chapter 51
51 – Insidious Yu Gaeul
Episode 51
“… “It’s not something someone tells you to do, is it?”
“I can assure you that this is Jin Yeoreom’s pure doctor.”
“… Huh, indeed.”
I expressed my unfeigned feelings.
“You’re hiring an amazing person.”
Seok Hyeon-woo said as if he was proud.
“Yes, he is a great person. Even if Jin Yeo-reum had chosen a different path than rhythmic gymnastics, she would have definitely achieved great success.”
“… But I am still a child.”
“… you’re right. That’s why I’m worried.”
No matter how strong of a person she was, Jin Yeo-reum was still just a child.
Immature, tender, and in need of protection.
She was living through an unstable time, as she had a heart of iron.
“I understand why you said you needed encouragement. “You want to give Ms. Jin Yeoreum evidence that public opinion will change.”
If you can show that the thoughts of the person in front of you have changed, it will be a great help to Jin Yeoreum.
This is especially true if you are an agency employee who is more sensitive to public opinion than anyone else.
Because you will think that recognition gives meaning to your struggles.
“Yes, you don’t show it, but Jin Yeo-reum’s heart must be wavering. “The path he wants to walk is like sailing on an open sea without any landmarks.”
“Do you think my scout will be a guide to that voyage?”
Seok Hyeon-woo nodded and said.
“Yes, I think it would be a great relief to Jin Yeoreum if Team Leader Seon, who has a job that requires him to think about public opinion and the image of people more than anyone else, scouts him.”
In the end, the reason Seok Hyun-woo made me act by spending a lot of money and personal connections was for the stability of one person’s mind.
***
Winter, who had been silent in the car on the way back, spoke.
“Teacher Taeyang.”
“… huh?”
“Does scouting Yeoreum really have to be an act?”
When I checked in the mirror, Winter was looking at me.
I asked while paying attention to safe driving.
“… Why do you want to be with me?”
“Yes, I think it would be nice to be together. To say it without looking at it for a while can be considered a hasty judgment. I still want to say The summer I saw was a very nice person.”
Winter added in a small voice.
“… “Like Teacher Taeyang.”
The winter that said that was smiling brightly at me.
Perhaps without realizing it, I had become attached to it, and I really wanted to grant any request that the child had.
But this was an impossible story.
“Of course Yeoreum will refuse. “I offer it as an act or a sincere offer, but the result is the same.”
“Then what if Yeoreum accepts?”
Winter continued as if she didn’t want to give up hope.
“Like Director Seok said, if Yeoreum didn’t actually do anything bad, wouldn’t it be okay for us to be idols together?”
“Even if we believe that, the rest of the world won’t think so.”
Reporting that Jin Yeoreum was a victim was something Jinseong, which had strong capital and manpower, had already tried and failed to do.
It was that difficult to change negative public opinion once it had become entrenched.
I wasn’t sure I could do it.
Moreover, people were not favorable to the title of third generation chaebol.
If the word doping were included there, no one would think it was just suspicion.
“If you really recruit that child and include him in an idol group, there will be controversy. Very, very huge. “I don’t have the confidence to endure it and succeed.”
The jewels named winter and fall may be swept away and buried by those huge waves.
It was truly scary.
There is no reason to take that risk.
“I want to make you and Gaeul the best idols. And recruiting Yeoreum would be an obstacle to that goal. … “Did you get the answer?”
“… yes.”
In winter, the grass died greatly.
The sight of him lying depressed and crushed in the passenger seat evoked sympathy that was not there before.
Looking at that, I wondered if I should have said that I would think positively, even if it was just a lie.
It is certain that Jin Yeoreum will reject it anyway.
After finishing my judgment, I opened my mouth.
“Winter?”
“… yes?”
“What if? Really, if Jin Yeo-reum accepts my scouting offer, I will consider your intention the most important.”
“… Teacher Taeyang!”
Winter seemed to be thrilled and smiled broadly and tried to hug me.
“Winter! I’m driving! “I’m driving!”
“Hey! sorry!”
Anyway, it was nice to see her smiling.
***
Two days later, after finishing my work at the company, I went back to the old nursery school.
This time, instead of winter, he had autumn by his side.
Ga-gul said, stamping his feet while sitting in the passenger seat, as if he was enjoying this overtime shift.
“Volunteering with children seems really rewarding!”
“hmm… “Autumn might be a little different from what you think.”
I remembered that the last time I went there, instead of looking at the kids, I was tired of cleaning the bathroom.
Surely, they won’t make you clean the bathroom twice?
You cleaned it all up then, right?
I told Ga Eul about that experience.
“I am confident! In fact, cleaning bathrooms is my specialty!”
For some reason, everyone, including me and Winter, seemed to have a talent for cleaning bathrooms.
It seemed that even if the idols went bankrupt, they would not go hungry if they set up a cleaning company.
“I even had a part-time job cleaning that bathroom! Even when I was working in the kitchen, I always cleaned the bathroom!”
Indeed, it was like a career person who worked 4 part-time jobs a day.
“Hey, this is reassuring?”
“hehehe, cleaning, laundry, cooking, I have confidence in all of the household chores!”
Gaeul blushed and looked down at the floor, clasping her fingers together as she spoke.
“… If you need it, you can always call me over to Taeyang’s house.”
“no it’s okay. “I’m also confident in my lyrics.”
Gae-gae seemed to be quite confident, but I also had my pride when it comes to lyrics.
“Just as my older sister earned money as the head of the family from an early age, I have long been in charge of all household chores. “I’m not so sloppy as to leave it to someone else.”
“… okay.”
Gaeul’s reaction seemed to be somewhat disappointed.
huh? Did I say something strange?
… Oh, did you happen to say what you just said because you wanted to see Gahyeon?
and… I’m really clueless. Are you bragging about your lyric skills without understanding this?
How ugly is it for a 17-year-old to be an adult who feels competitive through lyrics?
I spoke to her, reflecting on my complacent attitude and immature attitude.
“Gaeul, even if there is no particular reason, you can stay comfortably at my house…” .”
Ga Eul was muttering something with her head down, as if she had no intention of listening to me.
“I can make money, so I can be a full-time housewife…” , or rather, since I can leave Taeyang oppa alone at home… .”
“… “Autumn?”
Ga Eul seemed to be deep in thought and kept muttering something.
Occasionally, he would make a ‘hehehehe’ sound and laugh a little sinisterly, as if a good idea had occurred to him.
I thought there was something to think about deeply, so I just left it alone.
It wasn’t scary.
… No, really.
***
This volunteer activity went easier than expected.
This is because the time of pure labor, so-called hard work, was extremely short compared to the last bathroom cleaning.
All the rest of the time was filled with educational service, that is, playing moderately with the children.
It seemed like Jin Yeoreum was considerate of us.
I gathered a reasonable number of middle school students and taught them math and English through group tutoring.
I was able to teach English comfortably because I had mastered it to the point where I could freely communicate with native speakers when I went abroad in the previous round.
Middle school math wasn’t that difficult for me to begin with, and I had reviewed it for this situation, so I didn’t feel uncomfortable teaching it.
“Oh, you’re doing something.”
“Thank you for the compliment. But Hayul. “Let’s not look at the answer while looking away from me.”
“… “Kabi.”
Gaeul was teaching guitar to five children.
At first, it seemed like he was explaining the code step by step. But now it has become a concert hall where people can enjoy Gaeul’s guitar.
“sister! sister! This time, let’s hear ‘Eye Contact’!”
“Hey, no! “I asked you to hear ‘Blue Whale’ first!”
“Who listens to a song like that that’s over 20 years old!”
“… “You can tolerate insults toward me, but you can’t get over insults toward the ‘blue whale’?”
Ga Eul sweatily stopped the kids who were fighting.
“… “Guys, my sister will tell you everything, so let’s listen together!”
I think listening to one request to show a demonstration became the root of the problem. A bead of sweat was flowing down Ga Eul’s forehead, as if she was embarrassed by the children’s reaction.
Go for it. Autumn.
While I was being tormented by the children, the allotted time passed.
Anyway, the educational service was completed successfully.
“Team Leader Seon, now I would like to ask you to do what I told you before.”
“You mean scout. Yes, I will do it right now.”
“yes? “Are you scouting Taeyang’s Yeoreum?”
“Yes, I’m going to do it now.”
“Now?”
I stood face to face with Jin Yeoreum in the corner hallway, with Seok Hyeon-woo, who was showing perfect stealth by slipping into the shadows, and Gae-eul, who was clumsily covering only two-thirds of her body as if she was hiding behind the scenes, as the gallery.
“Do you have something to say?”
Eventually, this time had to come.
It was something I said I would do, but I was reluctant to be in a situation where I was scouting for someone who was disliked by the public.
“… Yes, I have something to say.”
“Then, please feel free to speak.”
I strengthened my mind after seeing Jin Yeo-reo not taking this situation seriously.
Yes, it is certain that you will be rejected anyway.
Of course, to get the opportunity to expose Autumn and Winter, who haven’t even debuted yet, as models, you have to step on the accelerator.
In keeping with the gentle summer atmosphere, I also spoke lightly as if it was no big deal.
“Would you like to join our Two Bear Entertainment?”
Jin Yeo-reum frowned slightly at my words and asked.
“… “What do you mean by that?”
“I hope you will participate as a member of the girl group planned by Two Bear Entertainment.”
Jin Yeoreum answered immediately without even taking the time to think, as if there was no room for second thought.
“is it so. “Let’s give it a try.”
“hahahaha, that’s too bad. It’s really unfortunate, but I… , yes?”
… Are your ears broken? I think I got an answer that I’ll never hear
Jin Yeoreum brought my confused mind into reality with one sentence.
“I will become an idol.”
“… .”
Looking at Jin Yeoreum who looked at me playfully and handed over for a handshake, I thought.
f*cked.