Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 403



Only Noblemtl

Episode 403

“Rica perfume… …?”

Well, Rika smells good.

But Seongpil never thought he would be able to identify that scent.

A person’s scent can’t always be the same unless you pay attention to it, right?

But Jang Ha-yang knew that.

“I guess Rika was here when you were talking to me.”

“Oh, uh.”

Seongpil answered in a bewildered tone.

“The reason you allowed me to come is… … .”

Jang Ha-yang showed a faint smile.

“It was because Rika came.”

There is no way Sungpil could treat Rika, who took the time to come to his house, coldly.

And if you let Rika into the house, you can’t just tell Jang Ha-yang, “You can’t come.” That’s unfair.

The reason Sungpil allowed Jang Hayang to visit was not because of her, but because Rika happened to barge into Sungpil’s house.

Jang Ha-yang took off her shoes neatly and entered the house.

“I should be grateful to Rika. Excuse me.”

Jang Ha-yang was carrying two shopping bags.

Among the big and small ones, Jang Ha-yang handed the small one to Seong-pil.

“It’s a gift for your visit.”

“thank you.”

Seongpil looked through the gap in the paper bag to see what was inside. It was a box in the shape of a square pillar.

“Is it alcohol?”

“Yes. Mr. Park, do you like white wine?”

“I remembered.”

Seongpil likes white liquor more than wine or whiskey. This is due to a habit he acquired in his past life.

In the early days of Success Entertainment, whenever something good happened, Tae-Hoon Kim would take Sung-Pil to a Chinese restaurant. He would always order Baekju for him.

Seongpil’s taste buds were accustomed to broad daylight.

“It’s about you, sir. You remember me. Is it okay if I come in?”

“Yeah, come in.”

Seongpil entered the living room with Jang Ha-yang.

She was much more careful and elegant than usual. Even her every move was full of elegance.

Jang Ha-yang stopped in his tracks as if he had come face to face with a monster.

Seongpil, who had placed a bottle of white wine on the table, looked at Jang Hayang strangely. For some reason, he followed her gaze, and as expected, there was Seongpil’s body profile.

‘Oh, I should have put that away.’

I was embarrassed when Rika saw it, but Jang Ha-yang also found out about my body profile.

Rika is okay. She feels like she’s bragging to her friends.

But it was quite embarrassing to show it to Jang Ha-yang. It was like bragging to someone who didn’t even want to hear it.

“It’s embarrassing when you stare at me like that.”

Jang Ha-yang came to her senses with a start and approached the table where Seong-pil was standing. Then, unable to hold back any longer, she turned her head again and looked at his body profile.

“Do you want to take off your coat?”

“yes?!”

Jang Ha-yang looked at the real Sung-pil with a start. Then, Sung-pil appeared holding a hanger.

“If you’re going to take it off, I’ll hang it in the bedroom.”

“Ah… … It’s okay.”

“okay?”

Seongpil hung only his padding on a hanger and brought it to the bedroom. Then he returned to the living room.

Jang Ha-yang was still standing in front of the table, holding her shopping bag.

“Sit down.”

“yes.”

The two sat across from each other at the table.

Seongpil didn’t know what to say first, so he just crossed his arms and wiggled his fingers.

‘I guess I should speak first.’

At that moment, Jang Ha-yang bowed his head very deeply. It was a gesture that felt solemn, almost like an apology.

“I’m sorry, sir.”

“Hayang, raise your head!”

Seongpil was so surprised that he hurriedly grabbed Jang Ha-yang’s shoulder and lifted her upper body.

Jang Ha-yang’s expression was so hard that it felt like a chill. Seong-pil had an idea why she was making such an expression.

‘I don’t know what to do.’

Seongpil knows Jang Ha-yang’s circumstances.

When I first met Jang Ha-yang, she had a friendly personality. She was friendly to Seong-pil, who I met for the first time.

Perhaps she has changed her personality to avoid creating conflicts with people.

A person with a mild personality who doesn’t cause conflict with anyone. That means, he doesn’t make others angry.

So when did Jang Ha-yang see an angry person? Who did she make angry?

‘parents.’

Jang Ha-yang’s father and mother.

She said she grew up without any loving care at home. The parents she saw were always full of anger, and that anger was often unfairly directed at Jang Ha-yang.

How would Jang Ha-yang have acted towards her angry parents?

Indeed, was I ever able to properly learn how to deal with angry people?

‘No, there probably wasn’t… … .’

Long ago, Jang Ha-yang said:

He said that when anger poured out on him, he had no choice but to lie face down until the anger passed.

Jang Ha-yang is a person who only knows that method.

So, when she sees Seongpil angry, all she can do is tremble in fear and lie face down.

“… … .”

Seongpil, who had figured it out, began the conversation cautiously.

I had to teach her what it meant to be ‘angry’.

‘It means that people get angry.’

It means that you are afraid that the other person will not understand you, or that you are afraid that you will not understand the other person.

It is because of fear that thorns are raised.

Sometimes, the thorns are not only used for defense, but also to intentionally stab an opponent.

That’s anger. And anger can be resolved through conversation and understanding each other.

“Hayang, when you said that.”

“yes.”

“I didn’t know it, but I was crying. I had given up on love. As you probably know from what I said to Seiko, I am giving my all to you. I want to give it to you.”

Seongpil thinks about the Girls’ League from the moment he wakes up until he falls asleep. It is impossible to love with that kind of spirit. No, it would be rude to the other person.

and…….

“I think it’s embarrassing to tell you guys about my dream of becoming the best idol while I’m the only one distracted by my lover. The best idol isn’t something that you guys can do well on your own. As a producer, I also have to do my best.”

So, Seongpil decided to dedicate his life to producing.

“But when I actually declared out loud that I would not date for 5 years… … I was scared.”

what.

really?

I really haven’t been in a relationship for 5 years?

Then, when the Girls’ League ends its activities, you will be 38 or 39 years old.

Is that okay?

“I suddenly began to feel the chains that I had never cared about before.”

Seongpil remembered the future he had seen in his past life.

After being kicked out of Success Entertainment, he lived a life of isolation. At the time, Sungpil was lonely to the bone.

He devoted his life to being an idol, but in the end, he had nothing left for himself.

He was afraid of the future in which he would grow old and die alone, without a life partner.

So, after returning to his 30s, Seongpil vowed to himself that he would avoid living alone like in his previous life.

But Seongpil ended up repeating the same life.

They equally dedicate their lives to idols.

‘I’m happy and scared of taking it for granted.’

After producing the best idol, the next step was not drawn. Producer Sungpil will have a successful career and reign as a star in the industry.

But there was no way to know what would remain by the human side of Park Sung-pil. In the end, both the Girls’ League and his coworkers would go on to live their own lives.

“What you said, Hayang, made me face that reality. I got scared and ended up complaining to you without realizing it. But it’s not your fault. It’s my fault for getting angry at something that was already decided. Hayang, it’s not my fault at all. I’ll apologize. I’m sorry.”

The moment Seongpil was about to lower his head, Jang Hayang’s hand grabbed Seongpil’s shoulder faster than he could.

Seongpil couldn’t lower his head and met Jang Ha-yang’s eyes.

“No, sir. I was short-sighted. I didn’t think about how hard it would be for you, sir, and I made a weird joke. It was my fault.”

“No. What’s hard for me? It’s you who are hard. You’ve been tied up in the prime of your life with a dating ban. Almost 5 years, including your trainee years… … Compared to that, I’m nothing.”

Silence flowed between them.

It wasn’t because of awkwardness.

It was because they understood each other.

There was no need for an apology anymore. As if they were a community of destiny, the two could feel each other’s feelings as if they were touching each other’s hands.

Jang Ha-yang took her hand off Seong-pil’s shoulder.

“Sir. I… … .”

Jang Ha-yang no longer had the bleak expression he had before. Instead, his face was full of life, overflowing with human emotions.

Seongpil felt relieved when he saw her.

Jang Ha-yang felt relieved because he realized that Seong-pil understood him and was happy that he was understood by others.

“Yeah, Hayang.”

Seongpil answered in a warm voice.

“I won’t date for 5 years either.”

“What the hell are you talking about?!”

“yes……?”

“Oh, sorry. Are you saying you won’t date for 5 years?”

“This is my response to the director’s decision.”

Jang Ha-yang looked serious. That made Seong-pil even more flustered.

“Just like the director who gave up an important part of his life to produce the best idol, I am also seriously pursuing my dream. I will stop thinking about looking elsewhere.”

“no!”

“why?”

“Why? Because, because… … .”

Seongpil continued speaking in a hoarse voice.

“You write lyrics… … .”

Jang Ha-yang blinked her eyes in bewilderment. She barely opened her mouth.

“Lyrics?”

“Yeah. Hayang, this isn’t some kind of superstition. People who have been in love really change the way they read lyrics. You’re young. It’s time for you to experience at least one more thing.”

“but…….”

“But what the heck! Olympic medalists aren’t prohibited from dating! They practice and win medals!”

“Then what about you, sir?”

“It’s not that I won’t date just to focus on producing! I only think about you from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to bed, and I don’t date because I think it’s rude to treat a lover in that state of mind! It’s different with you!”

“From when I wake up until when I go to sleep… … ?”

“Yeah, yeah. It sounds a bit weird, but yeah.”

“Then it’s the same as me.”

Jang Ha-yang smiled lightly as if it was nothing.

“I, too, only think about my dreams from the time I wake up until I go to sleep.”

“… … .”

“It’s a dream we dream together. A dream that the director gave me, a dream that he allowed me to dream. So I promise.”

Jang Ha-yang held out her little finger.

“For five years, I’ve decided to focus solely on my dreams without looking back.”

Seongpil looked at her fingers, then shook his head because it didn’t seem to be the case.

“Can you imagine how embarrassing it will be if you start dating later on?”

“Once I make a decision, I always keep it.”

Jang Ha-yang extended his finger closer as if urging her.

Seongpil found her gestures, her serious yet simple smile, her every word and intention, truly lovable.

An idol who produces talks about his dreams and vows not to date.

How can one not be fond of a child who is so serious about his dreams?

Thank you. I am so grateful that I feel affectionate.

‘I’m so happy that there’s someone who shares my dreams and takes those dreams so seriously… ‘

Seongpil was so happy that he couldn’t help it.

He held out his little finger.

‘Perhaps, Hayang’s words may be forgotten after a year.’

One day, out of the blue, he might awkwardly confess, “Ahaha, Director, I started dating.”

Seongpil will tease her about her absurdity, but he will also give her his blessings and do his best to respect her privacy.

Yes, love is not an emotion that can be stopped with a mere promise.

“Aren’t you going to say anything else later?”

However, Seongpil is swept up in the atmosphere and makes a promise with Jang Hayang. Because he is happy at this moment, he wants to keep this happiness in his heart in its complete form.

“To become the best idol.”

“Yes, definitely. Let’s achieve our dreams together.”

How happy it is to have someone who shares the same dream. How happy it is to be able to preserve that dream in such a beautiful form.

The two linked their little fingers and shook them gently up and down.

Seongpil said with a hollow smile.

“But if you happen to like someone, you can just date them… … .”

“That won’t happen. It’s a promise that needs to be kept. You understand, sir?”

“You should be worrying about yourself, not me. Sigh… … .”

“Why are you like that?”

“Because of the lyrics.”

“Are you serious about that? That when you’re in love, you write better lyrics?”

“Of course I’m serious. That’s the truth. Among the agency CEOs I know, there’s even one who encourages his company’s idols to date a lot.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. But you don’t have to worry about me.”

“You’re so confident.”

“Are you still worried after seeing ‘Epitaph’ and ‘Domino’?”

“……I know.”

Sungpil is still shocked when he thinks about those two lyrics. He is amazed at how love can be expressed so passionately and violently.

“Oh, that’s right.”

Jang Ha-yang placed the remaining one of the shopping bags she had brought on the table.

It was quite large in size.

“what’s this?”

Jang Ha-yang took out a white box from inside as if he was expecting it. When he removed the white packaging, its identity was revealed.

“It’s an automatic plant cultivator.”

“Automatic plant growers? Is there such a thing?”

“Yes. If you just add water, it will automatically provide light and nutrients to the plants.”

“Wow, the world has really become a better place.”

Jang Ha-yang opened the box and took out the plant cultivator. At first glance, it looked like a long, white flower basket.

“Here, here’s a plant kit.”

Seongpil received the plant kit as a component.

The plastic packaging said ‘tulip’. It seemed like I could just put this in the planter.

“Baekju is a gift from the visitor, and this is a gift of my apology.”

“It’s okay to give an apple as a gift, but… … .”

“Director.”

Jang Ha-yang said as she turned on the plant grower. Her voice was more serious than before.

“Tulips are a very meaningful plant to me. Do you know why?”

“It’s the first flower I gave you.”

“You remember.”

“I can’t not remember.”

“For every memory I have with you, there was a tulip for me. I hope tulips become a special flower for you, too. Just as I remember you with tulips, I hope you remember me with tulips.”

“Is this a gift from Apple? You’re asking a lot from me.”

Jang Ha-yang smiled bashfully.

“Plants make me happy just by watching them grow every day. It’s a gift, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, that’s true. I know because I used to have pet plants too.”

Suddenly, Jang Ha-yang’s expression hardened.

“You said you got it from your ex-girlfriend?”

“Huh? Uh, yeah.”

“You shouldn’t let this wither.”

“It would be harder to make it wither than to grow it automatically… … .”

“Of course. If it seems like it’s going to wilt, call me.”

“What are you doing?”

“I’ll stuff it and give it back to you, sir.”

“To that extent… … ?”

“Each and every flower is mine.”

Jang Ha-yang pushed the plant cultivator towards Seong-pil.

“Each flower is a memory of mine. You should cherish them. And please be happy to see them grow every morning.”

“Okay, I understand. Thank you.”

“I will also get better every day. To become the best idol.”

“……huh.”

When Seongpil smiled shyly, Jang Ha-yang smiled brightly.

“Then shall we have a drink to celebrate our reconciliation? The drink I brought has good reviews.”

“Oh, sorry. I don’t drink.”

“yes?!”

“that is…….”

Seongpil told me the story of registering a new PT. And also the story of trainer Kwon Kangcheol.

‘Member, how are you feeling today? Yes? You had some drinks? Hahahahahahahahahahahaha, ehahahahahahahahahahahaha!’

“You are a truly scary person.”

“For about a day… … .”

“And if I drink, who will bring you something?”

“Then should I just drink it?”

“… … ???”

Is that drinking together?

“Also, it looks weird if it’s just the two of us drinking at my house.”

“Director, do you see me as a woman?”

“Come on, don’t use weird logic.”

“Then shall we go to the Han River? Is it okay if we lay down a mat and drink there like before?”

“If you drink there in this weather, you’ll both die from bad mouths.”

“… … Then, you can drink this alcohol alone, or we can drink it together when I come back later. You can’t drink it with other people.”

“It’s not a gift anymore?”

“It’s mine, so do whatever you want with it.”

And yet the two continued their conversation until the moon set. There was no need for alcohol.

The conversation itself put both of them in a good mood.

Because a relationship where you share the same dream can be happy without the help of alcohol.

* * *

After dropping Jang Ha-yang off at her lodgings, Seong-pil returned home.

The lights were off, it was dark and empty, but Seongpil didn’t feel lonely or lonely.

Seongpil went to the seat where Jang Hayang had been sitting just a moment ago. There was a plant growing machine on the table. He lightly swept it with his hand.

At that moment, Sungpil’s phone rang. I thought it was Jang Ha-yang, but it was trainer Kwon Kang-cheol.

[Hahaha, how have you been, member!]

“Yes, it’s been a while, Trainer.”

[By the way, didn’t you sign up for 20 PT sessions with trainer Kwon So-yoon this time?]

“Yes.”

[I came back this week after recovering from an injury. In fact, trainer Kwon So-yoon is my sister. She was a substitute at another branch. Since she is still in training, there are no regular members at that branch.]

“Oh, really?”

[Yes. Since it seems that receiving training from a same-sex person is more effective, I contacted you to let you know that you can change your trainer to me if you want! Of course, if you want, you can continue to be assigned to trainer Kwon So-yoon! Yes, I contacted you to ask about that!]

Seongpil stared blankly at the plant growing unit through the window. Then he turned his eyes to the tulip plant kit next to it.

Seongpil said as he unpacked the kit.

“Then what about trainer Kwon So-yoon?”

[I will return to my original position and continue working as a trainer. And since it is the work that Trainer Kwon So-yoon received, a portion of the money that comes back to me will be given to Trainer Kwon So-yoon as a commission.]

“hmm…….”

Seongpil answered after a brief moment of thought.

“All right.”

[That means… … .]

“Please take good care of me, Trainer Kwon Kang-cheol.”

[I am the one who needs your help! I, Trainer Kwon Kang-cheol, will definitely send you to the fitness championship!]

“Haha, yes. Thank you. But I don’t intend to go that far… … .”

[This is not an empty promise. You can do it!]

“… … .”

After a short conversation, Seongpil hung up the phone.

Seongpil stood in front of the calendar.

In February, the Girls’ League’s vacation ends.

“Producing is the beginning.”

Seongpil lightly clapped his cheeks with both hands.

“The best idol!”

What need is there for love on a man’s way? There is no need to be disappointed when you walk on a muddy road and your feet do not smell the scent of flowers.

‘Cheer up, Park Sung-pil!’

Until the day we produce the best idol.

* * *

Jang Ha-yang returned to his lodgings.

As soon as she heard that sound, Rika came out of her room, ran to Jang Ha-yang, and hugged her.

“Sister, are you here?”

“Yeah, Rika. How have you been?”

“Hi! Did you and Director Park make up well?”

“It went well. Thanks to Rika.”

“Ehehe, thank goodness… … !”

“Rika, you said you went to Director Park’s house this morning? You didn’t even tell me.”

Rika flinched at Jang Ha-yang’s cold tone of voice.

“That’s because Director Park said he was injured!”

“You didn’t even contact Director Park?”

“… … .”

“Rika, can we talk for a moment? I’m not sure about your standards.”

“Ha, hi (yes)… … .”

About 30 minutes later, Rika came back into the room with her cheeks sunken.

Joara asked, looking at her haggard appearance.

“Who hit you?”

“No… … .”

“What, did you talk to Sister Hayang? Did she make up with you?”

“Yeah, everything is resolved.”

“But you don’t look very happy. I was worried about you a lot.”

“Betzuni (not really), I’m happy.”

Rika jumped onto the bed and dove.

“I’m happy, of course.”

Why wouldn’t I be happy if the two of them reconciled?

* * *

KS Enter Production Team 1 full meeting.

Jeong Ho-hwan, sitting at the head of the table, declared.

“The comeback is in the summer.”

The executives who were allowed to sit at the conference table could not hide their surprise.

The fact that General Producer Jung Ho-hwan specifically mentioned ‘summer’ means that KARS’ comeback concept is…

“Excuse me, sir.”

Someone raised a hand timidly.

“Isn’t there a need for Caius to make a comeback that matches the seasonal concept?”

No, rather, the seasonal concept itself was more likely to be toxic.

There is a title commonly called ‘Summer Queen’.

It’s a glorious title given to the girl group that comes to mind when you think of summer.

And girl groups from major entertainment agencies have shown a particularly weak side to this ‘Summer Queen’ title.

No matter how well you plan and prepare, for some reason you will be pushed aside by small and medium-sized planning companies.

Perhaps it is because I lack the courage to openly emphasize the summer atmosphere… … or, to put it bluntly, to implement a summery and healthy visual.

“It’s enough to just focus on the artistic side as we have so far… … .”

“I wanted to try it.”

Jeong Ho-hwan spoke cheerfully, like a child holding a toy.

“What kind of summer can Caius show us?”

If you say it like this, there’s nothing I can do.

The word ‘summer’ was stuck in everyone’s head in the conference room.

“Let’s make it. Summer Queen.”

* * *

“The point is simple.”

Yoon Sang-yeol gathered the Globe members together and said.

“The summer concept is ultimately about this fight.”

He stopped pacing around frantically and looked straight at the members as he spoke.

“The group that seduces and fascinates the most will win.”

Globe’s leader, Rahee, clenched her fist.

It was confirmed by Yoon Sang-yeol’s declaration.

‘Comeback is in summer.’

It’s finally decided.

* * *

“Seolha, I’ll give you the right to produce, but the deadline isn’t unlimited.”

A few days before the end of the vacation, Seongpil called Baekseolha over and had a private conversation.

Seongpil displayed a calendar on the conference room screen and marked the deadline.

“Until summer.”

“Then, considering the deadline, it would be spring if it’s fast and summer if it’s slow.”

“Yeah. They both change seasons a lot.”

“It’s true that songs can’t be without seasons.”

“If you’re going to produce, one of the most important things is setting a deadline. It’s best to set a specific comeback date and calculate backwards to set all the schedules. And if you decide on a title, there are two main options.”

Does it reveal the characteristics of the season or not?

“Up until now, Girls’ League has only sung songs with a concept unrelated to the season.”

“Because the worldview of the Girls’ League was the main plot.”

“That’s right. But that’s over. You can continue that worldview, decide on the worldview of the new album, or make a seasonal song that appeals to the masses. It’s all up to you, Seol-ha.”

Seongpil approached Baek Seol-ha.

“Have you thought about anything?”

Baek Seol-ha nodded resolutely.

There seemed to be no hesitation at all.

Seeing Baek Seol-ha’s attitude, Sung-pil couldn’t help but smile. She hadn’t been playing around like that until now.

‘I was thinking really seriously about producing.’

Seongpil waited for Baek Seol-ha to continue speaking with a satisfied smile.

“The director taught me before. There are many ways to start producing. If we limit it to a song, you can start with the lyrics keyword. You can start with the melody. You can start with the track. You can start with the title. And finally, you can start with the concept.”

“In addition, you can set up a visual concept, costumes, or even a world view and do it accordingly. You can start anywhere. So, Seol-ha, what about you?”

“I thought of the concept first.”

“Tell me.”

What kind of concept did Baek Seol-ha, the first batter of ‘Our Producing’, come up with?

Seongpil believed in her artistry.

I trust her insight as an idol.

‘Seolha has learned a lot. So she must know.’

What fits best for you and the Girls’ League?

Because it is you, because you thought it yourself, because it is what you can express best.

Snow White can definitely find it.

Clearly, we are on the best path to success… … .

“It’s ‘sexy.’”

Snow White said.

“Summer is the turning point!”

Park Sung-pil, fainted.

Baekseolha came up with a concept that is currently dead in the girl group world, which is ‘sexy’.