Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 571



Only Noblemtl

Episode 571

Jang Ha-yang lay down on the sofa and plucked the guitar strings. Despite his graceful hand movements, his eyes were dull and absent-minded.

‘What is the director doing now… … .’

Yesterday, Jang Ha-yang used all of her wisdom to escape Seong-pil’s trap.

Seongpil didn’t reveal it directly, but if Jang Ha-yang’s love had been discovered at that time, the situation would have been even more serious.

It’s even worse than this…

‘Can anything be worse than what’s happening now?’

I couldn’t even say hello to Seongpil in the morning.

I don’t even have the courage to send a text or message.

He may or may not come today.

I can’t guess what’s in his mind.

It’s like I’ve gone blind.

At that moment, Seongpil from yesterday came to mind like lightning.

‘I like Seiko.’

Every time I think of his voice, I feel like slamming my guitar on the floor.

I want to destroy everything I see around me.

But I didn’t do it.

Because there was a corner of Jang Ha-yang that I could trust.

‘A promise I made with the director.’

Sungpil had promised Jang Ha-yang that if she became the best idol, he would grant her one wish.

That was a vow that Jang Ha-yang had kept for a long time.

She had no doubt about the fulfillment and manifestation of her oath.

Of course, Seongpil doesn’t have a very good memory.

Seongpil was the one who forgot all the promises he made, like going to the amusement park together or taking a merry-go-round around the company.

But Sungpil will not let this promise be forgotten. He must not forget it.

Jang Ha-yang’s wish to Seong-pil is set.

It is as clear and explicit as the commandments given to Moses and will never change.

But whether that will be accepted is another matter.

‘I have to be the best idol.’

Because that’s the ideal type that Seongpil dreams of.

In other words, the best idol is both the ultimate goal and a means to reach the final goal for Jang Ha-yang.

On the last day, Jang Ha-yang will go forth in blessing, anointed, with the oath of ascension promised to him.

But two worst-case scenarios happened at the same time.

‘Two situations that should never happen… … .’

Seongpil’s disappointment in Jang Ha-yang and his withdrawal from her. And the existence of another human being who holds the oath of ascension that Seongpil will grant.

The perfect idol that Sungpil draws doesn’t do anything dangerous for the group, fans, or the company. That means he doesn’t do something stupid like having a crush on a company executive.

It is certain that he abhors the pursuit of selfish desires at the risk of neglecting the greater good and ruining it.

To put it simply.

‘I can’t let it get out that I love you, sir.’

So that’s what I did yesterday.

I don’t know if Seongpil’s doubts have gone away, but I think it was the best response he could have done.

The second danger is that Sungpil will harbor feelings for another human being before the end of the world.

‘I like Seiko.’

As those words rang in his mind again, Jang Ha-yang held onto his guitar tightly, resisting the urge to slam it on the floor.

If Sungpil had another person in mind, Jang Ha-yang’s wish for him would lose its meaning.

‘The director said Seiko… … .’

Do you like me in the sense of true love?

Then why… … .

‘Why is that bitch with a brain full of shit like that?’

Seiko, Seiko, Seiko… … .

Jang Ha-yang’s plan, which had been built up for over four years, begins to melt away from the ground up.

Because of that fucking bitch… … .

“Sister.”

Jang Ha-yang suddenly came to his senses at Tomoe’s call.

“huh?”

“That’s ‘Another One Bites the Dust.’”

“ah.”

Jang Ha-yang was improvising a bass riff to match Tomoe’s performance.

But maybe because I was so immersed in my subconscious, I ended up playing the riff of an original song without realizing it.

“Since we’re here, should we play some music?”

Tomoe started playing Queen’s ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ as if he was wondering when Jang Ha-yang had been mentioned.

Jang Ha-yang played the bass riff of the song as he remembered.

This song is said to be one of the best songs to match the rhythm to while doing CPR.

I heard it was selected by an American association, and as I played it, my heartbeat, which had been pounding wildly, seemed to return to normal.

“Sister, do you have any concerns?”

“……no.”

“You are there, right?”

Jang Ha-yang stopped playing and smiled at Tomoe.

“Sorry, I can’t concentrate. Am I bothering you?”

“Should I call it an interruption… … I guess so.”

When Tomoe readily admitted it, Jang Ha-yang smiled bitterly.

Of course, I did play a lot of rock music because of the Bremen Musicians, another group within the Girls’ League. But with that kind of experience, it’s impossible to work with real rock musicians.

Tomoe will probably continue working with Jang Ha-yang only out of fandom.

“Actually, I’m holding back a bit because I’m in front of you.”

“continence?”

“You won’t get another chance like this, so let’s do it for real. I’m not thinking straight if I just stay here.”

Tomoe started packing.

Jang Ha-yang was embarrassed.

“Where are you going?”

“This is my real studio.”

“where?”

“This is my house. Will you come?”

“what.”

Jang Ha-yang responded playfully.

“Are you tempting me?”

“If that’s true?”

Tomoe’s eyes curved pleasantly.

“… … .”

Looking at that, Jang Ha-yang had one question.

‘Am I perhaps a popular style with the ladies…?’

Jin So-yu comes to mind.

* * *

Snow White’s voice was not friendly.

“Seolha, what’s wrong?”

[……no.]

Seongpil expressed his discomfort.

He was facing the biggest crisis of the year (and it hadn’t even started a week ago).

So I contacted the most reliable member and leader of the Girls’ League to ask for help. But that member and leader seemed to be in a bad mood.

‘Isn’t this not something I should be asking for advice on, but something I should be listening to Seol-ha’s concerns?’

[Nothing happened.]

However, Baek Seol-ha stubbornly denied the fact that she was in a bad mood. So Seong-pil had no choice but to bring up his own business first.

Seongpil talked about the incident that happened with Jang Ha-yang yesterday.

It is said that Jang Ha-yang, who saw the relationship between Seiko and Seong-pil negatively, told Seong-pil to cut it off, but Seong-pil firmly refused.

“Ha-yang is really angry… … .”

Of course, at that time, Jang Ha-yang could not simply be described as ‘very angry’.

Jang Ha-yang seemed to hate Seong-pil.

Seongpil was quite hurt when he saw those eyes.

It was more hurtful than when Jang Ha-yang appeared on the radio and vehemently denied that Seong-pil was not her ideal type.

“… … is gone.”

[Hmm.]

“I, I know you guys hate Seiko-san, but honestly, I can’t really sympathize with you… … .”

Seongpil is rather embarrassed.

He sacrificed his life to save a person who had fallen onto the subway tracks. As a result, he was injured and had to be hospitalized. The person who was saved was grateful to Seongpil, and Seongpil was also happy that the person was alive.

But Sungpil’s most precious colleagues curse him and hate the person who saved him.

That’s what the Seiko incident felt like to Seongpil.

“I just thought, ‘That’s great’ and that’s the end of it… … That’s the story, right? Of course, I know you guys were really sad when I jumped. But in the end, it ended well… … .”

[Director.]

“huh?”

[Imagine if Areum jumped off a building to save producer Yoon Sang-yeol and ended up in the hospital for a month or two. And then the two became close after that?]

Kill Yoon Sang-yeol. That’s all I can think about.

At least I will prevent Yoon Sang-yeol from approaching Shin A-reum.

[And then, when the director was displeased and told Areum that he wished the two of them would not meet, what if Areum said, ‘I like producer Yoon Sang-yeol’?]

Seongpil was speechless. He just heard the story and wanted to bang his head against the wall and lose consciousness.

[I can’t put Senior Seiko on the same level as Producer Yoon Sang-yeol, but I think this is a metaphor that the director can relate to. Do you get the general idea?]

It’s a problem because it came too well.

Seongpil’s lips trembled. His vivid imagination reached the image of Shin A-reum and Yoon Sang-yeol dating brightly.

“uh…….”

Seongpil barely managed to answer.

“I, I have a feeling… … .”

[… … Director, by the way, you know. Was the reason you told Hayang that Seiko-senpai was good a form of shock therapy?]

“Shock therapy?”

[That is, no matter how we feel, it would be unpleasant for the director to have his interpersonal relationships interfered with… … .]

Was the shock therapy that came out when she said she liked Seiko to shake off Jang Ha-yang’s interference? That was the meaning of Baek Seol-ha’s question.

“That… …feeling is there too.”

If Jang Ha-yang’s interference was simply unpleasant, it would have been enough to simply respond, “Stop it.”

The reason Sungpil expressed his feelings for Seiko was, of course, because of Jang Ha-yang’s interference, but there was another reason.

[Liking someone isn’t love?]

“Does that matter?”

[It’s important. One word from the director can completely change the direction of my consultation.]

“… … I don’t know. When I was with Seiko, I imagined being a lover, and even thought about living together. Rather than feeling excited, I felt like this might be okay. Also, if we get married, there will be conflicts because our nationalities and cultures are different… … .”

[You’ve seen everything you could imagine?!]

“No, Seol-ha, at my age, this is normal. I have a very high chance of marrying the person I date at this age. It’s different from a naive young man who imagines his old age just by making eye contact… … .”

[Anyway, it’s not love, right?]

“The meaning of love is many… … .”

[Do you want to wake up in the same bed with Seiko-senpai in the morning?]

“Are your questions too harsh?!”

[The director isn’t speaking clearly!]

It was clear that Snow White was in a bad mood.

I don’t know why, but I can definitely tell by her angry tone.

“In my heart, you guys are the greatest… … .”

[… … .]

“It was also because of you guys that I rejected Seiko-san’s confession. In fact, as a fan of yours, I’m in a quasi-relationship with you guys… … .”

[So, no?]

“……huh.”

Because Baek Seol-ha kept asking questions in an interrogative manner, Seong-pil was barely able to give an answer.

I thought back to the feelings I had when I declared in front of Seiko that I would not date for 5 years.

If love is something that you do with all your heart, then Sungpil loves the Girls’ League. There is no room for any other love within it.

Let’s put aside the sadness that Seongpil felt because he rejected Seiko’s feelings.

“Because right now I only have you guys.”

[Okay then.]

“… … Okay, well, I answered, but in what sense is this important?”

[I was just asking.]

“Seolha, you’re getting more and more clever.”

[Because I’m 26 years old… … .]

If you’ve taken the normal path in life, this would be your third year as an office worker.

[Anyway, Hayang will be very heartbroken.]

“Did you start to hate me?”

[How can Hayang hate the director? It’s impossible unless the director commits a ‘crime against humanity (a crime against humanity such as genocide. The principle of non-interference in internal affairs is invalidated and armed invasion is justified under international law against a person or group that commits such a crime)’.]

“then?”

[We have to do what the director is good at. Conversation.]

“What direction?”

[Well, since the director doesn’t want to let go of Seiko-senpai or Hayang, they have no choice but to keep each other from knowing about each other’s situation.]

“Are you telling me to say different things to each of you?”

[Yes, both legs.]

Since Snow White is very interested in love, the examples she gives in such cases are also related to love.

[As long as you don’t get caught, that’s fine.]

“What if I get caught?”

[Ha-yang will start to hate the director even more.]

“Why do you say it so easily… … .”

[Or else, since the director loves us the most, we have no choice but to distance ourselves from Seiko-senpai.]

“… … .”

Seongpil fell into deep thought.

He turned down her engagement request during his date with Seiko this time.

If Seiko were a person with a normal mind, she would have lost interest in Sungpil. Even if not right away, she would have lost interest in him in a few months.

Anyway, Sungpil can’t accept Seiko’s feelings. As Jang Ha-yang puts it, Sungpil made a vow to himself not to date.

‘Yes, I gave up everything for my dream. With only my eyes on the victory of the Girls’ League… … .’

All the tangled threads of emotions unravel. What remains at the end is a clear vision of a dream.

A splendid dream that makes Seongpil shiver just thinking about it.

My complicated mind has become clearer.

“Thank you, Seolha. I’ll do my best.”

[yes.]

“So why did you feel bad?”

[It’s not a bad thing.]

“You listened to my advice, so I’ll do the same.”

[… … It’s okay. Finish your work well and come back quickly.]

In a rare case, Snow White hung up the phone first.

I guess something really happened.

* * *

The day after returning from Japan after finishing the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Snow White left her lodgings early in the morning and got into the van. She said she had a tight schedule.

“Huh? Why is Kyungseop driving?”

Snow White was surprised as soon as she got into the van.

This is because Min Kyung-seop, who was acting as the commander as the head of the management team, was driving the car himself.

It seemed like today was going to be a pretty big day.

‘As soon as I got back… again… .’

Snow White felt good.

The thrill I felt on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen stage still lingered in my body.

When I opened my eyes today, I wasn’t as dazed as usual. Instead, I was happy that the day had started, and as soon as I woke up, I jumped out of bed and cheered.

I have a strong feeling that everything will work out well this year.

“huh.”

Unlike the excited Baek Seol-ha, Min Gyeong-seop started driving calmly.

Snow White on the passenger seat opened a candy and gave it to Min Kyung-seop. Min Kyung-seop said a short thank you and then went back to focusing on driving.

Snow White was a mess.

“What’s my schedule today?”

“……ah.”

“yes?”

“Aoah.”

“… … ‘Ao-ah’?”

Are you talking about ‘Artist of Artists’, a content from the iTube channel ‘The Studio’?

Three idol dancers compete.

The one where Joara faced off against Ginger from Kaius and Jiyu from Globe?

“Me?!”

Snow White was startled. A desperate light appeared in her eyes.

“That, that’s where the main dancers come out and stuff! But I’m going to go there? Why, why would I?!”

I don’t know the full circumstances, but I felt wronged.

That makes sense, Baekseol is not the main dancer but the main vocalist. If it were a vocal competition program, she could go on it, but ‘Aoa’?

Isn’t this the place where dancing skills, one of the essential abilities of an idol, are most clearly evaluated?

Just in the previous ‘Aoa’, didn’t Ginger, Jiyu, and Joara show off their all on stage? It was a stage that deserved applause.

Snow White thought of Jo Ara. If she goes there, idol dancers like Jo Ara will welcome Snow White. And Snow White will become their prey.

“There’s nothing I can do. It’s decided.”

“I, it’s been decided! Who can decide!”

“Seongpil hyung decided.”

“… … Huh?”

Min Kyung-seop told us the inside story of the schedule.

It is said that Jo Ara made it a condition for Sungpil to appear as Baek Seol-ha, the leader of the Girls’ League and a genius at cuteness, in exchange for filming one more episode of ‘Aoa’.

What was unique was that Sungpil requested Baek Seol-ha’s appearance before the ‘Aoa’ production team even requested it.

Naturally, the production team of ‘Aoa’ welcomed the appearance of the cute genius with open arms.

This is the result.

Snow White immediately objected.

“Oh, when Ara appeared, I asked if she would do it! But I didn’t even ask and just did this… … !”

“Seolhaya.”

Min Kyung-seop stopped the car and spoke firmly.

“You still don’t get it?”

He had the aura of a gangster from a Korean noir film. He was even intimidating.

“You’re sold.”

“… … .”

Snow White quietly closed her eyes.

And then I started to shed tears.

Min Kyung-seop started driving again.

‘are you okay.’

Snow White suppressed her resentment inside.

‘I sold it for my precious younger brother… … .’

The face of my precious younger sister, Jo Ara, comes to mind. Memories of her running towards me brightly and calling me, “Teacher!” flash by like a panorama.

‘I’m used to this kind of role… … .’

Snow White confirmed to appear in ‘Aoa’!

* * *

After finishing his phone call with Baek Seol-ha, Seong-pil headed to the studio where Jang Ha-yang and Tomoe were.

There are several work spaces for musicians within Webex. Tomoe was able to use the studio thanks to Misato’s favor even though he was an apprentice musician.

“Hayang-ah.”

I opened the studio door.

There was no one.

Seongpil looked at the reservation sheet posted next to the door. It clearly said that Tomoe would be using it at that time, but it wasn’t there.

‘… …because of me?’

Seongpil was almost in despair.

Jang Ha-yang must have expected that Seong-pil would come here. There is no way he couldn’t do it. The reason Seong-pil stayed in Japan was because of Jang Ha-yang.

Jang Ha-yang, who didn’t know about it, moved with Tomoe. So that they wouldn’t run into Seong-pil.

“… … .”

Seongpil took out his phone. He tried to send a text message to Jang Ha-yang. His busy fingers stopped in front of the send button.

“……haha.”

Seongpil burst into a sad laugh.

He put his phone in his pocket and slumped down on the sofa, almost collapsing.

‘This is what it feels like.’

To a member of the Girls’ League, being hated by your own dreams sounds like a name.

Seongpil was so reluctant towards Jang Ha-yang that he didn’t even want to meet her. Thinking about it, all the strength left his body.

“… … .”

Seongpil took his phone out of his pocket again. Then he looked for Tomoe’s contact number that he had received earlier.

Jang Ha-yang is reluctant to meet Seong-pil.

But I will be with Tomoe.

Now, Seongpil is about to do something very sticky.

‘I’m not going to meet Hayang.’

I’m going to see Tomoe.

I’m just helping Tomoe with his work.

Because she asked Seongpil for help in the past.

Even if it’s like this, I want to meet Jang Ha-yang right now. I can’t live another minute with Chae-ron being hated by her.

* * *

“That’s too bad.”

On the way to Tomoe’s house, she said.

Jang Ha-yang asked.

“what?”

“You can’t get guidance from the director. He’s a great producer, right? You might not get another chance like this.”

Jang Ha-yang’s head flashed.

‘The director doesn’t want to see me right now.’

Well then, what about Tomoe?

‘I don’t want to see you, but won’t you come to help Tomoe?’

Jang Ha-yang opened her phone.

I haven’t heard from Seongpil yet. If it were normal, I would have contacted him several times already. Even if not, I would have gotten at least a simple greeting.

Jang Ha-yang became depressed when she saw the empty messenger window with Seong-pil. The longing inside her grew stronger.

“Tomoe, should I call the director then?”

“Huh? Is that okay?! Then I’m totally fine!”

Jang Ha-yang looked for Seong-pil’s contact information with trembling hands. No matter how he felt right now, Jang Ha-yang wanted to see him.

With my relationship with him in darkness, I can’t breathe for even a second.