In HS Entertainment’s conference room, a report presentation had just come to its conclusion. CEO Hyun-soo Choi continued to flip through the report, carefully re-reading it. The only sound in the room was the faint rustling of paper as he turned the pages.

Team 3’s newly appointed leader, Team Lead Kwak — along with Manager Jang, Director Park, and PR Team Lead Lee — sat stiffly as they waited for CEO Choi’s lips to move.

At last, when he reached the final page of the report, he let out a faint hum.

“Hmm.”

His expression betrayed no trace of emotion. It was clear he was thinking something, but it was impossible to gauge his current mood. Everyone swallowed dryly and remained tense when CEO Choi finally spoke.

“So, you’re telling me ‘Photographer’ flopped too?”

He was referring to the movie Photographer, starring Sung-ah Kim. Although it hadn’t been long since its release, the cold reception from the public left little hope for success.

PR Team Lead Lee maintained a businesslike tone as she replied.

“Estimated total audience is 2.5 million. That number is largely thanks to Sung-ah Kim’s fame. Overall, the reviews criticize it for not being entertainment and not having any emotional impact.”

“Is that so? I trusted the director, but I wonder what went wrong this time? Hmm. Director Park.”

“Yes, sir.” Director Park could feel the chill radiating through CEO Choi’s round glasses.

Moments ago, the man had seemed unreadable and devoid of emotion. As always, Hyun-soo Choi was not someone you could ever let your guard down around.

“With this one, that makes three in a row, right?”

“Yes, sir… Two films and one drama. That makes three. However, the drama did receive a decent response in China.”

“Oh, so you’re satisfied with that level of performance from Sung-ah? Do you think that’s all she’s worth?”

“I apologize…”

Sweat trickled down Director Park’s temples, but he didn’t dare wipe it away. CEO Choi’s gaze was locked onto him. He asked Director Park a question as he adjusted the glasses slipping down his nose.

“How’s Hyuk Kang doing these days? Busy?”

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

Hyuk Kang.

At HS Entertainment, that name carried enormous weight. The Midas Touch. His open clashes with Director Park and the recent addition of Team Lead Na to the fray. Not to mention his involvement with Sung-ah Kim, Team 1’s Lead, and Iron Maiden.

Everyone in the company treaded carefully when it came to Hyuk Kang’s name. But CEO Choi? He brought it up casually, as if he was discussing the weather.

“He’s… probably very busy,” Park stammered, wiping away the sweat that continued to bead on his face with the back of his hand.

“Is that so? Still, if I ask him to make some time, I should be able to see him, right?”

“Pardon…?”

“Never mind. You’re all dismissed.”

Director Park couldn’t shake the ominous feeling but found himself at a loss for words. All he could do was rise and leave the room with the others, his steps heavy.

Once the conference room was empty, CEO Choi fiddled with his round glasses.

“I hope the next project turns out well.”

***

After meeting with the production team of 〈 Tomorrow’s Idol 〉, we confirmed Jin-ah’s appearance and decided to start shooting once the trainee contestants were narrowed down.

The lineup for the show included idol candidates who, like Jin-ah, were confident in their dancing and singing abilities — or in some cases, dancing and rapping. Team Lead Na expressed his concern as he looked over the list of candidates.

“I heard they’re considering Golden Tree, too.” Team Lead Na sighed as he sipped his coffee in the office.

Golden Tree was a superstar idol group that had been previously involved in a conflict with Hee-yeon due to Director Park’s scheming.

We weren’t sure if they could be signed on or not, but the production team saw it as a potential opportunity. It was because a program like this would be a great way for Golden Tree to prove their abilities to the public again.

“Are you worried? You know how if things get tangled up even a little, their fans could make a ruckus.”

I lowered the air conditioning in the office more than it already was, wiping the sweat that had formed on my face. It was probably from the spicy jjambbong I’d had for lunch.

“That’s true. But what worries me more is Kid. The production team thinks they might be able to get him on board too.”

Kid.

When he was with HS Entertainment’s Team 3, I personally guided him from debut to superstardom. He built a strong and loyal fanbase as a solo artist not just in Korea, but also across Asia.

Team Lead Na’s greater concern about Kid, rather than Golden Tree, probably stemmed from the fact that he was from HS Entertainment. After all, we couldn’t escape Director Park’s influence there.

If this were a simple variety show appearance, we might have hesitated. We might have carefully considered other options. However, this was a golden opportunity for Jin-ah. One I was unwilling to let slip by.

“Are you worried because of Director Park? Honestly, why are we even worried? If we keep avoiding things, we’ll never get anywhere. This is a great opportunity for Jin-ah, and it’d be a shame to let it go.”

“No, it’s not Park. I’m worried about Kid himself.” He expressed his doubt as he slouched back onto the sofa.

“Kid? Why? He’s a good guy, doesn’t cause any trouble.”

“That guy may seem fine on the surface, but you know how he’s been. He was obsessed with you, remember? He was really upset when you left.”

I laughed light-heartedly. “Haha. Well, that’s ancient history now. I haven’t heard from him since I left the company.”

“Really? Hmm.”

I remembered the obsession he had when we were at HS Entertainment, but that was in the past. Considering that we hadn’t been in contact since I left, it seemed clear now that his fixation wasn’t really on me but on success. He must have seen me as a way to advance his career.

‘Because ‘Team 3’s Team Lead Kang’ was a sure ticket to success.’

Team Lead Na seemed to be reflecting on this, tilting his head and narrowing his eyes.

“He really seemed upset back then.”

“Well, maybe he did. But what’s the big deal now?”

Na looked as if he was about to speak but reluctantly nodded when he saw my indifferent attitude.

“Yeah… I guess there’s nothing to worry about now.”

***

Time flew by in a whirlwind of activity. We completed the instrumental session for Hee-yeon’s song and wrapped up the music video shoot with Director Jong-woo as well.

Now, we had to set a comeback date, but we couldn’t ignore the fans this time. Back when Blue Sherbet only had a small group of fans, releasing a digital single without considering the timing wasn’t an issue. However, Hee-yeon’s reputation now was very different from those days.

I spoke to Jung-han, who was clicking away at the office computer.

“Let’s start with releasing the concept trailer, photo teasers, MV teaser, and behind-the-scenes footage one by one.”

Hee-yeon had gained public favor during her promotions with ‘Wish Upon A Moon,’ and rumors about her comeback had already spread online. As a result, fans’ expectations and complaints had grown considerably. They were clamoring to know when we planned to drop some bait.

“Boss, is it really okay to release things so slowly? Won’t there be controversy because of the genre? Wouldn’t it be better to drop everything at once and avoid controversy while gaining recognition?”

I couldn’t help but grin at Jung-han’s question. Not a bad question. It looked like he was starting to grow.

“That could work. Hee-yeon doing rock will grab attention, and once people hear the song, it’ll likely get recognized before any controversy can arise. It’ll even become a hot topic. Just like what Jin-ah did, she’ll need to prove herself live on various platforms, but that’s already part of the plan I mentioned.”

“So… are you deliberately trying to stir up controversy by releasing it slowly?”

Jung-han, with his imposing frame, widened his eyes in surprise. It was an amusing contrast.

“Exactly. This time, we’re not going the straightforward route. Actually, it is straightforward, but it’s a strategy that anticipates the chaos.”

As I said this with a smile, Jung-han’s expression grew complex. It made sense. While we previously dealt with unintended chaos in the past, we had never deliberately planned for it.

“If we can use noise marketing, we should. It’s a legitimate promotional method. When the quality is solid, and you’re confident you can turn any controversy on its head, there’s no better marketing tactic.”

If the performance and song were just mediocre, I would never have considered this approach. In fact, we wouldn’t have even attempted rock at all. The public rarely wanted to change their opinions so easily, and true rock fans had incredibly high standards after having seen decades of classic hits since the 1970s.

“But this song is different, isn’t it? The bigger the stakes, the better. We’re holding a royal flush. What’s there to worry about?”

“Uh…”

He tilted his head, looking perplexed. Wait, he still didn’t get it?

‘Still got a long way to go. Guess I’ll need to teach him more.’

As I tsked internally, Team Lead Na bluntly chimed in while glancing at Jung-han.

“He’s saying we’re holding the ultimate hand, like having three eights in Hwatu and upping the stakes. Does that make sense now?”

(T/N: Reference to Hwatu (or Go-Stop), a Korean card game. Team Lead Na is explaining the royal flush concept with a more familiar Korean card game.)

“Oh! I understand.”

So… he didn’t understand what a royal flush was? Clearly, I would need to teach him a lot more. Not just about work, but across the board. Wait, would teaching him poker be a bad idea?

Ugh, forget it. Leaving it alone would save me the headache.

***

The studio in Tanhyeon, Ilsan, was bustling for the filming of 〈 Tomorrow’s Idol 〉.

Jin-ah and the other idols were scheduled to appear in about an hour. Together with the staff, Jin-ah and I quietly headed toward the waiting room. However, an unexpected figure greeted us as soon as we opened the door.

“Oh? Team Lead Kang, you’re here.”

After glancing at the sign on the door and seeing the staff’s expressions, it was clear that this was our waiting room, not his. The person in question stood up from his spot on the sofa. He was a red-haired, flower-boy celebrity with perfect white teeth on full display as he grinned widely. It was Kid.

I had seen his name on the finalized cast list earlier, so I knew we would cross paths today. I just didn’t expect him to be waiting for us here.

“Oh, right! It’s President Kang now. Haha. Sorry, just habit. It’s been a while, President Kang.”

“It has been a while. But why are you in our waiting room? Were you waiting for us?”

He walked over and hugged me tightly. I understood he was excited to see me, but being hugged so tightly by another man wasn’t something I particularly enjoyed.

Should I push him off or not? Why was I even debating this? I must have picked up this indecisiveness from dealing with Jin-ah. I needed to push him away right now!

“Ah! Hello! I’m Jin-ah from Blue Sherbet!”

Having been startled, Jin-ah seemed to have missed the timing to introduce herself. She finally gathered herself and bowed politely.

As I pried Kid’s arms off of me with some effort, his gaze shifted toward Jin-ah. The smile on his face faded, replaced by a sullen expression. He just stared silently.

“…”

“…”

Despite the stark contrast in Kid’s attitude toward her, Jin-ah didn’t seem flustered. She had probably grown used to meeting all kinds of seniors while making the rounds on music shows. She was quick to adapt, as always. I didn’t feel the same.

“Hey. If you’re here to pull rank, get out. This is our waiting room.”

“Why so cold when we haven’t seen each other in so long?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I said this is our waiting room.”

Kid turned to Jin-ah and asked, “Am I making you uncomfortable?”

“No.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“See, President Kang? She says I’m not.”

It was blatantly obvious that she was uncomfortable, but he had no shame about it. He hadn’t been this cheeky before.

“You’re making ME uncomfortable, so get out.” As I spoke firmly, Kid’s voice grew hurried.

“Wait, wait! I just acted out of jealousy!”

“What?”

Kid glared at Jin-ah with a furrowed brow.

“Now that President Kang’s with you, you’re just going to keep succeeding and growing, aren’t you?”

“Ha!”

“Huh…?”

Jin-ah blinked in confusion and asked, “Are you being serious, sunbae?”

“Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You mean to say that a senior who sold out Jamsil Arena in one minute, goes on world tours, and sells millions of albums is jealous of someone like me, who’s only just built a tiny fandom?”

(T/N: Jamsil Arena is a historically renownded indoor sports stadium with a capacity of over 11k. An artist selling out this place would be achieving a big milestone in their popularity and influence.)

“Of course! Why not?” Kid scowled at Jin-ah, who just stood there dumbfounded, looking increasingly incredulous.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp tension at the back of my head.

“Are you a child?” I asked.

“You’re the one who named me Kid, President Kang. What do you expect? Besides, I’ve told you over and over. This isn’t being childish. It’s being honest.”

He stood there confidently, puffing out his chest.

‘This is driving me nuts.’

Oddly enough, Jin-ah smirked. She looked at him with a gaze that practically screamed solidarity.

“Did President Kang ever scold you a lot?”

“Yeah…”

“Did President Kang ever make your life miserable for no reason?”

“Well… I wouldn’t say no to that.”

“Did President Kang ever tell you that you were filthy and stinky, just to get you to shower?”

“Huh? No, not at all.”

“…?”

Jin-ah’s wide eyes darted toward me.

“Then why does he only do that to me?”

Why? Because he showers and you don’t. I was tempted to ask if she was genuinely unaware of the reason. Had she truly decided to part ways with her sanity?

Just as I was weighing whether to kick him out, a familiar face entered the waiting room. It was Manager Shin. He was slender and sported pronounced dark circles under his eyes with his characteristic edgy demeanor.

“Hyuk.”

“Manager Shin.”

Manager Shin’s sharp gaze fell on Kid.

“I was wondering where you ran off to. So, you just left without saying a word? Do you know how hard I’ve been looking for you?”

“Sorry, I just got carried away… Haha.”

Shin sighed and shook his head, then forced a smile as he looked at Jin-ah. Though, even with the effort, his expression didn’t come across as any softer.

“Congratulations. I heard you ranked fourth in public opinion polls, excluding the cemented top seven. You’ve been doing amazing whether it’s on variety shows or live performances. You’re a monster talent, really.”

“Thank you!”

“Keep showing that side of yourself on this program, too.”

“Thank you!”

Shin’s feigned smile vanished as he grabbed Kid by the arm and dragged him out.

“Hyuk, we’ll be going now so rest easy.”

After the two of them left, Jin-ah stared at me silently in the now-quiet waiting room.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Why do you only treat me like that?”

The same question as before. There was no point in answering truthfully. She would deny it anyway. I could feel the last remnants of my sanity eroding as I replied to her.

“Because I care about you.”

“…”

No response came back. Only an intense, unsettling gaze fixed on my face.

—

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