NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27
Han Si-woo took me to a deserted corner outside the set.
What could be the sudden reason for calling me?
As a judge, Na Ah Ah’s Han Si-woo had a cold, aloof image, so I couldn’t help but feel tense.
“What if I made a mistake…?”
After checking that there was nothing around, Han Si-woo positioned me in the corner and said.
“I’ve been watching you, Ye-rin.”
“……?”
“Don’t you want to work with me in the future?”
“…What?”
What the heck is this guy saying…?
What he said was a line I was all too familiar with.
And no wonder…
“Yes, Ye-rin! I’ve always been watching you, and now I feel like it’s time to say it…! Let’s date!”
It was similar to the confessions I often heard from guys since I was reborn as Ha Ye-rin.
“This crazy guy. I’m still a minor…!”
They say there are many perverts in the entertainment industry; is this one of those cases?
Thinking about the age difference between Han Si-woo and me sent a chill down my spine.
As I made a disgusted expression, looking at him like a bug…
“N-no! That’s not what I meant!”
Han Si-woo blushed and waved his hands.
Seeing him turn red made him look even more like a pervert.
I decided to take a firm stance. My already cold expression must have dropped to absolute zero.
“I’m sorry, Producer Han Si-woo, but I’m not interested in dating. And I’m a minor…”
“No! I’m sorry for the confusing words! But that’s definitely not it!”
This guy, who usually showed little emotion, was now shouting in excitement as he denied it.
“Ah…”
Seeing that, I thought maybe he wasn’t being serious… or maybe he was confusing words…
“Then what did you mean when you asked if I wanted to join you just now?”
If it wasn’t a love confession, then what was it?
I tilted my head and asked, and Han Si-woo cleared his throat a few times before answering.
Once he regained his composure, he wore a very serious expression.
“I meant to ask if you’d like to pursue a career in the entertainment industry with me.”
“……!”
Hearing that made me flinch, and I asked, just in case.
“…But I’m currently participating in Na Ah Ah? My goal is to debut through Na Ah Ah.”
“However, the principle is that groups debuting through Na Ah Ah disband after a year. I’m talking about what comes after that.”
It’s true that groups debuting through Na Ah Ah do disband after one year.
If he’s talking about what comes after that…!
“I’m going to start my own company soon. A company that can shake up the solidly established Korean entertainment industry, centered around the Big Three agencies.”
“…….”
“When the group that debuted through Na Ah Ah disbands, I hope Ye-rin will join my company and become our first artist.”
Han Si-woo’s face while saying this wore a confident smile.
“I’ll make you an idol who will captivate not only Korea but the world.”
“…….”
I knew that what he was saying wasn’t an empty boast.
In a year from now, Han Si-woo will truly found his company HS, and it will become a supernova agency making waves in the Korean entertainment industry.
But the problem is…
“Why is this proposal being offered to me?”
The protagonist who should be receiving this proposal shouldn’t be me.
Originally, the first artist of Han Si-woo’s company HS should have been…
“Yoo Seol…”
…because she was the winner of Na Ah Ah.
…The future has changed.
All because of me.
I had caught Han Si-woo’s eye by participating in Na Ah Ah, and he was now offering the proposal that should have gone to Yoo Seol.
The sudden situation was so bewildering that my head started to hurt.
At that moment, Han Si-woo reached out his hand to me.
“Trust me, Ye-rin. Let’s go together.”
His outstretched hand was a literal check guarantee.
If I grabbed that hand, the success Yoo Seol would enjoy in the future would be entirely mine.
My parents’ debts? I’d probably earn so much that I’d think of it as pocket change.
I would experience a success I’d never tasted in either life.
Yes, if I just grab that hand.
“…….”
I had no choice but to fall into contemplation.
“Since it might look strange for us to enter together, let’s go in separately.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll go in first, so Ye-rin, you come back quickly. The break time will probably end soon.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Well then….”
Han Si-woo said that and entered the set.
“Phew….”
I stood there for a moment and then went in through another path.
But….
“……Oh.”
“…….”
The moment I turned the corner to enter the set, I couldn’t help but freeze.
Someone was hiding there, holding their breath.
“…Sister.”
“…….”
It was Yoo Seol.
Originally, she should have been the one receiving the proposal from Han Si-woo instead of me.
She stood there with a blank expression, but when our eyes met, she immediately forced a smile.
“…Sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
“…….”
Although she usually displayed excellent acting skills to keep her expressions in check, she didn’t seem to know what to do when she saw me.
So, I shook my head and said.
“No, it’s fine. You can go in. It’s about to start.”
“…Okay.”
I tried to casually head into the set.
But….
“Um…”
Yoo Seol stopped me.
“Can I ask why you rejected Han Si-woo’s offer? It must have been a great opportunity.”
“…….”
That’s right.
I had rejected Han Si-woo’s offer.
The reason was….
“Because of my current agency.”
Because of Brotherhood Planning.
“Why? Didn’t Han Si-woo say he’d cover the penalty fees? Your current company isn’t that big, and moving to Han Si-woo’s company would be much more beneficial.”
Yeah, if I were to move from Brotherhood Planning to Han Si-woo’s company, it would indeed be a huge gain as an idol.
But….
“The president of my current company is a huge benefactor to me.”
If it weren’t for Kang Hyung-man from Brotherhood Planning, I’d still be trapped in my parents’ quagmire and wouldn’t even dare to dream of becoming an idol.
I didn’t want to betray Kang Hyung-man and Brotherhood Planning, who saved me.
And….
“The first artist of HS was originally supposed to be Yoo Seol.”
Somehow it felt wrong to take her place.
“I plan to devote myself to my current company.”
“…I see, I understand.”
After hearing my explanation, Yoo Seol nodded, though her eyes conveyed that she didn’t understand.
Maybe it was because that expression looked bittersweet.
Unknowingly, I blurted out something I shouldn’t have.
“Why don’t you go to Han Si-woo’s company instead?”
“……What?”
At that moment, I only thought about correcting something that had gone wrong.
Originally, it was Yoo Seol who was supposed to go to Han Si-woo’s company… I hoped things would flow back to their original course even if it meant saying this.
Not realizing how much I was trampling on her pride.
“I’ll recommend you to Han Si-woo.”
“…….”
“You sing better than me and dance better than me, so Han Si-woo would surely accept you happily, right? What do you think?”
“…….”
The moment I said that, Yoo Seol froze like a statue.
And soon…
Rattle-.
Her face, like a mask breaking, relaxed and then….
“…Haha.”
“…Sister?”
“Hahaha…! Ahahahaha-!”
She suddenly started to laugh like a madwoman.
“Hahaha-!”
But that laughter didn’t last long.
Thud.
“Ye-rin.”
She gave me a glare, her face abruptly losing its mirth.
“What Han Si-woo offered was meant for me, not you. Don’t you know what that means?”
In her pitch-black eyes, I felt a hostility far beyond that of SAV’s Seo Yoo-jin.
“Why? Did you think I’d be happy to hear you say that?”
“…That’s not what I meant.”
“If that’s not it, then do you think I look pitiful as someone who trained for nine years and still hasn’t debuted?”
I had no idea Yoo Seol’s training period was nine years.
And…
“…Yeah, I guess it might look pitiful to someone who trained for just a month and got that kind of offer from Han Si-woo.”
…About how she’d looked at me until now.
“You, a genius, wouldn’t understand me.”
Yoo Seol’s expression was beyond description.
It looked like she was angry… or perhaps resigned.
“…I was a fool to think we could get along as competitors.”
With that, she muttered something I couldn’t understand and turned away.
I reached out to stop her.
But….
“Um, sister, wait a moment…”
“Don’t touch me.”
“…!”
She blocked me with a voice as cold as winter’s chill, leaving me frozen in place.
She cast a sidelong glance at me and added coldly.
“Ye-rin, you better get a grip. You and I are competitors.”
“…….”
“If you’re going to be so half-hearted, then it’s better to quit. Don’t you realize that just by being here, someone desperately missing out on a chance is losing it?”
Swish-.
With those words, she walked away from the set.
I stood there for a while, staring at Yoo Seol’s back.
…Damn it, I messed up.
I blundered while trying to set things right in the midst of the confusion from Han Si-woo’s proposal.
It was also because I had failed to see through her heart, as she had built walls around herself all along.
Since she’s being recognized as a strong contender in Na Ah Ah, I thought she wouldn’t have such insecurities…
“Or do I look pitiful to someone who trained for nine years and still hasn’t debuted?”
“…Yeah, I guess it might look pitiful to someone who trained for just a month and got that kind of offer from Han Si-woo.”
What was she feeling all this time?
At that moment, my status window caught my eye.
[Traits – Sky Demon (天魔)]
The Sky Demon brings trials and despair to the protagonist.
It seems I’ve been playing the role of a Sky Demon quite well.
As I wandered back to the set with a dazed expression, the production team was waving their hands at me.
“Ye-rin! Where have you been? The break has long been over! Hurry up!”
“Ah… I’m sorry.”
I still hadn’t gathered my wits.
Because of Yoo Seol.
“What should I say…?”
I didn’t have the courage to face her. I felt like I’d burst from the awkwardness if I sat next to her.
But….
“Ye-rin, where were you? Why are you so late?”
“……!”
When I arrived, Yoo Seol greeted me with her usual cheerful smile.
I flinched and turned my head to the outside of the set…
Ziiing-.
…And indeed, the camera was rolling.
“…I’m sorry for being late…”
I couldn’t keep up with her professionalism and robotically sat next to her.
It was then.
[Syncing….]
[Yoo Seol’s latent trait is being unlocked….]
Suddenly, Yoo Seol’s status window began to flicker.