Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 400
Only Noblemtl
Episode 400
How did things end up like this?
Park Sung-pil, the vice president and head of management at Success Entertainment, reminisced about the past.
It was a normal conversation, no different from any other conversation. The only thing that was not normal was Seongpil’s feelings.
Seongpil was so excited that everyone who saw him was surprised.
“Team leader, what’s going on?”
“Oh, the pillar of Success Entertainment, the hope of solo dance singers, our beloved Areum!”
“I guess something is really going on. What is it? Do you have a girlfriend or something?”
Shin A-reum laughed heartily and poked Sung-pil in the ribs. Sung-pil accepted the prank again.
“Ah, don’t do that, it’s beautiful.”
“I should post this on the company bulletin board. So what is it?”
“I have a girlfriend.”
“Ah… … Yes… … How long has it been?”
“Two years, huh? I’ve endured a lot, too.”
“Is this a sex tape?”
“Haha, I can’t help but admire your creativity. I wish you could use that creativity in other areas.”
“Who is it?”
Seongpil and Shin Areum moved to different places.
It is the basement of Success Entertainment. The basement is used as a space for trainees, but since the rookie development department frequently visits, it has an employee break room.
The two entered the empty break room and took their seats.
“Do you remember Ara?”
“Do you know me?”
“You’re in the dance team when you film the music video this time.”
“Ah… … Those people who were dancing while wearing blindfolds?”
“huh.”
Shin A-reum tilted her head and tried to recall the members of the dance team. But she couldn’t guess who they were.
“Among them, is there anyone who would be a good fit for the team leader… … Ah, I don’t know. I don’t remember.”
“I told you to memorize people’s faces. Are you getting arrogant because you became a top star?”
“I don’t want to hear it from a team leader who can’t even remember people’s names properly and just writes them down in a notebook. Um, Ara? Ara, Ara… … .”
Shin A-reum’s eyes twitched. Then she asked, frozen.
“That, Ara-ssi… … ?”
“Do you remember?”
“Similar to my age… … .”
Seongpil laughed. He avoided Shin A-reum’s gaze, perhaps out of embarrassment, and then opened his palm wide as if he were giving her a surprise gift.
“Ta-da!”
3 hours later.
Seongpil was in a three-way confrontation with Shin A-reum and Jo A-ra. He was resenting his past self for being so reckless in opening up about his romantic partner.
‘No… … I would have told Arami if I started dating. I would have introduced her… … .’
Whether it was because of Seongpil’s own shortcomings or not, his love life did not last long.
Shin A-reum also used to console Sung-pil, who had broken up with her, and always told him how sad she was.
Why on earth is that?
‘I think I’m a good person, but why can’t I last long… … . Even when I hold onto your leg and ask why, you only give strange reasons, or you don’t even tell me… … .’
Maybe he himself is unattractive.
Seongpil was already depressed, but he became even more depressed.
“What am I sucking?”
Sungpil snapped out of his depression at Joara’s tone that seemed like she was chewing him up.
Even her lover, Sungpil (they hadn’t been dating for very long) had never seen Jo Ara like that.
Jo Ara tried to snap at Shin A Reum, but she shook her head and raised her voice even louder.
“Are all top stars like you?”
“what?”
“Do you speak like that to someone as soon as you see them?”
Shin Areum let out a hollow laugh.
“It’s because your insides are so visible, why?”
“Who are you?”
“She’s the team leader’s daughter.”
Joara was astonished.
The look in his eyes was like, “How old must you have been to commit such a crime to have such a beautiful daughter?”
Seongpil opened his mouth to make an excuse, but couldn’t bring himself to say, “Areum is not my daughter!” so he kept his mouth shut.
“What… … daughter?”
Shin A-reum, who was receiving Jo A-ra’s gaze, blushed slightly as if she was embarrassed and changed her words.
“She’s like a daughter to me. She’s my family. But, how can I just sit back and let a mosquito fly at my family?”
“mosquito?”
“In my opinion, the only way to overcome a 12 year age gap is if the guy is X handsome.”
Seongpil looked at his face in the mirror.
Yeah, X isn’t that handsome.
“There must be a connection that truly saves lives.”
There isn’t even a relationship that saves my life…
In fact, the relationship between Sungpil and Joara was quite tenuous. And Sungpil didn’t even remember the moment when that relationship was formed.
When I woke up in the morning, a relationship had been created next to me. Without my will… … .
“That’s it or nothing. In other cases, they don’t see people, but power and money. What are you trying to get from the team leader?”
“……under.”
Joara used both hands to swept her short hair back, seemingly fanning herself to cool down.
“Brother.”
“Uh, yeah… … .”
Joara took a card out of her wallet and threw it at Seongpil.
“I use that as pocket money.”
“I have a lot of money… … .”
“Whenever you meet me, try spending just a penny of your money.”
“You said you got a lease a while ago and don’t have any money… … .”
Sungpil lowered his head as Joara glared at him. Now was the time to cheer up his girlfriend.
Joara saw Shin Areum again.
“Is it okay?”
“Oh my, I’m crying. I’m crying. Do you know what kind of nonsense you’re going to do at the pillow? Do you think I’ll fall for that kind of acting?”
“Ara, what kind of habit is that… … .”
“Team leader, you’re the same! Just because a young woman comes to you, you follow her around like that. Don’t you have any self-respect?!”
“I, I, I… … .”
Strictly speaking, I am the victim… … .
“No, ha, this is driving me crazy. Oppa, do I have to listen to this? A bitch who thinks she’s your daughter or adopted daughter is swearing and talking shit at me, and you just watch?”
“Uh, uh uh… … .”
“Team Leader, did you hear what that bitch said? Are you going to live with a bitch like this? It looks like she has hundreds of snakes in her belly. That pleasure, that’s all just temporary. Just live according to your age… .”
Seongpil gave up thinking.
There was no escape here.
So I just closed my eyes and waited for the storm to pass.
“Team Leader, let’s break up right now!”
I can’t just wait for it to pass.
“Who are you to break up with me, you punk… … !”
After a while, the staff who heard the commotion came running and had to physically stop the two. Until then, Seongpil was still quietly keeping his eyes closed.
* * *
“Team leader, what are you doing? Put it in the refrigerator quickly.”
“uh?!”
“How deep must you be in your thoughts that you get startled even when I call you.”
“Oh, no. I will.”
Seongpil put the things he had bought in the refrigerator of the pension one by one.
It was mostly meat, drinks, and snacks.
“What about your mother?”
“Please unpack your luggage in your room.”
“Go and help your mother.”
“Mom said the same thing.”
“Oh. Then could you please organize the disposable items?”
“yes.”
Seongpil, Shin A-reum, and their mother came together for a trip to a quiet pension.
Because it was deep in the mountains, I could only find the location after receiving directions in the pension owner’s car.
When I came in, I thought it was ‘annoying’, but when I saw the view of the pension, those thoughts disappeared.
Seongpil finished tidying up and looked outside through the glass window in the living room.
It was a snowy country.
The snow that had piled up to the ridge looked soft like a cotton blanket. Seongpil put his palm on the window. It was cold, but the scenery was warm.
“Barbecue is going to be hard.”
“There’s a plastic tent, right? The owner said there’s a stove too.”
“It must be cold though. I should think of my mother too.”
“You’ve finally rented it, so you should enjoy it. If it doesn’t work out, you can come in and eat.”
The moment Seongpil turned his back, the winter wind hit the window hard. When he turned around in surprise, the wind and snow were blowing together.
I thought the snowfall would get heavier, but when the wind died down, the snow began to fall slowly and swaying as before.
“I guess we can play outside.”
“Then why don’t you just stay here? Let’s go out and take some pictures and have fun. I’ll bring Mom!”
Shin A-reum went up to the second floor excitedly.
After a while, Mother came down, arm in arm with Shin A-reum. When she met Seong-pil’s eyes, she bowed her head as if she was sorry, just like when she first set off on the trip.
Seongpil smiled bitterly.
Shin A-reum’s mother thinks that Seong-pil ‘gets along’ with Shin A-reum.
Since they are not related by blood, it is inevitable that Seongpil will be considerate towards Shin Areum.
That had nothing to do with her trust in Seongpil. In any case, the mother felt sorry, and felt indebted to Seongpil.
“Mom, do you want to make a snowman?”
“Hey, how old is he? He’s a snowman.”
“When I was little, I used to make it with my mom when we went out to the alley. I want to try it again after a long time.”
“I’ll just go nearby.”
“We came here to play for the first time, so let’s go further! You said the lake was pretty on the way here. Let’s take some pictures there!”
When her daughter cried, the mother had no choice but to bundle up and go outside.
Seongpil stayed by his mother’s side.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, to this extent… … .”
Shin A-reum linked arms with Seong-pil on one side and her mother on the other. Then, her cheeks, bright red from the wind, swayed as she shouted loudly.
“Go to the end of the mountain!”
20 minutes later.
The three people were inside the pension.
“Mom, here’s a hand warmer. Use it.”
“I’m sorry, team leader… … .”
“No.”
The winter in the mountains was too harsh for my mother. In the end, she had to return without being able to see much.
Shin A-reum was restless at the thought of forcing her mother to work so hard. Looking at her daughter like that, her mother smiled kindly.
“Our daughter, come play with the team leader.”
“Mom, you’re sick… … .”
“No, it’s just because I’m cold. I’ll just stay here for a bit. Go outside and play. Mom will be inside resting and making some food.”
“But… … .”
Shin A-reum had no choice but to go outside due to her mother’s continued persuasion. Seong-pil walked alongside her through the snowy field.
The only footprints left in the yard of the pension were those of three people, except for the one the owner took when he first guided us.
“Team leader, please make a snowman.”
“Aren’t we making it together?”
“As big as possible.”
“As big as possible… … .”
“As much as I love you.”
“Then even if I give you my whole life, it won’t be enough?”
Shin Areum laughed excitedly.
Seongpil started making the snowman’s body, and Shin Areum started making the snowman’s head.
The two walked side by side and rolled a snowball.
“Beautiful.”
“yes.”
“To what extent can you accept an age difference in dating or marriage?”
“What is it all of a sudden? I haven’t really thought about it.”
“If we go to the same age, it’ll definitely be strange, right?”
“Ahaha!”
Shin A-reum laughed. White breath appeared.
“If that’s the case, then the older one has to be really, really pretty and handsome, or, oh, like Director Han. If it’s not to the extent of saving your life, then it’s not love. Other than that, it’s money or something… … power? Isn’t it because of that that you’re clinging to that?”
It was just like what I had heard in my previous life.
“But I don’t really… … .”
Shin Areum tapped the snowball that was halfway up her knees with her gloved hands.
“If two people are in love, I don’t see anything strange.”
“Ah… … I see.”
“Why do you speak like that?”
“No, nothing.”
“Team leader.”
“huh.”
“How do you fall in love?”
Seongpil stopped rolling the snowball. It was a task that required more strength than he had thought, and he had to gasp for breath.
“Do you have someone you like?”
“Team leader, you look secretly happy.”
“The ban on dating will end soon. Love is good. You’re young, too. Personally, I wish I could date a different person every time I get older.”
“If there’s someone like that, isn’t that a personality problem? How can they not even last a year?”
“It may seem that way to the world, but I personally think that the more memories of love you have, the better. Because as the years go by, what you feel as love changes.”
“Then how many years have you been losing money, Team Leader?”
“It’s such a shame… me too… .”
Seongpil started rolling the snowball again. Shin A-reum followed him, rolling the snowball with him.
“How do you date? Are you asking about things like how to express your feelings?”
“No, love itself.”
“Have you ever been in love?”
“If it’s erotic love, then yes. I don’t think it exists.”
“Araum, your choice of words is amazing. So is there something platonic about it?”
“Um, team leader?”
“haha.”
“Haha, what is it?”
“ha ha ha.”
“What the heck, really?”
Seongpil had to push the snowball with his back because it had already grown large enough to reach his waist. It was the first time he realized that snow was this heavy.
“When you watch dramas, there are scenes where people fall in love. I don’t understand. So, to love someone means to love that person, right?”
“Is there anything else besides that?”
“You don’t even know that person.”
“Ah, I understand. People are 10, so how can you call liking someone after seeing only 3 love?”
“Hmm, it seems a little different.”
“It would be best if you loved all 10. But you can’t see all 10 without getting married. And what’s wrong with only seeing the good? It’s good to live in a fantasy.”
“I am…….”
Shin Areum stopped rolling the snowball.
“If someone told me they loved me, I would feel bad.”
“why?”
“I don’t know myself at all. But he says he loves me. So, so much… .”
“Arrogant?”
Shin Areum looked at the mountains in the distance.
The snow-covered mountains are white.
There would be brown and yellow trees and grass hidden inside. Shin A-reum stared at the sight for a long time, panting.
Rather than thinking of the beauty of the pure white mountains, she thought of the desolate winter mountains hidden by snow, which would be revealed when the weather got warmer.
“‘I like you’ means… … ‘I like the current you.’ It seems like it’s saying, ‘You can never change.’ So, it feels bad and I think it’s scary.”
“Then, you just have to find someone who loves you, no matter when, where, or what you look like.”
“Where can you find such a person… … .”
Shin A-reum kept her mouth shut.
She looked at Seongpil. Seongpil was rolling a snowball that had grown to the height of his waist, groaning and struggling.
Even though it was midwinter, you could see the sweat flowing down his body. Not only his breath but also the evaporating sweat was faintly rippling around him.
Shin A-reum looked at the snowman’s head at her feet and started rolling it again.
“Team leader, it’s okay now.”
“uh?”
“That’s enough. That’s enough.”
“Please make it as big as you love it.”
“I’m satisfied with just that.”
“This was a new record, it’s too bad.”
Shin A-reum placed the snowball she had made on top of the body that Seong-pil had made.
Seongpil laughed heartily.
“You made it hard for me.”
The snowman’s head was much smaller than his body.
“Should I roll it some more?”
“No. Maybe it’s because the head is small, but this snowman has good proportions. I should make him an idol of the snowman world.”
“Now he even produces snowmen? Park Sung-pil, who the hell is he… .”
Shin A-reum took a carrot out of her pocket and stuck it in the center of the snowman’s head.
The two put makeup on the snowman using branches and stones.
An idol of the snowman world was born.
“Beautiful.”
“Is it really too small?”
“No, that’s not it. I said earlier that in order to overcome the age gap, the older one has to be really, really good-looking or have a special connection.”
“Right.”
“Other than that, it’s because of money or power. So you’re saying that love can’t be achieved with money or power? Is that because it could disappear someday?”
“That’s the context.”
“If you look at it that way, isn’t the face the same? Director Han, one day the oriental mystery will disappear from his face too.”
At some point, the standard for ‘really, really handsome’ between the two became Han Gu-in.
Shin A-reum must have seen countless people more handsome than her throughout her career in the entertainment industry.
Maybe she was the type of person who didn’t remember people’s faces in detail. Maybe she had to see them for a long time to remember them.
“If you look at someone for a long time, you can see traces rather than the facial features. They always look the same as when you first met them. Isn’t that what happens when you love someone?”
“Strangely, only the face gets a good score.”
“When I think of you, Team Leader, the only thing that comes to mind is your face when you were in your 20s. You don’t look much different now.”
Seongpil laughed with genuine joy.
“That’s not a trace, it’s a fact. I take really good care of my skin. I go to the dermatologist every other week.”
“It’s a real waste of money. No one will look good on you, so stop it.”
“… … That’s right. But, since I already signed up for a package, I’ll have to go for a few more months… … .”
Shin Areum smiled faintly and then suddenly hugged the snowman.
“Would you like me to take a picture?”
“Ugh, ugh!”
Shin A-reum shivered as she fell away from the snowman.
“It’s cold!”
“Of course, it’s a snowman.”
“Joara, he said something stupid… … .”
“What did Araga say?”
“He said he felt good holding a doll. He said he never realized how good it felt to hold something. He was acting all fussy and it was so ugly that I couldn’t look at him.”
“Oh, is that a palm tree friend?”
“That’s right. How would the team leader know?”
“It’s famous that Araga loves Palm Tree Friends. Well, she must feel good… … .”
When Jo Ara was a trainee, I gave her some palm tree friends goods as a token of my apology.
Joara, who checked out the goods, was really excited like a loser.
“ah…….”
Shin A-reum looked at the snow on her padding. Her gloves were also covered in snow. It was cold because it was damp.
“Shall we go in soon?”
“Yes, I guess so. It’s cold.”
“Let’s go quickly.”
Seongpil turned his back.
“Team leader.”
Shin Areum called Seongpil. When Seongpil turned around, Shin Areum was approaching him with her arms wide open.
His steps were slow, perhaps because his body was stiff from the cold.
Seongpil could have easily avoided it if he wanted to.
But I stayed still.
Shin A-reum hugged Seong-pil tightly, just like she had hugged the snowman earlier.
“It’s true.”
Shin A-reum looked up at Seong-pil and smiled. Then she hugged him tighter.
“I feel good.”
“……okay?”
“It’s warm and, oh, there’s really something there.”
So Shin A-reum hugged Seong-pil for a while.
“Team Leader, will you stay by my side forever?”
“You can’t have it forever.”
“In times like this, you have to say something, even if it’s just empty words.”
“Because I don’t want to lie.”
“Even if I know it’s a lie, there’s something I want to hear. Please tell me.”
“I’ll stay forever, unless you kick me out.”
“I told you to add one or two more words.”
“I will be there forever.”
“You’re not going to get married, are you?”
“Please take a look… … .”
Shin A-reum smiled and stepped away from him.
The two returned to their lodgings, retracing each other’s footsteps.
“Team leader.”
“huh.”
“I love you.”
“me too.”
* * *
“Thank you, I will go then.”
Jang Ha-yang held Jin So-yu’s gift in one hand and waved the other hand toward Jin So-yu.
“Let’s play a little more.”
“No. I think I’ve already caused my sister a lot of trouble.”
Finally, Jang Ha-yang came to KS Entertainment.
It had been almost two months since Jin So-yu had promised to give Jang Ha-yang the album and goods of Kaius.
“It’s not a lung at all.”
“But, I also got some snacks and tea… … .”
“I told you it’s okay.”
“But I still don’t think so… … .”
“How can a child have such high guard?”
“I’m so sorry… … .”
“You don’t look sorry at all, do you?”
“I have no face… … .”
“Are you the guy who acted before you became a trainee?”
“Please let me go… … .”
“Now you don’t even hide your true feelings.”
Jin So-yu didn’t show any shadow on her face despite being rejected five times in a row. Instead, she changed her target.
“Director Park.”
It was Sungpil who came to KS Entertainment with Jang Ha-yang.
Because they couldn’t afford to lose manpower by using Garo Enter’s managers for work outside of their regular duties, Sungpil, the main producer and director, became Jang Hayang’s chauffeur.
“I wanted to treat you myself, but it’s too bad. I lost to Erica and Director Jeong.”
“No. I am so grateful that you even remember my name.”
“How many times do you have to worry about me forgetting your name once?”
Jin So-yu held out her hand.
“Thank you for always being ‘youth’.”
“I am the ‘people.’”
“Hmm… … .”
Jin So-yu looked at the paper bag Sung-pil was holding. It contained autographed albums from the members of KAIST.
Seongpil hid it behind his waist.
“There are more Girls’ League albums.”
“You’re a bit of a nerd.”
“Please call us multi-fandom. Our main group is the Girls’ League.”
“‘Youth’… isn’t it?”
“Don’t shake me!”
Jin So-yu showed a rare cheerful smile. Then, she forcibly grabbed Sung-pil’s hidden hand and shook his hand.
“You have to remain ‘youth’ in the future too. Do you understand?”
Jin So-yu glanced at Jang Ha-yang as she spoke. If the world were one where a person’s energy was visualized, Jang Ha-yang’s back would have been covered in black smoke like London during the Industrial Revolution.
Jin So-yu was satisfied and sent the two away.
“I hope you like it, Sister.”
As soon as she got into the passenger seat, Jang Ha-yang said.
“No. What good is that?”
“You seem friendly. You even eat separately in Japan.”
“I came here today because of a favor from Erica. I definitely didn’t come here to satisfy my selfish desires… … My purpose wasn’t to satisfy my selfish desires. Okay, shall we go?”
“Yes, yes.”
Jang Ha-yang was sharp-tongued the whole way. Seong-pil knew that her appearance was an act.
Lately, the frequency with which Girls’ League members tease Sungpil by bringing up Kaius has increased.
What was different from before was that they had a genuine intention to tease, not out of inferiority complex like before.
“Even though we are rivals, you are very friendly.”
“You can’t be expressionless.”
“Your mouth is caught in your ear.”
“No, what… … I’m a fan… … because.”
“Didn’t you put up a poster of Kairos at home again?”
“You took it all off by yourself.”
“You keep buying albums, right? You’ll also get posters, what do you do about those?”
“Keep it in the paper bag.”
“Park Sung-pil, 34 years old, passionate fan of K-Us.”
“Haha, that’s not wrong.”
“Isn’t it because of Cause that you don’t date?”
“Hey, that’s not it.”
“It’s like, ‘I don’t need anything else if I have Caius!’ Right? Love is amazing.”
“haha…….”
“I envy you, Kairos. You have fans who love you so much that they don’t even date.”
“under…….”
Jang Ha-yang smiled faintly and finally tried to get to the main point.
When Sungpil reveals his fandom for Kaius, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, he tends to back down when asked by the Girls’ League members.
Jang Ha-yang had been waiting for this moment. That was why he readily accepted the role of his chauffeur.
“Our trip… … .”
“Hayang-ah.”
Seongpil interrupted her words and came in. His voice was devoid of any trace of playfulness.
“I said I won’t date, so can you stop teasing me about that? It’s easy to say I won’t date for five years, but it’s harder to do it yourself. Think about how much you must have worried before making that decision. I brought it up for you guys. I can also think a little bit about how hard it is… … If you can, then don’t tease me about it. When I go home, there’s no one to welcome me, no one to talk to. That’s how I live. I’m lonely too. Is it really that… … so bad to fill that void by liking idols?”
Jang Ha-yang’s face was frozen as if she was smiling. And when Seong-pil finally finished speaking, all she could make was a sound that wasn’t language.
“ah?”
A cold sweat ran down her back.
Seongpil lowered his head as if suppressing his emotions and lowered his voice to the floor.
“Can you please understand me a little… … .”
Jang Ha-yang had a gut feeling.
Seongpil is angry.
‘I, I’m angry… … .’
He made Seongpil angry.
For the first time.