Chapter 31

Chapter 31

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

Episode 31: Chapter 2 – Cheon Aram (END).

“Are you alright?”

Seo Soo-yeon said, wiping the sweat off Cheon Aram, who had spent 30 minutes vomiting in the bathroom.

“Yes, I’m fine. Just a bit of cold sweat, chills, a headache, and some nausea.”

“…Usually, people don’t call that ‘fine.’”

“By my standards, this is pretty good.”

Cheon Aram shrugged as if it were nothing, despite her haggard face.

Seo Soo-yeon sighed deeply at the sight and then said.

“That’s why you should have come about 10 minutes before the end of the performance, as Team Leader Seon suggested. Watching the stage for 2 hours in such a crowded place, this outcome was inevitable.”

Although her tone was close to criticism, it was filled with deep concern for Cheon Aram.

Cheon Aram appreciated that side of Seo Soo-yeon.

“I won’t deny that it was a bit of a foolish choice. But it was definitely worth it.”

“…I don’t want to say it was worthless either.”

Seo Soo-yeon spoke with a blush, as if still moved by the performance.

“Yoo Gaeul’s performance was really amazing.”

Cheon Aram lightly laughed at Seo Soo-yeon’s expression and said.

“…Hmm, I admit Gaeul was great, but something else caught my eye.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Seon Taeyang.”

“Team Leader Seon?”

Seo Soo-yeon, momentarily puzzled, soon nodded and said.

“…He certainly seemed quite capable as a marketer.”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

Cheon Aram recalled their first song, “Memories of the Sea and Leaves.”

“Do you remember the first performance?”

“If you’re talking about ‘Memories of the Sea and Leaves,’ I remember. It was my favorite performance.”

“Why do you think that performance was the best? Out of all the many performances Yoo Gaeul has done?”

Seo Soo-yeon moved her lips but couldn’t answer.

“I’m sorry, but I lack the insight to know… It just felt deeper.”

Cheon Aram smiled slightly at her and then kindly explained.

“Certainly, the star of that stage was Yoo Gaeul. But if you ask who made that stage perfect, I’d give the credit to Team Leader Seon.”

Seon Taeyang’s semi-professional level piano skills deserved high praise.

But that wasn’t all.

Cheon Aram already knew the song “Memories of the Sea and Leaves.”

So she could clearly feel that the song changed completely from the second piano solo onward.

The funky, sexy, and addictive change in the flow could be defined in one word.

Sophisticated.

This simple word was the highest praise Cheon Aram, a president who had to lead and not lose the trends in the industry, could give.

“Jonghoon oppa didn’t just call him someone who could surpass him for no reason.”

When those words were conveyed, cracks appeared on Seo Soo-yeon’s usually expressionless face.

“Did that Cheon Jonghoon really say such a thing?”

Her face was full of shock.

Cheon Aram laughed loudly at that rare change in expression.

“That’s right. I can’t believe I’m saying it myself.”

After laughing heartily at Seo Soo-yeon’s dazed face, Cheon Aram adjusted her clothes, tied up her hair, and said.

“Alright… Now that we’ve caught our breath, let’s head out.”

Seo Soo-yeon, as if her recent emotions were just a mistake, hardened her face back to being expressionless and replied like a top-tier secretary.

“Yes, I’ll take you home.”

Cheon Aram, flustered as if hearing an unexpected answer, said.

“What are you talking about? It’s not time to clock out yet. We have work to do.”

Seo Soo-yeon shook her head and said.

“But given your current condition, I think you need to rest.”

“We don’t have time for that. As Team Leader Seon mentioned, we have to move quickly to handle things at the SEED foundation.”

“If that’s all, I can…”

“And I have to meet the old investors from my family home after a long time.”

Seo Soo-yeon asked in surprise.

“You’re going to meet them?”

“Yes, now that we’re diving headfirst into the industry, it’s something we have to do.”

Hearing those words, her face was filled with deep concern and worry for Cheon Aram.

Even more than when she was vomiting and sweating cold sweat earlier.

“President Cheon, you extremely disliked meeting them, saying you couldn’t stand the stench for even 10 minutes.”

“…That’s true.”

“There’s no reason to go that far. This TwoBear Entertainment was established just as an excuse to step out of the heir competition, wasn’t it?”

That’s right. Cheon Aram never intended to use TwoBear Entertainment to create a girl group.

Taking on the role of president of TwoBear Entertainment was more of a political declaration not to compete with Cheon Jonghoon for the heir position.

She didn’t even plan to directly use the state-of-the-art facilities of TwoBear Entertainment.

It was merely an investment to sell the building later.

But her heart had changed.

“I also wanted to do something sincerely.”

It must have been from the moment she learned about the existence of Seon Taeyang from Cheon Jonghoon’s mouth.

Cheon Aram smiled as if she welcomed that change.

“Han Gyeoul, Yoo Gaeul, and Seon Taeyang. How did people who fit my taste so perfectly come together?”

Like seeping in, like being drawn in, gradually.

Cheon Aram had become their fan, even before their debut.

“Aren’t you curious about what kind of group they’ll form?”

“…”

“Honestly, I’m someone who often calculates and discriminates against people. I grew up learning to live that way in the Cheon family, and my related major also influenced that, but I don’t want to be like that in front of these friends.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“Now I don’t want to be stingy with things like profitability, capital, and investment justifications. I can handle that myself… I want to be the pillar for those people.”

She spoke with an awkward smile, as if embarrassed to say such things.

“Doesn’t that sound a bit cool?”

Seo Soo-yeon saw that side of Cheon Aram for the first time.

To Cheon Aram, humans had always been beings to avoid.

The idea that she would smile just by repeating someone’s name was unimaginable.

Seo Soo-yeon hoped that her old friend’s smile would last long.

“Then I will also use my full capabilities for TwoBear.”

She spoke with firm determination.

“Yes, I look forward to working with you, Soo-yeon!”

Cheon Aram smiled brightly at Seo Soo-yeon.

“Therefore, I’ll leave the contract to you.”

Cheon Aram handed over the contract reflecting the agreed terms and said.

“Is it alright for me to handle this?”

It was a contract that required a significant amount of money.

I was grateful for the trust, but considering I hadn’t been with the company for even a month, it felt a bit burdensome.

“After causing all that commotion just yesterday, what are you saying now?”

I had no words for that point.

Yesterday’s busking incident and the rushed contract were actions that I thought had crossed the line.

Honestly, I had done it with the mindset that if it failed, I would just grab Gyeoul and run.

“I’m sorry. There won’t be any more actions that undermine your authority.”

When I bowed my head in apology, Cheon Aram waved her hand dismissively and said.

“It’s alright. I saw even those actions in a positive light. In the end, you caused the commotion to help the company, right?”

No, it was just for my own benefit.

“Honestly, I had a strange suspicion about you, Team Leader Seon, so I watched you closely. Wanting to believe and blindly trusting are different. But after yesterday, I’ve decided. I will trust you, Team Leader Seon… This is not something I’m saying lightly.”

I had no words.

“Don’t betray my trust.”

Cheon Aram’s gaze shone intimidatingly, like a viper’s.

I shivered slightly at the goosebumps rising up my neck.

I still couldn’t get used to that gaze.

“I will repay your trust.”

“Good! Then go.”

I asked with a hint of reluctance.

“Still, wouldn’t it be better for Seo Soo-yeon, who seemed knowledgeable in accounting, to handle this?”

“Soo-yeon is at the SEED foundation, handling the mess you caused. I also have to go out for investment matters.”

“…I apologize once again. I’m sorry.”

In the end, it seemed predetermined that I would handle the contract.

I bowed to Cheon Aram and left the president’s office.

In the lobby, I found Gaeul kneeling on the chair, tense, even though no one was watching.

“Miss Gaeul, why are you sitting so uncomfortably?”

“…H-Huh?”

Gaeul looked at the small sign that said “TwoBear” in the lobby and said.

“Oh… Coming to the company like this, I feel like I’ve entered the adult world.”

I thought, high school sophomores really were sensitive.

I spoke lightly to ease her tension.

“The part-time job you usually do is also an adult’s job. There’s not much difference between this and that.”

“…Right. That’s also an adult’s job.”

She seemed to be in a self-deprecating mood.

Realizing I had made a slight slip of the tongue, I changed the subject.

“First, we need your guardian’s consent for the formal contract. Especially since it involves a large sum of money.”

The new topic wasn’t exactly pleasant, but it was a necessary conversation.

“So, I’d like to meet your guardian now and discuss the contract. Is that alright?”

“…Yes, we should. We need my guardian’s consent.”

We went to the parking lot and got into the company’s car.

Gaeul, after cautiously giving the address, closed her mouth.

It was unlike her usual self, who chatted nonstop.

I waited patiently for her.

Because I could somewhat guess her feelings.

It was 20 minutes after we got in the car that Gaeul finally spoke.

“…My father might seem a bit strange to you.”

“A bit strange?”

Gaeul, fidgeting with her hands, expressed her anxiety and said.

“…Actually, a lot.”

…It seemed this wouldn’t be easy either.