26 – Like a Family (1)
1.
“…So. Wh-who are you?”
“An idol. Oh, no, not yet. Since I haven’t debuted, I’m a trainee.”
“At which agency?”
“Well, it’s Right Path Entertainment.”
“If it’s Right Path Entertainment… are you here for our company?”
Despite introducing Haan several times, the CEO couldn’t accept the situation itself.
I didn’t know how long this Q&A would continue, but this time, I accurately touched upon reality with the hope that he would listen.
“Yes, she will be a trainee under our company.”
“Our company…? Is it her? Why?”
“Because I casted her.”
Although irritation arose at the question of why again, I still understood.
Even if I were the CEO here, I wouldn’t believe it if Haan came and said, ‘I’ll be a trainee. Please accept me at Right Path Entertainment.’
Haan was extraordinary to the point where saying she was great with ordinary words fell short, and Right Path Entertainment was so humble that saying it was modest fell short.
The diamond ore fell into the struggling jewelry manufacturing company, or rather, it could be said that a diamond meteorite had landed.
The brilliance of Haan’s aura was a global rescue, and the CEO couldn’t believe the situation.
But even if he couldn’t comprehend it, reality was reality. In the end, he had to accept it, and the CEO muttered with a subtle smile on his lips.
“Is this for real?”
“Yes.”
The CEO, wiping his dry hands, gazed alternately at me and Haan.
Whether it was me or Haan, both were looked at with eyes of disbelief. When looking at me, it was as if saying, ‘What is this newcomer, really?’ And when looking at Haan, it was a difference that seemed to say, ‘Really? Is someone like this in our company?’
Although the discrimination was blatantly evident, as far as the CEO knew, I was a former convict, a gangster, a parachute unpopular triple crown achiever. So, I was okay with it as long as Haan was treated nicely.
No matter how badly he saw me, as long as he treated Haan nicely, it didn’t matter.
And that point seemed naturally unworrisome.
“Um, sorry, but what’s your name?”
“Choi Haan.”
“Cool.”
Accepting the cold tone and voice that might be perceived as impudent as cool.
“Um, by any chance, how old are you, Haan?”
“22.”
“Perfect!”
Even though it might be a late age to start as a trainee.
“By any chance… what is your most confident area? Like vocals or dance or something…”
“Alcohol tolerance.”
“In a world where individuality and survival skills coexist…”
Just after our first meeting, hearing the response of ‘Yabandoju’ to the question of how much charisma and survival skills are embedded in that bean pod, it was astonishing to see that both individuality and survival skills were so outstanding.
I may have confidence that I won’t lose out in terms of liking what hahahahan likes, but I didn’t think I could suck up so recklessly.
Even if hahahahan exudes charm in every action like a ‘Pishuwooout!’ in dance or vocals, reacting like this after hearing ‘Yabandoju’ as an answer is abnormal.
Still, I was relieved that hahahahan seemed to like me more than I had thought.
If she had responded with no enthusiasm and dryness, as if I had said I would do street casting, it would have been truly hopeless.
There is a charm that can even summon non-existent enthusiasm, like well-fermented kimchi. Our hahahahan!
Unable to resist the taste of hahahahan addiction, I put my hand on my waist, slightly pushed out my belly, and expressed my pride in knowing hahahahan through my actions.
“hehehehe.”
And somehow, while facing the boss and supposed to be having a conversation with hahahahan, our eyes met.
A smile appeared on hahahahan’s face, which had been consistently cold and expressionless while talking to the boss, and for no reason, I withdrew my protruding belly.
“Pff, hehehehe. hehehe.”
…Please stop laughing.
Even so, there was no sign of the faint smile disappearing from hahahahan’s face, and naturally, the boss also had to accept hahahahan’s smile.
“hehehehe. hehehe.”
Witnessing hahahahan’s smile, the boss, as if looking at the eyes of my past self who had encountered the aurora for the first time, was completely captivated.
When beauty reaches its peak, it robs people of their composure and leaves them with nothing but being intoxicated by the ecstasy.
For the boss, hahahahan’s smile was exactly that.
“hehehe, hehehehe.”
Eventually, captivated by hahahahan’s beauty, the boss became a laughter man who could only laugh with a completely lost composure, hehehe.
The boss, who emitted a sinister laughter reminiscent of a perverted old man, was something even I couldn’t just brush off.
Yes, it was so eerie that it made Han, who had been relentlessly dealing me continuous damage with his laughter, regain his composure.
“······.”
Even I, who had tasted all the sweetness and bitterness of life, found it eerie, so how must Han, the one laughing, feel?
At that moment, as I was pondering whether it’s acceptable for a person like this to be a boss, the boss, who snapped out of Han’s creepy serious expression, went back to the main topic.
“Uh, excuse my disgraceful behavior. So, um, what should I call you?”
“Call me comfortably.”
“Well, then, since I’m the boss, I’ll drop the formalities. If I call you Han······.”
“Choi Han.”
The boss’s expression momentarily froze at the answer, like a knife cutting through the spine.
“What?”
“It’s okay to speak informally. Call me Choi Han.”
Whether he liked it or not, Han had made his point, but the boss seemed determined not to give up.
“Um, wouldn’t that be a bit too familiar?”
“Is it not allowed?”
“I feel a bit awkward saying this myself, but I was quite a capable producer. I’ve raised several well-known celebrities, and my name is quite recognized. You’d hear people say, ‘Oh, really? Is that person your boss?’ when they hear my name.”
Certainly, I’ve heard about it from my older brother.
The boss used to be a tremendously capable producer.
For 7 years, he, who had been isolated from society in prison, managed to raise celebrities well-known enough for even someone like me, who had been cut off from society for that period, to have heard of.
And now, the boss was using that tremendous career to call Han by his name, Choi Han.
“As I create my own rules, there’s one like a guideline: ‘Producers and assigned entertainers should get along like family.’ It means forming a truly trustworthy relationship. Like real family!”
Yeah, that’s a valid point. Trust is the most crucial thing in the relationship between a producer and an idol, and family is often synonymous with trust.
I, too, nodded in agreement with the CEO’s words, recalling numerous crises we had overcome, living together more like a family than real family, with my blood brother and sworn brother.
However, for Haan, accepting the word “family” was somewhat different from us.
“Like family?”
“Yes! For example… Yes, I’ll become like your uncle!”
“Oh.”
Especially, the word “uncle” made it even more peculiar.
“…”
The moment Haan heard the word “uncle,” her face froze more coldly than anything else.
Even the CEO, who brought up the idea of living like a family to call Haan by her name, seemed to sense that something was wrong. The chill emanating from Haan was palpable enough for him to scrutinize my reaction.
I couldn’t help it if I didn’t know, and looking at her like that wouldn’t change anything.
Once words are spoken, they can’t be taken back.
Offering condolences to the CEO, who unintentionally cast a spell, I turned my gaze towards Haan.
Even I, who had become somewhat closer, couldn’t read her emotions from the completely frozen expression on Haan’s face.
But even if emotions were unreadable, through past experiences, I could infer what Haan might be feeling.
Right now, Haan was quite angry.
“…I hate families.”
Her calm but rigid and cold voice shattered the suffocating (limited to the CEO) silence.
Detecting the impending trouble in her words and tone, the CEO shivered but opened his mouth to ask, only to be interrupted.
“I, over there.”
“Especially my uncle. I hate him to the point where I want to kill him right away.”
Despite a voice that could freeze any question and only six characters, there was an undertone that hinted at something, making it impossible to utter any words or do anything but close the mouth.
“······.”
“······.”
As a result, a situation between Mr. Han, who suddenly got irritated due to triggered trauma, and the boss, who didn’t even know what was wrong with him, was reaching a crisis.
To be precise, one side would probably receive the brunt of the crisis unilaterally.
However, a crisis did not occur.
“Boss, um. Let’s reschedule the contract for later. Han had a lot going on today. So, I think she needs a little break.”
Because there was Kang Jin-hyuk, the super manager who made sure the assigned idol didn’t face any crises.
“Well then, Han, let’s go home now.”
After organizing things like that, I grabbed under Han’s armpit and lifted her up, then walked out of the office.
“Hiyah?!”
The voice, cute enough to be used as a text notification, saved on my phone, was a bonus.
Lmao just lifting her up like she’s a Cat