43. Gift (4)
After sending Ji Youngheon to the dorm, I went to Lime's sleeping room alone. The sleeping room was not on the label floor but on the agency's shared floor, so I had to take the elevator.
Since the shared floor was off-limits to outsiders, Ji Youngheon let me go.
'I've been a little reluctant to go there since I almost fell down the stairs last time.'
I covered my mouth with my hand and yawned as I got on the elevator. The elevator, which had been going up steadily, stopped at the shared floor.
'Ah, it's been a while since I've been here.'
The shared floor, which was designed for Lime's artists and employees to use, had various amenities such as a sleeping room, a resting room, a photo zone, a convenience store, and a café (unlike the café in the lobby on the first floor, only those who can enter the shared floor can use it. It's practically exclusive to artists).
Of course, the label staff who shared the Lime Entertainment building could also use it.
'A lot of the money I made from Planet was spent here.'
It's not a metaphor, but it's true that the pillars and several floors of the building were made with my wallet.
I enjoyed the public floors so often that I had no regrets.
'That's not important right now.'
After gathering my thoughts, I headed to the cafe on the common floor. Since the last time I ate was on the last morning of the shoot, I thought I'd fill up on something.
I had to keep my stomach empty during photo shoots, but since the incident happened right after I returned to my dorm, I couldn't help it.
'Something I can eat as a meal replacement......'
I went into the cafe and looked at the desserts, looking for something with as few calories as possible.
I chose a salad and a sandwich.
The salad was clean type without dressing, and the sandwich was... a lime special sandwich developed by an employee who was called the Lime Ghost because he couldn't leave work.
I put the two on the counter and said while choosing a card to pay with my phone.
"I'd like this and an extra shot of iced Americano, please."
"There's someone else who eats like this."
Just as I was about to hand over my phone, someone spoke from behind me. I felt my hair stand on end at the sound of that all-too-familiar voice.
I slowly turned around... I saw Planet's leader, Tak Seung-min.
I bowed earlier than I thought.
"...Hello, senior."
"Yes, hello, junior."
Tak Seung-min lets out his signature sly smile. When we were members, I didn't think much of it, but when I met him in a different group, I felt like I was standing in front of a dragon.
It's not about his appearance. Rather, his face is refreshingly handsome. However, the atmosphere that overwhelms his appearance is...
'It's not called Lime's Three Greatest Dogs for nothing'
Oh, by the way, Lime's Three Greatest Dogs are a derogatory term given by employees of other agencies. The members are Planet's leader Tak Seung-min, Planet's main dancer Cheon Seo-young, and Planet's youngest Im Ah-hyun. There are three of them.
It's not that they cause trouble or are bossy, but it means that they are strong in many ways, so it's tiring to meet them.
But is it because their private lives are so thorough that it's annoying to find fault with them?
Thanks to that, Lime's CEO Pyo Seung-soo, always brings one of the three with him to external work.
'Looking back like this, all the Planet members were not easy. Intro guys are angels.'
I thought of Kang Ji-hyuk and me, who were stuck between them. Only the main rapper and the main vocalist are gentle.
Others never acknowledged this fact, but anyway.
I realized the innocence of the new members anew and checked Tak Seung-min's expression. That reaction is not a warning.
"I've heard a lot from Dong-young hyung. He said you're a promising PD. Oh, can I just leave it alone?"
"Of course, senior. It's an honor."
I answered with a faint smile, and Tak Seung-min handed over his card to the cashier.
"An Americano, please. Please pay with this guy."
This was a cheerful and affectionate senior. I ignored the goosebumps on my arm and nodded. There's always a reason why this hyung is kind.
"You didn't have to buy it, but thank you, senior. I'll eat well."
"It's nothing. What? Are you eating now? Are you practicing?"
"Oh, I came out of a meeting. I'm going to take sleep in the sleeping room."
"Why are you going to the sleeping room? You're not going into the dorm?"
In an instant, Tak Seung-min's eyes changed. It felt like he was examining an object.
Whether it's a bully, a slacker, a person who will cause an accident, or not. In short, it's a process of filtering out impurities.
'This guy is still like this.'
It's good that it's consistent regardless of the age. I lowered the corners of my eyes to act as harmlessly as possible. This kind of behavior is not acceptable, but isn't it better than not doing it at all?
And I didn't need to prove and inform this hyung of my actions one by one.
"The meeting took longer than I thought. What's going on, senior?"
"Umm..."
Tak Seung-min, who noticed that the topic was being changed, trailed off. It was obvious that all the Planet members would be stuck in the practice room at this time anyway.
It wouldn't matter if I told you, but I was just being lazy.
"I came out for a moment while practicing. I'm preparing for a comeback."
"I heard about the seniors' comeback. I'm a fan of them, so I'm really looking forward to it."
"Our fans? That's embarrassing."
You must have noticed that I'm not a fan, but you're being really sly. That's why I decided to shamelessly push through. I'm not a fan, but it's similar.
"Yes, it feels like a dream that we're meeting like this."
"Really? Then who do you like the most on Planet? If you tell me, I'll call them."
"Right... now?"
"Yeah, right now. Why? Is something difficult?"
......I should've just given a vague nod and sent him off. Seriously.
As an outsider, I could sense that Planet was difficult to deal with.
'When I was on the same team, I felt reassured.'
Although there are some unique aspects, it was easy to get along because we had the same goals.
This time, I made a gloomy expression toward Tak Seung-min, who was smiling.
"Ah....... I like Han A-won senior the most."
I like myself the most.
It was a bit awkward to say, but I didn't care on the outside. If I hadn't done this, Tak Seung-min would have really called the one person who was pointed out.
I really hated that kind of complicated situation. I just wanted to eat quickly and go to sleep.
"That.... Unfortunately, I don't think I can bring A-won. Sorry."
"No. I'll go since you seem busy. I hope you do your best in preparing for your comeback, and thank you again for the coffee."
"Oh, okay. Enjoy your meal and cheer up too. Listen carefully to what Dong-young hyung says."
"Yes, I will keep that in mind."
I calmed my pounding heart and grabbed some food and coffee and left the cafe.
Before going into the sleeping room, I stuffed the food into my mouth. I used to eat it deliciously, but today, I couldn't taste it.
***
Watching Yoo Young's back moving away, Tak Seungmin let out a small sigh. Then he checked his phone messages.
[Son Dongyoung: Have you met our PD? How is it?]
My former manager and now a close friend who is in charge of a label contacted me, so I wondered what was going on. But we ended up sitting down and talking about personal things.
Tak Seungmin pressed his tired eyes and replied.
[Me: Well, it's just ordinary.]
[Son Dongyoung: Let's talk more about the conversation. He secretly resembles Awon.]
[Me: Hyung, you know I'm busy preparing for a comeback.]
[Son Dongyoung: ^^]
Tak Seungmin controlled his expression that was almost irritated.
I met Yoo Young at his request, but I didn't find out much and just went around in vain.
That's all. But I couldn't show my feelings on the outside.
'Oh, now that I think about it........'
Tak Seung-min drank his coffee and thought back on the conversation from earlier.
I hadn't had a conversation with him enough to know what kind of person he was, but I guess I could get a general sense of the atmosphere.
'I don't know his face, but his speech and taste in food were similar.'
In addition, his habits were similar.
Tak Seung-min typed slowly with one hand while holding his coffee.
[Me: He was polite. He'll probably be great, just like you said.]
[Son Dong-young: Really?]
[Me: But I don't know if he resembles A-won, he looks completely different.]
[Son Dong-young: You know it's not about his face, but you're doing it again.]
Tak Seung-min snorted. He knew that he didn't want to answer about A-won, but he kept urging him. He thought that she was really persistent.
But this time, Tak Seung-min had no choice but to give in.
In a way, Son Dong-young was someone he had known since Planet was five, and he was one of the few acquaintances he could talk to openly about Han A-won.
[Me: Let's talk about the rest later when we meet]
[Son Dong-young: Why?]
I didn't want to text or call. The reason is simple. It leaves a record.
If I talk to this hyung, I'll definitely talk about Han A-won's current situation, but I didn't want to leave that somewhere.
[Son Dong-young: Anyway, I have a favor to ask]
[Son Dong-young: Contact me when you have time. Let's have a meal together]
That's the end of the conversation.
The other 'request' that Son Dong-young mentioned was about the Sasaeng issue.
No matter how much groundwork you do, public opinion doesn't change easily. That's why Son Dong-young tried to get help from the big company, Lime Entertainment.
The reason he asked Tak Seung-min instead of Pyo Seung-soo is because Pyo Seung-soo doesn't care whether it's Sanha Label that asked for help or whether one of the trainees is in trouble.
His only concern was money.
'I'm not helping you for free, though.'
In the first place, Yoo Young had planned it well, so it would have worked out well without him, but Son Dong-young wanted to end it with the help of the big company.
'Son Dong-young, it's been a long time since I've seen that guy put in so much effort.'
Before Tak Seung-min knew it, a cool smile had spread across his face.
***
Apart from the heavy meeting, the work was done quickly.
The article written in agreement with other agencies didn't cause much of a stir at first, but after some public opinion was gathered, NutTubers copied the article and made it into a video, which became an issue.
-What the heck, there are still kids like this these days?
-A few days ago, I saw a photo of a certain group entering the country and Sasaengs taking a video while riding on a plane. Don't you stop that?
-Wasn't this place famous for sasaeng akgae here? I'm sorry, but if you follow that account, please block me (link to SNS account)
The lawsuit process was also easy.
Fans welcomed the sasaeng lawsuit notice with open arms, and Lime Entertainment also stepped up, so it was natural.
'The power of a large entertainment company... I hate to admit it, but it was really big.'
After things were somewhat sorted out, behind-the-scenes videos and interviews were released, and the fire that had started among fans died down.
Ah, Lee Aram is busy for a while because he is going through a lawsuit. He still looks anxious like before, but he seems to have come to his senses that he can change something, unlike when he was a trainee.
This doesn't mean that all the sasaengs will disappear, but at least one thing that has been bothering Lee Aram in the past has been cut off, so he feels satisfied.
"I heard from the manager. Thank you."
"Are you able to work now? You shouldn't postpone your schedules in the future. And don't forget to go to the hospital."
"You really.... No, it's okay. Okay, I'm sorry."
The other members looked at us with happy expressions. Those faces made me feel strangely bad, but I thought that since the results were good, anything would matter.
After the two-day vacation that wasn't really a vacation ended and all the remaining schedules were taken care of, it felt like my blocked-up insides had cleared up.
"You worked hard."
"You worked the hardest."
"Yeah, Young-ah, you worked hard. I don't think we were of much help...."
"No. If you guys weren't here, I wouldn't have been able to leave Aram alone and do the work."
"....."
I returned to my daily life in an instant, receiving comfort and support from the members. I mean, the daily routine of performing on stage, doing live shows, and communicating with fans.
'Now all that's left is to finish.'
I pulled out the plan I had been thinking about and repeated the preparations needed for that plan.
What I need for this job is someone who is quick-witted and can add a lot of excitement from the side.
'First of all, Baek Han-gyul and Ryu Hyun-seung are excluded. Even if they don't have a good sense of humor, if they lie, it'll be obvious.'
From what I've seen so far, I'd say those two are innocent....... They didn't look like that, so they were more fragile than I thought.
If you think about the younger brothers, they're not bad, but they weren't suitable for this job.
'Ahn Jung-woo... He's quick-witted, but he doesn't seem like he'll be able to hit the jackpot.'
Ahn Jung-woo frowned when he sensed my gaze. Look, he's still looking suspicious.
I tried to ignore him and changed my target.
'Are the only two left, Hwang Bo-kyun and Seol Yi-soo?'
Hwang Bo-kyun is a good fit, but that guy strangely hates getting involved in things like this.
Seol Yi-soo...... doesn't seem to have a bad sense of humor, and he's not an easy choice when it comes to choosing his words, but it was hard to figure out what he was thinking, so it was hard to say anything.
"Hmm....."
Okay, I've decided.
I stretched and got up. My joints cracked.
"Yi-soo-hyung, Aram-hyung, would you mind going somewhere with me for a moment?"
"Um......? Okay."
Seol Yi-soo readily accepted without saying anything else. A-ram followed without a word. I took Ji Young-heon with me, left the practice room, and walked without hesitation.
"Where...... are we going?"
Ji Young-heon, who had been glancing around the practice room, asked. He must have been quite anxious because of the earthquake in his pupils.
I smiled brightly and answered.
"I just wanted to say thank you. But... are you all good at catching the wind?"
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