Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 345



Only Noblemtl

Episode 345

The backgrounds that Joara used to film the video were a house and the inside of an old factory.

Just like the ‘No’ music video, we came to Görlitz, a German city bordering Poland.

One thing that was better than when I was at Rica was that since I was renting the entire building, I could designate a styling room to use.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen clothes like this.”

Jo Ara, who came out after finishing her styling, tidied up her clothes with her longing hands.

It was a classic suit, just like the one he wore in the ‘No’ music video.

‘I guess it’s because I touched Yui’s hand one more time. It looks much cooler.’

At the time, the outfit was rough to capture the mood of the times, but this time, Lee Yu-i added more idolism to the outfit.

Just looking at the outline that followed the curves of the body, it was evident.

‘It’s more attractive than being wide-bodied.’

Seongpil smiled proudly.

“how is it?”

Joara took on several poses as if telling him to look closely. Then, Lee Yui, who was next to Seongpil, let out a small groan, saying, “Ugh… …”

“Ara, that’s so cool.”

“It’s because my sister dresses me well. No, I’m already cool, right?”

“huh…….”

Lee Yui’s voice sounded floating, as if it was coming from through a glass wall.

“Are you that good?”

Lee Yu-i thought deeply about Seong-pil’s question and then answered.

“I just wish I was born as Ara. I’m not saying this because I styled her, but Ara is so so cool.”

“That’s the best compliment I’ve ever heard.”

Joara became more energetic and her shoulders straightened.

“What about you, sir?”

“I agree.”

“Of course I have to agree.”

Joara swept her short hair back as if showing off.

She had grown her hair out a bit since her promotional period ended, but she went back to short hair for the concert.

“Have you heard that story, Unnie? Before I debuted, I cut my hair short, and when the old man and the director saw that, they all fell to the floor and it was chaos.”

“You were lying on the floor?”

“Well, that means I’m incredibly attractive.”

“I know.”

Lee Yu-i checked Jo Ara’s outfit one last time. She straightened out the folds in her jacket and lowered the length of her pants.

“I watched a lot of American dramas when I was young. There were a lot of career woman characters in them. Wearing high heels that were just right and carrying briefcases. I promised myself over and over that I would live like that when I grew up… … .”

Lee Yui looked down at her outfit. The simple clothes that only sought convenience stood out.

There was also the reason she dressed more casually when she heard she was going abroad, which was much more casual than what she wore in Korea.

“It’s like this now. If I had been born like Ara, I would have dressed like this every day.”

“Your sister is pretty too, so why are you like that?”

“No, I want to look strong. With my eyes wide open like this! I look a bit weak… … .”

“Do I look that strong? Like I’m going to smash everything around me?”

“Tch, that was a compliment.”

“I know. It’s a compliment to want to be like me.”

It’s not just a compliment, it’s the best compliment ever.

Because Joa is an idol.

Having someone want to be like you is definitely the highest praise an idol can and should receive.

“I’m going to go film.”

Joara posed for fan service. Lee Yui squealed in delight.

In the place where Joara had left, Lee Yui let out a long sigh filled with lingering emotions.

“I understand why Rika is so attached to Ara. I want to spend the whole day just changing Ara’s clothes.”

“Ara would have been horrified if she had heard that. But is it true that you want to be like Ara? Are you talking about the physical aspect?”

“Well, to be honest, my visual role model is the CEO.”

It was easy to guess in what areas he would like to be a role model.

“The CEO really has a unique aura. He looks like someone who jumped out of a corporate drama.”

“Right!”

This is why Lee Yui reacted violently.

It was about 1.1 times more lively, like a high school girl who was obsessed with a drama actor.

“How can you wear a suit 365 days a year? It’s not just that you’re consumed by the concept; it’s like you’ve become the concept itself!”

“Isn’t that a compliment… … ?”

“Our company has an open atmosphere, right? The attire is also not particularly touchy. But, you still maintain such neat attire… … . And how do you speak? Your voice is soft and clear… … .”

If you keep doing this, you’ll end up sending fan letters.

‘You said that when you were young, you admired the career woman character in the US.’

I think that tendency may have continued into adulthood.

The look in Lee Yu-i’s eyes as she spoke about Hong Gyu-heon actually didn’t look much different from a fan talking about an idol.

“But my ideal type is Ara. Oh, really, if I start talking about Ara’s face, a day won’t be enough… … .”

“Ms. Yui is just as charming as the president or Ara.”

“… …Me?”

Lee Yui checked her outfit again.

Fashion is about expressing the self, but there was no self at all in Lee Yui’s fashion.

All you see is a summer shirt and pants from a decent spa brand.

“I’ve thought about this while working in this industry, but people who are artists all have their own unique aura. It’s different from people who work at regular companies.”

“If I had to say, I’m just an ordinary office worker… … .”

“You’re a visualist at Garo Enter. Although you’re an office worker, you’re in a creative profession and an artist.”

“If you’re not a visual director, what are you a visualist for?”

Lee Yui smiled slightly. Then, with a hint of anticipation, she asked.

“Um… … Then what is my aura like?”

Lee Yu-i used to draw a lot of portraits of celebrities when she was practicing sketching in the past.

Michael Jackson. Coco Chanel. Wittgenstein. Chet Baker. Issey Miyake. Bill Evans, etc.

Every time I draw them, I feel that people in creative professions seem to have a self that is reflected in their appearance.

‘Maybe for me too… … ?’

As the visualist for the Girls’ League (just added by Sungpil), does Lee Yui also have that kind of aura?

“I could tell it was Yui just by glancing at her back while she was making coffee in the break room.”

“Everyone has that kind of aura! No, it’s not an aura, it’s just appearance!”

“For some reason, his shoulders slump in a gloomy manner, he sighs automatically when he drinks coffee, and he forces a smile when he greets people at work.”

Lee Yui was getting increasingly creeped out.

She had never imagined that Seongpil was observing her so closely.

Could it be that Seongpil, as a director, is evaluating the employees’ work attitudes? Was he purposely looking at them more closely? Did he even catch them doodling in their notebooks during meetings?!

“As Yui said, the impression of weakness is clearly felt not only from her face but also from her attitude… … .”

“Uh, that’s enough. You can stop now… … .”

“But when people pick up a pen and look at paper, they change completely.”

“… …Change? Me? How?”

“It looks like a star is rising.”

The moment Lee Yui holds the pen, her eyes light up. And the dark air surrounding her disappears, and energy flows in all directions like a cool breeze.

“When the night sky of fashion comes down, a star named Yui rises.”

Lee Yu-i just blankly looked at Seong-pil.

“Does this answer your question?”

“Wow, it’s real.”

“yes?”

“When I talk to the kids about you, they all say that they’ve been fooled by your smooth talking at least once. Is this how you brought the kids to the company?”

“Hollydani… … .”

There is a good saying, ‘I was touched by a dream’, so I don’t know why they insist on using the word ‘holidad’.

“It’s not something that can be achieved with just one or two days of training. Be honest. How many people have you knocked down with that tongue?”

“It’s not the tongue, it’s the ‘sincerity.’”

Lee Yui barely managed to hold back her laughter. What she held back wasn’t laughter.

After finishing their small talk, the two focused on the filming set. Even while talking, they didn’t miss a single scene that was captured on camera.

As break time was approaching, Seongpil said with concern.

“Ms. Yui. Have you seen the news article about Caius?”

“Oh, yes. Are you talking about the pre-order sales?”

Lee Yu-i had set up an alarm for entertainment news on the advice of her senior at the agency (Kwon Ah-in from the accounting team).

There were a lot of boring news stories, but it was natural for someone in the entertainment industry who had to be sensitive to all kinds of situations.

“I don’t know if Ara saw it or not, but please try not to bring up the subject.”

Because you can’t let your mentality waver while filming.

‘Ara, no. Our kids think of Caius as their rival.’

At first, they simply saw each other as opponents to be defeated. However, as time passed, each of them developed a new image of themselves as rivals with their own mature spirits.

‘Seol-ha is a fellow idol who respects Erika. A-reum is a competitor who moves forward together with Min-ju. Hayang is… … Hayang is… … .’

When I heard the story later, I found out that he just said he didn’t like Jinsoyu.

I don’t know if that’s a progressive rivalry, but it’s a change from my first impression, so anyway, that’s it.

‘My guess is that Ara still has an inferiority complex towards Ginger.’

It seemed to be due to differences in natural qualities.

In other words, to Joara, Ginger is a rival that cannot be defeated through effort alone.

Setting up that kind of rival would have been a burden that Joara would find difficult to shake off.

‘In this situation, if it becomes known that Caius achieved the highest number of pre-orders in history in just one day… … .’

Perhaps Joara will have a hard time concentrating entirely on filming.

“I won’t say anything. Should I tell the other styling staff members?”

“Yes, please do that… … .”

“Araya, have you seen this?”

Jo Jung-hoon approached Jo A-ra a dozen seconds after the filming break began. His face was a mixture of admiration and interest.

“What is it?”

Jo Ara, who was cooling off on a folding chair, reached for the cell phone he held out to her.

Seongpil and Yui were shocked and tried to run towards it.

“KS Entertainment released the pre-order quantity for Caius? This is the first time I’ve seen something like this.”

Seongpil and Yui let out a silent scream.

Jo Ara received Jo Jeong-hun’s cell phone and slowly read the article.

“Isn’t that ridiculous? I don’t know if it’s a one-week reservation, but it’s 100,000 in just one day.”

Although he didn’t reveal it to others, Jo Jeong-hoon was negative about pre-order purchases.

‘Why are you buying an album when you don’t even know what’s in it?’ is his basic thought. Isn’t it like buying something without knowing its value?

Even though Caius only has two songs, it was hard to believe that 100,000 people pre-ordered the album based on those two songs alone.

“I guess the KS Enter name value is high.”

“hmm…….”

Jo Ara slightly narrowed her eyebrows and handed the phone back to Jo Jeong-hoon.

Seongpil and Yui watched from afar, waiting to hear what she would say.

“Wow, we sold a lot.”

“It will sell better, right?”

“I guess so.”

That was the end of Joara’s reaction. In the filming that followed, contrary to concerns that her mentality might waver, she showed results that exceeded expectations.

She showed no emotional agitation even after hearing of Caius’ explosive success.

After filming, she walked towards Sungpil with a frown on her face, as if she was uncomfortable because of the sweat.

“Sir, are we going straight to the hotel?”

“That’s right.”

“There’s another short shoot tomorrow?”

“Yeah. If you want to go sightseeing, tell Director Han… … .”

“No. I’m going to get some sleep today to get my condition under control.”

“Would you like that?”

Seongpil took Joara to the lodging.

I don’t know what to say to her. Should I comfort her? Or should I just say something casual like it’s nothing?

Seongpil was unable to bring up the topic of Caius in the end.

* * *

Jo Jung Hoon’s filming crew will once again be staying at the same lodging where they stayed during the filming of the ‘No’ music video.

The accommodations in a small city with a population of perhaps 50,000 were quiet. However, the second-floor lounge with several red sofas lined up toward the center was not quiet.

Several eyes were focused on Han Gu-in, who was occupying the innermost seat on the sofa. No, all attention was directed at him.

“I stood in a green field, trampled by the tread of some four-legged animal, either sheep or goat, and looked at the horizon. I waited for her, who was supposed to come beyond the horizon. I lay in the field and meditated, counted the clouds in the sky, and absentmindedly watched ants among the grass. And then the curtain of night fell, and so did my first love. As expected, she did not come. Then I heard the voice of a memory that I had suppressed. ‘Hans, if you remember me, come back to me.’ The night illuminated the once blue field palely.”

“Sigh… … .”

As the story of Han Gu-in’s first love ended, sighs and tears were heard here and there.

He looked around the room, smiling bitterly.

“Yes, this is my first love.”

When he decided to leave Germany, a girl said to him:

If you haven’t changed your mind the next time you come back, come find this field.

However, when the Korean returned to Germany from Korea, he was not familiar with the time difference and calendar calculations, so he got the date wrong by one day.

Han Gu-in returned to the field a day late. The girl had not appeared by night.

“You didn’t know my contact information?”

Jo Jeong-hoon asked desperately, as if he was searching for a happy ending.

“Yes. We saw each other occasionally at school.”

“Didn’t you get a number when you went to Korea?”

“I had no intention of returning to Germany at that time. I wanted to cut off all ties with Germany, even my phone number. All I had left was a verbal promise.”

“Director Han, you idiot… … .”

Seongpil finally shed tears.

I feel like all the love cells I thought were dry have come back to life.

“Even if you say that, I still have something to say… … .”

“Scum, scum, a pathetic bastard… … .”

“… … ?”

Anyway, the girl never showed up.

Maybe he wasn’t there the day before the Korean came. But maybe he did come.

The story of love that couldn’t reach each other came across as so heartbreaking.

“What about asking your school friends?”

“Director Cho, is it really necessary to do that… … .”

“It’s your first love!”

“Yes, it’s my first love. As you know, it’s extremely rare for it to come true. And since it’s been more than ten years, we’re basically strangers. What would I say if we met? ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t go then’ would be the best I could say. Or ‘Where do you work?’ or ‘Are you married?’.”

“… … Ah, it suddenly feels real.”

It felt like hearing the author’s epilogue to a romance novel that ended sadly and touchingly.

Naturally, when you listen to the author’s detailed explanation of the two people’s epilogues, the emotion tends to cool down.

What people want is a romance that can transcend ten years, not a real meeting and having a specific conversation.

In particular, I don’t want to hear it when the protagonist of a romance novel says something like, “That was nothing back then.”

“Then tell me about your second love.”

“Me again?”

Han Gu-in was a natural storyteller.

I can clearly see why the members like Han Gu-in’s lectures.

Seongpil and the others finally heard the third love story and then each went to their rooms.

Even after washing up and lying down on the bed, Seongpil couldn’t get Hanguin’s story out of his mind.

‘It’s probably just a normal love story.’

Could it be a matter of the way of speaking? The love story of Han Gu-in was like a romance novel that would never be found anywhere else in the world.

The story has a perfect development and conclusion, and parts that make people feel sad or happy are inserted appropriately.

‘… Should I tell Director Han to try iTube?’

Even if you put a Korean person’s face as the thumbnail and write ‘Love is painful’ as the title, it seems like you can quickly gather subscribers.

Even in the series where Rika learns Korean history posted on the Girls’ League channel, there are often people who claim to be fans of Han Gu-in.

‘Later, when Garo Enter grows, we will expand our business to MCN… ‘

Okay.

Seongpil threw away his fantasies about the distant future and turned off the lights. Then he lay down comfortably and tried to sleep.

“… … .”

I can’t sleep.

‘What is Ara doing?’

Maybe he’s just searching for Caius in the room.

I couldn’t help but worry about her condition, because she didn’t even come to hear Han Gu-in’s first love story and just stayed locked in her room.

Seongpil thought about contacting her, but decided not to do so because he felt like it would just be irritating her.

Instead, I turned on V Live.

Rika, the live machine of the Girls’ League, was on air. She was communicating with fans in the practice room as the background.

[This time, we are preparing a really, really big event! You can look forward to it!]

‘Advertise that you’re having a concert.’

It’s not something that needs to be hidden, but it’s not pleasant for the planner to have the plan leaked.

The plan is subject to change at any time.

If you say, “We’ll do it at this time!” while getting excited, you might not be able to do it. Then, even though you didn’t tell the exact timing, the agency will get cursed at by the fans.

[Ah, our hiatus is long! I’ll try to come back as soon as possible! I also want to see the people soon! Ah, I’m watching it now! Kiss!]

Seongpil smiled faintly as he saw the lips approaching the screen.

Originally, whenever Rika made a spoiler-like remark, the management team would rush in like emergency personnel to stop her.

But I don’t do that anymore.

Perhaps outside the camera angle, Min Kyung-seop and another manager are sitting there quietly.

[ah.]

Rika’s mouth, which had been speaking like a flowing stream, stopped. It was because she saw a question in the chat window.

[Light Forward: Have you seen the pre-orders for Caius?]

It is not polite to come to an idol’s live and mention another group.

Even mentioning the album’s performance is even more impolite.

If it were normal, Rika would have ignored it, but it seems she couldn’t ignore the word “Caius.”

She opened her mouth and then just read another chat.

[I’m sick of hearing people say there’s a ghost behind me! I can see my screen too!]

On the topic of saying that, Rika glanced back.

Seongpil watched Rika’s live a little more, but then he couldn’t sit still, so he kicked off the blanket and got up.

He left the room and went up to the roof.

I wanted to get some fresh air.

‘Caius grew faster.’

Perhaps it is because of the comeback song ‘Gaia’ which is different from the previous life.

Until the second or third year after their debut, KAIST created songs that were faithful to the grammar of K-pop. After that, they began to adopt pop styles in earnest in order to target the Western market.

Since Asia had already been conquered, they were targeting the West.

‘But Gaia was, well… much more sophisticated and pop-like.’

KS Entertainment’s representative idol group, KAIST.

They once lost their number one spot on the Watermelon charts to Girls’ League’s “Arabesque.”

Considering the fandom of KAIST and KS Entertainment, this should never have happened.

‘Gaia had a hard time appealing to the public in Korea, but was it different overseas?’

In his previous life, Caius, who had focused the group’s early days on Asia, has now started to aim for global success.

‘This is also the future I changed… … right?’

What could have been the trigger?

Anyway, the trigger that Sungpil triggered made Caius even bigger.

And that success is… … .

‘It’s putting a much bigger burden on our children.’

The best idol. That was the name of the obsession that Sungpil had instilled in the members.

Thankfully, the Girls’ League members are truly aiming for the top, so their frustration and disappointment will be much deeper than that of other idols.

‘There will be a limit to how much you can encourage them to become the best idol.’

There are times when even Sungpil can’t be sure of that. For example, right now.

‘At this point, 100,000 pre-orders in one day? Does that make sense? Considering that it’s a full album, it’s really ridiculous… … .’

How long will it take for Girls’ League to build up that kind of fandom?

3rd year since debut? 5th year?

Maybe, it will never be possible.

‘The difference in innate background… ‘

Even if you try to ignore it, you can’t help but be aware of it.

The height of the platform beneath the Girls’ League and Caius’ feet was different from the moment they entered the stadium.

Caius stands much taller.

‘Selling more albums doesn’t mean you’re a better singer. But, yeah… … .’

Isn’t that a really poor excuse for someone whose goal is to create the best idol?

‘Yes, you can.’

What is the difference in background?

The winner in this industry is the one who produces better results. The market will inevitably respond to the better.

Regardless of whether it is from a large company or a small or medium-sized company, the public is enthusiastic about the better side.

Seongpil will make the public excited.

“hmm?”

I opened the rooftop door and there was someone there.

We see Joara’s back. She is leaning her arm on the railing and looking into the distance.

It still stands where Baek Seol-ha used to stand.

“Araya?”

Seongpil’s voice began to tremble on its own.

It reminded me of what happened to Seiko.

A faint smile returned to him.

“Why are you talking like that? Should I do the same as Seiko?”

Although Seiko came to mind, Joara’s remarks were very problematic.

“Should I jump off the roof of a building like Seiko?” was a question that anyone who heard it would find very contemptuous.

The moment when Seongpil was about to scold her immediately.

“Oh, I was wrong. Now that I think about it, I shouldn’t have said that.”

Joara turned around to face Seongpil and apologized faster than him.

Seongpil just watched quietly, then slowly walked over to her side.

“Why are you setting the mood by yourself?”

“It’s tourism.”

“You said you were tired.”

“Sir, it really bothers me when you keep asking me questions like that. People’s minds can change from one thing to another.”

“Seol-ha also saw the night view here like you.”

“What? You two are creating a good atmosphere again, laughing and chatting away?”

Seongpil tried to figure out Joara’s mood. She was probably upset because of what happened with Caius, but she was the same as usual.

Rather, it seemed like he had more free time.

‘Are you making it up on purpose?’

Seongpil chose his words carefully and tried to comfort her.

“I don’t care.”

But before Sungpil could say anything, Joara spoke. It was as if she knew his thoughts completely.

“Caius, is that what you’re trying to say? You’re just being so reserved… .”

“I was going to tell you that short hair doesn’t suit you as much as I thought.”

“What?”

“I guess we only hung out together when we were young. Our days as Leeds are already over.”

“anyhow…….”

Joara shook her head as if she was talking to a child.

“It’s just that she hates losing. No, it’s just that she hates losing.”

It was Joara who used the words child and Rika as synonyms.

If Rika was here, she would have shouted, ‘Atashi (I) am not a child!’

“That’s what you were going to say about Caius, right?”

“… … Oh, right.”

“Adults shouldn’t act like this.”

“I’m so annoyed by the way you talk like you ‘know everything’… … .”

Seongpil doesn’t want to become a person who can be completely understood by others.

I don’t want others to read it.

I don’t want to be tied down by others.

I don’t want to be tied down by Joara…

… … Anyway, that’s it.

“You really don’t care?”

“Well, it would be a lie to say that it’s completely unused. It’s not as bad as it used to be.”

Because it seemed sincere, Seongpil felt relieved.

Joara exuded a sense of leisure.

As his life as an idol grew longer, he seemed to have learned how to manage his own mentality.

Instead of letting your feelings of inferiority burn you, you can let them blow away in the wind.

“It can’t be helped.”

Joara continued the story.

“It’s a natural difference in background.”

“……uh?”

“If it’s natural, then it’s natural, so, well, I can accept it as natural.”

Seongpil was speechless.

I couldn’t even express this feeling myself.

I feel a deep darkness spreading through my chest and into my blood vessels.

‘Ah, that’s it.’

Seongpil felt his father’s feelings. He felt like a father who can do nothing for his child.

Other families’ children enjoy all kinds of luxurious education and play, but due to circumstances, I cannot do the same.

The time has passed where my child would bring up those kinds of people and get angry, and he has come to accept his own situation.

Admit it, I say this.

“I don’t care.”

Because I can’t change it anyway.

A deep sense of helplessness spread throughout Seongpil’s body.

‘What I wished for was… … .’

The image of the members who overcame their inferiority complex that Seongpil hoped for.

‘It wasn’t like this… … .’

“Uh, yeah, I can’t help it… … .”

My throat felt so congested that I felt like I had a bad cold. It was hard to even take a breath.

Seongpil barely managed to finish speaking.

“I guess there’s nothing I can do, okay… … .”

It is natural for idols from large agencies to receive more attention and grow faster than idols from small and medium-sized agencies.

Just as there are many people waiting for products from traditional and huge brands.

Even when new powerhouses emerge to shake up the industry, people remain loyal to traditional brands.

‘Besides, big companies produce results that live up to their reputation.’

When we say that winners become accustomed to winning, we are not simply talking about the sensory aspect.

Winners accumulate know-how by winning.

KS Enter was like that.

They, who started the first generation of idols, of course experienced countless bitter failures. However, because they were ahead of others, they accumulated a lot of success.

‘People believe in its success.’

That’s why the fandom of Kaius grew so quickly. They also showed a performance quality that was enough to make the fandom grow.

‘I can’t help it… … .’

There was not a single lie in Joara’s words.

But Seongpil felt as if his heart was breaking.

I wonder if she has begun to determine her own limits and become accustomed to defeat.

What was even more terrifying was the fact that it was not a problem he could solve.

‘Even if I say something hopeful, Ara will just smile and give an appropriate answer… ‘

Seongpil had read a lot of educational books for Shin A-reum since his 20s. That’s how he was able to understand the current state of Jo A-ra.

There comes a time when children no longer see their parents as Superman.

They say that the moment children realize that their parents are no different from ordinary people, they begin to learn how to adapt to the world.

Because there is no Superman to save you when the world beats you up. You have to learn how to remain calm even when you get hit in the face by a wave.

“Sir, isn’t it incredibly difficult to become a top executive at a small to mid-sized company?”

It was difficult for Seongpil to face Jo Ara.

Creating a trainee is an act of capturing a child and putting him under regulation and control.

Seongpil wanted to at least give the child a dream.

I wish that trainees and idols living under restrictions that would likely drive people crazy could at least dream without limits… … .

“It’s difficult, huh… … .”

The child created a ceiling in the sky of dreams because it was painful to look at the sky that was so high compared to the ground he was standing on.

“But Ara, you guys… … .”

“But it’s not like it doesn’t happen at all.”

Joara cut off Seongpil’s words and came in.

“You said it happened just once.”

It was talking about WTP.

Now, Joara is too big a group to be a model for.

When Sungpil first entered Garo Enter, Hong Gyu-heon said, “I’d be happy if it was just as good as WTP.”

But now, if the Girls’ League becomes as good as WTP, Hong Gyu-heon will do a handstand and clap his feet.

‘A miracle that happened only once in history.’

Seongpil nodded in agreement to Joara’s question.

“mister.”

“huh.”

“Whenever I talk to other idols on TV, there’s something I ask them. It’s, what are their goals? Everyone says, “I want to win first place on a music show, I want to win first place on a chart, I want to win the Daesang.” No, what’s really interesting is… .”

Joara spoke with great interest, as if she were a five-year-old talking about dinosaurs.

“Not a single person has ever said that they will reach the top or become the best as a group. They probably… … think it’s impossible. Being number one on the charts or music shows is much more realistic, so they can do it.”

“Araya, you… … .”

“Yes, I believe you will become the best idol.”

Joara smiled brightly, so Seongpil swallowed his breath and shut his mouth.

The summer night view was so beautiful that it momentarily left her alone in the world.

True value lies in what is invisible to the eye.

A dream was reflected in her eyes. A formless jewel, more beautiful than anything in the world.

“I get really excited whenever other idols say that. Don’t you know how excited I am?”

“Are you excited?”

The jewels in Joara’s eyes shone more brightly.

“Dreaming of being the best. Being able to confidently say that you will be the best. And not taking it for granted that you are the best like Caius. That’s why I’m so grateful to you, sir.”

When I first met him, I thought Sungpil was a person who only talked big about his dreams and told his trainees about unrealistic futures.

It’s like people who mix hallucinogens into their feed to prevent livestock from dying from stress when kept in small pens.

But now I’m grateful to him.

“Thank you, sir. For letting me dream with you.”

Seongpil couldn’t hold back his tears any longer.

What’s really funny is that Seongpil was so moved that he cried while still coming up with an excuse.

‘I guess I’ve become more sensitive as I get older. It was the same when I heard the story about Director Han’s first love earlier.’

Seongpil sniffled and wiped away his tears. There was laughter in his sniffling.

“Oh, what is it?”

Jo Ara raised her voice cheerfully, trying to change the mood in a playful way, perhaps out of consideration for Seongpil.

“I don’t know what to say. Are you in a position to cry, sir? We are the ones who are physically tired.”

“Yeah… … Are you having a hard time practicing… … ?”

“Right. Ah, if the old man wore a suit and danced to the C-Ace, I’d feel better.”

This time, Seongpil couldn’t hold back his laughter instead of tears.

‘You’ve grown so much since you were 18. You even know how to comfort people.’

Yeah, you can’t just keep crying when a child is trying to comfort you.

Seongpil wiped his eyes and answered nonchalantly.

“Don’t do it. You’re saying that you’re falling for me because I’m so cool. Then you’ll be in big trouble.”

“Well, then there’s nothing I can do.”

“Why do you give up so easily? Our Ara, are you finally an adult?”

“If you fall in love, it’s a big deal.”

Joara smiled warmly once again.

“Right, sir?”