Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 542



Only Noblemtl

Episode 542

“mat!”

At Baek Seol-ha’s command, the younger siblings moved in unison. They received mats from the caretaker and began laying them out one by one on the ground near the pool.

Hong Gyu-heon expressed his doubts.

“Why is there a mat on standby?”

“Because there will be people who want to play in different ways.”

“… … ?”

Son Hye-bin’s interpretation was not conveyed to Hong Gyu-heon. On the other hand, Seong-pil and Han Gu-in seemed to have understood it in general, so Hong Gyu-heon felt unnecessarily left out.

“The first dance battle of the Girls’ League, let’s do aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Rika, as if she were the host, announced the start of the battle with a loud voice. Then she took out her phone and captured Jang Ha-yang and Baek Seol-ha in the camera.

Seongpil immediately tried to dissuade him.

“Rika, don’t take pictures of the kids!”

“Wouldn’t it be a loss if I didn’t take a picture of something this precious!”

“You’re going to leak it out again like my body profile!”

“… … This, in my opinion, is a great piece of content! It will be a huge hit with the people!”

Rika ignored Seongpil’s tackle.

Seongpil tried to stop her, but he thought her opinion was right. The group members, even the older sister line of the Girls’ League, were seriously going to have a dance battle.

What kind of people wouldn’t be excited by this situation?

But there is a problem.

‘Just because you’re in a swimsuit doesn’t mean you can’t get excited.’

It becomes something beyond battle.

The moment Sungpil was about to point out her outfit, Joara spoke to her sisters.

“Teacher, unnie, change your clothes and do it. If you’re going to dance seriously, it’s not good to show off your body too much.”

“Is that so?”

“Do you know, Sister Hayang?”

“Yeah. Nobody is shaking on the runway… … .”

Jang Ha-yang looked up and down at the empty space above his chest. It was a movement that seemed to describe something about someone.

“I don’t want to see that. It draws attention to other places than clothes.”

“You heard, teacher? Dancing is the same.”

“Why, why are you talking as if I did something wrong… … ?”

Snow White felt wronged.

In the end, Baek Seol-ha and Jang Ha-yang had to go into their quarters, change their clothes, and come out.

Both wore simple cotton T-shirts and resort-style shorts.

Joara nodded with satisfaction.

“Your attire is fit for a sacred battle.”

Shin A-reum rarely agreed with Jo A-ra.

“That one earlier was a bit too much.”

“Okay, then really… … .”

This time, Rika turned her phone camera towards her older sister Line.

“The battle begins! The judges are the CEO and executives of Garo Enter!”

Rika pointed her phone at the executives.

Executives including Hong Gyu-heon were desperate to hide their identities, such as covering their bodies in fear, throwing themselves behind their seniors, and turning their faces away.

“Clear it!”

“Please judge fairly! Oh, but who will be the DJ?”

“I’ll do it.”

Joara placed a portable Bluetooth speaker in front of her sisters.

“Well, but it would be hard if it was a completely random song. Teacher and Unnie are new to battles. If there’s a song you want, just tell me.”

“Well, I… … .”

Baekseolha chose ‘Bad Guy’ by ‘Billie Eilish’. Jang Ha-yang chose ‘Kill Everybody’ by ‘Skrillex’.

Both songs had distinctly different personalities.

“I’ll decide on this first.”

Joara placed the water bottle on the floor and spun it around. After spinning it around smoothly for a few turns, it pointed at Baekseolha.

Immediately Joara played ‘Bad Guy’.

A song featuring a strong bass and ASMR-like whispering voices. It is a hit song that changed the trend of pop.

At that moment, Baek Seol-ha’s mood changed. She moved her hips to one side to the beat of the bass, as if trying to engrave the music into her body.

Joara muttered excitedly.

“The teacher gave me some advice. Honestly, I was really surprised.”

“Rain?”

“I feel like you want to let me know the difference in class.”

Seongpil asked for further explanation.

“Dancing is harder to a slow song. It’s even harder when you’re doing battle freestyle. If the tempo is fast, your body can somehow keep up, but if the song is slow, your ability to interpret the song becomes much more important.”

The ability called musicality is clearly demonstrated: the ability to appreciate and understand music.

From the moment Baek Seol-ha chose ‘Bad Guy’, it was like declaring war on Jang Ha-yang.

“You are beneath me, that kind of feeling… … .”

Joara shook her shoulders as if she felt a thrill.

Seongpil looked at her as if she found it strange. No, Joara really did look strange. Was it really that exciting and happy for her sisters to have a dance battle?

“Hayang-ah.”

Baekseolha called Jang Ha-yang while moving her hips to the rhythm. Jang Ha-yang answered with a smile.

“Yes, sister.”

“You know what? I’ve been learning dance longer than Ara. Much longer than you, of course.”

“Isn’t that natural, since you lived one year longer than me and three years longer than Ara?”

“You’re dying?!”

That was when.

“Wow!”

Cheers erupted from all directions.

Finally, Snow White began to move.

“POP!”

The most basic technique in popping. It involves shaking a specific part of the body as if it were exploding.

Snow White gracefully weaves together basic techniques such as crawling, gliding, and waves based on popping.

And the best part was the energy and pop technique that burst out from all over the body.

Pops can be done anywhere you have muscle: shoulders, abs, legs, butt, and chest.

Snow White’s body explodes with uncontrollable energy here and there.

“Wow, crazy… … !”

Hong Gyu-heon swore without realizing it.

Even Hong Gyu-heon, who was a woman like Baek Seol-ha, found her very attractive. The energy and charm she displayed in her body never let her gaze wander.

Above all, the dance is beautiful.

Even a layman can tell that it is a good dance.

“Isn’t that something you could just attach to a song’s choreography?!”

Hong Gyu-heon was so impressed that he threw away his usual solemnity and started talking loudly.

Then Joara spoke in an excited tone, pretending to put on her glasses, which she wasn’t even wearing, as if the explanation was her personal mission.

“Popping is not appropriate for idol choreography.”

Pop is now considered the basic technique of all dance. It is basic, but it is by no means easy.

Relax, contract, relax.

You have to do these three steps in succession, using your muscles, in a short moment that lasts just one beat.

It is an abnormal behavior in which muscles relax, contract, and relax in a short period of time of less than a second.

And such an abnormal process must be mobilized.

“It feels like it’s really going to explode… … .”

Finally POP!

It becomes possible to shake your body violently as if it were exploding. Since you can’t sing while continuing that kind of dance, it’s a technique that can’t be easily incorporated into idol choreography.

In other words, this is an appearance you can never see from idol Baek Seol-ha.

While everyone was admiring the explosion and shaking of Baekseolha, she suddenly stopped moving smoothly.

And he pointed at Jang Ha-yang with his index finger.

Snow White smiled. And she moved her lips sensually to the beat of the song.

“Might seduce your dad type

(I can seduce your father too).”

Shin Areum frowned slightly at the messy lyrics.

“I sang a song!!”

On the other hand, Jo Ara was so excited that she slapped Seongpil on the shoulder.

“I’m the bad guy, duh.”

Then, Snow White entered the floor (a dance term, entering the state of choreography using the floor).

Baek Seol-ha, who placed her hands on the floor and moved to Jang Ha-yang’s feet, showed sensual dance moves as if teasing Jang Ha-yang to the rhythm.

The crowd was in a frenzy.

It seemed as if the winner had already been decided, and everyone was busy praising Baek Seol-ha, who was running around the floor.

And Seongpil… … .

‘That’s ridiculous.’

I was very impressed.

I never imagined that Baek Seol-ha could dance to this extent.

I knew she had creative ability, since she took a creative choreography test during her trainee days. But she can also freestyle dance?

Even from Sungpil’s perspective, it was a dance that was far more attractive.

‘I’ve been learning dance for a long time… …?’

Is it possible for an idol to grow to this extent as they gain experience?

or not…….

‘Did you work hard to get to this level?’

Seongpil discovered Baekseolha’s talent that he didn’t even know he had. He was so happy about it that he didn’t know what to do.

Seongpil covered his mouth with the emotion rising from his throat. Then he shared that emotion with Han Guin.

“Ha, Director Han, I, uh, this… … .”

“yes.”

Han Gu-in spoke in a dazed tone.

“That emotion is not just Director Park’s, I don’t think… … .”

As soon as the song ended, Baek Seol-ha stood up majestically. She stood on tiptoe and looked down at Jang Ha-yang, just like a queen.

Queen of summer.

She said, gently running her hands through her hair.

“Do you want to step down now?”

Jang Ha-yang gave her older sister a small round of applause.

“It was a dance that gave off a sense of time and experience.”

Shin Areum caught Baek Seol-ha who was running wild and barely managed to pull her back.

Jang Ha-yang had already defeated Baek Seol-ha with her words. But her attacks were not over yet.

Skrillex’s ‘Kill Everybody’ was playing.

Immediately, Jang Ha-yang started to bang his forearms up and down like he was clinking his teeth.

Son Hye-bin was shocked.

“Does that mean ‘Tteulttak’ (a derogatory term for older people)?!”

“That’s really too much… … .”

Even Hong Gyu-heon, who usually wanted to take Jang Ha-yang’s side, did not dare to cover for her.

Even Snow White was shocked when she saw that. At this point, it wasn’t a fight, it was more like a fight.

“no!”

Joara quickly intervened.

“That’s a gesture that B-boys use during battles! It’s a sarcastic way of saying, ‘Didn’t you copy that dance?’ It’s not meant to be a joke!”

“ah.”

The audience that had been filled with shock became silent.

Even Baek Seol-ha, who was just about to wake up, regained her composure.

“When you say it was copied, does that mean Seol-ha used the broadcast choreography routine?”

“Probably.”

There are movements that are frequently used in idol dances.

A dance that strengthens the joints of the dance and is also the foundation of the dance.

It is based on white street dance, but has idol dance elements added here and there.

In a way, that’s plagiarism. It’s no different from a dance that was performed based on experience as an idol, not a dancer.

This means that rather than moving with your own unique style, you followed a routine that was programmed into your head.

“But you said that what Hayang wrote was a B-boy gesture? Then Hayang… … .”

When Seongpil spoke with anticipation, Jo Ara agreed.

“I had a feeling from the moment I chose this song.”

B-boying.

Jang Ha-yang stepped forward with a rough momentum.

“Step 1, top rock.”

There is a basic order to b-boying.

The first one is Top Rock. It is a standing dance without using the floor.

She moved across the mat with deft steps, her movements both cautious and aggressive, as if she were picking a fight with someone she met on the street.

After a while, Jang Ha-yang’s arm moved.

Jang Ha-yang’s every move is directed at Baek Seol-ha in a threatening manner. It is an aggressive movement that cannot be seen in idol dance.

“Sister Hayang taught me a lot of dancing.”

That is a fact that Seongpil also knows well.

Jang Ha-yang would come to Sung-pil to brag about whatever genre of dance she learned.

Voguing, house, locking, popping, etc.

Jang Ha-yang was particularly passionate about learning dance since her trainee days. This was probably due to the pressure she felt from falling behind the other members.

‘That’s why you wanted to show it to me.’

A dance learned out of pressure or inferiority complex.

However, the dance has now taken root in Jang Ha-yang’s body and created a unique personality.

It’s unique.

It’s unique, but… … .

“Isn’t it monotonous?”

Jang Ha-yang’s dance was monotonous.

At least it had less impact than the overwhelming energy shake that Baek Seol-ha had shown.

Seongpil observed Joara’s expression. She seemed to be waiting for something.

And then, what she was waiting for came.

Jang Ha-yang finally touched the ground with his hands.

“Step 2… … .”

Floor.

Jang Ha-yang spun sideways, centering on her hands that were on the ground. Her legs, which had spun like windmills, pointed backwards at some point, and she landed as if she had done a backflip.

Joara shouted out the name of the technique in excitement.

“Macaco!”

Power moves, or acrobatic choreography.

Refers to high-difficulty acrobatic techniques.

The second stage of b-boying focuses on power moves.

Jang Ha-yang’s subsequent dances each drew a very large curve. The range of movements alone overwhelmed the audience.

It was a series of acrobatics that seemed to ignore the music.

Compared to Snow White, it felt like it lacked musicality. However, the amazing acrobatics that Jang Ha-yang showed off more than made up for the lack.

Every time he does a movement, I can’t help but exclaim in admiration.

“Dancers from other genres often look down on b-boying.”

Joara explained.

“They say that they are trying to throw away music and just show off their skills. But honestly… … .”

Jang Ha-yang lay on his back on the floor and spun his legs like a windmill.

Windmill.

“I like technical dancing.”

Jang Ha-yang’s movements, which had been sweeping the floor, stopped.

She supported the floor with her shoulders and both hands, straightening her body as if she were a tree.

Her legs stopped pointing towards the sky.

Perfect straight line, Freeze.

The sunlight shone on her still body. The light artistically revealed the distinct reliefs and intaglios carved into her body.

These are clearly sculpted muscles that must have been created through long training.

From the tips of your toes to your legs, abs and back, and arms.

There wasn’t a single one that wasn’t amazing.

“Wow!”

Jo Ara gave her a round of applause and cheers. Soon, others also praised Jang Ha-yang’s passionate dancing.

Jang Ha-yang maintained his posture even as he panted heavily.

Looking at that, Seongpil’s heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

‘What the hell am I…?’

As a producer, how many talented people do you have at your disposal?

It was like watching a concert.

My heart was pounding nonstop the whole time I was watching it.

In addition, Seongpil seemed to be on the verge of tears.

“Whitey… … .”

Is this really Jang Ha-yang, who used to fall down while dancing? I couldn’t help but shed tears at the thought of how she could dance so beautifully and powerfully in just four years.

Human victory.

It was truly proof of effort.

“mister.”

Seongpil kept his head down with his hands over his eyes. In the meantime, the other executives and members finished their evaluations.

The only one left was Seongpil.

“Now only you remain.”

Seongpil sniffled once and roughly wiped his eyes with his fingers. With his slightly blurry vision, he saw Jang Ha-yang standing in front of him.

Jang Ha-yang was smiling shyly, holding her hands together politely. And she smiled with her eyes. It was as if she was asking Seong-pil a question.

‘I’ve grown this much. What do you think?’

Seongpil responded to her eye smile with a bright smile.

“So, what is your choice, sir?”

“Ah, I… … .”

Through the Bluetooth microphone that Joara held up to his lips, Seongpil calmly recited in a voice filled with sobs.

“Snowfall.”

Honestly, Baek Seol-ha danced better.

* * *

Lunch was a seafood party.

The resort staff prepared a sumptuous banquet for the Sungpil and Garo Enter staff without them having to do anything.

After eating, my whole body felt tired.

Seongpil lay down on the sunbed lazily and enjoyed his leisure time.

‘How long has it been since I’ve been this relaxed?’

I guess I needed a break.

Seongpil always shouted, “I like Mondays,” but he wasn’t Superman.

No matter how enjoyable something is, if you keep doing it without stopping, it’s natural to get tired.

The vacation given in the meantime made Seongpil mentally tired. Seongpil felt the sunlight pleasantly.

“Director!”

Rika, brighter than the sunlight, put her face next to Seongpil’s bedside.

“why.”

“Aren’t you being too clueless?”

“huh?”

Seongpil lifted his upper body and turned towards Rika. Rika was wearing a straw hat from somewhere.

His eyes were wide open and angry beneath his straw hat.

“Oh, the straw hat suits you well.”

“That’s not it! Look over there!”

Rika kindly turned Sungpil’s head forward. The members, who didn’t seem to feel any drowsy even after lunch, were seen throwing volleyballs back and forth in the pool, making a ‘kyaak kyaak’ sound.

Hong Gyu-heon, Son Hye-bin, and Han Gu-in were also watching nearby, seemingly enjoying it.

The only exception was Jang Ha-yang, who was dipping her legs in the water and caressing the surface of the water with her hands.

“Should I play water polo? Are the numbers not right? Oh, I see. If you go in, it won’t be an even number… … .”

“No, look at Sister Hayang!”

As she said, Seongpil observed Jang Ha-yang.

For some reason, Jang Ha-yang looked gloomy. The sight of him hanging his head and just splashing water without any purpose was pitiful.

“Director Park didn’t take Hayang’s side in the dance battle!”

“Huh? I told you about your strengths during the evaluation.”

“You took the teacher’s side more! You praised the teacher so much that your mouth was dry, but you were so dry to Hayang!”

“Was that so… …?”

I think it was similar.

“Please go quickly and comfort me!”

“consolation?”

“Don’t you know? Sister Hayang is waiting! She’s hoping you’ll notice!”

“What? Hayang?”

Jang Ha-yang is acting like that crazy girlfriend? Things like, ‘I’m upset, so notice it quickly and calm me down’ are the most unsuitable behaviors for Jang Ha-yang.

“What are you talking about! Women are creatures who want to be noticed!”

“That’s so different from what you usually say. You said things like not to confine people to stereotypes… … .”

“Does that matter? Sister Hayang is heartbroken! She’s always made it her life’s joy to show Director Park how much she’s grown! But she was evaluated as being cold compared to the teacher! Of course she’s hurt! No, she’s angry!”

Jang Ha-yang looked different after hearing Rika’s words.

Continuing to act depressed seemed to be saying, ‘Don’t be so gloomy.’

Seongpil began to feel sorry.

‘Did it seem to other people that I favored Seol-ha… … ?’

I don’t remember because I was so emotional at the time, but if that’s what Rika did, then that’s what it must be.

Seongpil got up from his seat and approached Jang Ha-yang. He then leaned his upper body behind Jang Ha-yang.

“Hayang-ah.”

Jang Ha-yang looked back at Seong-pil.

Although he had the same expressionless face as usual, there was a strange emotion inside.

Seongpil trailed off, saying, “Uh… ” Then he smiled at her.

“There was a dance earlier.”

“come!”

Jo Ara burst into laughter as she slapped Sungpil. At that moment, Jang Ha-yang smiled and grabbed Sungpil’s wrist.

“uh?”

And then he grabbed Seongpil and threw him into the grass. Seongpil’s vision instantly turned blue.

Seongpil held his breath for a moment even in a sudden situation.

‘Are you fooling me?!’

It was all an act.

Ricardo, Jang Ha-yang, the other members who were laughing brightly while passing the volleyball back and forth, and Hong Gyu-heon and the other executives!

Seongpil struggled and lifted his face from the water.

“Phew!”

“Catch him!”

As soon as he showed his face, Seongpil’s whole body was bound.

Each of the members grabbed Sungpil’s arms and legs. The members lifted him up and began shaking him from side to side.

“Hey, hey, hey hey, if you guys throw me, I won’t let you go… …!”

With that, Sungpil flew briefly over the water and then crashed into the grass again.

I didn’t drink water through my nose because I was prepared.

Seongpil opened his eyes wide.

As soon as I opened my eyes, the members’ upper bodies came into my vision, shaking due to the water.

‘My body flipped over!’

Seongpil barely managed to regain his balance by wildly swinging his legs and arms. Then he raised his face above the water again.

“Poohak!”

Seongpil swept his wet hair back. Then he looked for the instigators of the incident.

“No, you guys really… … .”

The members were all smiling as they looked at Sungpil. In particular, Rika, who was standing outside the pool, had a confident expression on her face.

“You should have come earlier when we said we wanted to play in the water!”

“… … Hehe.”

Seeing the members laughing made Sungpil feel happy. Yes, it would be good if everyone laughed after being treated like this once.

“Who bought this for me?”

“It’s Rikayo.”

“Eek?!”

Rika was very embarrassed by Jang Ha-yang’s accusation.

Seongpil snapped his finger at her.

“Rika, come here. I’ll wash your hair for you.”

“Okay, okay… … .”

“What’s okay!”

Son Hye-bin laughed and pushed Rika into the pool. Rika swung her limbs and jumped into the water.

“If you touch my body even a little bit… …!”

“Yeah, I can’t hear you.”

Ricardo was sentenced to the same punishment as Seongpil.

After she fell into the water, she lifted her head above the water and laughed loudly like Seongpil.

“Ugh.”

Seongpil sighed deeply when he saw Rika, who had become a wet mouse. Then he tried to get out of the pool.

“Oh, you’re leaving already! There are a lot of people to soak in the water! You’re the boss!”

“Should I push it?”

“Director Son, don’t touch my body.”

“I put tanning cream on my body. I shouldn’t stay on it for too long.”

Seongpil stepped onto the tile outside the pool.

Immediately, Sungpil’s feet slid backwards. He barely managed to prevent his head from falling forward by bracing himself against the tiles with his forearms.

Other people laughed at the sight of Sungpil slipping and doing something funny.

Seongpil also laughed heartily because he knew how he must have looked. And this time, he carefully picked up the outer tile and climbed up.

“Don’t drink the water. All the cream on my body will melt.”

“Where is the person drinking the swimming pool water?”

Seongpil started walking back to his senior. At that moment, he limped.

The surroundings became quiet.

“… … Director Park?”

Han Gu-in approached Seong-pil.

“Did you twist your ankle?”

“uh…….”

Seongpil took one more step.

My ankles felt numb.

I can walk, but it hurts.

“Oh, I think I sprained my ankle a little.”

“Please sit here. I will bring you some medicine from inside.”

“No, it’s nothing serious, just a little bit. I’ll go alone.”

Seongpil deliberately walked with long strides toward the central hall so as not to worry the others too much.

He got some ointment from the staff and first dried the moisture from his ankle. Then he slowly moved his ankle.

His expression relaxed with relief.

‘I’ll just go to an orthopedic surgeon and get some anti-inflammatory medication for a few days and I’ll feel better.’

It doesn’t hurt much now. It’ll probably hurt more tomorrow, but I’m okay today.

When Seongpil came out of the building, everyone looked at him with concern. Seongpil smiled brightly.

“Oh, it’s okay. It’s nothing big.”

“Team Leader, do you not have to go to the hospital?”

“Yeah. I know because there were a lot of cases like this in the past. Oh, it’s okay, everyone. Have fun.”

“Really?”

Shin A-reum looked at Seong-pil’s ankle.

Externally, there seemed to be no problem.

Seongpil reassured her.

“It’s really okay. But I can’t go into the water anymore.”

“Of course that won’t work.”

“I’ll go inside and apply some medicine.”

“Let’s go together.”

“No, go play. It’s really nothing.”

Seongpil didn’t want his injury to ruin the mood of the vacation. Hanguin spoke loudly as if he had read Seongpil’s thoughts.

“Would you like to try water polo?”

Others also noticed Seongpil’s intentions.

Shin Areum still looked at Seongpil with pity. Seongpil waved his hand with a smile toward Shin Areum.

“I’m really okay.”

“… … .”

Shin A-reum timidly headed towards where the others were. Seong-pil watched her blend in well and then went into his room.

Seongpil wiped himself with a towel and sat down on the chair with a ‘groan’ sound. He then placed his ankle on the other knee and looked at it with concern.

‘I’ve sprained my ankle a few times.’

This is the first time I’ve been so absurdly fooled.

Besides, here… … .

‘The place where I got hurt and had a cast put on when I saved Seiko.’

It was a painful part, as if something formless was slowly crushing every time it rained.

Seongpil twisted his ankle more for no reason. Then he felt a definite pain.

‘They say that once you’ve been hurt, you get hurt more easily.’

Seongpil applied medicine to his ankle with concern.

‘If there’s any more, everyone will be worried.’

He got up from his chair.

“ah.”

When I stood up, I felt certain.

sick.

You can walk, but you’ll have to walk with a big limp. If you show up like that, no one will be able to play properly.

Seongpil sighed and moved. He limped over to the sofa and lay down.

“hmm…….”

What excuse do you have for everyone?

Seongpil only thought that he didn’t want to cause trouble to anyone even though he was like this.

I hope that everyone doesn’t feel burdened by the vacation that should be enjoyed lightly just because they got injured.

He slowly turned his ankle.

‘I think I can pretend to be fine today.’

Oh, I don’t know.

I feel like I might unconsciously frown or something while walking.

Seongpil thought about it over and over again. How much time had passed during that time? I think it was probably around ten minutes.

I can hear people playing outside.

I don’t care about myself and I just want everyone to be happy like they are now.

That was when.

“Director?”

Jang Ha-yang’s voice could be heard through the door.

Seongpil quickly sat down on the sofa.

“Oh, Hayang.”

“Can I come in?”

“Come in.”

Jang Ha-yang came in with a cautious expression. Her face was filled with despair, a completely different feeling from when she had acted earlier.

As soon as Sungpil saw her face, he picked up his phone. Then, he glanced at his phone, showing that he was very absorbed in something.

“Uh, why?”

“Is your ankle okay?”

“Yeah. I don’t think I even needed to apply medicine.”

“Aren’t you coming out?”

“Ah, that’s… … .”

Seongpil smiled and showed his phone.

The official K-Us SNS account screen was up.

“Ugh, it’s only a few hours before the comeback, right? I guess I should say I was checking the situation… … I was a little absorbed. Sorry. I’ll be back later.”

Jang Ha-yang stood stiffly and lowered his head as if he were a student being punished.

“I, earlier, was the one who suggested dragging the director into the pool. It wasn’t Rika, it was me.”

“Was it? Well, you’re secretly playful. But it was fun, so it’s okay. It’s too bad. I should’ve left out Hayang too.”

“I’m sorry. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”

“What are you talking about? It’s not like I’m hurt… … .”

Seongpil shut his mouth after looking into Jang Ha-yang’s eyes. Her pupils were irregularly rippling like bubbles floating on the surface of the water.

When he met those eyes, he didn’t have the courage to lie. Seongpil let go of the phone weakly.

“No, I’m fine. Go out and play with the kids.”

“What about the director?”

“Well, I’ll just wait here for Keus’ comeback.”

“… … .”

“Hayang-ah.”

Seongpil waved his hand at her, telling her to come closer. Jang Ha-yang approached her, taking heavy steps one by one.

“I really want you and your friends to have fun without worrying about me. That would make me the happiest. Can you do that?”

“… … Is there anything I can help you with?”

“No. That’s more of a burden. It’s a vacation. I’m happy if you have fun.”

“With the director?”

“Yeah, I’ll leave it at that.”

“I am.”

Jang Ha-yang said resolutely.

“I don’t like being alone, Director. I can’t just leave you alone and laugh and play… … .”

“Then what should I do?”

Seongpil smiled kindly to reassure her.

“I’m really okay… … .”

“I can’t swim. I’m not really interested in playing in the water.”

“huh?”

“It’s a vacation. We all came together. So, we should be together.”

Jang Ha-yang sat next to Seong-pil.

I wonder if she dried herself off beforehand, because even though she was wearing a swimsuit, her body wasn’t wet.

“No, are there kids outside?”

“I said I would apologize. This is my apology. I won’t leave you alone, Director.”

“You’re lonely… I told you I have Caius?”

“You don’t have to keep talking about Caius. Don’t try to send me away. I really want to be with you, Director.”

Seongpil thought that ‘I will be there’ would be a more correct expression. He looked at Jang Ha-yang with worried eyes.

Seongpil thought that Jang Ha-yang was trying to stay with him because she felt guilty.

“Hayang… … .”

“You said that being with us was the happiest and most enjoyable thing in the world. Were you lying?”

“No, no, no, no… … .”

“I am happy when you are happy. If you want me to be happy, will you make me happy?”

“… … .”

Lost.

Seongpil put his arm on his forehead.

“Okay. Sorry? Then I’ll treat you well. Bring me something to drink.”

Since it had come to this, Seongpil decided to completely eliminate Jang Hayang’s guilt.

Jang Ha-yang nodded vigorously and got up from her seat.

“And please tell me outside. I’m taking a short break. And you’re here with me as a conversation partner.”

“yes.”

Jang Ha-yang returned in less than ten minutes.

“The boss told me not to overwork myself.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Jang Ha-yang gave Seong-pil a drink.

It was a cocktail. There was salt piled around the glass.

When Seongpil asked with his eyes what this was, Jang Hayang recited exactly what she had heard from the bartender.

“They say it’s a cocktail that tastes good if you take a sip and lick the salt that’s accumulated in the glass with your tongue.”

“What’s your name?”

“I couldn’t memorize it, ahaha… … .”

“Just a drink would have been fine.”

“Shall I exchange it?”

“No. Since I brought it anyway.”

Jang Ha-yang also brought a cocktail like Sung-pil. She sipped the cocktail and let out a pleasant moan.

“it is delicious.”

“Okay. Then, um, let’s count down to the comeback of Caius together… … .”

“NFlix… … Want to watch it?”

Jang Ha-yang gently placed the phone in Seong-pil’s hand back on the sofa.

“Like a movie.”