Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 568



Only Noblemtl

Episode 568

After the Kohaku Uta Gassen ended, Seiko had a small year-end party at Misato’s house.

The attendees were Seiko, Misato, and of course, Seo Yu-seon.

The three sat around the table and savored the food and wine Seo Yu-seon had prepared.

“that’s right.”

At one point Seiko raised her voice.

Misato and Seo Yu-seon focused on her as if they had been waiting for her. Since a while ago, Seiko had been laughing like a person with a screw loose.

The two continued to wait for Seiko to bring up the subject.

“I decided to go on a date with Paku Isarang.”

“huh?”

Seo Yu-seon looked puzzled.

“Seiko, it was your car.”

“It was tea, but we’re dating. Isn’t this the clearest sign of victory?”

“No, I think it’s definitely going to cut me off!”

Misato stamped on Seo Yu-seon’s toes under the table. Seo Yu-seon writhed in pain and lowered her head.

“That, that, that kind of thing, that kind of thing, that kind of thing, that can’t be true?!”

Seiko is broken.

Misato wanted to comfort her, but Seo Yu-seon’s interpretation was valid. No matter how many other cases she tried to think of, they were all from the happiness circuit.

‘I guess so.’

In a way, Sungpil clearly rejected Seiko’s confession. His declaration that he had “not dated for 5 years” must have had that meaning.

But Seiko interpreted it differently.

I understood it as ‘See you in 5 years’. It certainly wasn’t the case when I first heard it, but as the time I missed Seongpil grew longer, it seemed like I had embellished my memories.

“Ahhhhh!”

Seo Yu-seon screamed again.

Misato looked under the table in surprise. Seiko was stepping on Seo Yu-seon’s feet.

“Yooseon, stop talking nonsense!”

Seiko screamed.

Seo Yu-seon gently stepped on Seiko’s foot. Seiko immediately burst into tears.

“Misato Yuseon is being bullied… …!”

“You did it first! Misato Seiko did it first!”

Misato felt like she was raising two children. And when raising children, you can’t show favoritism.

Misato skillfully coaxed the two.

Seiko and Seo Yu-seon reconciled through Misato’s mediation. They held each other’s hands and shook them up and down appropriately. Then they stared at each other for a few seconds.

“anyway.”

Seiko took a sip of wine.

“You’re definitely breaking up with her? That doesn’t make sense. If you were going to break up with her, you would have rejected the date. Why would you insist on accepting it?”

Seo Yu-seon tried to say something, but stopped herself when she remembered Misato stepping on her foot.

“Heh, isn’t that obvious? You have the best bride who has everything? You’re rushing at her so blatantly? What man would be able to stand that? No way, I’m Kafuu Seiko!”

Misato and Seo Yu-seon kept their words short.

Whether they spoke of a positive or negative future, they all seemed to hurt Seiko.

It seems that Seiko’s first love is much harsher than other people’s.

* * *

Only Rika and Jang Ha-yang remained in Japan, and all the other members returned to Korea.

Rika stayed behind to spend New Year’s with her family, and Jang Ha-yang stayed behind to keep his promise with Tomoe.

Seongpil cleaned up the room. He checked that the boiler was turned off and the gas valve was closed before leaving the room.

I drove to the dormitory that the Girls’ League members were using, and that only Jang Ha-yang would be using for the next two or three days.

Jang Ha-yang was waiting in front of the mansion. She smiled as soon as she got into the passenger seat.

“happy new year.”

“Thank you. Happy New Year to you too.”

“You are now 35 years old, sir.”

“I’m old.”

“Isn’t this a prime age for a working adult?”

“What would that make me if I heard that from you when you’re in the prime of your life?”

Jang Ha-yang turned 25 this year.

And on January 1st, the long-awaited ban on dating in the Girls’ League was lifted.

In fact, if we look at the exact date, it was released several dozen days before this, but January 1st was set as the date because it is also a new beginning.

“Ahaha.”

Jang Ha-yang smiled brightly as usual.

While driving to Webex, Seongpil gave Jang Ha-yang another warning.

“Don’t confuse secret accounts with official accounts. If possible, don’t save your ID and password on social media.”

I wonder if celebrities use SNS for personal purposes.

You create something called a secret account, which is usually kept private so that regular people cannot see your posts.

Only those who follow you can see your posts. And these followers are the secret accounts of the same celebrities.

This way, idols can also enjoy social media life, which is essential for modern people.

The ladder allows you to share photos of your trip with your lover, write your innermost thoughts, or send private congratulations.

The Girls’ League members have also created a ladder early on to become close with other idol colleagues. I don’t know if they are actively using it though.

“And if you start dating, make sure to let us know. We need to help you. Also, the staff members are tight-lipped, but if possible, try to keep it to a minimum in front of other people… .”

Jang Ha-yang seemed to be vaguely listening to what Seong-pil was saying. Her gaze remained fixed outside the window.

“I would also recommend making a separate phone. And you should always be careful about the other person’s accommodations… … .”

“Director.”

“huh?”

“I told you several times that I wouldn’t date until I finished my activities with the Girls’ League.”

Jang Ha-yang’s voice was flat. That was unfamiliar to Seong-pil.

“Ah… … That’s right. I remember that too. I haven’t forgotten. But still… … .”

“Still, there is no such thing.”

Finally, Jang Ha-yang turned her head to Seong-pil outside the window. Contrary to her dry voice, she was smiling.

“Once you make a promise, you have to keep it. It’s a promise I made to you, and it’s a promise you made to me too.”

Seongpil’s declaration in front of Seiko that he would ‘not date for 5 years’ has been kept at least until now.

At that time, Jang Ha-yang was so moved that she shed tears and promised to follow Seong-pil’s wishes.

But Sungpil warned Jang Hayang about dating several times. Was it because he thought she wouldn’t keep her promises?

No it wasn’t.

There are emotions that can only be felt at this time and age. Wouldn’t it be a shame to miss them?

“……huh.”

But Seongpil didn’t say anything like that.

It was a story I had repeated with Jang Ha-yang several times already. The conclusion was the same.

Jang Ha-yang will say that she will not date until she becomes a top idol and until her 7-year contract with Girls’ League ends.

“today.”

Jang Ha-yang said as if it was nothing.

“Are you meeting Seiko-senpai?”

“huh.”

“Have you thought about what I told you before?”

When she was sending Tomoe off, Jang Ha-yang said bluntly that she didn’t want Sung-pil to continue his relationship with Seiko.

This may not be her only thought.

All the members of the Girls’ League do not like Seiko, although there are differences in degree. In some ways, Jang Ha-yang may have been carrying the gun and conveying the members’ thoughts.

“… … .”

Seongpil didn’t answer and just focused on driving. No, he was probably just pretending to focus on driving.

Jang Ha-yang could tell.

“I understand why the director cares about Seiko-senpai. The director is kind. He can’t just leave someone who reaches out to him alone. That must be why. But Seiko-senpai… … .”

Jang Ha-yang quickly closed his mouth.

I realized that saying any more would be rude to both Seongpil and Seiko.

Whatever it was, it was not going to make me look good. I knew that and just stayed quiet.

“Arrived.”

Seongpil parked his car in front of Webex.

“I’ll go.”

Jang Ha-yang got out of the passenger seat. Seong-pil also got out with her.

“I’ll see you off to the door.”

“Is the service good today?”

“Of course, you are a member of the Girls’ League, the pillar of Garo Enter.”

Jang Ha-yang stopped walking and stood facing Seong-pil. Then, she put her hand on the scarf he was wearing.

Jang Ha-yang tied the scarf tightly enough so that it wouldn’t fall down. The scarf was tied in a pretty knot.

Jang Ha-yang, who was touching the scarf, put her hand inside it. She felt the texture of metal.

“You are doing it.”

“I always do it.”

A necklace that Jang Ha-yang gave me as a gift.

A scarf that Jang Ha-yang gave me as a gift.

“Ha-Yang gave it to me.”

“Thank you. For thinking of me as precious. I don’t mind seeing you off. It’s cold.”

“huh.”

Jang Ha-yang entered the Webex building.

Seongpil watched her until she disappeared and then got into the car.

* * *

Seiko came and waited an hour before the appointment.

The location was in front of the art theater.

She checked her watch several times. There were now twenty minutes left.

‘You came too soon.’

The waiting time wasn’t boring. She came out early of her own volition, and the waiting time was also happy.

At the same time, a feeling of anxiety began to creep up on me.

Negative futures kept coming up, such as Sungpil suddenly saying he wouldn’t come, or she got the date wrong, or Sungpil standing her up.

On the other hand, I was happy just imagining the day I would spend with Sungpil. We could watch a show together, eat together, walk together, and maybe our relationship could develop further.

no.

What if he doesn’t come?

What if this is all an illusion?

“Ms. Seiko.”

His voice was heard.

Seiko turned around quickly.

“ah…….”

Seiko was speechless.

Seongpil has really come.

Seongpil came after receiving a date request.

Seongpil came here to date, right in front of her.

His face, which had been blurry because he was far away, gradually became clearer. He approached. And before he stood right in front of her, her face, which had become as clear as 4K resolution, finally came into view.

No kidding, the world stopped for a moment.

‘You really came, Director Paku came because of me… … .’

I can’t believe it.

I can’t believe he came to see me.

I was happy.

He is ‘here’.

Even though she couldn’t believe it, Seiko recognized that he was real.

The crowd that had been passing by meaninglessly like a black and white background was given life and began to squirm, and a single gust of wind that had been blowing meaninglessly until now began to sway like the main character of the world.

“You’re early.”

He smiled.

This is a revolutionary moment.

Like ice that goes from 0 to 1 degree and finally begins to melt.

Like water evaporating when it goes from 99 to 100 degrees.

It was a change that turned everything upside down.

His face changed from expressionless to smiling. It was a change, but at the same time, it was a change in the whole world.

If the beginning of the universe was the Big Bang, then the beginning of Seiko the human being was here and now.

The moment Seongpil accepted the date and showed up at the date location was the moment when Seiko’s heart first started to beat.

“Ms. Seiko?”

“yes!”

“yes?”

“ah.”

Seiko blushed in embarrassment. Without realizing it, she answered like a soldier with a sharp mind.

Won’t he look at me strangely?

“Shall we go in?”

He was still smiling affectionately.

The worries disappeared like melting snow. Seiko’s lips lifted without her knowing it.

“yes…….”

They say humans don’t change.

They say that the only thing that can change a person like that is love. This is the first time that such a common saying has touched my heart like it has today.

love.

The only emotion that revolutionizes oneself.

“Go, go… … .”

The world is filled with happiness.

* * *

I sat down in the theater.

The two sat awkwardly, waiting for the curtain to open on stage.

“… … .”

Seiko was in despair.

What if he gets bored?

‘Okay, it’s okay.’

I’ve made a list of topics to talk about with him today, and I’m sure these topics will really show off your charm.

Because it’s about the performance I’m going to see today!

“Director Paku, how much do you know about the performance you’re going to see today?”

“I only know that it is Korean dance. But how did you choose Korean dance? Were you originally interested in it?”

“I think it would have more meaning if I saw Paku Isarang.”

“Really? What kind of show is it?”

Seiko shrugged.

‘I’ve been researching everything about today’s performance.’

It’s time to shed your usual sloppy image and show off your charm as an intelligent city woman!

“The original is ‘School’ by Jo Tae-kuon (Jo Taek-won).”

“Yes, the title of the performance was also ‘School’.”

“This ‘hak’ was created during the Japanese Imperial era.”

“ah…….”

“But wow, it’s a Korean-Japanese collaboration! Composer Takaki Doroku wrote the music, adding the Arirang melody to Ravel’s bolero-style music. Choreography is, of course, by Jo Tae-kuon, direction by Murayama Tomoyoshi, stage design by Ito Kisaku, costumes by Kimu Jeohan (Kim Jung-hwan), and manager by Kimu Hons (Kim Heon-soo).”

Said!

I said all the names without confusing them all!

Seiko looked at Sungpil with a look that said, ‘How smart am I?’ As expected, Sungpil seemed impressed.

“In addition, the current Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra was in charge of performing it. Today’s performance is also by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. It was a super luxurious cast! So this piece is essentially a symbol of harmony between Korea and Japan!”

“I didn’t know there was such cultural exchange during the Japanese Empire. Was there no reluctance in the cultural world? That’s amazing.”

“But later on, Jo Tae-kuon became the subject of controversy because of his friendly relations with Japan.”

“Ah, pro-Japanese… … .”

“And this… … win, win, uh… … .”

“Syngman Rhee?”

“Yes! I heard that he was banned from returning to his country for over ten years because he criticized a man named Syngman Rhee.”

Seiko looked at Sungpil with a look that said, ‘Isn’t that strange? I know this too!’

For some reason, Sungpil didn’t seem to feel as great as before. He had a bitter expression on his face.

‘Is this possibly sensitive content…?’

Seiko quickly moved on to the next story.

“But this dance was lost, and the sheet music was discovered in Japan a few years ago. And this time, it’s truly Korea-Japan harmony! Korean and Japanese dancers have joined forces to restore the dance!”

“That’s really a good match. But if the sheet music is gone, then isn’t the dance gone too? How did you restore it?”

“… … .”

I don’t know.

How do you restore a lost dance?

Even if you were to spend 100 hours thinking about that problem, you wouldn’t be able to come up with an answer.

Was iTube around back then?

“Uh, that, uh uh… … uh, oral tradition?”

“That might be a way.”

“Oh, right? That’s right!”

Seiko was relieved.

“You’re amazing. You even know that.”

“It’s nothing. I’m a resident.”

Seiko shrugged.

I thought it was cool.

Soon the curtain opened and a dancer in a school uniform appeared. He danced. He really looked like a schoolboy.

And that was Seiko’s last memory.

* * *

“Ms. Seiko.”

“Huh?”

Seiko opened her eyes.

The surroundings were noisy.

I looked around and saw that everyone was getting up from their seats and leaving. It seemed like the show was over.

“Oh, huh?”

Are you asleep?

That’s ridiculous.

‘Hey, you slept? You watched the show?’

Seiko looked at Seongpil.

Was laughing.

‘It’d be funny, right?!’

Of course it would be funny if I fell asleep as soon as the show started after learning all that knowledge!

“Shall we go out?”

“go…….”

“go?”

“The performance was good, wasn’t it?”

Seiko, a desperate excuse!

“The music was so good that I closed my eyes and listened. As expected, it was the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. It was worth paying my taxes.”

“Haha, that’s right.”

“… … .”

Seiko, 1st suicidal impulse.

She didn’t say a word until she left the theater. No, she couldn’t say a word.

No matter what I said, it seemed like Seongpil would laugh at me.

After talking about various things, Seongpil stopped walking when he saw Seiko leaving the theater with her mouth tightly shut.

Seiko also stopped in embarrassment.

“P, Paku, director?”

Seiko’s circuit of misfortune has returned.

‘Seiko, you really are uncivilized. I can’t spend even one minute with someone like you. I’ll be going now.’

or not.

‘It’s the first time in my life that someone has fallen asleep during a performance. Well, I wasn’t expecting any general courtesy from Seiko-san, though.’

Or.

‘I had fun today. I’ll go.’

The corners of Seiko’s eyes drooped gloomily.

“The show was fun. You were considerate of me, weren’t you? Thank you for choosing this show for me, even though it’s not the type of show you like, Seiko. I’m grateful and sorry.”

Is this person an angel?

“Are you hungry? I know a good restaurant, but I don’t know if it’s a favor or not. If you have time later, would you like to go?”

The angel is right.

“Yes, of course. I, I will, I will go.”

Seongpil smiled.

Today, Seiko saw more smiles from him than she had ever seen before.

I feel like my heart will stop and I will collapse from overeating like this.

Seiko, I like that smile.

He is usually like a statue. It is creepy to imagine a statue smiling. He is not as soft as a human being, so his face would crack here and there.

However, Seongpil smiles even though he is a sculpture, and even though he smiles, he does not crack or fall apart.

Oh, really, every time I see that smile, I feel like I could die. If that smile is directed at me, I’d die 99 times out of a hundred.

The reason I can’t die just once is because I want to see your next smile.

‘You’re handsome.’

I want to say that.

But that phrase seems too worn-out to describe the source of Seiko’s happiness.

No, no words in the world can describe him. Language is imperfect and will eventually disappear, so I don’t want to describe him as something imperfect and disappearing.

That is why the feelings she has for him always remain within the feelings she feels.

She says this in her mind. Every time he smiles at her, she says in her mind something she would never say to him.

‘Fuck, I love it so much I could die… … .’

Seiko walked alongside him. She didn’t look ahead. She turned her eyes to the side to look at him.

“Director Paku.”

Actually, I want to call him ‘Seongpil’.

With perfect Korean pronunciation, I want to call him ‘Seongpil’ instead of ‘Senpiru’.

What a wonderful pronunciation.

Just imagining the pronunciation makes me ecstatic, repeating it in my head makes my mouth water, and saying it in secret at home makes my heart feel like it’s going to burst through my rib cage.

“Yes, Seiko.”

Seiko-san… … .

Seiko was glad that he was Korean, otherwise she would have called him ‘Funabiki-san’.

She liked being called ‘Ms. Seiko’.

If we go further, I would like you to call me ‘Seiko’. Or I would like you to call me ‘Paku’. Because one day, I might become ‘Paku Seiko’.

“What time do you have free today?”

Seiko imagines.

He said this.

‘I have to count until tomorrow, not today.’

His mouth opens.

The inside of his mouth is red.

I want that redness to completely dye my skin and melt it away.

“hmm.”

He is worried.

It breaks my heart to see you worrying.

If you’re going to worry about it, do it forever. I want the time I have with him to last forever.

But Seiko knew what he would say. At best, it would be dinner time.

After today’s meeting with him, how long will I have to wait until I see him again?

“Ms. Seiko.”

He smiled at Seiko again.

A smile that made me want to die.

“How long would you like to stay here?”

Until you love me.

If that doesn’t work, even if you don’t love me, I want to be with you forever…

* * *

Jang Ha-yang looked out the window.

The sun is two-thirds of the way up.

The wind blowing against the window is strong.

Soon something white started sticking to the window.

It’s snow.

“Sister.”

At Tomoe’s call, Jang Ha-yang sees her.

“How was the riff just now?”

“hmm.”

Jang Ha-yang played the bass guitar.

“I don’t know.”

“You still don’t feel it? Ah, it’s time to eat. Let’s eat!”

“okay.”

Jang Ha-yang placed the guitar on her thigh and looked out the window. Somewhere in that forest of buildings, Sung-pil and Seiko must be there.

Jang Ha-yang put his hands on the guitar strings. He thought he was used to it, but it felt unfamiliar. The feeling was unfamiliar.

No, I can’t concentrate on the guitar.

‘maybe…….’

Jang Ha-yang put down the guitar.

‘You’ll be back before the sun sets.’

The snowflakes that looked like dust began to fall as full-blown sleet.