Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 377



Only Noblemtl

Episode 377

“There is nothing I have said to Seiko that I did not mean. There is not a single word I said to save face for the moment.”

The reason Sungpil rejected Seiko’s confession was because of the Girls’ League.

While he was in charge of them, Sungpil wouldn’t be able to devote his heart and energy to love. In that state, it would be rude to date someone.

So I declined.

“So, I will protect you.”

It was all sincere.

Seongpil had no intention of doing anything that would make his words meaningless. Of course, he couldn’t be completely consistent with his words and actions, but he wanted to do as much as he could.

“I understand that Seiko was upset. But now that it has been revealed that it was a misunderstanding, I hope that something like this will not happen again. Above all, you should never pour coffee or other things on people.”

“yes yes…….”

Seiko nodded vigorously.

‘The story went completely differently from what I had initially planned.’

Contrary to Misato’s request to scold Seiko harshly, Seongpil ended up rewarding Seiko instead.

‘No, what kind of reward is that?’

I don’t think Seiko would really wait five years. What kind of person would endure such pain?

‘I’m just trying to keep my word. I’m trying to keep my decision when I rejected Seiko-san’s feelings.’

Seongpil will continue to be with the Girls’ League until they reach the top.

I had that resolution originally, and the promise I just made was merely a verbal expression of that resolution.

‘Hey guys, did you see that?’

I had no intention of sharing such an intimate story in front of the members.

However, the Girls’ League had already guessed about the relationship between Seongpil and Seiko, and Seiko didn’t really care about being in the same position as them.

‘Have you seen my heart clearly?’

Seongpil deliberately looked only at Seiko. He didn’t want to ruin this wonderful atmosphere by looking away to see the reactions of the Girls’ League standing behind him.

Show only sincerity.

Seongpil hoped that the girls would know that he was so sincere to the Girls’ League.

‘I hope you all will be as strong as I am as a producer.’

I hope this feeling can reach them… … .

“What the hell are you talking about!”

Joara immediately refuted.

He wrote in Korean, either because he was excited or because he didn’t want Seiko to hear it.

It was so loud that even Sungpil was startled and had no choice but to turn around. Jo Ara used all her might to convince Sungpil that his decision was foolish.

“Are you going to throw away your flowery youth (33 years old)? And then when it’s all withered away (38 years old), you’re going to hurriedly join a matchmaking agency and get married to a company employee, civil servant, or unemployed person of a similar age who you don’t really get along with and have children and live a normal life?!”

“You’re being too harsh… … .”

“How could that guy make such a promise!”

“It’s partly because of Seiko, but I’m on your side… … .”

“Who would want something like that!”

Seongpil felt as if his heart was being torn apart.

His determination and feelings were not conveyed at all.

‘I, I care about you too much and I don’t even want to date… … . I think of you this much… … .’

Seongpil was enveloped in sadness because their hearts couldn’t communicate with each other.

‘And then everything withers away… … .’

Seongpil looked at Joara with a mysterious expression.

‘You did that to me when I was so withered away… …?’

“What? What are you looking at?”

“no…….”

“Teacher, please say something too.”

Snow White was holding her head in her hands.

“Did I just lose my mind? I can’t follow the story. Why, why is Director Park saying this? I don’t understand anything… … . Someone, please translate it for me… … .”

Snow White is broken.

“Hey, Shin A-reum, what about you? Your father said he would throw away his youth because of that woman.”

“Ugh… … .”

“What is it? Why are you doing that again?”

“Um… … uh… … .”

Shin A-reum was calculating.

She used to imagine with anxiety a future in which Seongpil would one day get married.

If that happened, Sungpil would never come to Shin Areum’s hometown again, and of course their current relationship wouldn’t be maintained, and in any case, things would be a mess in many ways.

‘… … Wouldn’t 5 years be beneficial to me?’

Calculation complete.

“I will respect the team leader’s decision.”

“What?! You’re saying something like that after seeing this scene of human rights violations? Huh?”

“Deprivation of human rights is the fact that we are banned from dating.”

“So you’re saying that you’ll be treated like that too! For five years!”

“Why are you so excited?”

“Do you look excited?”

Clap clap clap clap.

All eyes were drawn to the source of the applause.

Jang Ha-yang was clapping like a seal while shedding tears of emotion.

“I definitely received Director Park’s heart.”

“Hayang… … .”

Jang Ha-yang slowly lifted Seong-pil’s arm and held his hand tightly.

“We will definitely become the best idols. Until then, let’s work hard together. Definitely. Without looking away. Until the day when we become the best idols, definitely.”

“You understood my heart… … . Haha, tears are falling… … .”

Joara staggered, holding the back of her neck.

Now, the only hope left was Rika. Although she showed a somewhat lacking attitude, Rika boasted of vast knowledge to the point of being called Han Gu-in’s best disciple.

She would know.

“… … .”

Rika remained silent, deep in thought. A tingling sensation ran down Joara’s back as she saw her.

There’s something different about Rika now. Was Rika a child who could make such a serious expression?

Joara felt an unconscious fear, as if the dark side of the moon was rising in the night sky.

“Hey, hey Rika, what’s wrong?”

“… … .”

“Rica?”

“Is that so?”

“… … ?”

I guess so.

“Director Paku.”

Seiko called Seongpil with a frightened expression.

“What is everyone saying?”

“well.”

It’s difficult to express in one word.

Although the story turned out differently than expected, Seongpil tried to end it on a warm note.

“Guys, anyway, that’s how it is. Let’s continue to do better in the future. Seiko-san, you shouldn’t throw things like coffee on people. Do you understand?”

“I will try to do better in the future as well!”

Joara is sharp today.

So, Sungpil spent that day feeling slightly depressed. He was extremely sad that his sincere determination did not reach the members.

But it worked for one person.

“Director Park, please continue to take care of me. I will work harder. Let’s definitely reach the top together.”

“Thank you, Hayang. Really… … .”

Seongpil took comfort in the fact that his feelings had at least reached Jang Ha-yang.

Jang Ha-yang showed a bright smile to Sung-pil, who was touched. It was a smile filled with a pure sense of accomplishment, just like when she achieved first place on a music show.

* * *

The Girls’ League’s second Japanese concert was held at Zepp in Chiba, east of Tokyo.

Since it was not too far from Tokyo, the Girls’ League was able to perform in conditions similar to those in Tokyo.

But the next destination was different.

‘Is it Nagoya?’

Joara searched for Nagoya’s location on the Internet.

‘Hey, it’s about the same distance from Seoul to Busan. It takes quite a while even by Shinkansen.’

Then, it will take about 3 hours for a round trip, so it may put quite a strain on the performance.

Joara walked down the hallway, replaying the concert setlist, which had now become a habit.

The Webex building was always bustling, no matter where you went. It didn’t have the bustle of Garo Enter, but it definitely felt like a big company.

Joara had to walk around, briefly nodding to people every dozen seconds.

And then another person came walking from afar. Joara, who was preparing to greet him, flinched and stopped.

“Ara-chan.”

Otonashi Chinon approached her, waving her hand gently. Joara greeted her with a smile, but before she knew it, her eyes rolled away and she avoided eye contact.

‘Why did I have to run into Chinon unnie…?’

Joara was still embarrassed about bragging about herself to Chinon.

How ridiculous must Chinon have thought Joara was? It must have felt like a painter listening to an elementary school student who had just started learning how to draw at an art school brag.

The difference was that while an elementary school student’s boasting could be accepted as cuteness, Jo Ara’s boasting as an adult could not be.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m just wandering around until practice starts. I’m just taking a break. What about you, sister?”

“cafe.”

“Do you play the piano?”

“Yeah. That’s right, Ara-chan. Are you going to finish your work in Japan soon and go abroad?”

“yes.”

“Why don’t you come to my house before that? I was thinking of treating you to a meal.”

“……why?”

“Why?” Chinon repeated Joara’s words. She hesitated for a moment and then smiled awkwardly.

“It’s okay if you don’t like it.”

“No, it’s not that I don’t like it… … .”

It’s a relationship that has only lasted a few days.

Even with an 11 year age difference, they are almost like the relationship between Seongpil and Jo Ara.

It was certainly not common for someone like that to invite you over for a meal.

“I do that because I want to become friends with Ara-chan.”

“Why are you with me… … .”

Why would Chinon, a great artist, want to become friends with Joara?

Joara couldn’t understand.

I thought maybe he was just saying indirectly that he wanted to show affection for his younger sibling.

“Ara-chan, you showed interest in my performance. I was so happy at that time. To be honest, I was so discouraged because I was playing for a few days without any interest. This is my reward.”

“Thank you… … .”

Joara checked her calendar on her phone and answered absentmindedly, “Okay, okay, I understand.”

Chinon smiled with genuine affection and continued speaking as if a thought had just occurred to him.

“If it’s okay, bring the members too.”

“yes?”

“You are amazing people. I want to meet you.”

The words, “great people,” probably came from Joara’s boast to Chinon.

Joara’s cheeks turned red as memories from before came back to her.

“It’s amazing. But compared to my sister.”

“Compared to me?”

“I heard you won a Grammy. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Grammy? Oh, that’s right.”

Chinon spoke as if Grammy was nothing. That made Joara cringe even more.

Isn’t this the awards ceremony that every musician dreams of?

It was a situation that would not be enough to keep in his heart as a source of pride for the rest of his life, but Chinon said nonchalantly, “That happened too.”

“What’s so great about that? It’s just something given by some association in the US. Selling a few hundred thousand albums is much more impressive than that.”

Chinon continued his praise.

“My last album was ranked 5th on the Oricon chart. It sold a little over 10,000 copies in its first week. If I sold as many copies as Ara-chan, I would have run around the streets naked, screaming. 100,000 copies? That’s incredible.”

How could he give such compliments so casually? Chinon had the power to make his words feel sincere.

As I listened to her story, Joara felt like she had become a truly amazing person.

“I didn’t do it alone.”

“Me too. So don’t be so shy.”

Chinon’s face had also turned red.

“You think I’m some really great person. Don’t be like that, really. So, you’re coming, right?”

This time, Joara nodded her head coolly.

“You were invited by a Grammy-winning pianist. You had to bring all the members.”

“I told you not to… … .”

Chinon waved his hand with a dumbfounded smile.

“Oh, right. And can Senpiru-san come too?”

“Senpiru?”

Who is it?

“Don’t you know? Of course you don’t. You’re a producer.”

“… … Senpiru, Seongpil, sir? Do you know sir?”

“Hey, sir?”

Chinon made a surprised expression.

“Is Senpiru a man? Then am I a woman?”

“No, you’re not an auntie!”

“Then what about Senpiru-san?”

“Mister… … is an uncle… … .”

Chinon nodded darkly.

“Auntie Chinon has prepared a lot of delicious food. Be sure to come… … .”

“I said no! You’re still young and pretty… …!”

Joara had to squeeze out all sorts of compliments in Japanese, which she was not even familiar with, to appease Chinon.

* * *

The Girls’ League’s Japanese concert tour has ended.

The four concerts in Tokyo, Chiba, Nagoya, etc. ended successfully and became a hot topic in the Japanese community.

Among them, the most eye-catching one was the so-called ‘Flying White’.

[When Hayang flew, tears streamed down my face.

└ Did it really fly?

└ It really flew.

└ How did it fly?

└ Because you are an angel, you can fly.

└ Isn’t flying a metaphor?

└ I told you it really flew.

└ So how did it fly?

└ With wings.]

In this way, only the words, “Ha-yang-i flew,” were conveyed through the mouths of the concertgoers. And the audience persistently refused to reveal “how she flew.”

Of course, people who hadn’t seen the concert were crazy curious.

Not knowing whether Jang Ha-yang’s claim that he flew was a joke, an exaggeration, or a metaphor, he just kept repeating the question, “How can a person fly?”

That became a kind of meme, and at some point, the phrase ‘Ha-Yang can fly’ became popular in the idol community.

[So how did it really fly?]

Sungpil was amazed by the incredible unity of the Japanese people. How could no one reveal the details of the concert?

‘Usually, once a concert is held, all the gimmicks are leaked.’

“Hey, look at this. Is this trending?”

Seongpil showed the contents of the phone to Shin Areum. Shin Areum glanced at it and then returned to what she was doing.

Shin Areum was replacing the pages of Seongpil’s notebook. Shin Areum had always given Seongpil notebook pages as birthday presents, but she had not yet replaced the pages that Seongpil had received.

So Shin Areum was taking over for me today.

“Beautiful.”

Seongpil said in an affectionate tone.

“Should I go on the tour anyway?”

“… … No. It’s already been decided. I said it was okay. It’s done.”

Shin A-reum handed Seong-pil the notebook with the replaced pages.

“I’ll use it well next year too.”

“thank you.”

“… …Team Leader.”

“huh.”

“I’m sure there will be more falls like this in the future. The more famous you become, the more likely it is that there will be more falls like this.”

“maybe.”

Shin A-reum had been deliberately avoiding looking at Seong-pil since earlier. She just hung her head diagonally as if there was something on the floor.

“Then you should practice in advance. The team leader also has work to do in Korea. I know we can’t always be together.”

“But this time… … .”

“We’ve been going without you for over a year.”

It was about when Sungpil left Success Entertainment. Sungpil was heartbroken when Shin A-reum said, “I held on.”

“It’s easy for just a dozen days. Instead.”

“instead?”

“When you come back, we should be together more often and more often.”

“I’m going to see you all the time at work anyway.”

“Not at work. Privately.”

“Okay. So are you all relieved now?”

“You weren’t angry?”

“I’m playing.”

Seongpil and Shin Areum looked toward the door. Jo Ara was watching with her arms crossed.

“The two of you should go write your names on the family register or come out and eat something quickly.”

“Team Leader, Jo Ara asked us to get married?”

“Hey, Mr. Hey, put the name above or below, not on the side. As a woman.”

“I can’t believe it, I have a daughter without a spouse… … .”

“no, I do not want?”

“But is it legally possible?”

“You’re really playing.”

Joara left first, as if she was tired.

Seongpil and Shin Areum looked at each other and smiled. Then they headed to the table.

To celebrate the end of the concert in Japan, Sungpil decided to have a meal at the Girls’ League’s dormitory.

Today’s chef was, of course, Rika. And of course, it was Japanese cuisine.

“Enjoy your meal, everyone!”

Rika said proudly.

The meal has begun.

“Director Park, is it delicious?”

“Wow, I get to eat food prepared by an idol. I never imagined a day like this would come.”

“Is it delicious?”

“It looks plausible.”

“Is it not tasty?!”

“delicious.”

“Of course! Director Park, don’t you like Japanese food?”

“No kimchi?”

“This is too much!”

At that time, Joara gathered everyone’s attention and said, “I… ”

“Does everyone have time tomorrow?”

“Wow, Ara-chan made a travel guide? That’s amazing! I want to go! I definitely want to go!”

The Girls’ League was able to spend an entire day traveling around Japan.

Rest is a very important part of the Girls’ League members’ back-to-back concerts. There are three or four such breaks planned for the rest of the tour.

“No, I was invited to dinner by someone… … .”

Joara explained that Otonashi Chinon was a great pianist, and that she had said that she wanted to see the members.

The members who heard that story expressed their discomfort.

It was a long-awaited holiday, so I didn’t want to be invited to a stranger’s house and have a meal.

When Joara’s reaction was lukewarm, he nodded as if he understood. As he was about to focus on eating again, she suddenly asked Sungpil.

“Chinon said she would like you to come too.”

“me?”

Seongpil, who had been secretly expecting it, pointed at himself.

“Yes. But how did you find out, Chinon?”

Joara was not in her right mind when she accepted Chinon’s invitation. This was because Chinon was shocked by Joara calling Sungpil ‘Mister’, and she had to calm her down.

So I couldn’t ask about the relationship between Seongpil and Chinon.

“Oh, that?”

Seongpil explained what happened between Chinon and Seiko.

“That’s why Seiko-senpai… … .”

Baek Seol-ha was convinced. Then Jo Ara poked Baek Seol-ha in the side.

“Teacher, speak as if you understand. In that situation, is it okay to pour coffee on people?”

“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant… … .”

“That’s right, sis.”

“Even Hayang… … .”

“Would you like some coffee?”

“… … ?”

Snow White found it strange, but she didn’t really want to go into the abyss, so she didn’t ask Jang Ha-yang any more questions.

“So what, sir, do you want to go? If you don’t go, I’ll go by myself.”

“Ara, you’re good at using tactics to elicit sympathy.”

“Okay. I’ll enjoy a meal with my older sister who’s staying alone.”

“I’m going too.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah. There’s no particular reason not to go, right? In fact, there are many reasons to go.”

“What? Are you saying that you actually spoke to Chinon because you were interested in her?”

“I was interested.”

“Really?!”

“Her fingers were long, white and pretty.”

Seongpil stared at Baek Seol-ha.

Snow White looked to the side, then back, and then turned her gaze straight ahead again.

Seongpil continued speaking.

“Like when I first saw Seol-ha.”

“Oh, that’s right! When Director Park first saw you, he said something unpleasant about your fingers!”

“To me?! Did you two say something like that after you met, me, me?!”

“Director Park, please explain quickly!”

“Seol-ha’s fingers created the current relationship.”

“You’re not denying it?!”

Snow White observed her hands, sweat dripping down her face. She examined them delicately, like a jeweler, to see if there was anything special about them.

Seongpil looked at Baek Seol-ha as if she was having fun, then said to Rika in a sad tone.

“But Rika, I felt bad back then.”

“Isn’t that obvious! If it’s not offensive to tell a girl you’ve only seen a few times that her fingers are long, pretty, and white, what is? Well, I can think about it, but isn’t it strange to say that to an 18-year-old me! Honestly, I thought you were a little crazy back then!”

“You’ll be the one paying.”

Rika fell from the chair to the floor with a ‘kkieeeek!’ sound from Seongpil’s tickling.

“Anyway, I’ll go too. Since I was invited.”

“Okay, then me and you… … .”

“I want to go too.”

Baek Seol-ha raised her hand timidly. It was a gesture that gave the feeling that she was trying to stretch out her hand for some reason.

“Teacher, you said you weren’t going?”

“Well, come to think of it, I know how to play the piano too. Since you’re such a great pianist, I guess I could learn something from you.”

“Um, okay. Okay, three… … .”

“If the team leader goes, I want to go too.”

“… … Then there are four?”

“If Beauty goes, I want to go too.”

Shin A-reum looked at Jang Ha-yang as if she found him dumbfounded.

“Sister, what do you mean by ‘I’m going’?”

“So, does that mean A-reum is going because Director Park is leaving?”

“I’m with the team leader… … .”

Shin A-reum closed her eyes tightly, as if she was annoyed at having to say something like that, and answered with a look of shame on her face.

“Because I want to stay with you for a long time… … .”

“I want to stay with Arami for a long time too.”

“Do whatever you want, yes… … .”

The last one was Rica.

Everyone looked at Rika, who was sprawled on the floor. She barely managed to come to her senses from the tickling sensation and crawled up onto the table.

“first!”

Rika scolded Shin A-reum and Jo A-ra.

“Who taught me where I get ticklish? I used to be an iron fortress! How come even Director Park knows about it!”

“Do you want to go or not?”

“prong!”

“okay.”

So, all of the Girls’ League members went to Chinon’s house.

* * *

Chinon’s house was located in a quiet neighborhood near Tokyo.

As we walked up the moderately steep road on the well-paved road, there was a nice two-story house with a garden.

As I rang the doorbell, the shiny latticework iron door opened smoothly.

“Wow, you must be making a lot of money.”

Joara was amazed as she crossed the garden that had become bleak because of the winter. She naturally looked at Seongpil.

“Sir, I heard that Chinon doesn’t sell many albums, but she makes this much money. But why don’t we get paid even though we sell hundreds of thousands of albums?”

“Because I embezzled.”

“Wow, I knew it.”

“If you’re going to run away, then run away. I’m going to keep embezzling.”

“Okay. As long as I can achieve my dream, I don’t care about money.”

“Ooh.”

Seongpil and Joara high fived.

“So, why does Chinon have so much money?”

“Um… … First of all, you’re a world-class top pianist. Do you remember what I said before? Where did 70% of the music industry’s profits come from?”

“It’s a performance.”

“That’s right. They do a lot of performances. I don’t know much about classical or jazz, but unlike idols, don’t they go to a lot of performances even if they’re not fans?”

So to speak, the entire genre tends to share an audience.

If we use an idol metaphor, fans have the characteristic of watching all idol performances regardless of whether they are members of KARA or Girls’ League.

“I looked up articles and found out that the most recent Japanese tour was 30 times in a row.”

“30 times? If you do that many times, will people come to see you?”

“I guess you’ll come.”

By the way, Chinon lives in this big house.

The five people knocked on the front door. As if it had been waiting, the door opened and a gentle-looking woman who looked to be in her forties greeted them.

“Welcome. My name is Kobayashi and I help out at Miss Chinon’s house. Come inside.”

The housekeeper, Kobayashi, politely guided the six people.

Living alone in such a big house? How do I manage it? How do I clean it? It was a moment when all those worries were resolved in an instant.

The six of them entered the living room along the wide, long hallway. A truly ‘open-air’ living room welcomed them. The silver-gray interior exuded an antique feel from all sides, and in the center was a luxurious sofa.

“What a coincidence.”

Seiko was sitting there, which was not at all coincidental.

“Director Paku, Girls’ League. Did you finish the concert well? You worked hard… … .”

Seongpil turned around like a ghost and headed towards the front door.

“Are you running away because you saw my face?!”

Seiko, completely different from the momentum with which she had jumped up, approached Seongpil, fidgeting and trying to grab him.

However, going straight was impossible. The Girls’ League was blocking the road to Seongpil, so Seiko had to go around.

Seiko chased after Seongpil, who was running away to the front door while secretly keeping an eye on the Girls’ League.

“I’m not running away! It’s a phone call! It’s a phone call!”

Seongpil, who had already arrived at the front door, shouted so loudly that it could be heard all the way to the living room.

“Excuse me, you said you were calling so I’m not just going to leave?”

“No! I’ll answer the phone and come back!”

Thump. I heard the front door close.

Seiko turned her eyes to the side. The Girls’ League members were looking at her with longing.

“Um, what a coincidence. Oh, oh, rather, I, I want to ask. Why is there a Girls’ League at Chinon’s house?”

“… … .”

“… … No, should I sing a song?”

It was a cowardly attitude that no one in the world had ever seen.

* * *

Seongpil was confused when he faced Seiko. At the same time, he figured out why this had happened.

‘This is the seat that Mr. Chinon made.’

At that moment, the phone vibrated in Seongpil’s arms. Seongpil took out the phone with a practiced gesture and checked the number. He immediately turned around and headed outside.

Seiko misunderstood and said something, but Seongpil answered appropriately and left the house.

‘This is an unsaved number.’

But it was a number that was all too familiar to Seongpil.

I didn’t want the members or Seiko to hear the voice I was talking to.

As soon as he stepped out the door, the winter wind greeted him. After waiting for the deafening wind to pass, Seongpil answered the phone.

“hello.”

[Seongpil?]

“How did you get my number?”

[Just step by step.]

Seongpil let out a long breath through his nose.

“Tae-hoon… … .”

And I habitually used titles I didn’t want to use.

“Taehoon hyung.”

Success Enter CEO, Taehoon Kim.

[Oh, it’s been a while.]