Chapter 178

Chapter 184: Those who stab you in the back (3)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

My brother raised his gla.s.s.

“Wait, let me have a drink.”

“It’s empty.”

Even though I told him, my brother seemed to only realize it was empty when he tried to take a sip because he fumbled as he placed it back on the tray. His honest face was filled with confusion. I felt sorry.

Well, it wasn’t like it was unexpected. He had expected that his brother, who had thrown his private life away for work for the past few years, had finally found himself a woman, but after hearing the situation, it was difficult to tell whether this was more of a therapist session than asking for relationship advice.

I laughed bitterly and said,

“Sorry for giving you a headache. You were the only one I could talk to about this. I did think about receiving counselling, but it’s a bit difficult when your face is known to the public.”

“There’s no need to be sorry. This is what family is for.”

My brother waved his hand.

“First, let’s a.s.sume that you and Ms. Songha are dating.”

His voice, which became quiet when he said her name, grew in volume again.

“Let’s a.s.sume you are dating with no issues involving the public eye, your careers, the company, or anything else. There’s no chance you’ll break up nor is there a chance your great relationship will worsen. If you want, you can even get married and have a great life.”

“What a great a.s.sumption.”

“That’s just on the personal level. Instead, Ms. Songha doesn’t work with you any longer and works with someone else. Whether she changes her manager or she goes to a different company. What do you think?”

What did I think?

If someone besides me helped expand Lee Songha’s filmography, strove for the same goal, and got her on the red carpet?

“I don’t think I can allow that.”

My voice was cold.

I wished it would stop here, but my brother continued,

“What if Ms. Songha wants to do that?”

A black scarf fluttered. A woman slowly walked down a hallway.

The floor was covered in marble tiles, and the white walls had faint specks here and there. There was also a window where the leisurely sun beamed in. Within the normal, if not boring, hallway, only the woman seemed different.

“Who is she? Did a woman like her live on our floor?”

“I’ve never seen her since I’ve moved here? Wow, she seems like a celebrity.”

A young couple acted like they had accidentally messed up their pa.s.scode to their door lock as they glanced at her.

She wore a t-shirt, jeans, and black boots. While her clothes seemed normal, she herself was far from normal.

She covered her eyes with large sungla.s.ses and wore a baseball cap on her head. She covered her nose to her neck with the out-of-season scarf. Her hair shook under her scarf every step she took. She was a very suspicious yet interesting woman.

When the couple failed their pa.s.scode for the third time, the woman stopped a few doors away from them. Her smooth hand stopped in front of the door lock before ringing the doorbell. Soon, the woman entered the apartment. The couple’s gaze was fixed on the shut door.

“That unit, it’s the one with a lot of daughters, right? Is she one of them?”

“I don’t know. I did hear a bit from the lady since she liked to boast about her daughters a lot. The first one graduated from Hyemun Women’s University and was preparing for a job. I think she said her second daughter was in the arts. Her fourth was in the varsity judo team. Something about becoming a national athlete or something.”

“Then what about the third?”

At her husband’s question, she tilted her head.

“I don’t know about the third. I think she said she was in the states?”

Lee Songha let out a stuffy breath. She took off her hat and sungla.s.ses and undid her c.u.mbersome scarf. She looked around the living room. There was a vase with sunflowers. The fabric sofa with cute little cushions was so old that its edges were frayed.

Frames were hung on the wall. Lee Songha stared at the photos.

At the top was a photo of the four sisters in a group hug when the youngest was only 100 days old. Below that were three daughters in school uniforms. Next to that was the first daughter’s graduation photo, the second daughter receiving an award at a drawing contest, as well as a photo of the fourth daughter holding a medal from a regional tournament.

Beside them hung a large photo of the family of five.

The photo looked peaceful and natural. Lee Songha seemed different even here.

“Is it hot outside?”

A middle-aged woman with a tidy short perm and gentle eye wrinkles asked. She was the stereotypical ‘mother’ image in a public service campaign. She was Lee Songha’s mother. She had neatly sliced Korean melons in a tray. Lee Songha received the fork her mother handed her and asked,

“When did you take a family photo?”

“Oh, that was to commemorate your older sister’s graduation. I was going to tell you about it, but you’re so busy. Also, if we have a photo of you in the living room, our guests are always going to make a fuss about it whenever they come over. It’s not good for celebrities if their families show off like that.”

“Really?”

“Then they start a business selling their child’s name, use the money they earn and cause problems. Those people show up on the news every once in a while. I won’t do something so uncultured and uneducated.”

Her mother patted Lee Songha’s shoulder gently.

“I’m acting like this all for you so…”

“I get it. It looks good, the photo.”

Lee Songha trailed off and turned her gaze. Her oldest sister opened her door and walked out while brushing her bed hair. Her face very much resembled her mother. She tapped her neck a couple of times with her fist before discovering Lee Songha and walking over.

“I was wondering if you arrived. What’s the occasion? Is today some special day?”

“… Just. I got a break.”

“You have time to take a break? You need to work hard while you’re getting work. I saw an article that you earned 10 billion won? Celebrities really are nice. How many houses can you buy with that? I probably can’t earn that even if I work my whole life in a big corporation.”

Her oldest sister exclaimed while patting Lee Songha’s shoulder.

Her mother joined in,

“But celebrities have their peak. Songha, you’re properly managing your money, right?”

“My company introduced me to an a.s.set manager.”

“Don’t spend your money like water and save it. Celebrities are only celebrities when they have work. When they don’t, they’re jobless. You should listen to your sister and earn a lot while you can. I still think you should just focus on acting. I should talk with your CEO on… Let’s talk about this later.”

Her mother stopped speaking after glancing at her oldest daughter.

At some point, her oldest sister sat down on the sofa and said,

“I saw Neptune’s residential life on Making Film. You really are great at acting.”

“Did it look like I was acting?”

“Didn’t the staff give you lines? You talked twice as much as you do at home. You should talk more at home. Ah, also, you ate a ton over there too. You used to write your name on food at home too.”

Hearing that, her mother chimed in,

“Yeah, pig’s feet, fried chicken, I was embarra.s.sed when they continuously showed you eating that stuff. Your sisters don’t do that, so why do you have such a big appet.i.te? People will think that your parents starved you.”

“We’re the ones who starved. She received a lot to eat. Because she’s pretty.”

“You weren’t like that when you were young. Maybe your eating habits worsened when you went to America alone? Anyways, eating only looks good if you do it moderation. It doesn’t look good if you have too much of an appet.i.te. It makes you look greedy.”

The conversation came to a standstill when Lee Songha visibly frowned. Lee Songha placed her fork down on the plate. She hadn’t eaten a single piece of melon. Just then, the front door opened with the sound of the door unlocking.

‘Hey, hey, hey, wait! Stay out here for a bit. We have a guest!”

Her youngest sister, who was in university, pushed her friends back out. Her friends, who also wore judo uniforms, were pushed out the door. She quickly closed the door and looked at Lee Songha with wide eyes.

“You surprised me! You should have said you were coming!”

“Am I a guest?”

Lee Songha asked. An awkward silence momentarily hung in the home. Lee Songha didn’t wait for their answer and walked to the front door. She then put her boots on. Her youngest sister, whose eyes grew even wider, hastily grabbed Lee Songha’s arm.

“Wait! Are you going out like that? My friends don’t know you’re my sister!”

“Just continue telling them that I’m your guest, not your sister.”

Lee Songha spoke in an even tone then grabbed the door handle.

“Songha!”

Her mother shouted as she approached her.

“Your sister might become a national athlete. Do you think reporters will leave her alone when they find out she’s your sister? How sorry do you think she’ll be to her colleagues if articles show up saying that she’s your sister and she receives the public’s attention? It won’t be good for you too. As I said, we are acting like this for yo-“

“I get it, so stop.”

Lee Songha cut her off. She then put on her sungla.s.ses and hat and covered herself with the scarf. Her mother let out a sigh of relief. Having covered her face, Lee Songha opened the door. When the gazes of the waiting students fell on her, she raised her scarf up higher.

She got on the elevator and pressed the b.u.t.ton to the ground floor. The tips of her heavy boots tapped the floor. The people who got on from the lower floors were first surprised when they saw her and surprised again at her dark, gloomy mood.

Lee Songha walked out as soon as the elevator doors opened. She slowed her steps once she was out of the apartment building like someone who didn’t know where to go. She suddenly fumbled in her pocket and took out her phone. There were a few unread messages from Neptune’s group chat.

As expected, the first message was Im Seoyoung. She had gone back home, saying that she needed to spend her break with her family, and had uploaded a selfie. Behind Im Seoyoung, whose eyes were red, perhaps from crying, were her family members eating. They were having a feast.

Below that were short replies from LJ and Lee Taehee. Lee Taehee had gone to a sushi place with her father and was day drinking, while LJ catching up with her old friends at a bar.

Lee Songha put her fingers on the reply section before hesitating when her phone rang.

Her slow steps completely stopped. She looked around before raising her sungla.s.ses a little. She then checked the caller once more. Her dark eyes soon shined with a bright halo.

“Yes, oppa.”

She placed her phone to her ear, and she walked cheerfully like she was tapdancing.

“Were you waiting like that?”

“There were a lot of people. I can’t get discovered.”

Quickly getting in the pa.s.senger’s seat, Lee Songha took off her disguise.

Her face looked bright. My heart dropped, worried something might have happened. I came to pick her up after hearing she went to visit her family by herself, and she was waiting on a park bench while hugging her knees. Like some puppy waiting for her owner.

I thought until inwardly clicking my tongue. Owner? Puppy?

d.a.m.n it. To make that sort of comparison. I really was crazy.

I looked to my side, and Lee Songha seemed to be in a good mood as she was humming a song. The way she opened the glove compartment and looked around was very natural. She opened a bag with large cookies. She offered one to me as she took a bite into another.

“Are you hungry? Did you not eat at home?”

“… We suddenly had a guest.”

“Then let’s go eat. I haven’t eaten yet.”

To be honest, I had two bowls of rice at my brother’s, but I could probably fit another bowl. I mean I skipped so many meals until now. I started to drive while thinking about a restaurant where we could eat in peace when Lee Songha packed her partly eaten cookie back in the bag.

She then cautiously asked,

“Oppa, does it look greedy when I eat a lot?”

“No, who the heck said that nonsense? You look good when you eat.”

So something did happen at home. I recalled Lee Songha’s family, who I had seen from a distance. Her relationship with her family wasn’t so bad that it would be article-worthy, but it wasn’t affectionate either.

Lee Songha looked down at the cookie as she spoke,

“I have a lot of sisters, both older and younger than me. I didn’t have much to myself since I was young. Someone would always take it or it would disappear. That’s why I like eating. It’s mine once I swallow it. It’s not like they can slice open my belly and take it out.”

Lee Songha looked at me.

“I thought this whenever I saw you. I hoped no one took you away, but because you’re a human, I can’t eat you. It made me nervous, so I think I became weird… You’re not an object.”

She closed then opened her eyes and said with resolve,

“I’m going to work hard until I’m normal. Even if we’re not working together every day, I think it’ll be great if you came to pick me up and had a meal together occasionally. Also, once I become normal, like my plans…”

Her resolute voice trailed off, hiding the rest of her sentence.

Until you become normal, you say?

I fixed my gaze on the windshield and looked inwardly. The snake, which had been excitedly shedding its skin, stopped halfway. It looked at me as if asking why I was hesitating. To shed my skin completely.

It wasn’t just Lee Songha who needed to work hard to become normal.

Also…

“Songha, about your ten-year plan.”

“Pardon?”

“No, did you say it was a five-year plan? The plan you mentioned.”

As if she was taken aback by my question, Lee Songha stuttered as she replied,

“It-it’s a five-year plan. Since two years have pa.s.sed, three years now?”

Three years, huh?

“Three years. Let’s wait until then.”

/ /

Chapter 185: Those who stab you in the back (4)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

Let’s wait until then.

Lee Songha made the sweetest smile when she heard my words.

I buried the seed which I shared with Lee Songha. So that, if an environment where it could grow without being stomped on or withered, it would sprout.

Then I turned around and finally stepped forward.

“Shouldn’t you take some herbal tonic?”

Something touched my shoulder. Having fallen asleep against the whiteboard, I jolted awake. It was the chief of Blackout. His gaze alternated between the packed schedule on the whiteboard and my face before he clicked his tongue.

“It looks like you’ve been infected with Hyunjo’s dark circles? The Team 3 Leader knows a lot about medicinal herbs and tonics. You ask him to get you some. Like carp or loach juice or something.”

“I’m fine.”

“Why? Do you have a weak stomach? You look like the type who can eat snake raw.”

“I’m more delicate than I look. Rather than the herbal tonic, please introduce me to a hardy, good-working road manager if you know one. Ours are exhausted. We don’t even have the time to recruit and train a new one.”

I looked at the schedule while rolling my stiff shoulders. What caught my eye the most was Pretty Girls. They properly started their activities with IBC’s music broadcast, and now their schedule was packed with autograph signing events, press interviews, guest appearances on radio and TV shows, and events.

Both the Pretty Girls goldfish and Chief Lee Taeshin were getting used to their day starting and ending early in the morning. They were so happy that they should be able to work for a good while.

Neptune had it worse. They had a schedule in Sangamdong early in the morning, an event in Busan at noon, and a performance in China at night. Not only did they have a busy schedule, but they also had to prepare for their official alb.u.m. They were gradually becoming more and more haggard.

There was nothing more to say about Lee Songha, who had her advertis.e.m.e.nt schedule on top of all that.

The ones with the most free time around me were Nam Joyoon, who was thinking about his next project, and Kim Hyunsup. Although it wasn’t the best for a celebrity to be too free, if Nam Joyoon had a busy schedule as well, our team would be running around with IVs.

“I do know an experienced road manager who doesn’t have any work right now.”

The Blackout chief said quietly.

“She’s a good, hard worker. She’s even pretty.”

“Who is she? Can you give me her cont”

“But she can’t drive.”

d.a.m.n it.

The Blackout chief grinned when he saw my expression.

“That was a joke. I do have one, but only if you’re going to a.s.sign them to Lee Songha.”

So he had a condition.

When I told Kim Hyunjo and the Team 3 Leader that I was looking for a manager to handle on-site schedules for Lee Songha, the news shook the entire company. There were so many fish aiming for the bait that I felt like I was an aquarist.

Amongst the fish, there were road managers who had just managed to get promoted to chiefs as well as chiefs who had more experience than me. In fact, there were a few from the Team 2 who slowly approached the bait.

“Please give me their contact information. I’ll think about it.”

“Here, let me know if you also need their resume.”

The Blackout chief handed me their business card like he had been waiting for the opportunity. I barely managed to squeeze it into my bulging business card case. Although I wasn’t fully handing her over to someone else, I felt uneasy at the thought of leaving Lee Songha under someone else’s care.

The chief left, and I looked back at the whiteboard. There were a few hours left before the official business I would have to handle this evening. Me having leisure time was as rare as gra.s.s in a drought. But it wasn’t like I could just roll on the bed because I did.

I had some unofficial business from now on.

Son Chaeyoung had the VIP room of her hair shop all to herself. I was about to go in, but I stopped. A different person was reflected in the mirror. No, it definitely was Son Chaeyoung. However, her crescent eyes and the light smile on her face, she was completely different from the Son Chaeyoung I knew.

Was she someone who could make that expression when she wasn’t acting?

Just as I thought this, Son Chaeyoung’s expression distorted.

“What is it?”

She instantly returned to the Son Chaeyoung I knew. It was so quick that I almost thought I was seeing things due to sleep deprivation. I brushed aside the strong image in my mind and entered the room. I sat down on the sofa under Son Chaeyoung’s sharp glare.

“Where is Chief Lee Janghyun?”

“He went to look for ripe persimmons. Why?”

He was still looking for that?

I laughed at the ridiculousness. Son Chaeyoung’s eyes burned with rage.

“Don’t try to start a fight. I’m watching what I say.”

“When have I tried to start a fight? But why are you watching what you say?”

Now that I thought about it, it did seem like her words were more awkward.

More like a kindergarten teacher’s, no, I couldn’t compare them to her.

“Why do you think? The public service announcement campaign is about talking properly and kindly.”

I went into a coughing fit.

Son Chaeyoung shooting a polite speech public service announcement. Could anything be more comedic?

“What? I learned Korean in school!”

“Did I say anything?”

“Don’t p.i.s.s me off and leave! Your face itself provokes me!”

She snapped at me before turning her gaze.

I stared at her. I had met with Son Chaeyoung a few times during this time. The official reason was to suggest next projects for her, but it was honestly to change the future where she retires. Because I kept feeling the ‘intention’ behind the future vision I kept seeing.

However, I was making slow progress.

Because Son Chaeyoung currently looked like she had no intention of retiring. Although her eyes burned with rage whenever I brought up her doing another project, she did seem like she planned on taking on new projects once she left W&U.

In order to change her future, I had to figure out what to change about the present, but nothing stuck out to me as I observed her like this. I’ve only gotten more and more used to dealing with Son Chaeyoung.

I clicked my tongue and looked at her. Her face on the mirror was huffing. Suddenly, the unfamiliar smiling face I saw just now overlapped with her face.

Was that expression for her commercial as well?

I recalled what Lee Songha had said. That she couldn’t become like Son Chaeyoung. I didn’t know if it was because of that, but I also began to wonder if Son Chaeyoung had a phase where she was like Lee Songha in the past. W&U employees said that she was like this since she joined W&U.

“Ms. Son Chaeyoung.”

“Why do you keep saying my name!”

“I only said it once. But was your personality like this when you debuted?”

“How is my personality?”

“It’s terrible.”

I said truthfully. Son Chaeyoung kicked the leg of the vanity, and her chair spun twice before stopping in front of me. Son Chaeyoung crossed her legs and stared at me.

“I wasn’t like this when I debuted.”

Her lips curled up into a crooked smirk.

“I was like this since I was wearing diapers. Okay?”

She didn’t even wait for my reply and she said in a dubious manner,

“But why are you so interested in me these days? I heard that you were looking for a manager to handle Lee Songha’s on-site schedules. Are you planning on handing her over completely and working with me?”

“I have no plans on working with you.”

“I have no work for you either!”

I asked the snorting Son Chaeyoung,

“But why are you so interested in who I manage?”

“What?”

“At first, you told me to ditch Songha and to work with you. Later, you mentioned how I looked like I had devoted myself to Songha but got p.i.s.sed when you thought I accepted the CEO’s proposal.”

While saying this, I noticed Son Chaeyoung was frowning.

“I remember you clearly stating you had no thoughts on working with me. But then you would ask me to change who I manage whenever we meet. You did it just now too. Just what is it you want?”

Son Chaeyoung’s pupils moved from her left to her right.

She was silent for a bit like she was lost in thought, but she soon lightly shrugged,

“Just curious.”

“What?”

“About how long your little game of house will last.”

Son Cheayoung once again turned her chair towards the vanity.

Just then, the door burst open. Chief Lee Janghyun entered while panting like a wild boar. He seemed to have gone around a fruit market as he gave off a rather sweet scent. He didn’t have to leisure to recognize me as he shouted with a red face.

“Ms. Chaeyoung. I can’t do this any longer. The iced persimmons I got from the tea shop in Insadong the day before yesterday is the best I can do. Where would I find ripe persimmons on trees during this season?! Ms. Chaeyoung, you don’t like me, do you? If you don’t like me, then just say it!”

“I don’t.”

Son Chaeyoung immediately answered.

Chief Lee Janghyun, who seemed to have returned his senses, stuttered,

“Wh-what part of me?”

“How can I list off every little thing? Just ask me what about you I like!”

“What about me do you like?”

“Nothing about you.”

Chief Lee Janghyun shut his mouth like a chick that ate honey. Looking so p.i.s.sed she could explode, Son Chaeyoung’s gaze alternated between me and Chief Lee Janghyun before she suddenly smiled brightly. Her smile really could only be described that way.

“Everyone.”

Chills ran from my toes to the top of my head.

Pointing to the door with a still smiling face, Son Chaeyoung added,

“Please screw off.”

“Chaeyoung told Jung Sunwoo to screw off?”

Chief Jo asked with a smirk. He waved his hand as though urging for a response.

Chief Lee Janghyun, who sat next to him on the sofa in the Team 2 Leader’s office, nodded his head with vigor.

“You know Ms. Chaeyoung’s temp- personality.”

“Of course, I do.”

“Ms. Chaeyoung pointed to the door and told him to ‘please screw off’. I felt bad for Chief Jung, who was chased out with a red face yesterday.”

Chief Lee Janghyun glanced in a direction while speaking with a glib tongue. The Team 2 Leader was sitting at his desk. It was a bleak atmosphere. His normally well-groomed beard now looked like p.r.i.c.kly thorns. This calm before the storm had continued for the past few days now.

Chief Jo tried his best to change the mood.

“Jung Sunwoo, that guy, will have it tough. That’s why he should have given up early on.”

“This was destined to happen since he zealously said he’ll handle Ms. Son Chaeyoung.”

Chief Lee Janghyun followed Chief Jo’s lead. By the time Jung Sunwoo had been thoroughly cut up and smashed around, it seemed Chief Jo’s tactic worked as the Team 2 Leader’s lips suddenly curled up.

“He’s so hot-blooded because he’s young. He’s impertinent because he’s been on a roll. He has no respect for his seniors. Well, the CEO is protective of him, so who would he fear? Right?”

Chief Jo and Chief Lee Janghyun hesitantly nodded along.

The Team 2 Leader’s gaze grew colder when he mentioned the CEO.

“That’s why he’s gotten himself into such a situation without understanding his position.”

His voice grew dark. Chief Jo flinched. Chief Lee Janghyun warmed his hands with his teacup as he looked around, reading the mood. Suddenly, the Team 2 Leader’s expression fiercely distorted as he said,

“Lee Bongjoon. It’s been so long since I’ve called him over, why isn’t he here yet?”

“That’s… He said that Jijoon’s schedule in China might be extended.”

Chief Jo replied. The Team 2 Leader snorted.

“Schedule? Lee Bongjoon, that quick-witted fellow, is probably squatting there, trying to avoid the storm. I just happened to have him manage Jijoon. Jijoon used to listen to my every word back when he was a rookie…”

His beard squirmed as he said to Chief Jo,

“Chief Jo, you pay special attention to Inho! So that he doesn’t become like Jijoon!”

“Of course. I’ll make sure of that.”

“Jung Sunwoo, he’s the problem. After meeting him, Lee Bongjoon and Jijoon are acting like foals released from their reins.”

“Mr. Jijoon brought a bouquet to Chief Jung’s party not long ago. It looks like he might transfer over if Chief Jung makes his own team…!”

Chief Lee Janghyun stopped talking. Chief Jo was pinching his side. The Team 2 Leader glared at him like he would personally choke him to death.

It seemed like he recalled the embarra.s.sment he experienced in front of others that day as the veins on the Team 2 Leader’s clenched fist bulged. His complexion turned red.

The Team 2 Leader’s sharp gaze landed on a section of his desk. It was a framed group picture of actors in W&U. Seo Jijoon was smiling off to the side in the photo that the Team 2 Leader looked at with satisfaction whenever he had time.

“Jijoon’s mine. I brought him up since he was a rookie. He’s not going anywhere.”

“Of course, Jijoon’s the product of your effort. All Jung Sunwoo did was connect him to Cat Guardian Ghost.”

Chief Jo agreed by clicking his tongue.

“To be honest, the projects you were considering for Jijoon that time were all successes. Jijoon would probably be as successful as he is now if he had just followed the filmography you were building for him? Although I don’t know how Jung Sunwoo was able to befriend him so quickly, he shouldn’t try to stab you in the back by bringing Jijoon with him.”

“Of course, he can’t.”

The Team 2 Leader narrowed his eyes.

“Jung Sunwoo has only had it easy until now, so it seems like he has no idea how disgusting it feels to be stabbed in the back. If he doesn’t know, I should teach him. He’ll learn something when he loses the actor he trusts and holds dear.”

The actor Jung Sunwoo trusts and holds dear?

Chief Jo, who had been going along with him, made a face,

“Lee Songha? Team leader, she’s not the type to-“

“Betray Jung Sunwoo?”

The Team 2 Leader made a meaningful smile.

“Do you know what can split apart a close relationship between a celebrity and her manager?”

“Money?”

The Team 2 Leader shook his head. Just as he was about to open his mouth to speak, he looked at Chief Lee Janghyun. Chief Lee Janghyun, who was dawdling to listen further, was soon pushed out the office. Only the Team 2 Leader and Chief Jo remained in the office.

“It’s family.”

Chief Jo’s eyes widened. The Team 2 Leader leaned against his chair as he continued,

“When the manager’s opinion clashes with her family’s and their relationship becomes stormy, the celebrity stuck in the middle will side with their family in the end. No matter how good or bad their relationship with their family is, blood is thicker than water. Feeling betrayed, the manager will eventually become a stranger.”

Making a crooked smile, the Team 2 Leader said,

“I think I should have a talk with Lee Songha’s parents.”

Hearing the elevator’s ring, I opened my eyes. What was left of my vigor was sapped during our production meeting. My brain shouted how it would go on strike if I didn’t immediately slump over and sleep. I was about to enter my office while rubbing my temples when I heard…

“Team leader! Team Leader Jung!”

Chief Lee Janghyun, who wandered around the lounge anxiously, rushed over.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I heard the Team 2 Leader and Chief Jo talk. I had qualms about their conversation and decided that I needed to tell you.”

He looked around while speaking. He reminded me of a mouse every time I saw him.

“It’s regarding Ms. Lee Songha.”

My mind jolted awake.

“What is it?”

“Please come over here.”

Chief Lee Janghyun led me to the stairs like this was some spy action flick. He checked above and below the stairs before approaching me. He then said in a quiet voice,

“I, I really want to manage Ms. Lee Songha. Even if it’s temporary.”

“Didn’t you say there was a problem?”

“There is. The Team 2 Leader wants to st, so he wants to do something about Ms. Lee Songha. But you know the Team 2 Leader’s personality, right? I’m dead if I get caught telling you this. I really am taking a big risk here.”

What about Lee Songha?

I unconsciously frowned. Chief Lee Janghyun chattered on about how he was helping me out while spit sputtered from his lips. I down at him and made a business smile.

“I get it so tell me. What did the Team 2 Leader say?”

“That is…”

Chief Lee Janghyun got to the point. He recounted what the Team 2 Leader had said.

I felt my acc.u.mulated exhaustion turned into rage. Even my mind became hot.

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This man…

As soon as he finished talking, I went down the stairs. Taken aback, Chief Lee Janghyun followed after me.

“Wh-where are you going?”

“To the Team 2 Leader’s office.”

/ /