episode_0041
by admin
#41
On Sunday, we held a modest celebration party at the dorm to commemorate our music show appearance.
Though “celebration party” might sound grand, it was nothing special—just ordering a few dishes we’d been craving and chatting while eating.
Alcohol was off-limits. Especially during promotions.
Harin seemed to have smoothed things over well with the other members about what I was doing alone in the PD’s office.
*”It was really no big deal. The manager was there, so I just had to be a little polite.”*
…Was the gist of it.
From my perspective—knowing the truth—the words stung, but Harin delivered them effortlessly, and the others accepted it without question.
As for Dongcheol Park’s business demands…
The sponsorship offers…
And… the fact that we were now dating—we decided to keep it all a secret from the members.
No good would come of them knowing.
About the sponsorships… If a concrete offer ever actually came through, we’d have to speak up then.
But for now, Harin and I sealed our lips.
Still, I wished she’d at least *try* not to make it obvious…
*”Manager. Try this.”*
For some reason, Harin spent the entire party doing this right next to me.
*”This is delicious. Dip it in the sauce like this… Here, try it.”*
*”Uh, yeah. Thanks.”*
…Isn’t this way too obvious, Harin?
Not that I’m complaining.
The other members chatted among themselves while subtly glancing our way.
No one said anything, but the atmosphere screamed they’d already figured it out.
Especially Sarang, who had been staring holes into us before suddenly approaching Harin.
*”Harin unnie! Aren’t you paying *too* much attention to the manager? Me too~ Take care of me too. Hmm?”*
*”Huh? Ah… Yeah. Here, Sarang, try this too.”*
Harin.
Your deflection skills are *painfully* awkward.
*”Thanks~! Unnie, I love you~!”*
*”Uh… Y-yeah.”*
While acting cute, Sarang kept scrutinizing Harin’s expression.
Like she was searching for any slip-up she could latch onto.
It was so distracting I could barely swallow my food. Damn it.
I glanced at the others’ reactions.
Eunchae… had a cheese ball in her mouth while glued to her phone again.
Typing away furiously at something.
Seah… Well. She was busy taking pictures of her food.
As I was subtly observing them, Harin lightly tapped my shoulder.
*”…Manager. Manager?”*
*”Huh? Oh. Sorry.”*
*”Are you okay? You still look tired.”*
*”I’m fine. I slept in this morning. It’s not like losing sleep is anything new for me.”*
*”…Thank you. Always.”*
Hearing things like that… unavoidably lifts my mood.
*”Manager?”*
This time, it was Eunchae calling me while scrolling through her phone.
*”Yeah?”*
*”What’s our schedule like this week?”*
*”Tomorrow’s regular practice. Tuesday’s… free. Wednesday’s the regional event—”*
*”I’m going home on Tuesday. Just for a bit.”*
*”Home?”*
She meant visiting her family.
Since Eunchae’s hometown isn’t in the metro area, it’s quite a trip—she’d definitely spend the night.
But why *Tuesday*, of all days…
Ah.
A certain overheard bathroom conversation resurfaced in my mind.
――*Tuesday night with Vice President Bura.*
That had to be it…
Eunchae must’ve been continuously blackmailed since then. She hadn’t shown it to me or the others, but…
Given all the photos and videos taken of her, twisting her arm wouldn’t even be hard.
That *Venus* executive treating this not as a negotiation but outright extortion…
Even *I* can’t let this slide.
Thinking back to Eunchae’s anguished scream that day… only hardened my resolve.
Tuesday… has no schedule then, so neither do I.
Then I’ll tail Eunchae. Record whatever threats they make… Do whatever it takes to get leverage and force them to back off.
*”…Got it.”*
*”Thanks.”*
Eunchae gave a half-hearted acknowledgment without looking up from her phone.
Soon, we’ll put an end to this.
*”Huh? Oppa! Then can I go too? I wanna meet friends on Tuesday!”*
Now Seah was raising her hand, sauce smeared on her cheeks.
*”You too, Seah?”*
*”No schedule anyway… And we won’t have Eunchae unnie either, so why not take personal time?”*
A fair point… So why does this feel so off?
*”…Fine. Just don’t cause trouble.”*
*”Yay! Gonna message them right away~.”*
That left…
*”…Manager.”*
Harin was looking at me with an odd expression.
Meanwhile, Sarang was watching us with sparkling eyes.
She smirked teasingly before putting on an exaggerated fake tone.
*”Aww~ Should I make plans too~? Hmmm?”*
Of course, I’m not letting her keep this up.
*”You two are practicing.”*
*”Eh~? Again?”*
*”Yeah. Think you can just mess around with free time?”*
*”If the manager says we need practice, I don’t mind.”*
*”Harin unnie~ Come on, let’s just go out together. Hmm?”*
*”No. We were told to practice.”*
Straight to the point. Good girl, Harin.
*”Tch. Yeah, yeah~ Got it~.”*
Sarang pouted as she responded.
Some concerns lingered, but the schedule was set.
Now, things should proceed as planned… At least, they *should* have.
*”…I leave it to you, Manager Jeon.”*
Monday morning.
Summoned to the CEO’s office, I walked in to find him bowing deeply as he spoke.
*”Another… business request?”*
*”…Yes.”*
Normally, even when ordering such tasks, the CEO carried himself with authority. Today, he looked strangely diminished.
Powerless, even.
Anxious, too.
Whatever was happening clearly ran deep.
*”What kind of request… May I ask?”*
*”……”*
*”Another music show? Or…”*
*”This one is… my personal business.”*
*”…What? Then is…?”*
*”Unrelated to ’s activities. That’s why I’m asking like this.”*
A CEO *bowing* to an employee was anything but normal.
If it were work-related, a simple order would suffice.
Like with Harin. Or Eunchae.
Back then, he’d *technically* asked for my consent… but it was practically forced.
Yet here he was now, head lowered in a request.
This wasn’t work.
Literally, a personal favor—business for *his* sake.
*”…Could you share the details?”*
Best to hear him out first.
*”The specifics… are hard for me to say. Maybe you should hear it from him?”*
The CEO slid over a business card.
I took it, reading the company and name.
**〈Nara Investment Securities〉**
**〈Director Han Myung-soo〉**
Even though it was my first time seeing the name, I had a guess who it was.
*
*”Manager. Long time no—well, not really, since music shows.”*
*”Good to see you. Jeon Ho-gu, ’s manager. This is technically our first proper introduction.”*
I bowed slightly and handed my business card to the elderly man in a crisp suit seated in a corner cafe.
*”Haha. No need for formalities. Still, I’ll take it.”*
He accepted my card and neatly tucked it into his wallet.
Inside was something unbelievable for a man in his 50s:
A photocard of Sarang.
A *limited-edition* one—signed, no less.
Yet another reminder: this man was *legit*.
Fan name: Sarang♡Forever.
One of ’s fan club presidents and Sarang’s *most* dedicated fan.
But today, he wasn’t here in that capacity.
Han Myung-soo, Director of Nara Investment Securities.
*That* was his real title.
And today, we were meeting on those terms.
*”Is this alright with your company? It’s still early…”*
The time was 4 PM.
Too soon for office workers to clock out.
*”It’s fine. The markets are closed, and I cleared it with my superiors.”*
*”I… see.”*
*”I met your CEO earlier… He didn’t look well. Not the image I remembered—always so commanding.”*
*”…He’s been under a lot of strain.”*
*”In business, ‘attacks’ like these take a mental toll.”*
*”‘Attacks’…?”*
*”Yes. This is *absolutely* an attack. An outright takeover bid. The shares acquired just today are massive. Even with the stock hitting upper limits…”*
Sarang♡Forever—no, Director Han—pulled out a tablet and showed me a chart.
My agency’s stock prices.
Multiple red spikes surged upward in a steep climb.
*”Rumors even spread about market manipulation, but investigations confirmed a single retail investor is accumulating shares. The major shareholder list has changed too.”*
*”One person?”*
*”Yes. …Even more startling? He’s a man in his 20s with virtually no trading history.”*
A man in his 20s?
No idea who that could be.
Some chaebol’s spoiled youngest son or something?
Why target a small agency’s CEO?
*”So he’s after the CEO position?”*
*”That’s how it appears.”*
*”But why…?”*
*”Motives are unclear. Regardless, with shares acquired today, your CEO is no longer the majority shareholder. The individual already holds most of the circulating stock. Though…”*
Director Han swiped to another screen displaying a table labeled *Shareholdings*.
*”Our side secured about 8%. Enough to be the casting vote.”*
*”What?”*
I barely understood stock terms, but one thing was clear:
Director Han had met our CEO—and called *me*—for a reason.
*”Simply put, depending on which side my voting rights support, the CEO position could change hands.”*
I didn’t grasp the mechanics, but I got the gist.
*”So you… decide whether the CEO stays or goes?”*
*”Effectively, yes.”*
*Whew.*
Not a definitive answer, but a relief nonetheless.
I’d known Sarang♡Forever for years—since ’s debut. Over three years of familiarity.
At the very least, he wouldn’t harm . …I trusted him that much.
*”Of course, my firm wants to sell high for profit… But with proper justification, voting otherwise wouldn’t be an issue.”*
*”So our CEO’s fate… hinges on winning your favor.”*
*”Haha. Suppose so.”*
He laughed, but his eyes remained cold.
*This* was the gaze of a money mover.
Nothing like the fan eyes he’d shown me before.
It was almost frightening.
*”So Manager Jeon… I’d like to make a proposal.”*
A *proposal*.
At this point, I could already guess. My head lowered instinctively.
Even the CEO had called it *business*.
Undoubtedly about Sarang…
*”I want… a date with Sarang.”*
*”…What?”*
I looked up, startled.
The man before me wasn’t Director Han.
It was Sarang♡Forever.
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