chapter 49
49 – There are many things that fall apart when large companies are involved.
Episode 49
After cleaning the men’s bathroom with Jin Yeo-reum, I went outside to find Gye-ryeol teaching the children something.
What is a high school dropout teaching?
“Winter?”
“ah! Teacher Sun!”
Winter jumped up from his seat as soon as he saw me.
Some children said, ‘Where are you going?’ and grabbed me, but I lightly pulled them off and ran to me.
“Are you done now?”
One of the children who was shaken off by winter, a 7-8 year old boy, was looking at me with bitter eyes, as if his lover had been taken away from him. It seemed that his young heart had been deeply wounded.
… It’s not like that, my friend.
“Oh, it was easy thanks to the help of the volunteer here.”
“Aha, then, Teacher Taeyang, there is something I want to show you!”
Then winter grabbed my hand and dragged me somewhere.
I followed along with some expectations, wondering what this idiot was going to show me.
The place we arrived was in front of the women’s restroom.
Winter held my hand and led me inside without hesitation.
I was scared and withstood the forces of winter that tried to drag me away.
“No, winter, what are you doing!”
“I cleaned this place. It was really clean! My face is reflected in the toilet! “I’m so proud of myself for being able to do this.”
There was a pride on Winter’s face that she didn’t show even when she was dancing.
It was nice to see a child with such low self-esteem showing such pride.
… But why do you feel that when you clean the bathroom?
“That’s great, but this is the women’s bathroom! “How do I get in here?”
The head of an agency entering the women’s restroom at a daycare center.
Even in my opinion, he was a person I would never want to deal with.
“Is there no one inside?”
“Is it okay?”
“… Hing”
Jin Yeo-reum, who was watching the skit from a step away, said.
“Today’s volunteer work schedule is over. In fact, I probably held on to it longer than you thought.”
Then he bowed his head and said,
“Thank you to the volunteers for their dedication. “I hope that only good things will come to the two of you in the days ahead.”
“Why are you greeting me like I’ll never see you again?”
“… yes?”
Considering how quickly the bubble shower turned around, I have to stay here for three more years.
“We will come again.”
“… There are many facilities that have better facilities and better consideration for volunteers than here. “If you come here again, you will probably volunteer to do something like cleaning the bathroom.”
“That’s fine. “As you can see today, I am quite confident in cleaning.”
“I’m confident too!”
Winter said, raising her hand.
Jin Yeo-reum looked at us like that, then turned her gaze to the side and spoke softly.
“I will always be here. … Still, I don’t have any expectations.”
I don’t even want to go that far.
“Well, they are not the kind of people you would expect. Still, I will book again soon. See you again. “Winter, let’s go.”
“Oh, Teacher Taeyang, wait a minute.”
Winter ran to Jin Yeoreum and whispered to her.
“how is it? Master Taeyang, aren’t you a good person?”
“… Yes, you seem like a good person. “To the point where I worry about whether it’s okay to be like that in today’s world.”
“hehehe, that’s Teacher Taeyang’s charm.”
It seemed like they became close while they were cleaning the women’s bathroom together, leaving me in the men’s bathroom.
To the point where they whispered a story to themselves so that I wouldn’t hear.
It was amazing how quickly we became friends with Winter due to her poor sociability.
“Then, I’ll come back next time!”
As if after finishing the story, after Winter came to my side, she looked at Jin Yeoreum and waved her hand and said.
Jin Yeoreum waved her hand awkwardly as she looked at the winter.
Then he glanced at me and continued to wave.
We left the orphanage, leaving the bitter summer behind us.
As I passed the front door of the orphanage, I asked Winter.
“But what did you teach those kids?”
“Did you teach me?”
Winter said, twisting her body as if she was embarrassed.
“… “It’s Japanese.”
“Japanese? “How do you know that?”
“that… I’m ashamed to say As I continued to watch the animation, at some point I was able to understand Japanese without subtitles. I studied JLPT because I thought it would be good to use this for something. So I was able to teach at least basic conversation.”
“oh… .”
It was a talent I never expected.
Considering that Japan is one of Kpop’s major markets, that ability will definitely be put to use someday.
“Very, well done. I studied something really good. “If I ever advance to Japan in the future, I can leave the interview part to you.”
“Oh, not to that extent.”
“Then give it a try. “I’ll listen to see if I’m awkward.”
I also learned the basics of English and Japanese in the previous session, so I was able to confirm it.
Winter said while looking at me.
“… “Please don’t expect too much.”
Despite his hesitation, Winter was very good at Japanese.
… Except for constantly referring to himself in the third person and speaking in a tone that seems like something out of a shonen cartoon.
Still, it was practical enough.
“You’re doing better than I expected.”
“Hontodeska!”
When I praised Winter, she got excited and spoke softly in Japanese.
Basically, I thought it would be okay to be a voice actor because the voice was nice to listen to.
As I was walking to where I parked my car and admiring Winter’s Japanese skills, someone spoke to me.
“excuse me. “Can we talk for a moment?”
When I turned around, a man who appeared to be in his early 30s, wearing a well-cut black suit and sunglasses, spoke to me. He looked like a bodyguard or agent somewhere.
I asked warily.
“Who are you?”
The man opened his wallet and took out a small business card.
“This is who I am.”
Then he bowed his head in greeting and handed over a business card.
[Jingang Group – Public Relations Strategy Planning Department Manager Seok Hyeon-woo]
When I saw the name Jingang Group, I understood a little why this man was here.
I asked, letting my guard down a bit.
“Are you the person assisting Jin Yeoreum?”
“you’re right. “This is Seok Hyeon-woo, who is assisting Jin Yeoreum.”
“What business does such a person have with me?”
Although he asked questions, he did make a few presumptuous remarks.
It was expected that he would threaten Jin Yeoreum by telling her not to report it to the media or to not approach her in extreme ways.
Since I don’t have any plans to do anything using Jinreoreum, I was thinking of hanging out with both of them.
… Rather, I didn’t want to get involved.
Therefore, the question he asked was completely unexpected.
“I heard that you are the head of human resources at an agency. “If possible, please scout Jin Yeoreum.”
What kind of bullsh*t is this?
“Before I answer that question, let me ask you one thing. How did you know that I was the head of the agency? “I don’t remember revealing information about my job when applying for volunteer work.”
If he had investigated my background, I would treat him differently.
“Midwinter next to me told me.”
Oh my, winter!
“… Was it something I wasn’t allowed to say?”
Winter said with tears in his eyes. It seemed that if he was scolded once, he would sink to the bottom and burst into tears.
I spoke as softly as possible.
“It’s not that I shouldn’t say it, but let’s refrain from next time. There aren’t many things that would benefit you from revealing that you are a public figure in a place like this.”
As much as I do volunteer work for show, I will promote it someday, but to get rid of variables, the control of that information had to be done through Two Bear.
In any case, it seemed that the man in front of him did not investigate behind the scenes.
Seok Hyeon-woo urged the question, as if he thought that my question had been answered.
“I am glad that the misunderstanding seems to have been resolved. So, can I hear your answer now?”
You want me to scout Jin Yeoreum?
“I refuse.”
Am I crazy? Drink from a poisoned chalice with my own hands?
“I think you know the reason even if I don’t tell you. “I think it would be better for us to just remain with the relationships between volunteers.”
“I understand your concerns. However, you don’t have to feel that burden.
Jin Yeoreum will reject the scouting offer. “I think Team Leader Sun also knows the reason.”
What I said came back exactly as I said.
It seems we shared the same thoughts about Jin Summer.
“Because we will be bombarded with public opinion.”
Doping-controversial Olympic hopeful debuts as an idol?
I think it will burn hotter than the history of school violence.
“You are correct. Because of that, Jin Yeo-reum will also reject it. I’m not the type of person to chase fantasies and dreams without thinking about them. So, you can think of it as just talking. “There is no pressure at all.”
I understood that there was almost no risk.
If Seok Hyun-woo’s words are true, then he is only saying it once.
But even so, I felt reluctant.
There is no reason for me to take risks by getting involved with Jin Yeoreum.
I again made up my mind to refuse.
“still… ”
“I was so anxious that I forgot to tell you. “If you take on this task, I will give you a small reward.”
Seok Hyun-woo explained how much of the small reward money can be paid using a smartphone.
It was a pretty sweet amount.
It was definitely a lot of money, but I didn’t want to take the risk just for that.
This isn’t just me. The success of fall and winter is determined by my choices.
Even if it was a small risk, I didn’t want to take it.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t heard the proposal… .”
“In addition, we will connect with the general public and clients who request models in the future. “If there are trainees who haven’t debuted yet, that advertisement could make them famous.”
A connection to an advertising client?
“… I know this is rude, but I have to say it. How does Manager Seok do that? “It’s definitely not a light matter, right?”
It’s true that the manager of a large company is great, but he can’t make such a promise, right?
“The task of assisting Mr. Jin Yeoreum is not entrusted to just anyone. I am one of those people who is recognized within the company. Because of that, I am connected to various companies in my network.”
Seok Hyeon-woo said, lowering his head to 90 degrees.
“This is not a confirmation that those clients will select your trainee as an advertising model. However, when having a meeting, I will unconditionally include the team leader’s children among the options. I can do it. This is not a casual opportunity. “Most of the clients I deal with are so-called big names.”
His words were desperate and contained deep appeal.
“Being exposed to clients and not being exposed are completely different. And if you seize the opportunity from that exposure, you will surely ensure the success of Team Leader Sun.”
“… .”
Do you know how to persuade this friend?