Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 380



Only Noblemtl

Episode 380

Long ago. When Yang So-min was a middle school student and Seong-pil was in his mid-twenties.

Yang So-min remembered every little detail of the past moments that had lasted almost ten years.

“Somin, do you want to play chess with me?”

When Seongpil first said that, Yang Somin was extremely embarrassed.

Yang So-min was not very social, so she couldn’t talk to other trainees. Before her mother came to pick her up, she was sitting in the corner of the practice room, playing with her phone.

But then, all of a sudden, Seongpil came and asked to play chess.

“yes yes?”

Yang So-min covered her old flip phone and shrugged her shoulders like a caterpillar rolling its body.

‘Oh, are you scolding me?’

Until your mother picks you up, you won’t be able to review what you did wrong in practice today, but rather play games on your phone.

I thought that was what Seongpil was saying.

Yang So-min’s heart sank. She lowered her eyes as if it were her habit and her voice trembled.

“I’m sorry… … .”

“Ta-da.”

Seongpil took out the chessboard he had been hiding behind his back. It was a cheap wooden chessboard with an excessively glossy finish.

Yang So-min knew that the chessboard was made in China just by looking at its appearance.

But I guess that was good anyway.

“Do you like chess? I bought one to play with Somin. I went to the board game section of the nearby mart, but they didn’t have it, so I went around to several places and finally bought one.”

Manager of Success Enter.

Seongpil, who always shows a cold and fierce appearance, even bought a chess board to play chess with Yang Somin.

There’s no way I’m getting angry.

“Want to try?”

Yang So-min answered Seong-pil’s question hesitantly.

“yes…….”

Yang So-min somehow became a trainee at Success Entertainment. After finishing school, she came here and did some not-so-fun practice.

He comes without fail even on weekends.

It’s the same everywhere, every day is hell.

But the day that Seongpil suggested we play chess, that day was a little different.

“Ha, okay. Please take care of it… … .”

“You don’t have to be so stiff. You’re just playing. Oh, and I might be good at it. I just looked up chess strategies on the Internet.”

“… … Hehe.”

“Are you laughing?”

“I’m sorry… … .”

Seongpil smiled more friendly than usual.

Yang So-min wasn’t interested in idols. She wasn’t really interested in anything in the world to begin with.

I was a kid whose only joy in life was playing chess with the computer after school using a free chess program downloaded from the Internet.

Yang So-min’s mother was very interested in her daughter.

This became even more so after I confirmed that my daughter’s appearance, now a middle school student, was far more outstanding than that of those around her.

“awesome…….”

One day, Yang So-min’s family was watching television while eating dinner. ‘Music World’ was on.

Yang So-min said that absentmindedly while watching the stage of ‘Darkest’, which is ranked first on a music show.

The mother understood her daughter’s ‘cool’ as ‘being an idol is cool’ and not ‘Darkest is cool’.

He made a big leap of faith, saying that his daughter wants to be an idol and that she has talent for being an idol.

“I can’t do it! I don’t want to go!”

The mother forced her daughter to go to various entertainment agencies and audition.

They even forced me to go to an academy.

From that day on, Yang So-min’s world became closer to hell. There is nothing that torments a human more than spending most of the day on something they don’t want.

“Somin, you can do it. Our daughter, cheer up.”

So Yang So-min ended up going to a lot of auditions. Naturally, the results were not good because she had only recently learned how to dance or sing.

Because she had neither confidence nor individuality, the agencies did not accept Yang So-min.

Yang So-min hated auditions, but being rejected from something was never a pleasant experience. She grew tired, disappointed in herself, and even more disinterested in the world.

In the meantime, Success Entertainment accepted Yang So-min as a trainee.

“Team leader.”

When Yang So-min was a high school student and Seong-pil was approaching 30, the two played chess and talked.

For several years, Seongpil has never been able to beat Yang Somin.

Seongpil moved the queen while groaning.

“huh?”

“Why did you ask me to play chess back then?”

“I don’t know. If I hadn’t done that back then, I wouldn’t have been losing every game like this.”

The knight in Yang So-min’s hand stopped short of eating Seong-pil’s queen.

Yang So-min’s hands trembled slightly, and instead of going the route she originally intended, she went somewhere else…

“Don’t entertain me. It’s obvious you can catch the Queen.”

“… … .”

Yang So-min’s knight ate Seong-pil’s queen.

“Why is my vision so narrow? Calculating the position of the other person’s horse is basic.”

“It’s because you’re overworked. It’s not fun… … Uh, isn’t it? Do something else… … .”

In chess, capturing the queen is tantamount to defeat. There is no chance of winning the middle game or even the end game.

Seongpil declared defeat by taking down his own king.

“Let’s play one more round.”

“… … .”

“Somin-ah. I’ve never won against you, but I don’t think it’s boring or meaningless.”

Seongpil rearranged the pieces on the chessboard.

“I mean, I’ve never really failed to get what I wanted in life. It sounds self-indulgent, but it’s true. I’ve always won. But when it comes to chess… …”

Repeated defeats taught Sungpil to be humble.

Seongpil looked at Yang Somin.

This small girl transforms into a human being thousands of times more powerful than Seongpil on the chessboard. She is a general, a king, and an emperor.

Seongpil learned from watching Yang Somin that humans have potential beyond what is visible.

“I asked you why you wanted to play chess with me. To tell you the truth, it was because I felt bad for you. You were always alone, you got scolded during practice, and you always had a gloomy expression on your face. I wanted to get to know you and play with you so that you would brighten up a little.”

Yang So-min was speechless because the answer was so direct.

“Yeah, I guess it felt like the teachers cared about and cared for the students. But now that I think about it, I think I benefited the most from becoming close with Somin.”

The pieces on the chessboard took their places again. Seongpil looked proudly at the regularly lined up pieces on the board, then raised his gaze to look at Yang Somin.

“I learned a lot from Somin. Thank you. At first, yes, I was a bit arrogant. I thought I should be close to her. But now, I like spending time with Somin like this, and I like seeing Somin brighten up a little bit. Anyway, that’s it.”

“… … .”

“Are you feeling a little offended?”

“no…….”

“I always wanted to say this, and now I’m doing it. I’ll ask you again.”

“yes?”

“On an equal footing.”

Seongpil held out his hand.

“Somin, do you want to play chess with me?”

Seongpil is not treating Yang Somin like a student or a child like before. He is asking her as a human being.

Because I want to continue this time.

Yang So-min also knew that. So, she willingly shook Seong-pil’s hand.

“yes!”

Another round has begun.

As the game approached its midpoint, Yang So-min asked.

“Why did you accept me as a trainee?”

“You asked me everything I was curious about today.”

At that time, Sungpil also attended as an audition judge. And the one who was most active in recruiting Yang Somin was Sungpil.

“Are you asking that now?”

“lol…….”

Actually, I’ve always wanted to ask that question. I just didn’t have the courage to ask.

Yang So-min expected a positive answer. Perhaps she had shown great potential, or had an aura that was incomparable to that of others.

“Well, there was no reason to let it pass.”

“… … .”

Yang So-min furrowed her eyebrows and pouty lips. Seong-pil found it cute.

“I can’t dance. I can’t sing. I don’t even have a personal skill. I was clearly in the lower ranks of the audition participants that day… … In the middle to lower ranks? That’s what it was.”

“But why, why did you accept it… … .”

“I thought you really didn’t want to get dirty.”

“……yes?”

“I have no interest in being an idol and I don’t want to be one, but I was desperate to audition. It’s not like I slacked off on practicing either.”

I thought it was strange.

Why did you try so hard when you didn’t want to? And why did you go all out for an audition?

“You might get hurt, but can I tell you the truth?”

“I’m already hurt… … .”

“I thought, ‘Ah, this kid just does what he’s told to do,’ so I accepted him. Whether he hates idols or not, he’s the kind of kid who works hard when he’s told to do something from above. Honesty is important, right? It’s the greatest virtue for a worker. I tried to train him 365 days a year.”

“This is too much… … .”

Yang So-min wasn’t expecting this answer.

Even if it wasn’t an answer like ‘I felt a great aura or presence,’ I expected something like ‘I liked it.’

But the answer I got back was this… … .

“Well, just kidding.”

“ah…….”

Yang So-min sighed in relief and cleared her chest.

“The training spin thing is a joke. The rest is all serious.”

“… … .”

“Somin works very hard. She has determination. But she was missing one thing. That was all she needed. And I thought I could fill that gap. I thought that if she had that, she would become a perfect idol.”

“… … What is it?”

Seongpil said with a bright smile.

“Somin, what is your goal?”

Yang So-min responded reflexively.

He said the words he had been hearing from Sungpil since he first entered Success Entertainment without a second thought.

“The world’s best idol… … .”

Only then did Yang So-min realize what Seong-pil had said she lacked.

“target…….”

Yang So-min was a child who did everything she was told to do. That’s why she faithfully carried out her mother’s request to become an idol without much resistance.

Although she was in pain, her body was steadily approaching that of an idol.

Seongpil knew how to relieve her suffering, so he accepted Yang Somin and finally relieved her suffering.

“How about it? Isn’t it much better now than when someone forced you to do it?”

“Ha, but I’m not particularly outstanding among the kids… … .”

“If you work hard like Somin, you’ll eventually get there. At least you won’t stop or go backwards.”

“I may or may not be able to debut… … .”

Yang So-min put her hands on her knees and lowered her head. But she glanced up at Seong-pil, expecting him to say, “You can do it.”

Seongpil said awkwardly.

“That’s true.”

“… … .”

“Somin, fighting! Work harder and you’ll be selected for the debut group!”

“… … .”

“Let’s aim for the Globe!”

After about 5 minutes, a merciless checkmate.

Seongpil tasted defeat again.

As such, Yang So-min had many memories with Sung-pil. Perhaps, she might have been the trainee who spent the most time with Sung-pil at Success Entertainment after Shin A-reum.

Seongpil became friends with Yang Somin.

Seongpil gave Yang Somin a goal.

Seongpil gave Yang Somin a dream.

Yang So-min meets Seong-pil like that today.

She left the office with a hurried pace. She forgot that the winter wind was hurting her lungs, and she ran while exhaling white breath regularly.

I ran to the cafe that Kim Tae-hoon told me about.

I went into a cafe.

Kim Tae-hoon waves his hand from the corner seat. And in front of him is the back of Seong-pil.

Yang So-min walked toward him with trembling steps while fixing her bangs.

When they got close enough, Yang So-min called out to him loudly without realizing it. Filled with years of longing and joy.

“Team Leader!”

Kim Tae-hoon said.

‘Somin, is your timing okay?’

He said.

‘I’m going to see Team Leader Park.’

He obviously.

‘I wanted to talk about it.’

I told you.

‘Are you coming back to our company?’

Seongpil turned his head.

To Yang So-min, 33-year-old Seong-pil looked no different than when she first saw him.

Her time is at a standstill, and nothing changes. She has no desire to move forward, so she only looks to the past.

Yang So-min herself is still a student, and Seong-pil is still in his 20s.

I don’t want to move even one step from there.

But maybe we can move forward from today. If only Sungpil could come back.

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

If only Sungpil could return, Yang Somin’s frozen time would melt and begin to move in the spring sunlight.

* * *

Globe is the group name that Sungpil created. It is a name that contains Sungpil and Kim Taehoon’s dream of becoming world-class idols.

Each and every member of the group is a piece of Sungpil’s dream.

Rahee, who replaced Shin A-reum.

Sarah.

Diligence.

Yoohyun.

Noah.

Jiyu.

Somin… … Yang Somin.

One of the pieces of the dream is in front of Seongpil.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

Kim Tae-hoon got up and left. Seong-pil didn’t care where he was going.

His mind was focused solely on Yang So-min. She looked at the table while fiddling with her bangs, perhaps feeling burdened by Seong-pil’s gaze.

“I’m sorry about before. You must have been very surprised when I suddenly came to your house.”

Yang So-min, who tends to stutter when she’s embarrassed or flustered, didn’t stutter at all just now.

I must have replayed in my head hundreds or thousands of times the greeting I would say to Seongpil when I met him.

“Thank goodness. The team leader and the CEO met and talked like this. After the team leader left, the CEO also had a hard time.”

Suddenly, Yang So-min’s words were cut off. She pursed her lips and let out a voice that was more moist than before.

“It was hard for us too… … .”

Us, Globe.

Seongpil thought back to his past life. The days he had spent with Globe flashed through his mind.

The first time they won first place on a music show, they both cried without saying a word.

Seongpil just sat down and started sobbing. The Globe members tried to comfort him. They couldn’t keep crying while watching an adult older than them lying on the floor and sobbing.

Also, it came to mind when album sales surpassed 100,000 for the first time.

Now that they are world class, they don’t know what they will do if they are not treated properly, Globe playfully reached out to Sungpil.

There was even a time when I received the grand prize at an end-of-year popular music awards ceremony.

Seven people held one trophy and reached high into the sky toward the stars.

The company employees borrowed a palanquin and actually carried them around the company. Seongpil was at the front pulling the palanquin.

The Globe members got into the palanquin one by one, cried, laughed, and without exception said, “Thank you.”

And then, in the seventh year, the time came that seemed like their last chance.

Globe was unable to defeat Caius until the very end. The members shed big tears, saying that it was regrettable.

At that time, Yang So-min asked Seong-pil this.

‘Was I lacking something… …?’

Yang So-min asked the same question.

“Was I lacking… …?”

Seongpil suddenly came to his senses.

While reminiscing about the past, I didn’t hear a single word from Yang So-min. But it wasn’t an important story. She just wore a mask made of laughter and said pre-prepared, hypocritical words.

Right now, right now with her sad expression on her face, was Yang So-min’s true feelings.

“Because I am lacking… … .”

Yang So-min wiped her eyes.

“No, I’m sorry. Sera unnie, Sera unnie said that. The team leader went to fulfill his dream. He went to do something that he couldn’t do at Success Entertainment. So, I, I don’t blame you… … .”

Yang So-min swallowed the tears that were slowly leaking out as if she had said something pointless and smiled brightly.

“I know how you feel, Team Leader. But I wish you would come back.”

The fact that he came to see Kim Tae-hoon is probably proof that Seong-pil is wavering.

Yang So-min believed so.

I don’t think there’s a zero chance that Sungpil will return to Success Entertainment. No, I thought it was pretty high.

That makes sense, isn’t it Seongpil?

Since Sungpil has given so much heart to the current Globe members, there’s no way he wouldn’t want to come back.

“Are you… coming… … ?”

Seongpil did not answer.

As time went by, Yang So-min’s face darkened. And then she realized. Realizing it, she decided to do everything she could.

persuasion.

“If you come, I will work harder.”

I know that Seongpil’s ideals are high.

“Until the team leader is satisfied.”

Still, I will try to reach it.

“I still have shortcomings, but I will try harder.”

Much more than now.

“I will become the best in the world… … .”

So please come back.

It’s so hard.

The place I wanted to be as an idol was not a place without a team leader.

please…….

“Somin-ah.”

Finally, Seongpil opened his mouth. As soon as she heard his voice, Yang Somin guessed what he was thinking.

I couldn’t hold back my sobs any longer.

It was even sadder than I expected.

“Why did you only take Arami… … ?”

Seongpil’s mouth, which was about to speak, was tightly shut.

“If you had told me, I would have gone.”

I know I’m not as good as Shin A-reum. But I still hoped Sung-pil would sing it. I expected him to sing it.

But in the end, there was only one star piece that Sungpil took with him. The best trainee at Success Entertainment who would become the leader of Globe.

“I must have gone… … .”

Yang So-min clenched her fists on her knees and held back tears as she squeezed her eyes shut.

Her closed eyelids revealed the darkness. Using it as a screen, memories of the past came flooding back.

When I went to Seongpil’s house, photos were continuously uploaded to his tablet, which was linked to his cell phone.

It was a photo of the company outing taken by Seongpil.

There were many happy faces of Shin A-reum in those photos.

Yang So-min kept thinking. It could have been her, not Shin A-reum, who was there.

But in the end, this is what it looks like.

“Nothing has changed since the old days… … .”

Nothing has changed since her mother pushed her to become an idol. Yang So-min is still lonely, in pain, and oppressed.

“I, I am so… … .”

Yang So-min said while sobbing.

“I feel so sorry for myself… … . If only I had been as good as Arami… … .”

“Somin-ah.”

Seongpil grabbed Yang Somin’s shoulder and stopped her from shaking. She looked at Seongpil with her face covered in tears.

“I will succeed. I will succeed as a girl’s league.”

Seongpil spoke expressionlessly and intermittently. His mechanical tone suggested that he was holding back some emotion.

“So, I’m going to make a lot of money and buy shares in Success Entertainment. I’m going to continue to accumulate shares and put our people on the board of directors of Success Entertainment. I’m going to keep increasing the number of directors and change the CEO.”

A tremble entered Seongpil’s voice. What was contained there was self-loathing.

It’s so disgusting that this is all I can say to Yang So-min, who is suffering so much.

“I will instruct the new CEO. Sell Success Entertainment. Then we will buy it. We, Garo Entertainment. Then, Somin, let’s meet then. Let’s be together then. Let’s see the world together and move forward like we used to.”

So, Somin.

“I’m not going to Success Enter.”

Seongpil stopped talking.

He was afraid. He didn’t know how Yang So-min would take these words.

But I had to do it.

I asked her, human to human.

“Somin, can you wait?”

Yang So-min’s sobbing subsided. She let out a short laugh and smiled over her tears.

“Team Leader, I thought my dream was to be the world’s best idol. I was wrong.”

Yang So-min continued speaking, sobbing.

“I guess my dream was with the team leader. I guess I was borrowing the team leader’s dream… … .”

Her face, which had been smiling, became frowning. She gently shook off Seongpil’s hand on her shoulder and said.

“Team Leader, I hate idols… … .”

Seongpil froze in place.

I froze like someone who had looked into Medusa’s eyes. I couldn’t say or do anything.

Seongpil couldn’t do anything about the idol who said, “I hate idols.”

“I really hate idols… … .”

This time, Seongpil really wanted to cry.

The fragment of the star was hating the fact that it was a star. The light was fading.

At that moment, Yang So-min reached out her hand.

“That’s why I don’t want to run away. I don’t want to run away from an idol I really hate. Because I hate them, I want to win.”

As Seongpil remained still, Yang So-min got up and grabbed his hand.

She made a motion to shake his hand by feeling his hand here and there. She shook his hand and he did.

“I’ll wait.”

Yang So-min smiled brightly with a face soaked with tears.

“You shouldn’t be too late.”

He smiled brightly.

“Director Park.”

* * *

It’s past 9 at night.

The Globe members were sitting in the practice room taking a break. At that moment, the practice room door opened and Yang So-min came in, her shoulders and head hit with snow.

Jeongjin, who had been lying on the floor, got up in an instant with a kick up.

“Somin, do you know what that bastard Yoon Sangyeol just said… … .”

Yang So-min ignored Jeong-jin and went into the locker room. Jeong-jin blankly stared at the place where she had entered.

“He’s starting to resemble Yoon Sang-yeol.”

“Ahaha! That’s so insulting!”

Noah laughed loudly for a second and then suddenly became serious. I don’t know what happened, but he’s been acting like that a lot lately while practicing his emotions.

“Are you really going to act? Seriously?”

When Yu-Hyeon asked Noah, Noah made a Japanese-style ‘eh’ sound. She tilted her head a few times and proudly beat her chest.

“I’m not serious, but I’m acting! If I succeed as an actor, I won’t have to worry about Mr. Yoon going crazy!”

“Why isn’t my Korean improving?”

“Why isn’t Somin coming out?”

Jiyu said while looking at the changing room.

“I want to hear the story of how you met Seongpil oppa.”

“Real ohm? Is the real team leader coming!”

“I miss you, oppa.”

Wise-ra, who had been anxiously looking at the locker room, got up, unable to wait. She knocked on the locker room door and called Yang So-min.

“Somin, are you okay? Today… … .”

Yang So-min came out of the locker room.

She was dressed in training clothes for practice. She tied her hair up with a band and walked to the center of the practice room.

Six members looked at her.

“When do you all practice?”

“Hmm.”

Leader Rahee slowly got up as if her body was heavy. As she got up and shook her butt, they got up one by one.

“Since Somin is here too, let’s get started. What do you think, ladies?”

“Yeah, you got a lot of rest.”

“Practice until 12 is so hard! I miss home!”

When Rahee nodded, everyone formed a formation. At that moment, Rahee looked at Yang So-min’s expression reflected in the mirror and turned around.

“Let’s all shout out our slogans before we start. We’ll be checking the details carefully, so let’s get our spirits up.”

Rahee stretched out her hand forward.

Some looked embarrassed, but they respected the leader’s suggestion.

“Somin-ah?”

Yang So-min looked at the six overlapping hands. After looking at them, she slowly placed the hand on top.

Globe looked at the hands gathered in the center and said at the same time.

The slogan that Seongpil thought of.

“We are the world!”

Seven hands stretched high into the sky.

“Globe!”

Seven girls who will become the world.

* * *

In the place where Yang So-min left, Seong-pil and Kim Tae-hoon met again.

Seongpil expressed his will clearly.

Kim Tae-hoon felt regretful.

“Think about it for a few more days. As you’ll find out after talking to Somin, the kids miss you a lot. You’ll be sad too. It won’t be easy to make a decision since you’ve already achieved something… … .”

“Representative.”

Kim Tae-hoon paused.

“… … What? Sir, me?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Are you distancing yourself by using titles?”

“Of course. We’re strangers now. How could I speak rudely to the CEO of Success Entertainment?”

Kim Tae-hoon looked at Seong-pil with a look of pity.

“That’s too bad.”

“Mr. Kim, can you please convey a message to producer Yoon Sang-yeol?”

“What is it?”

Seongpil smiled faintly and shook his head.

“No, I think this applies to both you and PD Yoon. Take some time to explore travel destinations or expand your hobbies. So that your life doesn’t get boring.”

Kim Tae-hoon waited for Seong-pil’s next words, not understanding what he was saying.

Seongpil said lightly.

“Both of you will be unemployed within five years.”

Didn’t Yoon Sang-yeol say that he left KS Entertainment on his own?

This time, those excuses won’t work.

“Because I’ll kick you out.”

“……under.”

Kim Tae-hoon laughed briefly as if he was dumbfounded. Seong-pil smiled back.

* * *

“It’s just beginning.”

All of Garo Enter’s executives were gathered in the conference room. Including CEO Hong Gyu-heon, Seong-pil, Han Gu-in, Son Hye-bin, Min Gyeong-seop, and Jeong Ji-eum.

“Well, this is another challenge. It was the same when I debuted the kids.”

Hong Gyu-heon spoke with a hint of anxiety. Han Gu-in responded with an excited expression.

“Rather, I am looking forward to what kind of stage and performance the members will put on.”

Son Hye-bin smiled awkwardly.

“Are you saying that after seeing the ideas you received from the kids during ‘Long Four’?”

“Ugh, my head… … .”

There was a time when Han Gu-in was unable to come to his senses for several dozen minutes after seeing the abyss that the members held.

He had barely forgotten about it, but the memory rose from the depths of his subconscious and tormented him again.

“But it will definitely attract attention.”

Min Kyung-seop said.

“There are very few cases where a female idol is known as ‘I produce.’ There is no group that even advertises like we did, declaring ‘We will produce.’”

“Right. It will make a mark in many ways.”

“I’m worried. When an idol’s concept or stage is weird, the agency usually gets criticized. But if this project is revealed, and the song is a flop, the kids will get criticized… … .”

“You want to be recognized as an artist.”

Jung Ji-eum said calmly.

“It’s also the artist’s job to take responsibility for their own creations.”

“Ji-eum, are you a bit harsh?”

“What are you worried about? We’ll help you.”

“… … Right, us.”

Min Kyung-seop saw Seong-pil.

Seongpil waited quietly.

Then the conference room door opens.

“I’m back!”

Five girls came in.

Seongpil stood up in a calm tone.

“Welcome, guys. Did you enjoy the concert?”

“of course!”

“Okay, then let’s begin.”

“You just got here?!”

Seongpil nodded to Hong Gyuheon. She nodded and placed her hands neatly on the conference table.

“Project ‘Our Producing’.”

start.