You Promised Me, Mr. Lee San-ha - Chapter 101



Only Noblemtl

Episode 101 False Idols (4)

I sent a text message to Bae Eun-ji as I was leaving the company earlier.

[Lee San-ha: I’m sorry for suddenly bringing up work after such a long time… … but let me ask you one thing.]

[Lee San-ha: Is there anyone who has enemies in ATP?]

The intention was to check if any of the Octavia members were trainees from ATP.

[Bae Eun Ji: Sorry for the late reply! ㅠㅠ It’s hard to look at my phone during the training camp! What do you mean, “Is there anyone who has ATP Enter as an enemy~~?” I don’t have any enemies!!!]

[Lee San-ha: The phrase ‘to have an enemy’ means to belong there. You often use the words ‘military certificate’ or ‘discharge from the military register’, right?]

[Bae Eun-ji: This is the first time I’m hearing this~~ @.@ Did you write it on purpose to be confusing…?]

[Lee San-ha: No way. Anyway, are there any members of Octavia who are from ATP?]

I am sending this message with a sincere heart.

After a short wait, Bae Eun-ji’s text message arrived.

[Bae Eun-ji: Eun-ah belongs there, but… … Why? What’s going on at ATP~~?]

‘That’s right. Choi Eun-ah was from there. I wrote articles about it a few times, but I forgot about it. What’s wrong with my head?’

It seems that Bae Eun-ji has not been able to hear any news from outside because she is unable to use her cell phone.

I explained the situation as briefly as possible.

[Lee San-ha: There were rumors about True Beast, so I wanted to confirm it directly with the person in charge.]

[Bae Eun-ji: Okay, I understand~~ I’ll talk to Eun-ah~~.]

What is the psychology behind inserting two waves between sentences?

I really can’t understand the human zoom body.

After a while, I got a call from her.

[Hello… …. This is Choi Eun-ah… ….]

It’s a very nervous voice.

“Hello. This is Lee San-ha from TLT Times. I would like to ask you a few questions about True Beast, our agency. Would you mind giving us a quick chat?”

[Uh… … Yes!]

“Thank you. I would appreciate it if you could answer truthfully, if that’s okay with you.”

[Yes! Of course!]

The promise is complete.

I got straight to the point.

“You may have come across the news, but have you ever heard the news about the alleged steroid use by members of True Beast?”

[Oh my, has there ever been an article like that? No. I didn’t know… ]

Up to this point, it’s as expected.

If the company had issued a gag order, Eun-ah Choi would not have called directly.

I asked a question of conversion.

“Do the members of True Beast actually take steroids? Or do they use some form of drugs to build their bodies, even if it’s not steroids?”

[Uh… … . I don’t really know? I’ve never met my seniors, and I’ve only been in the practice room all day! I’ve barely seen them at work, except for saying hello when they pass by and, um, telling them I’ve had a hard time! We even have separate company dinners… … . Trainees don’t have company dinners in the first place!]

It’s a dud.

I guess you really don’t know.

I asked again just in case.

“If that’s the case… is there anyone who can contact the True Beasts themselves directly? Or at least someone who knows about the drug administration?”

[Ugh, I don’t know? Don’t you think the CEO knows? I don’t know, I’m sorry… ]

“Yes. Thank you. But… … .”

Before we hang up, let me ask you one more thing.

“Where is the ATP representative now?”

[Today is the comeback day of ‘Etoile’ seniors, so you must have attended the showcase.]

“Aha, I see. Thank you.”

I left a word of thanks and ended the call.

* * *

I left the officetel rooftop where I had been standing for a long time.

Then a phone call came.

“who are you?”

[It’s me. Eggs.]

He is a sasaeng fan who maintains a strange relationship with me.

But do kids these days introduce themselves like this?

“How did you get my contact information?”

[You gave me your business card this morning.]

“Oh, I see.”

[… … .]

“… … .”

After a brief silence, she was the first to speak.

[After hearing what you said… I thought about it a lot.]

“I see. You must have had a lot of worries.”

But what did I say?

I couldn’t quite remember, but I tried to calm my voice down and feel the weight.

Finally, she opened her mouth.

[Then I realized that no adult had ever asked me about my dreams.]

“… … .”

I don’t know the exact circumstances, but it’s a shame anyway.

‘Perhaps I needed someone who was interested in me rather than someone I was interested in.’

That’s probably why I was so happy with every single reaction from celebrities.

If that’s true, it’s so sad.

The value of one’s existence lies in such a trivial reaction.

That it cannot prove its own existence.

Just giving love.

How fleeting it is.

The egg-throwing woman seemed to feel similar emotions.

[I still don’t know. Is it because I got dizzy after hearing the old man’s question? I don’t know why I’m like this.]

I felt my phone vibrate while I was on the phone.

After switching to speaker mode, I checked the MMS messages.

“This is… … .”

A photo appears of a bunch of vials and syringes.

She continued.

[I don’t mean to quit being a fan. I just wonder what’s the point of ignoring reality and only seeing what I want to see.]

An indescribable emotion wells up within me.

Proud, proud, grateful.

It was a similar feeling to when I saw Im Se-yeol escape from the pit of drugs.

‘This time, you changed people without using your abilities.’

I could learn a lot from that fact alone.

[That… …I lied in front of TLT while throwing eggs―.]

“I know. At that time, I did it because I wanted to protect someone precious to me. I understand.”

Soon, short, continuous breathing sounds could be heard from the other end of the phone.

It was a sound that was hard to define, sometimes like a laugh, sometimes like sobbing.

[Keuhn, huh… … . Seriously, this is a really strange old man.]

It’s not that surprising since I hear it often.

[Oh, right. But this evidence is just a photo I took a while ago, so it’s hard to secure the item right away. The other executives burned it all.]

What a bunch of friends who are really good at getting things done.

“Yes, of course. If you don’t have it, you don’t have to send it. It’s okay.”

[yes?]

Anyway, all I needed was the ‘confidence’ that I could have for myself.

“It’s the end game now.”

That is the final stage.

* * *

After I ended the call, I immediately caught a taxi.

The destination is Yongsan GCV.

This is where Etoile’s showcase is in full swing.

Thanks to Eun-ah Choi, we were able to determine the position of the ATP representative.

Fortunately, the people controlling the entrance to the GCV ‘Stage Hall’ were GCV employees.

When I showed my press ID, the door opened with a friendly greeting.

“Nice to meet you~ We are in the middle of a showcase~ Please come in quietly~.”

“Yes, I will. Thank you.”

If they were staff sent by ATP, I would have been banned right away.

The GCV stage was a special theater with a separate stage space in front of the theater.

Long tables were lined up sideways on the stage.

Behind the table, the members of Etoile are sitting in a row.

‘It looks like the video demonstrations and performances are all over.’

It seemed like it was time for the Q&A session, which was the last in line.

At the left end of the long table… …he was standing.

ATP representative, Park An-taek.

He is the person who filed a 5 billion won lawsuit against our company.

I slowly walked down the stairs and took a seat on the right side of the theater.

The reporters’ formal questions continued.

“Reporter Jang Jin-ha of Sports Kkochi Kkochi… … .”

“Daytime Entertainment, Reporter Lee Tae-yang… … .”

“Reporter Kim Ra-hee of Patchydis… … .”

The questions and answers are as if they were scripted.

Since it is a formal event to begin with, all we have to do is provide each other with suitable news topics, so that’s it.

Representative Park An-taek said, looking around his seat.

“Thank you so much for showing so much interest in this album. But our reporters, you should all go home now, right?”

After the reporters burst into laughter, CEO Park An-taek continued speaking.

“I think we’ll end the Q&A period and wrap things up. If there’s anyone else with questions—”

“I’m sorry, but can I ask you a question on a separate issue?”

Countless eyes are turned towards me.

It’s almost like he’s glaring at students who are provoking the professor before class ends.

But for me, this is the only way.

Because I couldn’t ruin the showcase and I couldn’t send reporters.

I stood up and introduced myself.

“This is Lee San-ha, a reporter for the TLT Times.”

Park In-taek’s expression becomes fiercely frowned.

“What shame did you have to come in here! Get out!”

Is this a natural… … reaction?

When I think about it, I don’t know why I’m angry.

The medication administration must have been directed by the person himself.

If so, it is only natural that he should take responsibility when the truth is discovered.

It’s so strange to threaten someone and then get angry when it doesn’t work.

“I have no shame, but I feel responsible. Um… … . Could you possibly withdraw the charges?”

Park An-taek burst into laughter as if he found it absurd.

“Me? Why?”

“Well, it’s true that the members of True Beast were administered drugs.”

Tiring, tiding! Tiring-

The sound of recorders turning on can be heard from all directions.

As expected, this is the characteristic of reporters.

Isn’t it obvious that a scoop is more important than getting off work?

Meanwhile, CEO Park An-taek shouted with a red and blue face.

“Look here! Keep spreading false information like that―”

“if!”

I shouted, cutting off Park An-taek’s words.

“If it’s true that the members of True Beast took steroids, can you drop the lawsuit?”

Park An-taek came out on stage without saying a word and met my eyes.

And said.

“Oh, really. If that’s true… … . I should drop the charges. Of course.”