Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 317



Only Noblemtl

Episode 317

“Mr. Soyou.”

Would there be a woman who says, “Your arms look toned. Can I touch them?” without showing any interest in the other person?

I can confidently say that there are none (except for the Girls’ League).

So, Seongpil was convinced that Jin Soyu was seducing him.

“I could be mistaken.”

But you never know.

Seongpil wanted to avoid embarrassment by letting his fantasies run wild like Baek Seol-ha.

Of course, I know it’s rude to ask so directly. But I couldn’t help but ask.

“Could you please tell me… … .”

My mouth is completely dry.

Just staring at Jinsoyu uses up most of my mental power.

On top of that, I feel like I’m going to collapse at any moment if I ask such an embarrassing question.

Seongpil barely managed to speak, layering courage upon courage and will upon will. He spoke to her deep and beautiful eyes.

“Do you have a romantic interest in me?”

“no.”

Seongpil’s vision brightened.

I was wondering where it was, but when I saw this scenery, I knew where I was going.

Judging by the white clouds, it was definitely heaven. Above the clouds, baby angels were flying and blowing trumpets as if to tease Seongpil.

Yeah, that’s right.

‘This is how I died.’

Cause of death, shameful death.

Shakespeare said this in his play As You Like It.

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women are actors.

The story of a man with so many delusions has come to an end. Unfortunately, it was neither a comedy nor a tragedy.

Seongpil named his life an absurd play.

Maybe there is a Samuel Beckett here in heaven.

If you discuss the absurd with him, some of the shame you’ve accumulated on earth might be washed away.

“Hmm.”

Jin So-yu’s voice pulled Seong-pil down from heaven to earth.

And when I came to, I felt soft fingertips stroking my arm.

Jin So-yu was poking and stroking Seong-pil’s arm.

Seongpil’s face turned bright red and he grabbed her arm.

“You are a good person.”

Jin So-yu suddenly said that as if she didn’t care about Seong-pil’s nonsense.

“Are you a good person?”

“It looks like that.”

Oh, you’re trying to hide your embarrassment.

Seongpil brought back Shakespeare.

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women are actors. And Sungpil stands on stage once again.

He continued acting as if nothing had happened earlier.

“I am a good person.”

“Yeah, I understand.”

I don’t know what I understood, but Jin So-yu didn’t seem to be giving lip service. I could feel her sincerity.

So Seongpil was dumbfounded.

“If you have strong arms, does that mean you’re a good person?”

“I have my own criteria for judging a good person. Having strong arms or not is not one of them, but sometimes it is something to consider.”

Seongpil was a little happy that a proper conversation was finally taking place.

“Then what is the standard?”

“Appearance.”

“And?”

“It’s the end.”

“… …Only looks?”

“yes.”

Jin So-yu still didn’t stop following Seong-pil. Since he didn’t eat, she just sat still and looked at Seong-pil.

“Does my appearance meet the standards of a good person that you think is right for me?”

“It wasn’t like that at first glance, but it is when you look closely.”

“… … So, my face is, you’re saying, Soyou-ssi’s passing grade?”

“It’s not just the face. It’s literally the appearance.”

As long as the face is good-looking, everything else is fine. People with this standard are often called ‘fools’.

There are people in this world who can be forgiven for anything because they are handsome.

The standards of love are different for each person, but Seongpil thinks that’s strange.

“Uh, um, my appearance is somewhat acceptable by Soyou’s standards. So you’re saying I’m a good person… …is that what you’re saying?”

“Why do you keep asking? Oh, you don’t believe me because I acknowledge you? I understand. My acknowledgement isn’t something that just anyone can receive.”

“That’s because it’s strange. Oh, no, there’s no such thing as strange by human standards. Sorry, that was a slip of the tongue.”

However, Sungpil had never seen anyone who said confidently, like Jin Soyu, that ‘appearance is everything.’

At least, most of them try to hide their true feelings a little, like, ‘Appearance comes first, heart comes second.’

Jin So-yu answered concisely to the flustered Seong-pil.

“The appearance is pure and honest. It is much more trustworthy than a mind that can be entangled in lies.”

“That may be true.”

“I don’t believe people who say, ‘It’s all about the heart.’ The mind, the soul, the heart—they’re all things you can’t see or measure.”

In contrast, there can be no lies in the records carved into the body and face.

Jin So-yu insisted so.

“I’m not just talking about superficial beauty and ugliness. When you look at a person’s face or body, you can tell how much they love and care for themselves. Appearance is never inferior or lighter than the soul.”

Seongpil lost his mind for a moment, then burst into laughter without realizing it.

“Ms. Soyou is literally a lookist.”

“Appearance reveals a lot. I also think that habits are embedded in the body, not the mind. The body of a person who has lived without moderation is different from that of a person who has lived with moderation.”

It wouldn’t be Seongpil’s mistake to feel that Jin So-yu had become a little more energetic.

She looked as if she couldn’t stop herself from telling this story.

‘The stronger a person’s faith, the more willing he or she is to share his or her faith with others.’

Seongpil felt good because he saw Jin Soyu’s self-awareness that was appropriate for her age.

So I felt a little bit closer to her.

Until now, it felt like I was not a human, but a divine being who had descended to this world.

“Then, you must like someone who is good-looking, works out hard, and takes good care of himself?”

“Who wouldn’t like someone like that? They’re a trillion times better than someone who’s ugly, doesn’t exercise, and doesn’t take care of himself. Well, that’s different from that.”

“It’s different?”

“That’s why I say that, of course, artificial habits can be a standard, but I look at the pure human record engraved on the appearance.”

“Are you talking about Gaeseong?”

“Personality… … That’s right.”

Jin So-yu finally started acting differently from Seong-pil.

She took a bite of the curry and spoke with more liveliness than before.

“But even though I say this, I still feel affection for beautiful people. I’ve been feeling this strongly lately.”

“Oh, do you have someone you like?”

Seongpil wondered what kind of man it was who stole Jin Soyu’s heart.

Judging from what Jin So-yu has said so far, he seems like a prince straight out of a fairy tale.

A person who makes you feel jealous just by imagining him.

If you appear before Seongpil’s eyes, it will be difficult to avoid death.

“Um… … If you ask what it means by love, I don’t think so.”

Fortunately, Seongpil avoided becoming a future criminal.

“I just want to hear your voice, be with you, and suddenly think of you, that’s it?”

That’s what love is.

Seongpil chuckled at her ambiguous answer.

‘He may look like an adult, but he’s still a kid.’

Jin So-yu, 25 years old.

He is 8 years younger than Seongpil.

‘When I was your age, I didn’t know how to be honest about my feelings either.’

Unexpectedly, Seongpil felt comfortable eating with Jin Soyu.

Towards the end of the meal, Seongpil, who had become somewhat more talkative, asked something he had been curious about.

“Fashion Week is coming up soon. If you have time, please come to the ‘Fukuyo Hidaka’ fashion show. Hayang will be in the opening show.”

“Yes, I will go.”

“Really? Oh, that’s right. You said you choose which brand to be your ambassador for after watching the fashion show.”

“I have already decided which brand I will become an ambassador for.”

“Where is it?”

“It’s ‘Fukuyo Hidaka.’”

“… … Really? Why?”

“Ha-yang is appearing at the fashion show.”

This must be a joke, I thought.

“I’m also going to the Fukuyo Hidaka opening event this time. Is Hayang going to be there too?”

It wasn’t a joke.

“Maybe I’ll see you there next time.”

Jin So-yu shook my hand as briskly as before. No, it felt even more friendly than before.

It was with a soft smile.

“It was fun today, Director Park Seong-pil.”

* * *

Seongpil sat against the wall of the practice room and stared straight at his cell phone screen.

There was a photo there that I took when I met Jin So-yu.

‘I was definitely standing behind when I took the picture.’

Still, Seongpil’s face appeared larger.

Seongpil had a deep expression on his face.

It wasn’t because her face was shown large in the selfie with the historical Kaius Jinsoyu.

‘It was great.’

Jin So-yu said that she imitated Seong-pil’s habits and actions in order to see what kind of person he was.

Jin So-yu wasn’t the only one who was exploring her opponent. Seong-pil also observed her closely.

The member of KAIST that Sungpil thought was the pinnacle of girl groups in his previous life.

‘If Soyou was a trainee at Garo Enter, I wouldn’t have put her in the group.’

Jin So-yu’s great aura can only be felt by those who have not seen it in person.

Even when I saw her from a distance, I could tell that her momentum was not ordinary.

If a human could artificially train their aura, she must have reached a level comparable to that of a Tibetan monk.

‘A real star.’

It is an old idiom to refer to celebrities as ‘stars’. However, Jin So-yu truly deserves the metaphor of ‘star’.

Just floating in the night sky attracts people’s attention.

‘It is a star, but it cannot be among other stars.’

Jinsoyu was a red star among the stars that emitted cool white light.

Excessive splashing alone.

Jin So-yu’s aura is too great to be categorized as a group.

‘But what’s great about Director Jeong Ho-hwan is that he brought Mr. Soyou into the group.’

Jeong Ho-hwan found a way to harmonize Jin So-yu and selected members who would harmonize with Jin So-yu.

Even so, I had to make sure that the makeup and costume were as neutral as possible so that it didn’t stand out.

Jeong Ho-hwan created harmony by putting Jin So-yu in the cage.

‘I wouldn’t have done it.’

To be exact, I probably couldn’t.

This was something only KS Entertainment could do, accepting hundreds of thousands of trainee applicants a year through open auditions, global auditions, and video auditions.

KS Entertainment has been collating, cross-referencing, and comparing millions of trainees for years to perfect the KAIST 4.

‘Yoon Sang-yeol was like that in his previous life. KS Entertainment only produces finished products.’

Sungpil immediately stood up and fought back against the tone that treated idols like objects, but now he keenly realizes the meaning of a finished product.

The evaluation that it was a finished product was the highest praise for Yoon Sang-yeol.

“What are you looking at, sir?”

Jang Ha-yang, who was warming up in the center of the practice room, approached Seong-pil.

Seongpil quickly turned off his cell phone and put Jin Soyu’s photo away.

“I was watching Naver News.”

“I could see what he was looking at in the mirror behind him.”

The wall Seongpil was leaning against wasn’t just any wall. It was a full-length mirror for performance practice.

“Oh, I was watching because the article about ownership came out.”

“There’s a picture of you and Soyou together in the article? Is it an article about their relationship?”

“… … I was just thinking while looking at Soyou’s picture.”

I thought I would hear something from Jang Ha-yang again. But instead of questioning him, Jang Ha-yang showed warmth.

“There’s no need to hide from us your interest in Caius, Mr. Director.”

I thought it was another bait question, but Jang Ha-yang smiled brightly as if trying to prove that she was sincere.

“Because we’re not the same anymore.”

The Girls’ League of old.

They were jealous and frustrated as they watched Caius’s movements with keen interest.

“We are the Girls’ League. We are the group that defeated Caius, even if it was only once.”

So, unlike in the past, Sungpil doesn’t feel deprived by being a fan of Kaius.

“Anyway, in the director’s mind, I am much more amazing, pretty, cute, and beautiful, right?”

“ah…….”

“Are you worried?”

“No, no! I did that because I suddenly felt that things were different than before.”

If it were the old days, Jang Ha-yang would have immediately informed the members of the group chat about this, and then Sung-pil would have been punished.

“Ha-yang is right. But if I were the producer of Caus, I would have been a fan of Girls’ League.”

Idols are something that you tend to admire when they’re not around you.

“And you get cursed at by the members of KAIST?”

“Haha, that could be true.”

It’s a surprisingly original imagination.

Seongpil turned his situation around.

If I had joined KS Entertainment and built up my position, and then been able to work on the production team around the time KS was being planned… … .

‘Hey guys, have you heard the song by the group Girls’ League? It’s really great.’

‘Director Park, are you looking at the black hole right now?’

Seongpil laughed quietly because he himself was dumbfounded.

“also.”

Jang Ha-yang seemed to be trying to continue the joke, perhaps gaining strength from Seong-pil’s laughter.

“Objectively speaking, am I not more idolatrous than Soyou unnie?”

“uh?”

“yes?”

“what?”

“yes yes?”

“Huh?”

“Oh, isn’t that right… … ?”

“No… … I think it’s the first time I’ve seen Hayang brag about you while comparing you to someone… … because… .”

I often heard Shin A-reum say, “I’m better than that b*tch Kim Min-ju.” But I never expected Jang Ha-yang to say this.

“No, I was joking… … .”

When Jang Ha-yang seemed to have lost her cool, Seong-pil patted her shoulder with a warm hand.

“No. That’s right. Hayang is more idolized.”

“… … Really?”

“Then. It’s idolism itself.”

“In what way?”

“If I may ask you the opposite, in what way do you think Hayang is more idol-like than Soyou?”

“Well, face?”

“haha.”

“Are you laughing?”

Jang Ha-yang also laughed.

“I don’t know. But better than Soyou unnie… … .”

For some reason, Jang Ha-yang is kind to her and sometimes even helps her.

But, rather than a human being who approaches relationships with others with thorough calculation.

“I believe I am better.”

“I like that attitude.”

“Because Director Park believes in it that way. Right?”

“hmm…….”

“I’m not fooled. That’s what you think.”

Now they are forcing faith.

Of course, Seongpil is always on Jang Ha-yang’s side.

“But… Mia is late.”

“I know.”

The reason Jang Ha-yang is in the practice room today is because a model named ‘Mia’ arranged a lesson with a certain model.

Mia was a friend that Jang Ha-yang made in Japan.

He is 22 years old, and it seems that Mia was the first to talk to Jang Ha-yang and they became close.

When Jang Ha-yang said she was worried about appearing in the ‘Fukuyo Hidaka’ fashion show, Webex happily arranged a lecture for her.

“You’re not even answering the phone.”

“I’ll go to the 4th floor and come back. Hayang, just wait a moment.”

The fourth floor of Webex houses a modeling agency.

Most of the fourth floor was devoted to model-related work.

On the way, Seongpil imagined what Fukuyo Hidaka’s opening ceremony would be like.

‘Ha-Yang and So-Yu are appearing at the same time.’

Although Seongpil doesn’t know the meaning or charm of a fashion show, he was very much looking forward to this event.

‘There will be chaos in Korea too.’

The friendship and conflict between Kaius and the Girls’ League was a famous topic in Korea.

The Girls’ League was enjoying the underdog effect, perhaps because of its background as a small agency.

Even those who aren’t fans of the two groups secretly root for the Girls’ League when they say that the Girls’ League and Kaius are clashing for some reason.

‘It’s a psychology that wants the weak to win. It’s a bit bitter that we’re perceived as the weak.’

There is no winning or losing on the idol stage, but the public really likes to take sides and start fights.

As Jo Ara said in her interview with ‘Newasa’, few people understand that ‘no one shines brighter than the other, but rather shines in their own color’.

Because modern people are accustomed to competition.

Even outside of competition, they find competition.

‘I don’t think the opening ceremony of this fashion show will be that much of a hot topic. People will be saying, “So-and-so chewed it out.”

Anyway, it’s sure to be a hot topic.

There is little debate about whether that’s a good thing.

To borrow Jo Ara’s words again, idols are artists and entertainers.

‘A good match… … .’

Seongpil, who unconsciously thought of the word ‘match’, stopped in his tracks.

It was surprising that I had unconsciously recognized the fashion show as a place of competition. And the feeling did not end with surprise.

‘Am I comparing Hayang and Soyou?’

A representative visual member of Girls’ League and KAUS.

Seongpil perceived the meeting between the two as a match, and at the same time, he was naturally comparing them.

“… … .”

Seongpil shook his head vigorously and came out of the elevator.

Seongpil went down to the 4th floor and found the office of Agency B Team, where Mia was affiliated. What he saw was not the typical office divided by partitions and desks.

‘It’s like a cafe.’

There were a dozen or so tables scattered throughout, and agents were either alone or in pairs, depending on their individual responsibilities.

The admiration that seemed to come from seeing a young IT company was short-lived, but soon a nervous yell came down on Seongpil’s ears.

“When on earth will your butt size go below 36!”

Naturally, Seongpil’s gaze also turned there. And Seongpil couldn’t help but be surprised.

Because the person who just yelled was a man, and the person in front of him was a female model named Mia.

“If you like plump butts and thighs, just become a gravure model! With a butt like that, you won’t be able to walk in a fashion show in Paris or Milan, let alone a local country fashion show!”

Seongpil felt like he was going to lose his mind.

‘What, what is this?’

Abusive language that could lead to a sexual harassment lawsuit and immediate destruction of the family.

A tone of speech that seems to treat people as if they were meat hanging in a butcher’s shop.

however.

‘Nobody cares… … ?’