Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 350



Only Noblemtl

Episode 350

Shin A-reum’s filming went relatively smoothly. Perhaps because the setting is Korea, the filming crew and supporting actors were familiar with the process and found it easy to film.

‘The atmosphere is definitely better than overseas.’

Just looking at Jo Jeong-hoon, it was clear. He was demonstrating his leadership without reserve.

‘I was using English, which is not very good in foreign countries, and I barely managed to get instructions with the help of a director.’

Since he uses his native language, his abilities are fully utilized. Perhaps, the reason why filming abroad was delayed or slow was because Jo Jung-hoon could not speak Korean.

“You’re a college student?”

“Of course I’m a college student. Otherwise, what would I do?”

Surprisingly, several of Shin A-reum’s high school friends came to help out with this VCR shoot.

They were the ones who played the role of students of the April 19 Revolution in the ‘No’ music video.

Shin A-reum made good use of her break time by expressing her joy at seeing friends she hadn’t seen in a long time.

‘No, when we were filming the music video, dozens of students from Arami’s school came to help.’

Since they were from the same school, the students were happy to help Shin Areum.

But now, more than two years have passed since then, and the number of people gathered has only increased to a few people. Even those who were not close to each other at the time had gathered at the news of idol Shin A-reum’s debut.

This time, only those who were close to Shin Areum were gathered, so it was natural that the number would be small.

“I contacted Yu-Hyeon too, but there was no reply at all. Do you know what he does? Did he go in to study for a year or something?”

“Yoohyun went to the military.”

“ah…….”

At 21, you would normally be old enough to join the military.

Shin A-reum recalled the military story she had heard from Seong-pil, and gave a brief message of comfort and encouragement to Yu-hyeon in her heart…

“Do you happen to know the address of the unit?”

“Why, send me a letter?”

“Oh. Now that we’re on the subject.”

“If an idol sends a letter, won’t things turn around there?”

Shin A-reum got the address of the military unit from a friend who went to the same university as Yu-hyeon and saved it on her phone.

Soon, filming resumed, and the work was completed under Jo Jeong-hun’s disciplined direction.

As soon as Shin A-reum finished filming, she approached Seong-pil.

“I haven’t seen my friends in a while, can I hang out with them?”

“Where is the time to play? I have to go to work and practice.”

Shin A-reum looked around at her 60s school uniform and sighed.

“The other members’ clothes are okay, but mine are not cool.”

“There’s nothing I can do.”

When recreating a historically significant event in Korea, it is not a good idea to reform the costumes in an idolatrous manner.

Especially since it’s a school uniform.

It was the same discussion that took place when there was a ‘no’.

“Team leader, that… … .”

“Ara, I’m sorry, but I’ll go say hello to the director.”

It seemed like Jo Jung-hoon’s team was about to withdraw after finishing directing the staff and actors.

Seongpil ran quickly to Jo Jeonghoon and smiled.

“Director Cho, thank you for your hard work.”

“Oh my, but thank you for understanding.”

Jo Jeong-hoon’s biological rhythm was a mess as he had to adjust to the time differences between different regions for over a week.

That was a problem that Seongpil, Han Guin, and Lee Yui also had in common.

“I think the results came out well.”

“Does it ‘look’ like it came out?”

“It came out well. I’m sure.”

Jo Jeong-hoon wiped his eyes as if he was tired, but then he realized that Seong-pil was in front of him and immediately stopped.

Seongpil raised the corners of his mouth.

“Are you very tired?”

“Uh, yes. I would like to do something to commemorate the end of filming… … .”

Jo Jeong-hoon nodded behind him. His team members were almost like zombies, organizing their equipment.

Team members have also been exhausted physically and mentally while traveling abroad.

“Then we can do it later. We can do it after we finish working on the video. When it’s really all finished.”

“We will send it to you as soon as possible.”

“Do you want to drink quickly?”

“A little?”

The two shook hands with a smile and then turned away coolly.

Seongpil took Shin Areum and headed to the car.

The reason that director Seongpil Lee came to filming today as Shin Areum’s manager was for fairness.

Seongpil accompanied all the other members to their photoshoots, but he felt it would look out of place if he didn’t accompany Shin A-reum to her photoshoot.

‘And Arami will be upset.’

I video chatted with her every day, but there’s no way I could have had a good time without Seongpil.

As soon as Seongpil started driving, Shin A-reum opened her mouth.

“Team Leader, you didn’t forget that promise, did you?”

“You guys are going to your parents’ house? I didn’t forget.”

I will meet Shin A-reum’s mother, spend time with her, and finally give her tickets to the Girls’ League concert.

Showing the mother who raised her daughter alone finally performing at a concert was Sungpil’s goal since his days at Success Entertainment.

“What do you want to eat then… … .”

“Team Leader, there was a time when I was in France with the teacher.”

“Huh? Huh, why is that?”

“I wonder if everything the teacher said was true.”

Seongpil looked at Shin Areum strangely.

“Is it all true? What did Seol-ha say?”

* * *

The day Snow White returned, at the Girls’ League dormitory.

The members all gathered together for dinner for the first time in a long time. Today’s chef was Rika, and the menu was…

“Rika, stop making tonjiru! Why do you keep making us eat Japanese food even when you come all the way to Korea?”

“I used lean meat!”

“That’s not the problem!”

Perhaps because she had been away from Seongpil for so long, Shin A-reum’s voice was thick with hysteria.

Rika flinched and answered cowardly, shrugging her shoulders.

“Ah, Atashi (I) wanted everyone to like Japanese food… … . Ma, because they said it was delicious… … .”

Shin A-reum’s eyes were filled with flames of longing. There was something unfulfilled in her, and that emptiness became the fuel that burned her.

Shin Areum glared at Rika for a long time. Then she finally calmed down and sank into the chair.

“Rika, I’m sorry for yelling. Sisters, I’m sorry.”

“Aren’t you going to apologize to me?”

“what.”

“okay.”

Joara ate the tonjiru made by Rika deliciously.

Shin A-reum took a deep breath and spoke in a voice that was noticeably softer than before.

“Japanese food is delicious. It’s delicious… … I’m really grateful that you often take on cooking duties… … . I want to eat something a little more normal… … .”

“I’m sorry, Beauty… … .”

As Rika apologized, Shin A-reum’s momentum weakened even more. She was slowly starting to come to her senses.

“No, no, I’m sorry. What do you have to be sorry about?”

While watching Shin A-reum and Rika’s apology relay, Jo A-ra thought.

‘Shin A-reum, this girl’s condition is beyond words.’

In the past, when Shin A-reum suddenly showed strange symptoms and came to see Seong-pil, she confessed that she had an illness.

It’s something that can only be resolved if Seongpil calms him down.

Since then, I haven’t felt any symptoms so I thought, ‘Is it better now?’ but it seems not.

‘Isn’t that the kind of girl that would rush at an old man and beat him up if he got a girlfriend? She says she’s wasting your time.’

This time, it was the members who were stealing her time, so nothing happened. If the other person was a woman she didn’t even know, then Shin A-reum might do something.

Joara looked deep in thought with a serious expression on her face.

Meanwhile, Rika and Shin Areum hugged each other and cried.

“… … .”

Among them, Baekseol ate rice crackers. She had thought that dinner tonight would be a celebration of her return, but something was off from the start.

“How was France?”

Jang Ha-yang, who had wiped away Rika and Shin A-reum’s tears, asked Baek Seol-ha softly.

“That’s right. I didn’t listen to what the teacher said.”

Even Joara gave a pat on the back.

Snow White hesitated for a moment whether it was right to tell her story in this situation, but when she saw that everyone was paying attention, she smiled vaguely and opened her mouth.

“Yeah, it was good. The filming went smoothly, so I had a lot of time left for sightseeing… … It was good.”

After finishing her idol activities, Snow White expressed her desire to spend a short time in France.

Rika asked in surprise.

“Was France that great?”

“Yeah. Even just walking down an ordinary street, I feel like I’m the main character in a movie.”

“Was Japan not good?”

“Huh? Japan was nice too.”

“Then why France and not Japan!”

Honestly, I thought that Korea and Japan were similar.

Of course, the urban structures that represented the characteristics of each country were different, but they were basically prosperous Eastern cities.

If I’m going to live, wouldn’t it be better to go to the exotic West?

“Uh, um, I’ll think about Japan too… … .”

“Later, I’ll live with Atashi (me)! Let’s go all over Japan together… … .”

Rika, who was trying to push forward with the member naturalization plan, suddenly stopped talking. She smiled bashfully.

“Living together is a bit much! Let’s live close by!”

“Uh, yeah.”

If that day ever comes, the chances of them living together are very slim. They have been living together for almost three years now.

We know each other’s strengths well, but we also know each other’s weaknesses. Since we’ve already seen everything, it’s inevitable that we’ll be reluctant.

‘But it would have been nice if you had told me to live together.’

Snow White felt a strange bitterness.

“You said you went sightseeing… right? Where did you go? Did Director Park show you around?”

“Yeah. I went to several places.”

“There are many? I’ve only been to the botanical garden.”

“I, I finished filming early… … .”

Snow White slightly moved her body back to avoid Jang Ha-yang who was looking closely at her face.

“Let’s go to the market we used to go to first… … You know that hairpin? That’s where I bought it.”

When Baek Seol-ha went to film ‘Music for Companionship’, Sung-pil came back with hairpins to give to the members.

So each member got a hair pin. Although there are many cases where they don’t wear them at all because they say styling them is difficult.

“There, hehe.”

Snow White smiled happily.

“There was a painter. He painted my portrait.”

“Portrait?”

As far as Jang Ha-yang remembers, when Baek Seol-ha unpacked her luggage, she didn’t see anything like paper.

“Director Park is at home.”

Joara laughed with a tired face.

“Now, you collect priest goods too. Do you keep a portrait of the teacher at home?”

“Ah, no… … It’s because Director Park and I were drawn together… … .”

“You drew it together?”

“Hayang, why do you keep doing that… … .”

Whenever Baek Seol-ha says something, Jang Ha-yang leans towards her as if he is going to eat her.

“So, you two are on the same canvas?”

“Oh, yeah. The artist drew it really well. What’s interesting is that he said I could draw it on a tablet. He said it would be a little cheaper if I drew it on a tablet and he would send it to me by email. So, I drew that portrait… … .”

Seongpil and Baekseol had been sitting together, their shoulders almost touching.

“Later, both of our shoulders were covered in sweat, hehe… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“Why is everyone so quiet all of a sudden?”

“… … No, and then?”

“Ah, next.”

We walked along the Seine River together.

“It was so amazing because there were boats going on the river. And there were so many people in the park. But because I kept going, I sweated so much… … .”

“Did you have a picnic in the park?”

“No, I kept walking because it was a pity.”

Now that I’m in France.

I didn’t want to rest because I was tired, because I didn’t know when I would come back. I walked until I got my money’s worth.

“I feel sorry for Director Park. Well, it’s embarrassing, but I always carried around an electric guitar.”

“Wow, you really seem like someone with artist disease.”

“You’re an artist, right?! You’re a musician?!”

Baek Seol-ha timidly rebelled against Shin A-reum. Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment.

“Yeah… … Actually, I have nothing to say even if I hear that… … .”

Jang Ha-yang lightly hit Shin A-reum on the head. Shin A-reum playfully stroked her own head and stared at Baek Seol-ha, as if to tell her to continue.

“Why are you sorry to the team leader? Because you kept asking me to hang out with you in this hot weather?”

“You listened to my guitar from the beginning.”

I entrusted Sungpil with the weight of over 5kg including the case. If you think about having to carry a 5kg dumbbell on your shoulder all the time, it is definitely not light.

“yes?”

Shin A-reum asked back as if it was strange.

“Teacher, you said in the past that you wouldn’t let someone else play your instrument.”

“uh?”

“That’s right! He said he didn’t want anyone else to play his instrument!”

“Huh?”

“Sister, before, when I told you to do it for me, you waved your hand and said, ‘It’s okay.’”

“That, that’s because Hayang is also holding the bass… … .”

“But you said you left it with the old man?”

We’ve all had the experience of trying to play Baek Seol-ha’s guitar and being rejected at least once.

Every time, Baek Seol-ha refused with the logic that ‘playing my own instrument is part of my artistry.’

That’s because I was really into rock star movies at the time.

“… … Anyway, so what?”

Jang Ha-yang dismissed the words the members were shouting out simultaneously. And she put weight on her voice as if she were a detective.

“continue…….”

“continue?”

“I walked.”

“… …Just walking?”

“huh.”

I remember it took about four hours.

“Four hours just walking?!”

Rika was astonished.

Walking for four hours in that hot weather? I just can’t understand it.

“What did you do while walking?”

“I was just talking.”

“… … .”

Joara opened her mouth to say something, but then just kept her mouth shut.

There was a lot I wanted to say, but I didn’t say it.

Walking for four hours just talking? Is that possible? It is possible. But what would be so much to talk about between Seongpil and Baekseolha…?

“So it was night.”

“Hey, I can’t keep up with the story!”

After shopping for children at the market, painting portraits, and walking along the Seine for four hours, it was night.

The density of events seems disproportionate to the time.

If the other members had that much time, they could have done all sorts of things.

All Baekseol did was just wander around a similar place. It was strange that she kept doing that, and it was strange that Seongpil joined her.

The fact that we were having fun just walking together for a few hours in the first place was… … .

“And sitting by the river… … .”

“What? Did you open some wine together?”

“I busked.”

By chance, there was an indie band nearby with an amp. They recognized Baek Seol-ha’s electric guitar and spoke to her so friendly that it was hard to believe they were meeting her for the first time.

In French.

“It was a crisis! How did you get through it!”

“With a translation app.”

“Smartphones are awesome!”

That’s how the untimely ensemble came about.

Since Baekseolha had been interested in rock music for several months, she was able to sing along with those bands and their famous songs.

And Seongpil danced happily next to me.

Joara spit out the water she was drinking.

“Hey man, this is so dirty I could die.”

“Aren’t you surprised?!”

Jo Ara confessed her grievances to Shin A Reum.

How many times have you asked Sungpil to dance until now, half-jokingly of course?

I really never listened to it.

But you danced in front of Snow White without being asked?

“It’s discrimination!”

“Ah, Ara-chan, follow me… … It might be cute if you follow me? Do it more!”

“It is clear discrimination.”

“This is too much… … .”

It seems like all the stories that needed to be told have come out now.

Since we went for a walk along the river and even busked, it must have been well past 9 PM.

I would have gone back to my lodgings around that time.

“And sitting in the park and drinking wine… … .”

“I can’t listen to it anymore.”

Jang Ha-yang gave a long speech to Baek Seol-ha.

Starting with, “Are you going to work or to play?” and then “How can you only talk about playing from day to night?” (Jang Ha-yang asks).

The other members also joined in and pushed Baek Seol-ha. They were too busy filming to even go on a proper tour, but the leader got angry and asked if it was okay for them to do this.

Leader Baek Seol-ha listened to it.

“lol.”

He laughed loosely.

The corners of her eyes curved with leisure.

‘This is my leadership.’

This is my idolism.

Now I’m used to this role… … .

* * *

“I heard it was almost like a date?”

“Why are you saying that? Areum, when a man and a woman hang out together, is it all a date? Then when you and I hang out together, is it also a date?”

“Don’t use the credit card.”

Shin A-reum again listed the things Seong-pil and Baek Seol-ha had done.

“We went shopping together at a traditional market. We became portrait models together. We walked along the river for hours. We sat by the river and chatted and drank while looking at the night view. No, we were together all day. How is this not a date?”

“Yeah, Arami thinks so. I won’t think so. If I did that with Director Han, would you have called it a date?”

“The course itself is a date.”

Certainly, if Sungpil had followed the same course with Han Guin, it would have looked like a date.

Walking along the river while talking to a Korean for four hours… … .

‘Are we really not on good terms?’

Seongpil became objective about himself once again.

But he has an excuse.

Even in the past, Baek Seol-ha is the member that Seong-pil can be the most friendly with.

Unlike Rika, who would run out of material to talk to after about an hour, I could talk to Baek Seol-ha for hours because our conversational skills matched so well.

In fact, the conversation with Rika doesn’t really stop. However, Rika just keeps talking nonsense even though the codes don’t match.

“If it was going to be like this, I should have set the music video in a foreign country instead of Korea.”

“Oh, do you have any ideas?”

“Cultural Revolution?”

“You’re good at joking too.”

Deng Xiaoping said that Mao Zedong’s merits came first and his faults came second.

One of those excesses was the Cultural Revolution.

It is a revolution, but it doesn’t have a very good meaning. It’s like that in China too, so I wonder what the perception is overseas… … (omitted).

“But I guess it was fun. When you were telling that story, the teacher was so happy he almost died.”

“The Girls’ League doesn’t seem to have much manners towards their leader. Saying things like ‘I’m so happy’… … .”

Well, it was fun.

The foreign countries that Seongpil traveled to for VCR filming.

Of all the tours I took there, the one I remember most is the Paris tour with Baek Seol-ha.

Even Seongpil, who can compare various tourist attractions, is considered the best, so what about Baekseolha?

“Now I’m going to focus completely on the concert… … Oh, did you hear that, Team Leader?”

“what?”

“We were invited to the K-Air showcase.”

* * *

KS Entertainment Management Team 1 was bracing for the impending storm.

No, they were the storm.

‘It’s finally the comeback of Kaius. It’s the comeback with a full album.’

Team leader 1 secretly strengthened his resolve from his seat. Likewise, the morale of his team members was also high.

I felt a growing sense of pressure and mission to make Caius a success.

The management team must prepare a smooth path for K.A.S.

‘I will definitely make it a success. I will make it a success that KS Entertainment will never have again.’

Someone entered the office, where the heavy heat was palpable. As soon as they saw her, the team members stood up and smiled broadly.

“Ginger!”

“Hello, how are you?”

It was the advent of the cute Ginger who received the love of a whole team.

The managers flocked to Ginger and offered him food and drinks as tribute… … .

“Everyone, return to your seats!”

The office regained peace after Team Leader 1’s rebuke. Ginger seemed accustomed to such a reaction, and came to Team Leader 1 without wavering.

“Team leader, how have you been?”

“I saw you an hour ago, so what are you doing?”

When the team leader’s tone of voice sounded cold, the subordinates’ eyes shot out like bullets.

The virtue of a leader is to understand the feelings of his subordinates. Team Leader 1 immediately created a friendly tone and expression.

It wasn’t that I was scared at all and my attitude changed right away.

“Oh, I’ve been doing well. So what’s up?”

“We have a comeback showcase, right?”

This schedule was set the day after the regular album release.

Kaius rents the stage to perform, and leads the stage with talk and song together with the MC.

As the name suggests, the showcase was a place for KARS to introduce their album.

“Can I invite the Girls’ League members?”

“Ginger, the comeback showcase is an important and serious event. In order to increase the concentration of you and the staff, we won’t invite any audience members or even reporters. It will be broadcast live only on the internet. It’s an event where our people work together while swarming around, hoping that you all do well… … .”

You can’t invite outsiders there like it’s a concert. Since they’ve already rehearsed many times, if it’s a rehearsal-like situation, the frequency of mistakes will be much reduced.

“Is that so… … .”

Ginger looked noticeably disappointed.

Team leader 1 continued talking while forcibly ignoring the stares from his team members.

“I know you guys are close with the Girls’ League, but it’s a bit much to invite you to a showcase like this.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Ginger didn’t act like a child and didn’t ask for more even though she knew it wouldn’t work.

Because she respected Team Leader 1, who was in charge of managing Caius, she accepted his judgment without question.

“I’m sorry for asking you to do such a big favor.”

“No. I’m sorry. Let’s invite you to the pre-recording of the music show and show you our stage.”

When Ginger nodded and turned around, a goosebump went down Team Leader 1’s spine.

“Ginger!”

“yes?”

“Are you going to bring Director Jeong Ho-hwan with you this time too?”

“Oh, that’s not it.”

“……okay.”

As Ginger left, Team Leader 1 sighed.

Whenever her requests did not go through, she would call in Director Jeong Ho-hwan and push through her will.

Of course, Team Leader 1 couldn’t say anything.

‘I’m sure Director Jeong would never have agreed to it this time.’

It’s true.

I really would not agree.

Really.

‘As the head of Management Team 1, should I be influenced by other departments? No!’

The management department must maintain its independence. Although Jung Ho-hwan, the director of the production department, is the person who is called KS Entertainment itself, there are clear limits to his authority.

And the management department was one of those limitations.

‘In the past, I was flustered and gave permission without thinking, but now I can’t. Ginger, I’m sorry, but your method won’t work anymore.’

Ginger entered the office with Nam Hong-beom, the managing director.