Chapter 63

Chapter 63

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

Episode 63: Give Me Your Daughter, Father.

The spacious office, which seemed inefficiently used, was filled with people in black suits, black sunglasses, and black masks standing with their hands behind their backs, lining the walls and behind Jin Baek-ho.

If seen from afar, it would have been laughed at as some kind of concept, but being kidnapped and surrounded by them, I couldn’t laugh.

It was just fucking scary.

[Convince Jin Baek-ho, the chairman of Jinkang, and survive safely!]

[Reward – Drop the Beat]

The sudden appearance of the quest was not at all welcome.

Only the eeriness grew.

…Why are you like this, too? It makes me anxious.

In that spacious office, Jin Baek-ho, an angry parent, poured tea into his cup, glanced at me, and spoke.

“If you have a mouth, try speaking. What is your intention in kidnapping someone else’s child and forcing them to become an idol?”

“Yeoreum’s father, it wasn’t forced…”

“…Father?”

With my slip of the tongue, all the men in suits, who had been staring straight ahead, turned to look at me.

“…Chairman Jin.”

“That’s right.”

Only then did the men in suits look straight ahead again.

…Did they learn that instead of security during training?

I cleared my throat lightly and then spoke.

“First, let me clarify that there was no coercion involved in accompanying Ms. Yeoreum.”

“Then, are you saying our Yeoreum voluntarily joined that hole-in-the-wall company?”

“Yes, I did give her a push, but I believe all actions were her own decision. I think Ms. Yeoreum is someone who can make her own choices in such important matters.”

Jin Baek-ho took a sip of his poured tea and said,

“Well, you speak well. But I’m not someone who can be swayed by such flattery. Even if it’s my daughter, I evaluate her without bias. Affection and rose-colored glasses are different things.”

He spoke firmly as if stating an obvious truth.

“Yeoreum is still young. Such a child decided purely on her own judgment? That’s the kind of thing a sycophant would say, blowing wind beside her. They all claim it’s her will while editing information and blinding her. Do you think I’ve seen only one or two such people?”

“…I don’t think so. I’m sure there have been countless attempts like you mentioned. Such pests are bound to follow a brilliant star like Ms. Yeoreum. But our TwoBear Entertainment…”

Jin Baek-ho lightly scoffed and interrupted my words.

“That’s funny. Do you think you’re any different? They’re all the same. Broadcasting stations, gymnastics associations, and scholarship foundations. Even that volunteer work. Surely, there must have been someone blowing wind beside her… Like that Director, for example. The name Jinkang has that much value.”

The Director I saw didn’t seem like that kind of person. Yet, Jin Baek-ho spoke with a certain conviction.

“Under the guise of pure goodwill, what they always want is the name Jinkang behind that child. In the process, Yeoreum had to be used and deceived. It’s all because of that ‘wanting to do something’ nonsense!”

He cooled his anger by drinking the lukewarm tea and then continued speaking.

“I have no intention of allowing Yeoreum to be used just because she says she wants to do something. Yeoreum is young and weak. She can’t make proper judgments on her own… Even what she considers her own judgment is all a misconception.”

“…A misconception.”

“Yes, it’s all a misconception.”

“….”

This time, I intended to bow my head as much as possible and apologize for his opinion.

I just wanted to get through this moment.

Cheon Aram and Seo Soo-yeon were already preparing to persuade him.

I didn’t want to mess things up by being reckless.

Instead of risking a mistake, I planned to pass the baton to my colleagues at TwoBear.

“Do you really think Yeoreum can’t make her own decisions?”

But it was hard to just listen to his words.

Jin Baek-ho frowned, looking displeased, and answered,

“If you can call being swayed like a floating weed and used a judgment, then yes, it’s possible.”

“….”

That’s not right, old man.

“Yeoreum is more fragile than she looks, so she can’t make her own choices.”

“Ms. Yeoreum is stronger than she looks and can make her own choices.”

“She has no discerning eye, so she just gets used.”

“She has a good eye, so she can distinguish those who try to use her.”

“That child is still young.”

“Ms. Yeoreum is mature even now.”

His eyebrows twitched.

I continued to speak, knowing this might upset him.

“Please trust her. Your daughter is delicate but strong, warm but upright.”

These were words I had to say the moment I decided to recruit her.

If I don’t believe in her, who in the world will?

“I’ve watched Yeoreum for 16 years. What makes you confident in front of me?”

Jin Baek-ho might have seen the past 16 years of Yeoreum, but I saw the next three years of her future.

Because I saw that, I had something to say.

“I don’t know the past Ms. Yeoreum. But I am looking at the present Ms. Yeoreum. I saw how she lives in the orphanage and what thoughts and talents she holds.”

She shone even in the messy orphanage filled with old furniture so worn that splinters rose from the wooden floors.

“She will surely become the best idol. As if those petty controversies were laughable.”

There was no reason why someone like her couldn’t shine on stage.

“…Alright, let’s assume she has the talent to succeed. Do you think that path will be a simple, pleasant picnic?”

“No, it will certainly be tough. The thorns pressed against her will sprout and prick her again. And Ms. Yeoreum… No, we will have to break those thorns and make her bloom.”

“Being honest isn’t always the best. Doesn’t your statement mean you’re going to force Yeoreum down that arduous path?”

“TwoBear will be the shield against that hardship.”

“…What?”

“We plan to take on Ms. Jin Yeoreum’s negative image as much as possible.”

This was the plan decided by Cheon Aram, Seo Soo-yeon, and me for Jin Yeoreum.

“Do you know what kind of long-term impact that will have on the company?”

“We know. My colleagues, the President, and I all know.”

It would certainly be a major obstacle for our next project. But it wasn’t something that couldn’t be improved.

“Even if we have to do it that way, it’s worth it if we can improve Ms. Yeoreum’s image.”

The calculations were already done.

If we could handle the attention she would draw, there would be no one in Korea who wouldn’t know about TwoBear’s group. We just need to convert half or even a quarter of that attention into fans.

By doing so, we’d achieve a level of notoriety that a typical new agency couldn’t even dream of.

High risk, high return.

I was confident I could make that balancing act a success.

“We are businesspeople. We just invest capital and aim to make more profit. The subject happens to be an idol. As such, I can confidently say that Ms. Jin Yeoreum is a product that will definitely succeed.”

Sometimes, the words of a money-crazed person are more persuasive.

And now seemed to be one of those moments.

Jin Baek-ho stared at me silently for a minute before scoffing and speaking.

“You said you’re a businessman? To say that, you should consider who is in front of you. I am one of the top ten businessmen in this country.”

His scoff turned into a chuckle.

“As such a businessman, I can estimate how you will act. If you recruit Yeoreum, there will be a lot of noise. And as you said, the company will bear that noise as much as possible, using the resulting issues to raise the group’s notoriety. But there’s no need for such acrobatics.”

I anticipated what he was going to say.

“Why should the company bear the burden of the noise Yeoreum creates? The answer of a businessman is different! Direct all the slander, attacks, and insults at Yeoreum, and once the issue has been sufficiently sensationalized, discard her. It’s the simplest and least risky way! Isn’t it?”

He was right. I had considered that, too.

Both were akin to acrobatic flights, but the latter was safer and easier.

If any businessman had to take this gamble, they would choose the latter.

Therefore, I needed to prove that our TwoBear was a group of foolish people who would choose the former.

“Would you accept this?”

I took out an envelope from my pocket and handed it over. One of the men in black suits approached, checked the contents, and gave it to Jin Baek-ho.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a draft of the contract. It was hastily written, so there are still many incomplete parts, but I think the intention is clear.”

It was hastily made while I was being respectfully kidnapped in a limousine.

“We’re considering a five-year contract for Ms. Jin Yeoreum.”

“….”

“And the contract states that if the group, including Ms. Jin Yeoreum, does not achieve first place on a terrestrial music show within five years, I will forfeit my salary for those five years. It’s a rough draft, so I would appreciate it if Jinkang’s lawyer could supplement it to ensure there are no legal deficiencies.”

Jin Baek-ho took out a magnifying glass, checked the contents, and asked me,

“…Are you out of your mind?”

I am rational. Very.

“I believe this is necessary to prove my sincerity in protecting her. So I took action.”

“You have to succeed to barely break even, don’t you?”

“Ms. Yeoreum’s success is guaranteed.”

“….”

This wasn’t just a statement full of bravado.

If I used my knowledge from my previous life and quests, disregarding any illegal or immoral acts, success would follow.

My determination was firmer than it was right after my return. I will make Jin Yeoreum and TwoBear successful, no matter what crazy things I have to do.

“Even if she falls short, I will make her successful. I will stake everything on it.”

In front of me, as I made this resolution, Jin Baek-ho spoke.

“Why are you going this far?”

The answer was already decided.

“Because I fell for her. I…”

“…You insolent thief.”

“As a fan! A fan! Please let me finish speaking!”

“….”

The silence lasted for about three minutes. In that heavy atmosphere, Jin Baek-ho scrutinized me and then gave his final assessment.

“This guy is out of his mind, isn’t he?”

…Ah, that reaction is a disaster.

As I regretted not speaking more politely, he continued,

“But he doesn’t look hateful.”

“Does that mean…?”

Jin Baek-ho, as if he had finished his business, ordered us to leave.

“I won’t interfere.”

[Quest Complete! ‘Drop the Beat’ has been rewarded.]

Fuck, I survived.

Jin Baek-ho looked at one of the men in black suits standing behind him and asked,

“He seems like a pretty decent guy to me. What do you think, Yeoreum?”

Jin Yeoreum, instead of answering, carefully took off her sunglasses and mask and looked at the door through which Seon Taeyang had exited. Then she ran out silently, as if she absolutely had to follow him.

‘There was no need to ask.’

He recalled the look on his daughter’s face that had just been revealed. And he remembered where he had seen that subtle change in expression before.

According to Jin Baek-ho’s memory, her face just now was definitely that of a girl in love.

Fierce like a storm and deep like the sea.

He grabbed his head and sighed.

“It looks like the youngest might get married faster than the eldest…”