Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 379



Only Noblemtl

Episode 379

“Aren’t you lazy as a producer?”

During the phone call with Seongpil, Ginger said that.

I thought I threw out a witty remark to the annoying producer who didn’t prepare for the Girls’ League’s comeback this year, and to Sungpil, with whom I can now call without hesitation.

[haha…….]

Seongpil smiled at him.

Until then, there was a smile on Ginger’s face as she talked to him.

But right after that.

[Yes, it was nice talking to you, but I’ll hang up now.]

Seongpil spoke in such a cold and businesslike tone that Ginger felt her heart sink.

“……yes?”

He politely straightened the phone and held it closer to his ear. Was Sungpil talking to someone passing by nearby, or was he joking?

Until then, the corners of Ginger’s mouth were awkwardly turned up.

[Please contact me again later.]

Again, I heard a businesslike answer, devoid of any emotion.

“sleep…….”

The call ended before Ginger could say anything.

She looked at the LCD of the phone that had ended the call. Only her face was reflected on the black screen. And immediately, the words she had thoughtlessly blurted out filled her head.

‘Aren’t you lazy as a producer?’

Lazy.

It was not something one would dare say to a 13-year-old adult. Ginger’s face turned pale as she realized that.

I couldn’t help but think that it was my fault.

Ginger couldn’t see Jo Ara approaching Seongpil, and of course she didn’t know about it.

‘I, I need to apologize. I was wrong… … .’

Ginger’s index finger, which was about to press the call button, stopped.

Can I call you right now? What if he doesn’t answer? Even if he does, what if Sungpil’s tone of voice is as cold as before?

Ginger would frown and try to send a text message instead of calling.

She had been writing sporadically with her poor Korean writing skills, and soon she closed her eyes tightly and erased the entire apology.

‘I can’t apologize with just words… … .’

Ginger stood there alone, unable to find an answer, feeling her heart pounding.

* * *

“Ginger, what’s wrong?”

Even after filming the cosmetics commercial, Ginger’s mood did not seem to improve. Erica asked her worriedly, but Ginger just shook her head.

To Erica, this was no ordinary thing.

‘It’s just like when you first searched your name on the Internet.’

Ginger was shocked when she saw a post that said, “Another fucking bitch? Please go back to your own country, you cockroach.”

It was even more shocking because there were more than one or two.

Ginger cried for a long time in Erica’s arms, asking if she was hated because she was Chinese and should she be hated forever?

‘It’s similar to that time.’

As a leader, I couldn’t overlook the members’ poor condition or mental stress.

“Ginger, if anything is bothering you, let me know.”

As soon as she returned to her room, Erica went to Ginger’s room and said that. She held her hand tightly and gave her warmth.

Ginger at first denied it was anything, but soon her pretty eyes twisted and she said.

“I made a mistake… … .”

“If I leave a stain on the floor while I’m broadcasting my DIY phone case painting in my room, don’t worry about it.”

“I’m not really sorry about that… … .”

“… … .”

“that is…….”

Ginger told me what happened with Seongpil. She hid the fact that the other person was Seongpil.

“I need to contact you and apologize, but I’m so scared. I have no idea what to do… … .”

“hmm.”

Erica smiled warmly and gently stroked Ginger’s hand.

I kept reassuring her that everything would work out okay.

The next day.

“Management Team 1, gather together!”

Team leader 1 called together the managers in charge of KAIST and held them accountable. He asked them how they managed to get Ginger to have a boyfriend.

The managers lowered their heads, sweating profusely. After the scolding, they all ran towards Ginger like soldiers. Team Leader 1 was in the lead.

Team leader 1 stormed into the practice room and looked for Ginger.

“Ginger, come here.”

Ginger found herself facing five or six managers and the team leader in a closed room.

“Ginger, it’s not too late even now. Are you dating? Quickly reveal your relationship. You’re violating the contract. I told you to wait a little longer. I told you that if you waited a year longer, I wouldn’t care what you did. In fact, I told you that we would help you. But I couldn’t stand it any longer, and I lost trust with the company… … .”

“What the heck is this Shaolin… … .”

“Aha, is this how it comes out? Is this how you repay the favor of raising you? Yes, Juliet also abandoned her family’s favor and chose love. But love is nothing in front of the trust of the company.”

“Wow, this is so scary… … .”

“Speak quickly!”

“I don’t know, I don’t know anything… … .”

Ginger didn’t open her mouth even after hours of interrogation. Kim Min-joo also became worried because she was taken away by Team Leader 1 and didn’t come out for a long time.

“Ginger, didn’t you show any such signs?”

“They say that the normally quiet cat is the first to climb into the hut.”

Jin So-yu answered nonchalantly.

“You’ve lost your mind because you got a phone.”

“He’s not that kind of person… … .”

“How long have we been together before you say that? No one knows what’s inside a person.”

“… … .”

Kim Min-ju looked at Jin So-yu’s phone screen over her shoulder.

Jin So-yu was chatting.

[Hayang, how’s the weather in Japan?]

[I heard it snowed in Chiba today. Is it no big deal?]

[I wonder if the Japanese people are being territorial?]

[Hayang, you said you were coming to KS Entertainment to get our album.]

[When will you come?]

[Is it better for me to go?]

[If I go all the way to the company, it looks like it would be better to go to the dorms, right?]

[Hayang-ah.]

[Hayang-ah?]

[You must be very busy.]

[Hayang, but… … .]

Kim Min-ju felt sorry for Jang Ha-yang, whom she barely knew. How could she have gotten caught by a psycho like Jin So-yu…

“Erica.”

Jin So-yu called out to Erica, who was loosening up her body by doing yoga. Erica answered without losing her breath while maintaining a difficult posture.

“Yeah, Soyou, why?”

“What’s the weather like in Chiba in winter?”

“I don’t know.”

“Will it be very cold?”

“I’m from Kyoto.”

“ha…….”

An hour later, Ginger, noticeably thinner, was released from Team Leader 1.

I heard that after eating, he was called to Team Leader 1 again. He might even go to Nam Hong-beom, the managing director.

Ginger came to Erica with an expression on her face that was almost tearful and hugged her.

“Sister Erica, you’re so weird… … .”

“Ginger, how did this happen?”

“I don’t know, I don’t know anything… … I, I don’t date or anything… … I mean, if male idols talk to me, I’ll answer in Chinese, like it’s building the Great Wall of China… … .”

“Thank you for your hard work, Ginger.”

“It’s so unfair, sis… … It’s already hard… … .”

Ginger finally buried her face in Erica’s chest and cried. Erica affectionately stroked her head.

“Yeah, it’s going to be hard for Ginger anyway since she has to apologize to him.”

“I don’t know anymore, why did this happen… … I feel like I’ve entered a period of calamity, I should buy a talisman… … At this rate, I’ll never be able to apologize to Director Park… … .”

“… … .”

Erica continued to stroke Ginger’s head without showing any sign of agitation.

“Wow… … You called Director Park lazy? He’s 13 years older than you.”

“That’s right. That alone makes my head feel like it’s going to burst… … .”

“Oh, it’s okay. It’ll be okay. Sister will help you.”

After the meal, Team Leader 1 came to Ginger and apologized.

“Ginger, I’m sorry. I got you mixed up with the other kids.”

“… … Right now, the only person banned from dating is KS Entertainment’s KAUS.”

“Oh, among the trainees.”

“Are you confusing the trainee with KAIST?”

“… … .”

“Team Leader, is that why you locked me in a room for 3 hours and tortured me like that? Team Leader, are you taking vitamins? Have you lost a lot of brain cells? What are you going to do with my time? If I just went out on the street and busked, I could easily make 1 million won an hour.”

“……sorry.”

“It’s not something that can be solved with just apologies—!”

“Ginger.”

Erica intervened between Ginger and Team Leader 1.

“Enough. Stop it.”

Ginger was dragged away in Erica’s arms, shedding tears and venting her anger at the team leader.

“I curse you! I curse Team Leader 1! Did you say such harsh words to me because of a misunderstanding and without even looking into it properly? Is it because I’m Chinese? What do you think of me as? What do you think of me as!”

“Ginger, I understand. You’ve worked hard.”

“Sister Erica, I feel so wronged! I feel so wronged… …!”

“I know how you feel. You’ve worked hard.”

Ginger cried into Erica’s arms.

Anyway, the storm passed and the next day, Ginger got a lot of advice from Erica.

“I’ll go and apologize in person.”

Erica gave Ginger a paper bag. It was a gift of apples that Erica had personally selected and bought.

“I, I feel so bad receiving this from you… … . It’s my job, but you’re spending money on it… … .”

“No. We’re a group. I hope Ginger quickly reconciles with Director Park and feels better.”

“Sister… … . After all, the only ones I can trust are you and the juicy and beautiful Vitamin Minju from K-Us… … .”

“I am?”

To Jin So-yu’s question, Ginger briefly replied, “I like you too, So-yu.”

Erica carefully inspected Ginger’s outfit like a mother would.

The fur hat on his head was pulled down tightly to cover his ears, and his collar was fastened tightly to prevent it from fraying in the wind. His scarf was also tied in a pretty knot.

Erica stroked Ginger’s head with a loving smile.

“You’re beautiful, our Ginger. Do your best.”

“Okay, I’ll be back soon!”

Ginger left the office curiously.

Erica waved her hand and saw Ginger off. Jin So-yu, who was standing next to her, spoke curtly.

“Erika, they say people in Kyoto are two-faced. Is that true?”

“That is prejudice and a remark that promotes regionalism. It is the same as talking about Gyeongsang-do and Jeolla-do in Korea.”

“I was just asking. I won’t do it again.”

* * *

“I’m sorry, Director Park. I’m so embarrassed… … .”

“what…….”

Seongpil looked back. Jeong Ji-eum and Lee Jae-ho were still watching.

“Let’s not go here. Let’s walk.”

Seongpil walked Ginger to the parking lot. Then he came near the car and asked again.

“What is it?”

Seongpil asked because he really didn’t know. He couldn’t think of anything Ginger should apologize for.

But Ginger took it differently.

It sounded like, ‘Do you know what you did wrong?’ Ginger answered awkwardly, hugging the paper bag containing the gift tighter.

“I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. You’re much older than me… … .”

“It’s not that much… … No, what is it?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. You’re, you’re quite old… … .”

“I guess that’s fine. I don’t understand why you’re apologizing.”

Seongpil checked his watch anxiously. He kept stamping his feet impatiently, worried that he might be late for his appointment with Kim Taehoon.

Ginger was even more shocked.

Seongpil is very impatient and can’t calm down, saying, “I guess that’s okay” and “I don’t understand why you’re apologizing.”

When Ginger saw that, she forgot all the words she had prepared and her hair turned white.

It seems like Seongpil has no intention of accepting the apology.

“Apples, apples, the gift of apples… … Immi… … .”

“So what… … .”

Seongpil stopped asking the reason and accepted Ginger’s gift.

“I’m sorry, Ginger, but I’m busy so I’ll have to wait until later… … .”

“It’s a perfume!”

When Seongpil tried to get away, Ginger raised her voice so as not to miss this opportunity.

“I thought it would be a perfect gift for Director Park, who is a smoker… I, I prepared it!”

“Thank you. But I quit smoking.”

“Huh?! Ah, uh, I’ll change it!”

“No, thank you. No, but really… … .”

Seongpil checked his wristwatch in an urgent manner and looked at the girl standing in front of him with a desperate expression.

Seongpil’s face was also filled with despair. He wanted to hear the whole story, but now there was really nothing he could do.

Seongpil tapped Ginger on the shoulder and turned halfway toward the car.

“I’ll hear more about this later. I’m really sorry. I’ll go… … .”

“Director Park!”

At that moment, a man hiding between the cars in the parking lot appeared. It was Shin Tae-woong from KS Entertainment’s new talent development department.

“New Trainer?!”

When Joara went to America to learn dance, she was an employee of KS Entertainment who accompanied Ginger.

Seongpil became acquainted with him as he toured various places in San Francisco.

Shin Tae-woong approached Seong-pil and grabbed his collar.

“It was something a child did without knowing. Please be a little more lenient when a child does this.”

“So what?!”

Seongpil couldn’t stand it any longer when Shin Taewoong physically restrained him. He roughly shook off the collar of his shirt that he had grabbed and turned toward the car.

“Director Park, why did I make such a big mistake?”

Now even Ginger grabbed the hem of Seongpil’s coat. When Seongpil turned around as if he was almost about to cry, Ginger was holding onto the hem of his coat and planting her feet firmly on the ground.

“Oh, that is a big mistake! It is a big mistake to dare to go against the way of Confucius!”

“No, really, I’m okay! I’m really, really okay! So please, let me go!”

“You’re not planning on just going like this and never seeing me again, are you? Just talk to me for a moment! I really was wrong! I’ll do anything, so just talk to me for a moment!”

“I’ll ask you something too!”

Shin Tae-woong joined forces with Ginger to grab Sung-pil. He went one step further and made him kneel down. No matter how much Sung-pil pushed forward, he couldn’t move forward.

“Even if it’s for the sake of San Francisco!”

“I told you I forgave you all?!”

“Don’t lie! He who has forgiven does not get angry!”

“That’s right, Director Park! Please give me just one more chance, even if it’s just for the sake of Kevin!”

“Who is Kevin again!”

“Ara, that’s the American who was your interpreter!”

“Do you remember well? No, I’m really, really done with, I have a promise, promise! If you keep doing this, I’ll get really angry?!”

“Director Park, should I kneel down? Would you feel better if I kneel down?”

“You don’t have to kneel!”

There were those who watched the farce.

It was Hong Gyu-heon who came out after hearing the report from Jeong Ji-eum and Lee Jae-ho. She stared at the three people arguing in the parking lot far away.

“……president.”

“Oh, PD Jeong.”

“That, even with my limited imagination, no matter how much I think about it… … .”

“hmm.”

A man who appears to be an employee of KS Entertainment and Ginger from Kaius are clinging to Seongpil.

The man knelt down, and Ginger slowly lowered her body, ready to kneel down at any moment.

Seongpil was looking at the two of them with an awkward look.

“Seongpil hyung was always depressed, no way… … .”

It was an assumption that Jung Ji-eum could not help but think of. He had once received an offer from Jung Ho-hwan to join KS Entertainment.

A&R team member Lee Jae-ho said timidly.

“But, I think it’s too much to come all the way to the company and recruit the producer, who is the company’s central figure… .”

“Director Jeong Ho-hwan even came into the company and told me to come to him.”

“ah…….”

Lee Jae-ho was horrified by the ruthlessness of the entertainment industry.

The three of them watched the brain drain that was taking place in the parking lot.

Jung Ji-eum asked in a voice that was noticeably colder than before.

“Boss, what are you going to do?”

“… … I need to think about it.”

* * *

Kim Tae-hoon was waiting at a cafe as Seong-pil requested.

There were so many people that it was dizzying, and of course the noise created by people’s conversations was also loud.

Kim Tae-hoon sat by the window and checked his watch frequently. Even though 30 minutes had passed since the appointment time, Seong-pil had not arrived.

I ordered another cup of coffee and waited leisurely.

“oh.”

It was snowing outside the window.

‘Is the snow coming a little early this year?’

Maybe it will be a white Christmas.

About ten minutes later, the cafe door opened roughly. It was Seongpil who came in.

Seongpil absentmindedly brushed the snow off his shoulders and head while rubbing his tired eyes. He wiped the snow off the soles of his shoes on the carpet and looked around.

Kim Tae-hoon and Seong-pil’s eyes met.

Seongpil didn’t go straight to his seat but ordered a drink at the counter. He waited for his drink to arrive, and only then did he come to Kim Taehoon’s seat.

“Sorry I’m late.”

“no.”

Kim Tae-hoon checked his watch.

“It’s only been 45 minutes.”

“… … Phew.”

Although he really didn’t want to say that to him, Seongpil nodded.

“I’m really sorry.”

“I said it’s okay. Come on, sit down. Is it cold outside?”

The two men met for the first time in four years. They observed each other closely.

Kim Tae-hoon noticed that Seong-pil had matured more than before. The four years of experience were clearly written on Seong-pil’s face.

It wasn’t about wrinkles or skin elasticity. The experiences that Sungpil had gone through were engraved on his face, giving him a more human and thicker aura than before.

“It’s changed a lot.”

“You too, brother.”

“It’s been a while since we last met, so don’t you feel sad that there’s no alcohol?”

“I don’t feel like drinking with my brother.”

“Yeah. I was thinking of a Chinese restaurant. You like Baekju, right? I was going to order all the things you wanted to eat.”

“What makes me pretty?”

“Right. You’re not the pretty or cute type.”

“Let’s stop joking. Why did you call me?”

“Do you want to come back to Success Entertainment?”

Seongpil frowned. He took a deep breath through his nose and exhaled deeply through his mouth.

“You want me to come back to Success Entertainment? You said you wanted to know what was on your mind when you saw me. Regrets and things like that.”

“That too. This is the main point. If you had told me first, I would have said you wouldn’t come.”

“Does Sangyeol know about this too?”

“I don’t know.”

“What if I tell you?”

“You’re not going to tell me.”

“That’s right. I’m not that kind of person.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“If Sangyeol is here, how are you going to bring him to Success Entertainment? Aren’t you going to ask that?”

“I don’t need to ask since I’m not going. Now that the main topic is over, is it my turn?”

“……okay.”

Seongpil barely managed to spit out the words that had been weighing heavily on his chest.

“What the hell is going on in the Globe? Or do you know anything about it?”

“I know, then. Even though Success Enter has grown, it’s because it’s Globe. It’s not a label under Success Enter, but a group created directly by Success Enter.”

Kim Tae-hoon said, adjusting his collar for no reason.

“Of course I know.”

“What is Sangyeol doing? Are you really making the kids swear at you and hit their heads?”

The worst thing Seongpil could think of was hitting.

It is naive to think that the bullying within companies that has been a constant presence in the news since the creation of the Republic of Korea would not only target idols from entertainment companies.

Even idols have no choice but to eventually become worthless before they can create meaningful value.

Idols who grow up like flowers under the management of a management company and are ignorant of the ways of the world are even more vulnerable to bullying.

“He wasn’t that kind of person.”

“It was like that until you left. Swearing… … Actually, Sangyeol doesn’t swear. He doesn’t punish you either. Of course, he doesn’t hit you either.”

“sure?”

“It’s just words. As you know, people get hurt a lot by mere words. It’s even worse for trainees who belong to a company. In a normal company, if you hear from your boss, or even your colleagues, ‘Why can’t you do your job?’, you want to die… … .”

If the producer, who should be the spiritual pillar of the idol, keeps saying things like, “Why is this all you can do?”, how would the idol feel?

“Sometimes, you see stories about elite athletes on the news. Their coaches curse and punish them. Then, when it becomes a problem, they say, ‘I did it to help you win the gold medal.’ There are actually cases where they did well. In my opinion, Sangyeol is one of those cases.”

Globe is actually seeing success under Yoon Sang-yeol.

Then isn’t his method right?

This is a situation where a coach who has become a problem in society says, “I helped you win the gold medal. Didn’t the people also like it when Korea won the gold medal? But now you’re telling me?”

“then…….”

Seongpil’s voice trembled with anger. Yang Somin and Wi Sera came to mind.

“Hyung, just leave it alone?”

“What if Sangyeol gets angry again after saying something? He’s a capable person. He just has a bad personality.”

“What don’t people around you say?”

“There’s no one else who can do it. There was no one else but you. Everyone else is short on time. There’s no one with the same level of ability as Sangyeol. Do you know what kind of person Sangyeol is? As a general producer, he manages more than ten groups and artists. He’s not a real person.”

“Hyung Sangyeol right now.”

Seongpil chewed his lips. And finally, he changed his title.

“Are you defending Yoon Sang-yeol?”

Kim Tae-hoon showed no reaction to that.

“I’m defending them. I came to you because I thought that wasn’t good. Since you joined our company… … Please do something about Gloves. They keep catching my eye. They’re the ones we’ve raised as trainees since we were young. Please manage them properly. Like in the old days. Producer Yoon Sang-yeol, Manager Park Sung-pil.”

“… … .”

“That’s not all. I’ll even give you a label. You’ll be the CEO. I’ll give you a lot of support. Seriously. Of course.”

Aren’t you the producer who created the Girls’ League?

“It will be much better than Garo Enter. What do you want me to do, let me take over Garo Enter? If you tell me the share structure, I’ll figure it out. Even if it takes a while. You know the value of this proposal. So I won’t explain it in detail.”

Kim Tae-hoon slightly stepped back, as if to give Sung-pil a place to think.

“brother.”

But Seongpil didn’t need to think about it.

“Yes, Seongpil.”

“I came to Garo Enter and had another dream. Should I tell you?”

“dream?”

“Even if my brother gives me a mountain of gold and silver treasures, I will never give it up. Eventually, everything he has will be mine.”

Kim Tae-hoon laughed bitterly.

“Ah… … Really? When are you going to save up hundreds of billions in cash, Seongpil? For Garo Entertainment to reach that level, it would have to be at the level of the big three entertainment companies… … No. It would have to be at the level of KS Entertainment. Yeah, it really is a dream.”

A phrase used when dreams are vain.

However, Seongpil has achieved his dreams several times.

“Rather than that, shouldn’t we grab what we can now? And don’t you think the Globe kids are stepping on us? My heart still aches so much.”

“Then, you take care of it… …!”

“Team Leader!”

Seongpil stopped dead in his tracks.

Kim Tae-hoon waved his hand with a friendly smile.

Seongpil stiffly turned his head back.

There was Yang So-min, who had just come running and whose face was flushed red. She smiled shyly while straightening her bangs that had been blown by the wind.

“Ah, oh, sorry. Practice finished late. Team leader, oh, hello. It’s been a while, uh, how have you been… …?”

Seongpil turned his head again and looked at Kim Taehoon. Kim Taehoon smiled affectionately, just like he did to Yang Somin.

“You said you wanted to hear what the kids had to say. Listen to it yourself.”