket again and looked at the screen, avoiding our eyes.

“You understand what kind of person I am, right? Unfortunately, you’ve got a writer who won’t help you. If I don’t become a hindrance, consider yourself lucky. Just don’t cause any trouble. That’s all I want from you until I quit.”

Ye Han-na looked at us with pity and spoke.

“And that’s probably more comfortable for both the manager and the trainee. Disappointments are too painful… I’m tired of seeing that.”

As Ye Han-na walked ahead, Gyeoul whispered in my ear carefully.

“…Taeyang ssam, are we doomed?”

“Why?”

“…I think we met a scary writer.”

I smiled to reassure her and said,

“I think we met the best writer we could.”

“Really?”

“Yes, there’s a saying that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. It’s easy to bond over shared dislikes.”

I disliked PD Kim Seon-ye, and it seemed like Ye Han-na did too.

There’s no better common ground for becoming friends.

After learning more, it might be good to make her an offer.

An offer to hit the back of PD Kim Seon-ye, the voting manipulator.