episode_0083

Kwon Hangil couldn’t bring himself to return to the main office, so he turned into an alleyway and took out his e-cigarette. Ever since meeting that girl earlier, he had been feeling more than just disappointed.

“No matter how you look at it, she’s a total catch….”

An idol group is a collection of troublemakers who come together with their unique personalities. To avoid self-destruction like past bad examples while maximizing their individuality, there is one member who should be valued more than anyone else when forming a group.

That member is the leader, the center of the group.

Dealing with a group of girls is truly delicate and challenging, unlike dealing with boys.

It would be better if they were tough like the guys. Sometimes, issues that don’t show on the surface can fester and explode internally.

That’s why small entertainment agencies that underestimate the importance of a leader often fail along with the downfall of the idol group. Keeping problems within the group hidden from the company and letting them explode like an atomic bomb.

However, selecting a leader is not easy. They could be alienated within the group for being on the company’s side, or criticized by the company for not managing the kids properly. It’s not like in reality shows where revealing the inner thoughts of idol leaders creates a tense atmosphere.

“She was definitely fit to be a leader.”

The girl he met earlier possessed the innate qualities of a leader.

You might wonder how he could know that without even having a proper conversation, but Kwon Hangil has been in this industry for a good 10 years.

He has met and talked with numerous girls, and as a result, he learned that he could gather a lot of information from the first impression.

The calmness that didn’t falter even with Kwon Hangil’s sudden appearance. The firmness in rejecting the company introduction and stating that she had her own job. He might have thought she had a cold expression, but even that seemed strangely warm.

Instead of taking sides in internal fights within the group, she would clearly distinguish right from wrong, without unfairly blaming the wrongdoer.

She would always keep a steady center, never swaying emotionally, and be a pillar of support for the group members when they are mentally shaken.

Rather than holding onto complaints until the end, she would address them beforehand. By speaking only objective facts, she could guide the group and the company without any misunderstandings.

In a way, she was a member for whom performance was not the most important. She was someone who brought people together and made them a team. If she showed talent in singing, dancing, or any other artistic skill? That would be the cherry on top. Not only did she excel as the visual and leader, but she also had exceptional long-term qualities.

KJ had a group that was ready, but they couldn’t debut because they lacked a leader to fill the center. So, Kwon Hangil, with a sense of regret, lit another cigarette and headed towards the street.

“….Huh?”

A boy walked into the cafe and sat across from the girl he had met earlier.

Using his keen Mongolian bloodline eyesight, Kwon Hangil carefully observed the two.

He didn’t notice earlier when only the girl was there, but it was clearly a date. She had a boyfriend.

“But even her taste is charming.”

It’s intriguing. Choosing a subdued and unassuming person over someone flashy and sparkling.

In other words, it also means that she can be loved sincerely by any fan. She is different from those who are used to pretty, flashy, and glamorous things and neglect the less showy ones.

If you think love is involved with money or some other ulterior motive, that’s not the case. The two people sitting across from each other, exchanging greetings, are looking at each other with trusting smiles.

“They seem to get along quite well.”

The girl and the boy, bringing the ordered drinks together when the vibrating bell rang. Their smiling faces and friendly conversation felt very affectionate.

Have they been dating for quite a while? It felt like they had created an invisible space with transparent barriers, making it impossible for others to easily approach.

However, Kwon Hanguil couldn’t help but be amazed as he watched. Not being able to become a celebrity because of a relationship.

No, that can’t be it. It’s not like she couldn’t become a celebrity just because of a relationship. That girl hasn’t told a single lie.

“Her main job… her main job…”

What could her main job be? Judging by her innocent appearance, is she still a student? Is she packaging her desire to focus on her studies as her main job?

How can I naturally find out what her main job is?

With a determination to catch even the smallest detail, Kwon Hanguil mobilized all his possibilities and came up with one method.

“Ten years of effort haven’t been in vain.”

Yes. It was dirty and risky, but the only way was to follow her. Just find out where she goes to work and come back, right?

It’s not a legal problem to watch for a little while. It’s a method used by the police, private detectives, civil servants, and even corporate HR or audit teams.

Instead of begging and clinging pathetically, you have to find a solid reason why it won’t work and give up cleanly, or create evidence and persuade with a single presentation. That’s the dignity of a casting manager with ten years of experience.

And so, Kwon Hanguil waited. Pretending to be waiting for someone to meet, leaning against the wall of a building on the street corner, he pretended to fiddle with his phone while keeping an eye on the direction where the girl and the boy were.

“This can’t be… it’s a lie…”

Just then, a trembling voice was heard from somewhere. Lowering his gaze and turning, he saw a small head popping out from behind the corner of the building he was leaning against.

“It’s a lie…?”

She was a girl he had met before. More precisely, she was one of the girls he had talked to about whether she was interested in idols.

“Baek Cheongha… was it?”

However, she was overly indulgent and arrogant. There seemed to be various difficulties in living together.

In the end, the interview ended without giving her a separate business card or promising to contact her again.

“She said she was the daughter of Professor Baek Jung-eon at Hanyang University.”

There was no need to investigate separately. Baek Cheongha had proudly revealed it herself during the interview.

“Yeah… that wicked woman must have deceived our brother.”

Even now. She was talking proudly about who the boyfriend of the girl Kwon Hanguil had pointed out was. It was the stepbrother she had proudly talked about.

“Is it a severe brother complex?”

To the extent that she looked at the girlfriend who took away Jungsioo with a hateful gaze because she liked him too much.

As expected, Kwon Hanguil, boasting ten years of experience, had not been wrong. If he had cast Baek Cheongha, she would have easily devoured a whole group.

“….”

“….”

While he was thinking, Kwon Hanguil and Baek Cheongha’s eyes met. Desperately trying to look away, he didn’t know that the sharp gaze from Baek Cheongha wouldn’t stop.

“Before… weren’t you the street casting guy?”

His good memory was useless. Kwon Hanguil’s goal of watching the girl in the cafe was quickly replaced by the need to diffuse the situation.

In an instant, Kwon Hanguil, who had flipped his business mask, slightly lowered his head while touching the back of his head.

“Hello. How have you been?”

Head peeking out from behind the building corner, Baek Cheong-ha shyly greeted with a jump. Feeling embarrassed at being caught gossiping.

“Oh, hello!”

They didn’t say anything to each other. Their actions were the same, so there was nothing to say.

“What are you doing here?”

“What about you?”

“I’m working. Are you a student, Cheong-ha?”

Of course, Baek Cheong-ha, who was slightly younger and unaware of the situation, naturally let Kwon Han-gil take the lead in the conversation.

“I’m waiting for someone I promised to meet here, but they’re late…”

Stammering and making a vague excuse, Baek Cheong-ha eventually got frustrated and blurted out her true feelings.

“Ah, actually… my crush was making eyes at another girl, so I was keeping an eye on them.”

She was truly unable to lie due to her honesty. Even during a brief interview before, she had a habit of blurting out everything, leaving Kwon Han-gil feeling awkward.

If she could control that, she would have passed the internal assessment. She didn’t have any personality issues, and she was a girl overflowing with talent by nature.

“Are those two over there by any chance?”

When Kwon Han-gil pointed to the two people, Baek Cheong-ha’s eyes widened in surprise. It was a look that said, “How did you know?”

“Oh, well… it’s just a hunch. There’s no need to be so surprised.”

“Really… you believed me only half?”

Baek Cheong-ha chuckled awkwardly and scratched her cheek. The two of them looked at each other in silence before turning their heads to look at the cafe together.

“But why are you watching them, Manager…?”

Should he tell the truth or turn it around? Originally, the choice at the end of this dilemma would have been the latter.

However, in front of Baek Cheong-ha’s honesty, Kwon Han-gil didn’t want to lie.

“I approached that girl to cast her, but it didn’t work out.”

Baek Cheong-ha looked up at Kwon Han-gil with a shocked expression.

After a short silence, Baek Cheong-ha spoke.

“Don’t do it. Why would you cast such a two-faced woman?”

“Two-faced?”

“She flirts in front of oppa and acts like an angel in front of me. She’s really two-faced!!”

Kwon Han-gil chuckled and muttered.

“Then you should fight to win oppa back. Why are you just standing there?”

“Ah, she’s definitely two-faced! Evil and cunning…!”

An unreserved evaluation of the sister who was trying to win over her beloved with her honesty. With just that one word, Kwon Han-gil became even more curious about the girl.

There is no one in the world who is always gentle or always fierce. People need at least one place to vent their accumulated anger.

But if you can control that anger. If you can use it with a soft charisma instead of harsh words. That is the ideal leader.

Especially if someone like Baek Cheong-ha can suppress young kids who only believe in their own talent and criticize others?

“Wow, I definitely need to avoid her… Can you tell me your name?”

She must be cast and placed in a leadership position. She will save a certain idol group.

“I’m Min Chae-won. Be careful!”