It had been several days since Kim Haram dropped the bombshell.
CEO Jo Jeongjae was growing more and more anxious.
No,Idon’twantto.No, I don’t want to.No,Idon’twantto.
This cocky little bastard.
Did he seriously say that to me?
Jo Jeongjae was furious—frustrated and nervous all at once. And yet, deep inside, he also felt a flutter of excitement.
He didn’t know what had gotten into that brat, but he had no doubt that over 30 billion won would soon end up in his pocket.
“Haah… I want it now…”
The CEO’s emotional state was close to that of a child.
Like a kid who’d been promised a new toy by his parents and couldn’t wait to have it in his hands.
He knew full well it would come to him if he just waited patiently, and yet he couldn’t help but bounce his legs in restless anticipation.
Since that last call, Jo hadn’t contacted Kim Haram again.
He figured there was no need to provoke the kid unnecessarily.
After all, that punk had once gotten so obsessed with training that he literally got rid of his phone.
“That dumbass. Does he think he’s some kind of martial arts master or something?”
A phrase popped into his head from one of the martial arts web novels he constantly read on his office computer, and he muttered it out loud.
The protagonist would always undergo grueling training, become ridiculously strong, and then defeat the villains.
But in Jo Jeongjae’s world, he was always the protagonist. He believed—no, he knew—he would never fail.
♪♬-♬
His phone rang. He quickly looked at the screen, hoping it was Kim Haram.
Tch. Can’t believe a guy has me this desperate.
Unfortunately, the call wasn’t from Haram.
“Yeah, what is it, PD Park?”
Jo Jeongjae answered flatly. Park only ever called when he wanted something—an annoying leech of a guy.
Like asking to get Haram on his show for cheap or something. That kind of thing.
“Oh hey, CEO Jo! How have you been? Is this a good time?“
“Just get to the point. And if this is another cheap Haram request, don’t even think about it.”
“No, no, it’s not that—actually, I called because of KimHaram.”
As expected. PD Park was always transparent with his intentions. How dare he try to carelessly use my little baby bird? Especially now that he’s become about 30 billion won more precious than before.
“No way. Kim Haram can’t appear on any other shows right now. There’s way too much we need to sort out.”
The brat’s acting like he’s hit puberty or something, being all prickly.
At that moment, PD Park’s voice continued on the phone, sounding like he was trying to confirm something.
[“Ah, so you’ve decided to part ways with Kim Haram?”]
What? Is this some kind of joke?
While Jo Jeongjae hesitated for a moment, PD Park went on.
[“No, it’s just that Haram showed up to audition for a program we’re running that only accepts individual participants. There’s a rumor going around that his contract with Herb is over—so I guess it’s true?”]
“What?”
For a moment, Jo Jeongjae’s mind went blank.
What the hell is he talking about?
[“Why’d you let him go? There’s still plenty to milk out of him.”]
Tch. Guess there’s no reason to call this guy again.
A little snide remark came through the receiver, and then the call was cut off.
What the hell… What’s going on?
Kim Haram quit the company? Without even a word to me? That can’t be right.
This must be a misunderstanding—just a twisted rumor.
That punk… and he didn’t even pay me back properly yet…!
Jo Jeongjae hurriedly turned his phone back on and frantically moved his fingers.
He had to find Haram’s contact number, fast—
*****
♪♬ー
His hastily moving fingers instinctively snatched up the incoming call.
[“Uh, Dad?”]
“What the hell?!”
Jo Jeongjae shouted in frustration.
[“Uh, no, I… there’s a show I really want to be on….”]
Right now, Jo Jeongjae had zero patience to indulge his son’s whining.
“Handle that crap yourself! Hang up, you brat!!”
He quickly ended the call and dialed Kim Haram’s number.
*****
♪ノー♪ノー
Kim Haram didn’t answer.
“God dammit!”
He immediately searched for Manager Woo’s number. If that guy didn’t pick up either… Fine. Then I’ll just call Go Jeongeun, that ragged mess of a punk…
[“Yes? What’s going on?”]
Thankfully—or maybe not—Manager Woo picked up right away.
“Hey! What the hell is this weird rumor going around about Kim Haram?! What the hell’s going on?! Aren’t you managing these brats properly?!”
Manager Woo, as always, responded like it had absolutely nothing to do with him.
[“Huh~? Oh, well, I might not know everything, you know. I mean, it’s not like I can know everything, right?”]
“How the hell can you act smug right now, you little—!”
He wasn’t like this at first. But lately, Manager Woo had gotten bolder by the day.
‘This guy… maybe I should just fire him too…’
[“Oh, right. I’ve been meaning to tell you—I’m planning to quit the company soon. I’ll be handing in my resignation shortly.”]
“What?”
Had they all gone mad?
Cho couldn’t even think straight.
[“It’s about time I start my own company. If you need any documents or forms, just contact Chief Yoon and I’ll make sure to get them sent over.”]
“What the hell are you—”
Beep—
The call was cut off.
What the hell is even…
*****
At that moment, in the dorm where everyone was out…
“Are you really okay with this?”
It was a question I’d once asked Manager Woo myself.
“What, if I say I’m quitting, what are you gonna do?”
Manager Woo’s eyes sparkled as he put on a playful grin.
“The faster you handle that thing I asked you for, the better I might feel, you know?”
Ugh, look at him parroting my own lines back to me. What a petty man.
“Got it. It won’t take long.”
Taking advantage of a brief window of free time, we pushed ahead with the plans to establish our own company.
“Are you just going to get busier from here on out? Then we better start preparing.”
Well, not that there was much I personally had to do.
“If you need any funds immediately, just let me know.”
All I really needed to do was provide funding. After that, Woo Manager would handle everything just fine on his own.
“But hey, how are you going to hide your name? According to your plan, it’s only a matter of time before the company starts attracting attention… and if it draws too much attention, that could be a problem…”
It was true. According to the plan, there was no advantage in having Kim Haram’s name out front.
But of course, there’s a solution for everything.
“I’ve already explained everything to Director Lee.”
“Oh wow, our dear investor really is competent.”
“I have my moments.”
I shrugged modestly, and Woo Manager gave me a sleepy-eyed look.
“You’ve gotten weirdly slick lately, haven’t you?”
“Does it bother you?”
Well, I’ve changed inside — what can I do? You’ll just have to adapt, Manager.
“Hmph. You seem better off than before, so whatever, you rascal.”
With most of the conversation wrapped up, Woo Manager stood from his seat. He might’ve looked relaxed, but he was easily the busiest person right now.
“What are you doing next? Need a ride to the practice room?”
“Sure.”
We arrived at the temporary practice studio in Woo Manager’s car.
Since we didn’t know when he might show up, we’d already moved the practice location elsewhere just in case.
*****
“You’re here?”
“Yeah. How’s practice going?”
“Uh… Ji-won hyung isn’t bad.”
Ah… only Ji-won isn’t bad?
So that means the other one…
I turned my eyes away from Lee Ji-won, who was fully immersed in practice with earphones in, and shifted my gaze for a while—until I spotted Go Jeongeun.
Why is he practicing all the way in the corner like that?
Honestly, the fact he was practicing at all was surprising. Is he seriously aiming for the wild card slot?
I told him to send me his bank info and he still hasn’t.
In the farthest, most tucked-away part of the studio, Go Jeongeun was flailing his limbs around awkwardly.
If anything, he seemed worse than before.
“Jeong-eun… he’s going to have a hard time, isn’t he?”
Lee Hyunjae approached quietly, wiping off his sweat, and asked,
“Well… who knows.”
Honestly, I didn’t care what happened to Go Jeongeun. He could deal with it himself.
“What about you two?”
“Mm. For us, it’s more about maintaining our condition.”
“Ooh~ Look at that confidence from someone who passed~”
When I joked around, Lee Hyunjae blushed slightly and gave my arm a light punch with his fist.
“It’s not like that.”
What was that… a nyang-nyang… no, more like a doggy-punch?
“Ji-won hyung better do well tomorrow…”
“Well, it’s up to him, really.”
Hearing my words, Choi Woojin puffed out his cheeks.
“Woo~ So cold-hearted.”
What? Did I say anything wrong?
“Ji-won will do fine. We just need to cheer him on.”
When Lee Hyunjae said that, Woojin let the air out of his cheeks and nodded.
What the heck? Why do they sound so united all of a sudden? Am I being left out?
“Well, I’ll go practice now.”
Poor little Jimin will now take his leave. Hmph.
…Just kidding. Honestly, I was still in just as much of a hurry.
4 Leaf was a lucky break, but if I wanted to fully benefit from the [Born to Be Idol] passive, increasing my total practice hours was the top priority.
*****
Just as I was about to head to the private practice room I’d reserved to keep my skills under wraps—
♪ – ♪ ♪ – ♪
My phone rang.
[JJJ.]
It was CEO Jo Jeongjae. No, I didn’t save his name with initials to avoid associating him with an easier word that starts with J…
After a slight pause, I hit the reject call button.
You think you can reach me that easily? Roll around a little more, Jo.
“Who was that?”
Lee Hyunjae, watching me, asked with a concerned look.
Not long ago, I had spoken with him privately. About how Kim Haram had been treated by the company, and why I’d handled Go Jeongeun the way I did.
‘…Sorry. I should’ve noticed sooner.’
Lee Hyunjae had the same expression on his face as when he first heard that story.
Oh, come on. I told you not to worry.
“The CEO, huh.”
“……”
Hyunjae didn’t react. He probably didn’t want Woojin to worry too.
Trying to change the subject, I stretched with a groan.
“Ugh—well, I’m really off now. Everyone, fighting.”
Even though it was a different practice room, it was right next door, so there was no need to walk far.
I stepped into the hallway and reached for the door handle of the next room—
“Haram!”
Hyunjae came trotting after me and called out.
“Yes, hyung? What’s wrong?”
“Uh…”
He hesitated for a moment, then seemed to make up his mind and opened his mouth.
“If something happens, make sure to tell me right away this time. I…”
…?
“…I’ll help you. We can think it through together… I mean, I…”
I…?
“I’m your hyung, right? Call me when you need me.”
Ah.
Thump.
I shouldn’t laugh, but I couldn’t help it.
Ah, right. You really are my hyung.
My sudden laughter made Hyunjae’s eyes go round. Then he made a slightly hurt expression.
“Why are you laughinggg!”
“No, no. Hehe… I didn’t laugh. Ahahaha.”
Even raising his voice didn’t help. He was just too soft-hearted.
“Ah… seriously, thank you, hyung.”
It was the first time I’d laughed this hard since becoming Kim Haram.
Somehow, I felt a little refreshed.
“I’ll definitely talk to you when something’s wrong. Don’t worry too much.”
Apparently dissatisfied with my reaction, Hyunjae let out a sigh with a quiet ahem and went back into the practice room.
“Ah… that was fun.”
I stepped into the room and replayed the scene from a moment ago in my head.
“Interesting. You’re an interesting one.”
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and checked the notifications.
[2 Missed Calls: J.J.J.]
That explained the vibration I’d felt in my pocket earlier while talking to Lee Hyunjae.
Disgusting. He’s a disgusting person.
No way I was going to let someone like that mess with people as fun as us.
My fingers quickly typed out a message.
[You must’ve been really startled. Please trust me and wait just a little longer. There won’t be any damage. I’ll see you soon.]
No matter what, I refused to call him “CEO.” So the message ended up sounding vague, like something written by a foreigner using a bad translator.
[Send]
No sooner had I sent it than another call came in from Jo Jeongjae.
Does he not understand what “wait” means?
I hit reject again and typed a follow-up.
[Please wait.]
This time, the phone didn’t ring again.
Good. That’s how it should be.
“Alrighty— let’s do this.”
Time for a joyful practice session.
*****
That same night, in the early hours of the morning—after everyone had collapsed into bed, exhausted from a grueling day of practice.
Go Jeongeun quietly opened the dorm door and stepped outside.
The streetlamp in front of the building still glowed dimly orange, casting an eerie light over the alley.
He looked around nervously.
“Hey.”
A voice called out from the darkness at the far end of the alley.
Jeongeun flinched hard at the sound.
“Come over here.”
Tense and on edge, he began walking toward the shadowy figure.
As he got closer, a hand suddenly reached out from the darkness and grabbed him by the hair.
“Ugh…!”
Dragged helplessly into the shadows by his hair, Jeongeun finally saw who the voice belonged to.
“You little shit. Is there anything you can actually do right?”
The man spat out a string of curses and blew cigarette smoke into his face.
“Fucking worthless trash.”
Jeongeun couldn’t say anything in response.
“Heh… this little shit, seriously.”
The man let out a scoff of disbelief.
“Now you’re even ignoring the fucking CEO?”
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